HBE4

8 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Wth Oasis in Bayonne, Allure in Europe, Harmony presumably in PC that just leaves the Symphony sailing from south Florida.  I guess that eliminates Galveston and Australia from getting an Oasis class ship....at least for summer 2020.

Correct, as far as Galveston is concerned.

From what I read, the new terminal will not be complete until Fall 2021.

3 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I didn't think AD had any ABC sailings from FLL. 

There are a couple of 8-nighter's between Nov 2019 - April 2020.

12 minutes ago, abbflex said:

Has it been or might there ever be a Freedom class (or bigger) that does does from Florida?  San Juan is too far to travel with small kids for us. 

Explorer & Navigator do have a few sailings from Miami.

Adventure from FLL as well.

56 minutes ago, Yorkvillain said:

Oasis exiled to Bayonne. 

I guess this means Stamford, CT has been eliminated as a serious consideration? 😉

22 hours ago, Biker19 said:

If you click on the star in front of the thread title it should take you where you left off.

Quick update: that works fine as long as you don't post in the thread. Once I've posted, it always takes me to the last unread after my post.

So even though I'm still reading page 3, when I click the star it takes me to page 14. 

Not complaining, just want to share some new CC format navigation knowledge.

1 hour ago, Host Clarea said:

 

What does this mean?

Total guess on my part but I took it to mean the party-hearty, no-holds-barred, spring-break young (and young-at-heart crowd) take over the ship this time of year.

Even the official cruise critic review of the ship - while mentioning the ship attracts a diverse array of passengers - specifically states: "encounter an over-imbiber wandering the long hallways trying to remember the number of his or her stateroom."  It must have a reputation.

9 hours ago, gaylemh said:

12 night cruises. I was replying to Saab4444, who said they would have a problem filling longer cruises on a big ship.  Actually just about every Anthem cruise I have been on, (22) has been sold out.

I could see Saab4444's point. Most families - especially  those with a few young kids - do probably take vacations in 1 week increments. Plus, even if you get a deal @ $100 pp/pd, tacking on 4 or 5 nights to the cruise may bust the family budget.

I'm guessing the reason the few 12 night cruises out of Bayonne were sold out is because they are so few of them?  Did you see many families on the 12 night?

On 12/8/2018 at 4:34 PM, orville99 said:

When we were on her in September, they were dismantling and removing several balconies (literally removing the entire balcony structure from the sliding glass doors outward) on the starboard side of the ship. I wonder if they found more structural issues with the balconies that would require additional disassembly and replacement.

Probably bad welds! 😉

Stay on the ship.

If something goes wrong, I'm sure Royal will be fair in it's compensation. 😱🙄

41 minutes ago, gaylemh said:

I wish they would do some longer cruises, 12 night, in the spring and fall.

100% agree.

If there ever was a ship built for longer excursions, it's the Oasis. There is just too much to do on a 7-day. Then again, I guess that's to encourage people tp book another cruise.

To me, 10-12 days is the perfect length for a cruise.

Also,  Grease is a much more enjoyable show than Hairspray.  

IMHO. 

32 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

If you click on the star in front of the thread title it should take you where you left off.

Got it. I guess I've always read the threads to the end. So when I click on the star, it would take me to the first new, unread post. I don't think I realized it would take me mid-thread to an old, unread post as that has never happened.

Cool, thanks! 👍

58 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Yes, remember those. Only started booking online in 2000, before 1987-1999 was always the Family friend TA on on Military Base. Actually have Brochure for every yr I cruised starting in 80's including almost all of 1995 threw the newer harder to find 2019/2020. Next Summer will be tracking down the paper version of 2020/2021. Was always big difference in Season prices back then. No "Brochure" prices in years...

I started cruising in 2008 but back in 1993, considered cruising for my honeymoon. TA eventually talked us out of it  but we never threw the brochures away. Came across them about a week ago while cleaning the house for the holidays.

Princess is the only one that has prices - about $1,500 pp for an inside room, lower bunks (no prices for upper bunks????) 7 night out of Miami on Sky Princess.  Still touting every ship as The Love Boat with a picture of Gavin Mcleod. I wonder how many people today remember that show.

Apparently, I must have been considering RCL Song of America as I have a brochure for just that ship - 1992 Ship of the Year!! All 37,000 GRT tons of her. The1,400 passengers must have been proud. Love the pictures with the 1980's hair and clothing styles.  And activities from water-balloon toss, tug-of-war, skeet-shooting and something called NovelQuest, which promises to get crazy. hmmmm???

Interesting, there were main and second seating for breakfast (7:00/8:30 am) and lunch (12:00 / 1:30 pm) as well?

There is a section on tipping but I won't get into that. 😉

Just realized this review is over a year old and the OP hasn't been on since Sept.

Still, I really like her writing style, pretty much the same way as my thinking style. And who doesn't appreciate some good sarcasm?

But it's going to take me a few days to wade thru this. I wonder if I can bookmark the last post read🤔

34 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

One of the big online TA's that advertises on CC lists their fake sales based on the MSRP. They list the inflated MSRP along with the current price which is the same price the cruise line is offering at the time.

Wow, so there really is a base MSRP price that can be used as a starting point.

I always thought the base price of a cabin was a mythical fable, like the price of an airline seat or Big Foot or unicorns & swinging pineapples.

I'd pick Harmony as it is almost $3000 cheaper, has cheaper flights to MCO and the kids have a decompress day before heading back to school. Since you'll be using the MDR, about the only thing the extra 3 grand will buy you is Laser Tag and a slightly newer ship.

Plus - not that this will be a make-or-break consideration - MCO has the most convenient airport car rental ever. We flew in on Jet Blue and the Hertz car lot is literally right outside the terminal. No shuttle bus to flag down or airport tram-thingies to take us to the fringes of the airport.  We were on our way in no time and it is a straight and easy drive. The Hertz drop-off is at a hotel but within view of the ship. The courtesy shuttle had us at the port in less than 5 minutes.  On the return, the courtesy shuttle was waiting for us. Less than $40 each way but I had a pretty hefty corporate discount and with only 2 of us, we had a compact car. Obviously, you'll need something bigger.  

The only downside was the incredibly long line that snaked thru the parking garage to board the ship @ 12:00 noon. Took almost 2 hours but was told later it was due to the semi-annual Coast Guard inspection. 

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Harmony and Symphony didnt start out in Florida.  They were used goods. 😉

Gently used.🙂

It's more like someone else had them for the break-in period, and then gave them to you and they were ready.😉

People's opinion's on chili are almost as strong as people's opinion on tipping 😉

I've never met a chili I didn't like.

14 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

They missed out on the entire Quantum class so far.

Yeah, I know. Right after I clicked "submit reply", I wondered if someone was going to call me out on Anthem sailing out of NY/NJ & not Florida. LOL.

I suppose it has to do with people considering it a "cool weather" ship? It's an amazing ship but I feel like it's more enclosed than the others. Hard to describe...the Solarium is a truly enclosed, the promenade deck doesn't wrap around the back. I just feel it doesn't have the same amount as outdoor space as other ships.

2 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

You could also pay as you go in the beginning and watch for the 10 drink card package. 

That might be a good option. Last cruise I was on - Liberty last month - the 10 drink card came out on the 3rd day & was priced at $79 but that might vary by ship.  If she is  primarily a beer drinker, you'll break even as the average price is $7-$9.  Anything stronger & you'll come out ahead. As far as I know, you can buy as many drink cards as needed.

The only caveat is not all sailings may offer the 10 drink card. Not sure if you can find out in advance.

1 hour ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

I agree. I think an older Oasis Class ship will go to Galveston.  If another goes to Australia I would say it too will be an older one. I have a feeling that they will want their new ships to be based out of Florida. Who knows if one ends up in Bayonne for the summer, but I say that’s a wait and see. 

 

Florida always get that newest and best ships.

For good reason I suppose. That's where the most passengers are.

2 hours ago, baabtx said:

if there isn't any construction on the Gulf Freeway (what it's called) then I'll thing somethings wrong!  For many of us from the Houston area that freeway has never really been completed as there has been construction on it since 1967!

I feel like every state has that one highway that's never quite competed. People work there entire lives on a 30-50 mile stretch of road and retire before the job is done.

2 hours ago, cruisenewb1 said:

I booked about 90 days before my Ovation cruise and am now 38 days away.

 

I’ve never seen North Star or Ifly appear on the booker.

 

Looking through forums it appears that’s because these book up months in advance?

 

Edit:

However, it looks like it is possible to either queue up or book slots on board.

 

I had no issues booking North Star once on board. You may even have luck just walking up and waiting a bit if it's not busy.

I did it when in port @ San Juan. Pretty cool way to see the port.  That also might explain the lack of a line (queue).

Two guys are walking thru the woods when a bear starts to chase them. First guy starts to run.

Second guy shouts out: "You can't possibly outrun a bear".

First guy replies: "I know. I just have to outrun you".  

   i crack me up

34 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

This has the most up to date information regarding releases.

 

https://loyaltoyoualways.com/deployment/

Perfect! This is exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you.