Engineroom Snipe

6 hours ago, KuffMUp said:

 The food is prepared in the same fashion as a large event at a convention. In mass quantities and held for service. Considering how they have to cook for several thousand guests, I am amazed at times that the food is as good as it is. 

@KuffMUp

My wife and I have aligned our expectations on Royal cruise food to be similar to your opinion. We still cruise like you mentioned but we are cruising maybe two times a year instead of three or four. Cruises are still a good deal but far from the great deal they were years ago.

Your comments reflect our observations.

6 hours ago, Tatka said:

We are on Symphony. Quality of food and choices are very good. 
First buffet in Windjammer included so much seafood

 

1. Lobster tails

2. Crabs 

3. Various types of clams

4.  Limes stuffed with salmon 

5. Lemons stuffed with tuna

6. Shrimp

7. Paella with seafood.

8. Octopus 

 

Food in MDR is also of very good quality.

 

 

Been forever since I have seen an ice sculpture. Almost like a time machine picture of two decades ago.............

1 hour ago, chengkp75 said:

Pretty disturbing article here in Maritime Executive, where MDOT, USCG, Corps of Engineers, and port authorities were warned 2 decades ago about the danger to the bridge, from a senior Maryland pilot, who persisted for 10 years, until he retired, at which time all discussion of the danger to the bridge from a ship strike stopped.  Reasons for not considering upgrades to the bridge were "high cost".

 

As noted in the article, the Delaware Memorial bridge is undergoing upgrades to the bridge dolphins, started 10 years ago, which will cost $92 million, as opposed to the $2 billion estimated cost to replace the Key bridge.

 

This will make it hard for the various government agencies to try to collect the lion's share of the replacement cost from the shipping companies involved.

 

https://maritime-executive.com/article/senior-maryland-pilot-warned-officials-of-risk-of-bridge-strike-for-years

This could apply to cyber security for water systems and electrical grids as well as the coastal routes for ships. I could find fault with just about every single system that has been hacked over the last twenty years in need of infrastructure improvement (servers with updated operating systems and firewalls). There is no funding available for prevention but almost unlimited funding trying to restore services after a severe incident. 

So many identified weaknesses in need of funding.

The question ends up as what are the highest priorities?

The latest to fail gets headlines and publicity but it does not change the final equation.

What are we willing to remedy with taxpayers dollars?

"Am I willing to be taxed or charged a fee for the necessary improvements?"

Everyone agrees that improvements need to be made and everyone agrees that someone else needs to pay for it.

NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) evolves into LMWA (Leave My Wallet Alone).

I cannot count the amount of people who begged me at any cost to restore a system after they have been hacked. I offered to design an encrypted back-up system previous to the incident to be told that monies were not available.

Similar to this situation, spending millions would be saving billions.

Your comments strike home.

4 minutes ago, TPKeller said:

 

From later in the press release I posted above:

 

"To restore the Federal Channel to its original 700-foot width and 50-foot depth, USACE continues to clear wreckage from the riverbed. The continued work involves digging out the bottom cord of the remaining truss and cutting it into three sections to safely lift the wreckage.

 

[...]

 

Only about one-third of this truss is visible above the water as it stretches down to the riverbed and sits buried in the mud line. Based on the latest dive surveys and engineer analyses conducted after precision cutting and refloating the M/V Dali, the work to restore the Federal Channel is projected to conclude between June 8-10. The adjusted timing accounts for the complexity of the cutting and rigging required to lift portions of the large span. It also accounts for safety measures and possible inclement weather potentially impacting ongoing salvage operations."

 

Theron

Dog gone it!  I paid all of those shady lawyers all of that money as a precaution!

Call my accountant and argue for $0.20 on the dollar!

Glad to see that the Vision of the Seas can make her sailings and things are getting better.

Even with all of their projections, the ultimate measure is when insurance companies can be "assured" there are no adverse risks and vessel traffic proceeds without special conditions.

That is when things go back to "normal".

Very happy to see so much progress in so little time.

😁

7 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

 

"I can bet my house against having all of the above done before June 1st, 2024."

 

Looks like you need to deed over your house to all the workers that completed the tasks before  June 1st.  😉

@Another_Critic.

You need to read all of the posts on this thread, especially post #749, as I have hired some of the best shady lawyers available for just such an occasion......

🤣

30 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

 

Time to eat your words?  😛

Absolutely delighted to say I was wrong and will happily eat my words with humility.

How would you like me to do so?.

I have talked to new cruisers on every ship I was on. Many do ask for insight as they enjoy the present cruise and plan another.

They have been in their late twenties and thirties which is about the target audience of current cruise advertising.

Rarely do I find someone who read what the travel insurance covers when they stated they purchased travel insurance.

Just about half do not purchase it because they believe they are healthy and young.

I jokingly say I am older and aware of how small things like slip and falls can happen on any vacation let alone a cruise vacation.

Depending on the damage, I will might need treatment on the ship or left at a hospital on shore as the ship leaves. If there are complications, I would certainly want medical transport to a hospital in my local area at home. I check for what the medical transport covers and what restrictions they place on the transport in every policy I buy (I do not do enough international travel yet to justify a yearly policy yet).

I never hit the new cruisers with the "you are stupid for not getting travel insurance" but they start to think about how anyone can have a slip and fall regardless of age on a ship or vacation.

Travel insurance is not at the top of any new cruiser's list unless they watch cruise videos or read blogs about what happens when things go wrong without it.

3 hours ago, Scotty G said:

We have switched from My Time to Early Seating since My Time scheduling was getting too late. Our dinners in the Main Dining room have been excellent so we continue to have our evening meals there and in Specialty restaurants rather than the WJ.

I have not done specialty dining and maybe it is a bit of stubbornness that I do not want to encourage Royal to charge more for a good meal (I know, another hot topic which has been extensively discussed in many threads so no reason to add more here).

I agree with your post. My Time dining is hard to get earlier than 6:45pm. We have chosen late MDR on the past two cruises which fits our schedule and saves time not being in any lines.

The Windjammer has acceptable and adequate food for dinner.

I tend to like the MDR just because when I was young MANY decades ago, my parents taking the family out to a "formal" dinner was special.

I think I still secretly long for those memories.

3 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Same with Vision, sailing from Baltimore. A few 5-nighters to Bermuda, but most cruises are 9 or 12-13 nights.  And not many children, although increased numbers in the summer.

Quite a few, "Kids Sail Free" on the Vision this summer. There is only one pool that is available for anyone under 21, one rock climbing wall, shuffleboards, and a small arcade (that on my last cruise in April had multiple machines 'Not in Service') for youth activities.

This should be one of the last ships that I would want a "Kids Sail Free" during the height of the summer.

On our April cruise, we had running, door knocking, door slamming and more between 10:30pm and 3:00am. I am not blaming the energy of young children looking for a way to entertain themselves when there are no organized activities for them to do. This was while school was in session and by my observations, a small amount of cruisers under the age of 18.

Yes, I could blame their parents for not trying to discipline them but that is a wasted battle in today's world.

As an older cruiser, going on the Vision during summer with "Kids Sail Free" is a buyer beware caveat. Do not complain about children when you absolutely know that they will be high energy during these cruises. We do not sail with Royal on any cruises between June and August on the US continent.

If you are not prepared for family action during these periods, pick another cruise line.

I an not complaining, just realistic. Know before you go.

1 minute ago, Pratique said:

The electricians at Disney "yelled" at us for over-exercising the breakers. We had computer controlled under-voltage relays that would trip the high voltage breakers during an emergency stop. During testing we performed hundreds of emergency stops and we wore out the breakers. Which were expensive to replace. So after we tested the relays, we bypassed them to prevent over-exercising the breakers.

So sad, I feel your pain. So many companies "bypass" safety in the search for profits.

I try to fight the good fight, but even I have been "bypassed" by superiors not because my technical analysis was flawed, but for "other" reasons.

I have been reticent to talk about this issue since their are experts far superior than me who have commented.

I can say I am a licensed electronic and electrical authority on land but not at sea.

Transformers can be rated for "dry", "damp", and "wet" conditions. The testing requirements on land are very specific.

Consider a substation oil cooled transformer that operates at voltages in excess of 10,000 volts AC year long exposed to the elements with a projected life span of twenty some years without failure.

That transformer is not concerned about weather conditions, humidity, or rain. What does affect it is heat.

If a transformer is subjected to conditions that was not listed and approved for usage, it will fail. I would hope that any transformers used on a ship would be rated for wet service and not fail due to condensation or moisture. Most transformers are not rated for "flood" service which would completely immerse them is water. Flooded transformers are very costly but are available.

Breakers are a whole different situation. There are inrush calculations, maximum surge calculations, environmental calculations as well as manufacturer cut-sheets for "exercise".

All breakers can oxidize due to environmental conditions affecting the physical contact surfaces and material. A breaker designed for aluminum wiring and copper wiring will have completely different ratings at different temperatures according to their listing and labeling.

There is so much more investigation necessary to come up with a conclusive finding.

Original approved design specifications..

Expected lifetime of original design.

Modification of original design.

Exercise of breakers.

What the hell, "Did you just say exercise of breakers?"

Not many people know that the manufacturer of most breakers installed in their homes "recommend" that the breakers be turned off and on once per year to "refresh" the physical electrical surfaces.

Reading the listing and labeled official cut-sheets of electrical equipment is critical to design, installation, maintenance and inspection of such items.

When I do inspections, I ask the contractor for the cut-sheets. If they do not have them, it is a huge red flag.

There are so many variables.

3 minutes ago, nferr said:

 

Try other lines and see if the quality more meets your expectations. 

I would rather stay with Royal because I like their service. There are some meals which are done very well.

My mantra, "I just wish they would be reasonable." I do not need a Grand Slam or Home Run every meal. Just give me a solid base hit on every meal and maybe a home run every other day.

Walks can get you through one inning but too many strike-outs will get you removed to the minors and looking for another team to try-out.

Let's "Play Ball!"

🤣

On my two most recent cruises:

Staff service was excellent.

First cruise, almost all MDR meals were good cuts of beef, the salmon was very good, with a few VERY good dishes.

Second cruise, my excellent waiter gently steered us away from dishes which he thought "were not the best" on the menu (after I asked him what was not being consumed after service on the first dining MDR). He so politely understood my question without denigrating the kitchen or the chef.

The food in MDR still seems to be hit or miss. I enjoy the hits and I try to "miss" the "misses".  Smile, work with your waiter, and make the best of what is offered.

😁

1 hour ago, SUESEABE said:

I too am concerned parking my PA licensed vehicle in public parking garage in Norfolk.  Where did you end up parking?

Asphalt Lots, Chesapeake, VA. They are on Facebook. They had not done cruise parking before and were on a learning curve. Very secure, price was less than normal cruise parking with shuttle included. I liked the ability to reserve and prepay which enured a spot. I would use them again compared to the cruise recommended parking sites.

5 minutes ago, Hutcha said:

I did Icon in March. The UDP credit was per venue / per day. I was traveling with a D+ couple that thought it was just $20 per day, and had to confirm it with the staff. 

 

• For venues with a la carte pricing, you’ll receive a $20 food credit — with the exception of Izumi in the Park, where you’ll receive a $10 food credit. Credits can only be used once a day.

 

The way I read this, and the way it was implemented on my last cruise, each venue has a $20 food credit, and it can be used daily. I also came to these boards to clarify this question before our cruise.

Good clarification from real world experience. I would have mistakenly read it as one credit use per day instead of one credit use per day at the same venue.

Thanks.

Very interesting discussion. I doubt I would ever make Pinnacle in my lifetime. I do enjoy my present Loyalty Perks but there is so much more to see outside of cruises. If I had a cruise point for every time I have camped in a forest, I would be double Pinnacle.

Again, a very lively discussion as I sail away on a future cruise, be it Royal or other.

I am sure that each cruise line has a similar discussion regarding their loyalty program.

Regards to all.

1 minute ago, cruisegus said:

So tired of this, just set a level, 1050, 1400, 1750 2800. Just make it a known.

Option: Allow at least each Pinnacle's BOGO at "All Specialty Resuturants" any day of cruise and extend $25 dining voucher to all ships.  You can then keep CK and Suite lounge for Suite Guests.

You are so loyal to Royal. I understand this. If Royal is not loyal to those have cruised to get more than 1000+ points, why would anyone want to follow in your footsteps?

I am so many cruise points much lower than you.

Is it worth it to be loyal to Royal?

Each sea day is so much more expensive than in the past.

Oh, to only have the problem of getting Pinnacle access perks........

I do not have to lose any sleep over that thought!

🤣

1 minute ago, Nebr.cruiser said:

As a former lifeguard I am often appalled at the number of parents who stick a life jacket, or worse, arm floaties on a child and figure they are safe and can be ignored watched casually. This is especially true for any child under 5 and/or Non swimmers.  

 

Even approved life jackets cannot prevent some awful accidents.  Parents should always be right with their children within an arm's reach with eyes on the child. Children can drown with almost no noise--often just slip beneath the surface.

 

Also, swim diapers don't keep everything out of the water!

Well stated.

Floaties and Class Three life jackets are not "self righting". This means the person will float on top of the water but their face will not be self righting and they will drown floating on the water face-down.

You are very experienced and I appreciate your comments on this matter.

I have gone to the Loyal Ambassador with specific complaints about my cruise. Not to make noise, not to get credits, just to first person report my observations.

The most I was offered later that evening was a bottle of wine which I refused.

My critique was not to get something more, it was just feedback.

Two days later, I was offered much more than a bottle of wine which I refused again.

I sensed during the last day of the cruise, panic started to ensue. I was directly contacted by my cabin attendant that it was urgent to contact the food service director about my concerns.

That was in April, 2022, during the opening after covid.

Crickets ever since. The ships are sailing full at record pricing.

I doubt anyone is getting any type of this compensation in the current cruise environment.

Cruises are running at 107% capacity.

Money talks, and the rest of us can walk if we do not want to pay the current fares.

I was on the Vision of the Seas this past April and the ONE pool available for all ages was shutdown due to a similar incident late morning on a sea day.

Imagine this on an August Cruise where kids sail free only having ONE pool area. When that pool area gets shut down for any reason, game over. Too many young people with so much pent-up energy with nothing else to do except a rock climbing wall (which may not be available at that specific time).

Nothing else for children to do onboard but shuffleboard and the rock climbing wall.

As anyone could imagine, the four general public hot tubs were packed during this time. Literally, if someone lowered a body into the tubs, someone would be forced out by displacement.

On the Vision, I would much rather do the free steam and sauna rooms multiple times a day before using the pools. I enjoy swimming and being in the water, but I could not move or turn around without trying to avoid children and adults. I was not trying to swim at the time. I was just trying to walk slowly from end to end for a bit of water exercise.

I find a good place in the shade and just chill, watch the ocean go by, sip a cold drink, maybe do some word puzzles, and appreciate not having to do anything at all.

Pools and hot tubs can be fun under the right circumstances but these were heavily overloaded.

26 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

 I think they had a touch of diamond dust glued on, but I'm not sure.

You are being very generous and kind with this comment as we get back on topic (which I am guilty of driving off into a tangent with my drag racer remark).

I am going to end the discussion as quickly as I can regarding all of the brief comments:

Drag racers are not the only ones leaving skid marks on this thread.

🤣

10 minutes ago, doghog said:

D+ and Pinnacle laundry perk, so why not. Pictures to follow. 🤣

Sounds like the name of a new detergent:

D+P Laundry Detergent, take you dirty clothes to another level of clean.

😁

8 hours ago, Biker19 said:

It might be worth a few $ on eBay.

The old adage, "If you've got it, flaunt it."

This expression originates in the 1967 movie The Producers, written and directed by Mel Brooks. The phrase was shouted out the window by Max Bialystock (played by Zero Mostel): "That's it, baby, when you've got it, flaunt it! Flaunt it!"

"That's Entertainment" (1974).