Cruising89143

OP is confused. Luminae was not open on port days. 

35 minutes ago, Phamer55 said:

I assume this will be free like Labadee and Coco Cay, but with special areas and excursions with significant upcharges.  I'm fine if this is the case, if I can get a free lounger and lunch, I'd be very happy to do this in Cozumel.  Looking forward to hearing more about this!

If it’s like the new yet to be built beach club on Paradise Island in Nassau then it will be an extra cost. It will not be included in the cruise fare like Labadee or Coco Cay. The new beach club at Paradise Island has a certain amount of spaces available and have to be reserved ($$$$$). 

Did not see this previously posted.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/03/royal-caribbean-announces-new-beach-club-in-cozumel/

I have been reading this same complaint for years here on CC. Nothing has changed. I look at it as what if it worked the opposite way and a cruise line could raise your fee as the ship started to meet full capacity? After I make final payment, I never check the current prices. This is not a rip off. You agreed to the price when you booked. 

Lois, we personally do not see a lot of changes that are negative. We look at being healthy and having the resources to cruise as a good thing and don’t worry about the little things. With having a suite, your room service will be included. Welcome back to X.

We like them and plan to use them in the fall for our TA. We don’t find them overpriced. We do our homework to make sure that we book with the right company. 

We cruise both Celebrity and Royal. Since most of your questions have been answered I will give you my two cents on specialty dining on Royal. We enjoy it. We do everything possible to avoid the MDR. We have found it loud and rushed. Again, our experience. We prefer the relaxed quiet atmosphere of specialty dining. If we’re not using specialty dining, we move to the Windjammer.

We currently have three four night cruises on the Navigator and one three night that bumps up to one of the four nighters. The four night cruises have been tame compared to some of the seven night cruises that we have taken. The ship is in driving distance for us as mentioned above, I’m not flying to board a ship for less than seven nights. We do have a fourteen night TA booked on the Odyssey later this year. 

Food is usually very subjective. We are the ones who enjoy Tuscan. Yes we have had an occasional meal there that did not add up but then I can say the same about other cruise lines. One of our worst meals was at Chops on Royal Caribbean but we still dine there as we have also had very good meals. The only way you will know is to try it for yourself. 

As I posted yesterday, we are not loyal to one cruise line. We do have three Royal cruises on the books this year with one being a TA. We liked the itinerary so we booked it. Price wasn’t bad either. For next year we found a Celebrity cruise to Bermuda in a Celebrity suite for much less than what Royal wanted. Celebrity does suites much better than Royal and in this case for a much better price. We have also booked a Christmas market River cruise on Avalon. Not cheap but on the bucket list. We will fill in with other cruises as we find ones that fit what we’re looking for. We have looked at Oceana but unless it’s one of their three larger ships, we will pass as we have no interest in those four smaller older ships. 
 

There is only one cruise line that we currently have no interest in but we want to try the MSC YC. We have had five booked on MSC but they were all canceled due to the pandemic. They’re moving the Bellissima to the west coast next fall. We will more than likely give them a try.  Looking around at the competition is a good thing if you’re not happy. 

We enjoy both lines for different reasons. Royal has better entertainment hands down. Especially the Oasis class. Lately we have found the service on Royal to be just as good or in some cases better than Celebrity. That never used to be the case. IMHO Celebrity has skewed more contemporary mass market getting closer to Royal Caribbean. I call it the Jason Liberty syndrome. 
 

Celebrity is a small step up in the food department. Royal can be more expensive than Celebrity so be careful. Especially when it comes to suites and Royal’s suite perks don’t match that of Celebrity’s retreat unless you book Star class. 
 

When it comes to Europe. As stated above you will have long days in ports. I look as the ship as a floating moving hotel that takes me from one location to another. Itinerary is much more important to us. For example we booked a TA for this fall. Royal won out with the itinerary over Celebrity.

We have enjoyed most of the shows on Royal with the exception of Chicago and 1977. 

24 minutes ago, Babblespeak said:

We thought so too, but they let us book 7 and 8 day cruises on the Celebration and an 8 day on the Panorama out of LA (which we’ve never done before).  Seemed worth it versus some 3 or 4 day booze cruise on a rust bucket like the Conquest or Liberty.  

We’re not willing to fly for a Carnival cruise. 🙂 That leaves us the Radiance, Panorama and Firenze. I have read about the nightmare embarkation/debarkation out of Long Beach. Terminal and area seems to small for the ships and large amount of passengers. We would rather just do a B2B on the Navigator before this if we want an easy drive to cruise. 

2 minutes ago, kruzerci said:

It’s 100% true. I see the prices regularly. 

No it’s not. We cruise on the NV multiple times a year and I can assure you the prices are not cheap. We all know that you have think Royal has hit rock bottom so some of us aren’t buying your stuff. 

We each receive two offers each and every week through Carnival’s casino program. Even that cannot get us back on Carnival. 

5 minutes ago, kruzerci said:

They will. They’re always practically giving away Navigator sailings. A lot of times they’re half the price of similar Bahamas sailings from Florida. Now they doubled the capacity. 

That has not been the case for a while. Not sure why you continue to post this?

On 2/24/2024 at 11:35 AM, PTC DAWG said:

I agree..I’m 60 and love the younger vibe, music etc..

Makes two of us.

Solstice will be closer to the Equinox than the Silhouette but the Soltice has not been Revolutionized/updated. The Equinox no longer has the wine bar as a Gastrpub was added in its place. The Solstice still has the wine bar. 
 

The Silhouette has the Lawn Cub Grill and The Porch. The Solstice does not and still has the gas blowing where the Lawn Club Grill is located on the Silly. Those are probably the biggest differences. 

No, have three on the books for this year but we also cruise other lines as well. Everyone should do what makes them happy. 

2 minutes ago, mo&fran said:

East coast ships goto Coco Cay where they siphon money out of cruisers wallets, without burning a lot of fuel doing it. they have to figure out how to more Oasis class ships with the existing terminals. THis year they had freedom class doing them

Seems to me they have figured it out. Also for all those complaining about the larger ships like Oasis class doing the shorter cruises, we read the same complaints right here on CC when the Voyager and Freedom class moved to the three and four day itineraries. 

14 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Royal is taking newer ships on shorter itineraries to an all new level. Even I'm surprised and didnt thjnk royal could surprise. Too short. Waste of a nice new ship. 

I read a recent article that stated the shorter cruises are much more popular now. Royal is simply taking advantage of this current situation. The article also stated that the shorter cruises worked out better financially for Royal.

42 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

The NV rates for the same time that QN operates from San Pedro don't look at all appealing to me.  Are you seeing cheaper rates for west coast residents?

Not referring to rates when it comes to choosing. I will take the NV over the QN when it comes to the two ships. Plus the NV offers seven night cruises that does the traditional MR and the QN does not. Ensenada leaves a lot to be desired. 

The itineraries leave a lot to be desired. Also, the prices are ridiculous based on the itineraries. Give me the NV any day.

1 hour ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

 

We are also disappointed with the lack of longer cruises, newer ships and unusual destinations in Europe.

 

Couldn’t find anything of any value over the next couple of years, so have booked a couple with Celebrity instead.

 

It’s like Royal are completely giving up and abandoning the European market, especially ex-UK and Northern Europe.

 

Even when they have the opportunity to do something good, such as longer cruises on Quantum out of LA, they do the opposite and offer virtually the same short itineraries but just on two different ships. I see 2 ships being a ‘one season wonder’ to be honest.

It looks as though RCI is moving to shorter cruises and trying to push those wanting longer itineraries to Celebrity. I looked at the QN cruises out of LA. Looks like they drawn up or planned by a third grader. No imagination at all. 

I read several articles where both Michael Bayley and Jason Liberty stated that the Allure will be fully amped and will also receive some of the learnings from the Icon so this is more than a carpet refreshment. 
 

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/02/royal-caribbeans-liberty-allure-to-undergo-modernization/#google_vignette