chadbeck

Its not the ship that matters. Its the tenders that have to leave and enter that little channel. It can get pretty wild if the wind is blowing directly in to the little shallow opening.

Hi Robyn! Like you, DH and I are taking our first cruise to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. I'm a bit apprehensive, but am also really looking forward to experiencing something new. We're sailing 3/22 in a GS. My questions for you are:

 

1. There was a lot of talk here on CC during dry dock about Royal refurbing rooms. Can you confirm whether all suites were refurbed?

 

2. We have reservations at each of the speciality restaurants. Can you share your thoughts on food/service if you dine at any of the venues.

 

Looking forward to reading your report. Have a fantastic trip and happy anniversary.

 

Not to take away from the live report but I can answer these and then maybe the op with have a different take on things.

 

1.I was in a g.s and it was not refurbed but it is a great room. The room didn't look worn or appear to need any refurb. The concierge is great and very helpful. You will enjoy it. Friends stayed in a js. and this room was also the same as previous trips.

 

2. I ate in all of the restaurants. Gio's was very good. I loved the veal. It can end up being a ton of food with it being family style.

 

Sabor may have been my favorite meal all week. The service was great. I highly recommend the chicken stuffed with jalapeño and wrapped in bacon. It was awesome. If you are looking for authentic Mexican then this isn't it but still really good. The pulled pork tacos also really good.

 

Chops was typical of past experiences for me. I have always liked everything there and this was no different.

 

If I was to rank my experience it would be Sabor, Gio's, & Chops. I was on the first week after dry dock so I imagine things in Sabor/Gios will only improve as the staff gets used to the restaurants in the coming weeks. You will have a great week. The staff across the board may have been the best I have sailed with. Very friendly and helpful across the board.

We were in an aft balcony on 10th floor on the 2/1 cruise. Of course, we snuck a peek in rooms while they were cleaning. I've only seen pictures of the suites before, but the OS, JS, and Royal Suite looked essentially the same as pictures I've seen online. We walked past 1648 and 1650 every day along with all the JS's on that side.

 

You are correct. I was on the same cruise and stayed in a gs with friends in a js no changes. Captain also said only changes in dry dock were the new restaurants, new cabins being added, fixed propulsion issues, & hull inspection was done. The suites had all the same furniture, carpet, bedding, balcony furniture. If changes were made it wasn't noticeable from previous trips in either category. I talked with the people in the royal suite and was able to take a look inside also no change. Maybe other decks things had been change but not on deck 10.

Hi everyone, just joined forum today as potential first time cruiser with Freedom of Seas Royal Family Suite on 24 hold for late May sailing. I'm looking to finalize since I assume propulsion will get resolved by then.

 

Has anyone confirmed that all of the full suites got a refresh? I have scanned this entire thread and cant find confirmation if the RFS (or any other "suites") got a face lift during the January dry dock.

 

Thanks in advance....

 

I looked in a the rfs on my trip and didn't appear to be any changes. I know the jr's/grands weren't any different

Has this happened on any of the other 7 cruises? Allure? I assume the conversion they gave you is low but did you look to see what the rate was for that day? Right now the conversion is 1.25 so if they use a current rate to convert wouldn't it cost you more to have them change. I know its the principal of it but when I look at what the rates had been a $15-$30 difference on every 1k doesn't seem worth the effort to me.

In my experience it was as follows

 

Boarding-Yes

 

Robes-Yes

 

Reserved Seating-Was allowed after I asked if a couple minutes before a show they weren't being used

 

WB-yes

 

TT-Never go as it always seems to be during a meal time

 

Bridge tour-Was told no both times I have asked(I did ask both times only a day or two before the set time. It may have made a difference if I asked right after boarding to give them the first part of the cruise to clear someone?)

 

Galley-Yes

 

Theater-Yes

 

I don't think you will get a consistent answer, it will very by person, ship, and how they feel the day you ask.

[quote name='Ourusualbeach']It will be returned.

Q: Can I bring liquor or non-alcoholic beverages (from home or from a port) onboard?

A:
Guests are not allowed to bring beer, hard liquor, fortified wines or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use on boarding day or while in port. [COLOR="Red"]Alcoholic beverages seized on boarding day will not be returned.[/COLOR]

Guests wishing to bring personal wine and champagne onboard may do so only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom. [COLOR="DarkRed"]Additional bottles of wine beyond two (2) bottles that are brought onboard or any alcoholic beverages purchased in ports of call or from Shops On Board will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the sailing. [/COLOR]

Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them.

Note: All guests must comply with TSA guidelines for transporting liquids.[/QUOTE]


It says it won't be

 

The mere notion that a simple MD would trump my PHD in Theoretical Physics is not only implausible but inconceivable.

 

:D :D :D

 

You win the internet today for this post.

I find it hard to believe only one person would get food poisoning on a ship that size. Its not like meals are made to order and with everything being done it bulk wouldn't it contaminate the rest of the food being made using said contaminated product. Seeing as the op said it was a couple of days into the cruise did they get off the ship at the first port? Did they eat or drink anything on shore? Based on the fact I'm sure rccl is asking these same questions and if no other reports came up I think the comp is perfectly fair.

 

This of course is my opinion. I'm not a doctor, detective, or chef. I just pretend on the interwebs

So did you move the clock back during the first sea day then? And did you arrive at 8:00 local, on time?

 

It depends on the Captain. I have been on some cruises that they change the time in the middle of the night each time you change time zones. Others have just stayed on the same time zone as the port of departure. More often than not on my cruises the ship stayed on the local port time zone and not switched when getting to the islands.

We were on that cruise in January, they do a beautiful pool deck party that they had local dancers come on to do a show for us, the officers serve food and what not, I am not kidding that I saw more white robes up there for that event. There were at least 50% of people wearing them, dancing and eating and what not. It was awful!!

I see nothing wrong with wearing them to and from the pool...

 

This wasn't for the white party was it? I have seen people do it for that but other than people wearing them for that at midnight I haven't seen anyone in public spaces wearing them. I personally wouldn't do it but if someone feels the need leaving the pool than knock yourself out.

They should be enforcing it at this venue. The entire point is a formal venue from the past. If they don't enforce formal attire what is the point? With that said I doubt they will enforce it based on their track record of doing so.

I would dive in Barbados. They have many nice sites and the viz has always been good for me. I would skip St. Maarten/Antigua not great sites at either location imo. St. Thomas/St. Lucia I always dive lots of great sites to see if you get away from the cruise ship and book on your own.

You're due into Bermuda at 6:30ish. I can watch you dock via the Port of Bermuda live webcam.

 

Your Itinerary looks interesting with the stop in Charleston. What did you do and see there.

 

 

If you go back a few pages he has everything from their lunch spot with friends and the "excursion" listed

The only thing that matters to me is the discount on rooms. I did receive every pin on my first cruise after and I just returned them to guest services as I have no use for them.

Like others have said don't even worry about it just show up. I have been upgraded, had the porter fill out tags for the new room, checked in and switched to another room at check in. Royal moved all my bags for me once on the ship. No big deal enjoy the great upgrade.

Last Jan. I had Seattle's Best but that could've changed.

On my last cruise a lady at our table had a medical issue that required a specific diet.(No clue if it was the same as you) What happened was at the end of each meal they would bring her a menu, she would select what meat she wanted the next night, and they would make it accordingly to fit her needs. The biggest issue was she always had to have a set time for dinning even being mtd. She also was required to sit in the same head waiters section each night. They had the system in place and it worked well so they do have the ability to make your vacation enjoyable and safe I'm sure.

Isn't that what CC and these boards are all about?? -----Finding the answers to your million questions you have before going on a cruise? :o

 

 

The OP came on here pouring salt on an open wound that she gave herself by not being open-minded and making demands on the first hour of her vacation. Had she come on here, even weekly before her Alaskan Cruise vacation and RESEARCHED she would have learned the difference between a sleeper chair/sofa bed/pullman bed. She could have also learned about the ENTIRE ship/food/entertainment/activities... etc.

 

I'd also like to point out... the dedicated thread for cabin info.

 

Doing research and exploring your horizons can not only educate you, but make you a better person.

 

 

This! Also seeing as the OP started this thread about doing this trip it would have been pretty easy to find out the info before having to deal with any of it. I'm sure someone on here would have been able to help out last year with the cabin choice that fit best what they wanted for their travel group.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1848733

Loved the review/writing style. Maybe don't diagnose any dive related accidents. N.N and Bends are very different things.

I would Purchase DAN insurance when you sign up to take the class. I chose the expensive policy ($75 a year). Family DAN coverage is very reasonable.

I also have travel insurance that I pay for yearly (only $200) AND DAN insurance.

To get the travel insurance I buy, you must have medical insurance through work or Medicare.

DAN insurance covers you with any water related accidents, not just scuba diving.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

If you're planning on getting a cert. then this is must follow advice. Any diver should be carrying dive insurance. If something should happen it will be really, really, expensive with out insurance. Some of the places that ships stop can be remote when it comes to proper care for dive accidents and evacuation could be needed.

I have bought watches on the ship and always saved at least $50 off prices online and in my area. A few things to keep in mind, the price on the first day will be the price on the last day. They don't have a "watch sale" the discount of 15%,40%, or whatever is the same each day. The price you see on the sticker doesn't factor the discount. So it really is better to get it one of the first days so if you're in port and see it less they will correct the price for you.

Ate in Chops on Freedom last month-it was very good! Originally we chose Portofino (ate there on Freedom 4 years ago and it was outstanding), but we did not care for their current menu. We love seafood, but there was nothing that caught our eye except for the seafood skewer, which we've already tried.

 

I always enjoy Chops but will miss Portofino as they have always had the better steak for some reason. The seafood on a massive fish hook is a good choice as well.

Ok..so tonight is the 1st time I have heard of the cabin 6305..we would be able to get all the benefits from the CL?? What all does that include??

 

 

I would look for someone recent that has been on this ship and in that room. There have been mixed reports about getting access to the cl.

Really could go either way. I have had it twice when all the jr suites happened to be booked. Once I still got a jr suite(assuming someone with a higher level got moved up over me) & the other I ended up with a os when it was all said and done. On the second one I didn't find out about the owners until I was checking in at the pier. All of my paperwork had said a g.s so my luggage even went to the wrong room and they had to move it for me later in the evening. So until you check in really everything is up for grabs.