StLucia

Thank you for more of your amazing photos. I love the way you are 'drip feeding us'! It's as though we are travelling across the pacific with you.

Stunning photos, thank you for sharing. Looking forward to seeing your Hawaii shots.

This is really interesting I had these strange sensations for weeks after we returned from our rather rough return Hawaii. It was very unpleasant and I even had it in bed at night. I thought it was just me, didn't know it's a recognised condition. Never had it before, I put it down to 9 rough sea days. Thanks for the info.

StLucia, I defer to your engineering expertise but I can tell you that the Azipod bearings on Arcadia are not yet "overdue for maintenance".

I have no engineering experience but the poster, Lenny 13 ask if anyone had experience of vibration at the back. We definitely did. Arcadia is overdue for maintenance, as I'm sure you know her planned dry dock was postponed. She was certainly in better condition in August than she was the previous December but there must be something wrong when the glasses rattle during diner because of the vibration. But that's just my humble opinion.

We had an aft cabin on E deck and did not experience any problems with vibration. However the same cannot be said for the Meridian restaurant. We had a table for 8 on the upper deck next to the aft windows, the vibration and noise at times was very severe during our late dining. It was very noticable and spoilt a lovely table as we had to raise our voices to talk to our table companions. I would agree that it was worse when the sea was moving more, but it certainly was not rough, we had wonderful calm seas. We all thought it sounded like a worn bearing was vibrating. She is overdue for maintenance!

I didn't realise being on the hump was such a popular position. I've just checked and we're in the middle of the hump on Solstice Panorama 9236. Anyone been in this cabin? Really starting to look forard to this cruise booked nealry a year ago.

Reading this thread reminded me of my first cruise and educational trip in 1970, not on Uganda but on USSR Nadezhda Krupskaya. An amazing experience, we went to the Baltic visiting Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm and Leningrad (St Petersburg as it is now). My children cannot believe we visited the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. Like you in Biscay I remember the North Sea crossing as being very rough. I've just done a search and found a picture of all 5200 tons of her, its no wonder she got bounced around in rough seas. Rather different to Ventura who we are sailing on next month!

Glad to see you were saddened!

 

Dont think I made my self clear enough to you with regard your sarcasm about using the lift.

 

Have you tried carrying a pram up 5 flights of stairs, while trying to hold a small childs hand at the same time when you suffer from muscle weakness!! Now I agree not all disabilities are evident however the pram was surely a give away as to my need to use a lift?

 

To then wait your turn for a lift to be then jostled and pushed out of the way and worse still to try and step over my pram which happened on numerous occasions almost kicking my child in the face.

 

These seemingly poor, disabled, elderly people would have given a champion sprinter a run for there money.

 

So pardon me for thinking my need was just as worthy as theres in relation to using the lift.

 

All I ask is they like me wait there turn and maybe just try a little smile when smiled at.

 

In addition RESPECT is a two way thing, show a little and you will receive a lot.

 

:p :D :)

You did not explain in your previous posting that you were waiting at a lift with a pram. Clearly if you were, you needed to use the lift. I was not being sarcastic in relation to the lift merely honest. I have also brought up my own children but I always did and still do give way to disabled and the elderly.

This is clearly an emotive subject, but we all need to show a little more consideration to each other in life and on this board.

The rudeness I have experienced on cruises was always from the Adults only brigade who with walking stick in hand would knock over my kids to get on the lifts before them. Like they had some define right to queue jump kids.

 

 

I am fed up apologising for the fact my kids are sharing your air space and will no longer tolerate this abusive rude behaviour, and will challenge this on future cruises.

I was saddened to read your comments. I do not use a walking stick, also I avoid using lifts and walk instead, because I'm able to, I leave the lifts to for those who have no choice. Maybe one day you’ll be disabled and need to use a lift. No, I do not agree that people should be rude to other adults or children. But I do not think your attitude to this sets a good example to your children. Yes, we have booked a cruise on Ventura, and I have not got a particular problem that there will be children on board. But I do think that children should be encouraged to respect others who are not as able as they are young or old.

I agree meal times with young children is never nice, we tried the formal sittings only once and never again. We now use the anytime choice, and take the children to the buffet or the pizza area. Then ship them off to kids club and we can then go and enjoy a nice quite meal without them. Large ships are great for getting away from anyone, there is always an area that you can find without anyone around. Adult only pools and of course children only pools do help.

 

Hope you enjoy your big ship experience :)

 

Rob.

 

ps, we do take the children out on formal nights, very early (feed and get photos - then off to the kids club with them). ;)

It would be wonderful if everyone took your approach to ensuring that not only your family but also your fellow cruisers enjoy themselves.

Our children are no way well behaved, they are like you say loud and very annoying. That is why in the summer holidays I send them off to our house in France for 6 weeks with the wife. That way I can continue to work and have some piece at home. :D

 

Rob.

Good One!!

WOW this is great so controversial!

I like the way some subscribers are inferring their children are always well behaved! Children are by their nature loud and annoying, and adults, particularly those whose children have flown the nest, can do without them!

I don't know how people can afford to take their children on a cruise, with or without child discount!

We never took our children out of school, I think it creates a wrong impression to encourage this practice. There are more than enough school holidays to plan round and people should just cut their cloth accordingly!

Yes if you dont like kids or feel that they spoil the enjoyment of you're holiday then do not plump for a family ship or cruises that are within the school holidays.

To be fair its just as hard for families to tolerate the rudeness and suffer the moaning just as much as it is for you to tolerate the children, especially when you dont need to being that there are adult only ships.

Lou

We are cruising on Ventura's transatlantic in October and chose this cruise for a number of reasons, not least because we like large ships. I would not have thought a cruise with so many sea days would be the best choice for families. This is not our first cruise, all our others have included children and we have never experienced any problems. However, we have had problems in hotels when children are allowed to create havoc. No one, child or adult should have to tolerate bad behaviour.

I can't be totally certain but of you avoid July and August and the School Holidays it should minimise the the number of kids on board. Those with school age kids should be able to give you better idea as when the holidays are, as I have lost touch. With Ventura being so family friendly you won't ever get it kid free. It's obvious, but the only way to guarantee "no-kids" it is to book the adults only ships, Arcadia and Artemis.

 

My wife and I are booked on N818A Caribbean repositioning cruise departing on 24/10/2008 and anticipate that there will be a minimal number of kids on board. If this is the case it will mean we can have more goes on Scalextric and Cirque Ventura. :D

 

Eddie

We have also booked on this transatlantice cruise and I found out yesterday that the first week is half term! I personally would not take a child on a ship with so many sea days so maybe it will be okay. We have booked late sitting club dining so hopefully most children are either on freedom dining or early club.

Its okay to say book on a child free ship, but that normally costs a lot more?