ashley@cruisecritic

I have read mixed reviews on being able to open the balcony dividers between cabins. We have two 2 bedroom haven suites booked for June (they are right next to each other) and we would like to open the balcony divider for the entire cruise so we can use the space as one larger balcony for the family. Can you please check to see if they will allow this?

Hi, maja651. There's a cabin tour on the sailing, so I'll see what I can find out for you.

I'm so jealous!! I would love to check out the Getaway before our trip in June. I don't know how I missed out on this. Is it sold out?

Hi, Cruisegirl2004. I just checked Norwegian's site, and the sailing isn't listed. I'm taking that to mean it's either sold out or wasn't available to the general public. (I'm onboard as a member of the press for CC, and my fellow passengers are mostly other members of the media and travel agents.) However, it does look like there's a two-night Bahamas sailing available out of New York from Feb. 3-5 (after the ship transitions from the Bud Light Hotel back into Getaway after the "Big Game"). It ends in Nassau, though, so you'd have to fly back home after disembarking.

Will you be doing your video "tour" of the ship during your cruise? When can we expect it? thanks!

Hi dalgirl. I won't be doing a full video tour, but I'll likely be doing video snippets of some sort. I'm not sure yet when or where they'll be posted, but I'll let you know as soon as I find out. Three of my CC colleagues will also be onboard Getaway for the Christening Feb. 7-8, so there will likely be additional video content coming from them, as well.

Hello, will there be different acts in the grammy experience or a resident artist?

HowardK, LrgPizza is correct. The acts will change every few weeks. The first one scheduled is Latin Grammy award-winning jazz flutist Nestor Torres, who will join the ship in February.

I'll see what else I can find out for the rest of you. Keep the questions coming!

Hi all,

I'll be sailing on Norwegian Getaway on the Jan. 27-29 cruise to nowhere out of New York. While onboard, I'll also be attending a Q&A session. I haven't been told who, exactly, will be on the panel yet, but I assume there will be some NCL execs. If there's something you're dying to know, post it, and I'll do my best to get as many questions answered as I can. (Please try to keep them Getaway related.)

Thanks!

Hi all,

I'll be sailing on Norwegian Getaway on the Jan. 27-29 cruise to nowhere out of New York. While onboard, I'll also be attending a Q&A session. I haven't been told who, exactly, will be on the panel yet, but I assume there will be some NCL execs. If there's something you're dying to know, post it below, and I'll do my best to get as many questions answered as I can. (Please try to keep them Getaway related.)

Thanks!

Thanks so much for your feedback, all. I appreciate it!

Hi guys,

I'm just curious what you all look for when researching ports pre-cruise. What sort of information do you like to see? What's most helpful to you? If you'd care to take my poll, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

P&O Cruises has three ships in its fleet that are for adults only: Arcadia, Adonia and Oriana. There are some caveats, however. P&O is a British line, so you'd likely have to take a longer flight to reach your embarkation port. It also tends to draw an older clientele. But you won't find any children!

Hey all!

 

So being one that is Loyal to Royal, I have noticed over the years that the breakfast room service menu has dwindled down , I remember years ago them having omelettes and such on the menu, then down to choice of scrambled eggs only (at least still with a choice of sausage, ham, tomato, hashbrown). I noticed these changes and raised an eyebrow to myself but didnt think too much about it. I understand there at times needs to be changes.

 

However, very recently I went on Majesty for a 3 night one, and surprisingly looked at the menu, and saw it was ONLY continental now, rolls, yogurt, a banana basically. Highly dissapointed. Even the door hangers call it Continental breakfast now.

 

Question is, is this now continental breakfast for delivery fleetwide? I was hoping it was just maybe for the shorter weekend cruises they made these changes. Please let me know your findings, I'm scheduled for Indy in the spring .

 

::sigh:: it was only of the few things I have recently not been thrilled with RCCL about. I know, I know I can go up to WJ and bring the food down. At least in years past if I wrote in smoked salmon I didn't have a problem getting it. Now, its as if I asked them to open the safe deposit box in the purser's desk :p

Hi there,

I checked this out for you, and here's what Royal Caribbean had to say:

Hi Ashley,

Majesty of the Seas doesn't have a hot galley for Room Service so it's always "continental" for them. There has been no change to the hot offerings on the room service menu for the rest of the fleet.

Regards,

Janet Diaz

Account Executive, Brand Communications

Royal Caribbean International

Hope this helps!

*Do DS and DS need surf shirts?

 

*Should DD (9) wear a 1 piece, tie tight shorts and top or is normal 2 piece OK? (again with or with out surf shirt)

 

*Boogie/knee boarding or full stand surfing--- what is allowed?

 

*Time limit vs skill limit---if you start out and immediately go to the top with out success, is the turn over or do you get to start X amount of time for your turn?

They don't need surf shirts, per se, but I'd definitely advise that your daughter wear a one-piece suit or wear shorts and a T-shirt on top of her two-piece. I did the FlowRider when Oasis first launched, and when I asked one of the crewmembers working it, he said I had a 50-50 chance of losing my bikini top if I didn't wear a T-shirt. (Yikes!) I did see a bunch of other women lose tops and end up with severe wedgies when I was waiting for my turn to go.

It seems the other questions have been answered already, but two other things to keep in mind: you'll have to sign waivers before your kids will be allowed to boogie board or surf, and the floor of the FlowRider is made of material similar to a wrestling mat. I surfed, and when I fell (which didn't take long), I hit my head pretty hard. The water's powerful, and it shot me back up to the top, giving me a noseful of water to add to my massive headache. It's fun, but just tell them to be careful. It all depends on skill level, too -- I'm clearly not a good surfer!

Hey there,

I've sailed solo a couple of times, and my best advice to you is to check your daily program on the first day or two to see if there are activities or meet-ups for solos. I went to a solos lunch the first time I sailed alone, and the people I met were largely responsible for the great time I had onboard. I'm a bit shy myself, but it was one of the best things I did on that sailing.

Regarding dining, I was assigned to a table for four, and I was the only one who ever showed up. It was extremely awkward dining alone for the first two nights, but I ended up inviting my new solo friends to eat with me from the third night onward, which solved the problem.

I compiled a few things I learned from the experience here (http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1228) if you're interested.

Have a great time!

I'm not a coffee connoisseur by any means, but I found the stuff from Explorations on Volendam (was on it in September) to be decent. The hot chocolate, however, was phenomenal -- possibly the best I've had, and that's saying something. The prices aren't bad, either, especially when you compare them with Starbucks.

Don't know if this has been discussed yet or not - couldn't find it by searching. We just returned from a cruise on the Freedom of the Seas and there was a lot of discussion in the concierge lounge about an announcement in January involving the C&A levels. I have heard the speculation on a new level between D+ and Pinnacle but the rumors suggested that the levels required to enter the diamond and concierge lounge would be changing also. Evidently there are just too many diamonds (over 650 on some cruises in December) to adequately serve in the venues available. I also know they are experimenting with coupons you can use at any bar so maybe that is the solution.

 

Does anybody have any real information on what is planned?

Hi all,

For what it's worth, I've checked with Cruise Critic's PR contact over at Royal Caribbean regarding the original post, and this is what he had to say:

Hi Ashley,

I can weigh in on the Crown & Anchor Society rumor. The rumor is indeed just that. There are no plans for any new tiers to the program and no plans to change the access of the member lounges in the very near future.

With best regards,

Harry

Have a good day!

My question, with the drastic reduction in drydock time, is what exactly they are planning to do with her? Obviously, the grand plans for adding cabins and venues can't be done in 10 days! :rolleyes:

 

They've already replaced the cloudy windows in the hemisphere lounge. The dated, worn carpeting throughout the ship is in desperate need of replacing. But, what else can we look forward to on our Feb. 15th sailing? (Hoping for a little of that "new ship" smell, lol). :cool:

Hi all,

I've just been in touch with Celebrity's PR department, and the dry dock will actually run from February 4 - 11 (only seven days). During that time, "new carpeting and upholstery will be installed in various venues and suites; marble and wood surfaces will be freshly polished; balconies and the pool area will be repainted, and a variety of routine marine technical work will be completed."

For many of those who cruise frequently, new ports of call are a welcome deviation from standard destinations. We're curious whether up-and-coming ports in West Africa will become the next big thing. What do you think? Please check out our story here (http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3738), and be sure to vote in our poll!

~Ashley :)