peacefrogdog

Back to my original question..... :)

anyone know if the suite lounge on Freedom class will allow in suite passengers under age 20 ?

Is diamond lounge the same as the suite or concierge lounge? Are we talking about the same thing ?

Just booked a VP suite on Independence for me and my kids (age 18, 17 and 17 at time of sailing.)

according to RCs description of suite benefits for this room, ‘minors’ under 20 are not allowed in the Concierge lounge . See point number 8 in the link below

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/LTYA_News/VT_VP_VO_Suite_FAQ.pdf

Is the suite lounge the same as the concierge lounge, meaning that my kids will not be allowed access?  

19 hours ago, forgotmyCCname said:

We stayed in what used to be called the Royal FAMILY suite twice on Freedom.

Once was during her 2nd year at sea and then again about 7 years ago. They were not formerly one suite; you may be thinking of the Villa suite that is now on Freedom that has 4 bedrooms and was converted from other cabins 

 

once we were on deck 8 and then on deck 9. The cabins you are referencing above are the 4 br villa. The 2 BR suites do not have a hot tub.  Neither side has an advantage over the other; deck 9 has a better view than 8. 

 

Deck 6 does not have a 2br Grand on Freedom

6414 is the result of the suites converted to a 4 br suite with hot tub.

 

 

Freedom has 4 of these 2 BR suites .

 

Make sure you are watching a YouTube that is post refurb which was 2015!!

i suspect your video is old

 

 

We are staying in one in August 

 

This is the video I watched - it was posted in Dec 2018 but not sure when it was actually filmed. 

 There is definitely a hottub there but no idea if it works. 

I understand these 2 BR grand suites located in the aft of the ship were previously one larger suite (Presidential maybe)?

My question is because these suites are essentially one very large suite split into two large suites, is there an advantage of one side vs the other?  From what I can tell on Youtube, aside from the differences in the layout (for example, where the master is located), the two cabins on each aft seem similar.  The only exception is looking at the balconies for 6416 and 6716 where the port side cabin has a bar, and the starboard side cabin  has a hottub left over from the one huge balcony for when the two were one large cabin.

We have only cruised on Voyageur, Freedom, Quantum and Oasis class ships mainly because our kids have enjoyed the activities on those larger ships.  We are planning an adults only trip on a European cruise.  While I see that Oasis class ships sometimes sail these routes, I am looking into some of the Radiance and Vision class ships.

for those who have sailed both larger and smaller ships, I would appreciat your opinions regarding:

what did you miss the most (about the larger ships) when on the smaller ones?

what did you appreciate the most about the smaller ships, having done both? 

For context, my wife and I tend not to stay up late, and we do not prioritize the shows.  We anticipate doing excursions or tours at each European port.  We really enjoy the areas on the larger class ships (like the promenade or Central Park) to sit, have a snack when we want, and have a coffee or a drink at night.

Looking to price a European cruise but want to incorporate the cost of excursions so that we can compare to other options (eg land based tour). Where can I find the costs if I haven’t made a booking?

Trying to book an economical cruise and debating whether to select the option to let RC select your cabin for a lower fee.  Thinking of two interior cabins that do no necessary need to be close together or even on the same deck.  If doing this, am I destined to end up with cabins on level 2 or 3?

I guess my more specific question is how to select a superior ocean view balcony as a category? The option doesn't appear.

This is my first go at booking after RC changed its cabin classification (Allure) and hoping to see what cabins are available on deck 12. When I select an ocean view balcony it only shows me options from the 9th deck and below. If I try to see what cabins are available on decks 10-14, the sites says there are no ocean view balcony cabins available. I'm looking at dates over a year ahead so I doubt they are all sold out. When I try other available categories, like large balcony or spacious cabin it only shows specific cabins and not the standard size ocean view balcony ones.

Other than going through an agent what's the trick to see what is actually available online ?

That is possible, not sure. We were in 12662 and I never smelled smoke.

Which sailing were you on?

We sailed July 1-6th when we smelled smoke every time we opened the door, mainly at sea. It may have been people smoking on the balcony.

The "bus stop" - the enclosed-with-plexiglass area where the smoking happens - is all the way down on Deck 5.

We smelled cigarette smoke near every time we opened our balcony in cabins 12648 and 12650

Where the bed is located alternates. We were in 12648 and 12650. In 48, bed was closer to bathroom. In 50, bed was next to the balcony. Assuming 11th deck is similar to the 12th, the pattern above suggests 11164 will have its bed closer to the bathroom.

Went on Allure in 2014 and Harmony in Dec 2016. Harmony to me is a nicer looking ship as far as the cabins go, has the water slides and the Abyss, and the Escape room.

The biggest difference to me was the food. It was lackluster on the Harmony in the MDR, WJ. Prob the worst we've had on RC. I thought it was just sign of the times, but we just got off the Anthem where we enjoyed the food as much as we did on the Allure.

My speculation it may have to do with the staff on Harmony, who seem overall to have lower morale compared to other ships we have been on. We had many tell us that they feel more busy than other ships they have been on. Maybe it is rubbing off on the food.

Cafe 270 was great to be in for day 1 lunch.boarding started at 1130, was on ship by 1145. 270 was near empty when we arrived whereas I heard WJ was quite busy,

On the last day of our 5 Nt Anthem sailing now - no laundry was offered.

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Disembarking Thursday July 6th, going to the Doubletree in Times Square. Yes we will have a cell phone.

Thinking of arranging a car service (either Allstate or Dial7) to pick up at the cruiseport and drive us to our post-cruise hotel in Manhattan.

Because we don't know exactly what time we will be getting off, what is the best option for arranging pickup time? Also, is it straight forward where to look for the driver once leaving the cruise port exit?

Which night of a 5 night cruise is it offered?

Grew up in the east coast of Canada, so I have fairly high standards when it comes to seafood. Suggestions for a restaurant in Bermuda that serves fresh local catches appreciated. Prefer something that is a bit more formal.

Looking for other suggestions. Doesn't need to be on the beach, but something suitable for a special family dinner.

Have previously only done 7-nighters and got used to this. Do they do something similar on 5-night Anthem sailings?

As an extended family (grandkids as young as 5, grandparents in 80s), we are cruising to Bermuda to celebrate the grandparents' 50th anniversay. As they honeymooned in Bermuda, we hope to plan an anniversary dinner while docked.

Can anyone recommend restaurants that having dining on a beach or overlooking a beach, that could accomodate a large group like that?

Alternatively, would appreciate a restaurant suggestion that has a private room to host a larger party because the grandkids want to say a few words about the grandparents (who are hard of hearing).

Travelling on a July sailing on Anthem with an extended family (8 cabins total, 17 people total ranging from age 5 to age 80. The trip is a celebration of my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. None of us are in suites.

We'd like to have a dinner on the ship during which the grandkids would like to say some words about their grandparents and present them with a gift. The main dining room would be too noisy, something like the Chef's table may not suitable for kids. Specialty dining is an option but even then not sure that would be quiet enough (grandparents have hearing problems).

Does anyone know of any options on the ship in which we could dine as a family, but perhaps in a private room?

On our Dec harmony cruise, same thing happened to my son. His room key also indicated gold when he has plat status. However when he swiped his card anywhere it showed he was platinum.