mommabean

Is your head spinning yet from all this confusion?? I know mine is lol. I watched this too and heard the exact same thing. Completely contradicted what is being told onboard. Guess time will tell.

 

 

 

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Absolutely! :eek:

 

And I know of people on board who are being told the CL on deck 11 is gone. Well, it is for this cruise.

 

I don't know what to believe anymore but the wording in the webcast was plain and simple with no room for misinterpretation. The CL is staying where it's always been. That's what I believe (today) ;)

[quote name='Bobal']Have to agree with you - when people are scared of DD because it takes them out of their comfort zone I can't imagine Wonderland (which will be far too 'out there' for many cruisers) is going to warrant a space as big as the old CL AND chef's table area upstairs AND the library, which will hopefully leave an (albeit reduced) area for a CL.[/QUOTE]

I believe you are correct (and I hope you are) and that the rest of us have been misled either intentionally or because people on board really don't know what's happening with their own ship which is still in disrepair. Read my most recent post number 210 in this thread.

[url]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=44516259#post44516259[/url]

Maybe I'm wrong but I know what I just heard which was very clearly stated.

Just to add more confusion although hopefully it is becoming clear - I am now watching the Oasis of the Seas update webcast for Travel Agents that was shown earlier today.

 

After stating the changes are coming to decks 11 and 12 where the Concierge Club and Chef's Table were, they made it clear that the CL is closed for the transatlantic and will reopen in it's original location after the crossing. The area is only being used for construction purposes during the crossing. In fact they specifically stated that the Chef's Table and Library will end up as Wonderland, opening on March 14, and will share the space with the Concierge Club at that time. Between October 27 and March 14, the Concierge Club "will be the primary user of this space" as they said.

 

I would think that the 2 women leading this webcast know what they are talking about. Renee Didier and Aimee Price are the Royal Caribbean Sales Training Specialists.

 

Either we are all have been misled for weeks now or some of the people on board are misinformed about the changes coming to their ship. I can't believe the webcast would be wrong.

 

Dynamic Dining reservations will begin to be taken on January 1. It will be rolled out on March 14 on Oasis as already known and on May 20th on Allure which I hadn't heard but may have missed if it was already announced.

 

One other thing that was mentioned is that hot rocks will still be available in Izumi in addition to the hibachi grill.

 

PS - Diamond+ can now rejoice. (I hope) :p

OMG - they totally misspelled it! There's no alternate spelling. Too funny! I wonder how long it takes to fix it?

 

 

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Dear god they did not misspell Hibachi on the door did they? Please tell me there is an alternate spelling.

 

Funniest thing yet.

 

I once saw a sign on the aft hall of a ship point back to go to the centrum. This beats that one by far.

Doesn't Adventure sail out of San Juan?

 

Only part of the year. Although it looks like they are switching to full time soon - like next month.

I thought Captain Felix Shrecko Ban was on Quantum. Saw a picture of him taking her from the shipyard. Just wondering where he is.

 

Thanks! Incredible job keeping the site current!

Elayne

 

Three of 4 Quantum (or quantum class) captains were supposed to be on board for the sea trials. This was to include captains Patrik, Srecko, and Claus. Capt. Gus who said he wouldn't be there. How it turned out is unknown but apparently Capt. Srecko was there if you saw a photo.

 

Karen will be having to manually change her list since at first the captains won't be doing 10 week rotations. Capt. Patrik is bringing her across and staying for how long isn't known for sure - at least not by me.

 

Capt. Srecko will be on and in command at least by Dec 1 if not sooner. Capt. Gus will follow Srecko.

 

Capt. Claus was there for the sea trials since he will be an Anthem captain along with Capt. Gus who is supposed to move to that ship.

 

I suppose they can make any changes they want along the way but that's the way it was to be the last I heard which was at the end of August - info direct from one of the captains.

We were on the Mariner last year - from Singapore to Shanghai. There was a fair bit of construction happening on board with new shops being built and opened, as it was gearing up for the Asian market. Prior to boarding RCI notified us about the pending work to be done and gave all of us OBC for the inconvenience. :)

 

I wonder if they are going to do this for those who booked the Quantum repositioning. That ship is also going to be rebuilt on the way to Asia. Major changes, yes, to a very new ship.

That in and of itself isn't a problem in my opinion, as long as the passengers booked with the understanding that the ship would be under construction with venues closed, and the fare was priced to reflect that. I can't say whether or not anything like that was communicated for the TA, but I can guarantee you the cruises a month after dry dock weren't sold with any mention of on-going construction or closed venues.

 

Perhaps RCI wanted to make a splash with these renovations, but in my opinion it's back-fired. Future cruisers are worried and upset because they thought they were purchasing one thing, and now find out what they purchased isn't available. I've even read a couple reports from people who were able to move to the Allure without penalty even though they were past final payment.

 

Exactly. If someone working on the ship could tell me this last January, I don't understand why RCI wasn't making this clear to those booking the crossing. I even said that to the man last January - "there are going to be a lot of very unhappy people on board".

 

I never would have suspected it would go on for so long. I bet there is something in the cruise contract that covers all of these circumstances - who reads all of that before they click the agreement button at check in.

 

I still think they should make things like this perfectly clear when booking.

Well said. since it is our 40th anniversary we are splurging for a crown loft. The smell worries me. Is it from the construction? Will Coastal Kitchen be open by 11/8. Will they still be constructing the royal suites - 1 cabin down from us? Had I known about these changes and possibilities of things not being opened, I would have gone at a later date. I love the Oasis but things should be open. One might expect a few minor things still being done after drydock but not major construction. Maybe they should have stayed in drydock a few weeks longer?

 

I have a friend on board who was told that Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge would be open in full for suite guests on that date - November 8.

 

I was told last January while on board Oasis that the ship would still be under construction on the crossing coming back from dry dock. This info came from the horticulturalist on board.

 

The final cruises prior to a dry dock, as well as the first ones after, usually find things being torn up or still being finished. This one just seems a little more extensive than usual.

 

Most ships aren't at 100% completion and working on their maiden (or inaugural) sailings either. I would expect to hear plenty of complaints on the crossing of Quantum, too, and possibly even later. What will people say if North Star has a few snags and isn't ready yet? :eek: OR maybe it will be a bumper car issue or the Two70 show won't work. It could be anything with issues needing to be ironed out.

Thank you for the tip. We will try out the Doghouse. If anyone has any suggestions for us of places to try or things to go, we appreciate any and all suggestions. Because we got back late from our tour and ate lunch late we were wavering between eating dinner in the Windjammer or doing the late seating instead of first.

 

Have dinner at Vintages sometime if you haven't already tried it. The assorted tapas are a pleasant surprise. We get the 7 item option for, I think, $11 and it's enough for both of us for a meal. We actually skipped formal night for the first time ever just a few weeks ago and ate at Vintages that night on Allure. We've eaten there on Oasis, too, with just as much satisfaction.

We had it on Enchantment last weekend and it was crispy and caramelized on top just as it should be. I only ate a couple of bites but it was very good.

The Google Doc has him on the ship until Nov. 29 in the CL. Guess this isn't correct. Do you know when he is boarding RA?

 

Sherri,

 

JJ is a woman. She IS already at the concierge desk on Radiance. I got an email directly from her on the 13th telling me she is there until Juan Diego returns on November 29. She is the one who told me the first name of the woman working the diamond lounge. And JJ will go back to the diamond lounge when Juan Diego returns.

 

I have cruised with her a few times and do know her. She is most definitely on board. The document is correct.

 

Gina

My latest information from onboard is still "March 14th, 2015" as opening date - same as dynamic dining.

 

steamboats

 

 

 

I should have been more clear.

 

The part I meant they aren't likely wrong about is Wonderland being on both floors in the old concierge lounge. With construction, dates could vary.

No problem at all. I'll be on Independence in mid November so I will do my best to find out how long Gustavo is due to be on the ship for.

 

 

I missed this. Thanks for the update.

Butcher is very good. For the past year he has been in the rotation on the LB filling in for either Oana or Carlos. Am assuming because of my last conversation with him awhile ago that that would continue. I will know for sure in Dec when I go back on the LB

 

I love Butcher. I hope he sticks around on LB because I hope to book something on the ship in early 2015.

I just got off the phone with C&A. I called to express my disappointment in the cancellation of the Chef's Table:(, but I told the agent my biggest concern is what will be open/not open when I cruise next month. She ran down a list, and it sounds like the plan is for everything that's currently not available to open on the 27th when the ship gets back to Ft. Lauderdale. One of the locations on her list was the CL...closed from October 14-17, then reopening.

 

The only thing she didn't have a date for was Wonderland. Some of her dates were earlier than what was on the press releases yesterday.

 

I was told this past week that Wonderland would be opened in January or February - both levels - from someone who would know and will remain nameless. Maybe they are wrong. But I don't think so.

Thanks for the correction. I really thought it was later that.

 

I remembered the rather involved discussion here on CC back in September/October of 2006 when the new brochures came out and they stated that JS had CL privileges. There was a CC Member that was going on a cruise with brochure in hand and she was going to schedule a meeting with whomever on board that would listen to her to discuss the situation rationally and calmly!! :D She wasn't very calm while posting here on CC.

 

 

 

It always takes RCI printed info a while to catch up with their own policies. I'm sure some of the current flyers are wrong. The people who write them are clueless about the reality. There is still contradictory info on the RCI website about various things, as I'm sure you know.

 

I remember talking to a telephone rep once who told me she had never been on a cruise. I think it would be helpful to have reps who are familiar with cruising first hand. RCI should send every rep on a cruise prior to putting them on the other end of the phone.

 

Don't people still pop up around here thinking they still have CL access because they're in a JS? I don't think that issue will ever go away until they rename that category.

 

Gina

It appears that D+ Members will have access to the newly enhanced Diamond Lounge on Deck 4.

 

JS cabins were eliminated from access to the lounge in mid-2006. The Suites lounge would be for GS cabins and above. I don't see that changing.

 

JS cabins do have access to the Coastal Kitchen on Quantum but don't know if it will be the same on the newly revamped Oasis.

 

Since the 3 drink voucher was present on Oasis before her dry dock, I'm sure it will continue as she moves forward.

 

I'm surprised since JS cabins have access to Coastal Kitchen on Quantum.

 

My first cruise was in 2004. We had a JS for that cruise and only had concierge access because my husband's business associate's sister was the port agent. She got us a card. (by the way - there was usually no one in there but us) Every cruise after that we had a JS, including Serenade of the Seas in Alaska in June 2005, and we did NOT have CL access until the GS booked that made us Diamond members.

 

JS must have been eliminated from the CL prior to our first cruise in March 2004.

The one I downloaded was Ripple Cruise Communicator, by Mobile Technology Innovations, and it was 99 cents when I downloaded it last week.

 

It must have been on sale. They lost me by jacking up the price.

I will have to try it next week as well. Park Café is usually our first stop on the EN

 

If they haven't gone back to the roast beef. The guy working there said they switch back and forth but didn't mention if there is any particular order. I never saw pork there before, not on any ship, but I don't go every day.

 

I wish I were going with you Ellen.

 

Gina

I thought the pork was okay, kinda tuff compared to the Roast Beef. I never saw them bring the roast beef out two weeks ago.

 

I'm curious as to what you think about it, once you return.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

I got the really done end piece and it fell apart like they do when cooked in a La Caja China. It probably depends on the piece you get just like the roast beef. Sometimes I get the roast beef with a big strip of fat that I have to peel out.

 

This time I skipped the sandwich and just ate the pork. Alright, I did tear off the salted part of the bread and ate that, too. :)

 

Gina

What the other poster was saying is that it might work on one ship and not at all on another. It all depends on the IT people setting up the WiFi in a specific way that is generally considered to be lower security.

 

I just wondered if it works well when IT has the appropriate settings. Truncated messages don't sound so great and could be the source of the low ratings and poor reviews. Sometimes apps get low ratings because people are clueless about how to use them. I wouldn't want to buy an app that doesn't work even when IT allows it to work. If it's a free app, I'm willing to give it a try.

The app was only 99 cents in the Apple store. While it worked ok, we couldn't text any more than a sentence or two before it truncated the rest of the message.

 

The one I saw in the apple store was Ripple Cruise Connect at $4.99. Is this a different version of Ripple? Is your app specifically the Cruise Connect app?

The Ripple app requires a very specific WI-FI setting to be disabled in order to work. That's why it's hit or miss on which ships work and which don't. It all depends on the IT staff on board.

 

What I'm asking: Is it worth the $4.99? And if the settings are correct, do you find it works well?

Hi Gina! Don't know if you have been following the Oasis "post drydock thread" but this was posted earlier http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=44438634#post44438634 :

 

DL is offering breakfast (as soon as the new buffet is working) plus cocktail hour.

 

CL is gone and completely taken by Wonderland.

 

Suite Lounge is definitely offering breakfast. But on future cruises it will be limited to Suite and Pinnacle passengers only. Diamond+ have to use the Diamond Lounge.

 

Do you think D+ will be excluded from CL? We cruise in December...

Miss ya!

 

Mike, I've been following all the threads. In fact, I was a troublemaker by mentioning that Wonderland would take both floors of the CL. I've seen a photo of the lounge stripped down and sterile looking.

 

Apparently RCI has info out there that there are still going to be 3 lounges. I believe that's misinformation but I'm trying to get it clarified if I can. I see no place for a 3rd lounge to go.

 

On your sailing date, I can't imagine what will be happening since all the changes won't be complete until March. What is, and what isn't...remains to be seen.

 

I'm still working on your Bro and SIL. We have most of the winter free so maybe we'll do something together.

 

You can come back from OA in Dec and tell us exactly what's happening with the lounges at that time. We do know D+ will still have DL access and it looks like a nice area. We've been using the drink vouchers and used them at Trelllis Bar in Central Park and the Rising Tide bar along with the theater on Allure 2 weeks ago.

 

Maybe we can all squeeze in an Allure trip - I want to go again early next year. We LOVED it.

 

(Accept my fitbit friend request!!! Didn't you see it? Did you lose yours?)