Aislinncursala

I am also very disappointed to learn that Diamond plus no longer goes to Concierge Lounge.  Is this only on larger ships? Or all ships now.  What is the point of Plus?

Appreciate everyone's kind replies very much.

Thanks for these reviews.  They are very instructive and helpful for me.

I lived in Florida for the last 13 yrs;  I went on 30 cruises. DH went once a yr;  I went by myself the rest of the time.  I`m Diamond + now.  DH passed away 4 yrs ago & my family wanted me to move back.  So I'm now looking at Bayonne, NJ.  I am living on LI now.  

I always stayed away from the huge ships, my favorites were the Radiance Class.  I prefer longer cruises 12+ or b2b.  I did two 2wk Celebrity cruises in the last 3 yrs. But prefer R C on my own. It was lovely but much more a couples environment.  I prefer balconies or Jr. Suites;  I bring all my hobbies and go for the total  R&R.  

So I look forward to reading about cruising from Bayonne.

Thanks to all.

Hi, Since I began cruising in 2009 each cruise line has been cutting back on its afternoon teas which began in the traditional sense with linen covered tables in a lounge and carts circulating serving tea and sweet and savory items with a pianist playing in the background. Does Celebrity have anything resembling afternoon tea? Thank you. Will be on the Eclipse for two weeks leaving Sunday, March 5th from Miami. :)

Do you dislike that you don't get an ocean view from many of the venues? I can understand that. It's not for everyone. Especially on a ship like Oasis, Central Park, Entertainment District, and Promenade are all totally enclosed. I didn't think much of it, but that makes a lot of sense why some would prefer a ship with more ocean views from the main venues.

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am considering a very small line like Seabourn sometime next year. A nice 7 - 12 day with my wife.

Thank you all for this discussion. I am now thinking also of other smaller lines with smaller or more mid-size ships, ha! I don't really know what would be considered mid-size anymore. But I have looked at Seabourn and Azamara and find it quite interesting where they can go with smaller ships. My next exploration, ha! So I appreciate these discussion. Happy cruising!!

When I hear the comment by RCI that says "you won't even know you're on a cruise ship on the water", I get turned off. I LIKE to know that I'm on a cruise ship, sailing on the seas. We're trying Liberty OTS in Dec and that may be too big for us but we'll see. Then it's back to Brilliance followed my Serenade. Now those are cruise ships (in my opinion).

Hi, I appreciate the economics of this. However I have cruised on the Navigator and Freedom & Independence and hated what seemed like going to sea on a Mall. The mere thought of six thousand people on a ship horrifies me, ha!

I always check the passenger space ration, I have found this really helps me to know whether I will find the ship comfortable. (cruisedeckplans.com) So over time I will probably change to another line. I don't go on a cruise for a resort/entertainment experience but realize many people do. So the cruise lines will continue to select their consumer market as they are doing now and tailor their ships for their target market as they are evolving now.

There may be a problem for Ports like Tampa and Baltimore that cannot hold the bigger ships but I'm sure some cruise line will see the benefit of these markets and target certain ships for them. If one doesn't, another will. It's all about the money.

My favorite class is the Radiance because I feel like I am on a cruise and the PSR is excellent.

So hopefully in the future everyone will have some class of ships and size of ships for their own market.

Happy cruising to all of you!

Hello: I am going on a B2B with my oldest dearest friend (for 52 yrs.), she's like a sister to me. My DH just passed away 6 weeks ago. She is flying from Ireland to Boston to join me for these 22 nights. I am looking forward to R&R with her. She has never cruised before. We have a balcony and should be comfortable. However I am a Diamond member and do not know what to do about that for the Diamond Lounge, breakfast, etc. I assume any benefits I would have to go alone. Should I just eschew this for these cruises. I am a diabetic on a low carb, no sugar diet so I can't have drinks or eat snacks between meals, etc. I really am confused about this. Thank you for any suggestions.

I have a class on Wednesday nights from 7 to 10 I want to call into. What package do I need to do this? Thank you.

I'm going on a B2B in 8 weeks, my first time as a Diamond. I am a diabetic on a very strict low carb, no sugar diet. So looks like slim pickings since I can't do alcohol, juices, most nibbles. Should I bother to go to Diamond Lounge? My DH just passed away four weeks ago and I will be going solo for some R&R, been on 2/3rd of my cruises solo so it will be okay. Sounds like other Diamond perks no long exist? Thanks for all the great descriptions by everyone. No big deal; I just enjoy the R&R.

Hello: I don't drink sodas or juice. I'm on a very restricted low carb no sugar diabetic diet. So alas my only treat is a decaf latte with a shot of sugar free hazelnut every afternoon. I've had punch cards and coffee cards w 15 coffee for example in the past but it has been two years since I've been on RCI. Any suggestions. Thank you for the information.

Hi: Where do we eat lunch on the B2B2B change day? Sailing on the Navigator March 5 to 13 to 19 to 27th. Thank you

Thank you this is great. Want to go on this cruise this spring if possible. You are inspiring me further.

Thank you, will do.

Hi: I cannot do beach or ocean due to skin cancer surgery in hospital on my face but would love to do a scenic tour, I like to take photos which I can later use for watercolor. How would I schedule the scenic tour for non-beach option. Thank you so much for your kind sharing of all this information.

Hello, I did a tour in May with the ship's excursion of Romney Manor, Caribelle Batik and the Fortress. I did not enjoy it. I would prefer to spend 3-4 hours in Romney Gardens/Manor since I am an artist and would like to sketch and take photos to paint back home. Is there any way to accomplish this? I feel it's too risky to just ask a taxi to take me there by myself and trust to get there and back? Has anyone done this sort of thing?

Thank you.

You want to do a lengthy cruise in a JS for personal reasons (to relax and rejuvenate) but since you aren't given as many points as you feel you should get you will just not go?

 

Reminds me of an adage about knives, noses, and faces.

I am amazed and saddened by the sarcastic and demeaning responses to a sincere question. I will not post again.......

It is not double points for going solo

It is clearly 2 points for a suite as couple 3 as single

 

Really is life all about points

Thought you picked it for rest and re cooperation

I used to go junior suite for the room as single and only got two points so stop complaining

You have it good they are recognizing solos now

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

What a disrespectful and sarcastic response to a sincere question!!!!

Think about it. It makes sense. If two people were sailing in the JS suite (or any suite) RC would be giving out 4 points (2 for each guests) so why shouldn't the solo passenger get the 4 points? The solo passenger is paying the same cruise fare that the two people are paying.

Thank you this is what I meant..

RC announced a change effective January 1st of this year that solo passengers would get the second point per night as we are essentially paying "double". So my understanding of the policy is that as a solo, you get 2 points per night no matter which room category you book. The policy, as it has always been, is that if you are in a junior suite or higher you get one extra point per night per person (not a "doubling" of your points.) So as a solo you get 2 points per night and if you you are in a junior suite or above you get an additional point per night, meaning a total of 3 points per night are your max possible.

 

In my opinion, before January when we only got one point per night as a solo regardless of room type THAT was discrimination against solos. I think the current practice is more fair and does agree with their stated policy about junior suites and above.

 

Just my two cents, and yes, I have traveled solo with RCCL both before and after the change-

Tracy

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Thanks for the clarification.

But if two people were sailing in a suite RC would give 4 points (2 for each guests)

so why shouldn't the solo passenger get the 4 points?

The solo passenger is paying the same cruise fare that the two people are paying.

Last week I was going to book a transatlantic cruise for myself after a very very difficult six months caring for a dying elderly family member.

I called about booking a junior suite, a lot of money but I needed a really restful recuperation for myself and figured the usual double points for paying double as a solo and the usual double points for booking a suite.

However the RC cruise expert told me I would only get 3x the points even though I was prepared to pay over $6,000!

I said forget it; this is discrimination against those traveling solo.

Last week I was going to book a transatlantic cruise for myself after a very very difficult six months caring for a dying elderly family member.

I called about booking a junior suite, a lot of money but I needed a really restful recuperation for myself and figured the usual double points for paying double as a solo and the usual double points for booking a suite.

However the RC cruise expert told me I would only get 3x the points even though I was prepared to pay over $6,000!

I said forget it; this is discrimination against those traveling solo.

Hi:

On every one of my fifteen cruises I have gone to Bill W meetings. Each cruise line handles it differently.

On my recent B2B Carnival Liberty cruises in August when I boarded there was no meeting listed for that day or the next, I immediately contacted the Customer Service Desk and asked to speak to the Cruise Director and communicated my dismay. It was listed on the second full day program. However I had to do this again for the next cruise. I never had to do this on my previous seven Carnival cruises.

On Royal Caribbean they have a bulletin board beside the Coffee Bar where you list all meetings you want to have. I ask the Cruise Director what room/space is available for usually 5 to 6pm and then list that on this bulletin board. Other groups from Veterans to Friends of Dorothy to Red Hats to Knitters list their meetings on the bulletin board. I have suspected that since RC is now charging for announcements of birthdays & anniversaries on their daily calendar they have cleared the space of these meetings. However I have seen it listed to check the bulletin board beside the Coffee Bar for meeting announcements.

Princess had them listed on their daily schedule of activities.

Again being listed does not mean anyone shows up. My husband and I go to support those having difficulties with all the alcohol being pushed onboard. More people attend the longer the cruise and also on sea days rather than port days.

All the best to your son.

B2B Aug.1-9 & Aug.9-17 Carnival Liberty 8D

Oceanview $1249.22 Total w $100 OBC

Booked last night.

August 1-9 $673.44

August 9-17 $576.44 + $100 OBC

Haven't been able to cruise since last Nov due to health issues;

very happy to go.....

NCL's fleet varies so widely it's difficult to recommend without knowing which ship you have in mind. I'm guessing if you will use the buffet and don't like to wait for others that you have no problem dining solo. I mention this because I sail solo and usually request my own table and NCL is very accommodating. If you I find a good waiter I usually can request to be at his/her station. They get to know my habits and likes/dislikes. So it wouldn't be a problem to dine in the mdr as an alternative to the buffet. I happen to like the NCL buffets. The breakfast spread reminds me of a Vegas hotel buffet. It's that extensive. What I like most about NCL is that the hotel manager is accessible will help you out with any requests. They even hand out their card with their extension number on it. At least that's the way Sean on the Norwegian Star operates.

:)

Thank you, I have taken 7 by myself and 6 with DH. On my own I have used the MDR on Carnival, Princess and RC but have been seated at larger tables of 8 or 10. However the last time on Princess and last three on RC I forgoed the MDR and ate at the buffet and was quite happy with that getting to know the waiter(s) there. But I have never thought of the possiblity of requesting my own table, so I will try that next time. I appreciate your suggestions and experience.

Hi: I've never sailed NCL so don't know whether to book this. My hesitation is that I am not big eater due to medical issues; so I no longer eat in MDR, way too much food and I don't want to sit around waiting for others eat and drink. So I are very happy with the Lido buffet. After several tries at speciality restaurants with my dietary limitations after 13 cruises in last 4 years it doesn't work. The Lido buffet works for me. I am very physically active mid-sixties. I go for R&R so usually relax about the ship with my hobbies, go to spa and gym. So with this in mind would you recommend NCL? Thank you.

We ate in the MDR our first 7-8 cruises but then no longer wanted to spend 2 hours at dinner and it was never less than 2 hours.

We began eating at WJ on our Princess cruises and it was lovely with linen and soft lights and excellent table service.

The WJ on RCI is much more crowded on the Vision Class, too limited seating available for the number of passengers; boarding day was a nightmare, I was shocked at how awful it was. I'm told the WJ on the Oasis Class is also too small for the numbers on board.

However the WJ is lovely on the Radiance Class which is my favorite RCI Class.