newsier

I will say the Muster Drill leaves a lot to be desired on Escape. Just my opinion. Sail away soon and hopefully a Periscope broadcast as the app has really been acting up today

 

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I learned many years ago in 1991 on the Carnival Holiday's muster drill, our first cruise, that we would most likely drown in case of emergency........

I feel more comfortable out on the decks at a muster drill - - - not sure why - but I do!

Go - - have fun!!

g

Not sure I would use an Instant Message app.......

I'd like to see CC develop Private Messages (PM) on the CC web site. This way I can get the messages when I decide to get on the Internet and on CC and not have the phone go off immediately when turned on. Although I am sure some members enjoy that and of course, that's ok too. It would also allow members to converse privately and stop some of the silly arguments and flaming that sometimes occurs.......

Other chat boards have PM and it works out great without loading up a thread with sometimes off topic discussions .

Just sayin'

g

moki'smom - Shmoo - ljn'gb - thanks sooo much for your help, answers, and guidance........

Angie and I are Diamond Plus members Royal Caribbean if that means anything to anyone here. We cruise a lot - and we are generally in suites, not trying to be a suite snob here but we are familiar with the concierge on Royal and they seem to be very simular on DCL.

One thing I did learn from my research and comparing Royal and DCL is Disney is not as expensive as I thought!! I was thinking DCL would be more expensive - not the case............as a matter of fact - tips are higher on Royal - but I never worried about price - space on a ship costs money. And those pay extra restaurant surcharges have gone from reasonable to stupid! LOL Sorry to digress........

With all this said - again thank you for your guidance; we look forward to our Disney cruise............you all have helped a lot!!!

Take care.......

g

Hello all,

Long time Royal Caribbean cruiser here getting ready to plan a Disney cruise with daughter's family and the grand kids.

I am not one to use a TA so I thought I would start here with questions.

Perhaps I am missing how to look for items on the Disney Cruise Line web site so, I have some questions maybe you folks could help with.......

On Royal - they have gone to nickel n' dimeing everyone for just about everything.

Is this a practice on Disney?

I noticed on the Disney web site there are exclusive adult dining venues, do they cost extra?

Are there any kind of drink packages such as soda or coffee or adult beverage?

Besides better stateroom amenities, what does a Concierge Class stateroom offer?

What else should I know, suggestions appreciated. We are looking at the Disney Fantasy in October 2016.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Glenn

Wouldn't it be great if this happened?

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/joe-anderson-want-liverpool-new-9354008

 

We can only hope! :)

This would be cool.............

g

Hahahahaha - I see your non-Scotland Union Jack............

Let us know how the voting goes tomorrow.

g

I believe you will do just fine. You will have many choices, both free and pay to fit into the most finicky eaters diets. And I believe if something is not on the menu in the restaurant you are sitting in but in another restaurant - your wait staff may just go and get an item on another menu in another restaurant. We have always had great service to include getting off menu items.

I for one am looking forward to the change.

As much as we love to cruise and as many cruises we have sailed - sometimes cruising can become routine. And Royal gets a great idea as on Voyager Class ships and continues to expand and improve until it reaches a saturation point - at least for us.

This is why we enjoyed Oasis Class - different but the same.

Quantum looks different - totally redesigned - we are looking forward to it and although the MDR is gone and I believe most cruisers have very fond memories from people, food, and entertainment in the MDR (On Carnival way back in the early 90s if it was Wednesday it was a Hot-Hot-Hot night!!) I am looking forward to the change.

Now - with all this said and you are not seeing anything on the online menues, which will most likely mirror what's onboard, perhaps a Royal ship not using Dynamic dining is best for you. We know Quatum and Oasis class ships are Dynamic...........Dining. Others it will take awhile to get with the program.

So Jillmom2 - first off welcome to the world of Royal Caribbean and welcome to Quantum or whatever ship. We are fond of Freedom Class chips ourselves.

See you on board.

g

I was at the Pier Head a couple of days ago and it looks like the Starbucks that was there has now closed down. It certainly looked that way. All the signs have gone and it looked like most of the equipment had gone. However, there is a really nice coffee shop in the ferry terminal building where we enjoyed a nice cappuccino whilst sitting people watching. Just for information. :)

Been there - done that - hi Towncar - hope all is well.............

g

As a newer cruiser I hear a lot on out sail away party's and get togethers. How do you find out about these?we don't go thru a travel agent so I'm not sure who to ask. We've sailed Holland America, Princess and RCL. Any help would be appreciated..

Usually you can get a sail away party organized with your roll call. Once you have a cruise booked, you can go to this section, find your ship and date, and connect with your fellow cruisers:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

Hello Hannah,

This is a great question as I have been involved with many, many Sail-Away Parties.

We, like Bob, have been on many cruises - we have been cruising since 1991. We started sailing with Royal in the early 2000s and are always on our cruises Roll Call page here on Cruise Critic (The best place to meet your fellow PAX). On one of our earliest cruises a couple of other passengers set up what we called an "Un-Official a Meet & Mingle" in the Schooner Bar Lounge at 2:30PM on sail-away day.

I have kept this tradition on all my cruises since then.

You would be surprised how many people will show up to meet fellow passengers they are sailing with, meet the people they have been conversing with on Cruise Critic, people are in a "vacation-mode" with all their troubles left on the pier.

Also - 2:30PM is an ideal time as most people are on board, had lunch, checked out their cabin, and are just waiting to sail.

So - how to do this - easy - simply announce your "Un-Official Meet & Mingle" on your cruise Roll Call. It's a great way to get a conversation started and meet new friends.

I have found many people have their own traditions during actual sail-away, some like to go to their balcony, others go to the helipad if the ship is so equipped - you can continue the sail-away party after the life-boat drill say at the Pool Bar.............It's strictly up to you!

Good luck - get involved - you'll be glad you did.

Glenn

What a great Chef's Table review - just like being there.

We were on the Oasis back in 2010 and did the "then new" Chef's Table.

I am a Gentleman Jack, meat and potatoes guy but really enjoyed trying "new" things to eat.............and it tasted good - and won't of into the presentation.

We were kept interested by the Head Chef as he explained how each course was created.

It was a fun evening and yes - it is worth the cost..............we are on the Allure in April 2016 amd will be sure to take advantage of the Chef's Table again.

g

As a post script - we were on Celebrity Infinity last year and did their version of a Chef Table. It was actually done in the galley - where Chef's a Tables usually are done I am told - it didn't come near the experience Royal has put together.

Thanks everyone for the help - although I was not the OP, we are going on the Allure in 2016 and one of the reasons I booked the Allure was Samba and the Dog Haus.

And using OBC - thanks. I stopped using TAs many years ago for a variety of reasons - but on the Allure cruise, I have a a Sky Loft we booked through the BOGOHO and transferred the booking to COSTCO on day 58 and received a ton OBC - I'll be like a kid in a candy store - ummm - food store - restaurant store!???? LOL Anyway - I need not forget I have the OBC, something we normally don't have.

It will be interesting to see if they add either of these popular venues to Oasis during the big dry dock happening in October.

Thanks everyone!

g

We are leaving on Freedom this Sunday and I would like to avoid the mayhem of the Windjammer on the first day. Is it possible to eat at Sorrentos or Cafe Promenade or does that not open until later in the day? Thanks so much!

 

 

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Yes - they are open.

We learned this trick when the Freedom Class came online. Back then - we were literally by ourselves as everyone "jammed" the elevators to go to the WJ.

Now a days - the secret is out, we generally board early and get seats at either venue - enjoy a light lunch - company of friends we hadn't seen since the last cruise and wait for the cabins to open up.

Have a great cruise.

g

Well I have to say that although my primary focus on this thread is my own city of Liverpool, I also have a great love of North Wales. Whenever any of our American friends come to stay with us, we always take them for a full day out in North Wales. I often say that if North Wales received the sun in Summer, it would be the most visited place in Europe!

 

Personally, though, I'd make a trip to North Wales part of a longer trip rather than an excursion from the ship. Still, as Papa said, it was an excellent trip, so clearly it can work!

 

It reminds me how lucky I am to live here, with so much right on our doorstep.:)

We are American friends of Towncar T and he is in fact correct - Morthern Whales is beautiful - rugged - inviting. It was a great day for us!

Would love to sail with him again.

Yes - he was a good concierge. Really seemed to care!

g

Thanks for the post. We are in a GS on Allure in Sept. and I have been thinking of upgrading !

I have to agree, we got to see a Crown Loft Suite on our Cabin Crawl - truly different - lots of open space.

We were also "invited" into a "Sky Loft Suite" while on the crawl, which is on one corner of deck 17, totally amazing.............lots, and lots, and lots of space.

RCI Cruisers 004: the reason I quoted you is we generally stay in GSs or an OS if the price is right.

And I planned on booking a CL suite next time we are on a Oasis Class ship. But we also visited an owners suite during our cabin crawl located on the hump, which is where I think most of the OSs are located.

It is setup like a traditional OS from most of the fleet but it is a tad bit larger than those on other ships with a huge veranda versus the GS on Oasis Class, which are a tad smaller.

I just wanted to mention this if you are thinking of upgrading.

Good luck - I know you'll be happy no matter where you book.

g

So you're back over there?

g

hey you, didn't realize y'all started cruising again!! So how is the Navigator? I heard she was old & tired. We have her booked in Dec & then again next Feb AFTER dry dock. Tell Angie hello from me. Happy sailing

b

Not old and tired at all........great concierge, food good, Chops & Portofino excellent, personable Captain.

You won't hit warm weather until second day. All my love to the CWS please.

g

Kathy

 

on the date for Grandeur, does that mean that Israel will be back 4/21/13???? We get on GR on 5/3 & would love for him to be back from vaca then.

Hey girl what's up, sitting on my balcony on the Navigator as we leave Nola and head to the Western Caribbean, keep in touch - later.

g

NV Navigator – (Concierge)Alexandra Elena Nica as of 02/09/13 (Ricardo Mock)

I sail on the Navigator Saturday and just recieved an email from Mahmoud Messaoudi telling me he is the concierge.

g

Hi Cruisetrail.........

What a great thread, I have subscribed for future reference.

My wife and I are long time Royal cruisers and coming over to X this May, we are on an M Class ship (Infinity) and again next year.

I was wondering if you have a dedicated thread for the M class ships.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Glenn

When we first started sailing Celebrity about 8 years ago a typical 10 night Celebrity cruise would have two Elegant Teas in the main dining room each cruise. These were great affairs with the waiters all in formal wear, formal table settings and a very nice selection of tea sandwiches and sweets. The waiters gave great service and it was a really nice event at no extra charge. As the years rolled by they've eliminated the open Elegant Tea but still had an Elite Tea for the top tier of Captains Club members and certain other invited guests. At first this was a very nice affair with all the excellent formal service of the prior Elegant Teas and sometimes in the even nicer setting of the specialty restaurants.

 

But after a couple years the service starting declining rapidly. The waiters no longer dressed formally, the tea food selection declined considerably, and the last two times went the service was just awful. It took 15 minutes to get tea, we almost couldn't get more hot water for a second cup and there were not even seconds on scones. The waiters had no idea of what a nice Tea service should be and did things in the wrong order.

 

We stopped going at that point, which was a couple years ago, so I don't know if the complimentary Elite Tea remains as poor or if it has improved again. It couldn't go downhill from where it was as the experience really wasn't any better than having tea up in the buffet. The buffet tea food selection had improved while the Elite/Elegant tea service had declined so that the food selections were about the same. I'd rather have self service in the buffet than terrible service in a dining room with waiters!

 

About the same time that the Elite/Elegant tea events declined I noticed they started the extra-charge Champagne Tea in one of the Specialty restaurants once a cruise. While I've heard very nice things about the extra charge tea it just burns me that you have to pay around $20+/pp to get an experience as nice as what was complimentary just a few years ago and as a result we've had no interest in going.

 

If what you want is an excellent cup of tea, beyond what is normally served in the dining areas, then head to Cafe al Bacio. For around $5 (included in the beverage packages) they have an excellent high quality tea which is properly served with steaming hot water in a nice china pot. They also have a nice selection of pastries and a small selection of tea sandwiches at certain times in the afternoon. While the service there is far from formal the nice waiters and waitresses at Cafe al Bacio provide much nicer service than the last couple Elite Teas we went to a few years ago. You won't be presented with quite the tea food selection that you'll find at the Champagne Tea but unless you want Tea to be a full meal you'll be happy. The only thing missing is scones and if you'd like those they serve nice scones in the buffet tea from 4 to 5PM on recent cruises.

I would like to go off topic here for a quick minute and say thank you to Larry (Lsimon).

My wife and I are not new cruisers as we have been floating since 1991. We started on Carnival, moved over to Royal Caribbean, and now have our first Celebrity cruise booked.

As I travel around the =X= threads looking to have a glimpse of what to expect I always enjoy your interesting, well thought out posts - thank you.

The cruise industry has changed greatly over the past 20+ years, we are no longer in line for every show, sale, or parade on board and I probably know some Caribbean neighborhoods better than our own, we have come to a point where we like to keep it simple, your posts help us do this.

Again, thank you and sorry for the interruption.

Glenn

I just got off explorer. Mario is going on vacation at the end of the Nov .4 member cruise. Denzil from guest relations will take his place. He was very personable, but certainly has big shoes to fill.

Howdy B, how howrya?

g

There was a post, I think on this thread that indicated she had left the company.

Yes,post #794 said she left...

Thanks all........

g

Now that Ricardo and Natailia are gone, who would you consider to be the 'lead' Concierge on the Oasis??? Is it whom ever is 01 ????

I see where Ricardo went, where did Natalia go?

I didn't see her name on the list - did I miss it ?

Glenn

Just how expensive are these things?

g