tangogulf

I read in various threads that they won't let you order booze via room service either.. Must admit I've not tried but does anyone know if it is possible?

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Leaving on Radiance 26th Feb.. Lucky enough to be traveling in a suite this time.. But I think I'll try and check in somewhere Graham isn't.. He's become such a legend now I don't know what I'd say if I actually met him in person.. He is such a font of useful info and tips and seems like a really nice guy. I'd spend too much time thanking him for all his wonderful advice and miss the ship! [emoji3]

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No not unless you are in a suite. If you want to chance the room service coffee then it's always available but usually takes up to 30mins to arrive. Cafe El baccio on deck 5 opens early to quite late if you want real coffee but you pay extra.

There is always a chance there will be delays with transport to the airport either using the train (most convenient from circular quay) or via taxi/bus. Quickest will always be the train. An 11am flight departure or later should be more than doable.

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It's entertainment. So they'll squeeze as much out of it as they can. No one should be surprised that the most popular couple rather than the couple with most points win. What do you really "win" anyway. Having said that I have enjoyed those games I have seen.

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When the ship is in motion, depending on prevailing weather, wind can be a perennial issue with a balcony. Looks nice through the door but you go out and it's just not comfortable unless you put yourself up in a corner sheltered from the wind. Though in terms of entering and leaving ports where wind usually isn't an issue a balcony can't be beat.

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Think it has to be multiple venues not a single. Izumi is a fee for each menu item ordered so as you say not a fixed price dinning option.

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Hi Tangogulf - you will enjoy the suite life on the Radiance.

 

 

 

If you are doing a 16 nighter soon, I imagine it is the Sydney to Perth. You will be lucky as that is JD's last cruise as Concierge on the Radiance - he is leaving when the ship gets to Perth and heads off to take up his new role as Concierge on the Anthem of the Seas.

 

 

 

Priority tendering is a bonus. JD will tell you what time he will be in the Concierge Lounge for tendering purposes. When you are ready, just go to the CL and he will call the operator and then take you down to the tender boats. He tries to do it in groups.

 

 

 

The suite breakfast is always good as is an invite to Captain's Table (not necessarily a given that you will get an invite though).

 

 

 

You also get reserved seating in the theatre for the shows but you must be there at least 10 minutes before the show starts as they will open it up to everyone at that point.

 

 

 

There is no reserved seating around the pool on the Radiance.

 

 

 

The Concierge Lounge is a great place to meet new friends because you see the same people every evening. The drinks between 5.00pm and 8.15pm are on the house in the Concierge Lounge. Amazing how much your end bill reduces. You will love Beresford:)

 

 

 

We will be on the Radiance in April to Honolulu so it will be interesting to see how we go without JD in the Concierge Lounge but at least we will have Beresford - or we better had:eek: I better check that.

 

 

 

Enjoy the cruise.

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Di

Thanks Di. Have heard lots of good things about JD seems to be a bit of a legend on these boards. This time we chose a GS as we are "empty nesters" now and don't have to worry about teen/young adult entertainment and wanted a step up from our usual JS or balcony experience. Appreciate your helpful info. Sounds like JD will be missed on one of Australia's favorite cruise ships. Perhaps he will return someday[emoji1]

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Thx Megsie. Sounds wonderful and everything I had hoped for. Sounds like you had a brilliant cruise.

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On a 16 night cruise soon on Radiance in a GS so also would be interested in what little "extras" they don't always tell you about that may surprise us.

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Just received my ticket booklet for our upcoming Radiance cruise in Feb. Says boarding is between 11am and 3pm yet the ship isn't scheduled to depart until 6:30pm. I know some ships have been leaving a little earlier this year (around 5pm). Also terms and conditions all say passengers must be on board 90mins before departure, which is 5pm) and coupled with the fact that you can no longer leave the ship on boarding day why would the 3pm cut off be specified?

Hmm. We usually only holiday once per year so this time have splurged on a GS on Radiance. We've previously cruised Radiance in JS's and loved them with no issues. It's a 16 night cruise this time so if the Suite has issues I'm going to be a little disappointed. It's 3 years since Radiances last refurb so could be a little wear and tear.

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I've always been confused by people who tip in the bars for drinks and service in the specialty restaurants. There's a 15% gratuity automatically added to each bill you receive regardless of the quality of service you receive. Why give more unless you truly received exceptional service that is "above and beyond".

Cripes well all be issued Hazmat suits along with our sea pass card in the future[emoji15][emoji15]

From the current Captains thread:

Radiance OTS - Capt Carl Graucob (started rotation 12-1-14)

Radiance OTS - Capt Göran Peterson

Heard good things about Captain Peterson. No info on Captain Graucob apart from he was previously on Majesty OTS I believe. We are on Radiance in Feb so assume he will be onboard then so will get to see first hand what he is like.

Have cruised with a 9 and 3yr old in the distant past where the ship had a great kids club(P&O Pacific Sky). We were always worried the kids were ok even though the childcare staff and facilities were wonderful. Looking back now we didn't enjoy that cruise as much as we could have if we didn't have the kids in tow. We did another cruise a couple of years ago with the "kids" at 19 and 15yrs and we had an absolute ball together (radiance of the seas). The eldest still remembers the earlier cruise and often commented on how much better the latter cruise was. The youngest really has no memory of her first cruise at all.

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Did a 14 night NZ cruise on Solstice in Jan14 and it was great. We had a C2 cabin and really enjoyed it. There were some great guest entertainers and some of the entertainers in the various lounges and bars were also good. Some areas are showing wear (eg the passport bar) but all in all a great ship. We had a predominantly Australian cruise/activities team as well which was interesting. Friendly staff though we found that the ships officers were not terribly visible. Loved the self opening doors on all the public restrooms as well.

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Question re Chef's Table on Royal Caribbean - on longer cruises (e.g. > 7 Days) does anyone know if the Chef's Table menu changes during the cruise? We are on a 16 night cruise soon and if we do enjoy Chef's table and decide to go a second time during the cruise would we end up with the same food?

Looked through the RCI boards but couldn't find any information related to this kind of question.

Murano is the French inspired "silver service" specialty restaurant. We went twice on our last cruise. First time was fantastic. Second time, not so much, with staff dropping trays and they forgot our birthday celebration cake (pre-organised). Tuscan Grille is also wonderful and if you can get a table at the window overlooking the wake of the ship it just cant be beaten. We booked online prior to the cruise. Murano was full every evening based on info from our fellow cruisers so may be best to arrange that one beforehand. The others seemed easy to arrange onboard.

Also forgot to mention, first sea day of the cruise there is usually a "Market Day" where the specialty restaurants demonstrate and explain all the dishes on their menu and even offer sample tastings. The senior wait staff and executive chefs of each explain the composition and cooking of each of their creations. Really quite interesting and lets you see if their menu really appeals to you. Also allows you to take a really good tour of each venue.

Murano is the French inspired "silver service" specialty restaurant. We went twice on our last cruise. First time was fantastic. Second time, not so much, with staff dropping trays and they forgot our birthday celebration cake (pre-organised). Tuscan Grille is also wonderful and if you can get a table at the window overlooking the wake of the ship it just cant be beaten. We booked online prior to the cruise. Murano was full every evening based on info from our fellow cruisers so may be best to arrange that one beforehand. The others seemed easy to arrange onboard.

Nope they put a hold on the card daily for the purchases you make. Much like a daily authorization of the funds. Card is debited for the total usually on the last morning of the cruise.

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Look I've cruised Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and most recently did a family cruise on the Jewel. Had a great time. Yes there were some things that annoyed me and certainly some things I loved such as Salt Grille and the Orient. We went in with specific expectations based on research we had done and all in all we were pleased. Next cruise is on Radiance but that's because we love the ship. I think people need to be aware that there are P&O are targeting a specific market and by all accounts their ships are mostly full so their strategy works.

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Did this cruise Jan this year. There were 3 formal nights. From memory the first was on the 4th night (Sea day between Tauranga and Wellington), then another on the 8th night (after cruising the sounds), then another on the sea day between Hobart and Melbourne (12th Night). Though of course these could change.

Did a Solstice NZ Cruise last Jan. You just gotta luv the creative use of Shipping Containers as "fences" and "Barriers". If I remember rightly Dunedin was the best - had 'em all lined up for miles so you couldn't escape into the wilds of the stacks of timber on the docks!. They also use 'em to support parts of the gangway for getting on and off the ship.

It would work better if they provided head phones for the movies or such at night and only show sport or shipboard activities during the day with little or no sound.:D

Yeah - make it more like the old drive in Theatres from the "olden days". Used to love 'em. Put some nice comfy love seats out there. Oh Dear! Can you imagine the shenanigans!