ged1967

Ah how I loved the midnight buffets.

Queueing up from about 11.30pm to get in and view the spectacle that was the gala buffet or chocoholics midnight buffet.

Wonderful creations that you couldn't imagine.

Then once the viewing/photo op was finished you queued back up to enter and demolish the buffet.

I remember frogs legs ( I never did try them)

Alas these grand affairs have been cut out in search of savings (the food waste musta e been huge)

Alex did have the experience on our first cruise together on the Airtours Sunbird (formerly RCI Song of America)

He was gob smacked as was I first time I saw it. Unfortunately cut backs were already kicking in and it was only the once (or maybe twice) during the 7 night cruise

The Sunbird became Thimson Destiny and that was the gala buffet gone!

Anyhow fond memories.

Grant x

Hello

 

We are onboard too!

 

We are Gary & Stef from York.

 

This will be our 2nd TA on the QM2 so we are really looking forward to this

 

Look forward to hearing from you all.

 

Cheers

 

Gary & Stef

Hello

Hope to see you around.

Grant

Love it. My sister and I sailed on the Cunard Princess in 1992 with our Grandmother. [emoji5]️

I was on Princess November 1992. 10 day canaries cruise from Malaga.

First ever cruise as a 25yo. Had a SS share with an elderly American man.

Met a lovely older couple from Southampton who I did keep in Xmas card contact for a number of years.

Another couple, he ran a market garden from Essex somewhere

And finally a newlywed couple from Inverness.

Oh and a really sweet old lady I accompanied to Captains cocktail party.

The deck plans brought back some memories. Unfortunately I can't remember my cabin number. Tho was upgraded from inside to outside deck 3 I think.

£995 for 10 nights incl flights Scotland to gatwick to Malaga.

Grant x

Ps do you think Cunard will be able find my details and add this to my upcoming cruise?

Welcome Sean

We are grant & Alex from NE Scotland.

Will there a FOD meeting on board?

2 guys Scotland travelling to The Big Apple for Christmas. Any others on too? :)

We're doing a TA to New York in December. One of the formal nights is Royal Ascot Ball.

Cunard have told us the Queens room will be "ladies day" hats & fasaneters. Men will be top hat & tails.

Is this dress code compulsory in the same way the formal nights are? Or can we dress for a normal formal night?

Can top hat & tails be hired on board?

Cheers Grant x

I can certainly add it if people think it would be useful.

Yes!

Question-We are traveling on the Indy in June and are seriously considering the premium package. Were you ever charged a difference for alcohol? My understanding is that all drinks within a certain price range would be included so what are the things that wouldn't be included? For instance, I love champagne and I am so excited about the champagne bar but will most of the champagnes be included in this price? I'm worried about paying $800 for a week of drinks if I will still get charged extra for some things on board. In your opinion, was the drink package worth it? Thank you so much for your time!

We got "bubbles" in the champagne bar on Adventure in May on the Premium. it was only expensive brandys and such that werent included. You can always ask before you order. I'm sure they get asked "whats free?" lots!

You could take the drinks package for less than the nights of the cruise. However once you take it you have to have it for the rest of the cruise.

For instance if you buy it on day 1 you have to pay for the whole cruise. if you buy it on day 3 you just pay for day 3,4,5,6,7 or how much time is left of your cruise.

you cannot take it for days 1,2 3 then stop it.

It may have changed but that what is was previously.

Hi A and G!

Hope you are both well.

Got loads to tell you via PM but I can't seem to do that on here.

Can you give me your e-mail address again please?

All the best xx

Hi

I just emailed your work address but here is mine:

gedward1967@me.com

speak soon!

Gx

DOn't tell anyone but I might...just might be IN the opening ceremony.....have a reserve cast role. If I survive the rehearsals and am needed I might be waving to you from the pitch!

If you're down for a few nights let us know, can always get a wee drinkie...or 2....or 3!

Just booking another cruise for next year, RCL have the free flights just now so got a great deal!

Karen

Hi Karen

Did you have a part on the opening ceremony?

Grant x

On Adventure in May we had the unlimited pix on CD. It cost $249 before boarding. However there was an offer at this price once on board.

Over our 15 night cruise we had 169 official photos taken! (Yes we did have time to other things!!) + we paid an extra $100 onboard and got all the prints too.

If I rememebr correctly the large official photos were $22.99 each and the photos at each port were $14.99 each. They did have various packages for 10 photos etc but we didnt pay attention to them as we had a package.

Each evening we would go and pick up the photos from the displays and hand them into the staff to go in our folio. We then checked the kiosk to ensure that the photos were there.

We found it fantatstic value for money but we wouldnt do it again. This was our first RCI cruise.

They did use facial recognition and as long as there is 1 person in the pic from the cabin that booked a package you get the photo.

We had several with friends that we made on the cruise and will mail them the photos.

Grant

I posted prices from our recent adventure cruise a few after our return in May'14. It's titled drinks prices - facts or something like that. have a search in the form and I'll sure you'll find it.

My first exp of midnight buffet was about 1993/4 on Cunard Princess. It was mindblowing! The pics above give you an idea.

Later I cruised Airtours & Thomsons (same ship) Sunbird/Destiny, Formerly RCI Song of America. This was around 2004 & 2008. Both had a Gala Midnight buffet and a chocoholics midnight Buffet. Again they were fantastic. I miss them but they must have been a lot of waste.

Gx

We will soon be on Freedom of the Seas. Can someone give me an idea of what beer prices are like and for cocktails?

I don't mean to sound rude. However you can use the "search" function at the top of the page. There have been countless posts with prices.

I myself, on this particular forum posted a list from the adventure/seas (diiferent ship i know) in May 2014. So its up to date.

I spent a lot of time writing that post. Perhaps I shouldn't have bothered!

FYI - it was titled something along the lines of: "Drink prices - facts"

x

I left a hooded top and cap in the viking lounge on Day 1. I visited GS and the bar staff in viking crown lounge on numerous occasions.

It was never found. I must say that GS was very helpful. However it was only after we filled in the "halfway" survey that we heard from Stephen, the head of GS. He got security to check CCTV in the Viking lounge however the CCTV was facing the wrong way (it always is) Anyway he put $50 on our account as a gesture of goodwill!

I only spend $34 in an onboard shop to replace the top! - Boost! :)

Do you have to purchase the package/s before you arrive on the ship to receive a discount or can it be done the first day of cruising?

The price on adventure was the same online as it was onboard. If you buy onboard then it goes onto your seapass account (good it you have some OBC)

You can buy it on any day as long as it is for atleast 3 days, I think, or is it 4 days? The package lasts from day of purchase until end of cruise. ie you can buy it on Day 4 of a 10 day cruise.

You cannot buy it for days 1,2,3,4 the revert to PAYG for the remainder of the cruise.

We found the premium package ($55pppd) great value. See post No1.

Hope that helps.

Grant x

Interested to find out what happens.

Good luck to the OP

apple pie in Johnny Rockets.

 

Tim

Oh Yes!! Yummy Yummy :):)

It's lush!

Oh and the BBB Creme Brûlée - MMMmmmmmm! :)

Salivating just thinking about it!

Gx

...We're booked for Adventure on the Seas for March - and it's only our 2nd cruise. Last time, On Carnival - we got the drink package and were satisfied with service everywhere except the MDR - we rarely saw the bar staff and therefore only enjoyed a glass of wine on maybe 3 of the 7 nights. There were only 2 bar staff in the entire dining room, so my anticipated 2-3 glasses of wine with dinner NEVER happened, so we didn't get our money's worth.

OP here.

We found that the bar service was a little poor in the MDR. We only ever had (got) two glasses of wine and the service was slow. It may be quicker if you have the bottled wine package or PAYG with bottles.

We had no problems in any other bar having a package.

Gx

as a past maths teacher I love your scoring and percentages.

 

Fab thank you x

Thank you. I thought a score would give a better indication as opposed to just comments.

And of course there are just my opinions.

Grant x

I concur ged1967, great review, sums cruise up well.

was great to meet you guys at the meet & mingle, and we kept bumping into you.

We ate dinner in Giovannis twice, asked for the same waitress on second night and she gave us 20% off the cover charge, food there was even better than MDR, well worth the extra.

KPLIONMA, are you on the 28th Sept sailing?.... so are we.

Karen

Hope you got home okay. We are down in Glasgow next week for a couple of hours and then again in July for a Commonwealth opening ceremony preview. Don't know if I said but I'm a Clydesider, based at Barry Buddon. (hope I don't have to dress up as Clyde!!) lol

I need to put your email into my phone.

TTFN

Grant x

Thank you for your fantastic review. I won't sail until Feb. 2016 but I am happy to see a positive review among the not so positive.

 

Thanks!!

Thank you too! We are first time RCI cruisers so we aren't from the compare and complain brigade!

Gx

Do you plan to add pictures to your review?

 

Happy cruising!

I will have to look through my own pix. I took about 1,000 photos (most bad) Once I have time I'll look through and see what I can use.

G x

Thanx for the fab review were on AOS in August and had seen loads of bad reviews but you have put my mind at rest as this is our first cruise so we are so exited

Thanx again Terrie:rolleyes:

My pleasure. You will have a fab cruise and you will be hooked. As you are cruise newbies you probably have, or will book ship excursions. This is a good way to see the areas however on future cruises you will do more ports on your own.

Have fun and say Hi to Jamie for us (2 guys from Scotland, who had a few jokes read out on the Morning show)

Cheers

Grant x