Prettyinpink72

I'm helping plan a large family cruise on Independence of the Seas this June and I'm working on our activities. Has anyone recently sailed on the 5-night eastern itinerary? I'm hoping to locate Cruise Compasses or at least get a sense of the theme nights (what/when) and what night the dress to impress night is. Also, I've never been on the Indy (my true love is Oasis class), so I'm interested in any feedback about any must-do's to share with my family. TIA

I'm on the 12/18 sailing as well and I was able to reserve all of my shows. It was a last minute booking, so by the time I made the reservations, the adult comedy shows and puzzle room were sold out. Keep checking- your sail date might come available soon.

I just booked a guaranteed cabin on Wonder. What is the "apple wallet trick"?

Am I correct that there are usually 2 formal nights on a 6-night cruise? If so, does anyone know which two nights they usually are? TIA

13 hours ago, RaisingJoy said:

I was on the Magic 7/18-7/26, and from what I saw club O2 was the problem. I have three teenagers, my oldest went to Club O2 the first night and didn't go back. During an ice breaker they went around the room stating what they liked to, she said the most common answer was "play video games and smoke weed" and staff said nothing. It's as illegal as alcohol in this age group and I don't think they would have allowed them to all say they like to get drunk, but this answer was apparently acceptable. It wasn't her crowd so she hung out with us and relaxed reading on the balcony.

 

One mother told us her teenage daughter was left at her cabin door passed out but doesn't remember what she took. Someone knocked on the cabin door then left her in the hall. There was a fight at club O2, security was called and shut it down. However the teens just gathered in stairways and ran around playing manhunt and knocking on doors, basically being a nuisance so it was reopened. I will say security was everywhere on the ship. We saw them intervene when a parent and grandparent were just screaming at a small child, and again when there was a problem in the hot tubs. They sat outside club O2 a lot.

 

My other teens found friends at circle C and had a great time with them. They made bracelets and had lots of ice cream and enjoyed the freedom of roaming the ship with their new friends. They said many of the kids knew each other and have been on many cruises and the staff knew the kids, so Magic isn't just full of new cruisers. We aren't the type to be in the nightclub, but honestly besides the family screaming at the child, all the adults seemed pretty chill and we didn't have any problems. This wasn't my favorite cruise (it was our fourth Carnival cruise), I found the entertainment pretty boring (the shows were like good karaoke with a theme, just singing with really no dancing or story), the comedians were just OK, and there wasn't much to do besides trivia (the pools were PACKED) but I loved relaxing on the balcony. 

 

Some other thoughts: portions are small in the dining room, after a couple days many in our group were ordering multiple apps or main dishes. I thought it was a nice way to try things but harder on the staff. Food was fine, some dishes were great, only the lasagna was inedible, but the melting chocolate cake was very soupy every night. We had anytime dining and never had to wait more than a few minutes for our large party of 12. Also it's been said before, but Carnival needs another late night food option, lines for pizza were so long after 11PM and that's were I saw tempers start getting heated. We just paid for it through room service, the pizza wasn't as good but my kids LOVED the donut sandwich. Our steward was wonderful and worked so hard, but only having service once a day meant the couch bed in one room was always set up as a bed instead of converting back and forth to a couch. We enjoyed the spa, I love those heated loungers! 

I noticed that you mentioned ATD with a group of 12. I feel like the hub app capped at reservations for 10 on my last cruise. I have a larger group going in December. Do you mind providing more details? TIA

My husband would like to participate in a golf excursion while we are in Nassau. The cruise line doesn't offer anything. Has anyone ever been able to arrange a private excursion? Does Atlantis have a golf course or does anyone know a course that is open to the public?

TIA

On 3/26/2022 at 3:53 PM, cruisegirl1 said:

I am on Harmony right now, and will be on for the following week as well.

 

What do you want to know?

 

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I'm boarding on April 10th. Is Solarium Bistro open for dinner yet? I have reservations but they aren't showing up in the app. TIA

I'm 30 days out from sailing HOS. My online cruise planner still shows my reservation for the Solarium Bistro on day 5, but the Solarium Bistro doesn't even show up as an option on the Royal App. Has anyone sailed lately? If so, was the Solarium Bistro open for dinner? I've read that it isn't operating on some ships now for various reasons. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and make a My Time reservation for that night, so that I don't end up in the stand-by line if Solarium is closed that evening. Also, I enjoyed boarding day lunch there on my December Allure cruise - is Solarium open for lunch on Harmony?

TIA 

2 hours ago, George C said:

When we were there a month ago , there was live music in a Latin club, guitar player in pub , piano player in schooner bar. Jazz band in jazz club, also live music in Central Park. 

We just got off on the 23rd - all listed above were there. Also an orchestra in Dazzles some nights.

11 hours ago, smar1500 said:

Good Morning:

 

Sailing on Allure for the second time end of May. Do you know if Chef's Table is being offered? I did not know if it had been cancelled due to social distancing.

 

 

Just go off yesterday. I didn't participate, but Chef's Table was offered on my 4 day itinerary - I saw it in the app as an option while on board.

On 12/23/2021 at 10:26 AM, mattpan said:

Can you confirm if they are requiring masks in the Solarium due to the stricter mask requirements? Also, can you take your mask off when you're sitting at your table at a dining venue or bar or do you still have to keep it on except for actively eating and drinking (a la airplane style). Thanks!

 

I just got off the Allure yesterday (a four day) - I was only in the Solarium Bistro for lunch on boarding day. I can confirm that at that time, people were only wearing masks in the restaurant while they were walking around or getting food from the buffet (but not while seated at the tables). The few walking around in the actual Solarium were hit and miss as far as masks (and I didn't see staff addressing them). As far as other dining rooms, bars, and shows - masks generally off (some, including me, pulling them up in between sips during shows or in music venues). Most (indoor) bars that I saw didn't allow people to remain at the bar other than ordering drinks - rather, people were positioned at tables a bit farther away.

I'm finally about to make my return to cruising. I picked a 4-night on the Allure in December. Pre-Covid, I've never cruised for less than 5-nights. Does anyone know if there will be a formal night?

I found this on Royal's FAQ

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/content/faq/allure-of-the-seas-venue-grid.jpg

A similar situation occurred with my family last December on the Magic. Three YTD and the fourth couple was assigned late dining (that couple registered for the cruise after everyone else). We didn't notice until we were on board. The couple asked for a switch the first night and were denied. They eventually ate in their assigned dining room at the assigned time that evening. My husband spoke to the Maitre'D for YTD when the remainder of the group ate that night. A nice tip resolved the situation and the couple were linked with our group for the remainder of the cruise.