kurtp13

Are dining table assigned so you just walk to a table on the nights that follow the first night

I would like transportation from Southampton to LHR.   My flight is 4 pm.   Standard transportation would get me there by 11 am based on what I have been reading which is early.    Tour transfers would arrive too late.  

Are there options for a trip which would have a brief stop somewhere?   I want to minimize my baggage handling so I don't want a multi step trip to London and public transport from there to LHR.   

Dang.   I will use the certificate somewhere but not how I expected.     

Another question.   Do I understand correctly that a Celebrity Cruise can be booked during a RCCL sailing at Next Cruise?   

Thanks for the useful comments.   Refreshing to get a variety of comments without having to weed through wiseguy responses.  

Since I posted this I noticed that Celebrity also had some sailings, although with departure from Amsterdam which wouldn't be convenient for locals traveling by land to the port.   But for me it's an option since I'm already flying.   Celebrity is a sister company to Royal Caribbean so it should be familiar and there are some loyalty crossover benefits but it is more expensive than I'm used to.   I haven't ruled out the P&O interest so if anything else can be offered please do.  

I certainly understand not wanting to fly. So I can relate to those comments.   We usually do a Feb trip from New Jersey since it's an easy drive from home.   Starting in the cold weather is fine as long as we're sailing somewhere warm.  

I just got off Explorer of the Seas.    There are 2 Concept2 machines with PM5s.   So I was really hopeful.   However,  1 machine had a horrible grinding noise.  The other worked well but the monitor had dead batteries.    So it died immediately when not in use.   Stopping even for a drink from my bottle by my side would clear the monitor.   Setting up the display initially was a pain.   I asked several people in the spa and guest services to replace the batteries even suggesting the type (D) and that I could show them how.   But over 2 weeks nothing appeared to have been done.   

P&O doesn't have much presence in the US.   Only one travel agency (Vacations to go) can set up a booking.    

My wife and I normally sail with Royal Caribbean.    I'm looking for a 2025 British Isles Cruise and Royal doesn't offer anything.    Most other options are more expensive than P&O.   

I was primarily looking at Britannia.   The ship appears somewhat modern but maybe more understated than we are used to.   Will the service, food and entertainment be comparable?   I can't get a handle on the market position of P&O.   It seems to be budget friendly but traditional.   

I have specific interests in:

eMuster used?

Reservations needed for shows?

Seating for only us a couple for dinner?  

Live music in venues

Production shows with in house singers and dancers?  

Drink packages?   We aren't big drinkers.   A non alcoholic package would be good if mocktails are available.   

From my conversation with the TA the prices can't be adjusted if they drop.   That isn't as convenient for us.  It could level the difference between the US companies and P&O prices over time.   

Any feedback is welcome.   

I was on Explorer in Oct 2023.   The internet coverage throughout the ship is terrible.   The worst I've experienced.   The staff is aware and will refund a portion of the cost.   The Voom desk noted there was an improvement coming in November 2023 but I don't know if that's accurate or what it is.

I think cruisemom42 provided the answer.    Obviously this is confusing to me, which is why I asked the question.    The shuttles leave from the bus stop area of the transportation area in Venice.  That is what I was looking for.  I was not looking for the airport or cruise terminals within Venice to catch a shuttle bus.  I need to catch the organized bus to Ravenna early in the morning and was looking to avoid transferring from local boat to people mover.   

I have my Royal Caribbean shuttle booked from Venice to Ravenna at 9am from City Center Tronchetto.     We are staying near St Mark's Square but our hotel is down a small canal that requires an extra fee to reach.  That makes it a bit more expensive.  So I was hoping to take a vaporetto.    I have read that taking the people mover was required to reach the proper platform.    But looking at a map there appear to be vaporetto stops.   It seems it would be much easier to get to the shuttle with one form of transportation and not have to drag luggage around quite so far.    

 Is it possible to take the vaporetto directly to the correct area for the shuttle avoiding the people mover?

Does the vaporetto run consistently enough to take it to the Tronchetto at that time of day?

Odyssey of the Seas.   Image from a You Tube video.  Blurry but there appear to be (2) Concept 2 rowing machines.      

Liberty of the seas as seen in a You Tube video.   (1) Life Fitness machine - note the image is in front of a mirror.   

On 12/3/2022 at 2:34 AM, DenGNNJ said:

Celebrity Soltice… Two Concept 2 rowers placed tail to tail in a large well equipped gym. One wasn’t working properly (slipping during the drive).

I had that experience on Anthem but it turned out it was a sticky chain.  I brought along a small bottle of oil after that trip because they are not maintained well.   And no one seemed to know how to get it oiled

I bought this one instead and I have a S20 FE.   It was too tight a fit and broke after some use.   So now I am trying someting else. 

On 9/12/2022 at 8:13 AM, crewsweeper said:

Oasis had older C2 machines pre-COVID.  I'm thinking they were Model Cs with PM4 monitors.  So looks like they swapped out. 

 

Odyssey has 2 Model Es/ PM5 set off in a separate area.  Firmware will most likely be out of date, so bring a memory stick with latest firmware and update.  If you use ErgData or Krew to log your work outs, you'll need the internet package.

Most gym rowers set the resistance handle to 10 because they don't row correctly and can't feel the "pull" in their arms (not suppose to). So do check the drag factor and set the lever to where you need it for your fitness level ( most big male Olympic rowers set it at around 140-160, most female Olympic rowers set it between 100 and 120).  Maters coaches say rowers over 50 should use a drag factor under 110).

 

For Lifecycle rowers, do some web research before the cruise to understand the monitors and various metrics including drag. Don't expect similar pacing as you get on a C2, algorithms are different.  And truly forget the calorie measurement on all rowers.    

Oasis of the Seas had (2) Life Fitness models Row GX as of Sept 2022

Specific models were GER-ALLLX-102 

Oasis of the Seas had (2) Life Fitness models Row GX

Specific models were GER-ALLLX-102 

RCCL

Oasis of the Seas did not have Concept2 in Sept 2022.

Oasis of the Seas had (2) Life Fitness models Row GX

Specific models were GER-ALLLX-102 

I saw an earlier video for Oasis which seemed to show a concept 2 machine.    Watching this more recent video the vlogger showed Life Fitness brand.   Did they get changed out?   Or it there still a concept 2 hanging around?

From a current passenger on RCCL Mariner of the Seas  water type rowing machine not a C2 machine,

A list of ships with Rowing Machines would be super helpful for those of us that use them.   

I'll start with what I've seen in person (confirmed)  or seen in posted photos (unconfirmed).  

RCCL

Anthem of the Seas YES  (2) Concept2 machines (confirmed)

Brilliance of the Seas YES (?) Concept2 machines (unconfirmed)

Enchantment of the Seas NO (confirmed)

Oasis of the Seas YES Concept2 (unconfirmed)

Anyone have rowing machine info for Brilliance of the Seas?

Enchantment of the Seas does not have a rowing machine.   Confirmed in May 2020

Great info.   I plan to bring my Brompton but i wouldn't be opposed to renting if it made sense.    I'd like to do ride without a alot of gravel or car traffic.    Are there sections where I can do a longer stretch where it's mostly quiet paved path?     Would it make sense to ride the ferry and start mid way?   I don't need to ride every section.   I just want to have a partial day of a pleasant leisurely ride.

Is there a phone holder that can be easily be installed and removed from an exercise bike handlebar if i take it to a ship gym?   I don't want to spend half my time trying to get it set up.   Thanks

Old topic but I wanted to know if Enchantment of the Seas has a rowing machine.  

I was the OP and used the rowing machine regularly on Anthem of the Seas (but still put on weight surprisingly enough, HAHA).     I am now curious about Enchantment of the Seas.    Is anyone familiar with the fitness center on Enchantment that would know the answer about whether there is a rowing machine?   

I'm seeing 2013 comments in my search that say it does not.