mattpro

Have only dined with Captain (Hansen) once on the Legend in 2013.

Just started cruising in 2012 with RCL.

Perhaps the reason was we were staying in a GS, which had NO WATER for 3 days - think of the fun showering in the Spa for that time.

Staff on ship were wonderful, helpful and supportive, though the infrastructure on an old ship is what it is.

Captain's dinner lasted between 2 1/2 to 3 hours, so there was plenty of time to check the weather for the captain ( code for cigarette break ) .

Excellent meal - table mates ( 6 others - total at table 10 ) were all Pinnacles.

Personally, if I'm doing the southern Caribbean (my favorite itinerary) I'd fly to San Juan and take the Adventure of the Seas.

Actually have a B2B2B set for this ship and itinerary starting on 11/28/2015.

With a Promenade on board you can actually get a cup of coffee before 7:00 am. and after midnight without having to call room service.

These 7 day cruises are port intensive - 5 one week - 6 the next. If you book a B2B you'll have 11 different ports within 2 weeks.

Does anyone know if smoking is on port side or starboard side ?

skier girl

Glad to hear Mr. Ski received some breakage.

That is why serious gamblers always bet units of 3.

However, on a land casino for a $15 pass line or come bet you are allowed to bet $50 for a 6 or 8, $40 for a 5 or 9 and $30 for a 4 or 10.

Aggressive gamblers use a strategy where they make a pass line bet of 3 units - then make two 3 unit come bets - covering the 6 or 8 if one /or both is not covered by come out rolls.

Continuous pressing of these pass line/come bets, when the number is hit, is how a gambler can maximize his/her profit if a "hot" roll materializes. Unit come/pass line bets increase from 3 to 6, 6 to 9, 9 to 12, etc., while the roll continues.

FYI: To use this strategy (STARTING WITH A $15 BET ) a bankroll of $4,500 is needed to allow for 3 sessions of play. That is why very rarely do you see professionals gamble seriously on a cruise ship, especially RCL.

There is one craps table on board.

If you are a come bettor there are single odds up to a $25 bet.

Literally double odds at $25 and above with no breakage.

For example if you are a craps player on a land casino with double odds betting $30 on the pass line or a come bet and a 6 or 8 is rolled, you are allowed to bet $100 behind it - a 5 or 9 $80 behind it and a 4 or 10 $60 behind it.

On RCL cruise ships a $30 bet can only have $60 behind it, regardless of number thrown.

Big edge for the house, if you're a serious craps player.

Arcade - kids - sea pass

Note of caution to parents:

Even though you may limit the amount of money on your child's sea pass - IT DOES NOT INCLUDE CHARGES MADE IN THE ARCADE !!!

Your child can use the sea pass at will ....... and will be accepted.

Does anyone know the e-mail address for the DL Concierge on the AOS ?

Aruba

beach - Palm Beach

restaurant - Madame Jeannette's

product - Aloe manufactured here

casino's - sports betting (horses)

Natural Pool

Butterfly farm

Bird sanctuary

Safari trips in the state park

Snorkeling - Baby Beach

Sperlunking

California Lighthouse

2 malls to shop in

Seaport Village for charted fishing

Sunset sails (Red Sail Sports)

Cunucu bus - bar hopping

Always sunny year round - less than 20" a year in rain

Below the hurricane line - only one in the last 100 years

Friendly people island wide

They drive on the right side of the road

Ooops !!!

Smoking on starboard side.

Voyager Class - Adventure of the Seas

Smoking available on port side outside - 4th, 11th 12th decks, plus you can smoke on the patio outside the DL overlooking the basketball courts, while enjoying little tidbits and having a cocktail

Smoking with a roof over your head - Connoisseur Club & casino.

mark22mac mark22mac is offline

Cool Cruiser Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 51

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Almost exact price per night for a GS. But bringing my 8 yo DD and was trying to figure out what would be best for her.

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If you can get a GS on the Oasis for the same price as the Indy I would go for the Oasis since access would be available to the Suite Lounge as well as Coastal Kitchen, not to mention the Boardwalk for the little one - big smile

Yes the MDR is open the first night.

Because of muster the first seating is at 6:30 P.M., with other nights starting at 5:45 P.M.

Only stayed once in Cocoa Beach.

A CC poster mentioned to go to goportcaneveral dot. com

Flew into Orlando airport - picked up by Travel lynx - took to the Palm's International hotel right on the beach - stayed overnight - picked up the next day - took to the ship - then taken to the airport after cruise was over.

Total price - $ 139.00

Considering I live in No. Va. (25 miles from DCA) where a round trip taxi to the airport and back is $150.00, I thought the package deal was more than reasonable ............ and would do it again if I sail out of PC.

Panda - seems reasonable if going to China

Excellent review, pictures and commentary.

Have been on this ship and B2B itinerary many times so your pictures bring back many memories.

A few FYI notes:

When in St. Kitts next time you might like to check out Marriott's property - absolutely beautiful - with bar, pool, beach and tons of canopies for shade. About $35 p/p , not including food and drink.

The Voyager class RCL ship's have many of the same features as the Freedom Class, especially Promenade. The Southern Caribbean on the Adventure may be something worth checking out for a future cruise, especially a B2B. (Price is lower than Freedom class, Independence)

The southern itinerary has some tremendous islands for beaches (Aruba, Palm Beach) and some great all-inclusive hotel packages (St. Lucia, Sandals)

You mentioned smoking in the casino, but in such a way that I do not believe you are a smoker. However, if you are, there is a Connoisseur Club located on deck 5 at the front of the showroom where you saw Synergy

In the WJ there is an omelet station at the rear, where they will make your selection whatever way you like it. (Both Freedom & Voyager class ships )

Again, thank you for a very informative and picture laden review.

The only place I know you can get Nathan hot dogs is when you book an RCL cruise and when they port at Falmouth, Jamaica.

Outsourcing is all about the numbers and what column they fit under on the company ledger.

By outsourcing RCL does not have to pay benefits (especially healthcare) for employees working for another company, while at the same time creating a tax write off of expenses paid to that other company.

If another company is not used, the individuals will receive tax form 1999, which means the individual is responsible for their own taxes on money received, while RCL can still deduct monies paid to the individual as an expense.

The result is that the company loses "control" of an individual that interfaces with customers of the company, which the customer most likely believes actually does work for the company.

Like any other game, you have to understand the rules to play the game.

What I wound up doing for my cruise out of Port Canaveral.

Went to website - go port Canaveral - got a deal for $139.00

Picked me up at airport - took me to the Palms International hotel in Cocoa Beach (right on the beach)for an overnight stay - picked me up the next day and took me to the Freedom - then picked me up when the cruise was over and took me back to the airport.

For reference - it costs me $150.00 for a round trip taxi ride in Virginia (25 miles one way with no tolls) from my home to DCA airport.

Wonderful experience and would highly recommend.

#3

Aruba

Palm Beach (hi-rise section ) swim in the clear Caribbean with wavelets like a lake, lay on the beach which always has a gentle breeze. Wind surf, butterfly farm, bird sanctuary, casinos, major hotels, shopping, dine at Madame Jeanette's.

Eagle Beach - (low-rise section ) swim

Baby Beach - furthest from ship - snorkel

Things to see - California Lighthouse, Natural Bridge, Natural Pool, Palo Alto Church, aloe manufacturing plant, old gold mines & caves for sperlunking.

At port - upscale shopping mall, casino - day charters for deep sea fishing at Seaport Village - submarine tour.

Curacao - shop at cruise port - cross a pontoon bridge for more shopping and dining - Lion's Dive for swimming and snorkeling

Bonaire - snorkeling - least developed of ABC islands - island tour - see what Aruba was like 25 years ago.

St. Maarten - Phillipsburg port area - shopping, swimming, casinos.

Marigot - (French side) shopping , dining by the waterfront - pastries at Sarafina's. Orient Beach for nude bathing

Near airport - (Dutch side) Mojo Beach to watch airplanes fly directly over your head - Mullet Bay (1/4 mile away) debatedly the nicest beach in all of the Caribbean

Island tour (Bernard's)

You can go to uTube video and see all of these places, things on your computer.

The southern Caribbean is my favorite destination.

The price will most probably stay the same for the room, but you will only have to pay port fees and taxes for one, as well as gratuities.

If you were to rebook your cruise with your spouse listed in one room and you in the other with your child, your spouse would receive double C&A points.

Of course when rebooking the price is generally higher making this a moot point.

Well, you could always say that you spoke to another friend from the U.S. and his response to you was that your girlfriend should talk to her boyfriend and tell her that all time famous American saying:

................. NEXT !!!

Well ........................ if he reads this message board he'll have the same dilemma that you have.

I was a Marlboro Menthol smoker, but after looking at the prices and smoking the alternatives I have become a convert.

Now it is Pall Mall Menthol 100's.

At the unheard of price of $20 a carton.

If you are on an Eastern Caribbean cruise you can buy 5 cartons legally.

FYI: Back in the 50's when I first started smoking Pall Mall's sold for 26 cents a pack.

FYI:

On my trip on the FOS last month they used the new terminal 1.

If that is the case for you the new terminal is large enough to put out all luggage for all numbers of departing passengers.

You can just leave the ship whenever you want, pick up your luggage and start your stay in line to clear customs. This could take a half hour to an hour (depending on time you depart), but to shorten your line time you can pay a porter to take your bags outside and that line is usually half the time as the regular line.

If you want to make pre-arrangements for travel after leaving the ship at a specific time you should not have a problem as long as the passenger knows what that time is.

The passenger goes to Guest Relations the night (or a day earlier) before disembarking and tells them the time they have to be off the ship. The Guest Relations will issue you a number that will allow you to make your transportation time.

However, if there are any delays due to U.S. customs all times will be moved back. This actually happens more often than not.

However, you can request to be in the first group off, whatever time that is.

Hope this helps.