Radiance of the Seas - Tampa - Oct 9-16

[PH8]

Kathy you kill me,

I am at work and trying to be serious. ROTfLMAO

Hey slow day here in Ocala;)

[Bloom9]

Only plumbing problems I experienced was the shower head was not very secure in the holder and fell a couple times spraying water all over, I finally put a zip tie on it, this is also the first time I had to deal with those dreaded shower curtains, also the shower in the spa backed up pretty quickly while rinsing all that seaweed off me :D

[KAZ35]

Am sailing on Radiance of the Seas this Thursday!!!! I read in this thread there is some sort of beer cooler deal for your room? How do I sign up and what was the cost? Thanks for the response and any other tips you might want to suggest for our cruise.

-- Kim

[PH8]

Am sailing on Radiance of the Seas this Thursday!!!! I read in this thread there is some sort of beer cooler deal for your room? How do I sign up and what was the cost? Thanks for the response and any other tips you might want to suggest for our cruise.

-- Kim

The OP is on another cruise,but Im pretty sure they dont have the beer cooler deal anymore...........I was on the RD Nov 29th for 9 nights.........I will ask some of my fellow cruisers that I know for sure found out.......Ill have them post here..

[Rockfordcruiser]

The OP is on another cruise,but Im pretty sure they dont have the beer cooler deal anymore...........I was on the RD Nov 29th for 9 nights.........I will ask some of my fellow cruisers that I know for sure found out.......Ill have them post here..

Kathy, Correct, the beer cooler deal ended month after it started. Promotional deal from bud light....;)

[PH8]

I knew you were an expert,John............thanks for the help:)

[snowbird1]

The OP is on another cruise,but Im pretty sure they dont have the beer cooler deal anymore...........I was on the RD Nov 29th for 9 nights.........I will ask some of my fellow cruisers that I know for sure found out.......Ill have them post here..

 

I can say with certainty for sure that the deal as mentioned here is no more on the Radiance and trust me I know. I am also on the Radiance this Thursday and will not be bringing the cooler after my last cruise. I have an opinion about this but at this point I am just going to keep it to myself.

[KAZ35]

Thanks everyone for the sad news on the beer cooler. I've already paid for a wine package, so at least I'll be covered for dinners ... do they bring your wine to the room or do you get it at each dinner? Also, for those who recently departed on Radiance out of Tampa, did you have any success in bring alcohol on board? My last cruise was over 5 years ago, and it wasn't an issue then, but now I hear it's a waste of time to try and "smuggle" any alcohol on?

[Rockfordcruiser]

Thanks everyone for the sad news on the beer cooler. I've already paid for a wine package, so at least I'll be covered for dinners ... do they bring your wine to the room or do you get it at each dinner? Also, for those who recently departed on Radiance out of Tampa, did you have any success in bring alcohol on board? My last cruise was over 5 years ago, and it wasn't an issue then, but now I hear it's a waste of time to try and "smuggle" any alcohol on?

I wouldn't try to smuggle. NO NO room sucks.:D

[PH8]

I wouldn't try to smuggle. NO NO room sucks.:D

For those who get caught;)

 

with the wine package,you order it at dinner.......if you want one for your cabin,just tell them and they will let you have it..........

[Rockfordcruiser]

For those who get caught;)

 

with the wine package,you order it at dinner.......if you want one for your cabin,just tell them and they will let you have it..........

I was caught 1 time out of 11. Not bad odds but. The time I was caught it honestly was a mistake. lol ..... I forgot I even had it in the case.:D

[cruisegirl1]

Regarding the alcohol –

We want our luggage delivered on time so we have decided NOT to take any wine. First time in MANY cruises.

 

 

So Snowbird - what is the issue with the beer tote?

M

[PH8]

Regarding the alcohol –

We want our luggage delivered on time so we have decided NOT to take any wine. First time in MANY cruises.

 

 

So Snowbird - what is the issue with the beer tote?

M

Marci.....we were the first ones to embark and didnt get our luggage till after 5!!

 

Vince is just upset they started the beer program and it only lasted about a month.........

[cruisegirl1]

Thanks -

With the B2B D+ amenity that will be 2 bottles of wine, as well as drinks in the CL so we’ll just buy what we need rather than worry about wine in the suitcase. We really only want the bottle of wine in the cabin. In the past, we had taken some very fine bottles from our collection to enjoy. Now, we’ll just get something from the list, take it to the cabin and enjoy the nicer bottle when we get home – or better yet - pre cruise in Tampa.

 

M

[island lady]

Well, we just returned from RADIANCE's only 7 day cruise out of Tampa and all I can say is it lived up to our expectations, except for one major item and one minor item. Getting to the ship was easy, shuttle from our hotel was timely and not expensive. Coming and going. However, the ship had not yet been cleared by Customs, even at 1200, so needless to say there was a "cattle herd" just waiting to board! Sorry, RCL, but staff was definitely lacking in the processing area, people were cutting lines, the security folks downstairs had only one Xray machine up and running, and once we started boarding, it was a gaggle! Wife and I personally spotted two ladies "groaning with "pains" and "canes", cut the line to get on board, but never saw them again o board with either a wheel chair or cane!! They scammed the system. Don't you love such folks? :( Only one RCL supervisor was in the vicinity of the area where we "clocked in" with our new Sea Passes and everyone just pretty much bullied past her. Not her fault - no backup that's all. That's the major problem! Chaos would be a good word to describe it.

DINING: Our My Time wait staff were simply right on top of things!! Couldn't have asked for better. Our group of eight were treated in an outstanding fashion. :)

ROOM SERVICE: Our attendant sort of took over the 1st place award in our books. There wasn't anything Anthony could not not do for us (we were in an aft JS - 1602). Terrific service and personality.

CONCIERGE: "Gina" was simply great. We even arranged, through her, to have a dinner for 8 on our aft balcony. She did it all -- and Marvin and his assistants made it look like we at the Captain's Table. What a great night -- under a 1/4 moon and gorgeous temperature. Food was hot, service prompt, and the guys were laughing as much as we were!!:cool:

PORT VISITS: We all were watching Hurricane Paula, but the Captain pulled some mariner tricks out of his hat and we ended up by ourselves in Belize and Cozumel! No big crowds and plenty of tenders available. Great seamanship there.;)

WINDJAMMER: Rarely very crowded -- this time we were always able to find seating, usually back aft enjoying the pleasant weather. Food was good, service good and I blew my diet attempts - oh well!

BEVERAGE SERVICE: I personally did not have a problem with the drinks I ordered, but one or two in our group found out the hard way that, for instance, the "house Chardonay" was available in the DR at about the usual price, but if you went down to the Casino for example, it was easily $2 or $3 more because, we were told, "they didn't carry house chardonay" in those areas. Something is wrong with that picture and needs to be fixed! Unfair to say the least. Bartenders aoo in all were busy but attentive just the same. Special kudos to Mervin in the D+ overflow area in the Odyssey and Lucy down in the Casino. Hard workers but wow, what nice drinks!! :confused:

GENERAL: The Radiance class ship, and we've been on three of them now, should be a class that RCL does NOT do away with. At about 91,000 tons, it's big enough to be roomy and sail smoothly, but not too big to get lost of feel like you're a big herd being moved about by the crowds. Well kept, clean, and friendly staff -- at least all we had occasion to meet! We liked RADIANCE and hope others will also. Last comment: our beach excusion in Costa Maya took us to Nohoch Cay, about a 12 minute ride from the ship. What a most pleasant visit. All inclusive. Drinks, food, lounge chairs, clean and very nice beach plus EXCEPTIONAL attention by Jaime (the owner) and Gabriel (our attendant). Even got a big favor when Jaime had caught about a 7 pound hog fish (only in season in September/October, and asked if we would like him to prepare and cook one up for us. It was superb! And, I'd say it was way above what you would expect.

A great 5 hour stay (due to a later arrival time due to PAULA) for a reasonable price. We all loved it. You can ask for Nohoch Cay through reservations@costamayacruiseexcursions.com . You won't be sorry!! :D

 

 

Great review!

Glad you had a good time. We are looking forward to being aboard her sister ship the Jewel next month.

I met your friend "Lord Timothy" on the Monarch over the weekend. He was pretty cool. Also had dinner with Bob and Susan, who were fabulous.

Happy cruising!

[PH8]

Great review!

Glad you had a good time. We are looking forward to being aboard her sister ship the Jewel next month.

I met your friend "Lord Timothy" on the Monarch over the weekend. He was pretty cool. Also had dinner with Bob and Susan, who were fabulous.

Happy cruising!

We cruise with LT quite a bit.....if you are on FB,you'd see a pretty special pic of the two of us..;)

[island lady]

Marci.....we were the first ones to embark and didnt get our luggage till after 5!!

 

Vince is just upset they started the beer program and it only lasted about a month.........

 

Hi Kathy! :)

 

Had a great time on the Monarch over the weekend. Major problems getting the last 4 tenders back on the ship when the weather came in fast, but everything else was perfect.

 

Had dinner with Bob and Susan the first night, which was our first time with MTD. Really great people and had a good time with them. Also met your friend "Lord Timothy" who was spending the month on board. Nice guy and funny!

 

Looking foward to being on the Jewel next month, which will finally put me into humble Diamond status...whoo hoo! :D

[island lady]

We cruise with LT quite a bit.....if you are on FB,you'd see a pretty special pic of the two of us..;)

 

Hi again Kathy! Looks like our posts crossed each other.

No, I have not seen the pic....will look for it! :)

[PH8]

I heard about the tenders:eek::eek::eek:

 

I dont know Bob and Susan.....:confused:

 

Congrats on Diamondship:)

 

Yea LT was on the RD with us Dec 2nd then went to his home away from home.......(the MN!)

[island lady]

I heard about the tenders:eek::eek::eek:

 

I dont know Bob and Susan.....:confused:

 

Congrats on Diamondship:)

 

Yea LT was on the RD with us Dec 2nd then went to his home away from home.......(the MN!)

 

During the welcome back party, LT received an award being the person with the highest number of cruises on the ship, then Bob and Susan got the award for second place.

We noticed he hung out alot with them. Just assumed you knew them.

 

We all spent a couple of hours on deck watching the poor people on the tenders try to dock up. Luckily we had come back on an earlier tender, as we saw the weather moving in and knew better than to over stay our welcome on the island.