Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Stargazing on deck

CCC3

By CCC3,
in Royal Caribbean International

 Share

Recommended Posts

garnetpalmetto

garnetpalmetto

Posted
Posted (edited)
Where is a good place to stargaze on the Freedom Class ships? Sailing on the Liberty next summer and would love to share he view with my DH.

 

My two picks would be the helipad or there's a little sundeck at the stern of the ship on deck 12 or 13 - right behind and below the Flowriders.

Edited by garnetpalmetto
Link to comment
Share on other sites
MADflyer

MADflyer

Posted
Posted

I am on Liberty now. We just sailed out of Curacao yesterday and last night was among the best star gazing I have had on any cruise ship.

 

The helipad was ideal as long as those with forward cabins keep their curtains closed. As they had football on late, it was interesting how much effect the mid-ship big screen had on the view as a shadow was cast from the ship.

 

I have a promenade inside this cruise and was awaken by loud music on the Promenade at 5 AM and at least made the best of the annoyance by returning to the Helipad for a morning view and the morning star gazing was just as good.

 

Others will have to report on the post dry dock view from St. Tropez when it is replaced by the large open empty deck above the new panoramic ocean view cabins on deck 12. It is important that there is no back light for the best view and this may be affected by the changes being done to the ship.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
spookwife

spookwife

Posted
Posted
Book a freighter cruise. :D

 

You haven't seen stars until you're in the middle of the ocean with only 5 60w running lights for hundreds of miles.

 

you and my spousal unit need to get together and discuss the finer points of Underway. he's always talking about finding the darkest point on the ship and looking heavenward. he says even the helipad is a crappy substitute

Link to comment
Share on other sites
chengkp75

chengkp75

Posted
Posted
you and my spousal unit need to get together and discuss the finer points of Underway. he's always talking about finding the darkest point on the ship and looking heavenward. he says even the helipad is a crappy substitute

 

Yep, compared to a merchant ship or the Gray Funnel Line, nowhere on a cruise ship will have the same view. Too much backlighting from cabins, promenade, pool deck, and even the logo lighting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
impatientlywaiting

impatientlywaiting

Posted
Posted

A funny story about stargazing - in 2009 on Rhapsody repositioning from Sydney, Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii - we were about 3 days from Maui and DH and I were somewhere in the front of the ship one night looking at the stars. Some other couples were up there as well (they were from Australia) and they were very loudly complaining that they couldn't find the Southern Cross. I wasn't about to burst their bubble that they were in the Northern Hemisphere and were no longer able to see their Southern Cross. I just walked away shaking my head.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mollyeilis

mollyeilis

Posted
Posted
Book a freighter cruise. :D

 

You haven't seen stars until you're in the middle of the ocean with only 5 60w running lights for hundreds of miles.

 

OH sure. But for those of us who don't want to do that, or who didn't spend time on oil tankers in Alaska like my husband, at night on an open deck on a cruise ship is going to be a billion times better than in downtown just-about-anywhere! :)

 

A funny story about stargazing - in 2009 on Rhapsody repositioning from Sydney, Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii - we were about 3 days from Maui and DH and I were somewhere in the front of the ship one night looking at the stars. Some other couples were up there as well (they were from Australia) and they were very loudly complaining that they couldn't find the Southern Cross. I wasn't about to burst their bubble that they were in the Northern Hemisphere and were no longer able to see their Southern Cross. I just walked away shaking my head.

 

Why didn't you tell them? Bursting their bubble that they are annoyed b/c they've forgotten what they can and can't see from where they are? Seems like it would have *helped* them, wouldn't it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
north29

north29

Posted
Posted (edited)

there are some great apps to help you navigate or identify the stars, you might want to check them out for your smart phone. Sorry, I do not have any experience but a full article on them was published in my local paper.

Edited by north29
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Biker19

Biker19

Posted
Posted
We enjoy the helipad. Surprisingly, we are often out there alone. We've never been out there with more than 2 couples.

 

We thought so too after the first night when we were alone up there. But then, by the sixth night, it was like a party up there on the helipad with couples bringing towels and laying down in the middle of the H.:eek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CCC3

CCC3

Posted
  • Author
Posted
We thought so too after the first night when we were alone up there. But then, by the sixth night, it was like a party up there on the helipad with couples bringing towels and laying down in the middle of the H.:eek:

 

Why am I not surprised?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BillOh Holiday Sharing Rare

BillOh

Posted
Posted
Where is a good place to stargaze on the Freedom Class ships? Sailing on the Liberty next summer and would love to share he view with my DH.

 

My feelings as an avid amateur astronomer....

 

nsp1.jpg

 

 

is that you might be a bit disappointed thinking getting 500 miles away from city lights make for great viewing, but there is nowhere on the ship that will get that dark, Royal brings the city lights with you. The ships are lit up like a Disney parade float and your eyes will never adjust the way they should.

 

Sure sitting on the bow or stern may help, but it only takes a 1/4 second of a bright light to destroy the night vision of an adult for 15 minutes or more. Take binoculars and try to avoid looking at any ship's lights, but its real hard and limits your field of vew.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BillOh Holiday Sharing Rare

BillOh

Posted
Posted
I agree, that's been the best place we've found.

 

I didn't think to do that on my last trip on the refurbished freedom. Still the humidity of the Caribbean really diffuses man made lights and dims the night sky.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...