I Remember when RCL ............

[nelblu]

19 hours ago, clean1owner said:

 

February 17-24, 1991. 

 

To clarify, it was not on an RCCL ship. Was on Regency Cruise Lines Regent Sea. 

 

 

Mine opened up on the Leonardo Da Vinci.  And the cabin with bunk beds was slightly larger than today's bathrooms.  Dating myself.

Edited January 2, 2019 by nelblu

[Aquahound]

Not so much something RCI did, but more of a ship design thing.  I have very fond memories of my first RCI cruise on Monarch.  The upstairs portion of the Windjammer was covered, but open air, and had 2 waterfalls.  I remember dancing in the disco, which was aft.  I think that space was later changed to Adventure Ocean.  Also, I loved the design of the Viking Crown Lounge.  It was truly 360 degrees, the aft view wasn't blocked by a rock wall, and there was a small band that played up there every night.  I really wish I could go back in time and repeat that cruise.  

[eileen226]

Horse races and go cart races on Explorer out of Bayonne.

canapes and shrimp passed along with the sparkling wine at Captains party in the promenade (navigator over 15 years ago).

special nights when you actually saw the Captain dine in the dining room at the center table, which always looked so elegant (although I have seen Captain Johnnie

dining at Wonderland and he always stops and says hello to everyone).

always loved sail away from Viking crown and usually a drink or two there on our final night.

[cruiselvr04]

Skeet shooting and gulf balls off the back of the ship.

Midnight buffets.....after they quit them them in the dining room they did it for a few years once a cruise on the the pool deck.  That’s even gone now.

Savory bites -DH fav.

No drink packages but drinks were much cheaper.

People dressed for dinner every night.

Chocolates on the pillows.

Loving cups after dinner.

 

Cruising has changed over the years.  ( 30 years for us.) Some are good changes, some are not.  It has changed to appeal to the masses more but we still enjoy it. 

 

The entertainment is better for the most part.

Cabins are bigger ( compared to those tiny inside and outsides on the Majesty for instance.)

We love the solariums.

However we also like the smaller, more intimate ships.  We like being on the sea and not in a floating Disneyland type resort.  We like the longer itinerary ships. So as long as we get that we’ll stick with cruising.

[ONECRUISER]

23 hours ago, Arubamoose said:

I remember going to the Midnight Buffet on our July 2002 Explorer cruise and they had caviar......caviar!!

So the next night they had another buffet we made sure we were close to the beginning of the line to get in.  We had our fill that evening.  Heaven.

Now you are lucky if they put six eggs on a canapé.

 

 

Yeah, our table mates had Caviar with their Dinner. This back when was a 5 course meal that took almost 2hrs to eat. Last cruise ate in Main Dining took 25min from time I sat down until finished Dessert. Like said before I miss the free soda with my meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner

Edited January 2, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[The Fun Researcher]

On 12/31/2018 at 7:09 PM, Junkhouse said:

Gym consisted of a couple weights, a hip shaker, a rower, stationary bike, and no locker rooms or showers.

 

Sports deck was smaller than a volleyball court.

 

Casino was one or two gaming tables and about 10 slots.

 

Pools were opened to all ages.

 

Only eating options were room service, MDR, pool grill, and the one midnight buffet.

 

Still can barely understand most of the captains.

 

Only way to get from floor to floor was by stairs.

 

Only available news was by teletype.

 Sounds like the Titanic!

[klfhngr]

We dressed up for dinner

No 'My Time' dining

LOTS of free drinks on special nights

Hitting golf balls off ship

Skeet shooting

Drinking LEGALLY at 18

Not getting lost on ships

GREAT service from all staff

Staff 'mingled' a lot with passengers 😉

Getting sea sick on smaller ships

GREAT music to dance to in the clubs

HOT food

Same servers each night

Late night/chocolate buffet

GREAT sail away parties

[klfhngr]

We dressed up for dinner

No 'My Time' dining

LOTS of free drinks on special nights

Hitting golf balls off ship

Skeet shooting

Drinking LEGALLY at 18

Not getting lost on ships

GREAT service from all staff

Staff 'mingled' a lot with passengers 😉

Getting sea sick on smaller ships

GREAT music to dance to in the clubs

HOT food

Same servers each night

Late night/chocolate buffet

GREAT sail away parties

[37645]

1 hour ago, klfhngr said:

We dressed up for dinner

No 'My Time' dining

LOTS of free drinks on special nights

Hitting golf balls off ship

Skeet shooting

Drinking LEGALLY at 18

Not getting lost on ships

GREAT service from all staff

Staff 'mingled' a lot with passengers 😉

Getting sea sick on smaller ships

GREAT music to dance to in the clubs

HOT food

Same servers each night

Late night/chocolate buffet

GREAT sail away parties

 

Agree with some of this except for the My Time Dining. This is one of the best additions that have been made so that small groups, couples and singles don’t have to eat meals with complete strangers. But that’s just my opinion 🙂

[clean1owner]

11 hours ago, Aquahound said:

Not so much something RCI did, but more of a ship design thing.  I have very fond memories of my first RCI cruise on Monarch.  The upstairs portion of the Windjammer was covered, but open air, and had 2 waterfalls.  I remember dancing in the disco, which was aft.  I think that space was later changed to Adventure Ocean.  Also, I loved the design of the Viking Crown Lounge.  It was truly 360 degrees, the aft view wasn't blocked by a rock wall, and there was a small band that played up there every night.  I really wish I could go back in time and repeat that cruise.  

 

 

I used to see those Royal ships in port or even at sea and think how cool it would be to be in the Royal Viking Lounge at sea.

 

Then I finally sailed Enchantment in 2000 and experienced it in person.

Edited January 3, 2019 by clean1owner

[clean1owner]

7 hours ago, 37645 said:

 

Agree with some of this except for the My Time Dining. This is one of the best additions that have been made so that small groups, couples and singles don’t have to eat meals with complete strangers. But that’s just my opinion 🙂

 

 

I always liked meeting the new people I dined with. Have acquired some long term friendships that way.

 

There have always been small tables available for those who requested them. And if you didn't particularly enjoy the table mates the cruise line put you with, the Maitre D' would move you. 

[John&LaLa]

On 1/1/2019 at 12:30 AM, MaiseyM said:

Do you think RCI could hold a 'throw back' cruise and do a lot of these things, knowing that prices won't go back (i.e .normal drink prices...).   I bet they could gather a crowd holding one cruise of throw backs and invite everyone to old memories that they can still legally pull off.  

 

The 50th anniversary cruise may have some throw back aspects.  Midnight buffet, etc...

[HBE4]

4 hours ago, clean1owner said:

 

 

I always liked meeting the new people I dined with. Have acquired some long term friendships that way.

 

There have always been small tables available for those who requested them. And if you didn't particularly enjoy the table mates the cruise line put you with, the Maitre D' would move you. 

 

We almost always do MTD these days, mostly for the convenience and flexibility. But I do miss the traditional seating of our first few cruises. Since we were new to cruising, we learned a lot from our table mates bout the ships and islands We also formed a few friendships along the way.  

 

Once in a while, MTD will sit my wife and I at a larger table with other guest. But it's not quite the same as it might be a one time thing & we won't see the guest again. Most of the time, they sit us at a 2-top.

[HBE4]

46 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

The 50th anniversary cruise may have some throw back aspects.  Midnight buffet, etc...

 

Skeet shooting? 😉

[Board_Shorts]

For everyone who misses the last days of the 'old' Royal. I hope these videos and commercials might bright back some happy memories.

 

The following video would play whenever your TV came on. (And still does on some ships!) I for one love this video, and hope it stays.

 

'Get Out There!'

 

 

'The Nation of Why Not'
(This is still the 'on hold' music on some ships ...and now I want Room Service after hearing it!)

 

 

'WOW'

 

 

'The Sea is Calling, Answer it Royally'

 

 

'Part Cruise Ship, Part Space Ship'

(Is this still the 'on hold' music for land based calls?)

 

'This is not a Cruise, this is not the Caribbean'

 

 

'Come Seek'

 

 

And finally, some VERY 80/90's nostalgia!

 

 

 

I hope all these bring back some happy memories 😊

[kayehall]

On ‎12‎/‎31‎/‎2018 at 2:28 PM, gatour said:

Giving out "dollars" for participating in "work-out/sports" events.  Things like doing a walk or competing in the basketball tournament.  Once you accumulated a certain amount of "dollars" you can turn them in for a t-shirt.  This was back when Sovereign of the Seas was only a year or two old. 

Ship shape dollars!!!  Yep, that's what I was going to say!!

[kayehall]

Also best act I ever saw on a ship was "if I were born upon the seas"......OMG so funny.  And best group was Tenors or Rock but I think that was Celebrity

[John&LaLa]

8 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

Skeet shooting? 😉

 

From one of the A1's?

 

And Iggy Pop as one of the entertainers. 😎

Edited January 3, 2019 by John&LaLa

[klfhngr]

We dressed up for dinner

No 'My Time' dining

LOTS of free drinks on special nights

Hitting golf balls off ship

Skeet shooting

Drinking LEGALLY at 18

Not getting lost on ships

GREAT service from all staff

Staff 'mingled' a lot with passengers 😉

Getting sea sick on smaller ships

GREAT music to dance to in the clubs

HOT food

Same servers each night

Late night/chocolate buffet

GREAT sail away parties

[klfhngr]

We dressed up for dinner

No 'My Time' dining

LOTS of free drinks on special nights

Hitting golf balls off ship

Skeet shooting

Drinking LEGALLY at 18

Not getting lost on ships

GREAT service from all staff

Staff 'mingled' a lot with passengers 😉

Getting sea sick on smaller ships

GREAT music to dance to in the clubs

HOT food

Same servers each night

Late night/chocolate buffet

GREAT sail away parties

 

How dare I forget the topless sunning section on some ships! ;O

[klfhngr]

How dare I forget the topless sunning section on some ships! ;O

[HBE4]

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

From one of the A1's?

 

And Iggy Pop as one of the entertainers. 😎

 

Hopefully not during the aqua show. You wouldn't want to mistake  a diver for a clay pigeon.

 

I always wondered how Royal exec's felt about Iggy's Lust for Life song used to advertise a family friendly vacation.

Edited January 3, 2019 by HBE4

[George C]

Speaking of entertainment, just read captain of “Captain and tennile “ just died we saw them on a couple of rccl cruises in 90’s both times thanksgiving week. They put on a good show.

[ping1]

--Masquerade night

--Twin beds arranged in an L shape with orange bed spreads!  LOL

--So many utensils that the waiter had to discreetly point to which one to use.

--parading waiters/flaming desserts on top of waiter's heads

--themed dinner nights (Italian night, French night etc) with matching themed napkins

--dressing up every night for dinner

[Aquahound]

14 hours ago, Board_Shorts said:

And finally, some VERY 80/90's nostalgia!

Thank you for this video.  There's an important message at the end that is pertinent to this subject.  "7 Night Caribbean from $649."  That was in the late 80s.  20 years later, we're still paying those same prices...sometimes less.