The Grumpus Posted August 8, 2023 #1 Share Posted August 8, 2023 Just got word that the balloon will be closed for maintenance on August 15. Not sure if this is a long term thing or just the day I’m there. After the 15th I’ll now be 0 for 5 with getting to ride that balloon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted August 8, 2023 #2 Share Posted August 8, 2023 I've been there 5 times since the restart and haven't seen the balloon go up at all. I'm surprised they don't just scrap that thing and use that space for something new. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare silentbob007 Posted August 8, 2023 #3 Share Posted August 8, 2023 RCI needs to get over the infatuation with the balloon. It’s like they couldn’t make it work on a ship but they couldn’t let it go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CastleCritic Posted August 8, 2023 #4 Share Posted August 8, 2023 1 hour ago, silentbob007 said: RCI needs to get over the infatuation with the balloon. It’s like they couldn’t make it work on a ship but they couldn’t let it go. I suspect letting it go was probably part of the reason they didnt 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wivian Posted August 8, 2023 #5 Share Posted August 8, 2023 Thank you @The Grumpus for this. I received just a cancellation email for our September 10 cruise. I really was waiting that balloon ride. Though I was also waiting to hear that it won’t happen due the wind but … 🙁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibertyBella Posted August 8, 2023 #6 Share Posted August 8, 2023 We had a similar tethered balloon ride at our zoo, and although I wanted to go up in it, one day while I was working, my entire family went up in it without me (even though it was MY idea!). So for revenge I booked a trip out west in New Mexico and went on a REAL balloon ride, soaring over the landscape for miles, learning how the balloon inflates and deflates, stepping in and out of the basket, having a chase car follow us when we landed, etc., etc. After experiencing this marvelous adventure, I can say that the very short tethered experience is just a baby ride. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scottdalfonso Posted August 8, 2023 #7 Share Posted August 8, 2023 @The Grumpus well it goes all the way out to at least the week of October 1, because people in our sailing group have posted this same email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scottdalfonso Posted August 8, 2023 #8 Share Posted August 8, 2023 1 hour ago, LibertyBella said: We had a similar tethered balloon ride at our zoo, and although I wanted to go up in it, one day while I was working, my entire family went up in it without me (even though it was MY idea!). So for revenge I booked a trip out west in New Mexico and went on a REAL balloon ride, soaring over the landscape for miles, learning how the balloon inflates and deflates, stepping in and out of the basket, having a chase car follow us when we landed, etc., etc. After experiencing this marvelous adventure, I can say that the very short tethered experience is just a baby ride. I knew as soon as you mentioned the ZOO Balloon you were from Philly! I used to love seeing that up in the air when I was driving down the Schuylkill! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted August 8, 2023 #9 Share Posted August 8, 2023 2 hours ago, Scottdalfonso said: I used to love seeing that up in the air when I was driving down the Schuylkill! You're one of the few people that have found something to love while driving on the Schuylkill 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scottdalfonso Posted August 8, 2023 #10 Share Posted August 8, 2023 18 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: You're one of the few people that have found something to love while driving on the Schuylkill That and boathouse row were about it...now the balloon is gone and they are doing a multi year light replacement on boathouse row,so it's back to just pure hatred on that road,now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillyFan33579 Posted August 8, 2023 #11 Share Posted August 8, 2023 11 hours ago, smokeybandit said: I've been there 5 times since the restart and haven't seen the balloon go up at all. I'm surprised they don't just scrap that thing and use that space for something new. I have been to Coco Cay 31 times since the restart. I have only seen the balloon operating two times. Definitely not a good use of space like you mentioned 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenushkask8s Posted August 8, 2023 #12 Share Posted August 8, 2023 We got the cancellation email for our October 22 cruise so it's down at least until November (we are scheduled to visit CC on October 28). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Grumpus Posted August 8, 2023 Author #13 Share Posted August 8, 2023 3 hours ago, jenushkask8s said: We got the cancellation email for our October 22 cruise so it's down at least until November (we are scheduled to visit CC on October 28). Wow, that's a pretty long time for some "TLC". It doesn't take them that long to amp-up their ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveru621 Posted August 8, 2023 #14 Share Posted August 8, 2023 The weather issues are the main reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scottdalfonso Posted August 8, 2023 #15 Share Posted August 8, 2023 1 hour ago, The Grumpus said: Wow, that's a pretty long time for some "TLC". It doesn't take them that long to amp-up their ships. Makes me wonder if maybe they ARE trying to replace it or maybe do something to it where it can actually go up in a little bit of wind. Seems like a few more tethers would keep it pretty secure going up and down in light wind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetdriver787 Posted August 8, 2023 #16 Share Posted August 8, 2023 Just another victim of inflation! 🤷♂️ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Grumpus Posted August 8, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted August 8, 2023 5 minutes ago, Jetdriver787 said: Just another victim of inflation! 🤷♂️ Or in this case, deflation. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegirl1 Posted August 8, 2023 #18 Share Posted August 8, 2023 We did the balloon when it was relatively new (June 2019), and for about $25 pp. It only went half the distance up because of wind but it was a fun experience. I recall they employed a person to maintain and operate the balloon. In the dozens of times we've been to Coco Cay, I think I has gone up only a handful of times. I suspect they need to regroup and put some revenue generating activity in the space. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted August 8, 2023 #19 Share Posted August 8, 2023 The Balloon is done with Smoke and Mirrors, it really isn't there............... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwlane Posted August 9, 2023 #20 Share Posted August 9, 2023 It'll be gone for quite a while. https://www.news-journal.com/arena/thestreet/royal-caribbean-shuts-down-its-popular-balloon-ride/article_76794f33-1163-506f-bb48-ab25097b5a23.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoloAlaska Posted August 9, 2023 #21 Share Posted August 9, 2023 On 8/8/2023 at 3:42 AM, LibertyBella said: We had a similar tethered balloon ride at our zoo, and although I wanted to go up in it, one day while I was working, my entire family went up in it without me (even though it was MY idea!). So for revenge I booked a trip out west in New Mexico and went on a REAL balloon ride, soaring over the landscape for miles, learning how the balloon inflates and deflates, stepping in and out of the basket, having a chase car follow us when we landed, etc., etc. After experiencing this marvelous adventure, I can say that the very short tethered experience is just a baby ride. Omg yes love your revenge too. Tethered balloon ride is a baby ride. I use to be part of a competitive chase team (the mascot pretty much since I was about 6) and I had a tethered ride for my 6th birthday (it was a gift from the pilot). I love hot air ballooning but I also am well aware of the risks. I’ve been in 2 crash landings as a kid. Every balloon is custom sewn in a small workshop and the baskets have to be woven by hand. It’s absolutely amazing when you start thinking about it. You don’t just order a balloon on amazon and get it delivered next day. I’m sorry for everyone who had their ride cancelled and hope you can one day have your dream come true. My mom was crew and they had John Glen in a balloon and he couldn’t believe “it’s just hot air” 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_G Posted August 9, 2023 #22 Share Posted August 9, 2023 The report I heard is it will be down for quite a while. We thought it was pretty cool up there but our time was delayed half the day because of a thunderstorm threat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Lomas Posted August 9, 2023 #23 Share Posted August 9, 2023 On 8/7/2023 at 8:10 PM, The Grumpus said: Just got word that the balloon will be closed for maintenance on August 15. Not sure if this is a long term thing or just the day I’m there. After the 15th I’ll now be 0 for 5 with getting to ride that balloon. Thought this was another thread on RCCL raising the prices on cruises. Disappointed it was about a hot air balloon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ret MP Posted August 10, 2023 #24 Share Posted August 10, 2023 I wonder who the genius was that suggested putting a hot-air balloon on a lone island in the Caribbean (not technically and geographically in the Caribbean Sea) and making it one of the main attractions of the island. Surely someone at RCCL HQ knew that weather would be a major issue with a hot-air balloon and do nothing but piss people off with its issues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soremekun Posted August 10, 2023 #25 Share Posted August 10, 2023 I'm really disappointed..... they didn't use the word "enhanced". 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now