Yeshiva Week 2024 Cruises Check Your Dates

[crewsweeper]

5 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

As a Southerner, I don't live in a hotbed of Judaism, so I ask this without any prejudice or meanness -- just looking for information:  What percentage of the Jewish community is that observant?  I mean, observant enough literally to leave the lights on?  

No.  I learned this when I sailed a holiday ONCE (as I said before, NEVER AGAIN). 

 

 

Most, but not all of those taking part in Yeshiva week are families with children in Jewish schools. Jewish schools tend to attract the more observant. 

While dates may vary, Yeshiva Week falls at the end of the winter semester.  Typically 10 days of holiday.   That usually means the third and fourth week of January.  And the group is usually booked on the newest ship or one of the Oasis class ships out of a Florida port. So somewhat easy to side step if you want to avoid. 

[BND]

1 hour ago, crewsweeper said:

Most, but not all of those taking part in Yeshiva week are families with children in Jewish schools. Jewish schools tend to attract the more observant. 

While dates may vary, Yeshiva Week falls at the end of the winter semester.  Typically 10 days of holiday.   That usually means the third and fourth week of January.  And the group is usually booked on the newest ship or one of the Oasis class ships out of a Florida port. So somewhat easy to side step if you want to avoid. 

For anyone who knew this existed.  I had never heard of it until this thread and we booked months ago.  Just saying, not everyone knows every single holiday that exists nor that this is what and when it happens.

[Mickey Chick]

On 11/18/2023 at 2:17 PM, Badatz2 said:

If this was a sailing with a Fresh Kosher program, then the special line would be supervised and okay.  If not in the program I would be very wary of it

Yes. That was a "Fresh Kosher" sailing with closed off Bistro. 

I was actually responding more to the sentence stating "they will NEVER" eat at Sorrento's.

[floinnc]

We are reform Jews and used to live in an area of ultra orthodox and Hasidim. Had I known, I would not have chosen this date. But we'll cope. The ship is huge and we can spend time in other areas of the ship. And hey, we are cruising, not cooking, not cleaning and someone is entertaining us and taking us to warm weather places. No complaints!!

 

[toad455]

I'm just happy that RCCL clearly advertises these cruises now so those that want to avoid them can. Cruising in January is typically a quiet time for large families to cruise. Most that sail in January due so to avoid having large amounts of kids on board.

[dahirsh]

8 hours ago, BND said:

 

 

Most Jews aren't even practicing much less kosher. 

Interesting generalization.  

[BND]

18 minutes ago, dahirsh said:

Interesting generalization.  

Personal experience.  Yours may vary.  But, you can google it.  And, I'm talking in the US as we're talking a cruise out of the US.

 

It's like asking how many catholics are practicing?  You'll get a lot more that identify than actually attend more than Christmas and Easter.

Edited November 21, 2023 by BND

[RoperDK]

I feel this thread is taking a turn.  I was on a Yeshiva week cruise on Oasis several years ago.  It took us by surprise because we booked in January thinking we would avoid school breaks at that time.  It was like a typical spring break cruise.  Lots of families.  Lots of kids.  I don't think it was more unruly than our March spring break cruise on Wonder this year.  I don't remember if the Solarium Bistro was closed for non-Kosher service or not. Since it was our first Oasis class cruise, we were a bit clueless about all the venues onboard.  I do wish that cruise lines would advertise when large groups are onboard that can potentially close public venues.  It can ruffle some feathers when that happens.      

[Stick93]

1 hour ago, BND said:

Personal experience.  Yours may vary.  But, you can google it.  And, I'm talking in the US as we're talking a cruise out of the US.

 

It's like asking how many catholics are practicing?  You'll get a lot more that identify than actually attend more than Christmas and Easter.

Prob should have quit while you were ahead - hope i quoted you okay.

 

I didn’t realize my misquote was actually more spot on. Generalizing a religion on personal experience is probably not a good look for anyone. 

[gmerick]

I'm not enjoying the unstated message in many of this thread's comments.  Essentially:  These people aren't like us, and they shouldn't be using our favorite bits of the ship.  Check out the Carnival Freedom departure on 29 Jan 2024.  "The bars & casino will be closed and there will be over 90 concerts"

[Tree_skier]

37 minutes ago, gmerick said:

These people aren't like us, and they shouldn't be using our favorite bits of the ship.

Nonsense, this is something that plagues all large groups who partially charter a ship.  Only this one tends to be very kid heavy and the only one that I know that directly limits other cruisers dining options.

 

I have a partial charter in February.  I'm hoping it doesn't negatively impact my cruise but it might. I didn't know about this partial charter when I booked.  The partial probably wasn't confirmed at that point.  Would I have not booked if I had known?  Possibly but more than likely I would have taken a chance because the price was really good at the time.  I have done other cruises that had significant partial charters.  One was an Aquafest cruise.  I was worried about how that would impact my experience. Thankfully, it didn't and was one of my favorite cruises ever.

 

It doesn't mean I have any implicit bias or prejudice against that group as your post implies people on this thread have. It means it altars the experience and for some significantly negatively.  Instead of looking prejudice and offense how about a little empathy for those who unwittingly booked a cruise that may limit their expected enjoyment.

[BND]

1 hour ago, gmerick said:

I'm not enjoying the unstated message in many of this thread's comments.  Essentially:  These people aren't like us, and they shouldn't be using our favorite bits of the ship.  Check out the Carnival Freedom departure on 29 Jan 2024.  "The bars & casino will be closed and there will be over 90 concerts"

No one said that at all.  What has been said is historically the kids behavior has been not good and a food venue is being denied to everyone else.  You are really reaching.

[Vibe]

Having a large group on your cruise is not always a negative. I was on the Wonder a few weeks ago. There was a large group called "Buddy Cruise" which is for special needs persons and their families. They truly enjoyed themselves. It was awesome to see so many happy faces😀

Home Page - Buddy Cruise.

 

 

 

Edited November 22, 2023 by Vibe
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[BND]

2 hours ago, Stick93 said:

Prob should have quit while you were ahead - hope i quoted you okay.

 

I didn’t realize my misquote was actually more spot on. Generalizing a religion on personal experience is probably not a good look for anyone. 

Just sigh.

[tokidoki]

On 11/17/2023 at 2:55 PM, nelblu said:

Can't recall if it an Oasis sail on August 20 or October 8 that the Solarium Bistro was closed every day for the Orthodox Hebrew faith.  There was a large population on board.

August 20, but the entire Solarium was open to all. 

[tokidoki]

On 11/18/2023 at 1:36 PM, Badatz2 said:

MY understanding is that depending on how many people sign up for the program it could be either at the solarium Bistro or a closed off part of the Windjammer.  That will be determined at a later date.

 

As for the pizza they will NEVER eat pizza from Sorento as whole shop is very very unkosher.  They might have had pizza as part of the Fresh Kosher package, and you might have seen them walking around the Promenade with it.

The kosher program is capped off at 3-450 depending on ship size only in Bistro.  The pizza served in Sorrentos during these weeks is kosher from a separate oven.  

[tokidoki]

I just want to add that these kosher cruises r not a charter.  The concept is Royals and they made the decision to make the Bistro kosher for several cruises through out the year.  They found there was a large enough demand for kosher food, so the program was created.  

[nelblu]

7 hours ago, tokidoki said:

August 20, but the entire Solarium was open to all.

Thanks.  I was referring to the Bistro only being closed the entire week.

[Cruise a holic]

Would be nice if Royal had a week with no kids under 18 were allowed. Like Virgin Voyages.    We were on an Oasis cruise last August  full of kids.  They were not at all supervised.  Sitting in elevators and pushing every button.  Running in hallways,  shouting and going nuts.  Some parents think well its their vacation also, so don't bother me.  

 

So sad that people behave without regard to others.  Who cares if the solarium bistro is reserved-so many other options on a cruise ship.  Enjoy your cruise.

[BND]

7 hours ago, tokidoki said:

I just want to add that these kosher cruises r not a charter.  The concept is Royals and they made the decision to make the Bistro kosher for several cruises through out the year.  They found there was a large enough demand for kosher food, so the program was created.  

Who said it was a charter?  These 3 cruises are advertised basically as a group cruise.  The demand exists because it was created for specific cruises.

[Sunshine3601]

17 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Most, but not all of those taking part in Yeshiva week are families with children in Jewish schools. Jewish schools tend to attract the more observant. 

While dates may vary, Yeshiva Week falls at the end of the winter semester.  Typically 10 days of holiday.   That usually means the third and fourth week of January.  And the group is usually booked on the newest ship or one of the Oasis class ships out of a Florida port. So somewhat easy to side step if you want to avoid. 

Sailings out of Cape Liberty, NJ will probably have the most passengers due to a large area of NYC with Yeshiva schools.   

We were booked for an 11 nighter on Anthem for Jan 18th but cancelled in October after learning about Yeshiva week(s).   

[gumshoe958]

1 hour ago, Cruise a holic said:

Would be nice if Royal had a week with no kids under 18 were allowed. Like Virgin Voyages.    We were on an Oasis cruise last August  full of kids.  They were not at all supervised.  Sitting in elevators and pushing every button.  Running in hallways,  shouting and going nuts.  Some parents think well its their vacation also, so don't bother me.  

 

So sad that people behave without regard to others.  Who cares if the solarium bistro is reserved-so many other options on a cruise ship.  Enjoy your cruise.

You kind of asked for that, sailing in August.

[Cruise a holic]

10 minutes ago, gumshoe958 said:

You kind of asked for that, sailing in August.

Due to my DH's occupation, we can only sail certain times during the year- perhaps it is time to try Virgin!  We really love Royal and Celebrity.

[RoperDK]

14 hours ago, gmerick said:

I'm not enjoying the unstated message in many of this thread's comments.  Essentially:  These people aren't like us, and they shouldn't be using our favorite bits of the ship.  Check out the Carnival Freedom departure on 29 Jan 2024.  "The bars & casino will be closed and there will be over 90 concerts"

I googled the Freedom charter cruise.  Hope the participants enjoy themselves and glad it's a whole ship charter as the impact on other cruisers would be overwhelming.             

[HappyTexan44]

I would be unhappy to be on one of these cruises.  I have zero problems with Jews (had been engaged to one in college)   But, I'd really dislike not having access to all the public areas, and we also deliberately picked a low kid time period.   Fortunately, I picked February.   I suspect many people pick January after the first week for the same reason.