First time on RC

[snorkler8]

We have booked an Alaskan cruise (July, Ovation).  We have never sailed RC and I am a bit nervous about such a big ship...

Watching a YouTube video I was pretty surprised at the Lido food.  My first thought after watching the video showing just the Lido was "Carnival who?" lol. It definitely looks like a step up from Carnival!  

Any tips about navigating such a large ship and all that there is to see and do on board would be greatly appreciated!

We are deck 3, ocean view...wondering what that looks like as it shows its by the casino??

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, snorkler8 said:

Any tips about navigating such a large ship and all that there is to see and do on board would be greatly appreciated!

Read some Quantum class (Ovation is one of them) threads.

[Tlbecker1]

The Quantum Class ships are great for Alaska IMO.  You can hang out at the 270 or Solarium and enjoy all of the beauty the Alaska has to offer.  Enjoy your trip.

[DennysDad]

3 hours ago, snorkler8 said:

We have booked an Alaskan cruise (July, Ovation).  We have never sailed RC and I am a bit nervous about such a big ship...

Watching a YouTube video I was pretty surprised at the Lido food.  My first thought after watching the video showing just the Lido was "Carnival who?" lol. It definitely looks like a step up from Carnival!  

Any tips about navigating such a large ship and all that there is to see and do on board would be greatly appreciated!

We are deck 3, ocean view...wondering what that looks like as it shows its by the casino??

First off, don't be nervous. Relax.

Second, going to message boards and watching YouTube videos will give you so much info. Your on the right track educating yourself. By cruise time you will be ready to sit back and enjoy. Have a blast!

[Mum2Mercury]

Several thoughts about directions: 

- It'll take you about a day to remember your way around.  

- We always try to be among the first to board, and the first thing we do is go to the tippy-top of the ship and circle down ... we find this easier before the crowds arrive.  Even if we've been on this ship (or a sister ship) before, it's great to remind ourselves of where everything is and make plans.  We point out things to each other:  "Oh, there's the towel station."  "Dad, there's your soft serve ice cream!"  "This is a nice quiet spot to sit outside."  

- You'll find model ships /maps in every elevator /stair pod.  

- The public spaces' locations are labeled inside every elevator, so you'll have no problem remembering the right floor for the MDR or the theater.  

- Have you downloaded the app yet?  It has digital deck plans.  

- I'm bad to get turned around when exiting the elevators ... so I pay attention to the artwork next to the door to my hallway.  Whether it's little white shoes or Chinese vases, I know that's the artwork that'll "lead me home".  

- We always bring magnetic door decorations for our own door.  

 

About Deck 3: 

- We almost always go with Guarantees, and we were on Deck 3 on a not-so-long-ago cruise.  To be perfectly honest, we didn't love Deck 3 ... seemed so far from, well, everything.  We had a great room ... a handicapped room /so much space.  We didn't let the room's location spoil anything for us.  It barely mattered.  

- As for being near the Casino, I don't think it'll be a big deal.  You'll have the hallway as a buffer.  While the machines are always making noise, it's a rather low-key noise.  Looking at the deck plans, I'd rather be near the Casino than the Music Hall. 

 

Tips about the Windjammer Buffet, which we've always enjoyed: 

- If you want alcohol, the Plaza Bar is dead-ahead of the entrance.  

- We think the food alllll the way at the back is the best. My husband usually heads for the carving station.  Every evening they'll have either steaks or pork chops.  You can have cooked-to-order eggs or omelets made in the back.  

- What I don't recommend in the Windjammer:  pancakes or French toast.  These things aren't so good if they've been sitting. 

- I eat low-carb, so I always have the same lunch:  a plate-sized salad + a bit of chicken or fish.  They do a different grilled chicken thigh every day, and I've always found them good.  Windjammer is the best place to get this lunch.  

- If you're not an adventurous eater, Windjammer offers hamburgers, hot dogs and fries every lunch and dinner.  

- The Windjammer's desserts are cut very small, which I like. 

[reallyitsmema]

5 hours ago, snorkler8 said:

We have booked an Alaskan cruise (July, Ovation).  We have never sailed RC and I am a bit nervous about such a big ship...

Watching a YouTube video I was pretty surprised at the Lido food.  My first thought after watching the video showing just the Lido was "Carnival who?" lol. It definitely looks like a step up from Carnival!  

Any tips about navigating such a large ship and all that there is to see and do on board would be greatly appreciated!

We are deck 3, ocean view...wondering what that looks like as it shows its by the casino??

 

The entrance to the cabin corridor is from the elevator lobbies, noise from the Casino will not be an issue.  You will not be hearing the machines at all.  Deck 3 isn't bad as there are lots of venues on deck 3, 4 and 5.  We have sailed Anthem and Quantum which are the same class as Ovation and we love that class.  We did Quantum in Alaska and it is a great ship for that itinerary.  Yes, it is a large ship but it is really easy to get around.  Two70 is a gorgeous venue at the aft of the ship with huge windows to watch the scenery if there is weather, otherwise, we prefer to be up on the outer decks so we can go from one side to the other to see animals, whales, ice, waterfalls, etc.  You will love Alaska!

[time4u2go]

6 hours ago, snorkler8 said:

Watching a YouTube video I was pretty surprised at the Lido food.  My first thought after watching the video showing just the Lido was "Carnival who?" lol. It definitely looks like a step up from Carnival!  

The Lido food is definitely not a step up from Carnival, in my opinion.

[snorkler8]

14 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Several thoughts about directions: 

- It'll take you about a day to remember your way around.  

- We always try to be among the first to board, and the first thing we do is go to the tippy-top of the ship and circle down ... we find this easier before the crowds arrive.  Even if we've been on this ship (or a sister ship) before, it's great to remind ourselves of where everything is and make plans.  We point out things to each other:  "Oh, there's the towel station."  "Dad, there's your soft serve ice cream!"  "This is a nice quiet spot to sit outside."  

- You'll find model ships /maps in every elevator /stair pod.  

- The public spaces' locations are labeled inside every elevator, so you'll have no problem remembering the right floor for the MDR or the theater.  

- Have you downloaded the app yet?  It has digital deck plans.  

- I'm bad to get turned around when exiting the elevators ... so I pay attention to the artwork next to the door to my hallway.  Whether it's little white shoes or Chinese vases, I know that's the artwork that'll "lead me home".  

- We always bring magnetic door decorations for our own door.  

 

About Deck 3: 

- We almost always go with Guarantees, and we were on Deck 3 on a not-so-long-ago cruise.  To be perfectly honest, we didn't love Deck 3 ... seemed so far from, well, everything.  We had a great room ... a handicapped room /so much space.  We didn't let the room's location spoil anything for us.  It barely mattered.  

- As for being near the Casino, I don't think it'll be a big deal.  You'll have the hallway as a buffer.  While the machines are always making noise, it's a rather low-key noise.  Looking at the deck plans, I'd rather be near the Casino than the Music Hall. 

 

Tips about the Windjammer Buffet, which we've always enjoyed: 

- If you want alcohol, the Plaza Bar is dead-ahead of the entrance.  

- We think the food alllll the way at the back is the best. My husband usually heads for the carving station.  Every evening they'll have either steaks or pork chops.  You can have cooked-to-order eggs or omelets made in the back.  

- What I don't recommend in the Windjammer:  pancakes or French toast.  These things aren't so good if they've been sitting. 

- I eat low-carb, so I always have the same lunch:  a plate-sized salad + a bit of chicken or fish.  They do a different grilled chicken thigh every day, and I've always found them good.  Windjammer is the best place to get this lunch.  

- If you're not an adventurous eater, Windjammer offers hamburgers, hot dogs and fries every lunch and dinner.  

- The Windjammer's desserts are cut very small, which I like. 

Great information!!  Thank you.  Ive watched a few YouTube videos so I'm getting a feel for the layout of the ship.  The videos of the windjammer make the food look like a step up from Carnival, and I saw the plug for the very back of the ship. We have done Holland and Celebrity before too.  We have found no cruise is bad lol. 

[snorkler8]

13 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

The entrance to the cabin corridor is from the elevator lobbies, noise from the Casino will not be an issue.  You will not be hearing the machines at all.  Deck 3 isn't bad as there are lots of venues on deck 3, 4 and 5.  We have sailed Anthem and Quantum which are the same class as Ovation and we love that class.  We did Quantum in Alaska and it is a great ship for that itinerary.  Yes, it is a large ship but it is really easy to get around.  Two70 is a gorgeous venue at the aft of the ship with huge windows to watch the scenery if there is weather, otherwise, we prefer to be up on the outer decks so we can go from one side to the other to see animals, whales, ice, waterfalls, etc.  You will love Alaska!

What a relief about the casino noise!  I have done an Alaskan cruise before but this will be a first for hubby. I decided to get an ocean view this time so we can really enjoy the views (even though I love being up on deck).  We normally like to do an inside cabin so we sleep well as well as save $.  We have done OV a few times and this time merited it. I'm kind of excited to give RC a try!

[snorkler8]

13 hours ago, time4u2go said:

The Lido food is definitely not a step up from Carnival, in my opinion.

I think it may depend on the Carnival ship...?

[reallyitsmema]

14 minutes ago, snorkler8 said:

Great information!!  Thank you.  Ive watched a few YouTube videos so I'm getting a feel for the layout of the ship.  The videos of the windjammer make the food look like a step up from Carnival, and I saw the plug for the very back of the ship. We have done Holland and Celebrity before too.  We have found no cruise is bad lol. 

 

That poster's information about the Windjammer is completely wrong for Ovation.  There is no Plaza Bar in the WJ on Ovation.  Not sure what entrance they are referring to as there are actually two entrances into the WJ on that class of ship.  As far as their "all the way at the back comment", I think they are referring to the food trays, newer stuff in the back, not the outside aft area that I thing you are referring to.  That area is a great place to watch the scenery go by too.  The food across the back of the WJ on that class ship is usually the gluten free area or closed all together.

[snorkler8]

23 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

That poster's information about the Windjammer is completely wrong for Ovation.  There is no Plaza Bar in the WJ on Ovation.  Not sure what entrance they are referring to as there are actually two entrances into the WJ on that class of ship.  As far as their "all the way at the back comment", I think they are referring to the food trays, newer stuff in the back, not the outside aft area that I thing you are referring to.  That area is a great place to watch the scenery go by too.  The food across the back of the WJ on that class ship is usually the gluten free area or closed all together.

My understanding from a YouTube video is there is someplace where there is seating and food with great views on the back of the ship.  I will have to find it and watch it again.  I know that is the case on Carnival ships. I plan on reviewing all the food options well before we board lol 

[reallyitsmema]

24 minutes ago, snorkler8 said:

My understanding from a YouTube video is there is someplace where there is seating and food with great views on the back of the ship.  I will have to find it and watch it again.  I know that is the case on Carnival ships. I plan on reviewing all the food options well before we board lol 

 

There is an outside area on Ovation at the back of the WJ but it is closed at times.  When you can't find seats and the weather isn't too cold, it is a great place to eat and enjoy the views.  There is a food section back there, before you go outside, but it isn't used all the times, you just get your food from the other areas and then head outside.  In our experience on other ships of that class, when that food area is open, it is typically the gluten free area with delicious made to order crepes in the morning.

 

Post covid, not all sections were used and the ones that have been are different then they were in the past, so try to find more recent videos.  🙂 

[FamilyCruiserUK]

I would say just relax and enjoy it. 

Do not compare cruises and companies as what they offer is different. 

Have a great trip and enjoy rhe views and ship 👍