With the changes being made on RCI, what are your future cruising plans?

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Add us to the "not sure" category. I doubt that we will step foot on the Freedom or Genesis Class ships and since we prefer newer ships we just may be SOL :confused:

 

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I guess that's how it boils down for us. I do like the Explorer, but I LOVED the Jewel! I really wish that RCI would throw us a bone and tell us that more Radiance Class ships are in the works. However, I have read that RCI officials have said that is not to be.....:(

 

I am hoping the Brilliance has a Med itinerary that we like for 2009, then I am hoping to do the Radiance on a trans-canal cruise in 2010. After that, I will have to see what our options are.

[Oville]

I guess that's how it boils down for us. I do like the Explorer, but I LOVED the Jewel! I really wish that RCI would throw us a bone and tell us that more Radiance Class ships are in the works. However, I have read that RCI officials have said that is not to be.....:(

 

I am hoping the Brilliance has a Med itinerary that we like for 2009, then I am hoping to do the Radiance on a trans-canal cruise in 2010. After that, I will have to see what our options are.

 

We love the Radiance class also. Heading off on the Jewel on Sunday and can't wait.

 

Having said that, we have been on Explorer 2 times for 5 night cruises and had a good time. In Sept. I went kicking and screaming on a 7 night on a Liberty of the Seas cruise. Enjoyed it more than I would have ever would have guessed. It felt a lot less crowded than the Explorer(much nicer Windjammer), and is a beautiful ship.

 

Give the bigger ships a try. You might be surprised, but the Radiance class will always be my favorite.

[sgttami]

Did I miss something?

 

What changes are being made?

[Jancruiser]

I'm not sure what changes are referred to here; we just cruised RCCL's Jewel of the Seas to the Baltic in August/September, and the cruise was so perfect we could not find one thing to complain about on the comment sheet. We're booked for the Radiance in February and have no qualms. After 10 cruises with RCCL, we were treated to the Concierge treatment--including and especially access to the Concierge Lounge, and let me tell you, this is a perk that will make you think long and hard before switching to a different cruise line. We HAVE tried a couple of others over the years, but RCCL is still our favorite, and the Concierge Lounge is just icing on the cake. J.

[aloha of the seas]

As everyone else said, what are that changes if you dicount the fuel surcharge or fare increase however you call it. Personnally I can wait a long long time for Genesis. I thought the Radiance class ships were a great idea. Smaller ships with the amenities of the big ships. last cruise was on the Jewel and it was just the right size. Personnally I would like to see RCCL go back to the way they used to serve you in the dining room. In the old days you could get a baked potatoe every night and the veggies were brought out in serving dishes so you could select what you wanted.

[sea-cruise]

We love the 45 minute drive from our home to Cape Liberty so we will continue to cruise Celebrity & Royal Caribbean. :)

[abridalmaven]

Wow for 59 I must be younger than I think! Loved Freedom, thought it was the best so far, can not wait for Genesis. I like excitement so will not even consider Celebrity or stuffy lines, hated NCL, so I will stay with RCI or maybe try Princess once ( but only if I can get traditional seating):rolleyes: And I do not like the ships the others have, the open feeling on RCI is my comfort zone.

 

Wake up and enjoy life; if we do not change we stagnate and die. All the stupid huff over fuel surcharges, is in my way of thinking stupid:p . No offense tothose who are mad but does nayone really think they do not pay those charges in the end?? Get real. And as a former business owner ( and as a current independent contractor) I know costs have to be passed on or go out of business.

 

This week in Atlantic city in a casino cafe I paid $14.50 for an omelet. Nothing is cheap, so accept it or go camping.:eek:

[Blizzard54]

I may not be booking as far ahead as I have been since the price protection policy seems to no longer be in effect.

[jeffs55]

Going on our first RCI on Enchantment next month. Been on about 15 cruises on many lines, somehow I always find a way to have a good time.

I like NCL for what it is, also HAL. (I just don't pack a tux for NCL!)

RCI folks consider Enchantment to be a smaller ship! My favorites were

HAL New Amsterdam and X Zenith and Horizon.

All much smaller than what's out there now.

(We won't even mention our first, Cunard Countess!)

Oh yeah, I just did.

No cruise is perfect, but they've all been pretty darn good so far.

[amybear912]

I put that I've been loyal but will consider other lines... and we've been considering other lines for a while now anyway... not because of cutbacks but more because each line offers something different and we are interested in those options...

 

For example... I think we would really enjoy Princess's Movies Under the STars... that's an activity that fits our vacation style...

 

For now, I am satisfied with RC's product... I am certainly not considering a ban on them from my future vacation plans...

[Willie T]

Love love love the Vision and Rcc, but.....we are smokers, and most of our friends that we travel with are also. And we are mostly blue collar workers and can not afford to book balconies. Soooo, unhappily we will be switching. I'am sure the whole industry will soon be all non smoking rooms like RCC, in which case I'll be back! But, I still come to RCC boards all the time, not mad, just want to have my vacation my way.:o

[daveky]

Will stick with RCCL, but have been talking with the TA about other cruise lines out there that may offer the changes made years ago I miss. I really miss the named "celebrity" entertainment in the early years. Would have my TA call and check the 7 day sailings for Eastern, Western and Southern and see who was the entertainment with people such as Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr, Mary Wells (the Supremes), Ben Vereen, Gladys Knight, Susan Anton, Jerry Lewis, etc.

Entertaiment now is fine but did miss entertainers from the past. RCCL would budget more for entertainment in the early nineties. I smile when I hear how the Voyager, Freedom and Genesis are too large. Seasoned cruisers in the late 80s, early 90s complained 1800-2400 passenger ships were too large and were going to stay with RCCLs small ships such as Sun Viking and Song of Norway, 600 to 1000 passengers. Boy has the definition of "small vs large" changed. Will investigate other cruise lines in case something comes up, but sure RCCL will be the main choice unless something drastic changes.

After thought, now in my early 50s and can see as I get into mid 60s and on, I'll wait to see how my health is and could see where I would look for smaller ships if I have a problem getting around. But by then, RCCL will have a 10,000+ passenger ship and the Geneisis will be the "Shrimp of the Seas" (smile)

Merry Christmas to all

 

Dave

[nbsjcruiser]

With the boards being full of concerns about changes on RCI I am curious to know how the changes are going to affect YOU, the experienced cruisers on this board. Will you be reconsidering how you vacation in the future or will you take it all in stride and accept it as progress?

 

I personally have loved my RCI cruises, but I am also including other cruise lines in my cruise searches now - something that I year ago I didn't do. I am also considering limiting myself to one cruise a year and going on some of the more upscale lines, like Celebrity or Azmara. What about you?

 

I always cruise for Itinerary first then the ship. My feeling is that the itineraries have changed for the worst so we'll be trying Carnival next time. Perhaps in 2010 RCI will bring back more appealing itineraries for us and we'll go back. I do like RCI but am not "loyal" to the point where I'll sacrifice what I'm looking for in a vacation

[Gonzo70]

I have used RCL more than other lines. I like trying out different lines so the changes will not impact me. I will likely saild with RCL again in the future, but regardless of the changes was planning on trying out some different lines anyways.

[cruisePRN]

 

I was wondering if they are just venting or are really planning to go elsewhere.... I.

 

 

Hi Ginny,

I'm booked on the Azamara already for Asia Jan 3 2009, wanna join us? This month I did the annual girls cruise on Monarch and am sorry to see her go. One of the things I really resent is having to pay for a cup of plain old coffee at Seattles Best. Of course I don't have to patronize the store but I did anyway one time. I'm ready for a more upscale experience and have booked Crystal, Azamara Princess and Lindblad already BUT I also am sailing on Voyager next month and am booked on Vision for Nov 2008 . The point is I'm not loyal to anyone any more.

[RetireeWannabee]

Yup, I cruise for the itinerary first, then price, and don't pay too much attention to the line. I'm here for the trip, not he "cruise experience"

Ditto. Sometimes it's this line, another time it's a different one... the alleged changes aren't significant enuf for me to actually pay much attention to them.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Hi Ginny,

I'm booked on the Azamara already for Asia Jan 3 2009, wanna join us? This month I did the annual girls cruise on Monarch and am sorry to see her go. One of the things I really resent is having to pay for a cup of plain old coffee at Seattles Best. Of course I don't have to patronize the store but I did anyway one time. I'm ready for a more upscale experience and have booked Crystal, Azamara Princess and Lindblad already BUT I also am sailing on Voyager next month and am booked on Vision for Nov 2008 . The point is I'm not loyal to anyone any more.

Hi, Karyn! I'd LOVE to go with you to Asia in 2009, but we have already committed to some other friends that we would do the Med in 2009 with them. We wanted to do the Brilliance Greek Isles cruise, but I have been told that the Brilliance won't be doing that itinerary in the summer.:( That was our first choice. Since we are now Platinum we were hoping to stay with RCI for the time being. However, as another poster state, my loyalty won't overcome the itinerary on a major cruise for us like that. We wanted to do a 12 night that included Barcelona as a embarkment &/or disembarkment port & Santorini as a port day. There is a Celebrity Barcelona - Venice itinerary that fits the bill, too. We may do that one instead if the Brilliance will be doing something different. We have to wait for the itineraries to come out to see for sure.

 

I am anxious to try Celebrity. I would also like to try Azmara in the future. Of course, both of those are still RCI brands.:) I will be on Princess in less than a month, though. I couldn't ignore a $500 price difference for a newer ship on the same itinerary, equivilent stateroom. I will be interested to see how they compare. Like others have said - I haven't been on a bad cruise yet. I expect this one to be great, too! Then I'm back on the Explorer in April.:D

 

I hope our paths cross on the same ship somewhere soon - you were a great tablemate!:)

[cruisePRN]

Ginny, I'm sailing on princess in May to mexico. I think the two lines are similar although Princess attracts less kids without the rock wall and skating rink which suits me fine :D

[jamscckmc]

WE love RC but also like to try other lines. We have been on Princess 4 times and have not had a bad experience. Celebrity was a step above them all. I am taking my mom on HAL and expect that to be a great experience. We have done Disney(great), NCL(not so great), And plan never to go on Carnival.. It is nice to go on a ship and know your way around but nothing beats the excitement of being on a new ship and finding your way around! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW CRUISE!

[01821]

Our first and only cruise to date was in Apr 07 on Explorer of the Seas. Our next two cruises are booked on RCCL. I truly can't imagine straying from RCCL at this point.

 

I can't see any changes in RCCL that are not happening industry wide.

 

You make sense! I'm not going to be turned away from RCCL due to surcharges. :)

[FLASHINGLIGHTS83]

WE HAVE been loyal to RCCL so far, but thats mostly because of the $$. Other cruise lines have some itinerarys that have peeked my interest, but the $$ isnt good. If we find another cruise line w/ a interesting itinerary and the $$ is right, we are there. I will always be partial to RCCL in the future, no matter what changes they make, but I am ALWAYS looking at other cruise lines as well.

 

GREG

[MrsPete]

I don't see an option for me in this poll. I would've checked "yes" to something like this:

 

While I do not like all the changes (especially the fuel surcharge for people who've already booked cruises), they are not significant enough to make me leave RCCI. I will continue to be biased in favor of RCCI and will check their offerings first; however, I am loyal to no one company, and I will always look for the best deal for my family.

[Tatuwoman]

I am semi-loyal to RCI, although we have been on other ships, I still seem to come home to RCI, We are currently Platinum members and my goal is to be Diamond which should be in another year+. I am excited about the Genesis and plan to go on that big one some time during its first year. I am also looking forward to maybe the Liberty coming to Port Canaveral in 2009. To top it all off, we have 2 cruises on the Mariner planned for Sept. and Dec. of 2008. For some reason, I feel very comfortable on RCI ships and plan to continue cruising with them. I just hope they don't do away with all those Diamond perks or else they will be hearing from me.:cool:

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We've stepped foot on both Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas (twice!) and have booked passage on Independence of the Seas for next November. We will try Genesis also.

 

I often wonder why some folks just decide they simply will not even try one of the bigger ships. Time and again people have posted positive reviews here. There has been almost two years of sailings on Freedom. There has been plenty of time to find out that the big ships can be great fun and offer so much to so many different tastes. I wish I understood the reluctance to even try them when so much time has elapsed and the ships have certainly proven their value.

 

What are people afraid of in regard to big ships?

[PhoenixCruiser]

We've stepped foot on both Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas (twice!) and have booked passage on Independence of the Seas for next November. We will try Genesis also.

 

I often wonder why some folks just decide they simply will not even try one of the bigger ships. Time and again people have posted positive reviews here. There has been almost two years of sailings on Freedom. There has been plenty of time to find out that the big ships can be great fun and offer so much to so many different tastes. I wish I understood the reluctance to even try them when so much time has elapsed and the ships have certainly proven their value.

 

What are people afraid of in regard to big ships?

 

For us it is too many people and the ship is just too large, that's all. You are correct the ships are beautiful and for the most part the reviews have been positive.

 

We love the Radiance and Vision Class Ships, the size and number of passengers are perfect for us.

 

If everyone loved the same thing life would be boring :D

 

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