Maraprince
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Posts posted by Maraprince
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I think the early departure is just because of re-fueling. Fuel is probably cheaper in San Juan. I think most ships do the same thing; fuel up and then leave!
If SJ is the first stop, they try to get in as early as possible since it takes awhile to refuel the ship for the rest of the sailing. There really is no where else they can refuel but SJ if they leave out of Bayonne. RCCL, like other cruise lines, has contracts in place in SJ for the refueling to start as soon as the ship is secured to the dock.
If you are on the side where the refueling is taking place, no smoking is allowed and the smell is very strong and strong enough to keep you off your balcony. Most people are off the ship if even only to walk around the dock area.
MARAPRINCE
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Oasis is much larger than Quantum and is limited as to what cruise ports it can use.
My thoughts exactly! You can only go to the same ports so many times. It's not like the sailing is a transatlantic crossing for 6 days with no ports.
MARAPRINCE
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Besides the bus to the ship, the other negative is having both arrivals and departures at the same place at the same time without any system in place. While I realize the space contraints, how about designating one part of the tent area just for drop offs and the other part for people returning? It is a wonder than no one is injured by a car.
One time I was in the tent area awaiting my pickup to go home and one of the porters wanted to check my luggage in for the sailing leaving later that same day! :confused:
You must have had the same person who was screaming at everyone in the "departure" area that "If I didn't call your number for the bus, go and sit down." Really a very nasty person and not the first impression you wish to meet with. RCCL's cabin prices are not cheap but this guy is nowhere near a classy person.
Any type of handicap is really a problem with the bus. People just jump ahead of anyone standing there without regard to their physical condition. There is a big step up or down from the street to the bus if you do not get a handicap bus.
As far as departure from the ship, we like to be among the last to leave. Less pushing and shoving and very easy to find your luggage in the terminal.
Self-disembark seems to bring out the worse in some passengers. Yes, we've seen them with loads of full size suitcases being dragged down the steps. Yes, you cannot get off the elevators on the lower level due to the masses of people with nowhere to go, etc.
On boarding once, we waited almost 45 minutes to get an elevator since most of the elevators were being used to move the luggage from the pier to the ship. No respect for those waiting as people just jumped ahead. If you were on a lower deck and had virtually no luggage, some passengers just walked up the steps in frustration.
MARAPRINCE
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Hearing that RCCL again will repeat Oasis with Oasis 3 and 4. If the original Oasis worked so well why the change to Quantum? How much different is Quantum from Oasis?
Little confused:confused:
Capacity wise, who is larger Oasis or Quantum?
MARAPRINCE
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Who was the CD? Sailing on 5/28.
MARAPRINCE
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Well I live in Asia and the Country is known as Australia.
Hardly matters i suppose that I have been to China a couple of times
and Asia many times.
3 of my friends have Worked in Honkers for up to 35 years in one case
My brother boards Asian students over many years
etc etc etc .
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Suggest you read the article on the main Cruise Cruise News board. Goldstein specifically is referring to China and the Chinese market and not OZ. Ship will be based in China.
MARAPRINCE
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Will be sailing on 5/28. Have the trays in the buffet area been replaced with large plates instead?
Thanks.
MARAPRINCE
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That statement is incorrect.
Any how RCI are following where the real money is and
can easily move a ship from the political turmoil .
Guys I use to travel to the USA all the time , but it is
all over and sadly some commentators on good Business
Shows ( not FOX or CNBC ) claim they can see another
financial crisis happening in the USA .
Walt Disney just keeps expanding Shanghai Disney and
throwing more and more money at the new Park .
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Other challenges for Royal will be the shorter booking window that typically occurs in Asia and managing the sometimes-frosty relations between China and neighboring countries, particularly Japan, Niemela said.
“You never know in 2015 what the relationship will be between those countries,” he said. “That is one of the risks.”
From the same article on the main C. Critic boards as shown above.
You can believe what you wish. I also live in a very Asian area in NYC and there is a lot of propaganda between members of the Communist Chinese Party and Falan Gong all the time that the West seledom hears about since a lot of the news never makes it into the mainstream news media.
The higher cabin prices along with the air fare will deter many from Canada and the US from going.
RCCL can send their ships wherever they choose. Just be upfront about it and not build a big hype about the WOW factor coming to NJ only to take the ship away after 6 months.
MARAPRINCE
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This move is already somewhat risky and Oasis, with it's higher capacity, would arguably constitute a higher risk. Also, they'd have to completely change Oasis's traditional MDR format according to that article. I guess it would have to be all MTD. They also need Oasis in the Caribbean next summer with Allure over in Europe. I would not be surprised at all if Oasis does head east someday, especially after Oasis 3 is happily floating around in the Caribbean and the third Quantum Class ship is splitting time between Southampton and Fort Lauderdale.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app
In MOP, it seems more likely, according to the article, that Quan. was never intended to stay in the US especially the reference that it is acceptable in the US to have a truck driver and a CEO seated at the same table. In China, this is not acceptable nor it seems is it acceptable for strangers to be seated at the same table. Hence a MDR is not a concept that would be acceptable in the Chinese market.
Hopefully, RCCL will stop trying to blame Bermuda for the change of homeports for the Quan.!
MARAPRINCE
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Interesting article ...
Asia Ahoy: Why Quantum of the Seas Could Work for Chinese Cruisers
Just read the article. Interesting points made about RCL counting on the Chinese market's continued upward mobility and the successfulness of sending a new ship over. Cabin pricing set at a higher level.
My only question is why not sent over the Oasis since it is a new ship agewise as well and has all the kinks already out of it? Six months of sailing a new ship with all the changes Quan. will be undergoing could be the wrong move to make. The political climate in that part of the world is risky as well.
MARAPRINCE
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Really depends on the sailing. With some dates, you may be better off with a residency rate discount than even a special promotional rate.
Pays to keep checking on the rate for your sailing.
MARAPRINCE
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Interesting article on main News board of CC today regarding Jamie Oliver. Seems even his menu items will be "tweaked" once Quantum reaches Asia and with him being such a perfectionist wonder what this involves.
MARAPRINCE
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:eek:My birthday is in 9 days. I am going to have to recheck my birth certificate to see how old I am...I honestly DON'T remember a retractable roof on any ship we were on. I think the Island Princess had an indoor solarium. The only thing I can think is that every sailing had beautiful weather and they never had to use it! :cool:
Splendor has a retracable roof. I remember one evening when we wanted to watch the movie the roof was up and we were in the Caribbean! We were told that it was too windy and they had compliants from the passengers about having to hold down drink napkins, food blowing around, etc.
If you have ever been on Royal Car. Explorer of the Seas, you would thank heaven for rectracable domes! If they had an event scheduled outside, unless it was pouring rain, it was still held. Short of a hurricane, events were held on deck even if it was very chilly out.
MARAPRINCE
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People on these boards don't seem to have a problem remembering the name and aren't exactly behind the door in expressing their opinions, both positive and negative. The concept is relatively new and its success or failure is hardly likely to depend on how well folks remember the name but rather, how well the concept works in real time. BTW, how many people mix up Freestyle, Personal, My Time and Anytime Dining and don't exactly remember which name belongs to which line even though all have existed for a while by now?
You may look at Dynamic Dining as simply an advertising program, but I believe that RCI and many of us look at it as a way of delivering a dining experience that is different from what is currently available. How well they deliver that experience will determine how well or how badly it works.
The RCCL rep's point and the key point was that "TA's" who sell cruises on RCCL are also having a hard time getting the terminology/straight. TA's will be asked to explain the new concept to their clients and what their choices are.
Only a very small percentage of passengers even know what Cruise Critic is and that it provides info on the cruise industry.
MARAPRINCE
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Just got off the phone with my TA who mentioned that the RCL had stopped by to drop off some brochures on the Quantum. During the course of their conversation, Dynamic Dining came up. The RCL rep said that people as well as Ta's keep referring to it as either another version of NCL's Freestyle or mess up the name entirely.
As an advertising program, Dynamic Dining doesn't seem all that successful if you can't remember the name!:(:confused:
MARAPRINCE
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Malcolm "Woo Hoo" Burn (or Burns) - no sure
I am not sure how long he will be on board but had been on the Miracle prior to the Splendor. He is from the Bronx so local to the port.
The entertainment was OK. Nothing was spectacular. The Punchliner Comedy Club changes comedians throughout the week (some start and get off while others get on board at ports). We did 2 family shows and 1 adult show. Again ok.
The production shows were ok as well. The last show was cancelled as the seas were too rough and it was dangerous to the performers.
We had Malcom last December and from write ups really thought he was British and would be very boring. Quite the opposite. Being from NY and originally from the Bronx we readily identified with the advice he gave to passengers about not falling for some of the more apparent cons about paying to go the center of town in San Juan when you are "in" the town once you get off the ship! Also, about pickpockets and not flashing all your expensive jewerly around in the ports.
Maraprince
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Who is the current CD and how long will he/she be on board? Any info on the special entertainers not to be missed?
MARAPRINCE
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To paraphrase the New York Daily News, "Goldstein to city: Drop dead."
Let's pull the Quantum after a short stay and then replace it with the Liberty at twice the price of other cruise lines, and then we'll tease them with the Anthem.
While RCL may plan to price the Liberty at a much higher price than the competition, where it will sail and what is offered on board will ultimately determine what the cabin prices will end up being. In this case, all ships are not created equal.
MARAPRINCE
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What I find to be more curious than whether or not Quantum will be going to Bermuda, is the way ships are being moved around after such a short period of time -- 6 months is less time than a normal crew contract period. Then on top of this, more changes will be made in the casino, menu, etc. before Quantum arrives in the Orient to essentially what is a new ship.
It would have made more sense to bring Quantum out in China a few months later. Really does seem that this was always intended and Bermuda is being used to justify the move since Anthem will not be ready for a bit.
Looks RCCL was trying to keep passengers in the Northeast interested by dangling a new ship with new innovations at them to secure bookings more than a year ahead of schedule.
MARAPRINCE
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Do you have to stay for the whole length of the excursion, or are there shuttles running all day back to the ship?
You may be better off either renting a car or doing a private tour where you can control the amount of time you spend there. But you have to reserve a time with Kennedy Space Center ahead of time to do a tour...just can't show up.
MARAPRINCE
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The Taste Bar had tastings on all sea days. I believe the second to last sea day was Italian. We skipped that one but that might have been the meatballs :rolleyes:
The Dr. Suess parade was during the afternoon like 2:30pm. We did not go but I recall it being Saturday I think (our 2 sea day going out). Also did not do the breakfast, but the line to reserve was long and it did sell out. We were on a spring break cruise so lots of kids.
Sorry I'm not much help with Dr. Suess. I have the Fun Times at home and will take a quick look tonight.
We will not have any kids with us and not sure how many will be on board since it is after the Memorial Day Holiday. We will give it a try, but if it is sold out...not a problem. On a sea day, we would be more likely to try and see some of the parade depending on what time it is held. This time around since it wil just be my cousin and myself, we want to try to do things we were not able to do (or things that didn't exist) on our sailing in December 2013 when we went with 2 other people. Some times we missed things because we were waiting for them or they misunderstood and went to the wrong location.
Definitely want to arrive before the meatballs run out! Trying to keep 4 adults happy is not always an easy thing!:(
Thanks for the response.
MARAPRINCE
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Did they have the nightly tastings on sea days? If so, when was the night for Nonna's meatballs? Missed it last time since it is one of the more popular offerings?
When was the Dr. Seuss parade? Did you go to the special Dr. Seuss breakfast?
I'll be doing the same ports starting on 5/28. Looking forward to good weather in all the ports.
MARAPRINCE
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Although, after reading the entire thread I see the ship won't really be marketed to North Americans. So what does that mean? Will onboard activities and announcements be geared towards Asians first, something akin to MSC?
Sent from my HTC One using Forums mobile app
One would suppose so. I am sure you will have some US and Canadians on board but only a very small number.
Remember the Spanish immersion cruises? Same thing here only with an Asian audience. I am sure the on-board currency will change as well. Same thing if you were to book a sailing. Breakfast would see a big change from what is normally offered. More expansion of Asian food items for lunch and dinner. Smoking policy will have to be revised as well.
Entertainment would incorporate some more traditional Asian entertainment as well. Wonder how tipping will be handled and if the same reservation system for dinner and shows will be required. I am sure the casino will make out quite well!
Really very interesting that RCL is switching Q. and A. around in Bayonne. The older ship that they are sending would either have to undergo rennovations to eliminate the MDR or they may revert to the "old" dining system since the passenger numbers will be lower.
Very interesting!
MARAPRINCE
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The other downside to the Port Canaveral, Nassau and Coco cay itinerary is that over Christmas/New Years this is a 7 day itinerary.
The weather in Port Canaveral can be pretty darn cold at this time of year. Last Christmas on our way to Ft. Lauderdale it was in the low 50's at Canaveral. With temps that low I would certainly not be heading out to do a shore excursion.
Also tendering at Coco Cay can be hit or miss at the best of time.
This 7 night cruise could end up having 6 days on the ship and one day in Nassau.
The port stops are not the greatest..almost a repeat of when Oasis was first sailing. People kept justifying it by saying that they didn't even plan to get off in the ports...just wanted to say they were one of the first to sail on Oasis. For that matter, you could just as well have taken a cruise to nowhere if your intention was to sail on the ship. With the cabin prices they are asking, you would think ports would be a little different from the normal ports that their other ships at making.
We sailed on Carnival last 12/3 and lucked out with the weather in Nassau, Freeport and Port Canaval. However, in Freeport our guide informed us that anything pass the 2nd week in December you should not expect temps in the 80's...more like high 60's or low 70's. He further said passengers who come for the X-mas and New Year sailings are disappointed in the weather. Heeding that warning, this time around we are sailing on 9/28 but with another cruise line. We want to experience warmth as long as we can once we reach the ports. :D
MARAPRINCE
Is Carnival Falling Behind?
in Carnival Cruise Lines
Posted
Lets not forget that RCCL copied Carnival's idea of outdoor movies and water slides!
If you consider bumper cars to be innovative with RCCL, go pay for most venues on their ships that you will not use but are being charged for
anyway!
Many of RCCL new and larger ships can only fit in a limited number of ports. I not too keen to spend more money on a smaller cabin with less storage space and then end up getting a hot dog from a truck on board in the dining room.
The Quantum does not have a MDR but a number of dining venues some of which are extra charge. The downfall here is that the menus do not change daily. One of them will require formal attire all the time -- lobster is on the menu here. Reservations are "strongly" suggested for both the dining venues and shows. No reservation, show up and take your chances. The buffet area will be open 24/7 and serve breakfast all day. Sort of tells you where RCCL is expecting the most activity.
MARAPRINCE