jayblue

65 eos

This thread seems a bit different to me. Over the past few years , in my experiences, I have read more often that people would prefer to cruise more often in a lesser cabin than to splurge for something more expensive but cruise less often

 

The age-old argument of quantity versus quality.

speak for yourself. we spend a lot of time in our suite and I would rather cruise less often with the better accommodations and perks.

 

Wholeheartedly agree.

 

Given the choice, I would cruise less frequently and take the suite. The amenities for suites seem to surpass those of frequent cruisers. You would be receiving true Royal treatment. If you aren't spoiled for anything else afterward, then go back to your usual balcony cabin for your next cruise.

Since you will be sailing after May 2016 in a two bedroom aqua suite the following new suite amenities will apply:

 

 

As a Star Class Suite guest, you’ll enjoy the round-the-clock services of an exclusive Royal Genie personal assistant.

 

During your voyage, your Royal Genie will attend to, and anticipate, your every need and desire. Your wish is your Royal Genie’s command.

 

Suite Benefits

 

Ultimate Beverage Package

Complimentary Specialty Restaurants

All Day Access to Coastal Kitchen

Special In-Suite Dining

Suite Lounge

In-Suite Hand Crafted Cocktail Service

Complimentary Minibar

Specialty Bottled Water

Nespresso® Coffee Maker Service

Complimentary VOOM Internet, Fastest Internet at Sea

Complimentary Fitness Class

Complimentary Spa Thermal Room Access

Exclusive Access to Signature Activities

Daily Gratuities Included

Complimentary In-Suite Movies

Luxury Bathroom Amenities by Hermès®, Ferragamo® and L’Occitane®

Duxiana® Mattress

Frette Linens, Towels and Bathrobes

In-Suite Welcome Amenity

 

 

Royal Genie Services

 

 

 

Royal Genie Service

Customized Welcome Gift

Food & Beverage Requests

In-Suite Dining Requests

Complimentary Laundry & Pressing Services

Escort Guests On and Off Ship

 

Concierge Services

 

Priority Reservations

Priority Theater Seats

Access to Suite Sun Deck

Access to Exclusive Suite Beach on Private Islands

Priority Boarding & Departure

Handle Special Requests

 

The extra perks alone make it worth it.

 

Treat yo'self!

Unless they get their gas from an Indiana refinery. 😐

Hmmmm...thanks for the warning. Now I know not to waste my time beyond one failed attempt. After the first time, I will just get on the phone with their customer service rep.

I sailed them once many years ago, and it wasn't for me.

 

Came back and have been loyal ever since.

 

Love my RCI

 

Been sailing with them since my mom took me back when I was an elementary school kid.

 

Now I'm grown up with kids of my own...

 

We are within driving distance to New Orleans and sailed the Serenade out of there last year. It was my first time ever driving to a ship instead of flying.

 

With 2 little elementary school age girls, in our family of four we saved a fortune in airfare, and it was so much easier to pack and get the girls to the ship.

 

RCI is no longer in New Orleans, so we're planning our cruise for 2016 and planning to fly to Florida as we have every year since I met my wife.

 

Airfare for the four of us is running about $1700, plus a Junior Suite is running around $61-6200 on the 3 ships we're considering.

 

We can do a Grand Suite on Carnival Dream, and drive to the port for $3300, total.

 

I love my Royal Caribbean cruise line but at a 4800 difference, I'm starting to feel stupid.

 

Sure, many people sail both and say they're ok, but I HATED the smoke filled, vegas-esque, party ship.

 

My TA and many friends tell me it's not bad, try another ship.

 

At this savings I'm really tempted to listen

 

Would you be? What should a this RCCL Lover do?

 

Go for it. Your kids might like the variety.

 

My limited experience has only been with RCCL, but I've seen good things on Carnival. My next might be with them.

There have been quite a few threads trashing Chops, so I thought I'd post a counter to all that. We did Chops on Sunday evening on Enchantment, and it was probably the best, most professionally prepared and presented dining experience we've had in the past 10 years. DW has a few dietary issues (not-so-nice interactions between some ingredients like soy and peanuts and her meds), and the Maitre D' went over every item on the menu to make sure that everything she ordered was OK ingredient-wise, and had the chef tweak her appetizers to eliminate ingredients she couldn't have.

 

I am quite looking forward to it in November.

Last I heard it was $37.50 per person.

 

I can confirm this as correct. I will be using the airport transfer and called customer service to see if it was available (confusing information on my reservation). The rep told me $75.00 round trip/$37.50 each way.

Quick question...I just want to know if anyone who has NOT purchased the beverage package (alcohol ones) ever regretted not doing it?

 

I am seeing TONS of drink package posts and I have been reading them. I know there are a million people who are glad they didn't buy it. I want to hear the ones that regret it NOT buying it when they got that final bill.

 

I have never done the package before but I bit the bullet for this cruise for many reason (one being a 21 celebration and 4 ship days for us counting Labadee and the fact we don't like Grand Cayman). I have been back and forth on this since we booked a year ago and with the recent drink price increase I figured I should just go for it. We always blow up the bar tab the first 2-3 days anyway so adding it later in the cruise would make it worse.

 

TIA! We cruise in 4 days, looking forward to it!

 

I think I'm going to get it. I don't do a lot of alcohol, but will drink at least two to three cups of coffee and a couple of bottles of water daily. Then, juice at dinner. I may do a couple of cocktails a day, but not enough to do the two liquor packages.

 

I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

I did notice the last time Majesty was revitalized it went from a nice surface to a much slipperier one. That did prompt to buy a new set of crocs as mine were worn. (put down the mouse and save your reply. I don't care that crocs aren't cool any more and that everyone wears flip flops. I find all flip flops slippery, especially with size 12 feet. )

 

I invested in a pair of open-toed Mickey Mouse crocs a few years ago. I will be wearing those on my next cruise and dare anyone to give me the stink-eye about them.

I posted something similar a couple weeks back and was surprised that no one responded. However, there seems to be one CC memeber is posting on old threads where people have mentioned about their experience on the "slipperyness" and was looking for info on their experience. So I know I'm not the only crazy one :p

 

I personally think this is a HUGE liability for RCCL and someone is going to get seriously hurt...if not already!

 

Both myself and my two kids have either actually slipped or almost slipped on the pool deck by the H2O zone becuase it is just way too slippery and I've witnessed countless others.

 

Yes, there are cones saying it's slippery and crew trying to sweep away the water, but the fact remains it is like walking on ice. No kidding..it really is!!

 

RCCL...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do something about this!

 

Anyone else have an experience to share???

 

My last cruise with RCCL was in 1997 aboard Enchantment. Same problem. I was walking barefoot across a wet deck, when my feet flew out from underneath me. I was in my 20s at the time, so the only harm that was done was a huge bruise and a picture of me sitting where I fell.

 

I will keep my shoes on for my next cruise.

Thank you very much. I am glad that you understood that I was trying to give my opinion of our cruise. You will enjoy the ship, the food, the entertainment, etc.

 

Let me expand upon my review about the ship and hopefully those that go on a "tangent" at the drop of a hat will be asleep....

 

I forgot to mention how great the flowrider was. Ya'll need to try it at least once and you will be hooked no matter your age.

 

My 14 year old son used the ship's internet plan and loved it as he was able to imessage, facetime, snapchat and instagram with no problems. ($20 per day.)

 

Most of the smokers stayed within the areas that are allowed and those that did not, complied when asked to by a RCCL crew member.

 

The pool staff removed any towels and articles that were left unattended by the chair hogs in the main pools area after 30-45 minutes.

 

If you are going on a Beach excursion, most people got their towels the night before to avoid having to check-out towels at the gangway the day of their excursion. (Before everyone complains, this hint has been listed many times previously here on CC.)

 

Make sure that you experience the $10 sale in the Royal Promenade. It was fun to watch people go wild (think super Black Friday sale).

 

On Formal night, there were very few men wearing suits or tuxes. Most wore a long sleeve shirt and tie with/without a coat. A lot of men just wore a nice shirt and khakis. The women wore a nice dress or pant suit. A few wore fancy dresses.

 

You might want to avoid the "R Bar" each night after 10:00 p.m. unless you want a surprise.

 

The variety of music options were very good at the various clubs and bars even though people have bashed some of the bands here on CC.

 

Most of all, have fun and enjoy yourself. Let me know if I can answer any questions.

 

Thank you, for a second there, I forgot that this was a review.

It depends on the size of the group I am with. I have been at a table of 8 and 10. That was good. My next trip is my first solo, so I'm not sure for that one.

I think I should retire instead of the ships...then I can try all the ships!

 

I'm with you on this!!

It's always worked for me - and if not I am capable of taking a picture by myself (with a legit camera even - not a phone, though I can do that too). I guess I'm weird in that yeah, I'll take a few pictures with me in them when I travel solo, but mainly I take pictures of where I am. I know what I look like, and my friends and family know what I look like. For me the memories are the sights. Not me.

 

For me it will be the memory of being a part of the scenery.

 

However, I see how these would be annoying. I don't want to have to dodge other people's any more than I want someone having to dodge mine. Thankfully, I am an early riser. All of my selfies will be done onboard when everyone else is asleep. On the island, my 2 1/2 foot arm will suffice.

In your opinions, which RCI ships would you like to see retired and why?

 

None of them!

 

My first cruise was on Majesty, it was considered to be one of the first megaships. It is now dwarfed by it's huge younger sisters.

 

Each ship has its own charms. If I want simplicity, the smaller ships are awesome. If I am looking for nonstop activities, then I will want today's megaship.

.........There's a reason why Disney has banned them in their parks......they are annoying but not surprising how this invention has caught on with the self absorbed generation......the good thing is that they can be thrown over board as easy as , say, a golf club........selfie stick?......It's all about me ALL THE TIME!!!!!!:eek::cool:

 

I am a solo traveler. If i want to be in my pictures, the selfie stick comes in handy. Or would you rather I tap someone on the shoulder every time I want to be in my pictures?

Disney will always provide excellent customer service. However, while other cruiselines are offering new and innovative ships, Disney is slow to add to their fleet of 4 ships, which limits them.

 

Don't get me wrong. I am a HUGE fan of Disney and all its magic, but eventually they will need to catch up in this manner.

Cool!

 

I will make sure I post a review here when I return.

The cabins need updating, but the rest of the ship was nice. Excellent shows and service.

 

I'm staying in the newer section on Deck 7. Think that will make a difference?

 

I cannot wait to see the changes. I was on her in 97. She was gorgeous then.

did you try and RESOLVE the issue of a 'dirty' room with housekeeping and then escalate it up to the staff at Guest services if necessary?

 

when EN was sailing out of Baltimore on the 6-8 day itineraries she was in great shape, with a friendly, efficient crew

 

NONE of them were happy about being shunted to FL and suck with the 3 and 4 day itineraries since they knew that they work load had just doubled for basically no increase on compensation.

 

IMNSHO the short 3/4 day party cruise( on all lines, not just Carnival) are poor examples of the cruising experience.

 

I will trying this "poor [example] of the cruising experience" for the first time in November. I have only done 7 day cruises in the past. I was okay with the 4 day because of the weekends. The 7 day was fine for me because I would rest on the first 2 days and then party the rest. I was a lot younger then. I hope your statement is inaccurate.

 

:):):):):D

It's not "blood" in a properly cooked medium-rare steak, most of the blood drained out after the animal was beheaded, then most of the little blood left came out when it was dismembered.

 

Cooking an steak "well done" is an insult to the animal :rolleyes:

 

Better that than eating it alive!

[quote name='brillohead']If you trust your kids (but not "other people"), teaching them a few simple rules will work wonders. It helps to write these down and have the kids each sign the "contract" agreeing to these rules, with the understanding that breaking a rule means being tied to a parent's side for the remainder of the cruise. (Trust me, NO teenager wants that!)

1. Don't go in anyone's room for any reason. Not only does this prevent assault, it also protects your kids from being accused of stealing something.

2. Don't let anyone into your room for any reason.

3. Don't drink anything you didn't pour yourself or see poured by a staff member.

4. Don't leave a drink unattended, and make sure you keep an eye on your drink (keep it within your line of sight) and/or keep a lid on it.

5. If someone (staff, passenger, adult, kid, anyone at all) makes you feel uncomfortable for any reason, it's okay to say, "excuse me, I have to go" and walk away. Don't worry about seeming rude -- this is one week out of your life and you'll never see these people again.

6. If in a scary situation, even just an "uncomfortable but not overtly creepy" situation, walk up to someone who looks like a mom or a grandma and ask them if you can stand near them for a while because someone made you feel unsafe and you want the scary person to think you're there with an adult. (This was something I taught my son at a very young age -- if he got lost in a store, he should approach a mommy with kids or a grandma and ask for help. While there's no guarantee that a mom/grandma wouldn't molest or harm a child, the odds are significantly lower versus a single man of any age.) Also to know the standard yell of "YOU ARE NOT MY PARENT AND I DON'T WANT TO GO WITH YOU" so that people observing don't just assume the kid is having a tantrum with their parent.

7. Behave as if your parents were with you at all times. Don't be a jerk on the elevators, offer help to the elderly and infirm, say please and thank you when appropriate, indoor voices where appropriate, watch where you're going so you don't bump into people, don't go into areas marked "staff only", etc. If you'd be embarrassed if your parents saw you doing something, you shouldn't be doing it.

8. Check-ins at the places and times you agree upon each day. This is based on your comfort level, and can be adjusted throughout the week as needed. (For my 15yo, he has to eat dinner with me on formal nights, he has to be in the stateroom by curfew (1am), and he has to spend port days with me (other than private islands -- he has freedom there once I ding him off the ship). Other than that, he was free to do as he chose, as long as he followed all the rules.)

Now, for the unsolicited part of my post:

Think back to when you were in middle school and high school.... were you allowed to walk to the neighborhood convenience store to get a Slurpee or a candy bar? Could you go on a bike ride with your friends, or walk to a friend's house a few blocks away?

People talk about not letting their kids roam around in a town of 6,000 people -- that's a very small town...do you really not let your half-grown kids walk down the street to their best friend's house?

Yes, there could be bad people on cruises just like anywhere else. However, crime (especially assault) is NOT rampant on cruise ships, and there are very few areas that don't have staff and witnesses around (or within screaming distance). Establishing some ground rules and granting some independence can be a safe way to ease them into dealing with the public and learning how to keep themselves safe in a variety of environments.[/QUOTE]

This is the best advice I have read. This post caught my eye because I was going to take my 12 year okd nephew with me on my next cruise. I was worried because we have very different tastes in entertainment and I feared letting him roam if there were no kids in his age group. I think he changed his mind about going because of this.

OP...don't read this, but I can't help it!

 

Ok...you really don't need to have "body cams" on your kids! You're attempting to raise ADULTS, right? So...allow them to come and go to SPECIFIC things alone. You MUST give kids some independence, or they'll NEVER learn to be independent!!

 

Say they go to the kid's club. You tell them where YOU will be...(and be there!) and let them come to YOU for a physical check in. If they want to go to the buffet for a lemonade...let them do it alone...and come on back to you!

Repeat as needed. Texting or walkie talkies only tell you that they're alive...it will give you no idea of their location or condition...so insist on physical check in times!

 

I'm not advocating "roaming aimlessly"..but kids that age should NOT need mommy (or another adult around) every minute! You are truly not doing your job as a parent if you insist on hovering all the time.

 

Common sense rules! We you "hovered" over as a child? I wasn't...and yet, here I am, hail and hearty, and quite comfortable on my own!! That's your goal for you kids. To NOT need you!

 

Sorry, but I agree with the OP.

 

Times have changed since I was a kid. She trusts her children, but with child predators lurking everywhere, parents can NEVER be too careful!

 

Don't flambé her choice of watching over her own!