WrittenOnYourHeart

People want legit Broadway shows. Shows on Broadway generally run AT LEAST 90 minutes with most musicals clocking in at over 2 hours.

I wasn't aware you are required to purchase tickets and attend...

So is it only worth it if you've been on more than one cruise? I was hoping to book for next summer while on board this summer, but it will only be my first time on RCCL. I've only rebooked on Disney where rebooking is not dependent on how many times you have cruised, so this is a bizarre concept to me.

No. That was the truth.

As others with actual lifeguarding experience have pointed out, getting into the water at that point was the last thing he should have done. The hysterical female had already pushed one person underwater resulting in one more person becoming hysterical (or two...I'm a little unclear on the spreading of the hysteria timeline). If he had jumped in at that point, in all likelihood they would have pushed HIM under in their hysteria rendering him incapable of providing help - and in fact becoming, as others have said, another victim.

So yes, telling someone FAR more trained to deal with such situations how to do his (or her, though you have said it was a guy) job with unnecessary language IS in fact demeaning.

My parents gave me swimming lessons when I was 6. Why? Not sure, but I am happy they did. That was 50 years ago.

 

For those who cannot swim, and you are on a small floating thing, even a row boat, or canoe you should be wearing a life vest at all times, not just have one available as on a cruise ship.

 

Panic will often kill you, but far less likely if you are wearing a life vest.

 

For humans, swimming is not a natural talent, it is not intuitive, and must be learned from an instructor. The first thing you usually should learn is how to tread water, this will allow you to stabilize your situation, and keep your head above water until rescue. Otherwise, wear a life vest.

 

Agree 100%! I was taken to swimming lessons the summer I turned 5 and again the summer I turned 6 to reinforce the skills and get me back in the water (my best friend who was also taking them with me the summer I turned 5 got sick one day during lessons, and as it turns out he had a brain tumor and then suffered an aneurysm and died (not at the pool...he was just sick there, but his mom took him to the doctor and I never saw him again), and at barely 5 my brain linked water with sick and not around anymore), and I am so thankful!

For all these adults who cannot swim, I can almost guarantee you that if you live where you have access to the internet there is an adult learn to swim program close to you. If you're going to cruise and frequent beaches, PLEASE do yourself a favor and take those lessons!

I'm eager to see what excursions DCL will be offering when they start sailing to Tortola!! So far they have nothing listed on their website. :/

There is no smoking in the pub and there was no overflow from the casino-I would have noticed for sure. The main theatre is really close and there is a bank of elevators there too

Absolutely agree. Never noticed overflow at that end.

Awesome! Thank you so much!!

I hadn't thought about shower size... But I figure if I can survive in my little NYC apartment-sized shower I should be ok... Right?

Thanks for the review! I'm seriously considering doing either the Italy or Greek Isles cruise in summer of 2016 as a birthday celebration for me - and it would be on the Brilliance.

Plus I'll be on the Radiance this summer to Alaska with my running coach and her husband and 75-100 new running buddies! :)

One question... With the pub being so close to the casino is it really smoky? I love pubs and hanging out in them, but I can't tolerate a strong smoky smell (last summer the running group was on HAL and I always got extra exercise on stairs getting to and from dinner to avoid having to walk through the completely open casino which reeked even when it was closed.

OP, thanks for sharing your experience! It sounds like you tried to make the best of things, and I hope they're going better now!

I can sympathize with people not wanting to believe that bad things happen - I get to deal with that thanks to to horrid experiences on Southwest in a row (stuck at an airport for over 6 hours each time due to stuff the airline ELECTED to do, not was forced to do), but the loyalists refuse to believe it could have been that bad. I have to confess, on Thursday evening I didn't have nearly the positive attitude you displayed! :)

Hope the rest of your trip is awesome!!

Prayers to all involved!!

As to those who commented they have been on board ships with MOB calls before and they were not ordered back to their cabins, please understand that MOB (sometimes "Mr. MOB" depending on the cruise line) does not always mean someone on the ship went overboard. It could be someone else in the water (or something like a raft of Cubans, etc. - only using that because those are typically the rafts ships will encounter in the Caribbean) where the ship is required to help. In a case like that, there would be little need to order the passengers back to their cabins as they would not be needing a headcount and to account for everyone on board.

It sounds like RCL is an excellent cruise line for you. If you accept lowering your expectations as a requirement, I am sure that you will continue to enjoy RCL.

Just curious re: your signature... If you're that unhappy with RCCL why hold onto the reservation you have? Surely you are well outside of any cancellation fees for a January 2016 cruise?

It's really unfortunate what happened with the fog and missed cruise this past week... what a mess. Imagine the loss of revenue, let alone the full cruise refund, obc, insurance claims, etc etc etc. Interestingly enough I posted a thread about fog in Tampa last year as I was looking hard at Brilliance during Dec/Jan and decided against it.

 

How can this week's scenario in Tampa be better than permanently pulling a ship out of "reliable" NOLA... or better yet California? Let alone the many sale prices on Brilliance (and Vision for that matter) on sailings from Tampa compared to the almost sold-out and very-high priced coastals Jewel is sailing this year?

 

So I say let's bring Brilliance down from Boston in 2016 and send her to fogless and cruiser-hungry California! Let's see a Brilliance Panama Canal sailing to LA (or San Diego), then maybe a 7/3/4 rotation from Dec to Mar, sending Brilliance back through the Canal to FLL and ultimately Boston in April so she can do her regular TA to Harwich.

 

Thoughts?

7 day = Catalina Isl/sea day/Cabo/PV/sea day/sea day

3 day = Catalina Isl/Ensenada

4 day = Catalina Isl/Ensenada/sea day

Can she even fit through the Canal?

Oh - and I was going to say what girl doesn't want a new dress! :p:D

Me. I really hate shopping. LOL.

This is the reason I love this board. I am used to DCL's airport-style tags that they send you.

How long before your cruise are the RCCL ones available to print? And do they have to be in color? If it's before school lets out for the summer (end of June, just over a month before the cruise) I can print in color. Otherwise it would be B&W using the library printer.

Thanks! That's what I was hoping to hear! :) Dress budget just merged into excursion or drink package budget! :)

Let me say up front I have no issues with dressing up on a cruise. I'm just curious how formal is formal night on RCCL? Specifically the Radiance in Alaska (as I know that things can depend on the ship and location).

In beginning to plan for Alaska this summer, I'm trying to determine if I'll need to buy any new dresses or if I'll be good from last summer's HAL Alaska cruise.

Thanks! :)

Just as a point of reference, they ask that you be off the ship by 9. NOT 9:30.

I'm glad to know that they allow 2 per STATEROOM! Traveling solo, it's nice to have the same privileges when paying the same cabin price (or close enough)! Last year the group I'm with sailed on HAL, and it was one per person - the assumption being two per stateroom, but there was no allowance for solos to bring on two.

Once they are booked, you (or your travel agent if you used one of them) would call DCL with your friends'/relatives' booking number and request to have the reservations linked for dining.

I can understand being bummed, but letting it ruin your whole experience is a little dramatic.

I honestly was prepared for us not to be able to dock the Fantasy on Friday having felt the motion the previous night and the winds that morning. I knew the seas were surge-y and current-y because on my excursion in St. Maarten (Soualiga Destinations with Captain Bob - it was AMAZING!!) we had to skip some swimming and snorkeling stops because the currents and surges were just too risky - and it's largely because of this weather system we're having all along the Eastern seaboard right now. Knowing that, I did pack my bag for the island, but I also lined up things to do based on what I knew was happening based on the Navigator - and my nook and other things so I was prepared either way.

Friday morning, I stood on Deck 13 Aft for the entire SLOW process as Commodore Tom worked to maneuver us into the channel safely - and honestly had it been anyone other than him I'm not sure we would have made it. We literally crept so slowly those of us watching couldn't tell if we were moving or not. Once he had us safely in the channel, he sped up a bit, but I could tell it was like trying to thread a needle in super high winds to get us in there.

Bottom line is weather happens. This isn't the Jungle Cruise where the boat is on a track. You're in open water and subject to the conditions that come with open water.

This directly from the DCL website...

The swimming pools on Disney ships are heated when the water temperature drops below 75 degrees.

Disney Cruise Line ships convert seawater into freshwater for numerous uses, including filling each of the pools and water play areas our guests enjoy.

Fantasy 7 night cruise (Jamaica, St Thomas, Castaway)

 

2 adults - 3 children 4, 5, 6

 

Concierge room

 

1. Is it possible to hire someone on the ship in the evening(s)to 'sit' with the children around bed time or possibly at other times. (looking forward to every moment with the grandkids - just want to know what the options might be)

 

If so what is the best way, and my guess is there is a 'going' rate.

 

They do not do in-room child care on the ships. You would need to utilize the nursery or kids' club space for adult time.

 

2. If the adults want do dine one night in the one of the adult restaurants. What would be the best night (s) that wouldn't interfere with things we would want to do with the children. Any thoughts? Advice?

 

I go solo, so I pretty much set my own schedule. Many people go there on Pirate Night to avoid that menu (it's my personal favorite menu), but my guess is the kids would really want to do that. My personal preference is to go the first night to kick off the cruise (again, I'm solo - for a family I would think the first night with the regular servers in the MDR would be better) - but I'm avoiding that for this cruise as I leave tomorrow, and the LAST place I want to be on Valentine's night is a romantic-ish setting restaurant. Ideally I request a rotation that puts me in Animator's Palate on Pirate Night - assuming I get it, I will thankfully get to avoid Enchanted Garden, which is my least favorite MDR (again, other people love it, YMMV). So I guess I really didn't help there. Sorry!

 

3.Is there anywhere to see either what the daily activities are onboard (has someone posted these - can't seem to find it).

 

The Disney Cruise Line Blog (not run by Disney) usually has Navigators on there - how recent they are depends on who has the capability and knowledge to scan and send them to the guy who runs it.

 

4. Castaway Cay - Assuming we are able to get a cabana (more for me then the children - ) any #'s to request, any to stay away from in the family area?

 

As a concierge guest, your chances are better. If kids are going to be in the cabana, you would have to go with the "family beach cabanas" which are reportedly in their own little alcove. The cabanas at Serenity Bay are 18+ only.

 

Any other suggestions welcome!!!!!

 

THANK YOU!

Answers above.

There has recently been a change - 3 year olds are not allowed in the nursery (potty trained or not). They now go to the Club/Lab, with the stipulation that the parents must return frequently (like every hour) to check on toilet needs.

Also, while there used to be some fudging where a potty-trained two-year-old who was close to three might be allowed into the Club/Lab, that practice is no more. The Club/Lab has a FIRM bottom age of three.

They are currently renovating the cabins - queen sized bed, new furnishings, new carpets, etc.

As far as plugs, I don't know of any ship that accepts power strips - at least not ones with surge protectors because it is a safety issue with the wiring on the ships.

I haven't sailed on the Wonder yet, but I have her booked for next February, and I cannot wait!!

Just remember they're ALL optional, so you don't have to stress about it. :)