The Fun Researcher

Yeah no doubt. I used to hit the gym every day on a cruise but I gave that up after 3-4 cruises. I can do that at home. I want to maximize my cruise days. My normal daily run is 5k so it takes a little while to cool down from that and shower so it takes a chunk of time from the day. Would rather lounge by the pool with a drink in hand or something else. 😉

Cruise ankles? What about cruise belly? I work hard before cruises to get in bathing suit shape only to feel like I look like a beer chugging champion by day 4 or 5. 🙂 Dan

Based on multiple feedbacks from folks actually in this situation recently, no. You need to have it booked originally (or rebooked) with the solo passenger paying the solo supplement (in a cabin for 2).

rockmom addressed it above didn't she?

IMO the indoor pool and Two70 (awesome outdoor views from the comfort of inside) are key features of the Quantum class ships that make them perfectly suitable for the Bayonne port during cold seasons. To keep the indoor pool you would need to scale all the way back to vision class. (not knocking them, but a lot less amenities to offer, good or bad) We've sailed on Freedom class (essentially same as Voyager class) one time with cold weather out of Galveston and not being about to use the pool deck was a major detraction. This is just me, but I need some place to chill out in my bathing suit on on a cruise at lease a few days. 🙂 I suppose an Oasis class with an enclosed Solarium would work but it must get SLAMMED during cold weather.

I paid a little extra for our upcoming March cruise to go solo (in a 2 person cabin) connected to my wife and son. My wife and I are both 68 points, so my double points (7 night cruise) will get me to 82. This will get my wife and 15 yr old son to Diamond after our cruise. Reason being we have an Alaskan cruise in July and want to be Diamond prior to that. After the Alaskan cruise my wife will have 82 points (so Diamond in her own right) and my son will be 60 points. Our daughters are both 18+ so they missed out on the Diamond grandfathering but will be at 53 points on their own after Alaska so well on their way on their own.

OP, that's a big ask. 2nd cruise on the same ship and you're bored? I wouldn't expect anything to change, it takes a lot of work to setup and prepare for all the shows, prepare cruise compasses, etc... Maybe a couple of versions of "name that tune" could exist but to continually reworking shows and compasses is a no go. Headlines change all the time, so that's a constant change. Singers, comedians, jugglers, cover bands...

Bummer we don't have apples to apples comparison of the MDR between those two ships. Don't get me wrong though, I'm very thankful for your review of the two ships' MDR and Windjammer. I hope that those complaining about the new MDR menus are just from particular ships struggling with the change. We'll be on the Anthem next month and I'll make sure to make a thread specific to our MDR experience, which is where we pretty much exclusively eat for dinner. Dan

I hope you're right. We'll find out next month on the Anthem, then again in July on the Quantum

Yes. They are Canadian cold water tails now rather than warm water tails, but I agree they don’t look much bigger. I’ll survive.

Liberty is a great ship and I would choose it every time. I would say the only benefit I can think of for the Enchantment is the indoor pool if you are cruising in colder weather. Other than that Liberty wins for us in EVERY other aspect. More to do, the Royal Promenade, Ice skating show, etc...

From all the reports I've seen regarding the new menus, you can still order as many Starters, Main entrée's and desserts as you want with the following caveats: Lobster night can only order one lobster tail before paying ~$17 for another. (or like a previous poster said, if someone at your table doesn't want one, have them order it anyway and get the second one from that person) On at least one ship, if you order more than one entrée they bring them out one at a time, only bringing the second when you are done with the first

Wow, learn something new everyday. I had no idea there were two different Giovanni's. Good info, thanks!

I do sorely miss the lamb chops. My second favorite entree in the MDR behind the beef tenderloin

It’s fleet wide now as far as I understand

I just looked up paradise beach, and man that does look nice. Very nice. Nachi Cocum has never let us down though. It has some nostalgia for us too. We really enjoy the hot tub at Nachi as well. It kind of seems like you can’t go wrong with any of those three options. It just depends on your style.

Never have done Sancho’s, but have loved Nachi Cocum every time. I love that there is a beach and ocean, pool, and hot tub all available. Food is good too.

Coco cay and Labadie are always two of our favorite stops. Like previous posters have said, it is just an easy beach day. No transportation plans needed to get to Coco cay and Labadie. Like previous posters have said, it is just an easy beach. easy access back to the ship if you want, no, paying for lounge chairs, food is included…

Sorry if I led to the confusion earlier. I'm only used to one Italian restaurant on any given ship so I confuse Giovanni's for Jamie's. I booked Jamie's with the discount today. $20 pp including gratuity. Can't wait. In all our cruises with Royal we've never done specialty (never felt the need). We still don't feel the need but just for fun we booked Chops Lunch, Jamie's lunch, and Wonderland dinner on our upcoming cruise on the Anthem in March. Maybe because I'm not used to getting on a ship when it's cold and need something else to balance that negative? Hmm...

Now that’s a fantastic price. ETA Glad I saw your post. Looks like it is on sale for national pizza day. I just booked it for lunch on embarkation day for our March Anthem cruise. $100 for five people!.

Agreed. I’m sure the picture was taken because it was so unusual. Some cruisers just don’t pay attention to dress attire for the particular nights. That picture sets a pretty low bar, but we all have seen it once in a while in the MDR.

I'm just glad I don't like deserts in general. I normally skip desert and have a coffee instead. If anything I'd rather have another appetizer of some sort. 😆 Just not into rich sweet deserts.

Thank you so much for this! I appreciate the note on the speed of the food. I'm guessing they have to go get it from one of the kitchens on the ship. Doubt they have their own kitchen at the pub. We'll make sure to place our ENTIRE order at one time so that we're not waiting between orders. My guess we'll try to do this night one or two of the cruise and if it disappoints, move on. Thanks again.

Agree 100%. It all comes down to your individual situation and cruising style. Yeah, the cost for the Celebrity "drink, gratuity and WiFi package" can vary widely. We will also be elite on X in December on our 5 night cruise, but still decided to purchase the package. Why? 1) 5-7 pm is a horrible time for us to have drinks. We're at dinner at that time. 2) To upgrade to the package it was only $240 more per person (of which gratuities were $88 which we would have needed to pay anyway). That left the drink package and WiFi costing $152 per person for drinks and wifi which is a steal. HOWEVER, Our three kids in the connecting balcony, (of which only one is old enough to drink) for some reason would have had to pay over $700 per person for the package in their room. That is a total no go. Weird how X's pricing works sometimes.

That's interesting. We've always experienced the same. If it holds 4, I can book it for 3. The restrictions always came in when it's a cabin that holds 3 or 4, but trying to book it for 2. That's what I was referring to, but by what you're saying it's even MORE restrictive than that not allowing 3 to book a room that holds 4. Hmm. We're a family of 5 so always always run into some of these issues with how we split the kids and my wife and I between cabins. If the ship doesn't fill, they will be forced to relax the restrictions. I'm guessing right now, because it's a new ship, they can be very restrictive because the demand is so high. They always relax restrictions as the cruise gets closer to final payment.