bouhunter

1 hour ago, dramamommao said:

Nowadays (in the US anyway) the historical plantation is losing popularity due to a more modern gaze.  

 

 

What is that even supposed to mean?  Modern gaze?????

3 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Congrats and enjoy your new cabin.  Not sure of the norms, but $1400  seems like a high bid to me.  Is the cruise longer than a week? 

 

M

Yeah that's a high bid, not surprised it was accepted.

Samba on Radiance last month was AWESOME.  Server, food, everything.  

9 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

While this may the posted time, it's not guaranteed. Our posted time last week was also 1:00 but the cabins did not open until about 1:40.

50+ cruises from Florida the rooms have been ready at 1:00 every time.  

On 12/31/2023 at 9:05 PM, firefly333 said:

You have to be out of your cabin by 8 am. I dont see it as fun sitting on the ship somewhere just sitting.

EXACTLY 🙂

1 hour ago, Another_Critic said:

$5K for a balcony is also no way.

Yeah, would never pay 5k for a basic balcony.  On any ship.  

18 hours ago, nelblu said:

As long as you have the patience to wait for an available elevator.🤣

Exactly.  Elevators can be a very big PITA on the last day.  So you either wait and deal with the crowds or use the stairs.  There will always be elevators and escalators in the terminal which aren't as bad.

22 hours ago, crazyank said:

nope

the post you quoted was NOT MINE.  Not sure how that ended up that way.

Looking at Icon pricing makes us thankful we like the smaller older ships.  We can do 4 cruises for the price of one 🙂

15 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Either way, you're going to have to file a claim with Royal if she decides to file an insurance claim for the lost/stolen/misplaced piece of jewelry. The insurance company will require the official claim denial from Royal that the piece couldn't be located with the insurance claim. They'll also require a copy of the original receipt from when it was purchased. And then, the insurance for lost jewelry is limited at $500.

Serisously?  You have no idea what the OP's insurance claim requirements or reimbursement limits are........,.,,.good grief.

RCCL is infamous for lost items never being returned from the "lost and found" department.  Wish you luck but don't get your hopes up.

12 hours ago, ILOVESHIPS said:

Do they have a coffee machine that works?

Lounge coffee machines are always a question mark, they seem to have a lot of maintenence issues.  Personally I've never been impressed with what they dispense even when they are working.

11 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

Yes, prices are insane- but since people still are willing to pay them, they will not decrease.  Early booking is the key for newer ships.  If you don't mind the old rust buckets, you might still get a more reasonable price.  Or consider another cruise line.  We are considering MSC for a cruise as their prices seem more reasonable.

We'll be on Grandeur, Explorer and Radiance for 6 weeks soon.  I guess we love rust buckets.  Has nothing to do with the prices we just don't like the chaos and crowds at elevators, windjammer, etc. on the huge ships.  Watching people lay on the floor on the sun deck on Symphony last winter because all the chairs were taken at 7AM every day was the last straw.  In fact half those 6 weeks are "free" thru casino comps, we could have chosen any ships and intentionally stayed away from the monsters.

As for prices, the lines have billions in debt to pay off after covid, it's not surprising.

On 12/3/2023 at 9:47 AM, schooner_Drinker said:

 

 

it’s not how much you put in it’s how much you play though 

 

 

Exactly 🙂  

1 minute ago, Tlbecker1 said:

I honestly have never had one, but most lunches in the Windjammer are full of individuals with burgers.  

Windjammer burgers are fine, I just wouldn't call them "delicious"....  🙂

On 12/14/2023 at 3:30 AM, brillohead said:

Then you will DEFINITELY not like Oasis class.  

For me, Freedom class is the "just right" size for me.  The Solarium is bigger (than Voyager class) with more shaded loungers, and you don't spend half the day walking from one end to the other (like Oasis class).  

Agree on the size, though not so much the walking.  On our Symphony cruise last spring elevators, pool decks and windjammer were SO crowded and chaotic the entire week.  Glad so many people love the big ships, keeps the smaller ones more pleasant.  We have 6 cruises booked this winter and NONE are on Oasis class 🙂

On 9/4/2023 at 1:15 PM, KroozNut said:

As a general comment here, we all need to remember that nothing is ever 'free' on any cruise ship, or any cruise line.

Some items (including some food items) are offered at no additional charge (included with the cruise fare), while other items incur an additional charge at point of sale onboard the ship.

It is the 'included with the cruise fare' items that some folks confuse with and incorrectly characterize as 'free'. 🙂

Whatever.  You know what they meant, but couldn't resist a lecture what "free" means to you.....

On 9/4/2023 at 9:50 AM, lcpagejr said:

Nope...Burgers are delicious...but you only can get in Windjammer

Yes available in Windjammer, but they aren't "delicious"..... 🙂

3 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Only on back to back cruises.

 

 

I'll see myself out.

LOL 🙂

Hope you have a good trip.  Can't imagine planning that much right down to the rest stops.... 🙂

Symphony is a beautiful ship, but we have two main memories from last winter - Elevators and Windjammer situations were HELL pretty much all day every day.......   Oh, and the sun decks.   First time I've ever seen them so crowded and chaotic on any ship so bad that people were literally laying on the floors....

That said the entertainment and restaurants were nice.

5 hours ago, yogimax said:

I don't know.  It seems pretty easy to find one's luggage on the floor based on departure number.  

 

What's the advantage to a carousel?

Agree, carousels seem like a pain and you can wait forever.  I'd rather just find my bag and go.

18 hours ago, time4u2go said:

Worse food. Reduced menu. Very expensive specialty restaurants. 

That about sums it up.  That said, we have 40+ nights booked on Royal this winter 🙂

If you're interested in a nightmare with elevators, loungers up top and Windjammer, go with Symphony.  Our cruise on her last winter helped us decide to never again go on an Oasis class ship. 

On 11/12/2023 at 8:22 PM, time4u2go said:

I can't imagine paying the price of a specialty restaurant to eat a turkey dinner but maybe that's just me.

Agree, why pay extra for turkey.

On 11/12/2023 at 12:16 PM, die_hard said:

I’ve been on several cruises for Thanksgiving but never ate dinner in a specialty restaurant on Thanksgiving night. Do they offer traditional Thanksgiving dinner in Chops or Giovanni’s that night?

Why would you want to pay that for turkey?