sandmor1

Our last RC cruise was 4 years ago and I gather since then 3 drinks per night are added to the seapass. ... presumably to cut down on the overcrowding in the DL.

I was wondering if there are any other significant changes I should know about before our next cruise on the Brilliance OTS from Barcelona next Monday.

Thanks

I have walked from Gallery One to Coconuts Restaurant but it is about 2.5 miles. That's the closest one with a marina view from there. If the marina view isn't important to you, the restaurants at the mall are all good.

Thanks Royal.

Coconuts does seem to get good reviews (apart from the odd few...there is always someone who has a problem) We could get a taxi from Gallery One. Would we need to book in advance. We leave home on the 26th October and arrive in Ft Lauderdale on the 10th Nov. As this is a Sat, I'm assuming it would be busy night.

Sandra

You will need to choose between what is more important:1)VERY close to lots of restaurants and shops, and boats pass by (Gallery One) or 2)view of ships and marina, but only a few restaurants in a very close walking distance and no very close shopping to speak of(Hilton Marina).

 

Gallery One does NOT have views of a marina but boats will go by. Both hotels have restaurants with water views, though you won't see much at night. Both hotels feature water taxi stops. The marina-view restaurants in Fort Lauderdale are: Bahia Cabana, Coconuts, Grill 66, Pelican's Landing, Bimini Boatyard, 15th St Fisheries Dockside. These are located between the 2 hotels.

Have you considered writing a travel guide to Ft Lauderdale ? :D

I have decided we will stay in Gallery One. It does mean we have the Hilton Marina booked and paid for as well but there is nothing we can do about that as it is a non refundable booking. If anyone is desperate for a room on the night of 10th Nov ...just ask..

I would definitely choose the Gallery One. Next door to Galleria Mall with numerous shops and very good restaurants. Across from new Publix grocery. On the interacoastal with water taxi stop at hotel. Not on beach but has a nice area in rear of hotel to watch yachts, boats pass by. We have stayed at most of the hotels in Ft. Lauderdale and this is our favorite. (sorry about duplicating message above.)

Thank you for that.....is sounds just what we are after.

A lack of beach is not a problem, we are not really beach people.

It will be nice to see the boats in the marina. Maybe we can find a nice restaurant to have dinner which looks out onto the marina.

Thank you again for your help

Sandra

For complicated reasons too long to go into, we are booked into these two hotels (Gallery One and Hilton Marina ) for the same night between a TA on the Liberty OTS and an E Caribbean cruise on Allure, in November.

Could you advise on which would be the best one to actually stay in.

We like lots of shops and restaurants etc but as my DH can't now walk as far as he would like, we would prefer to either have these close by or can get to them easily.

A nice view of the ships in port would be good but not vital.

Your thoughts would be a great help

Sandra

I agree. I wish Royal Caribbean had longer itineraries from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Or really anywhere in Florida. I just finished a great 14 day southern carib itinerary from Princess. As good as the itineraries are from San Juan I'd rather spend the extra money of flying to San Juan on a longer cruise from Florida.

You are expressing my thoughts exactly.

Living in the UK we don't want to "cross the pond" for a one week cruise and we have done a B2B eastern/western Caribbean cruise.

A 14 night Southern Caribbean out of Florida would be perfect because Brits can fly to Miami a lot cheaper than to San Juan.

I personally, am not a fan of Mediterranean cruises. I'm not a fan of the Med full stop.....and so we always need to factor in a large flight bill to our cruises.

Cruises from NJ are of course another option open to us but then we have to "waste" a day or so before getting to the precious sunshine. I'm not suggesting time on a cruise is wasted :) but we don't get a lot of hot weather over here and one reason for cruising the Caribbean is the almost guaranteed sun.

Sandra

Of course....you are quite right....if we want to look down we can always wander down to deck four or up to the pool deck.

We haven't experienced an aft cabin but as this is probably the one and only time we are likely to go to the Far East I want to get it right.

as long as you are prepared for the deck below you-- you should be fine. Looking out is what people tend to do anyways--sitting there watching the wake flow by.

how long will you want to look down into the waters?

[

Thank you Serene....but not sure if it helps or not:)....

Only being able to look straight ahead, but with a longer balcony Vs being able to see straight down, but a short balcony....

And is that obstruction in front distracting?....oh dear...decisions...decisions

quote=serene56;20897683]

i would look in this whole album

Corner Aft....have I made a big mistake:) (I hope not)

Sandra- I think you made a very wise move.. especially for two weeks

 

http://cruiseclues.com/shipstips/freedomoftheseas.htm

Thanks Serene, I appreciate your advice. I don't mind the same menu for 2 weeks, after all I don't have to have the same meal.:) Not sure about the same shows but what the heck...:cool:

Sandra

Hi Serene56

Just in case I am unable to upgrade later in year I have decided to take your advice and move down a deck. We are now booked into 7287 for both weeks. This appears to be pretty central. What do you think?

Sandra

Sorry Serene I should have said...Freedom of the Seas

8275 is a connecting cabin-- do you have friends in the other cabin??

 

IF not- what I would do is go down one deck and move more central. A few more cabins toward the aft will make all the difference in the world

 

For two weeks--- I would think a little closer to the action= on deck 8 the windows are slanted out some-- where on deck 7-- its between cabin space and away from public areas. Your views will be great.

Hi Serene56

Just in case I am unable to upgrade later in year I have decided to take your advice and move down a deck. We are now booked into 7287 for both weeks. This appears to be pretty central. What do you think?

Sandra

8275 is a connecting cabin-- do you have friends in the other cabin??

 

IF not- what I would do is go down one deck and move more central. A few more cabins toward the aft will make all the difference in the world

 

For two weeks--- I would think a little closer to the action= on deck 8 the windows are slanted out some-- where on deck 7-- its between cabin space and away from public areas. Your views will be great.

Serene56

Thank you for your help.

Is there a problem with slanted windows? I thought they would be easier to see out of.

We don't have friends in the adjoining room. But it was getting the same room for 2 weeks which was a little more difficult. We had an adjoining (oceanview) room on Rhapsody last Sept and never heard a thing. Were we just lucky??

Do you think 2 weeks on PR will be too much? At the moment the cost is too high, but I was thinking if I left things as they are for a few months (we don't go until Sept) IF the prices came down a bit we might be able to have a Balcony for our 2nd week....I know....our chances are not very high. Either of the prices coming down or any being left.....But do you think there would be a problem of feeling clustrophobic for 2 weeks inside.

Thanks again

Sandra

Please could anyone tell me if this is a bad cabin to have. This is a PR room and there is a cabin below us but none above....what could be above??? and also it is at the end of a group of 5 with a space of about the same again before another group of 5. What would be in between? We are booked on a B2B from Sept 28th.

thank you

Sandra