cot427

My Time Dining likely begins around 5:15 or 5:30 and yes, you can absolutely select the same time for everyday, as long as that time is available, which, if you do it early enough, it will be. And if you do that, you are pretty much guaranteed the same table and wait staff every night. 

Each time I've time MTD for a larger group, we've kept it at the same time and always had the same table and wait staff. When I've done it for 2, however, I've picked different times and so the table was not the same. 

2 hours ago, BrandFam4 said:

Agreed, felt it was very dark in there and a tiki bar to me is bright and airy.

Not always. I have been to quite a few more well-known tiki bars and they actually have Bamboo Room's vibe and decor inside, with it being darker and dimmed lights.

With that being said, if Royal had an area like the Waterfront on NCL -away class ships, it would be perfect for that type of area. I appreciate their attempt so much and I think they needed a bar like this, but maybe make a few tweaks.

Seems like a lot of these upgrades are what we expected. However, besides the major additions like Playmakers, the slides, Abyss, El Loco and BBQ, the rest seem like just simple replacements: On Air into Spotlight Karaoke - seems like the same concept just adding a couple private booths. Dazzles into Music Hall...isn't Dazzles essentially a Music Hall in its current iteration? Pool/Sand Bar into Lime and Coconut...besides a different menu, I don't think there was anything special about this on Navigator. It was just a pool bar.  The DJ was out there some afternoons, but aren't they always out by the pool on ships in the afternoon? And they only had 1 outdoor party...the nightlife was not happening there on Navigator like advertised. 

I am also not surprised they aren't adding the Bamboo Room. I am a tiki fanatic and essentially lived in this bar on Navigator. Was it busy...no, never. I disagree with the poster that said it was closed or had bad hours...they seemed appropriate for the demand...and they would close at 12 if they weren't busy which is understandable. It seems like passengers just don't understand or appreciate the tiki culture, but the biggest thing is it takes time to make these drinks. It also takes more dedication as a bartender. I know on the Navigator, our bartender said they have problems getting people to work in the bar because the drinks are so complicated and nobody wants to learn. And also, they get incentives based on how many times they swipe a card and since the bar isn't busy, it adds to that difficulty in staffing. 

You should see Freedom sailing out of there year-round, with the exception of January/February 2020 due to her drydock, where she will undergo the Royal Amplification. 

Confirmed. The gym is much smaller, port side aft. No saunas or steam, just a steam for spa use (with treatment).

Great pictures and comments so far!

Quick question regarding embarkation: I'm on the Vancouver to Hawaii sailing in September - when I sailing out of Vancouver one way to Anchorage, we did customs & immigration right in Canada Place as a part of checkin. Did you also do that? Wasn't sure if that is standard if the ship is remaining in U.S. ports for the duration of the sailing or not?

That menu looks like a nice combo of both concepts. But I get how they want to stay on brand. 

I wish they would've added El Loco Fresh instead. That place is actually legit...and it's free! 

I would expect an official announcement in July/August. They definitely announced Navigator's amped upgrades in November, 2 months in advance. I'm not sure they did the same for Mariner, I can't find any articles until she was closer to being done. 

Of course since this would be the first Oasis amp, they may keep tighter lips until during/after. But I agree, it does really make a difference if you're looking at sailings afterwards. 

Has anyone found that the 30% off is actually worth waiting for? Because I thought they increased the price onboard, even from the highest price advertised on Cruise Planner. 

Sorry to hear you had so many negatives/issues.  I will say after reading the list, a lot of your "issues" are just the norm fleetwide. Complimentary food venues do close early with the exception of Cafe Promenade/Sorrentos. You cannot view pictures unless they are available for sale. Spa is always overpriced and a hard sell. Internet is slow on every ship. Beds are not comfortable. These things are on every ship and you just accept them and move on. I feel like the only legit issues were with the service level of your stateroom attendant and moving of show times, which is annoying since every show and dining time HAS to be scheduled precisely on these big ships. 

14 minutes ago, BEENSAILING said:

Wonder how soon before an “amp” Royal becomes specific about the changes and additions...

So Navigator entered dry dock beginning of January 2019 and the announcement about specific changes came early November 2018, so about 2 months in advance. 

Given that Freedom's dry dock is the same time next year, I wouldn't expect any articles or announcements until towards the end of this year. 

I must've found a steal on Ovation...I booked the 3-night a few months ago at $69 for the Vancouver to Honolulu cruise in September. Now the 3-night is at $99 and Chops+1 is at $75...absolute insanity! 

3 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

We were on Symphony last Nov.  The three months before the cruise had packages constantly added, taken away and then returned with prices and sales changing as well.  We had the BOGO and the five night and had no problem getting times and days we needed.  We had Wonderland booked at full price and then once onboard we used a package night as a replacement, the host who made our reservations took care of the refund to our account, no need to go to GS.  A little tip,, the kiosk on the promenade had a long line for specialty reservations, we went up to Wonderland where there was no line and made all our reservations in less then 10 minutes.  I should say my wife made all the reservations, I go wait for her at Trellis Bar. happy cruising

Good tip, thanks for sharing! I'm using the one in my group who stands in line to confirm/make reservations for the specialty dining while everyone else is at the bar drinking. 

There was one on Navigator in April...not sure if he was still there. 

I knew there was going to be one, but forgot until I heard him in the elevator halfway thru the cruise. After that, I saw him on the Promenade almost every night. 

They are all first come, first serve. There is a small section right near the Lime and Coconut bar on deck 12 starboard that is roped off and reserved for Gold Cards (Suites, etc.) that has I believe one or two cabanas or a cabana and a day bed. Rarely was anyone ever in there.  

But yes, it is a battle between you and the chair hogs kind of deal.

I was on a 9-night and they finally started taking towels and belongings off of chairs on day 9, the last sea day 😂

Was allowed to bring on an unopened cheese wheel from Curacao on Navigator last month. 

I stayed in South Beach and coming across the MacArthur Causeway and seeing the ship's top decks with the slides and revamped pool deck (definitely could see the cabanas) I was "WOWed". 

Yes, you enter on deck 4 either forward by the theater or aft by the dining room, but even then there are noticeable differences than other non-Amped Voyager class ships like Adventure and Explorer. I walked up one flight of stairs to 5 and saw noticeable changes on the Promenade like Playmakers and the Bamboo Room. Those were exciting features to me and I was impressed by them. Then walk on up to the pool deck and while I know not everyone agrees, I thought it was great. Cabanas, clamshell loungers, hammocks everywhere! Lots of color. I loved it! 

With the tide issue in Vancouver, I wonder if they'll have to make changes to the return to Hawaii cruise September 20th. Right now, scheduled to sail from Vancouver at 5pm. Do the tide times change?

13 hours ago, atricks said:

  The new fitness center is pretty bad, we were on the April 12th.  It took over the old Adventure ocean room, which has short (7ft) ceilings.  I'm 6'3 and couldn't even use the ellipticals because I was too tall.  And the classes seemed ultra cramped (I was there when one of them was going on)

 

   That said I really liked most of the improvements, although the Kids club was too small for the 9 night easter week cruise  (Total chaos since they combined all the age groups into 1).  And Johnny Rockets ala cart pricing seemed pointless (I didn't see hardly anyone ordering anything other than an occasional milkshake)

 

  Playmakers, Hooked and Bamboo Room were all great though, and I grew to like the overall pool deck.

 

 

 

 

Was on the same cruise - agree with you. Fitness Center was super small/too cramped. The low ceiling was definitely still an issue. No free sauna/steam, that I saw. I don't even know where they would put it now. They definitely did this thinking about the 3/4 night cruises, with hopes that those people won't work out since they only have a few days on the ship.

Never went to JR once and didn't see many people at the counter, however El Loco Fresh is a hit! We were there every single day, pretty much. I'm so glad they incorporated a really decent grab and go food stand by the pool, finally!  I loved the pool deck, however mostly stayed on deck 12 at one of the cabanas. 

Only went to Playmakers a couple times, but was in The Bamboo Room every single day and night - definitely my favorite! Hooked was also delicious and quite honestly better than Chops this time. 

Same for Navigator. I booked before they changed cruise planner to prix-fixe. However onboard, it was all a la carte. 

If the ship has a real Starbucks, like Allure does, you should be able to get cold brew there, obviously for a fee (not included in any drink package since it's a real Starbucks). I am just off Navigator and the new Starbucks was fully loaded, including cold brew! 

Thank your for posting the compasses! 

Yes again to the compasses, Please!!!! Interested to see if yours, as your itinerary is a replica of ours on April 12th, while the March 1st and March 29 are different port order.

Also, the shorter sailing on March 10 didn't have the Celebrity Scratch DJ. So interested to see if they still do all the party stuff, especially the Red Ultimate Nightclub Experience in Studio B. 

Also, did they assign your ice show based on your muster station?

So awesome to hear...glad you had a great time! I just came back from a weekend trip and am now in full on cruise mode...17 days as well! 15 if you count 2 days early in SoBe! 

Thanks for your thoughts and the beautiful pictures!