Pug Mom

Thank you for taking the time and sharing your trip. Enjoyed following along!

We got back on Anthem and zipped up to top deck about 2 minutes before it launched. Got to see it without any problems. That’s a shame that folks that went to the space center barely got to see it at all. We amazingly had prime places to stand and see. All of us clapped and whooped!

 

 

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We had a similar viewing experience in 2015 on Quantum of the Seas!

Local folks can also offer good suggestions for viewing areas during launches.

Reposted from East Coast Departures:

Highly recommend avoiding KSC when a rocket launch is scheduled. Have we enjoyed the visitors center on previous visits? Yes twice. Once through the excursion offered through the ship and another time by rental car from the port. This visit was with our grandkids ages 11 and 8, I booked the excursion to keep it simple.

The first words out of the tour guide was did everyone use the rest rooms as a great deal of traffic is expected. The 20 minute ride took 3 hours from Port Canaveral to stepping off the bus at the Kennedy Space Center. 20 minutes on line to use the rest rooms left us with 40 minutes before the launch at 4:30PM. The line to enter the Atlantis building looked intimidating, perhaps you could enter but we would never be back out in time to watch the rocket launch, we waited.

The viewing area onsite in the direction of the launch is limited and the entire standing area was packed. Yes, the rocket was visible once it was high enough in the sky. At that moment I was wishing we had stayed on the ship as all of the ships in Port Canaveral have a great view of the launch area!

Still optimistic we headed back towards the Atlantis building post launch. Where although the front gate had already indicated the site was closed and at full capacity we watched bus after bus unloading more visitors. The line was again out the door to enter the building. Extending the leave time for our tour to 6:45 PM sounded like the tour service was giving you extra time as a courtesy, however it seemed more like a money grab to continue to accommodate more tours. I counted 30 + buses that arrived AFTER the rocket launch, 59 visitors per bus, at least another 2,000 guests were dropped off.

The tour guide was unable to offer any assistance, citing that no one expected this turnout and all of this was a perfect storm of people with a popular vacation week.

Should you visit the Kennedy Space Center? Yes, when it can be enjoyed. Otherwise make another choice.

Recently returned from a great week on Anthemof the Seas

Highly recommend avoiding KSC when a rocket launch is scheduled. Have we enjoyed the visitors center on previous visits? Yes twice. Once through the excursion offered through the ship and another time by rental car from the port. This visit was with our grandkids ages 11 and 8, I booked the excursion to keep it simple.

The first words out of the tour guide was did everyone use the rest rooms as a great deal of traffic is expected. The 20 minute ride took 3 hours from Port Canaveral to stepping off the bus at the Kennedy Space Center. 20 minutes on line to use the rest rooms left us with 40 minutes before the launch at 4:30 PM. The line to enter the Atlantis building looked intimidating, perhaps you could enter but we would never be back out in time to watch the rocket launch, we waited.

The viewing area onsite in the direction of the launch is limited and the entire standing area was packed. Yes, the rocket was visible once it was high enough in the sky. At that moment I was wishing we had stayed on the ship as all of the ships in Port Canaveral have a great view of the launch area!

Still optimistic we headed back towards the Atlantis building post launch. Where although the front gate had already indicated the site was closed and at full capacity we watched bus after bus unloading more visitors. The line was again out the door to enter the building. Extending the leave time to for our tour to 6:45 PM sounded like the tour service was giving you extra time as a courtesy, however it seemed more like a money grab to continue to accommodate more tours. I counted 30 + buses that arrived AFTER the rocket launch, 59 visitors per bus, at least another 2,000 guests were dropped off.

The tour guide was unable to offer any assistance, citing that no one expected this turnout and all of this was a perfect storm of people with a popular vacation week.

Should you visit the Kennedy Space Center? Yes, when it can be enjoyed. Otherwise make another choice.

Recently returned from a great week on Anthem of the Seas.

Room service is delivered by room service staff, not your room attendant.

 

I see two reasons for RCI doing this. 1) Offset the cost of the staff required to deliver the room service, and 2) To reduce the load on room service so they can provide more timely service.

 

On the second point, I have seen posts on CC that discussed very long waits for room service before the charge, and much shorter waits now.

This comes closest to my thoughts.....Mega size ships....reduced room service staff....rather than increasing required staff to accommodate the larger volume. Our last cruise on Anthem we did use room service, three times, it did not break the vacation budget. Service was very quick......

Observation...... on last two cruises, measured shot policy on Anthem & Quantum, however that said, not at all bars. You should not have to shop around on the ship for the "right" bartender. It did not seem to make a difference between complimentary drinks and drinks being paid for. No I'm not a big drinker but this is an irritant of my husband, and part of the attraction leading us to repeated bookings with RCCL after many cruises with Holland America. The Holland America measured shot policy went into affect, no bringing your own bottle on board any longer for drinks in cabin, however you could purchase an overpriced bottle of liquor from ship for an in cabin set up. Much like what is offered on RCCL on their ships. It was probably more the money grab that got my husband up in arms. Like I started out with just an observation on my part and a bit of our story. Personally I would rather enjoy a few good drinks out and about in one of the lounges, feeling great to be unplugged from work.

We can highly recommend Heidi Cowen @ Byways Tours as a tour guide. She is an amazing person and it was great to spend a day with her. Arranging a private tour is a perfect way to see, touch and get a taste of what Bermuda has to offer. Our recent cruise was our 8th trip to Bermuda and my 2nd private tour. Transportation and beach time took up a lot of our time in the early visits! Personally I have to say that both tours introduced me to new sights and history in their own way!

Lemon Meringue Cheesecake in Jamie's with Cappuccino.

I am jealous, just off Quantum of the Seas, no kettles in balcony cabins. We made due with having a carafe of hot water, cups & spoons delivered to the room early morning and sometimes in the afternoon. Remember to bring your PG Tips with you.

Chris it has truly been a pleasure following your posts this sailing. I look forward to reviewing the trips you have already taken along with your future cruises. You made us all feel like we were right there with you! Thank you very much for those moments!

Karen

We can see you guys, can't miss all that pink!

Bon Voyage!

Nyharborwebcam

Excellent job on the video of your cruise I look forward to reading your review!

According to the company website, this is what the PG stands for:

PG = Pre-Gest. In the 1930's some teas were believed to have certain digestive properties.

 

I always bring a box of PG Tips on vacation with us. Husband refers to them as Pretty Good Tips!

 

 

 

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Thank you Jonathan for taking the time to share your experience with us. I totally agree with the praises here and look forward to sailing on this great ship again in April.

Karen

It seems like a long week since returning home from EOS! Had to revisit your review!

Wendy thank you for taking the time to review! I enjoyed remembering alot of the same things from last week. It was great!

Ditto......loving this review it's a great read!

20! Yessssssssssssss!

Radio,

This is a great review and reminder of our trip. The pictures are wonderful, as usual. It was fun to run into you during check in and although we will not be "on" your next cruise we will always "sail" with you through your "live" reviews.

Karen

For us it's also like a first love. Our first sailing was on the Atlantic to Bermuda in 1987. Up until then all I knew about cruising was the "Love Boat", we were in for a wonderful surprise! The dining room on Home Lines set a precedent that has not been matched over the years and our cruise this year was on the QM2. We now look forward to exploring different ships and just being at sea!