impatientlywaiting

VOOM is now what RCI's internet is called on all ships. However, if the ship hasn't been updated, you'll still get the same old internet. I was on Radiance for 29 days this past fall and it was nothing special.

You know we're getting ready to embark next month on an 18-day transpacific out of Sydney and this just adds to the epic levels we've heard about nickel-and-diming pax for standard stuff on what is actually a fairly expensive cruise booked 2 yrs ago with no discounts available. We've done 30+ cruises (first was actually an RCI Bahamas hop) and we chose this for the itinerary, but my expectations are already in the toilet - as apparently the corridor bouquet is. We've always been small ship cruisers (Radisson, Windstar, Seabourn, Seadream, Oceania, Crystal) and I fully expect that's where we'll be returning even though Radiance is a small ship by RCI standards. I'll try to keep an open mind but no robes, no bathroom amenities, charge for the smallest thing from room service, ridiculous beverage, excursion, and upsell dining options - no thank you. You can pay $100 more a day on an upscale line and enjoy the cruise more and not get taken to the woodshed.

I guess the good news is room service orders will fall off so they take less than 45 mins-2 hrs to fill. Bad news is this policy will add even more pressure to an already overcrowded Windjammer Cafe since breakfast in MDR is apparently a sketchy 60-90 minute affair. Working the open mind angle...

And then there will be the inevitable 18-20% on top of the $7.95 for room service English muffin and coffee...

We did the 29 day Vancouver to Hawaii to Sydney last fall. There were robes in our cabin and never wore them (no charge). There was soap & shampoo in the bathroom (no charge). We ate in the MDR every night (no charge) and the Windjammer for breakfast & lunch (no charge).

You can have an excellent cruise without being nickle & dimed for anything.

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Ha, same thing here! When we first did Oasis that's all people were raving about on CC so we tried them.

 

I still don't get it. I wouldn't even call them tasty.

 

 

To each their own!

 

 

 

 

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I've tried them on several different ships and still feel the same - nothing to write home about. I expected to really be wowed and I wasn't at all. Good for those who were though! :D

This new format is no different than reading real books, newspapers or my paperwhite Kindle (white pages, black printing) so no issues for me.

Ten years ago, when I was a new cruiser, the service provided on Royal was different than anything I had experienced before. The attentiveness of waiters in the MDR, the friendliness and attention to detail of the stateroom attendants, and what felt to me like determination of everyone from check into departure to make my experience memorable for all the right reasons is what got me hooked on cruising. And, yes that is all it took to make me feel special. Today Royal feels more like the staff is overworked, asked to do too much and just struggling to get the work done. I still love cruising, but I do miss that extra mile service.

 

 

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We must be very lucky. In all the cruises we've taken on Royal, our cabin attendants and MDR waiters are still attentive and seem pay extra attention to detail. We always prepay our gratuities but always tip them more at the end of the cruise because of the extra great service they give us!

That said, we have "jumped ship" to Celebrity for our next cruise. Our last 29 day cruise on Radiance I was so tired of hearing the CD read the Cruise Compass every morning and every afternoon. It was absolutely ridiculous.

We've always booked balcony cabins. Then one day we decided to try a cabin with just a window. NEVER AGAIN! We felt closed in. We didn't realize how much we used our balcony!

We always book a cruise while on-board and never transfer it to a TA. I prefer to keep total control of my reservation. We get enough OBC that we have to try really hard to spend it all before the end of the cruise!

We did a Caribbean cruise 3rd week of March and there were over 1,000 university students on board. It was the worst cruse ever. They were drunk and rude and out of control the entire 7 days. We learned our lesson about cruising in the Caribbean during March and April.

Question for those who have T-Mobile. We are going on the Reflection's Eastern Caribbean sailing.

 

We are in a Sky Suite and have the unlimited WIFI package for the entire week.

 

If I enable WIFI calling on our phones can we make calls back to the United States and not be charged any roaming or additional fees on my T-Mobile bill?

 

I'm not so sure it would work that way for incoming calls but my thought is that we should be able to make WIFI calls tapping into our WIFI package and not incur any additional fees on my wireless bill.

 

I also have the T-Mobile new One Rate Plan, which may cover this anyway but I'm thinking the WIFI calling itself would take care of it with no charges. ???

 

Any input from anyone with any experience with this would be greatly appreciated!

 

We're sailing to:

San Juan

Philipsburg - St. Maarten

Basseterre - St. Kitts & Nevis

:D

We used our WiFi calling (with T-Mobile) after leaving the French Polynesian islands heading to New Zealand - NO CHARGES on our bill! We've used T-Mobile all over Europe, New Zealand and Europe with absolutely no charges and didn't have to add on any additional plan for travel abroad.

All excellent observations. I also think that they should do more games and activities (not for additional charge) than they do. Passengers love them, they are always well attended...there should be more.

We are jumping ship from Royal to Celebrity to get away from all the pool games/activities. If that's what passengers want, go to Royal - they have way too many IMHO.

(1) Grand Cayman for the Tortuga rum, 7 mile beach, Sting Ray City and Rum Point; (2) Key West

I just returned from the Freedom of the Seas on an eight night voyage. The first night my travel companions and I ate in the dining room, our server rudely interrupted our conversation to give her speech about her survey scores. In addition to the standard spiel, she informed us of the next night's menu and that we would not like it at all. She told us we should eat the Italian at Giovanni's as the primo ingredients are reserved for the specialty restaurants and therefore, the meals in the dining room were not good.

 

We did not eat there the next night as directed. The following evening, we were once again rudely interrupted and given the same speech. She told us that if we didn't give her perfect scores, she would be sent to the back corner of the dining room.

 

We were so shocked and appalled by her behavior, we felt we were forced out of the dining room. I have never had such rude service ever... On or off the ship.

 

 

Danielle

You should have immediately gone to the head waiter and put a stop to that. And if that didn't work, you should have gone to the Maitre D. That kind of attitude is totally UNACCEPTABLE.

We cruised with RCCL many times and jumped ship to Celebrity years back - never went back.

 

I think before discussing food, restaurants etc the main difference should be named: different concept!

 

RCCL and Carnival are family cruise lines. Bigger ships are action filled and almost theme park like. Entertainment is big, almost omnipresent and there are musicals and water shows and belly flop contests.

 

Not so on Celebrity. The atmosphere is more laid back without being boring, a bit more luxurious and upscale but still relaxed. On average there are way less kids on board and the focus is less on party and parades than on relaxation with available, however, more subtle entertainment. Of course, also on Celebrity, Caribbean cruises are always a bit more relaxed than other worldwide cruises.

 

So if that is what you are looking for and prefer, you might get hooked on Celebrity.

 

If you are a family and you are looking for something closer to RCCL and Carnival, you might want to give NCL a try.

We are "jumping ship" from Royal to Celebrity as well and looking forward to a more laid back atmosphere. Thanks for the information! Can't wait!

I usually buy a purse. The Royal ships carry Guess (not sure about Celebrity - will find out soon). After not purchasing one I liked on the ship I was on, and trying to find the exact same purse at home and couldn't, I decided from then if I liked it on the ship to buy it.

Belkin Mini plug is where its at no cord never had a problem plus its got USB outlets on it for all your extra electronics you can charge .

This Belkin plug is the one I've taken on many cruises with no problem. I do put it in my carry on as well.

The Samsung Note 7 is the cell phone you CAN'T take on the ship or on an airplane anymore. I think they've all been recalled anyway.

I sympathize as I had to cancel a b2b2b and go down to just 1 cruise.

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If there is anyone who has sailed recently or presently on the Radiance - would appreciate the following information if available.

 

Diamond Plus - is there only the lounge (Diamond or Concierge) or are they giving out the drink coupons so you can go to other bars - only one of us is Diamond Plus - the others - one sharing my cabin and one in a single cabin are Crown N Anchor members but not that level and I am sure they are very strict about bringing guests in at night.

 

Cruise is 16 nights - benefits for Diamond Plus?

 

Internet - is it better value to purchase prior at the 30% off rate or take the small discount offered onboard - need the unlimited

 

Cabins #9242 and #9244 - connect - do you know where they connect?

 

My Time dining - tried to reserve times - having difficulty and I can call - just thought I would ask if someone had a suggestion

 

Show times on Radiance

 

Thank you for your help - it is greatly appreciated

We spent 29 days on Radiance in September/October and MTD was moved from Deck 5 to Deck 4 there were so many passengers who wanted it (it was the first cruise they'd moved it and it was a disaster for a few days). I had made my reservations as soon as dining had been loaded for the ship but ended up calling C&A to get it done.

I am curious -- why would anyone need proof that they had been on a cruise? An alibi? Am I missing something?

Ours go in the scrapbook I make of all the momentos I've saved from the excursions and pictures I've printed when we get home.

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I've never had a bad experience. I always call the Crown & Anchor group in Eugene, Oregon. They are always helpful and great to deal with.

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Funny story....We went on the Freedom back in 2015 with my parents among others. We have an autistic son who was 5 at the time. One night, they watched the kids while we went to Chops. They decided to ask for a peanut butter and Jelly sandwich in the MDR for him. The waiter came back with bread along with peanut butter and JELLO.... :eek: :confused: :D

In some countries (Australia, for one), jelly means jello. :) We cruise with a couple from Australia and when I said I was going to have a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich for lunch, she asked why I would put jelly on a sandwich. After much discussion, we discovered she was talking about jello, not jelly!

Couldn't agree more. We spent 29 days on Radiance and the CD read the Compass every morning and every afternoon. Hello? The only announcement I want to hear is the Captain's Noon announcement.

I think the second formal night, only because that's when they usually take pictures outside the dining rooms to purchase.

 

 

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On our recent B2B cruises on Radiance, photographers were set up for all formal nights. And formal wasn't so formal - thankfully. Smart casual seems to be more the norm now. Again, thankfully!

I am at 137 points. I will be sailing b2b on the HOS in December. Will I receive my block on these b2b cruises or have to wait until my next cruise?

We reached 140 points during our last cruise and received the block and letter in our cabin the very same day. :)

We just got off Eclipse on 15 Mar. Plenty of napkin waving in MDR for last formal night

 

Yes, we were on the Eclipse b2b Mar.1st and 15th and we waved those napkins and hooted our wait staff like we were greeting the Pope!!!! It's just plain fun!

 

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So glad to read this. We just booked a B2B2B on Eclipse (we've jumped ship from Royal to Celebrity) and would definitely miss this on the last night(s)! And yes, we waved our napkins and sang right along with the staff on our B2Bs on Radiance! Fun, fun, fun!

We met a couple from Australia in 2009 on a cruise and have now cruised with them 3 more times, have had them to our home and have visited them at their home in Sydney. They will be life long friends and we are already planning future vacations! :)