Georgiagolfer

Really enjoying your review, commentary, and pictures. It sure helps with the wait until our Freedom cruise.:D

Great start. We sail Freedom, Western route in September. Anxiously waiting for the review.

First post and first cruise! Heading out April 14th on the Allure. This website has been a great wealth of knowledge and hope I can contribute more after I figure out what all is going to happen :D

Welcome to Cruise Critic waaxon. Enjoy your cruise on Allure. When you get home, try and write a review here for us.

September 1 is a long way off.:eek:

161 days

I would like to do another Radiance class on a different itinerary, but I would also like to do a Voyager or Vision class. Right now Oasis class is not on my bucket list! Just seems more like a city than a cruise ship! :eek: We both work and are not retired so we can't cruise every other month like some people are able to do. I wish we could, but for now we will have to save and see what happens! :)

 

Cindy

DW and I both are retired, but we can't sail every other month either. We cruise 2 times a year and that seems to be the right amount for us. We take family to Hilton Head Island for a week every July, so we do manage to work other things in.

Smooth sailings on all your future cruises.:D

So now that you have sailed large and small, what ship do you plan on next? LOL:D

I don't remember seeing anything fried on the Freedom but they did have the ribs and they were good. We did a review of the Freedom last year I will try to link it. Freedom was an incredible ship and you will enjoy her.

 

Mulligan FOS review 2/26-3/04 with pics, on the royal caribbean board

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1591343

 

Hopefully one of those will get you to it. Enjoy and have a great cruise.

 

Cindy

Thanks for the link. I read every post and looked at all the pictures. We are sailing the Western route, been both Eastern and Western many times. Had thought about sailing Jewel Southern route when she moves to San Juan this summer, but cruise fares and flights are just too expensive for us right now.

I am afraid I can't help with this one, we did not use the MDR at all on the Freedom. And like so many people have said food is very subjective, what I may not like somebody else may love. All the Freedom food wasn't bad it just seemed very bland to me which is strange because I am a very plain food meat and potatoes kind of person. It just seemed like everything I ate on the Jewel was so good. MDR, Windjammer and Seaview Cafe. Keep in mind that we went on the Freedom last year before the new menus also, so don't know if that has anything to do with it. Either way don't fret it, you will not starve! ;) Enjoy your cruise.

Cindy

Thanks. We have sailed Mariner of the Seas before she left Port Canaveral, but Freedom will be our largest ship. Maybe you're right about the intimacy on the smaller ships. Sure hope they have the fried chicken and the ribs in windjammer at least 1 day.

You mentioned the food on the Jewel was so much better than Freedom. Was this just for the Windjammer or also the MDR? As we are on the Freedom in September, this has me worried.:confused:

Thank you Princess for defending my honor...LOL

 

I apologized earlier for missing the fact that some of you had already discussed this while I was sailing.

 

I also apologize to you, Fas64, for obviously upsetting you so much that you felt the need to be so nasty.

No need to apologize for trying to be helpful. Just ignore certain comments, as long as you know your intent.:D

The cost of RCI compared to what I booked on CCL (June 2 Carnival Breeze) was almost double!! I just couldn't justify the cost difference...plus I enjoy CCL a little more! :)

While I agree that in many cases RCI is higher than CCL, not always.

Our upcoming cruise is actually $50 less (Junior Suite) than CCL Dream (Ocean Suite). Both sail from Port Canaveral and are for Western Caribbean. Dream sails Saturday, and Freedom on Sunday.

Your post reinforces the point that everybody has their own priorities and everybody draws their own line that they just won't cross when it comes to their time and dollars.

 

Many would probably agree that NCL over-shot sublime and went straight to ridiculous with those bathrooms :D. I'd still really like to sail her though because entertainment choices are an incredibly important part of a cruise to us. What was offered on our recent Carnival trip was just unsatisfactory. (Never would have dreamed I'd be buying pay-per-view movies on a cruise, but that's what we were reduced to.)

As I posted, really would love to do Epic for the available entertainment, Blue Man, Cirque dinner, etc. But oh my, those bathrooms just freak me out. I understand Breakaway and Getaway return to the traditional rooms.

I have heard many many good things about Epic, know people who have cruised on her. Yes, NCL really has stepped it up for solos and singles.

On Epic they have a solos lounge for the studios 24/7....all singles can go to a happy hour there daily and meet

you can put up plans, ideas on a "whiteboard" ...like

"anyone want to join us at La Cucina" or whatever...really cool

they even have a singles hostess to help the solos arrange some group meals...sweet

 

As good as our entertainment was, I hear Epic is just beyond....Blue Man

you pay $75 or ? more to see them in Vegas...you see them included on Epic

 

The thing that is really nice on NCL is all the many many different live music groups... so many choices every night. YOu can go from one venue to another...so much to do. Lots of fun.

 

Have a great Epic adventure !

DW and I originally had booked Epic for 1/13, but cancelled due to the room layout. Would love the entertainment on Epic, but can't handle the odd rooms. Maybe Breakaway in 2013 in Bermuda, or Getaway in 2014 in the Caribbean.

Thanks for posting. DW and I are Platinum on CCL (16 cruises), but are looking to our 1st on NCL next November.

When we first started cruising we looked at CCL first, but now we look to see where the ships sare sailing (all cruise lines) the price and the dates I can go..... I dislike the recent CCL changes. They are still a good $ value but sometimes $s are not the best way to choose a ship IMO:rolleyes:;):(

leedm

Totally agree, but $$ may be the only way to pick a cruise for some today.

Some won't look beyond the bottom line - for those who can/will, they'll often find things they weren't expecting!Tom

Agree, good and/or bad.:D:(

I would update it --- but that would be an ongoing project, and message board formats are not real conducive to updates!

 

Tom

With the way things are still changing, by the time you did an update on the various programs, it would be outdated especially CCL which is constantly changing.

While I agree with a lot of the posts, I don't cruise a line just for perks. Don't get me wrong, if a line gives me something for repeat sailings, I'm thankful, however, I may not use all of the perks.

Just saying, we have many options to choose from as far as cruise lines, ships, entertainment, etc. Even if I choose a line for my next cruise, it would be on a class of ship I prefer or want to try. DW and I no longer look just at CCL for our cruises. Actually, CCL is the last line we are looking at for a May cruise.

Just put us on a ship, feed me, clean up after me, and I'm happy. Loyal to my wife my Country, and my God, Loyal to cruising as long as we can, not Loyal to any cruise line.

Tommy was working the Lobby Bar on Fascination when we sailed in May. Here's hoping he is still there when we sail in 25 days.

Hello Cruise Critic!!

 

After a long wait, last week my fiancée (23y/o) and I (25y/o) finally sailed on the Allure of the Seas!!! We had a WONDERFUL time!!! It was a little crowded at times (specially it being JULY) but that didn't stop us from enjoying the cruise!! All the positives really outweigh that negative!!

 

Here are all my pictures (with a lot of food porn for all the foodies out there)!!! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100802949873901.2662290.9032463&type=1&l=8b9237757d

 

Feel free to ask any questions!! ...and thanks to all that answered mine before!!

Great pictures, thanks for sharing. I kinda like a review in pictures, as it keeps any negatives out. DW and I are looking at booking Allure for next May.

I voted no. We like being around kids and young people as this helps us to feel younger. Don't want to be around a bunch of old people all day for a week.

BTW, DW and I are mid-60's.:D

The next number is

 

308 !!!

 

 

GREAT JOB FOLKS!!!!!

LHP, as you have been keeping a tally, do you have the State breakdown? Just curious;)

December will be 37 years for me at present company, and that is enough. I'm leaving on 12/31/09. Haven't put papers in yet, but everyone knows my intentions. Will submit papers on or around 12/01. WooHoo:D

the cruise lines give us a break

Yeah the senior discount does help. I also look for military discount. If available, it is even better than senior discount.

Discounts for cruises? Yes for seniors...Usually a less desireable area of ship, but we can hope for better deals. I would like to try a suite some 7 day cruise. JY.

Not totally true. Had a JS on Mariner of the Seas with Senior discount and saved $250pp. Had a Cat. 11 on Carnival Glory and Senior Discount saved $230pp. I was able to pick my room both times.