ibz1492

Wilcan...thanks for such a great description ..i have been on Brilliance 2 or 3 times and am still discovering new parts of a nice mud-sized ship. I will be on her 17 April for her spring crossing.:)

Heer is a little description of the Brilliance of the seas fitness area.

 

The gym is nice. It has all the usual equipment by lifefitness. Weigh machines, benches, universal with pull up bar, and lots of cardio equipment. It has a full assortment of dumbbells up to 75 lbs. As with most ships there are no barbells. There is a large area in the middle with a hardwood floor look. It's great for stretching and has yoga mats and foam rollers. This area is also used for some classes too so it can get crowded.

 

There are separate men's and women's change rooms. These are not well used because most gym goers are not aware they exist. The change rooms are not on the same level as the gym. They are one level down within the spa. There is no charge to use the change rooms or the facilities in the change rooms. I can only comment on the men's change rooms but I assume the women's area is the same.

 

The men's change room is made of of two separate rooms. The outer room has lockers, benches, a dressing mirror and a single use bathroom, and towels. If you want to lock your locker you can borrow a key from the spa desk I assume it's no charge. Most people just leave there valuables in their cabin and don't bother locking the locker.

 

The inner room has showers, a dry sauna, a steam room , a few benches, a dreasing mirror, towels, towel hooks and a fountain. The showers are along the left wall and the sauna along the right wall. With the steam room is on an angle in the back right corner.

 

There are 4 showers. 2 on each side of the fountain. The showers are designed in a "c" shape with the open part of the "c" facing each other. There is a small shared entrance way for the two showers. Because of the shape there is no need for a curtain or door. The showers have a nice rain fall shower head with adaquate pressure. I found the water too cool but I do like very hot showers so most people would be fine. The showers have liquid soap and shampoo.

 

The dry sauna in directly across from the fountain. It has a solid clear glass door. There are two levels of benches in a "u" shape. The door is in the open part of the "u"The sauna can comfortably hold 6 people. The temperature is perfect. The sauna is well lit.

 

The steam room is also in a "c" shape, like the showers. There is a glass door in the open part of " c". I'm not sure if the door is tinted or it just looks that way because of the dim lighting inside. The steam room door is on a slight angle in the back corner on the right side of the room. Inside there are two benches, one on each side of the door. There is a heating unit at the back between the benches. Each bench can seat 3 if you sit close together. Because of the position of the door there is some light coming in from out side. Which is good because the steam room has only a tiny light coming from the ceiling. The dim lighting is designed to look like stars in the ceiling. It's very relaxing. It takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the dim lighting so be cautious entering. Exiting is not a problem because you can see clearly out the door into the outer room. The temperature is perfect.

I don't know where to begin...Wherever you got your information is so wrong. I am single so travel solo and it is important that I find great people to be with; I have often been called a snob so I get your concerns. In general, what I say is that you we can't find a dozen really interesting people among the 200 to 4000 other passengers, then the problem is mine, not the other passengers. I always do my-time dining so I can go when I want. I get friendly with the host / hostess the first afternoon (BEFORE dinner) and let that person know what I expect - great dinner companions at my table, the same waiters each night once I have found the really good ones (host will help with that the first night. Let the waiters know what you expect and of course you must act civilly with them. They will treat you like royalty if you treat them very professionally but with personal empathy. Ask for the little extras that let the staff know that you know how to dine!!!!! They will treat you accordingly. Sadly that have many mal-educados on all ships and have to deal with them daily too. Use their names always and get to know the maitre 'd by name and be sure to speak to them the very first evening and every evening after. Ask for a cheese board or antipasto plate as you sit down; establish yourselves as special guests. That's the main issues in the dining room. Oh, and specialty restaurants aren't typically what they are claimed to be...Sometimes yes, often not. If you can't get an excellent meal i n main dining, it is your fault usually.

As for doing things on board, look at all activities available before you board.... If you like sunning, there are tons of places that are quiet and not near 500 others next to the pool. Lectures can be great. Entertainment varies tremendously by ship, but try the first night and see if it is your cup of tea or not.... Hard to advise on that. I stay clear of gambling, the people are not my favourites in general. Some small cocktail bars can be lovely just to go to and chat with family or new found friends. Whether the bar is open or not, it is there to be used for quiet chat. I cruise a lot (never fly) and my problem is often to be able to do all that I want in the course of the average day aboard.

Excursions I always do my own.... It's not a whole lot different from driving into a new town while traveling aboard.... You look about, read some facts before you go ashore and explore!!!! Always fun..... Just go in opposite direction of the crowds getting off the ship.... I also sometimes stay aboard on port days - I feel like I own the ship....

So much more I could say. But I am willing to predict that you will have a blast IF you makes crew and officer acquaintances as soon as possible once aboard. Let them know by your actions that you are a special guest and that you are looking forward to a wonderful time. ALL officers are anxious to be stopped and just to hear a few words from you; they get tons of petty complaints (passengers trying to get a free bottle of wine by bitching about something ridiculous). Your being civilized will stand you in good stead. And don't hesitate to write a personal note to an officer with a thought, positive or negative; and simply say that you know they appreciate hearing constructive thoughts... And they do!!!!!!!

And that is about it.... You set the tone without seeming to be imperious and the crew will be at your beck and call.... I promise you a super cruise... Let me know here how it went..... Gary Lloyd

July 13th 2012, Alaska Northbound inland cruise on the Celebrity Millennium. Family trip celebrating my In Law's 50th.

 

I am really struggling here. I am going on an Alaskan cruise next July. With an extended family group. For a week. And it sounds like torture to me. And everyone here sounds so happy about cruising.

 

I have a horrible attitude, I know, but when I think "Cruising" it sounds like a combination of Las Vegas, a Huge Shopping Mall, Chain Restaurants and a Big Hotel. All of which I avoid at all costs.

 

I love to travel, and my husband, college aged daughter and I have been on wonderful trips, all over the world. We stay in small apartments in residential neighbourhoods and walk and eat and explore endlessly and can happily amuse ourselves for days or weeks at a time. But we do not do the typical sightseeing, or the common venues. We don't have a schedule or even reservations except for lodgings. We don't "vacation", we travel.

 

A cruise sounds as if it is all about vacationing and very little about traveling. Like a sea based version of "If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium" with mad morning dashes off the ship thru crowded gangways and rushed afternoon returns trying to make it back by sailing time.

 

I have been reading all the interesting posts here and have read thru all the material I can find from the Celebrity site so I feel that I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. I know that the ship will be just out of dry dock and very fresh, which I will appreciate very much.

 

We don't have a problem with dressing for dinner, The Spouse looks very handsome in his dinner clothes and my Daughter loves to dress up on occasion, as do I.

 

We are in our 40's and our daughter is 18, but we are happy mixing with all age groups and have no reservation on that count.

 

I am an avid sailor and can deal with seasickness, Love my patch, and ginger candies, and I'll have one for the Spouse as well since he succumbs very easily to mal de mere and for our daughter just in case.

 

I think that reserving the excursions ahead of time will be necessary. I plan on not using the cruiseline's trips, but instead using local businesses. I feel pretty stressed about figuring out ahead of time what all we should do, but the information on the Alaska board has me started in the right direction.

 

But what will I do on the boat? Hanging out in bars has no appeal to me. Not interested in karaoke, listening or doing. Not interested in reviews and shows of questionable quality. Folding napkins and towel animals is just not going to do it for me. We are foodies and from what I can tell the food will be (hopefully)acceptable but nothing that will excite us, The food service gets such mixed reviews and I confess that in this area we are as bad as any San Franciscan... I HATE cold weather so outdoor viewing of the passing scenery isn't very attractive to me either. Seen one tree, seen 'em all...

 

I guess I can just suck it up and hang out in the stateroom reading between ports.

 

I sound like such a snob, I know, but I am not, really, I just don't care for group activities and events. I feel I will have very little in common with most of the other passengers. And I know exactly what people will think of some wet blanket who is unexcited when everyone else is having a grand time.

 

My poor inlaws think they are doing such a Lovely Thing for us and have no ide that we have discussed endlessly how to divert them to anything other than this plan. The only other option was Arizona for spring training and lucky for me the other families wouldn't take their children out of school for a trip. Arizona? Baseball? That makes even a Cruise look better ; -)

 

I am not even sure what I am hoping for here... maybe advice from others, who cruise reluctantly, and how they stay happy for their companions sake?

 

Tips on what I might be able to do on board that are not readily apparent?

 

Suggestions on avoiding the worst of the herd mentality? I already get about trying to time your boarding and disembarking to avoid the crowds...

 

Dosages for mood altering drugs that will let me at least appear to be enjoying myself?

 

Assurance that once aboard I will discover that the cruise IS fun?

 

If so many of you love it there must be something to it I am missing. I don't want to spend 8 months (and my In-Law's investment) dreading a trip.

I love to cruise and spend most of my time everywhere but in my cabin, so why spend for amenities that I never use. This also allows me to cruise more since the interior cabins are the least expensive. And, as a single, I have to spend 1 1/2 to 2 times what everyone else pays per person, so that has to taken into consideration as well. I typically like mid level deck, not the lowest level... just a personal thought.

We have booked a South Pacific cruise on Rhapsody in February 2014, and we will be on the bottom deck, inside cabins, 2537 and 2539. I know the cabins will be small, they are basically the cheapest cabins on the ship.

 

But I would really love to know if I'm the only one who actually likes the idea of an inside cabin: no sunshine streaming in during the early hours, a bit quieter (hopefully), and no looking at the swell (I'm very prone to sea-sickness).

 

Love to hear what others think.

 

:)

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

I just stumbled onto the 55+ Forum and my head is reeling after having read all the postings since sometime in 2005! You all may be interested in reading the letter I recently emailed to my many cyberfriends in Canada, the US and in Europe and if you have questions, don't hesitate!

 

Musicus

 

Dear friends,

 

come the middle of September, you’ll not get any more forwardings from me and I’ll ask you to take me off your mailing list, if I happen to be on it. From that time onwards and for at least one entire year, my internet access will be severely restricted, although I hope to stay in touch with many friends on a personal level.

 

But let me explain…

 

Having outlived my wife, many close friends and. with exception of my son, all my family, I’ve reached the age where assisted living with its amenities looms large. I visited several such facilities but despite comfortable lodgings, the often quite pleasant surroundings exude a depressing “Waiting for God” feeling for me when I see some of the residents. I think that I am not ready for this- yet.

 

After my thoroughly enjoyable 14-day Panama Canal cruise over Christmas/New Years (my second cruise experience), I began to think of cruise ships as a viable alternative.

A comfortable room with all amenities, from Satellite TV,

air conditioning to private bath (and no more making the bed each morning, cleaning room and bath, changing linen); a choice of restaurants with fabulous menus (goodbye TV Dinners or having to cook and then eat alone); nightly Broadway Class entertainment in a luxurious theater (beats lousy TV fare); swimming pools, jaccuzzis, well equipped gym and a medical facility complete with doctor and nurse - all a short walk away; a well stocked library and lectures, a casino, bars and interesting people to meet - and to top it all off, travel to places you would never have seen otherwise -- all in all, what more could you want?

 

For many months I have been working on a plan to spend one year on a cruise ship, which entailed arduous computer research covering cruise lines, their ships and itineraries (which often were hard to find for more than a few months) and finally, costs!

 

To my chagrin I discovered that I would be faced with a single supplement varying between 50% and 100% of the double occupancy rate, which is the industry’s standard and I knew then that I would have to stretch my budget limitation by at least $10,000 to get anywhere near to my goal.

 

I am happy to report that I finally succeeded in finding the right Line, ship, itinerary and price (which however will mean that I’ll spend more of my son’s inheritance …) and I will leave on MSC's "Poesia"

October 9 at Quebec City, returning to there October 15, 2011.

Oh yes, I forgot to tell you: I was born February 9, 1917.

 

Attached is my itinerary. It certainly would be nice if some of you would decide to take one or two of the cruise legs and we would see each other! And should you be alone, don’t forget that my stateroom has twin beds! Sharing the stateroom with me will save you a lot of money and if I am lucky and you are female, be assured that I will be on my best gentlemanly behavior!

 

Ahoy!

 

Egon

 

MY ITINERARY ON MSC “POESIA” 2010/2011

004 Saturday Oct. 9 – Sat. 16 - 7 Quebec, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor, Maine, Boston, MA, Newport, R.I., New York

P005 Saturday Oct. 16 – Sat.23, 2010 - 7 New York, Hallifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec

P006 Sat. Oct.23 - Nov 1, 2010 - 7 Quebec, Sydney, Boston, Newport, New York, Fort Everglades

PO07 Mon, Nov 01, Thu, Nov 11, 10 Port Everglades, Cozumel, Puerto Limon, Cristobal, Cartagena, Montego Bay, Port Everglades

PO08 Thu, Nov 11, 2010 Sun, Nov 14, 2010 3 Port Everglades, Coco Bay, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO09 Sun, Nov 14, 2010 Sun, Nov 21, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO10 Sun, Nov 21, 2010 Sun, Nov 28, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO11 Sun, Nov 28, Sun, Dec 05, 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades Cozumel, Port Everglade

P012 Sun. Dec 5, 2010 - Sun. Dec 12, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown,,Cosumel, Port Everglades

PO13 Sun, Dec 12, 2010 Sun, Dec 19, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Philipsburg, Charlotte Amalie, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO14 Sun, Dec 19, 2010 Sun, Dec 26, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO15 Sun, Dec 26, 2010 Sun, Jan 02, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO16 Sunday, Jan. 2nd – Tuesday Jan. 4th, 2010 – Fort Lauderdale, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale

JAN 4 - 9 CHARTER

PO18 Sun, Jan 09, 2011 Sun, Jan 16, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO19 Sun, Jan 16, 2011 Sun, Jan 23, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Sunday,

PO20 Sun, Jan 23, 2011 Sun, Jan 30, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO21 Sun, Jan 30, 2011 Sun, Feb 06, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO22 Sun, Feb 06, 2011 Sun, Feb 13, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO23 Sun, Feb 13, 2011 Sun, Feb 20, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO24 Sun, Feb 20, 2011 Sun, Feb 27, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO25 Sun, Feb 27, 2011 Sun, Mar 06, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO26 Sun, Mar 06, Wed, Mar 23, 17 Port Everglades, San Juan, St. John's, Castries, Funchal, Malaga , Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO27 Wed, Mar 23, 2011 Thu, Mar 31, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO28 Thu, Mar 31, 2011 Fri, Apr 08, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO29 Fri, Apr 08, 2011 Sat, Apr 16, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO30 Sat, Apr 16, 2011 Sun, Apr 24, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO31 Sun, Apr 24, 2011 Mon, May 02, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO32 Mon, May 02, 2011 Tue, May 10, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO33 Tue, May 10, 2011 Fri, May 20, 2011 10 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Vigo, Southampton, Zeebrugge, Kiel

PO34 Fri, May 20, 2011 Mon, May 23, 2011 3 Kiel, Oslo, Copenhagen, Kiel

PO35 Mon, May 23, 2011 Fri, Jun 03, 2011 11 Kiel, Bergen, Tórshavn, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Reykjavík, Lerwick, Kiel

PO36 Fri, Jun 03, 2011 Tue, Jun 14, 11 Kiel, Copenhagen, Trondeim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Hellesylt & Geiranger, Bergen, Kiel

PO37 Tue, Jun 14, 2011 Sat, Jun 25, 11 Kiel, Copenhagen, Trondeim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Hellesylt & Geiranger, Bergen, Kiel

PO38 Sat, Jun 25, 2011 Sat, Jul 02, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO39 Sat, Jul 02, 2011 Sat, Jul 09, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO40 Sat, Jul 09, 2011 Sat, Jul 16, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO41 Sat, Jul 16, 2011 Sat, Jul 23, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO42 Sat, Jul 23, 2011 Sat, Jul 30, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO43 Sat, Jul 30, 2011 Sat, Aug 06, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO44 Sat, Aug 06, 2011 Sat, Aug 13, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO45 Sat, Aug 13, 2011 Sat, Aug 20, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO46 Sat, Aug 20, 2011 Sat, Aug 27, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO47 Sat, Aug 27, 2011 Sat, Sep 03, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO48 Sat, Sep 03, 2011 Sat, Sep 10, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO01 Sat, Sep 10, 2011 Wed, Sep 28, 2011 18 Kiel, Copenhagen, Zeebrugge, Southampton, Vigo, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, King's Wharf, New York City

PO02 Wed, Sep 28, 2011 Sat, Oct 08, 2011 10 New York City, Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec, Halifax, Newport, New York City PO03 Sat, Oct 08, 2011 Sat, Oct 15, 2011 7 New York City, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec

I have met only a few people who have lived aboard, so I delighted to see your posting. By now you are back from a year at sea and I would love to hear your report..... Didn't you get a good break on rates because you were a constant passenger, little trouble (I suspect), and a bit of a celebrity to the Poesia crew.... Please update us....