ScubaCruiser54

Interesting thread. I am also a Diamond C&A member and I have no desire to travel on any ship that has Dynamic Dining (DD). I do not want to be "fighting for reservations" with other passengers to be able to use the "free dining rooms". I have already expressed this to RCI.

Reading through the comments on many reviews of the RCI Quantum of the Seas, it is readily apparent that the problems that I predicted in my letter to RCI came to fruition. It appeared that there were screwed up reservations, screwed up service, insufficient seats available without waiting in line for the "free dining areas", inability to continue dining with people you have met in the "free main dining areas" [as you have to keep making reservations to sit with the same people], wait staff who were not as attentive as traditional dining wait staff on other ships, and the preparation to convert traditional dining areas into facilities to extract even more money out of travelers beyond their ticketed passage just to eat.

I also predicted that RCI would use DD as their vehicle to create extra income by changing main dining facilities into numerous dining facilities for "FEES". This will cost RCI significant cruisers who will now take the opportunity to "drop their current loyalty" to RCI in an effort to continue to enjoy the traditional cruising that they have come to expect by exploring other cruise lines. Fighting, hassling or even wasting my time to try to coordinate my dining locations for each night of a 7 to 14 day cruise with other travelers is NOT part of vacationing on a cruise ship. That exercise soon becomes a tedious exercise in frustration and wasted time. If you want to be a Mouseketeer, try your vacationing ashore or on NCL. There are usually lines in the Windjammer. Other than the first night out, you may have a line for traditional dining as people find their tables [for those who do not look during the day].

When RCI starts turning its fleet into DD to the detriment of traditional dining, that will be the time I quit aiming to complete the few cruises I have left to reach Diamond Plus status and begin looking at other cruise lines which remain true to traditional dining without your having to do anything other than requesting main or late dining [and coordinating the reservation numbers of the members of your party one time through a travel agent or the booking agent].

For those who ripped on each other over issues such as spelling and grammar in a blog or message board, grow up.

Don't get me wrong, if the ships have a few "fee paying" restaurants that is no big deal, it has been that way for several years. But when you change the majority of your dining areas into "fee dining" and then require cruisers to "chase the reservation", that is going overboard and courting the loss of loyal passengers.

I also agree with whomever made the statement that RCI needs to seriously update their menus for the main dining rooms.

Have a nice day.

Tripadvisor and other such sites always rate their best of. We are curious as to what locals and travelers consider the best hotels and best restaurants in Sydney. Besides top dining restaurants are there any top buffet type restaurants that specialize in local food? How about best hotels and best restaurants with a view. Thanks for any and all replies. Steve

In November 2013, we stayed at the Sir Stamford at Circular Quay. It was a very nice hotel. It was our 40th Anniversary and they provided us with Champagne and strawberries. It was a nice touch. It is within walking distance to Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, and a lovely park. Buses run right in front of it as well. If we went back, that is where we would stay.

The smallest note is a $5 note, so leaving the coins you receive can mean you're leaving close to $5 as a tip for a counter service lunch. That's insane, even for US tipping standards.

 

I grew up in the US and moved to Australia as an adult within the past 5 years. I have never tipped anywhere in Australia. A few places have tip jars on the counters, but it was never expected the way it is in the US. Tipping may be more common in Sydney, though. I've really never seen it done in the places I've been/live.

 

I have rounded up for cab fares, but that was to save both the driver and me the problems of dealing with small change, and not because service was exceptional, or even adequate for that matter. My luck with cabs is bad. I will invariably get the driver who does not know where he is or how to get to the place I want to be.

ellieanne:

Did you live in Perth?

You will have to go through Australia Customs before departure. Your time going through there will depend on how busy the airport will be. It was not terribly busy when we went through last year, and it took about 30-45 minutes. Our flight was around 2:30-3:00 pm.

Hope this helps.

I did not notice CD Bobby Brown's name in your listing. Does anyone know where he may be located? He was on the Radiance of the Seas in November 2013.

Just booked an outside cabin. Cheaper than any of the inside cabins on Navigator of the Seas.

Best cabin we have stayed in was a Grand Suite on Radiance of the Seas for an Australia/New Zealand cruise. Started with a Balcony, but within 5 weeks of our booking the cruise, RCL gave us two upgrades for less money. That was "suite". Cruise was 17 nights long and the extra space and balcony room was great.

We normally do not book anything other than an inside room. But watch for the best deals ... sometimes it pays.

We have earned cruises in the Caribbean with it.

Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Antigua, and Costa Maya

Has anyone from the US answered the question on the Customs form indicating that you have been on a farm, ranch, etc. in the affirmative?

Did it get you any additional screening by customs?

I have not seen that many wearing dress uniforms on a cruise. In the last 15 years, I would venture a guess that I have seen less than 10-15 men in military uniform. Most of my cruises were in the Caribbean and Bermuda.

I would say that there were more in the last three years than the prior 12. They were mostly US Army. A couple of Zoomies, two from the Navy, and a Marine.

Most were wearing ribbons and not medals.

NCL Sunward II, 1982, 3 day Bahamas. Nassau and private island. We loved it. Took a while to go on another, but since then we are regulars.

History of "Sunward II":Cunard Adventurer - Cunard Line: 1971-77 Sunward II - NCL: 1977-91 Triton - Epirotiki/ROC: 1991-2004 Coral - Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2004-

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/NCL/Sunward_II_02_CC.jpg

It is amusing that this was only a 14,000 ton ship.