suni

If you have already sailed on The Symphony, what other  ship would have the highest level of entertainment? Love the shows but don't want to repeat the same shows on the next cruise. 

Interesting.....as Hurricane Lee is hitting New England today! 

On 9/16/2022 at 6:35 PM, Kitty Ellas Mom said:

When I booked a Princess NYC to Quebec Canada / New England for mid Sept 2023 I didn't think at all about hurricanes.  But, I was just watching a cruise video about a couple on a current similar cruise who had a very bad night due to a recent hurricane.  What are the odds of one for this time of year and this itinerary?  I'm already planning to have insurance and will watch the weather so there's not much else to do, I'm just curious.  I know Aug - Sept is peak hurricane season but just didn't think about it being that far north, even though I've heard of hurricanes there before, just not as often as FL etc.

I have read through all these comments and am happy I did. We were considering RC but  I DONT think it’s the right fit for us. We love Seabourn and would greatly miss the entertainment . We love the cruise director component as well. Thanks for the input. 

Thank you!

We are sailing flying into Miami but sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale. Does anyone have a good car service they can suggest? I prefer a car service rather than using Uber. There will be 6 of us. My TA was awesome and suggested transport but the prices were $$$$$$ high. TY

 My kids are Diamond and now THEIR kids are Diamond! 

This was a not to be missed evening. The ship opened the dining rooms early so people could have meal before leaving the ship. The evening was stunning. There are some small nibbles at the tables and free flowing wine. They  did take photos  which were delivered to our suite. When we returned there was a party our by the pool and there was plenty of food and drinks. Perfection! Loved the night!

Does anyone have a Symphony of The Seas Coastal Kitchen breakfast menu they can share ????

Thank you!

I just booked a cruise to leave NYC August 31 and cruise up to Canada for 12 days. Now I am thinking about the fact that this is technically hurricane season. 

Anyone have some thoughts on this ?????

We plan to create our own “Sea Days” on our three week cruise on The Encore that goes to Greece and Turkey. We are in a port EVERY day. There  are days we will chose not to get off the ship and just enjoy the calm. I read somewhere that the dining room was closed on a sail on port days. Can anyone chime in on this? We will want to be able to dine and relax on the ship, enjoy the spa, gym, and the peace and quiet. 

The flights time are challenging. I’d like to book an 11:30 am out of Athens on a Sunday. Do you think I can make it without going crazy?

Thank you! 

Thank y9u....the itinerary is Montreal to Boston ...11 days.

Looking to cruise to see the leaves. Several lines go as early as 9/11/20. Is that to early to enjoy the beauty of the foliage? I prefer warmer weather, so waiting for October concerns me that it may be too chilly. Thoughts?

We have been on many cruises. The timing and itinerary work for extended family to go on the Liberty of the Seas. I am nervous as there are many mixed reviews. Any thoughts in this ship for a group that are experienced cruisers?

I have cruised MANY times.Now,  I want to take a 4 and 6 year old with me. There will be 6 adults. I have some people say I should do Disney. I think there is enough on RCCL to make young children happy. Thoughts? Am I making a mistake staying away from Disney? Help! 

We will be on Independence of The Sea in January for a Rock Cruise charted by NAHA. Can people that did this cruise in the past two years please tell me if we will be able,to access the special lounges and Hh for Diamond Members on the ship? Will be get credit for the Cruise with RCCL?

I am now 9 days into the cruise. I really am still on track with my initial review. The best itinerary I could have ever chosen with fabulous dining , nice rooms, and good service. Absolutely nothing in terms of entertainment for younger people . No evening shows that were of interest to us. Eveything in the evening is formal and cultural. String quartet, classical music, opera like singers. Well attended by the older clients. The younger passengers are walking around trying to create own fun,,whichever we do. Loving the cruise but probably will lean toward Seabourn for the next luxury experience. Check out itinerary tho. It is amazing!

Great input. Thank you. The reality is that had I never sailed on the Seabourn Odyssey, I would think that this experience was perfect. I agree that I should not be comparing. Pool music today was big band and polka music. Not a good fit for me. I dealt with that by going to my balcony of my cabin and playing my own music. Going to the Soa tomorrow for a massage. Will keep you posted.

Perhaps my Title should state Nautica : The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The point I was trying to convey is that we are having a lovely trip. HOWEVER, this does not measure up to our Seabourn Odyssey experience. The food has been very good. We are by no means foodies and everyone in our group is enjoying the food. The major difference is that I am very surprised a how poor the service is. On Seabourn you are greeted everywhere you go. Within a day they knew our names. No one greets you on this ship. The service in the dining rooms bars is slow. At breakfast we constantly were looking for someone to bring coffee. Plates being left on the table for 20 minutes between courses. The adult beverages are very expensive and small. I really do feel that on a cruise that is that this level in regards to cost , beverages should be included. Today is our first sea day. I will let you know how it goes.

Third day and having a wonderful cruise. The weather is outstanding and the ports fabulous. We have eaten in all four dining areas and the food is excellent, the service is below par in all areas of the ship. Seabourn outdoes this line in most every regard . Our penthouse suite is nice , but Seabourns was over the top with much more elaborate finishes and superior bathroom. The Canyon Ranch Spa is disappointing. Extremely small. Unkept. Stone steam room has been inoperable all week. Rude staff. More info too follow. feel free to ask specific questions,

I am looking to book Smiths for next week, Heathrow to our hotel.Do I need to be concerned with additional fees if our flight is delayed? The cost seems quite high, but in line with all the other quotes I received. I just want a safe and prompt ride and a long long flight! There is another company named Totally Driven . Prices were a bit lower, but can't find as many positive reviews.

If I may add another car service option, I used http://www.mandptaxis.co.uk and had perfect results. It was for my cruise a few weeks ago. The service was very reasonable and I had contacted multiple agencies for quotes. Timely Email responses, and when I had a flight change the night before arriving in London they adjusted their schedule to meet me. Very professional and I found this company from another poster here on cruisecritic. I also used them after our cruise for transportation to our London hotel. I highly recommend them!

Thanks....I just emailed them for a quote. Did they meet you at the gate? Was the car clean and driven acceptable? So many companies and a huge variation of prices. Hoping this is a good fit! I may then ask them for a quote to Southampton. Has anyone used them to get to the ship from downtown London ?

suni - we are booked on a cruise leaving August 2nd which visits St. Petersburg. I have made a few calls to determine what might possibly happen with the port or the cruise, but have yet to receive anything definitive, other than if there is some sort of decision by the US against Russia, then the cruise would either visit other ports or remain at sea.

Thank you! That is what I have assumed. I am hesitant to pay for anything in advance at some of the ports and am happy that the tour companies don't require payment up front. I have purchased tickets for many venues in London and feel safe in doing so. Regardless of what happens, this is going to be an incredible journey.

With all the turmoil this week in Russia, do you think that the cruise lines may divert from Russian ports? We are doing this trip in September and I am curious to see how this plays out.

The train, as per my earlier post.

Your hotel is only a 5 minute walk from London's Waterloo station, for direct trains to Southampton Central.

Buy tickets at the station for about £39, 2 to 3 trains per hour.

Or, depending on your date, pre-book thro Megatrain for as little as £10 These tickets on a limited number of trains, but there's one that would suit.

 

Taxi will take you to luggage drop-off & terminal entrance.

 

You may have a specific reason for being at the ship by 10.30, but registration & embarkation is unlikely to start before 11.30

 

BTW, Exile & eandj - a noon departure suggests to me that they were using coach/coaches for back-to-back transfers - bring departing cruisers from ship to Victoria, & take new cruisers to the ship. Kerrching ;)

 

JB :)

Thank you! We will get to Waterloo and take the train to Southampton. We have early embarkation, so I would like to be there by 11 am to get settled. This will be on a Monday. I imagine the traffic is heavy on a Monday so the idea of avoiding a driver is quite appealing.

Any other input is appreciated.