dodgeball24

Never again, did it a few times due to business meeting a free flights to Florida but over 1000 kids is out of control and the shorter the cruise the less respectful the cruisers. Can say I never had a bad cruise but spring break were the least enjoyable

Love it, great appetizers you can share, lamb chops were Excellent, shared two pasta dishes, and there were good deserts but I was full, ok I tried a cannoli.

They have land and sea entree's to choose from and you choose from multiple pasta dishes, great place for family style to pass around multiple dishes and appetizers would be my first choice to eat, actually on 7 day Seranade ate there first and last night because great way to start and/or end a cruise.

Love explorer been on it multiple times the past years but just got off in February and brother 2 weeks ago and would not go back, actually brother got sick and they fumigated his room but he is canceling his 14 day on explorer and going on another ship. My balcony door handle almost rusted off, paint chipping on balcony and on chairs, seal in bathroom leaking, smell of sewage on the promenade, ton of new people and issues, worst explorer trip ever.

Was on Seranade and loved it, has been refurbished, cost is more I think then Explorer but beautiful ship. Sorry I hate posting bad things especially about a ship where I have a ton of great memories but not until the upgrade will I be back on Explorer for health and beauty.

Got the 3 specialty restaurant package recently with chops/Giovanni/Izumi and loved Giovanni, chops was good as usual but was not thrilled with Izumi.

I am someone who eats sushimi and rolls quite often and I really enjoyed the lobster and the shrimp roll but the hot rock meal turned me off, the meat was tough and the asparagus was an inch thick, I have 20 asparagus plants and when they get that thick time to pull them or use them in a soup.

Go for lunch do the spicy tuna roll and that is like $7.50 was good but pass on dinner.

Like has been said when you book just ask what is there. I had suite back of mariner and that was not listed as obstructive but actually was terrible had the design that had the metal structure go above and below and had smokers above me whose ashes floated right down on my stuff they ruined my bathing suit so I for one am glad no more smoking on balconies

Look for the thread I started and read initial post and last post on page 5 think I was the very 1st person to book it was an accident how I got to them but the initial post and for your answers my last post on page 5. I am booked at 5:30 every night except first night at 6pm at specialty

Saw something about coastal filling up and suite people being left out that won't happen as I was told a percentage will be held for late booking suite people and actually the plan is to hold spots for all restaurants for high end and top loyalty people.

Had an in depth conversation about an hour or more when I did this because I may have been the first one as the person I was talking to had to put me on hold and clear first if the ok to start the program was givin by the supervisor and that I was on the list, he was shooting emails off to the appropriate people during our conversation and here were some of my questions:

1. My original Q was will Dplus have buy one get one free on the first night and that was a yes again answered thru an email he received back, there was no indication of any restaurant not on that program.

2.Q what occupancy does each rest have:

Mdr 4 options have between 400 to 560

Wonderland I think if I recall 140 and Jaime 86, or vice a versa either way these two your most difficult ut Jaime is a faster pace

3. Q will coastal be free for Dplus, the current answer was no that only suite people would be free but he said that coastal may have changes I got the feeling that they are not sure the volume of traffic they will have and that in the future different loyalty levels will be added

4 Q what times are the shows; that is still not out yet but changes will be allowed on the ship and your loyalty status should allow us to change easily and that normal time is about 1:30 to 1:45 per seating depending on table size but if you have to see a show let your waiter know when u arrive and they will get you out on time

Being that I have about 100 days sailing on the explorer and a lot of then in January I saw postings that 7 or 730 would be the more dominate time but I would totally disagree, I do concede that there will be people from all over on Quantum but the majority will be older and northeastern residents making the 6pm time the more requested. Having to fly all over the USA for meetings for a major company over the years you can tell who is up for breakfast early by where they are from, same thing happened this January on the Seranade ( came out of New Orleans two hour time difference)when you went to the windjammer at noon for lunch it was one third full but the on February on explorer same time and it was difficult to find a seat. Younger and different time zones will decide and the ship right now is only 50% full so the longer it takes to fill the more likely people able to drive will be filling those rooms.

Honestly the only real issue I am concerned about is the terminal, during the teleconference with Adam he grimaced a bit about the question and my contacts have told me there are issues, jersey and labor unions pretty interesting. If you have ever disembarked from Bayonne with the shuttle bus fiasco imagine with 4200 people trying this, that would be a nightmare, hope it gets done in time.

I saw other posts that it is a no brainer but I have 100 days on explorer and just off last month brother just off 2 weeks ago and unless this cruise is after dry dock do not sail on it.

I love this ship but it has issues right now and until it is overhauled regardless of price stay off of it. Brother just cancelled his 14 day on explorer on it's last Bayonne trip which he had at a great price to go on quantum for 12 days at a higher price and not as good itinerary but their room was mildewed and they both got sick for the whole

Concierge lounge very small we had one of the 3 couple grab our seats by 4:30 because there are a lot of Dplus people on explorer and if the suite people come with kids it can be way over crowed.

There is no diamond lounge on the explorer they use the maharaja theatre or the 19th hole and neither one is private but on the refurb they will add diamond lounge.

I like the ability to have the 3 drinks anywhere because I can go before or after dinner and as someone said if you have other levels of crown and anchor people sailing you it allows u to drink with them

Been on explorer close to 100 days and the issue is getting a signal, above deck or outside you r ok but fron your room it may be a challenge. No real lag time if you have a signal but just like at home if no signal no text.

Adventure ocean should have a good signal, if you skype anyone best places outside the theatre and Viking lounge

As you have more time to cruise you need to look at longer cruises coming out of Florida you have tremendous choices so go find a 12 or 14 day southern ASAP and mix it up on a different ship just make sure if you like certain things like sports or specialty options you pick a ship that fits your style.

No just calling them and asking them to check multiple cruises in a certain time period with the best military discount, but the earlier they know the better chance you will have for savings

Understand the military pay my son coming up on 20 years but there is no way you should be paying $100 per day on RCI there is a HUGE discount for active military members, did you not know that?

My brother just booked back to back a 9 and 14 and he is retired military and his was under $60 per day so before you book call each cruise line and tell them you are military and you should get a great deal.

Had at my table for dinner on a cruise last year an active Air Force person and he paid 50% for their cruise so take advantage of the discounts and like my son I thank u for your service.

The person told me because I was Dplus I could make reservations so it is surprising to me platinum are getting called, that is going to be interesting I would of been upset that a platinum person got to chose before me.

Offer shuttle to and from for a fee

Called yesterday to ask if diamond plus still has buy one get one free on first night and yes they do and was asked do I want to pick my dining options for the cruise that diamond plus and above will be getting a call to book the restaurants so I booked my choices and times.

I read some of the non happy people about choices I totally disagree we are on a 12 day and eat 4 times at one mdr option, 3 at grande, 2&1 at the other mdr options, throw in one specialty and one eating off ship and my total food bill about 60 dollars, pretty nice. The restaurant I chose 4 times I like 5 of their choices so I could of eaten there more and been happy.

How many of us go eat the tuti salad multiple times on a cruise, do you go to a restaurant at home and order your favorite dinner, sure so I don't get the trouble.

Windjammer is open 24/7 on quantum and is to be upgraded so take a night you want to lay out longer or party more and hit that for a night, bottom line you will never go hungry.

We are looking actually about making our back to back so 22 days so we are excited about the dining. Smile your on a cruise or shoveling snow in January.

I have never had my stuff touched but I am usually there early go to breakfast and come back so I am in my chair by 8ish and then go to lunch but by that time the staff has seen me in the chairs and I leave my bag there, best advice leave a beach bag on top of your towel.

I hope they do enforce the rules, when I am there early I see the parent come out and put 8 towels across a row and nobody shows till noon in the other chairs sorry but that is rude. When I come out of ny I see that more then anywhere and I just shake my head at that and the idiot that takes a chair and moves it into the walkway because there was a space, yes there was it was to walk thru:confused:

Usually when you board they are there but you can go to one restaurant and book all your reservations at one place, we booked a package for all specialty restaurants and it was cheap and remember diamond plus the first night is pay for one get the other free which is a great deal

Not being picky but was on Seranade in January and they had 1 movie channel and last month explorer there is none everything is pay per view but a shout out to Cruise Critic my wife attended the get together and won two free movies so that was fantastic.

Brother just off last week on the explorer his 2 issues were no escargot and the tv was all shore excursions channels and pay per view movies. We had friends who tried twice on our cruise to get into the movie theatre and it was jammed and people were holding seats even though they are not allowed to, I would of took off the stuff on the seats but they didn't want the hassles.

Usually the best deals are when you are at an island and there are not many people on board but as someone noted the daily specials are usually now on the tv under messages

here is your best scenario:

Go to guest services when you board they will let you know if the ship was sold out and let them know if you are willing to pay for an upgrade then go back around 15 minutes after final boarding they will know who missed the ship and again ask if you can get an upgrade they will say no but again let them know you would entertain paying for an upgrade and it is all about timing and being in the right place at the right time.

I have got free upgrades when weather effected a cruise but have also went from an inside to a suite on a 9 day for $500 not per but $500 total which was a superb deal and the points helped get me to Dplus quicker.

Also go into your profile on crown and anchor and post that you will accept an upgrade since we would travel with family we could never hit the auto upgrade but if you are ok with auto upgrade that is your best free upgrade and again the higher points you have the better the chance to get one before you sail.

1. Anything less then 7 days you r not guaranteed lobster so that ends that topic

2. I understand about the trivia but I play sports and this class still has a half court and I played crew vs passengers in volleyball and dodgeball on the Seranade and kept active in the gym, book a ship that fits your lifestyle

3. Balcony does not have a bathtub only jr suite and up on RCI and slippers just something that I guess you like

4. I understand about the good old days and midnight buffets and chocolate fountains but honestly after midnight I am in bed and so is 80% of the passengers on RCI, this is not carnival the party ship

5. Windjammer as it is can be combat eating so giving people more and bigger weapons like a tray is not a good idea, I have seen many many people run into each other with just a plates looking for seating.

6. This is your first cruise with RCI and the best advice is to post questions about a certain ship before you sail rather then get surprised when you board, example knowing that my time dining has to have a set time

7. As far as gambling and expecting that free, that's not going to happen on any line

8. Galley tour is FREE I am diamond plus and my drinks in the lounge and ship tours are free so like everything else loyalty to a line pays dividends

Summary- yes ships are in a price war with each other and with rising costs so a lot of things like specialty restaurants and bingo, alcohol packages, excursions are helping but cruisers want the lowest price and now the prices are extremely low on some of these RCI sailings but watch what u ask for because the extras have gone away with the cut rate fares. You can choose a lot of us are looking more at celebrity so we get our perks from being diamond and above and we pay more for the cruise but we get some more of those extras with that higher cruise fare.

Cruise critic is a place to come BEFORE you book and the knowledge should help you get the cruise you want but it may be more expensive to get the amenities you desire.

I am not a RCI clone I have close to 100 days on one ship alone but the last 7 last month on that ship was the worst so it happens but a lot of your requests are not going to happen on a 5 day cruise.

Quantum has 24/7 in the windjammer but again take a look at their cost so it goes back to one phrase [ you get what you pay for]

Get their BBQ smokehouse chicken on sourdough it is better then a Reuben and I like Reuben's

Love disney but their prices way higher but when the kids were small we paid it but without kids no way it is time for you to go RCI and get away from the Bahamas.

Understand the Bahamas the lowest of the Caribbean in my opinion so go to st Martin Thomas kitts etc and take the longest cruise you can afford with RCI. The longer the more you will enjoy it so if you can do 7 do 7, if you can 14 do 14 trust me you will love it.

Best cruise and ship is your choice so ask yourself these questions:

1 fly or drive me driving much cheaper

2. What do you like to do I play a lot of sports so I look at the court and if they have one

3. Dining if you want speciality restaurants some ships have more then others

4. Has the ship been upgraded or is new

5. Ports Antigua st Thomas, st kitts, Barbados my favorites try some new islands

6. Rooms available and price, what discounts can you get if either been in the military great savings

Trust me the longer the better and I loved disney but for adults only not worth it