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Call customer service and ask to speak to the Quantum specialist. They'll take care of you.

Yesterday I tried to book iFly for our party and in classic RCCL website form, it stopped midstream and told me to book on board for Jan. 23. But there were all these beautiful times listed. So I called customer service, since for every single reservation - dinner, entertainment, etc. I have had to do this through customer service as there was each and every time something funky going on with the online res system.

So, the customer service guy says "Oh no. You can't book iFly in advance. You need to do this when you get on board." I say, "Oh no. I know people are booking this in advance. Can I speak to another rep?" So he says, "Let me connect you to the Quantum specialist."

Quantum specialist!!! Who knew? So folks, when you call customer service, just skip the regular rep. The one I dealt with yesterday was lovely, and patient, and I booked iFly, plus two excursions while I had her on the line.

Happy sails,

Kim

I stopped looking at my cruise planner. Too upsetting. For the Jan 23 sailing we did lose one entertainer, Mama Mia time was changed, comedy show time was changed etc. And yes, after hours on the phone with the rep to get it all down. I also changed some Chics to American Icons because the website showed lobster. Apparently lobster has turned into turkey. So I'd like to revert back to Chic as we prefer fish and it seems they have a number of fish selections. I'd like to make reservations for Wonderland, but I can't bring myself to look at the calendar again to see where it might fit. Same with redoing the AI/Chic reservations.

It seems to me that they were really stupid to ask people to make reservations so far in advance, when even RCCL didn't know what shows they had, or when they would have it. There would be nothing wrong with asking people to make reservations a few weeks in advance, instead of more than half a year. Could save a lot of aggravation.

Next year we may go back to Windstar, where you don't have to worry about any of this because there really isn't anything to do on board, but you get great ports.

Virtual Concert in Two70 tonight. SantaFe and the Fat City Horns, very cool concept really enjoyed it.

 

Loving your pics. Thanks so much for doing this. What time did they do Fat City Horns? Wondering if this would conflict with other entertainment around the ship?

i just got a document from the travel agent today, and it shows all our show reservations - but I'm pretty sure some of them are not at the time I originally reserved. We do have several meals reserved, but have left open a few nights to "wing it." After so much grief with these reservations over the past few months, I have vowed not to even look at my on-line calendar. What will be will be - I'm over the agita.

Happily, a number of the complaints people have are not important to us -

1)Elevators not working - we try to take the stairs as often as possible.

2)Internet on the fritz - it's working enough for my "touch base" purposes

3)No Quest - no great loss

4)Taking too long to board - used to it. You get on eventually

5)Can't get to know your waiter - really? We've had waiters that we preferred not knowing (and actually got one removed)

6) Can't get to know your tablemates with DD. Meet people elsewhere and ask them to join you for dinner; or tell the maitre d' you'd like to sit with others. (We're with friends, so I don't care, although we don't mind if others join us.)

7) Not enough activities during the day. Are you kidding? Did you look at the Compasses posted? Plus, have you seen the pics of the solarium chairs?!! I can't wait to park my overworked (and somewhat large) butt on one of them with a good book and keep that "quench me" flag flying. (I do realize that we could have paid a lot less for lounging in a solarium, but that "ship has sailed.")

8) Don't like Jimmy Rhodes - the last CD we had that we really really thought was fantastic was Gordon Whatley on the Radiance in 2002.

9) There's no Royal Promenade. It's just a shopping mall. We have them at home.

Overall, as the person in our group charged with making reservations I have stressed too much and I'm done. I'm driving to Bayonne with my overpacked bags - no rebalancing/repacking bags in the airport and none of the other indignities of flying. Getting to the pier at my appointed time, boarding the ship whenever they allow it -with my two bottles of expensive wine with no corkage fee- and enjoying the brand new cabin with an oversized balcony.

I realized that people are entitled to their feelings and disappointments, and I am a really big complainer by nature, but I have resolved to mellow out for this vacation. (In a few weeks we'll see if the resolution holds - lol)

Do all people in a party need to be in line to get a ticket for North Star? We are traveling with another couple and I'm thinking perhaps we can take turns in line.

I was going to say that lol

 

 

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Yes, 40s and 50s, not 60s,70s, 80s.

And why did you stay the whole show ?

Btw the participant can say no at any time during the guest. I have never seen one not fighting ages for his team 😊

 

 

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Who says he did? Can't believe I'm getting flamed for being glad there's no Quest. I also don't believe that all people participating would expect to see their naked butts up on a giant screen, but whatever. Frankly, I thought Quest was funny. My husband didn't like it. Our friends love it. Whatever.

As for the 70s party on Quantum, my understanding is that this is now an 80s party, so clearly they're going after a younger demographic.

Why? RCI doesn't force anyone to attend just about any activity of the ship other than the muster drill.

He didn't go the following year on Oasis. If they're not doing Quest, then perhaps there will be other activities planned during what would be the time slot. Or who knows with Quantum?

Maybe the Allure one was grosser than usual, but some of the videos bordered on porno, and it was hard to believe that these young girls would lift their skirts up to show bare buttocks (or thongs, as the case may be). It's one thing to do a quick flash, but now with videotaping, when you've got a bare butt up on a giant screen in Studio B, it's just crude.

DH will be so happy to hear no Quest on Quantum for our January cruise. The Quest on Allure three years ago was so raunchy, and Ken Rush's videotaping made it not funny - just gross, and really humiliating for some of the participants (or should have been). DH got really upset with it. Sorry to hear L&M gone - that was pretty funny.

Re: multiple reservations - I haven't been able to make a reservation near the same time as one I already have without cancelling the first, so I don't think it's the case that multiple reservations will be eating up all the time.

Sounds like it will be just one gigantic floating casino. Clearly if Americans want to do an Asian itinerary, they'll have to choose a different ship.

Thank you for your review. I've enjoyed it. As a native NYer (born in Brooklyn) it's always nice to see NYC through the eyes of someone visiting for the first time.

When you're downtown at the 9/11 Memorial, you might want to check out Chinatown for lunch. It's pretty interesting. Just eat anywhere that's crowded.

OMG - that was unwatchable! Although in fairness I cut out at around 4 minutes, so maybe it got wonderful later. Maybe you had to be there? Good to know that this won't be something to make a point of running to when there's lounging to be done.

Wondering if there's any live piano music in the Schooner Bar? Is it open to the esplanade and thus the din drifts in - ala Oasis and Allure?

Thanks!

 

The menu for American Icon really falls short. Ribeye and lobster being replaced by a turkey dinner, no cola braised short rib and buttermilk fried chicken replaced by chicken and waffles. Come on Royal, these aren't even close to the original posted menu that got many of us excited about DD.

 

Annoyed with the bait and switch turkey for surf and turf, considering that I swapped out some reservations for Icon just for this choice.

Can someone ask about the surf & turf in American Icon and if it will be offered once the ship gets to the USA please?

I made dinner reservations based around that menu item :D

 

Thanks

Donna

AS did I!!!

He says Anthem to stay in Southhampton. Misspoke?

Hello, thanks so much for doing this and allowing us to live vicariously through you. I thought the menu posted on RCCL's web site showed Guinness on tap at Michael's, but the menu you posted didn't seem to indicate.

If you happen to be in one of the bars would you ask if Guinness - with proper pour - is available? Thanks.

Wonder what % obstruction they list that as? That seems pretty obstructed to me. I'm glad I went with an ocean view balcony. Others may not care though, as it's still nice to be able to sit outside.

Love that change! We'll probably be in there more often than the other venues.

For those that didn't attend the items that stood out to me were:

 

[*]North Star now requires reservations (Was stated as not allowing them before except for premium rides, and was still a bit confusing in the answers given)

[*]Both North Star and RipCord should be open for reservations ahead of time (Adam wasn't sure why they were not available yet)

 

 

Finished the last of fixing up my mysteriously cancelled reservations and undoing certain entertainment and dining overlaps - Kudos to Otto from Guatemala City. According to Otto, reservations for North Star and IFly are to be on board, unless you're reserving a premium occasion (wedding, engagement, etc. for which you'll be extra) or are reserving lessons.

 

So, who should we believe? Otto, or Goldstein? I'll go with Otto - plus these are unavailable for booking for the Jan. 23 sailing, although other on board experiences are available, such as the character breakfast and all access tour.

 

Now that I've got all my dining and entertainment figured out, and I'm not eating at awful times, I'm excited!!!

I don't miss the midnight buffets. I considered them to be just a photo op, especially for those who prefer late dinner seating. Last time I was in a VCL was last Feb. on Oasis. We got there at around 10:00, the place was completely empty and the band was packing up because no one was there, so we won't miss that area either. RCL may as well turn it into a revenue source.

Agree though that the food isn't quite as good as it was ten years ago, (bring back the Vidalia Onion Tart!!) and the room stewards seem more overworked. It would be nice if RCL gave those people a break and had them take care of a little bit fewer cabins - but then of course they would make less in tips.

Nice for the suits at RCL to say they won't discount last minute, but really think they have an obligation to cabin stewards/waiters to put more paying/tipping customers on board. (Think I just contradicted myself).

I was thinking 270 also, but I think they have Star Water scheduled for 9:30 there that night. Maybe they will switch some of the entertainment schedules around - they rescheduled the Aquanarium on Allure that night. They just better show the game, or I'll never hear the end of it from my husband!

ok! I am going MENTAL. My browser keeps taking me to the .co.uk RCI website and the deck plans are still showing 'more to come', even when I click on the link here. I;ve tried going through the RCI 'international web site' link on the .co.uk site and it still keeps me in .co.uk and doesn't bring them up!! DAMN YOU GOOGLE!

 

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apparently the updated deck plans are listed under deck plans after May 2015. They've changed the cabin categories for the China sailings -no more D-8s.

I assume they'll have the Schooner Bar finished before then, but the Bayonne sailings deck plans still say "more to come."

I'm wondering where the quiet, cozy piano bars will be. Doesn't look like they have any. Maybe Vintages? That pic looks quite excellent. Otherwise, the "Esplanade" looks a lot like the "Promenade," except maybe smaller.