macruisefan

Thank you for sending this video. These guys are the unsung heros who keep us safe.

Unsung? I can't ever remember not hearing people sing their praise...

I would have a rough time enjoying myself in that kind of situation.

I respectfully disagree. People get sick and even die on cruise ships every week. Unless you were directly involved (i.e a travel companion was sick or died, or you were involved in helping the individual), it is unlikely this would really negatively affect your cruise.

It's kind of like going out to a nice dinner and seeing an ambulance wiz by the restaurant. Are you really not going to be able to enjoy your meal?

But I guess I am wrong, as my previous post disagreeing with this sentiment was deleted. I guess there is no room for differing opinions on Cruise Critic?:confused:

I disagree with the objections of the OP, and those that feel he or she is "owed" something. First of all, we are talking about pay venues. If they're not open, you won't be charged for a meal you won't have. So, to say something is owed is a bit shortsighted.

But it doesn't really matter. Because on two threads, where I have disagreed with people this morning, my posts have been deleted. I guess there is no room for differing opinions on Cruise Critic. This is getting very frustrating.:mad:

You can get them frozen in our out of the pod - cook according to directions.

I have also seen them "fresh" at Costco in a package that also had instructions.

 

Fresh in quotes because they could be pre-cooked - I did not notice.

 

Both the frozen & the "fresh" are good IMHO. (I've tried many brands both organic & conventional.)

They're soybeans. Steam them, salt them, they're done. About as easy as boiling water.

Better nighttime dining option in Solarium Bistro

Repurpose the On Air Club, seems underutilized.

Eliminate smoking in the casino altogether (not so much an Oasis 3 thing, but something that will eventually happen fleetwide).

Completely rethink the MDR. It's clear that they can't put out a quality product for that many people at once. Maybe they need a multitude of smaller free options a-la-Disney. Whatever it is, the writing is on the wall that the MDR isn't what it used to be.

Virtual Balconies

Turn the underutilized Diamond Lounge into a Cigar lounge (may need to be enclosed so as not to disturb royal promenade- or perhaps just specialized ventilation). Find another larger space for Diamond Lounge.

Make the rising tide bar go all the way to the pool deck!:D (hey, a guy can dream, can't he?)

Eliminate Johnny Rockets (seriously, who needs a crappy fast food burger on a cruise?).

Relocate some of the premium dining venues to areas with ocean views. This may mean losing some cabins. But jack the price on the others to make up for it and the revenue generation will still be there (it'll never happen).

Bigger pool in Solarium with cooler water.

Find a way to make the solarium more open air. Too much glass often makes it feel stuffy.

I just got back yesterday from an RCI cruise that stopped at Nassau, and I hadn't been there in nine years (and it appears to have taken a turn for the worse during that time regarding crime in my respectful opinion).

I'm a little confused. What crimes did you see committed in your brief visit to Nassau? Were you in fact the victim of a crime, or did you just observe these activities?

Sounds to me like the OP was actually using a Visa DEBIT card. Holds are non-existent on Debit cards. So if you try and make a "hold", it's processed as a withdrawal. Refunding it would eventually put the money back into the account but the foreign transaction fee would obviously still be in place. If it weren't someone could use this practice to actually MAKE money by doing the correct conversions.

Reason # 7,936,212 why DEBIT cards are the WORST financial tool ever.

Just got off Allure and I noticed a change in the policy.

We've always dined in specialty restaurants on formal night to avoid fancy dress as well, but this time I noticed in the cruise compass a notation that formal dress guidelines applied in specialty restaurants as well!

Evidently, it has said that in the Compass for some time now (noticed it myself on Oasis in September). But hasn't changed the makeup of the room at all.

I've sailed Oasis twice and Allure once. I only dine in specialty restaurants. I have never brought formal attire. I occasionally wear a jacket for comfort, but often wear slacks and a short sleeve collar shirt. I have never been turned away, nor have I ever felt out of place. Will there be people in formal wear on formal night? Sure, some. But it is in no way expected or required in the specialty restaurants.

Opened up to cruise critic members? What do you think this place is? Why would a company like RCI show special favor to the small segment that posts here?

Overall, this sounds like a bunch of work and hassle. The cruise line doesn't need to spend that kind of time and money. And as far as people around here go, they love to obsess over every trivial detail already. Why suddenly give them something else to perseverate over?

Plenty of great hotels. A lot of people around here like The Embassy Suites that's right next to the port. Personally, I prefer to be out on the Ocean front. My favorite is The Ritz-Carlton. But there are tons of places at different price points depending on your budget.

There isn't a shuttle from the airport rental car center to the port. But taxis from the terminal (a short walk from the rental car return) are plentiful and inexpensive going to the port.

Some rental car companies have local dropoffs with a free shuttle to the port. HOWEVER, on weekends they tend to be VERY busy. I made the mistake of dropping off at the local Hertz once when sailing on a weekend. I had to wait 45 minutes for the shuttle because the vans they had were filling up with all the people who dropped off before me. Now, I just take it back to the airport and grab a cab!

Totally disagree. Have friends who experienced the porter writing the cabin number down incorrectly (ex. 8246 instead of 8426). They did not get their bag until the following day and a lot of running around that first night trying to locate their bag.

 

I've changed cabins often either upgraded or upsell last minute. Like others said, best to call CVP and ask them to reissue the docs so that your luggage tag also changes.

 

If you must have porter give you luggage tags, make sure they write them correctly.

Alright, but with all due respect, I think your friends were at fault too for not checking the tags. Whenever I check a bag at the airport, I always take a look at the tag they are applying to make sure it has the correct destination airport label. Same thing at the curb. I always look and see the they are putting the correct number on my bag. I've never had it be incorrect, but if it was, I'd most certainly say something...

I think people greatly overestimate the complexity of getting tags from the porter. Now that they do not mail them, it is commonplace. I haven't heard of a RECENT report of any issue with it whatsoever. Sure, you can go online, send an email, or make a phone call. But don't be under the impression that you're really "saving a hassle" at curbside.

minimum a tie and sport jacket. does not have to be a full suit. even on non formal nights he will be out of place compared to everyone else at the table should he not do at least this much.

Totally disagree. I would wear a jacket. Tie is unnecessary.

What a great idea. No longer will I find myself tiring out half way up a flight of stairs as I'm too weighed down by the plastic card in my pocket...

Although if you don't drink, go to the casino, or try the specialty restaurants, I suppose it isn't that hard to have OBC left over.

 

To each their own of course; I'm not one to judge so long as you aren't the type that walks around the boat complaining out loud all day.

I generally find those that don't drink, don't use the casino, and don't go to specialty restaurants are more likely to walk around complaining out loud all day. After all, it's pretty clear that they are opposed to having a good time!:D

Liberty of The Seas, February 2011. Shown all over the ship- watched it poolside on the big screen. Started with ESPN international feed, but somehow it "switched" over to the national feed, commercials and all shortly after the start.

Got to watch Green Bay beat the rapist! It was great!

"Refundable OBC" is utterly ridiculous. Seriously, you got some OBC- either a gift or a perk... SPEND IT!! Are there really that many penny pinchers out there? Cruisers are really starting to evolve into a sad demographic...:(

I wish they would do what they Sheraton in waikiki does. They walk around every 30 minutes and put a note on the towels saying they'll be removed at X time (they allowed two hours).

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Picturing little notes blowing all over the deck....

Seriously, there is NO problem with this. See a chair not being used? Grab it! Don't want to worry about a confrontation? Ask one of the pool staffers.

I brought a jacket but ended up leaving it on the back of my chair for The Chef's Table on Oasis last fall. It was WAY too warm for me to drink and eat with that on.

Totally agree with this. I'm hoping for a big ripple effect on the chair hog issue. Hopefully the staff that spent their time swiping sea pass cards for towels will now have time to monitor the pool deck more vigilantly for chair hog abusers.

Better yet, don't let chair hogs be an "issue" for you. Need chairs? Ask a staff member to find some for you. I've never failed to get chairs when I asked.

The "chair hog" nonsense is just that, nonsense. People seem to love to care about how others are behaving rather than simply enjoying themselves....

Been on Oasis twice, Solarium packed to the gill on both cruises. It was hard to even find a regular deck chair let alone a "clamshell" one.

Two trips on Oasis and one on Allure, and I never found the Solarium "packed to the gill". Not sure if it was just bad luck on your part, or what.

While I suspect the OP is simply being negative, he or she does not entirely lack validity. Cruising has become mass market, hence the exponential increase in both the number of ships and the size. And while that has undoubtedly been the best business model, it undeniably comes with some give and take.

I cruise Royal Caribbean because I love the ships. But the service is good, not great. It's Marriott, not Ritz-Carlton. Nothing's wrong with that, it's just the reality. However, if I say I prefer Ritz-Carlton, then people are quick to point out the luxury lines. Three problems with that for me: 1. The ships don't compare. They are smaller (and while that is more intimate, it offers less), and just don't offer the "wow" factor of the RCI ships. 2. I'm an almost 40 year old solo cruiser. The luxury lines tend to cater to more senior travelers. 3. The itineraries are more challenging. I can easily take a week off and travel. But twelve or more days becomes a real stunt. More often the majority of the appealing high end options are too long for my current lifestyle. So that leaves me with Royal.

What would really put Royal back over the top for me? Well, this might irritate some people around here. I would love to have a "grills" type option a-la-Cunard. Give me back the true premium dining experience, with a dining venue with a table for me whenever I choose to dine. Give me world class cuisine that I can order via room service. Give me an honor bar in my room and the ability to order a bar setup. Give me the grills lounge with exclusive, high end service. Basically, put a small Ritz-Carlton inside that Marriott. That would be perfect.

It seems NCL has done this in part with The Haven. I am intrigued to try that, but I would love to see a more cohesive dining component.

I wonder if in due time we will see just this. RCI has a mastery of offering "something for everyone". I wonder if at some point they're going to take a look at this niche market and see if they can better fill it.

Does Ship Change Time?

Yes. Ship changes time. Every hour, it becomes an hour later. This actually happens in smaller increments, approximately sixty times a minute.:)

If you don't mind changing airports, here's an idea you may not have considered.

 

Fly Manchester to Dublin. Fly Aer Lingus from Dublin to JFK, then Jet Blue from JFK to FLL.

 

The advantage is that you get to preclear US immigration and customs in Dublin airport. Queues are better (and, this may be my imagination, but the US immigration people are more pleasant). Your bags will be checked all the way through to Fort Lauderdale.

 

Aer Lingus fly into JFK Terminal 5, which is a domestic terminal that Jet Blue fly out of (the airlines are partners). You don't have to leave airside or go through any further checks in the US, and when you arrive in FLL it's also a domestic terminal, so there's no queuing there either.

Really? Take THREE flights to get there instead of one or two? I'm scratching my head trying to figure how that's going to be easier...