Dragonkeper

Have yourself a fantastic cruise!

I used this http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AHYJLQ8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=15KINSSGV9S7M&coliid=I32C49ZRG6T9LZ along with wine diapers http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00308FONW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=15KINSSGV9S7M&coliid=I1WTZYKGRQJ0PR&psc=1 and it works great in my checked bags for flying or my carryon for the ship.

For those sailing on the 8 Day Bahamas, it would be greatly appreciated if you could post the Compasses when you get back from your trip. I sail in March and would like to have an idea as to what is happening around the ship. Thanks in Advance.

These past few days have been really full! I'm not sure how many photos I'll be able to upload because the super-high speed internet that we were supposed to enjoy will not he available for this cruise. The passengers for this cruise are basically beta testing the new class ship.

The minor glitches have not diminished the cruise significantly for us. Mainly because it is so different and really is beautiful and marvelous! Royal Caribbean wanted to totally break out of the box and have been successful at that with the Quantum Class ship. Currently (and most definitely never in the past) is there a commercial cruise ship in the water with the type and scale of technology & design that this ship has. The straight lines and, for lack of a better word, boxy environments are completely non-existent!

The Solarium was a place considered visually striking on other class ships. The Solarium on Quantum makes many other ships' Solarium spaces "cute" in comparison with terraced pools and hot tubs with waterfalls. Located on the furthest forward area on the ship, you can see the ocean sprawling before you!

The Two70 lounge is a place you could stay all day. It's located aft on the ship with soaring, ceiling to floor windows so you can see the ocean and from time to time projection screens are lowered and can create the impression of a 270 degree stage with a bluesy/jazzy band playing and numerous other visions. We got a demonstration of the huge robotic arms with projection screens. These are mounted on a massive seven ton, metal beam which can be raised and lowered as needed for whatever application is required. The robotic screens are an integral participant in the the show "Starwater", which you should not miss! We got there super early and were on the third row down front. The theme is the different types and stages of love and during one portion of the show, the robotic screens have a dependent attachment to a nymph-like dancer in an interpretation of the song "Ain't No a Sunshine When She's Gone". Personally, it's one of my favorite parts but it could be because that portion of the show is simple. What I mean is that the rest of it is almost like a three ring circus, in that there is so much going on that you're looking everywhere attempting to see everything and that could be due to our seats being so close. It's definitely not kitschy; very well interpreted, choreographed and executed! The singers and dancers are phenomenal! Their athleticism is as impressive as their talent.

I can't adequately describe the other public spaces. It's truly as if you're walking in a city with a big plaza and side streets. It's very open and airy to the next deck. Shops (Michael Kors, Bvlgari, etc), and restaurants (Jamie Oliver's, Sorrentos, Michael's pub, etc.) with areas to sit comfortably. Next deck up are the specialty restaurants and the Schooner Lounge (we never found the name anywhere but it's the Schooner Lounge to Royal cruisers). a two story music hall and theater just down a side street.

 

The big artwork is in place but we see workers installing more here and there. Definitely wires still being pulled and other assorted "maintenance" work. The interactive television comes and goes as far as being able to check your account and reservations come and go so it's a crap shoot whether the restaurant will have your reservation when you show up. Too bad for some of those customers whose reservations were lost for Wonderland, which has no openings (standby only) for the entire week. We aren't crazy about the menu so we didn't originally reserve but we got our names on standby just to do the Earth, Sea, Fire & Ice experience. We won't be disappointed if we don't get in.

So far, we've eaten dinners at American Icon Grill, Chops, Silk, Chic, The Grande. They staff is still working on the menus...things that don't fly well will be replaced with something else. After they have that figured out, the menus will stay the same all week.

The food is hit or miss:

*Chops - my Forrest mushroom soup was great! Pan roasted scallops were good. Entrees: I was looking forward to the Parmesan Encrusted Veal Chop, which was on the menu but they didn't have it. So, I ordered the braised beef short ribs...just okay. Hugo's 9 oz. filet was wonderful.

*Silk - a couple of the appetizers were really good; others not so much ( they served them all on the night we went...maybe trying them out). I asked if the Asian Duck was crispy and was told that it was. It was not crispy and the hoisin flavor overpowered it. Hugo had Hibachi Steak that he said was terrific.

*Chic - I had some wonderful grilled shrimp appetizer and crispy crusted roasted chicken. Hugo had beef carpaccio which he said said was awful. His entree was the roasted beef rib eye which was excellent.

*American Icon Grill - appetizers: buffalo chicken Mac and cheese (blah). Louisiana chicken wings - great. I had pistachio encrusted salmon with mushrooms. One of the best salmon dishes I've ever had. Hugo had roasted flank steak which he said was really good.

Other meals we had in American Icon Grill were very good.

Lunch:

270 Cafe has great salads and sandwiches.

Seaplex Doghouse was just okay

American Icon Grill - very good menu & food

Windjammer Marketplace has had very good food overall.

Thanks for this informative review!

For a $130 total for both I would take the JS. It breaks down to $13 each for 5 days. Very cheap! And then there is way more space.

I found this video and it is a tour of the Quantum and it is very good IMO. Now the video is in German, but he shows you a lot of the ship. The video is over an hour long, but is worth watching IMO. Enjoy.

Here is another picture of my cousin Eileen Lymus-Sanders during the show.

Can't wait to see this show!!!

Dragonkeper I am sailing on Nov 14 and will be sure to deliver the message to your cuz. The show looks fantastic and I can hardly wait to see it.

That would be fantastic! Thanks!

Dragonkeper I just noticed a tweet (following Twitter as mentioned by CubsFanRS23 above) that raves that Starwater "was the best show ever seen", and "will blow your mind".

 

You'll have to tell your cousin "Bravo"! :)

I will definitely do that!

Here is a picture of my cousin that someone took during her performance in Starwater. It is not a good clear picture, but will have to do until I can get some better ones.

Just saw this video of cabin 12696 on the Quantum of the Seas, looks like a D2 Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony. It looks small in the video to me.

Dragonkeeper (AKA The Godfather) I will be on the Nov 14 sailing. I will be sure to give your cousin the message.

Thank you Ms. Lillie.

Here are a couple of pictures of my cousin Eileen Lymus-Sanders, she is performing in the show Starwater. When you see her say hi and tell her the Godfather says hello and I can't wait to see her perform when I get on the ship in March 2015. I hope everyone has a fantastic time.

I know that this may sound like a crazy request, but I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. If anyone on this cruise is in Stateroom: Deck 07, Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony #7280 , or knows or meets some one in this cabin, it would be greatly appreciated to have pictures of this cabin or a cabin in the same category. Thanks in advance.

I would also like to know if they have any theme nights in the works? When I was on the Liberty and Jewel of the Seas they had a white night and pool party.

I would like to know how the check in process will go? Will it be as advertised? How easy will it be to track your luggage? Were the Seapass cards waiting on your cabin door when you got there? For those that got the wristbands, were they in your cabin when you got there? Did they only come in one color or multiple colors? Did it have you C&A status on them? How well did they work? Looking forward to the answers to these and some of the other questions.

Can't wait to see all the photos from the ship and to hear about how the Dynamic Dinning is working. I am also interested about how the embarkation and disembarkation process goes. I have a cousin that is one of the performers in the show Starwater and I will get to see her when I get on board in March. I hope everyone has a fantastic cruise and can't wait to read all the stories. :)

I've found that bundle packing helps reduce wrinkles. I do iron things ahead of time, but I think the method would work fine without ironing. Here's a couple of videos to demonstrate:

 

 

I have used the bundling method for years and as soon as my bags get to the cabin I hang everything up. I have not had any issues with my clothes being wrinkled at all.

I had a couple of friends that thought it was too expensive to go on a cruise and thought it was cheaper to go to the oceanfront where I live. Once I broke down the cost of going to the oceanfront and what I paid to go on a cruise they started taking cruises because it was cheaper and they got to see other countries.

I, as most of us know, you don't have to tip, but for some people, like me, it makes me feel better. Last year my family of 21 people when on a cruise on the Oasis, I tipped the porter very well and our bags were at our cabins a few minutes after 1pm when they let us go to the cabins. I know that the tips most likely had nothing to do with us getting our bags quickly, but it still made me feel good about it.:)

Someone posted on a different forum about the various colors of sea pass cards.

 

Does RC have red and black sea pass cards?

 

Gold is for suites?

Silver is for Junior suites?

Blue for other rooms?

You've got the colors correct, except that Pinnacle Club members get a gold colored card no matter what kind of stateroom.

 

Never seen a red and black SeaPass card.

I was on the Oasis last year and I had a white card not a blue one.

When I asked about the Embassy Suites months ago it was recommend to stay at the one in Isla Verde, that's where I will be staying.

I am also booked pre-cruise at the Embassy Suite and the info about food within walking distance is good to know. Now if only August 8 would hurry up and get here! :D

Enjoyed reading your review! I will be on the Jewel this Aug 9 and I am looking forward to being on this ship.

Thanks for the information.