Lowcountrygal

Hello Everyone,

I was really concerned when I saw this thread!

Hubby and I sailed IOS on 11/30/15 and like so many others here, felt so stiff & sore after the first night of "sleep." We didn't sleep because the bed was THAT firm! What a shame too after a long day of travel you want to have a restful sleep. Also, the anticipation of the cruise vacation only to be wishing for your own bed.

We asked the steward for a topper and he padded with extra duvets & blankets. The padding helped but was far from the comfortable bedding we have so long enjoyed on Royal. We considered this a fluke experience on Independence & now I'm concerned it may be the norm! [emoji35]

We are cruising on Monday on Enchantment & if the bed is ultra firm as it was on Independence, it will drive us away from Royal. We will become Emerald with this next cruise, but a restful sleep is that important to us! I think it is utterly ridiculous that passengers need to worry now about ultra firm & extremely uncomfortable beds & resort to bringing their own "softening" devices.

I feel bad for the cabin steward's that now must take time & effort to try & pad the beds. It's nonsense!

I really hope our experience with the bedding will be favorable on Enchantment. I'll be back next weekend to let you know.

There will not be 3 strikes on this matter for me!

FIVE Days! Woot! Woot!

Enchantment here we come!

Just off Indy with friends and kids. We missed the ice show due to commitments with our group and we were bummed (have to go back I guess). I definitely agree with Cafe Promenade for first day lunch and the sail away on the helipad was incredible! I couldn't believe how few people were there.

My friend and my daughter also went on a culinary tour on day 6. There were flyers in the dining room on day 5 inviting people to sign up for it. The tour started in the dining room on deck 4 at 11:00am. They LOVED it! It was $30 for adults and $8.80 for children and included more food than they could eat and a tour of the kitchens. The 70's party was fun if you can stay up late :)

 

I am sure there is a lot we missed. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do it all!

I would LOVE the culinary tour and get a behind the scenes look at food prep for thousands! LOL! I have trouble for a small family!

Are sign-ups available on-board only? I don't think this tour is available for purchase before the cruise, right?

I am on the Indy for a 5 night cruise, I wonder if a culinary tour will be offered on this shorter cruise?

Thanks to all those that have posted tips! I am learning so much! :D

We are on the same 5 day itinerary but on Nov 30th. Thanks Doc2725 for your offer to scan them!

Thanks for starting this thread. We are sailing Indy on a 5 night W Carib on Nov 30th! [emoji41]

Just booked the Epic for Jan 2017 -- 4 night Bahama. Got a mini suite for the same price as a balcony together with a 5% AARP discount.

It wasn't the promos that cinched it -- although the Dining Package we opted for is a real plus, it's more of trying something different! We look forward to cruising on a different line, on a ship that is larger than those ships that typically do the Bahamas. Additionally, Epic will be at our closest port.

The Freestyle options, Comedy venues, variety of restaurants, etc. is what drew us.

Epic is scheduled to be home-based in Port Canaveral for just 5 months & then she returns to Europe. It remains to be seen if she returns to Canaveral the following winter.

Carpe Diem!

I would like to try NCL again after reading some of the advantages over RCCL. I have also read that their suites are a good deal better than other lines.

For the past 2 days, my husband and I have been mulling over the same! We've been loyal to Royal for some time.

We just booked the Epic for Jan 2017. She will arrive Port Canaveral being newly refurbished. She won't be here but 5 months and then will then return to Europe in April of 2017.

We didn't book the Haven, but got a mini-suite for the same price as a balcony and that doesn't happen too often! We were able to get a 5% AARP discount and dining package as well.

Looking forward to trying something new! Also, so many new ships will be arriving Port Canaveral in about a year: Oasis of the Seas, Epic, a couple different Carnaval ships. Great for us to have increased choices and who knows, perhaps the increased competition will reflect in better pricing!

Book over 9 months out and get a straight 5% discount via AARP. No age limit to joining AARP; they'll take anyone.

Thanks! I just booked the Epic for Jan 2017 and am using AARP discount!

I was told by the the NCL Cruise Consultant that these discounts are generally offered to booking dates that are 9 or more months away.

Epic is coming to my homeport (Canaveral) from Europe, will remain here for about 5 months before returning to Europe. The opportunity and incentives were there! Why not? So nice to try something new!

I look forward to Epic spending winter of 2016/2017 doing the Caribbean from Port Canaveral. Oasis will be arriving about the same time as will new & larger Carnival ships.

I wonder how the added competition will affect pricing & service not only for RCI -- but NCL, Disney, & Carnival as well.

While I cruise mostly Royal, I am thrilled with new choices coming to my home port! The fact that Epic will do shorter Bahama cruises as well as the traditional 7 day Caribbean run is definitely intriguing to me! What a wonderful way to get reacquainted with NCL. Haven't been aboard since the Norway in '92! [emoji54]

I just did a mock booking on our Jan 25, 2016 Enchantment of the Seas cruise in a Jr. Suite category. Final payment is due next month, Nov 26.

It would cost me $278.40 MORE with this sale than the BOGOHO.

I have to allow for the fact that I booked it Jul 1, more than 6 months out & now it's 105 days til sail away.

I also did a mock booking for Oasis in Feb 2017 Balcony w/ ocean view 3 days ago and again today with the new sale. That date is far enough out to not be not be affected by final payment coming due, etc.

My savings today is $106 on this booking.

Good luck everyone!

JimZim,

My husband & I sat together & went through each of your pages carefully. The photos look very professional & the accompanying text really helped us to understand! We really appreciate how you often compared & contrasted a particular venue or service to another ship / cruise line. That really put things into perspective & was quite informative. We learned so much! You have us wanting to try NCL again - haven't been since the Norway!

We will sail the Indy for our first time in about 6 weeks. We will stop in Labadee & Falmouth. Your tips are quite timely for us.

It goes without say that you put much time & effort into creating a thorough & well organized review. Thank you so very much! (Standing ovation!)

208 days til Enchantment of the Seas!

oops!

Gek, thx so much!

Rose

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DH & I are sailing X for the first time (on the Reflection) in a week and a half. We have typically cruised RC, and now that we are empty nesters, we would like to experience this "modern luxury" w/o teenage drama! Lol! We are Platinum on RC.

Here's my question. I understand the smart casual & formal dress code in the MDR, theater, & specialty restaurants. What is the dress code after 6 PM if not in one of these venues? We often will eat & then change into something more casual (cropped pants or nicer shorts / top for me) for strolling the ship, shopping, going to the casino, etc. Is that going to work on this ship, or are we better off not changing from our dinner clothes?

Thx!

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105 days til Explorer of the Seas, Port Canaveral! 😎🎉

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Just got off the Enchantment last week. I booked one Chops Grille reservation pre-cruise at the regular price on Day 2. We loved it so well that we booked another Chops reservation onboard for Day 4. We received 20% off the second reservation only. So our $30 per person cover charge became $24 pp for that second dining.

Had I booked BOTH Chops reservations onboard, I believe I would have received 20% off both reservations.

A flier was on in our cabin when we boarded advertising Chops (the only specialty restaurant aboard Enchantment).

If 3 reservations are made onboard, there is a 25% discount. 2 reservations, 20%.

If you know you will dine at a specialty restaurant 3 times, it is a better deal to book pre-cruise and you guarantee your dates / times and get a 30% discount. If you are not sure and want to book onboard, you may have the same offers that we had at a slightly less discount than pre-cruise, and the flexibility of going 2x instead of 3x.

Hope this info helps. Good Luck!