Ladydee

I have been sailing RC for many years and multiple ships. I have never seen an ironing room or self-service laundry on any RC ship.

 

Actually find the laundry and dry cleaning prices on board to be cheaper than at home. I would not pay to have underwear washed and ironed, perhaps other than the "all you can stuff bag" for around $30. However, $3 for a standard man's shirt is cheaper or the same as in most dry cleaning/laundry establishments here. Dry cleaning I found to be a bargain.

Wow! We pay $1.75 per shirt at home. I like to touch up our slacks, dresses, shirts, etc. before dinner, for a crisp, polished look, that the fabric sprays just don't accomplish. Maybe that's just me.

We will be on the Serenade for our 3rd time this February, with the same ports. We have been to them all multiple times, and are still doing different things at each port.

 

Tortola: Taking Aristocat Catamaran private excursion over to the Baths.

St. Kitts: Doing Island Grand tour with Thurmon Grey

Dominica: Doing tour with Levi at Bumpping Tours (we also love Dominica, very pretty)

Antigua: Taking Cool Cats Catamaran Private excursion for the 4th time.

St.Maarten: Will take a taxi for the day over to Orient beach, it's such a beautiful one!

 

We love the crew on Serenade, so friendly. And the crepes in WJ are wonderful! A nice added touch, glad to see they are still there (and hopefully still there next month).

 

What did they do special for NYE? if anything?

I should've mentioned the crew too! They were wonderful! Topi is one of the best Cruise Directors we've ever had, and really created a wonderful ambiance aboard the ship.

NYE was pretty amazing. The main event was in the Centrum with a balloon drop at Midnight. Decks 4, 5 and 6 all had tables and chairs that people could reserve looking at/down onto the main floor($$$$). We secured a sofa area in Vintages (Deck 6) for our party of 10, that did not require an additional fee. At about 11:30ish the Captain and his officers came up to overlook the partying from a roped off square nearby. Free champagne was handed out to everyone.

They had a quiet laid back NYE up in the Vortex, and other goings on around the ship. I wanted to check that out, but I never made it up there!

Did you visit any port in your itinerary?

We departed on the 23rd, and had our first port on the 26th at Tortola, followed by St. Kitt's, Antigua, Domenica, and St. Maarten's. All were nice, except for Domenica. This was our second time there, and honestly, I'm not sure why it's a stop. This seemed to be a consensus of most people we spoke to, both from the Serenade, and others.

We were impressed by St. Kitt's, which I predict will be a prime destination of its own in another 5-7 years. You can tell they are really putting dollars and planning into their development.

I didn't see much of Tortola, and the family did zip-lining in Antigua, which they loved. Antigua has beautiful beaches though, which we experienced on a previous cruise.

St. Maarten's is always nice, of course.

Going on the Serenade next May.

 

I know it is due for dry dock towards the end of the year.

 

Could you comment on the general condition of the ship?

I thought the ship was in great condition. I was impressed by the general maintenance and upkeep that would be constantly going on. As soon as we'd dock somewhere, crews were out washing down the outside of the ship, doing paint touch ups, cleaning carpets, etc. The public areas are all kept up beautifully. If anything, maybe our stateroom, was showing a little wear/age, but nothing serious. Its a clean ship, and with all the glass and windows on the Radiance Class, I think the Serenade is one of the prettiest at sea.

I have never seen an "ironing room" on any Royal ship I've ever been on ?

Hmm... I thought we had one on the Grandeur years ago, but now that I think about it, it may actually have been a Carnival amenity. I know I've used one. Either way, same complaint still applies, unfortunately. $3 a shirt is outrageous, in my opinion.

This was our first ever Chrismas Cruise, and our 2nd cuise aboard the Serenade, the first being in 2004. Overall, it was a lovely trip, and I have no major complaints. I'm sure that someone cruising for the first time would have been suitably impressed. However, in comparing this cruise to the ones of I've taken in the past, my group of 10 could not help but be disappointed in the direction things have gone.

The food is nowhere near the quality it used to be, and this is something we heard repeatedly around the ship. Not that is was "bad," it just wasn't great. For example the prime rib in the dining room was well-presented and cooked to temperature as ordered, but it didn't taste like real beef. It had a processed "banquet lunch" quality about it.

The nickel and diming you for everything is tiresome, and while I realize this is the new trend, it just made me frustrated. For example, there used to be an ironing room on each floor, that you could use free of charge at any time. Now, not only is is gone, but a single shirt is $3 to have pressed.

Anyway, I could go on, but you have the idea. I'm happy to answer any specific questions that I can...

Thanks, Friends :)

We are a group of 10 (4 families) cruising out of Port Everglades for a Christmas cruise this December. We are staying one night pre-cruise - 2 families at Embassy Suites and 2 at Renaissance.

Should we all taxi separately? Is UBER allowed at airport? Should we book a large van from a private company ahead of time?

The next morning, to the cruise terminal, same questions....

Thank you!

Many thanks :)

We (family of four) booked here pre and post cruise because we have reward points to use. However, I see that while many other hotels offer airport and cruise port transfers, Renaissance does not. Also, no breakfast included.

Can anyone tell me what is the taxi fare from the airport to the hotel, and then from the hotel to the ship?

It's no longer "Box Wine"

 

The classy term is "Cardboardeaux"

Love this! [emoji1]

Because their rules state 2- 750ml bottles per cabin - you clearly state your box is = to 4 bottles

 

 

 

Having said that - you could try and be prepared for it not to make it

No, I'm asking "regardless of the quantity?"

Really!? It doesn't allow any boxed wine, regardless of the quantity? Why ever not?

I like the idea of carrying on a box, rather than glass bottles. The few brands that I like best are actually the equivalent of 4 bottles, not 2. I know I did this once before, with no problem but I can't remember if was Royal or Carnival. Has anyone else done this?

I'm glad I did a search before asking this exact same question! I was getting nervous as I read more and more talk about Formal Night relaxing into Dressier-than-Casual Night. I'm not sure what I will do exactly, but for my husband, he much prefers to wear a tux, because he can rent it, and avoid packing it. I also have 19 and 21 year old daughters who can't wait to wear their prom gowns again. In the past I have mostly worn floor length gowns, because its really the only time I get to, and it feels wonderful! I've also done a cocktail dress once or twice. I don't really judge what others are wearing as far as degree of formality, but I do like to see that people make an effort to recognize the evening as something special :)

Where do you like to go (other than your own balcony), to just have some quiet time and get away from the crowds and traffic?

Greetings, Cruisers!

We are going on our first Christmas Cruise aboard the Serenade of the Seas, and I am giving some thought as to how we can integrate this new experience with our own Christmas personality. There will be 11 of us in all, and we are a fairly traditional Italian family. For us, Christmas Eve is the big day, more so than Christmas Day - big fish dinner, full gift exchange, etc.

So far, we've talked about doing a grabbag (which we've never done), bringing small, packable gifts with us, and then hopefully finding some spot on the ship where we'd be able to park ourselves with a cocktail and open presents. I have no idea how feasible this is, however.

I'd love to hear from past cruisers, what you did, and how your family spent Christmas Eve!

Thank you so much for sharing your sweet memories! I'm enjoying them very much :)

Greetings, Cruisers!

We are going on our first Christmas Cruise aboard the Serenade of the Seas, and I am giving some thought as to how we can integrate this new experience with our own Christmas personality. There will be 11 of us in all, and we are a fairly traditional Italian family. For us, Christmas Eve is the big day, more so than Christmas Day - big fish dinner, full gift exchange, etc.

So far, we've talked about doing a grabbag (which we've never done), bringing small, packable gifts with us, and then hopefully finding some spot on the ship where we'd be able to park ourselves with a cocktail and open presents. I have no idea how feasible this is, however.

I'd love to hear from past cruisers, what you did, and how your family spent Christmas Eve!

I always save mine when we get back home. I just assumed someone else out there would have too. They always come in handy!

We are booked for the 10-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise aboard the Serenade of the Seas, leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, with stops in Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, Antigua and St. Maarten.

I have done searches here and on the internet, and cannot find any published copies of the Cruise Compasses for this particular sailing. Although this is my 5th or 6th cruise, its been at least 6 years since my last one, and also, this will be my group's first ever Christmas cruise, as well as being the longest cruise we've been on.

Being the group coordinator, I'd really love to take a look at the Cruise Compass each day and get a feeling for what's changed, and what we can generally expect.

I'd be very grateful if anyone still has their Compasses from this trip, and would be willing to share!

Regards.... :)

We have only one night in Milan, and it happens to be my daughter's 18th birthday. I am looking for a nice upscale dinner for the four of us, and I would prefer to stay under $400 "if possible." I would say that for this particular night, the ambiance would be the most important criteria, and then the food (though I cringe as I type that!).

I like a more traditional feel, cozy lighting, not too loud, etc. Also, my husband does not plan on packing a suit for this trip, so nothing with that level of required dress, please.

Thanks so much!

No, thank you.... I have never heard of the Ceremony of the Keys, but I will look into it!

Thanks for all the responses. I have to admit, they're not totally what I expected. I'm glad to see that there's a ship for every taste, and the older ships still receive a lot of respect.

I know this is a totally subjective question, dependent on peoples' individual tastes, but I'm curious to know what those opinions are.

I'm 47 and I've been on 5 or 6 cruises, never on anything larger/newer than Voyager class. I see the commercials and read the reviews for all the new floating island mega-ships, but I gotta say, there's a part of me that's just not all that anxious to try one. Maybe its the "commercialness" of it that doesn't appeal? I really don't know, lol.

With all that said, I just booked a cruise for 2016. The decision came down to the Oasis or the Serenade. We booked the Serenade (which I've been on before).

Will I find it charming and traditional? or dated and lacking? I won't know until I get there!

For those of you who cruise all the time, what are your thoughts between the older ships on the fleet and the new ones?