Poll: What Would You Like to See Aboard Royal Caribbean's New Ships

[pussycat803]

more ideas for the perfect ship.

 

Pictures - get rid of the picture gallery and save money, time and space on printing a bunch of pictures that won't be purchased. Go high tech like Disney and Discovery Cove where people can view and purchase their pics digitally via kiosks with monitors or interactive screens in the staterooms. Sell all pics taken on a CD for a fixed price, for example. Sell prints for another price for those who still prefer prints.

 

Information - Instead of a TV in the stateroom, have an interactive monitor with keyboard or some other input that allows a user to not only watch TV stations but have an interactive channel where they can choose to access information on the ship's location, weather, disembarkation info, room service, restaurant menus, hours of operations for tour desks and cruise directory office, tour information, info about getting off the ship at port, port information.

 

Internet - It can't cost RCI or any cruise line that much for internet service to have to charge people $35 an hour to access it. Offer free internet like lots of motels and hotels do.

[CrabbyHarper]

I want the MDR to return to the standards of the past. I have a set of "souvenir" menus from 1988 from the Nordic Prince. The food was wonderful with such great imagination and variety. Every night was a different theme, the dining room was decorated and the waiters dressed accordingly. Each dinner was a terrific experience, lots of fun, good food, great cocktail and after dinner drink service - my final bill reflected the latter! :D

 

I also want Diamond Status Crown and Anchor society to be restored to access the concierge lounge on all ships.

 

More bathrooms for mobility impaired folks who need a shower rather than a bathtub. Grab bars in the showers. Higher toilets.

 

"Resort Casual" as an alternative to formal dressing.

 

Adults only cruises.

[JohnHall1965]

To date I have only been on 2 cruises, as I have stated in my review, I thought that our experience on The Mariner of the Seas was head and shoulders above Carnivals Liberty . However that being said ,one thing from the Liberty that I thought was Fantastic was the outdoor movie screen, I very much enjoyed the late night concerts , Tina Turner and the Rolling Stones are the two that jump into my memory. I think that would be a great addition to the new RCCL ship

[Normandie1]

I hope they move away from the new trend of NOT having much of a promenade. Ships have gone from wrap-around promenades, to semi-promenades, now recently, hardly any promenade at all (Like the new SOLSTICE class ships). It must be, I'm sure, that they want more space for more revenue

[DaliCat]

I voted for the lazy river, a large, enforced adults-only, temperature-controlled solarium, and fewer smoking areas. I like the idea of having the lazy river in the as mentioned solarium.

 

We just returned from my son's wedding cruise on the Carnival Victory. We had an ocean view suite and were not able to use the balcony much because of smokers on both sides of us. I liked the idea of one side of the ship having smoke free balconies. On the other side of the ship, grouping the smoking allowed balconies together if more smoke free balconies are needed.

 

I hope the new ship has the night light in the bathroom like the Allure and Oasis, but the toilets and sinks need to be raised. They are too low on these ships. Our suite bathroom on the Victory had a whirlpool tub which was difficult to climb into and more difficult to step out of -- would rather have a large shower with the sliding doors.

[Jeffrc1]

A sign like the ones that they have on amusement rides. "You must be this tall to board" or the ones that theaters have like NC-17

 

All kidding aside. It would be nice if they built a few ships that stripped out all of the kid locations and replaced them with adult things. Not that I don't want kids on ships, as I have taken my daughter, but the kid sections seem to get bigger with every new iteration.

[JaxieWaxie]

A fondue-themed restaurant. Come on, why not? It'll be fun!

[negc]

To date I have only been on 2 cruises, as I have stated in my review, I thought that our experience on The Mariner of the Seas was head and shoulders above Carnivals Liberty . However that being said ,one thing from the Liberty that I thought was Fantastic was the outdoor movie screen, I very much enjoyed the late night concerts , Tina Turner and the Rolling Stones are the two that jump into my memory. I think that would be a great addition to the new RCCL ship

 

Since large outdoor screens are present on Oasis and Allure and are being added to some of their other ships such as Freedom and Liberty, it seems very likely that any new ship design will incorporate this idea along with whatever new and innovative features they may come up with. Many of the suggestions have already been implemented on their existing ships so I have to believe that the most successful and popular features will be part of any new ship design.:)

[Susie51]

I voted for the adults only solarium. This sounds like a great place to get away from it all except on spring break when the ship will be filled with college students. Would it be too much to ask if the adult age starts at 21 instead of 18? They enforce this on the ship as the legal drinking age.

[Onessa]

The new ships have finally gotten so crazy big that I'm thinking I'd just like a "ship within the ship"!

[FLSteve11]

Some people, a large number of them, based on my most recent sailings out of Boston and Ft. Lauderdale, still enjoy dresssing up on occasion on a cruise and while luggage restrictions may make it onerous to bring formal wear with you, there is still thee option to rent a tuxedo onboard. Some of us can even relax while wearing formal clothes, but for those that cannot, please remember that the dress code is merely a suggestion and is not followed by everyone or strictly enforced even in the MDR.:)

 

Not to mention they make a bundle on photos for these nights, so they will not be going away too soon

[negc]

Not to mention they make a bundle on photos for these nights, so they will not be going away too soon

 

And perhaps the fact that they make such a "bundle" on photos for these nights, indicates that a large number of guests actually enjoy having the opportunity to dress up and have family pictures taken. Actually, though, the increased popularity of imaginatively posed casual pictures may, at some point, remove the advantage that you claim that formal dress offers the cruiseline to make a profit from photos.

[crystals mom]

I would love to see the cruiselines have "no-smoking" cruises. Should be less expensive than other cruises too since maintenance would be less.:rolleyes:

[FLUFFY01]

Hi

 

The things I want are:-

Inside, outside and balcony solo cabins at reasonable prices.

Self serve laundrettes and ironing rooms.

Cheaper internet access.

More activities geared towards the over 50's including keep fit type activities,such as zumba, water aerobics.

Cheaper drinks.

No Service charges.

 

Regards

JO

[Kim Fontaine]

We have never sailed on RC: We are seniors: Have sailed many times on Norwegian,Celebrity, and Hal . ( Once on Carnival: ) Thus being said...

We are ready to try RC out of Baltimore in Nov. or Dec. My suggestion on any ship line is a good variety of entertainment and dining( Not the kind you pay extra for:) We love cruising and plan to continue doing at least one a winter until they haul us off to the cemetary! KHC

[Kim Fontaine]

For anyone who has taken swim/excercise at the y or private clubs noodles are used . Yes they go between your legs BUT they keep you afloat and work great. ( I of course am speaking for an adults time frame: ) khc

[drrich2]

Self-serve laundromat or very cheap laundry service.

 

Heat all the pools. On our January western Caribbean cruise on Liberty of the Seas, the solarium pool was too cold to enjoy for much of the time, and chilly even late on a 7 day cruise! And I'm chubby and pretty cold tolerant. If I was cold, the skinny people must've been hypothermic!

 

Reliable high-speed internet. Providing broad-band at-sea is expensive, so if 'one price, unlimited' packages aren't feasible, do like AT&T did with the iPhone; cap packages based on data usage, not time online. How many people quickly log on, send & receive e-mails quickly (yet compose some e-mails off-line), and right-click & 'open in new tab' web pages, then quickly log off trying to avoid using up minutes? Wouldn't it be nice to pay, say, even $75 for a 2 gig limit, and stay logged on? Long as you didn't send & receive lots of photos or stream videos, you should be good for a week. It might make VOIP services more practical.

 

I don't think the submerged restaurant will be as good as people may think. Most of the time the ship is not real close to a coral reef, open ocean is rather barren around the ship, and as scuba divers know, even great visibility only lets you see distant objects well enough to recognize a fellow diver as such at 100 to 150 feet. You won't often see large, colorful fish schools, sharks, dolphin pods or whales swimming by.

 

Richard.

[ALSEAU]

Install wall monitors that are designed to look like a porthole and have it hooked up to cameras located on the side of the ship that will show a port and/or starboard side present time outside view. Same view that is currently being seen by Ocean View passengers.

[ALSEAU]

I would like to see a lounge (like the Schooner Bar) with a wall that portrays an underwater aquaduct moving scene of coral and schools of fish. Basically a fake giant fish tank with sharks and dolphins.

[MrsPete]

Most of the items on the original poll weren't interesting to me, though I'd love to see less smoking -- especially in the casino. I like the casino, but the ship gets little money from me because I can't stay in there long.

 

I like the idea of a lounge with screens that look like they're portholes/windows to the ocean -- and I agree that they'd be better than real portholes/windows, which wouldn't show much real sealife most of the time.

 

I'd like to see a more organized way of getting people on/off the ship at ports. It's miserable being crowded into the hallways waiting. Perhaps more doors and assignments (based upon cabins) as to which doors you should use?

 

I'd like to see a couple small, inexpensive specialty restaurants for dinner. Royal Caribbean's current offerings -- Chops and Portafinos -- are nice, but $50 for a couple (on top of already having paid for dinner in the MDR) is too steep and the quantity of food is too much. I'd like something "lesser", less fancy, and quicker that could be offered in the $20/couple range. Something that'd be a break from the MDR but nicer than the Windjammer, something that'd not break the bank.

 

Similarly, I'd like something along the lines of Princess' pub lunch. It's different and fun.

 

I disagree with those posters who mentioned bringing TGI-Fridays or Olive Garden out to sea. I can eat at those establishments at home anytime. When I'm on vacation, I want something different -- something not available within a couple miles of my house. Also, keep in mind that paying for those franchise names would increase the cruise price. I don't want that!

 

I love the Solarium OPEN! It would be nice for that area to be a little larger, and I agree with those who suggest a poolside grill at lunchtime. Disney did that particularly well: They had a little snack shop by the pool with pizza, nachos, and chicken fingers -- all very kid friendly, obviously -- and on sea days they brought out a grill for burgers.

 

While we're talking about food, let's just skip the midnight buffet. What a waste, and the idea of taking pictures for an hour beforehand, then having everyone leave the dining room and come back in ceremoniously to view it? Just plain stupid. Ditto for the Chef's show-off thing in the Promenade. It was so packed that you couldn't move! Why's that supposed to be fun?

 

I'm interested in the new cooking classes some of the ships are offering, but it has to be a good price and something that interests me. Basic knife skills? No thanks.

 

Since I seem to be stuck on food, I think the new drink packages are a good idea. If they open them up to US sailings, I suspect it'll be like the soda packages: Most people will buy them, and that'll be good for the ship. I think their key to success will be in finding a way to prevent people from sharing a package. Selling the package to a single person is likely going to be profitable for them, and only the heaviest drinkers will "cost" the ship.

 

I'd like to see the ship add a larger movie theater that'd show first-run movies. Disney really does this right. One of my favorite cruise memories was watching the premiere of the first Pirates of the Caribbean AT SEA. It was really cool to feel the ship move while watching a ship moving. Of course, this would be significantly more expensive than their current screening room.

 

Finally -- and this has nothing to do with building -- I'd like to see Royal Caribbean move away from what seems to be a new trend: They seem to be moving to more at-sea days, fewer port days. I understand that sea days are more profitable for them (more drinks, more gambling, more spa treatments, more people dining in specialty restaurants), and I understand that some of the new mega-ships can't come in close to the islands because of depth . . . but we love the port days and will not choose some of these newer itineraries that offer fewer island stops.

 

Oh, and self-serve laundry. Include that. My kids are almost grown and we probably will cruise just as a couple in the future, but when they were smaller, it would've been so nice to be able to wash a load of clothes! Airline restrictions aren't getting any easier, so this need is going to grow larger and larger.

[negc]

Most of the items on the original poll weren't interesting to me, though I'd love to see less smoking -- especially in the casino. I like the casino, but the ship gets little money from me because I can't stay in there long.

 

I like the idea of a lounge with screens that look like they're portholes/windows to the ocean -- and I agree that they'd be better than real portholes/windows, which wouldn't show much real sealife most of the time.

 

I'd like to see a more organized way of getting people on/off the ship at ports. It's miserable being crowded into the hallways waiting. Perhaps more doors and assignments (based upon cabins) as to which doors you should use?

 

I'd like to see a couple small, inexpensive specialty restaurants for dinner. Royal Caribbean's current offerings -- Chops and Portafinos -- are nice, but $50 for a couple (on top of already having paid for dinner in the MDR) is too steep and the quantity of food is too much. I'd like something "lesser", less fancy, and quicker that could be offered in the $20/couple range. Something that'd be a break from the MDR but nicer than the Windjammer, something that'd not break the bank.

 

Similarly, I'd like something along the lines of Princess' pub lunch. It's different and fun.

 

I disagree with those posters who mentioned bringing TGI-Fridays or Olive Garden out to sea. I can eat at those establishments at home anytime. When I'm on vacation, I want something different -- something not available within a couple miles of my house. Also, keep in mind that paying for those franchise names would increase the cruise price. I don't want that!

 

I love the Solarium OPEN! It would be nice for that area to be a little larger, and I agree with those who suggest a poolside grill at lunchtime. Disney did that particularly well: They had a little snack shop by the pool with pizza, nachos, and chicken fingers -- all very kid friendly, obviously -- and on sea days they brought out a grill for burgers.

 

While we're talking about food, let's just skip the midnight buffet. What a waste, and the idea of taking pictures for an hour beforehand, then having everyone leave the dining room and come back in ceremoniously to view it? Just plain stupid. Ditto for the Chef's show-off thing in the Promenade. It was so packed that you couldn't move! Why's that supposed to be fun?

 

I'm interested in the new cooking classes some of the ships are offering, but it has to be a good price and something that interests me. Basic knife skills? No thanks.

 

Since I seem to be stuck on food, I think the new drink packages are a good idea. If they open them up to US sailings, I suspect it'll be like the soda packages: Most people will buy them, and that'll be good for the ship. I think their key to success will be in finding a way to prevent people from sharing a package. Selling the package to a single person is likely going to be profitable for them, and only the heaviest drinkers will "cost" the ship.

 

I'd like to see the ship add a larger movie theater that'd show first-run movies. Disney really does this right. One of my favorite cruise memories was watching the premiere of the first Pirates of the Caribbean AT SEA. It was really cool to feel the ship move while watching a ship moving. Of course, this would be significantly more expensive than their current screening room.

 

Finally -- and this has nothing to do with building -- I'd like to see Royal Caribbean move away from what seems to be a new trend: They seem to be moving to more at-sea days, fewer port days. I understand that sea days are more profitable for them (more drinks, more gambling, more spa treatments, more people dining in specialty restaurants), and I understand that some of the new mega-ships can't come in close to the islands because of depth . . . but we love the port days and will not choose some of these newer itineraries that offer fewer island stops.

 

Oh, and self-serve laundry. Include that. My kids are almost grown and we probably will cruise just as a couple in the future, but when they were smaller, it would've been so nice to be able to wash a load of clothes! Airline restrictions aren't getting any easier, so this need is going to grow larger and larger.

 

How long since you have sailed with Royal Caribbean? The midnight buffet with the pre-opening for photo taking has been long since discontinued on any cruise I have taken with them for the past several years.

While sea days may mean more revenue for them, though port excursions can also generate a lot of revenue, there may be as many, if not more of us who enjoy a cruise with more than one sea day. Ideally there should be a balance but in many instances, transatlantics for example, the multitude of sea days is one of the things which make them most attractive.

I agree with you about not wanting them to add franchise food restaurants that simply offer on the ship what I can enjoy at home and the ones mentioned specifically are not my idea of the fine dining that Chops and Portofino currently offer. However, you have ignored recent developments onboard Oasis and Allure and soon to be added to other RCI ships: Samba Grill, Giovanni's Table, Rita's Cantina, the Dog House, all of which offer what you suggest, new dining options at lower prices. In addition the Park Cafe offers good food at no cost beyond your basic cruise fare.

The self-service laundry debate has been going on seemingly forever, and RCI as well as other lines, such as NCL have opted to remove or not offer them. Many of us feel that our vacation time is better spent doing things other than laundry and that their laundry services are well worth the reasonable prices that they charge. Disney may show first run movies, but they are Disney movies which aren't, to my mind at least, ones that would be high on my list to see. Radiance class ships have a very nice Cinema with stadium seating and the films, while not first run, aren't "Golden Oldies" either. Now the line is introducing 3D movie theaters on some of their ships and adding large screens poolside.

I'm thinking that maybe you failed to take some of these developments into consideration before posting your suggestions.:)

[MrsPete]

How long since you have sailed with Royal Caribbean? The midnight buffet with the pre-opening for photo taking has been long since discontinued on any cruise I have taken with them for the past several years.

Last summer . . . though it's been years since we bothered with the Midnight Buffet, so it's quite possible that I just didn't notice its absence. Since the point is to postulate what we do/don't want to see on future ships, it's still a valid thought. It's not something I'd want to see returned. It can't be cheap, and I'd rather see that cost funneled into the "real meals".

While sea days may mean more revenue for them, though port excursions can also generate a lot of revenue

That's true. I saw a show on the Travel channel that said that cruises #1 money maker is alcohol (no surprise), #2 is the casino, and #3 is excursions; however, I wasn't clear on whether they meant the excursion money taken in or the profit from the excursion money. The ship, of course, doesn't offer excursions itself -- that is, their people don't get off the ship and facilitate the snorkeling trips; rather, they act as brokers for trusted excursion operators on the islands, and that means they're passing on some of that cash to the people who actually DO facilitate the snorkeling trips. The point I'm getting to: I still think they make more money on at-sea days because they keep all the profits from drinks, etc., whereas they split the profits from excursions.

However, you have ignored recent developments onboard Oasis and Allure and soon to be added to other RCI ships: Samba Grill, Giovanni's Table, Rita's Cantina, the Dog House, all of which offer what you suggest, new dining options at lower prices. .

Yes, I think I'd like those things, but I have no interest in Oasis or Allure, which are overwhelmingly large and overpriced -- I'd like to see more of these options on the smaller ships.

The self-service laundry debate has been going on seemingly forever, and RCI as well as other lines, such as NCL have opted to remove or not offer them. Many of us feel that our vacation time is better spent doing things other than laundry and that their laundry services are well worth the reasonable prices that they charge. .

I've never understood the "I don't want to waste my vacation doing laundry" argument. MANY of us, especially people with kids, would like the freedom to choose -- it takes nothing away from the people who don't want to do laundry, and since it'd require a dollar or two per load, it'd be self-supporting -- it wouldn't "cost" those who aren't using it.

 

And I disagree about the "reasonable" laundry prices -- a quick look at the RC website tells me that laundering one shirt is $2.75, while one pair of shorts is $3.00; thus, washing one outfit per person for my family of four would run $23 (and that wouldn't give us underwear or socks). For that price, I might as well check another suitcase on the plane and have more than one outfit per person available to me. AND if I use the ship's laundry, the things are out of my possession for some time. The one time we used the laundry (the fill-a-bag-special), our things weren't returned until literally the last night while we were dressing for dinner -- only then after I complained to both our cabin steward and Guest Services. Except for dressing to drive home, we had no opportunity to use those clean clothes.

[Janice M]

Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sail from Bayonne, NJ which is just across the harbor from New York City and besides Canada they cruise to Bermuda and the Caribbean. You really need to look more closely at what each line offers in the way of itineraries as you seem to have an incomplete knowledge of your cruising options from the Northeast.:)

 

I love the New England, Canada cruise, but why did RCI stop going to Quebec City?

Jan

[negc]

Yes, I think I'd like those things, but I have no interest in Oasis or Allure, which are overwhelmingly large and overpriced -- I'd like to see more of these options on the smaller ships.

I've never understood the "I don't want to waste my vacation doing laundry" argument. MANY of us, especially people with kids, would like the freedom to choose -- it takes nothing away from the people who don't want to do laundry, and since it'd require a dollar or two per load, it'd be self-supporting -- it wouldn't "cost" those who aren't using it.

 

Those new dining venues are being added to the Radiance and Splendour, so your wish is being met. Eventually they may be added to other ships in the fleet.

NCL removed its self-service laundries apparently basing their decision, at least in part, on the opportunity to make better use of the space by converting it into staterooms. Not sure what the maintenance costs add up to and having seen the problems that sometimes occur among passengers who are upset either because a guest did not return on time to remove the washed and dried clothes, or because another guest has had the audacit to remove those clothes before their owner returned, I can somewhat understand their reluctance to offer it. I am sure that there are many who would like the option, but apparently more are not concerned thus giving RCI and other lines less incentive to offer it. As far as getting your fill a bag laundry back so late, I would be just as upset as you. However, in none of our cruises have we experienced such a delay.

BTW, Radiance class ships are my favorites, but I have sailed on both Allure and Oasis and found them neither overwhelmingly large nor (if you check dates and prices carefully) over priced.

Prior to sailing on Oasis I shared your opinion that the ship was probably too large but once onboard, I was convinced otherwise. IMHO, sailing on these two ships is a unique experience which is well worth any premium that they charge.

[ALSEAU]

Has RCI leaked any information about any new innovations for the new ships?