Solarium now 18+

[Ret MP]

4 hours ago, BND said:

 Well, if they had done any research at all, they'd know that.  

First I will repeat that I'm all for discussion and I believe that discussion is the purpose of this site and others, and I have said that "over and over" LOL.  But, it always makes me smile when people come here and ask questions of the most basic type and so easy to find on this site's search feature, RCCL's own FAQ, and sometimes just a Google search.  But, I NEVER complain or say that their question is dumb or searchable or make fun of the questions or those that ask them.  Again, it is a discussion, as far as I'm concerned.  I do respond, when I do respond, with a cut and paste from the source document.  How many times a week or month have we had new threads started about "formal nights", "gratuities", "parking at this port or that port", and a bunch more? 

 

My point, research seems to be a chore for some folks, and find it easier to just come into this site and/or others and ask the question(s) and rely on total strangers to provide them with 100% factual information, over the Internet.  

[HBE4]

4 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Yeah, never really been impressed with the solarium on the voyager and freedom class ships. (even though I love those classes of ships ). It’s just another outdoor pool area, nothing like the solarium on oasis and quantum class.

 

Nor does it have a retractable roof like some of the smaller ships.

 

But it does have padded loungers!

[BND]

49 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

First I will repeat that I'm all for discussion and I believe that discussion is the purpose of this site and others, and I have said that "over and over" LOL.  But, it always makes me smile when people come here and ask questions of the most basic type and so easy to find on this site's search feature, RCCL's own FAQ, and sometimes just a Google search.  But, I NEVER complain or say that their question is dumb or searchable or make fun of the questions or those that ask them.  Again, it is a discussion, as far as I'm concerned.  I do respond, when I do respond, with a cut and paste from the source document.  How many times a week or month have we had new threads started about "formal nights", "gratuities", "parking at this port or that port", and a bunch more? 

 

My point, research seems to be a chore for some folks, and find it easier to just come into this site and/or others and ask the question(s) and rely on total strangers to provide them with 100% factual information, over the Internet.  

By "research" I meant actually doing comparison of deck plans and amenities of ships.  Most just go for the closest port or cheapest price and don't bother to see that the ship is smaller or cheaper.  Your posts exhaust me with your lack of commitment.

[Ret MP]

2 minutes ago, BND said:

By "research" I meant actually doing comparison of deck plans and amenities of ships.  Most just go for the closest port or cheapest price and don't bother to see that the ship is smaller or cheaper.  Your posts exhaust me with your lack of commitment.

First, you obviously missed the intent of my post.  It was to agree with you about the lack of research by some.  

 

Second, I don't understand your comment about my lack of commitment!  I always state my feelings, and opinions of things AND I am committed to those feelings and opinions.  I just happen to understand and so state, often, the other sides of things.  For example, I support the change to the Solarium for 18-year-olds and older only.  Just because I stated that I understand and have an inner dilemma because of those fare-paying passengers who have behaving kids who would like to take their kids to the Solarium, doesn't mean that I'm not committed to supporting the 18+ rule, I am.   Also, I've stated that I don't care for CocoCay but I understand that many people love it.  But, I'm committed to my feeling/opinion of CocoCay but I'm not looking to take anything away from anybody else.  BTW, I never attack or engage in name-calling, belittling, or falsehoods unless attacked first.  This and other discussion sites are a form of entertainment and some information for me, I don't take anything personally.  Even those with whom I have the most spirited debates, I hold no animus towards, except one person, anybody here.  I'd be happy to sit down with anyone here, again, except one, and have a beer with them and discuss how we would change the world.  

[Lane Hog]

I wonder if the increase in kids on the ships when you don't expect them is due to the educational parallel to "work from anywhere" policies -- which is the increase in remote learning options for public schools as well as homeschooling or online charter schools where the kids can do their coursework when/where they want.

When we were traveling by RV during Covid, we found a half dozen families in a campground near Yellowstone who had all hit the road during "remote school" so there's no reason to think that hasn't been happening with cruising where the availability of wifi is so much better.

Edited October 13, 2023 by Lane Hog

[not-enough-cruising]

21 hours ago, HwyFuzz said:

Currently on the Freedom of the Seas and it’s 16. Doesn’t matter - 21 and overs here acting like it’s the main pool, no music - just obnoxious. 

There is a whole different vibe, and a completely different cross-section of the population on a four day cruise
 

[HwyFuzz]

Absolutely true. The demographics have rapidly changed due to the pricing and the stays. Then again - Gen Z…
Since my first cruise in 1989 - this is a whole new ball of wax. 

[steveru621]

15 hours ago, Ret MP said:

My point, research seems to be a chore for some folks, and find it easier to just come into this site and/or others and ask the question(s) and rely on total strangers to provide them with 100% factual information, over the Internet.  

 

100 percent agreement.  It's actually hilarious on FB where 25% of the answers are totally wrong.  When people say you should visit CK on a Radiance class ship, really?  Most answers are based on the last ship they were on, and they don't realize there are differences.

[Keksie]

The problem with just a Google search or the cruise line's FAQ is that what is written and what actually happens is often different.  The website's are often out of date.  Customer service is clueless.  At least there is a chance asking  a question you can get an answer from a few people who have actually been on the ship.  For instance: the sign may say 18+ but is the crew enforcing it.  What are people actually wearing to dinner vs. what is written.  How does it work getting OBC cashed out in the casino etc.  Yes you may get wrong answers but sometimes you get correct answers that help.

[HBE4]

1 hour ago, Keksie said:

The problem with just a Google search or the cruise line's FAQ is that what is written and what actually happens is often different.  The website's are often out of date.  Customer service is clueless.  At least there is a chance asking  a question you can get an answer from a few people who have actually been on the ship.  For instance: the sign may say 18+ but is the crew enforcing it.  What are people actually wearing to dinner vs. what is written.  How does it work getting OBC cashed out in the casino etc.  Yes you may get wrong answers but sometimes you get correct answers that help.

 

Agreed. Part of "researching" a cruise is to come to these forums to seek recent, real world experience. Especially helpful when trying to verify information you may have received from other sources. 

 

[ReneeFLL]

On 10/6/2023 at 1:31 AM, Charles4515 said:

I saw a woman nursing a baby while drinking a cocktail. 

 

On 10/6/2023 at 2:09 AM, Charles4515 said:

She told me her doctor said one drink was okay. All I could do was roll my eyes. 

Why do they even bother to have one while nursing? It’s not like it’s going to kill them to wait. I never understood that, but maybe I’m missing something. 

[Coralc]

We accidentally went on a Fall Break cruise out of Port Canaveral one year on Mariner. Tons of kids. We are from the west coast and didn’t even know Fall Break was a thing. Live and learn. 

[leisuretraveler223]

On 9/26/2023 at 6:46 PM, smokeybandit said:

That would be disappointing if he didn't know the rules on his own ships

 

I don't think you really understand what a CEO does.

[BND]

3 hours ago, Coralc said:

We accidentally went on a Fall Break cruise out of Port Canaveral one year on Mariner. Tons of kids. We are from the west coast and didn’t even know Fall Break was a thing. Live and learn. 

Ah, yes, when basically the whole state of NJ goes to FL in early  Nov.

[ZoeyVictoria]

4 hours ago, Coralc said:

We accidentally went on a Fall Break cruise out of Port Canaveral one year on Mariner. Tons of kids. We are from the west coast and didn’t even know Fall Break was a thing. Live and learn. 

 

32 minutes ago, BND said:

Ah, yes, when basically the whole state of NJ goes to FL in early  Nov.

I live in Florida and didn’t realize fall break was a thing!  We have a B2B on the Independence November 2-10. Prices have been really low on both sailings, though, so maybe it isn’t a fall break magnet. The solarium is where we spend a lot of time. 

[BND]

1 hour ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

 

I live in Florida and didn’t realize fall break was a thing!  We have a B2B on the Independence November 2-10. Prices have been really low on both sailings, though, so maybe it isn’t a fall break magnet. The solarium is where we spend a lot of time. 

Traditionally it was WDW that was hit hard by fall break.  Cruises started getting impacted also.  I don't think it's the same as it used to be with schools being so much more flexible than pre-covid.  It was always called "Jersey Week" because of the influx from the NE.

[ZoeyVictoria]

5 minutes ago, BND said:

Traditionally it was WDW that was hit hard by fall break.  Cruises started getting impacted also.  I don't think it's the same as it used to be with schools being so much more flexible than pre-covid.  It was always called "Jersey Week" because of the influx from the NE.

I thought Jersey Week was the second week in February?  I can’t keep up with it!

[BND]

4 minutes ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I thought Jersey Week was the second week in February?  I can’t keep up with it!

https://www.disneyfanatic.com/a-survival-guide-for-jersey-week-at-walt-disney-world-ms1/#:~:text=What is Jersey Week%3F,specifically the Orlando theme parks.

[mjkacmom]

15 minutes ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I thought Jersey Week was the second week in February?  I can’t keep up with it!

Jersey week is the NJ teachers convention the first Thursday/Friday in November (plus lot have off that Tuesday for Election Day), many schools in the northeast have the whole week off for Presidents’ Day in February.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

5 hours ago, BND said:

Ah, yes, when basically the whole state of NJ goes to FL in early  Nov.

A lot of school districts have a Fall Break week around Indigenous Peoples' Day.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

3 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I thought Jersey Week was the second week in February?  I can’t keep up with it!

The third week in Feb is Presidents' Week and much of the northeast is off.

 

Jersey Week is pretty much only NJ because of a teachers' conference.

[BND]

6 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

A lot of school districts have a Fall Break week around Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Columbus Day is usually just one day everywhere around here.    Jersey Week is what we were talking about for early Nov.  We've experienced Disney during Jersey Week several times.  

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Just now, BND said:

Columbus Day is usually just one day everywhere around here.    Jersey Week is what we were talking about for early Nov.  We've experienced Disney during Jersey Week several times.  

 

I have friends that teach in other parts of the country (besides the northeast) and many of them do have the week around Indigenous Peoples' Day off as a Fall Break.

 

Jersey Week is basically limited to New Jersey - hence the name.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

On 10/12/2023 at 10:07 PM, Lane Hog said:

which is the increase in remote learning options for public schools

 

I don't know about other school systems, but in NYC the remote classrooms are only set up for definite use a couple of days when we have professional development and/or if schools are closed for inclement weather. Not to provide work so that kids can go on vacation.

[mjkacmom]

23 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

I don't know about other school systems, but in NYC the remote classrooms are only set up for definite use a couple of days when we have professional development and/or if schools are closed for inclement weather. Not to provide work so that kids can go on vacation.

We just had a fire in our district, they went remote for 4 days, parents lost their minds. It’s for emergencies only.