Germancruiser

Thanks a lot for the Links- very nice! Vision looks even better then when she entered service!

Thanks Darkwolfe- those pictures bring back some very nice memories of my own two cruises on baord " the old Vision " !

I am back on board Vision in October, it will be my 3 red time on board Vision- but back in 1998 and 1999 cruising was still quite a fairly new thing. I really loved those Vision- Class ships- on every twist and turn one is connected to sea, almost every bar and public room have floor to ceeling windows. Wonderful light and airie feeling! That all has changed since Voyager Class came out- and I fear it has gotten worse with Freedom and Oasis Class, many public lounges are inside- with view´s in side! LOL!

Has anyone any idea were the smoking area´s on board may be?

Thanks

Thank you so much kruzerci. I will check as soon as the search function a back.

I return to RCI for a back to back on board Vision of the Seas in October. I had some issues with RCI ( I forgot their loyal cruises system , but I think I am Platinum member or something) , among others the towel begging police they introduced years ago... ! Anyway I know the " old " Vision. Does anyone know if Vision is already Upgraded or redone or something recently??

Thanks a lot for your help!

Michael

I just came back ( 6 weeks ago) from a great QM 2 experience. My cabin was located on Deck 6 aft, between stairway C and D. The balcony was great, a nice outdoor place , very spacious. It also was the loudest cabin a I have ever had on board a ship. I love to have the balcony door open, to hear the ocean and the ship " move " . One can not do that on board QM 2´s Deck 6. There is always noise- in the morning, in the afternoon. Unforutnatley one of the ships position light´s were right at my balcony - so from time to time, it was very bright- even in the middle of the night. One has to be aware of that and leave the door closed when takeing a nap or during the night. Otherwise the location is perfect!

Well I spoke more about changes in general- but you are right, there are certain things that are " better " - for one it´s the cruise prices- they have gone down - I pay the same price for cruises as I did back in 1997 or so. We cry for cruise bargains, cheaper cruise prices and complain about things that are no longer as they used to be.

I wonder has anyone tried to book a hotel ( 4 or 5 star) for a week??? Did you see the price- I have- and now compare it to a week on board a ship , were all meals are included, shows are included, you see different parts of the world in the package, okay the cabin may be a bit smaller than a 4 or 5 star hotel room! THAT IS HARD TO BEAT!

I would not say things have gone " downhill" with X- some things just change, as they always have and always will be! Some for the better , some less.

For me also some of the new things brought in are not to my likeing- the loud music all over the place for example- but that seems solved at least!

My last Cunard experience was great and I must say- they are very compareable to X- well at least Britannia Class was.

Michael

Well I sailed with RCI years ago- the last was back in 2010 on baord Brilliance- they have stunning ships, I always was satisfied with food in the restaurants- expect for the Buffet Breakfast - that was not really to my liking - those dry, overcooked scrambled eggs- pancakes seems to be made out of cardboard.

Then their new towel policy- one has to show ones cruise card in order to get a towel- if you need more then one- you get a ( well I did ) " certain" look from the Lady behind the desk. Not my idea of a cruise - so I avoided RCI since 2010!

Well I got carried away- I prefer X nowadays- because I like their style of cruising- more subdued, less party!

All in all when you are in for Party- and a liveley athmosphere- RCI

When you like more " calm " experience- X !

I don´t expect anyone here on the boards disslikes X- this is the X- board after all- so most of the particpants are experienced X- cruisers- If one does no like a cruise or cruise line these days- there are so many options out there!

Hi Whitmarsh- I can´t wait to read your report- I did so enjoy my QM 2 tour over a month ago now. Greetings and have wonderful journey ( nobody is allowed to call a Cunard JOURNEY a CRUISE - that is for the others- so I was told by a nice british Lady on this my last VOYAGE on board QM 2 !

I never sailed Merridan- but I agree- oh memories- isn´t it facinating what they do - some shed tears and tears of the past ships how grand , how great, how so much better they were- really were they? I agree also that I have memories of small cabins, bathrooms were one could shower, use the toilet and brush ones teeth at the same time. LOL.

I just came across your report Andy- thank you for the reports, I was curious about the " music situation" - and I ham all to happy to read that the problem seems solved- from here also THANKS X for listening ( finaly ) ! I know we shared the same opinion about this issue!

Thanks for your report and have a wonderful days on board Eclipse!

Greetings

Michael

Thanks Max- I see- I thought about giving HAL a try- but I absolutly don´t like their ships interiour. What I miss with X´s newes class of ships are the prommenade decks. Sadly all the view is now blocked with life boats! My upcomming cruise is on board the QM 2 - I have been there once- and aQM 2 is a stunning ship, not compareable to any other ship a float!

Grettings

Michael

Celebrity Fan I wonder how you found the experience with Norwegian compared to X??? Foodwise and the ships in general? I have never been with them but thought about it lately. Thanks !

Michael

I´ve been on both ships , love both- really do! With almost the same ports- I would choose Millenium- there are some part of Milli I like a little more- first and foremost the Speci. Restaurant- Olympic- my favorite! Then the towel policy RCI has introduced- show your cruise- card and get a towel ( same as the previous poster) ... ! I really really don´t like it, when one has almost to get down to ones knees in order to get towel!!!!!!

Maybe it was also due to the fact that behind this towel desk sat the most crumpy, unfriendly and unhappy staff member I ever ran into on board a ship. LOL!

So my recommadtion is MILLENIUM!!!!!

Thx. Salacia- also for the german greetings! You are right of course- spoken with hanger every language is kind of " hart " to the ear- you should me hear cursing in german- LOL ! ( Not that I curse quite often)

Greetings - beste Grüße zurück

Michael

I heard exactly the same- my english though almost fluent is with a strong german accent and I often hear that I sound rather " harsh" , strong or as the previous poster mentioned strict! It´s is really funny when we heard old speaches from german politicans wether it was in the first republic or in the era of the following desaster in shool - those speaches really were hart, strict and on purpose- for rhetoric reasons. I suppose speaches from that time gave the german language the label of beeing that way!

There were some hidden camera shots years ago- taken in kitchens , while prepareing buffets etc. Some staff member spit in the soup before serving them- I have no idea if they were faked- but anyway- sometimes it is better not to see EVERYTHING! Just don´t let you fantasie run wild. The observation of the lady testing the temprature of the plate would have turned me to mention similar words to her. I suppose she was just plain thoughtless and got embarrassed and went into defense mood- or she was plain stupid- someting she acused the OP´s husband to be... when really she was the one.. oh well! Some people would be better suited for the camping ground - nof offense to those dy hart camping people of course!

If the Concordia would not have " leaned" on the rocks , she surely would have gone down. The rocks kept her in place and stopped her from sinking completley! With a gap this size on the open seas ( whatever it may have caused it) - I suppose the loss of people would have been imense! I wonder what this Captain would have decided to do in that case...!

ghtstudio- great I can t wait for you report about the Transatlantic. Much apericiated! When she ( Infinity) goes " East" again I am on board for the Transatlantic. Can´t wait!

greetings

Michael

I am sure you have a lot of fond memories of those olden days- of those golden days of cruising or crossing! I am not sure- but as grand and great thos old ships looks I much prefer those modern ships with a touch of the old- like Celebrity´s Millenium Class for example!

safarigal- what an unusual " cruise carreer" you have. You sailed on baord ships I never even hear about and I am a devoted ship buff! On board some of them you must have been a mere toddler. Great that you stick with cruising!

As read on other boards the whole Millenium class was build a trifle " sloopy" so to speak. They are great ships esp. now that they are redone and in Solstice Style, I liked the old style, but I also love the Solsticesiced version. The rust on the balcony well- looks not very pretty- but those ships sail year round in salt water and sometimes - it is totaly unapropriate of course, but it can happen that it rains on cruises- also not good for the outdoor part of the ship!

So let´s hope she will make it to China safely- so much can happen on a long journey with the QE 2 beeing very elderly now!!! Good thing they stored the memorabilia. It was heard from many ships who sunk, burned or whatever on their last journey´s! Acidents do happen!

Perry is a gem- met him twice on board Connie! Never ever have I seen Michael´s Club this packed EVERY EVENING! When we met him around the ship he was always friendly and took the time for small chat!

Well as for the " Modern Luxury" - since when do we take advertisments quite literaly- I never did. There are a few Luxury Cruise lines out there! X is a tad better then the other Mass Markt cruise lines. One can defninate " Luxury" quite different- for me it is a luxury to go for breakfast and not to lift a finger to get someting prepared. I come back to my cabin - and it is done and clean- and so on. I went with Costa once, because they had " GREAT PRICE" - well once was enough- same size of ship than the Millenium Class and at least 600 passengers more... I could go on but that would totaly off topic! Whenever I have to decide for cruise with the same or similar ports- one with Perry preforming and one " regular " - I would descide on the one Perry is on.