HiCSailor

Thought I walked into a naval architecture seminar for a moment. All this talk if lines, lines, lines... I was waiting on a discussion of the impact of metacenter on comfort or the hydrodynamic benefits of pneumatic boundary layers. [emoji26]

While I do think Royal has very good looking cruise ships, I think Disney's are the most visually striking (even beating out Cunard somehow). That being said, I'm not too fond of the looks of most ships these days. A bit like the current crop of cars, the badging is the most distinguishing feature on most. [emoji57]

For me, the beauty of modern ships is in the inter-working of the systems and processes that keep the cities at sea humming along. All the lines are making beautiful magic happen there every day.

For aesthetics I look to clipper ships and for sheer visual impact to battleships.

I called the 800-123-4567 number and was awarded a free computer repair. [emoji335] Should I take it? [emoji12]

The TODAY show did a segment on this also this morning. I found it interesting that the parents that they interviewed demonstated no repsonsibility at all for the problems that their children got into. It was all the greedy cruise line's fault.

Yes, I saw the Today Show's coverage too. I'm still conflicted on where I stand regarding dedicated guards. I do agree that, guards or not, parents have to actively monitor their children's activities around the water.

The debate continues. The Today Show just posed the same question:

http://m.today.com/parents/why-do-some-cruise-ships-lack-lifeguards-watch-children-2D80584226

In somewhat related news, Today ran a story on the lack of lifeguards at cruise ship pools.

http://m.today.com/parents/why-do-some-cruise-ships-lack-lifeguards-watch-children-2D80584226

Thanks for the info. I reached out to one of the big online ta's today. Same price as RCI, no obc, meals or any other incentive. Seemed like I was just putting myself into a corner by always having to contact RCI thru the TA. No real reason to go through a t/a from my experience today.

Not always the case. As othera have said, sometimes there are perks that can be significant. Poke around a bit and you'll find some deals that may speak to you. Consider credit cards, clubs, and local pros, in addition to what's online.

Another benefit I see to using a TA is having a knowledgeable advocate who should resolve issues before they arise and will be able to assist should any issues sneak in.

Thanks. Getting more excited for August with every nice thing said about Freedom! This ship has quite a following and is setting up some great expectations from me. [emoji41]

Website issue? That's unusual. [emoji54]

I'm still waiting for the first thread about one of them failing completely and the person complaining that they paid extra for an inside cabin with no balcony.:rolleyes:

I'm going to complain in my next balcony that I can't turn the light, sounds, and wind off and request a refund to the cost of an interior. [emoji274]

No, straight up USN, no chaser. I cadet shipped with MSC back in the day, but now I'm a career SWO.

You guys are killing me .... Lol.... Yep nothing like having a cup of coffee early in the morning sitting outside then off for a morning run. :) I'm totally serious !

I'll be leaving in July on the Indy , I also surprised my husband and got a jr.suite . ;) so excited about that .

Another question for you Royals, can you order steak every night in the. MDR?

Is there place to get cheeseburgers ,hot dogs around the pool area ?

How are the casinos on Indy? ( for the gamblers ) Thank you guys !

Hey you RCI people are ok ! :)

I'm not sure you're allowed to talk about running, steak, cheeseburgers , hotdogs, and casinos in the same posting. I think I felt a kink in the time-space continuum just now. [emoji273]

As for the steak, yes. You can feast on steak each night if you so choose and Johnny Rockets should appease your burger craving, giving you reason to run again. Ah, I see how it works now. [emoji6]

I've only worked for commercial shipping, not the non-profit "gray funnel line". There was only one under US flag, the Savannah, and she had already been retired as economically unfeasible when I started sailing. The navy accepts the inefficiencies of steam power as the price for low fuel cost and non-existent fuel storage or fueling time.

Hey... Grey funnels are people too. Lol. I straddle the line as a Schuyler grad, currently working non-profit, but soon leaping into commercial. [emoji322]

I've been underway on nuclear power and I agree a lot of inefficiency is tolerated in nuke steamships to gain some important advantages to naval vessels, that aren't even serious considerations commercially. [emoji50]

Savannah was an important testing ground for an emerging technology and no doubt laid the foundations upon which most every modern reactor sits. She also certainly proved that nuke powered ships cost a lot more to build, operate, maintain, and even dispose of than conventional steam, which is also going the way of the dodo bird. [emoji112] [emoji389]

A bit off topic of behind the scenes, but when you're the tour you're now armed to draw the chief engineer into a discussion. [emoji37]

I was just on the Quantum, ate at Grande twice. Wore my tuxedo both nights (different jacket/tie combo).

 

I don't think anyone looked at me any weirder than they normally would. Really when you come down to it no one thinks about you as much as you do nor do they care what you're wearing.

 

Bottom line, I bought my tuxedo to wear it not let it sit in a closet and cruising is one of the only times that I get to wear it and I'm not going to not wear it because other people are walking around in what they want to wear. If they are looking it's probably because they're saying "Damn, he looks good, I probably should have worn a tux."

Hear, hear! [emoji41]

Cruising sux, didn't you get the memo? On the plus side, it'll be over soon. Sounds like you've decided to make the best of it though.

(Hey, if I can get demand down, maybe I can afford a few more horrible cruise experiences) [emoji6]

I've never experienced that on any cruise line.

I was thinking the same thing... Do people really run on cruise??? [emoji43] [emoji33] [emoji39]

Typically the second and second to last nights.

You should be able to find Cruise Compass newsletters from previous sailings that will give you a general idea of how each day will look.

Ah, the good old days. My first ever cruise on Costa Riviera in 1985 (pre-Carnival). We had a free tour of the galley, the bridge and the engine room. Just me, my friend, and a few others on that last tour. It was steam turbine, and we saw it all! From the boilers, to control room, to shaft alley, to the massive turbines. The heat was oppressive, and in the turbine room I had to cup by hands to my friends ears and yell so he could hear me! It was sort of like standing next to a jet engine at full power.

Stop it... You're making me nostalgic for my steamship engineering days. The simple pleasure of finding a ventilation blower to stand under for a moment. [emoji28]

I'm thinking of getting on the Indy tomorrow -- still room on the ship to book. But I'm worried that being Spring Break there would be a lot of partying kids. Anybody cruise a seven-eight day cruise in the past few weeks have any problems with partiers?

I would have jumped at it...

That being said, I thought there was a cutoff for being able to book last minute. I thought I'd heard three days. Anyone have the skinny on the last time to hop onboard?

Port Canaveral Florida spent a lot of money for a new terminal for Royal Caribbean to depart from. Instead of Royal Caribbean sending a new ship to PC to keep there full time they are sending us some part time ships that will be tired and weak for the 2016 2017 season. The Freedom of the seas built 2006 , Rhapsody of Seas built 1997 now that a slap in the face Oasis of the seas built 2009. Port Canaveral has given RCCL a lot of customers over the years. RCCL has given a lot of money towards Ft. Lauderdale to make it rated number 1 while PC is rated 2nd in the state of Florida. While PC spent there own money to get a new RCCL ship into it's Port but instead they send PART TIME SHIP,S THAT WILL BE OLD and not updated to the latest trends. I think this sucks. If only RCCL would quit building bigger ships and more smaller ones to give to other ports instead of FT. Lauderdale all the time. I see where Carnival is ordering 9 new ships and smaller ones. I'm sure glad I sold of my RCCL stocks. Port Canaveral feels like Ellis Island NY , Lady Liberty in NY Give us your Tired and weak and part time ships.

Sorry if this comes as a surprise, but amazing cruise ports don't sell cruises or necessarily draw new ships. Bottom line is the lines will use the closest ports to their destinations, or to their customers, to the greatest extent possible.

PC allows the lines to siphon from the theme park haven that is Orlando, but that is a riskier proposition than driving the preponderance of passengers the cruise haven in South Florida.

Number two ain't half bad.

Thank you everyone for the replies, i will try to just take one refillable bottle on my trip and plan the dinning times when i get on-board.

If you find the roll call thread for your sailing, you might find someone with cruise compasses from previous sailings of the same itinerary - it won't be a perfect match, but will give you an idea.

Also, the roll call can help you meet folks on your sailing.

This is interesting to me, as I'm sailing on Anthem in September.

 

I LOVE formal nights, and getting my tuxedo on and having the whole ship do the same (common on Celebrity) is part of the fun - it makes the ambiance wonderful and almost transports you to another world!

 

On Anthem/Quantum it seems like Grande will be the formal restaurant, but will you look like a bit of an idiot wandering around the ship after dinner when everyone else is in jeans? I'm not sure it has the same effect/appeal! Though judging by some threads people aren't making much of an effort in Grande either, and RCI aren't doing any enforcement, so perhaps it's all a complete waste of time anyway!

You would look about as idiotic as anyone wandering out of a nice restaurant into a nice town center in a tux; so if that's a consideration...

One wonderful thing about a cruise vacation is the ability to do things that YOU LOVE, to be transported literally and figuratively, to places you find appealing, relaxing, or exhilarating. Enjoy your Anthem!

The Quantum class brings a few more of the "first at sea" experiences that Royal is known for, such as a skydiving simulator, bumper cars, Norhstar aerial experience, a full Broadway stage production of Mama Mia, and a multipurpose multimedia room that might give Star Trek's holodeck a run for the money. Royal also rolled out a new concept of dining (often maligned, but worth a try IMO) and a new level of art interwoven into and throughout the ship.

If you want to experience an amazing new ship class, go with Quantum.

Hi, I just booked an obstructed balcony on the Anthem for next year. Our room is 6212. How do you find out the percentages of obstruction? I let the Royal Caribbean rep select this room for me but he told me nothing of percentages and said we would be able to look out but not down. He said lifeboats are located on deck 5. I think he gave me wrong information here. Thanks.

I don't believe lifeboats will be as far forward as 6212, but go to Royal's UK site, find a cruise with that cabin open, and look at the cabin details.

This is a repo cruise, which is different than a pre - drydock cruise.

 

Unless of course, it is the Allure which is a doing a repositioning just before a dry dock.

Oops. I really misread that one. 😶

How small are these items that we're drying on balloons, and how exactly are we drying them?

I was just wondering the same thing.