canderson

Can you be more specific? Could save others a lot of time finding success.

When RCL started putting out the illustrations for Icon, the nickname that came immediately to mind was "Six Flags Over the Mariana Trench".

Our first X cruise was on Galaxy, as were several others. Our only Century cruise was a side-to-side after returning on a westbound Constellation TA (side-to-side being a bus trip FLL/MIA) right after they did the structural modifications, added suites, etc. Feels like eons ago. That class ship had one thing that I've consistently rated better than any other ship we've ever sailed -- a real thalassotherapy pool. You could stand under those vertical pipes of water and hammer your neck and shoulders into submission with that water pressure if you wanted to! The 'extras' on Silversea at Silver Suite only amount to free laundry, I think. On Celebrity, it included free laundry, and no-upcharge dining in all of the $ restaurants (unlike Silversea in Kaiseki and La Dame), and a few other goodies. All in all, not a great deal of difference in that regard. It was sometimes a little weird on Celebrity, though - felt like we had stalkers everywhere! One day on Constellation we decided there was a menu item that appealed to us in the main dining room at lunch. We hadn't set foot in the MDR for the entire cruise until then, but we were greeted by name at the door. Seems the rumors of photos posted in the back wait-stations of various venues were true.

We had been booking RS cabins on M and S class ships, so there was never an issue of whether our names (or faces, from what we heard about posted photos) were known, especially on M class, so it would be a bit closer to apples to apples for us in that regard. Although still a cut above the other mass market lines in terms of the crew:passenger ratio, we felt that Celebrity was moving more and more in that direction in other ways. Realizing that we had preferred the (relatively) smaller size of the M class ships, downsizing further seemed like something we might enjoy, and trading an M class RS for a Silversea Silver Suite looked like a comparable swap. Considered Azamara briefly, but ship age and vibe weren't exactly what we had in mind.

Our history is the same as yours. Long time X cruisers, never Edge class, just now moving to Dawn for our first SS cruise. What caused you to 'jump ship'?

"Included" means there's no extra charge if you choose to indulge -- it's included in the fare. "Free" would be a misnomer since you're paying for it in the fare whether you're drinking it or not! TANSTAAFL

Used to use a great tailor there on the 1st floor below the Kimberly Hotel. Wonder if he's still there? Used to get custom work shirts at good prices from Tyrwhitt in the U.K. via mail order from time to time, but fabric selections for custom have dwindled to just 2.

Am sure I can generate a perfect full Windsor faster than anyone I know can do the same with a bow tie. The latter always seems to require a bit of tweaking to get real perfection... well, according to my wife, anyway, who insists on doing the tweaking!

But not for an event starting before 6pm, right? 😁

Not a euphemism... it's the name of the 'brand' that does these charters. Far more than pineapples - these are clothing optional (in many ship areas) cruises, complete with designated "Play Areas" (???) We've been docked next to RCL ships twice where the folks on their balconies were being a bit less discreet than the charter rules require!

Ever heard of a "Bliss" cruise? They'll occasionally charter an RCG ship.

Well then. Bummer for a first time SS cruiser like me, who understands what the word implies, to find out that Kaiseki isn't at all ... well ... actually kaiseki. Done half decently, a true kaiseki meal would have been worth the upcharge. They ain't cheap in Japan. Actually feeling a bit peeved that they appropriated the name without delivering the associated product. On par with calling a restaurant aboard La Creperie de Silversea and serving IHOP pancakes.

Hope they weren't wearing rented shoes...

Which Las Vegas rules? 😏 https://vegasadvantage.com/las-vegas-blackjack-guide/ Mostly wondering if 6:5 or 3:2 payouts, or does it depend upon table stakes or time of day?

How many decks? Calculating ... er ... inquiring minds want to know. 😏

Wondering how they'll manage that experience given the layouts I've seen of the restaurant (?) Or is it all prepped un-traditionally behind the scenes? Guess I'd never thought to ask, but your statement about teppanyaki brought this immediately to mind... Kaiseki isn't just a name of a shipboard restaurant, it's more properly an entire meal style of its own in Japan, much like teppanyaki that you mention is a style of Japanese both cooking and presentation. Have I been wrong in my assumption that Kaiseki serves meals in the kaiseki style? To oversimplify it, imagine a tasting menu at the French Laundry done Japanese style.

Let us know which ship and itineraries for the 2 legs, too, please.

Can't beat genetics, I guess!

Indeed. Different for all three styles of dress. Where's Bates when you need him? No white tie attire in my closet, so need to worry over the medals there. If I'm ever invited to a State dinner, a bespoke tailor might be the only choice in this part of the world unless one is willing to search for something 'vintage', but finding the bits and pieces to go along with it would be near impossible. The words "bibbed shirt" would draw nothing but blank faces in any clothier in Colorado (though I do own one, but with a contemporary collar - so I'd be out of luck there, too). Is Darcy still doing business in the UK, I wonder?

As this will be our first encounter with Blacklane (we normally work with Eight Black Cars here in the Denver area) ... When it comes to communications on the day of travel, are we talking to Blacklane or the local agency they front for? Don't relish the idea of a go-between if the logistics start to go sideways.

Just listen to your valets advice. He'll keep it all straight for you!

Yes, saw above from @A Tucson Guy that there was a Facebook comment from her.

😏 Their product is made from "rock wool". Think of fiberglass made from minerals other than silica. It's a superior product in several respects.

Interesting. Looks like they got gobbled up a couple of years ago by OC as you say, now operating as a subsidiary. Well, then! Terry .. do we short OC? 🤔 Nah, too small a piece of the whole. I just hope all of this can be resolved both safely and expeditiously.

We seem to be talking at crossed purposes. The challenge in the post to which I responded didn't address the casual venues where wearing a tie has no relevance to the discussion as far as I could tell. I certainly never suggested anyone need wear one where unnecessary. ???