MaiseyM

Hooked?  Good?

How was the El Loco Fresh?  Was it better than Mini Bites or whatever one they have on Harmony?  The one on Harmony was OK and did the job, but nothing great.  Wondering if El Loco is better.  I know, it's all subjective, but curious.  

13 hours ago, Canadian Tyler said:

At the top tier event this week on Oasis, the captain said waterslides will be added and they will be different from Harmony. He didnt provide any other info that from what I remember.

  
I wonder if it will be more of the Raft-Coaster rides they have on some of the new amped ships.  Like a roller coaster, but with a raft.  Hills and all. 
 

5 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Sea you in 2020. happy cruising. PS: great prices right now for the 2020 TA sailing,  booked a 2c deck 12 on the second hump for $2631 total for 2, plus 200 in OBC from the online TA we use. 

Thanks!  Some day!  Right now, with a house full of teens, it's all family sailing for us.  I hope to get there some day.

14 minutes ago, SAmome said:

How are the itineraries?  I'd sail in a lesser cabin (than Oasis) and hope an after final payment drop in price (if they find holiday sailings overpriced and later need to drop) to bring the price in line if that helped.  

 

Not seeing the same shows over again would be a huge perk to me.

I just looked.  I guess I'm surprised they are still playing Cats.  I guess I should count on them playing that again unless I hear otherwise.  The itineraries are the same for both ships. Different originating cities and different days, but same ports.

11 minutes ago, Trainer said:

Just off the Symphony...loved several things that others won't have.  The new style staterooms were excellent.  Two closets, one all hanging space and one with hanging and shelf spaces.  The bed is between them.  The other is the shows -- Hairspray was fabulous and Flight was very different.  Only thing I did not care for was the Aqua show.  The ice shows were very creative.

I would go on Symphony again in a minute. 

Thanks!  

13 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

Concerning the staterooms they might replace the TV's given they are 10 years old, well flat screen to flat screen. Possibly new carpets but that will be it. 

 

I though also the Ultimate Abyss slide will be installed?              

I was wondering about the Ultimate Abyss.  My teens didn't use it as much as they did 2 years ago, but it's a nice option.

Yes to Coco Cay.  This was one of the things we were looking for.  Labadee is nice, but we have been there 3 times.  More importantly, both ships have newer ports we haven't been to yet.  

We currently have Symphony this December (2019) booked; we did this on Next Cruise.  When I came home and had given it more thought, I decided that I would rather go a year later (2020) to give more time to pay off the entire vacation (because we all know it's never just the cost of the cruise you have to plan for).  Not to mention, I can save a significant amount if I book two years from now, rather than 12 months from now. I have a little time left (less than 30 days) before I get charged for changing reservations.  I plan on changing before I get charged.  

Do you think there will be any more special venues on Symphony?  Different theaters or something else that is really different?   

7 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

I am booked on Oasis for Christmas 2019 and Allure for 2020 because they will both be fresh out of drydock and have most of the features of Symphony an a greatly reduced price.

 

The one thing that Oasis and Allure won’t have will be the updated staterooms.

Thanks.  I was wondering:  Is it a 'for sure' thing that Allure is being redone as well?  

Also, I was wondering if the staterooms were going to look like they did when I sailed her in 2016.  Granted, it's only 4 years later, but I tend to notice and like the sparkly objects (newer updated rooms).  😉

8 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Where is Oasis sailing from then?

Symphony:  Miami

Oasis :  FLL 

Both of which will cost the same to get to.  When we have stayed in FLL (all 3 times) we pretty much stay /swim at the hotel, shop for last minute stuff, and go out to eat.  We don't make any big 'tours' out of the city.  If we stay in Miami this time, we may look around a little bit, but Miami vs. FLL isn't going to be a deciding factor.  

7 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Shows will still be different.

I sailed Oasis when the show was Cats.  Do you think the shows are likely to be better on Symphony? I would think so, but I also think that Oasis, still being in Oasis class, will still have some of the better shows across the fleet.  Thoughts?

My family has sailed Oasis 1 time, Harmony 2x.  I really want to sail Symphony next, which would be during Christmas, 2020.   At this point, the Oasis ship will have been redone/dry docked/ AMP (what is the right word for this??🤪).  In some respects, Oasis will be (I think) new as well, as it will have been amped.    I am comparing prices and room options for my party of five between Oasis and Symphony.  Not surprisingly, Symphony is going to cost more.  

I was told in another thread that the new Oasis is likely to have the following changes.

Jamies Italian to replace Giovanni’s 

Playmakers to replace Sabor

some type of waterslide 

Addition of Hooked and Wonderland

Escape room

El loco Fresh to replace wipeout cafe

I don't mind spending more for Symphony if there is something significantly different than the redone Oasis.  In fact, I am almost looking for something to convince me to book Symphony that makes it worth the extra spending.  The only thing I can use to justify the extra expense at this time is that it's new and I have never sailed her before.  While that's all nice, I don't know if it's worth spending a few thousand more and possibly downgrading rooms to make her fit in my price range.  Is there something extra that Symphony is likely to have?  Will Oasis look 'tired' after the remodel?  I like the newer and updated rooms.  I don't know if that is a selling point for Symphony.   

Symphony and Oasis have the same ports to visit as well, so this has no bearing on my decision. 

If you have sailed both, do you have any insight on this?   I am inclined to go with Oasis because I just can't see what Symphony has that is above and beyond what I can expect with Oasis.  I know we won't know what Oasis will have with certainty until later but need to book soon.

On 9/15/2018 at 11:39 PM, BigHouseFootball said:

5 Day Cruise. Too short. Plain and simple. It was either this or none so we went with this but man did we miss those extra 2 days. I can’t even image a 3 day cruise!

Good to know.  I was contemplating a 5 day cruise to fit travel/budget needs and was wondering if the two days makes a big difference.  I was inclined to stick to the 7 days, but good to know.  Thanks.

Your packing experience was like mine two weeks ago.  I has six suitcases for five people. I was happy I chose southwest air for this reason.  I figured there weren’t any deals with Christmas cruising for Chris’s or air, so I thought I could at least save money on the baggage fees. It worked out well.  And yes. I too scheduled alarms in my phone to check in exactly 24 hours ahead of time.  I made section B both times. 

Are you there yet!

Following. Are you there yet?

My kids has to wait for us when we were  getting off the ship. They were a few passengers ahead of us and they made them stop and wait for us. That said no, I don’t know if the staff was confirming if we were there legal guardian or if they were just waiting for an adult in charge of them. I’m not sure how it works if you are not the legal guardian. 

I can only  imagine how much you need this vacation after traveling with students over Christmas. I’m glad you’re getting several naps in.  It sounds like you had great timing seeing those band parents from the ship. That’s kind of funny how it all worked out. Also, it sounds like you haven’t seen any students on the ship. That’s great. As a fellow educator, I would definitely not be thrilled if any of my students  where on my ship.  I get a little bit greedy about the time I have a way from school. 

I am having your mom gets to travel again.  It sounds like it will be a great distraction during this difficult time and she will love returning to her roots of traveling.  

I just sailed Harmony at Christmas.  It was at full capacity.  The lines were short and they were fully stafffed.  I couldn’t believe how fast they got us through for having thousands of people to process that day   

2 hours ago, cruisecritiquer said:

 

I found this website, but it's confusing to me what the green highlighted updates mean. 

https://www.*****.com/2018/04/30/royal-caribbean-releases-royal-amplified-fleet-upgrade-schedule

Thanks.  I didn't know that Allure was getting a makeover, if I understand that correctly.  I wanted to do Symphony b/c it's new, but honestly, with a party of five, if I can save a few thousand at Christmas and have something almost the same, I am leaning toward Oasis or something else.  I just need some new ports b/c I have done San Juan, Labadee, and St. Maarten at least two times in a row.  I need something new.  

39 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

FYI, OSHA does not apply, unless the ship is US flagged. 😄

Excellent!  Bring back the flaming cakes on heads, prancing around the dining room.  

1 hour ago, payitforward said:

. They said only if he was my husband or S/O. Since I was NOT willing to say my brother was my S/O, he was out of luck. lol

Now that I'm thinking about it, I am wondering if that's what they did.  Or maybe they somehow slipped an adult brother in.  Not sure.  I didn't ask too many questions, but I know she had access to the Diamond suite (I think that's the name?) and other areas we don't go to since we're not diamond.  Maybe the brothers played off the same last name.  But I do know that she and her family got access to diamond stuff b/c of a brother in law who listed them 'as household members.'   I know it's a stretch and I can't see myself caring enough to do it, but I imagine others do.  

Nice.  Does is sleep more than four or only four?  

So here is what I find interesting.  I was on Harmony last week.  I met someone that my husband knew from many many years ago. We aren’t friends but we chatted a few times in the ship.  She told us that they ( she, husband, two children) are listed as household members of her brother in law. She said that her husbands brother, who wasn’t on the ship, is a frequent cruiser and is diamond plus level.   She said that her brother in law added her husband as as living in the same house so her husband (and her, kids) get diamond status.  This came up because I was asking her how often she cruises.   So obviously they are playing the system but I can’t help but wonder why RCI is letting two grown men, brothers, be household members.  I can’t imagine that I could just add my siblings as household members, nor would I try or want to.  

Thanks!  Nothing is a dealbreaker for me but it would be nice to eee the updated version.  Symphony is considerably more expensive and more not quite sure if it will really offers that much more than an updated Oasis.