Andrew89

I post on cruise critic rarely but felt compelled to today. This is my 11th cruise (10 RCI, 1 Celeb) and first with Canadian ports so I'm able to use my phone at ports as I'm from Toronto (I refuse to pay $18 US per day for Wi-Fi). I'm in Charlottetown PEI today and will post a full review with pictures when I get home but to make a long story short, out of 11 cruises, by far the best one for four reasons:

1) Ship is beautiful, Adventure is in great shape for 18 years old and so much of it has been modernized.

2) Staff is extremely friendly, more so than usual.

3) Because this is an 11 day, non-tropical cruise in September, there are only 34 kids! I was on Symphony in February and there were 34 kids in one pool ALONE.

4) We booked an ocean view panoramic cabin (deck 12) and the view is extraordinary, on top of the fact that the cabin is pristine as it's only 1.5 years old. I will only book panoramic ocean view on Voyager and Freedom class ships from now on. I don't even miss the balcony.

Full review when I'm home the Sep 28-29 weekend.

17 hours ago, Biker19 said:

The fact that the cruise doesn't depart for another day makes no diff - the casino issue is port/location dependent and it's unlikely the casino will be open.

Awesome thank you.

I sailed in February on Symphony and completely agree with you that it felt much more crowded than Oasis and Allure BUT I recall on Day 1 at Guest Services all the signs were showing no available cabins so we were clearly at full capacity. That's the risk you take the though with Oasis class, while it doesn't make or break the experience for me, I agree the overcrowding can be irritating. This is why Radiance and Voyager classes will always be my favourite because even at full capacity neither one feels crowded.

I'll be sailing with a gamblaholic on the Sep 16 Canada/New England cruise aboard Adventure of the Seas. We embark on Sep 16 in Quebec City but the ship only leaves the next day at 5 PM IIRC. Will the casino be open at all before we depart on Day 2? Based on my cruise history I would guess no because I don't recall the casino on any ship ever being open at a port but I've also never sailed on a cruise that doesn't leave the origin port until Day 2.

1 hour ago, Cruisegroover said:

The Quest has not been on the last 3 sailings Ovation of the Seas I was on ex Australia. Joff said the reason was there was no suitable venue to have it.

On Anthem in 2017 it was held in Two70 and I actually preferred it because you had a much closer view and it was more intimate, for all the wrong reasons. 

Hi everyone. Just wondering if Azamara has the same booking rule as Royal Caribbean where if you cancel prior to full payment date (three months) you get 100% of your deposit back.

Thanks for the help!

The benefits are quite different and there is no discount on cabins like RCL. Here’s a link. You will be Explorer level. Nothing to get too excited about really. The bag of free laundry per 7 nights is useful.

 

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/le-club-voyage/le-club-voyage-programme/member-benefits

 

Phil

Thanks for the help Phil!

Good morning!

I'm currently a Platinum Crown and Anchor member on RCI and was wondering if there are any linked benefits/discounts when booking an Azamara cruise, like the $100 discount on balcony cabins for example.

I'm just wondering if Royal Caribbean automatically bumps you up if you opt into the program or if they call/email to confirm first. Even though 99.9% of the time I would take whatever upgrade is available, it's still nice to know that in the event I handpick my cabin and forget to change my settings that I don't get bumped.

Just got home from a fantastic week on Anthem of the Seas. One of the hilights was We Will Rock You and The Gift, both were seriously outstanding, some of the most talented singers and dancers I've seen both on land and at sea and I made sure to tell them that on the last night in the Schooner Bar as I'm sure in show business all they get is criticism and rejection as competition is fierce. Is there any possible way to get a list of the singers/dancers, a playbill of sorts if you will? I was able to find the 2015 and 2016 cast but nothing on 2017. I'd love to see if they have been in any other works (plays, music, film, television, etc) that may be available online. I emailed RCI, I'm curious if and when they'll reply.

I'm looking at booking an oceanview cabin at the back of Deck 7 and just wondering if anyone has had any issues with noise coming from the Zanzibar Lounge one deck below at night?

Anyone??

Yes, large panoramic oceanview for October 30th sailing.

We do traditional early because we're late risers so we tend to have breakfast just before Windjammer closes at 11 and are usually so full from it that we skip lunch and don't feel it's too early by the time 5:30 rolls around. I would suggest traditional late though if you're someone who likes to eat a big lunch, especially on port days off the ship, because the last thing you want is to go to the MDR with no appetite.

We would like to book three specialty restaurants ahead of time for our cruise in January. We have only been on one Royal Caribbean Cruise on the Freedom of the Seas so are not familiar with the restaurants on the Oasis. For those of you that have sailed on the Oasis and eaten at the specialty restaurants, what would be your top 3 recommendations?

I've only done 150 Central Park, Chops Grille, and Giovanni's and my favourite of the three by far is Giovanni's. Haven't had a single thing off of the menu that's not a ten out of ten but mind you, I love Italian food. My girlfriend and I only pick cruises that have Giovanni's and we go at least twice per cruise.

I think you may have to give RCI a call to confirm but to my recollection you have to book that special on board. On the website the only dining special I saw was the 20% OBC for booking 4 restaurants. I remember because when I heard about the special, I wanted to do it but was told I had to wait until I was on board, and by then I didn't want to have to refund what I had already paid and have that money sitting on a hold for a few days. This was only a few days before my sail date though so maybe if you're far enough out they can do it over the phone?

Thanks, I will call this afternoon and let everyone know how it goes.

I think you have to book the dining package on board. Are you talking about the 5 restaurants for $110?

Yes, or 3 for $85 or 4 for $95.

That would be really irritating if I have to book it on board. I took the time months in advance to book a cruise and already have my dinners planned but would have to compete for good times with people who booked their cruise a week before sailing.

Don't know, never tried to book the same venue twice. I didn't even know you could modify reservations without canceling and re-booking. I'd call Royal to book the second restaurant reservation.

I figured it out, if you go to your calendar you can add reservations by clicking on the desired date and then adding the second restaurant. My girlfriend and I love Giovanni's so we always have it on the first and last night of the cruise.

Now as for the Speciality Dining Package, there's no mention of it when I booked a third dinner (at Chops). I can't seem to find any helpful info for this online either so it looks like I'm finally going to have to cave and call Royal, lol.

Not possible. Anything you book online is charged immediately, with the possible exception if those venues that charge ala carte prices.

Thanks for the info. When I try to book Giovanni's a second time the website only allows me to modify the first reservation, is there a trick I'm missing?

Is it possible to book speciality restaurants online without prepaying? I recall on Oasis booking 150 Central Park and paying in the restaurant (via sea pass of course).

Your countdown clock shows you're sailing on Allure again in May, is this still the case?

Looking at Harmony's itineraries for next year, I found that all the 7 days Mediterranean cruises have one sea day only. I feel it's a waste of ship, so big, with so many entertainment and features, to be docked six straight days. For me 3 ports, and 3 sea days, are the perfect balance for a week long cruise, especially on a ship of this size and characteristics. I can't imagine the flow rider in that single sea day...

Couldn't agree more.

Once Ovation and Harmony enter service RCI will have 25 active ships and I personally wouldn't repeat a ship no matter how great it was.

Having said that, I've sailed on both Freedom and Oasis class ships and you can't go wrong with either. I would have given the edge on activities for the kids to Oasis but with Liberty getting water slides in February they're pretty much equal.

I've been on four Royal cruises, two of which were in the last year and they've always had escargots on the MDR menu.

Great advertising tonight on Dancing with the Stars. Two of the teams were on a cruise on Anthem, rehearsing for the show and getting inspiration from the onboard production of We Will Rock You. Of course, they went skydiving, played around on the bumper cars, etc.

 

Anyone else see it?

Yep, it was kind of sad how prior to them mentioning the cruise ship and showing their rehearsals I could tell they were in Two70 and then on the North Star.

It's crazy, it was priced as an Oceanview and only about $125 more pp than a standard OV. It's a steal, and could easily be classified as a suite. The view is going to be incredible! I've never see floor to ceiling windows in a stateroom before.

I never cruise in the fall but when I saw $450 for this room at one point I booked for October 30th, can't wait!