The Fun Researcher

We're new to Carnival but are looking at a cruise on the Sunrise next year.  We typically sail in inside cabins.  It looks like this ship got a HUGE refurb this year and I'm wondering if ALL cabins were redone or if there are certain ones that I need to book in order to guarantee we have a refurbished cabin? (specifically inside cabins, but I'm also asking for friends who typically sail in a balcony)  

Thanks in advance,

Dan

1 hour ago, molsonschooner said:

how much rust does Liberty have on her. She has been in Galveston for a few years now.

We were on Liberty a couple of years ago in Galveston and she was immaculate, and we'll be sailing her again in March.  I would expect the upkeep to be excellent.  We've never seen any issues with Freedom class ships.

Dan

I also read the review about the paint/solvent fumes in the owners suite. (they were painting right on the intake register to the A/C units that led to those particular cabins).  That review was partly what made me want to ask about the Enchantment.  I'm not worried about that happening if we cruise on the Enchantment, I'm just wondering about general upkeep (not mechanical maintenance) and if that's an issue.

However, now that propulsion issues have come up, has that been an issue still or is it resolved?  🙂

Dan

3 minutes ago, ATC cruiser said:

Like I said, I just got off Enchantment the 14th of October. The interior of the ship was immaculate, it was the exterior that needed some work. I can overlook a bit of rust, after all they are in a salt water environment. 

Thank you.  Same here, as long as the interior and pool deck looks great (like it did in the recent videos) and the exterior is reasonable, I'm happy.

Dan

1 hour ago, ONECRUISER said:

Normal Dry Dock is just to check underside side and Mech's. They dont usually do much else to ship. The upkeep paint, carpet, furniture replacement is done yr round. Exception is Amplify. But then ship's are out of service 3-6weeks instead on 2. 

Didn't realize that.  So carpet, furnishings, and stuff like that is replaced all year during a cruise?  Interesting.

44 minutes ago, c-leg5 said:

That’s as maybe but PP thought lack of painting was due to Galveston or ports she visited and I don’t think she has been there long enough for that to be the fundamental problem.
 

The ship certainly seems to have problems but I don’t know if the OP was asking about maintenance or refurbishment.

Not maintenance.  I trust RCCL to keep up the mechanics of their vessels.  I'm asking about lack of upkeep like worn carpet, rust showing around outside of ship and weld lines, worn furniture, etc...

I just looked at some walkthroughs on YouTube and honestly the ship looks very nice to me.  Am I missing something?  We've sailed exclusively Freedom and Voyager class with one Oasis class.  Those are our reference points.  Granted, our most recent cruise was on the AMPED Navigator and that was like a brand new ship in the public areas so I'm not using that as a comparison as it would be unfair.

 Thanks all. So not before July next year. Appreciate it 

Dan

Just wondering if the Enchantment has a scheduled drydock or refurb?  Considering a cruise in July 2020 and have been reading about the current so-so upkeep.  Thanks.

Dan

1 hour ago, jwakeli said:

I think I got my levels mixed up, what ever the next one after gold is is what I meant.

Makes sense.  Platinum then.  

Looking forward to hearing about the Majesty.  We're still tossing around a cruise in January on her.

Dan

 This is only your fifth time on Royal and this will be your Emerald cruise? You must’ve had some extremely long cruises before this?  ... or been in suites for the other cruises.? 

Dan

On 10/14/2019 at 2:26 PM, dramamama628 said:

My family of 3 (including a male millennial) will be dressed up for dinner every night, especially formal nights.  We always look forward to it and that is one reason we always buy the photo package.  We get dressed up, grab a cocktail and walk around before dinner getting our photos taken.  It's just a fun thing for us.

 

Same here.  We look forward to it, and so do our kids.  Dressing up on a beautiful ship is just something special for us and makes us feel nice.  The photo also make a great way to capture our family in that moment/time of life, all looking their best. 

Later in the evening after we see the show we'll typically change into something less formal to wander the ship.

Dan

I appreciate your no frills, objective writing style.  Thanks for the review!

Dan

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Depends on the cabin😉

No arguing there.  🙂

Dan

On 10/17/2019 at 7:04 AM, spookwife said:

 prepare to be disappointed.   anyone in Buffalo would  be insulted if served them.  

Like Buffalo is the only place that knows how to make great wings.  No offense, but it doesn't take much skill.  ...and it's not like chicken is somehow a local cuisine to Buffalo.  LOL

Dan

On 10/16/2019 at 11:11 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

Isnt each order of wings a separate price, though

Yes, but personally I'd much rather eat in one of the ship's venues than in my cabin. 

The idea of eating in my cabin just seems awkward and like I'm being a total bum.

Dan

OP, it might be good to update your title for those browsing the forum.  Royal Caribbean has 3 ships that start with the letter E.  Empress, Enchantment, and Explorer.

Dan

They don't wrap the silverware in the Windjammer anymore?  I'm surprised because that's one way to really cut down on the transmission of pesky viruses.  We always have a little travel bottle of hand sanitizer that we apply after getting our food and sitting down, but before touching the silverware.  Now, if someone had sneezed all over the silverware there is no way to keep it protected.  Yuck.

Dan

I never cared for it on Oasis class, and it looks even worse on Voyager class.

Why in the world would you choose baby blue?  The clean white of the old paint job is much more elegant looking.  Now it looks like a toy that's been blown up 1000x

Dan

13 hours ago, bilyclub said:

 

I get it.  Greatly prefer the Freedom over Liberty and especially Indy, but still go on them. 

That's really interesting.  We've been on all three and find them far more similar than different, to the point that I pretty much consider them equal.  The "amping" that Royal Caribbean is doing to them is making them different right now because some are amped and some not, but at some point soon all three will be amped and very similar again.

Just curious why you like the Freedom over the Liberty over the Indy?

Dan

28 minutes ago, bilyclub said:

.She still beats the pants off some of the old junks Carny has out there.

100% true

Dan

We're considering Majesty for a quick 3 night cruise in December, but ONLY  because of the low price of the cruise. 

There is almost nothing about the Majesty that I see as an improvement over the Freedom class, except for maybe the Schooner bar.

I see Majesty as a cruise ship for those that just need to get away at a cheap price point.

Dan

Great ship, and a LOT bigger than what you sailed on with Sovereign class.  Sounds like you found most of your answers already, but I think you'll appreciate what Liberty has to offer.

We're sailing on Liberty in March 2020, and previously sailed January of 2018.  Crew was great, and we thought the food was a little above average for our RCCL cruises.

Highlights that we like about Freedom class (some specific to Liberty):

• Beautiful large promenade
• Deck 4 wrap around walking deck.  Great views of the ocean with quiet areas to sit.
• Helipad area to look at the stars at night and soak in the warm breezes
• Saturday night fever
• Great fitness facility with lots of treadmills looking out the front of the ship
• Ice skating shows and the open skate times
• Water slides
• Cantilevered hot tubs in the solarium
• etc...

Either ship is a great option.  I would choose whichever has lower cost and better itinerary.

Dan

 Take your pick really, they are way more similar than different.    At this point they may be the two most similar ships in the entire fleet after both being amped 

Dan

Nice looking room.  We prefer two connecting inside cabins for our family of 5.  Two full bathrooms, 4 actual beds for the connecting kids room, and the ability to shut the door between rooms if wanted.

Dan

On 10/6/2019 at 4:47 PM, 138east said:

Main Dining Room and Windjammer plus StudioB, Boleros, RBar, guest services, cafe promenade, pool deck, sports deck and Viking Crown.  I find that I spend little or no time in forward venues like the theater, conference center, or the spa and fitness center.

 

Decks 2 and 3 are certainly likely to be quiet, but they are not walk through decks.  If you are forward, you have to go to a higher deck to get aft and vice versa.  The Royal Promenade is the major indoor artery to do this, but it can be annoyingly crowded at times.

8 hours ago, Junkhouse said:

Because of Studio B, forward cabins on decks 2 and 3 are harder to navigate to back of the ship. I like the upper decks, prefer 8, near aft elevator for easier access to deck 11.  Just make sure you don't get connecting rooms because the one we were in only had a small chair, no love seat.

We also like deck 8 or 9 interiors which are typically nice and quiet with cabins above and below.  We typically book forward cabins(for no particular reason really).   If we are sailing with our kids, we love the connecting cabins.  It really opens up the space and it's great having two full bathrooms accessible to everyone.  If it is just my wife and I we definitely stay away from connecting cabins.

If I had to say why we choose forward, it would be the less used elevators, less chance of engine rumble, and that we like to walk the promenade and this forces us to do that on our way to dinner.  However, the aft of the ship is more convenient for just about everything (except the elevators are typically busier).

Dan