Tin can

It is purely a business decision by Royal to allow smoking in its casinos.

We had a great time on Explorer recently and wouldn't hesitate booking another cruise on her. The only negative was the internet often kicking you off as someone else mentioned above but no big deal.

As people have mentioned it appears to be a manual process of recording the drinks. Last Easter at the main pool at Coco Cay it was so busy at the bar that on a couple of occasions they just gave me the drink. I'm sure this will change...

There is a regular bus service from the airport to Venice, you catch it right outside the airport. They put your luggage in the hold so it's very easy. It takes about 20 minutes from memory. I think RCL are probably right stating 3hrs for their shuttle from the airport to the dock at Ravenna. That wouldn't be for me but we got talking to a some fellow passengers on our cruise and it all worked well apparently but because the traffic was heavy some shuttle buses weren't able to stop for a comfort break.

That is a great recommendation, an absolutely superb hotel. It is also an easy walk from where the coach drops you off from the airport and is across the Grand Canal from the train station as we went to Ravenna by train. I don't think many people consider the train train to Ravenna from Venice but it is very easy and was enjoyable.

I don’t think there is the cultural appetite to change things otherwise it would have happened already. Our attitudes to dress are different, no one’s view is better or worse we are just different around the world. I personally like it that with Royal on an Italian departing cruise the dress is different to a British one and that sailing from Singapore is different to the US. As a Brit I actually notice quite a difference departing from New York compared to a cruise that departs from Florida even if both are sunshine cruises to say the Bahamas & Coco Cay. Neither is good or bad, better or worse just a different style of dress. I enjoy the differences to be honest and I’m cool with being asked to wear a pair of trousers in Singapore for example if that is how they roll. I guess some wouldn’t but that’s my take on it.

What people wear doesn't bother me but I'm glad we are all different around the world. Who wants exactly the same experienece when we travel. I'm formal when I travel from my native UK, I enjoyed ditching the formal and going smart designer in Italy as most of the passengers were Italian on our recent Explorer cruise and I enjoy Caribbean casual when sailing from Florida. People seem to get really angry here defending their right to wear a certain item of clothing to the dining room and there's a big world out there with more important things to get excited about, I just don't get it.

Royal seems to adapt things to the local market it is sailing from. I saw people turned away from the MDR in shorts on Anthem sailing from the UK last summer. It was the same on our Singapore departing cruises. Whenever we have sailed from Florida we have seen bare feet, bare chests, bikini’s and pyjamas in the MDR. All cool with us but you would rarely or probably never see this in Europe so I think Royal adapts the ‘rules’ (for want of a better word) according to the market.

It is where I am sitting 😄 and you do realise that the history of Royal Caribbean is Norwegian?

On a Florida departing cruise I would completely agree, cultures and expectations (in our experience) are slightly different on Royal sailings around the world.

Is this really formal night? I don't think I have seen such a small line with so little people on any ship since we started cruising 15 years ago. Everything about this photo would be completely different in Europe with the size of the queue and the style of dress but hey people can wear what they want I don't care. I'm curious though why the guy has chosen to carry a completely full backpack to dinner.

This is off topic so apologies but I'm a bit shocked by that, things must be different in the UK. It's two days to fully test and screen the blood sample here and then after final checks the blood transfusion that was taken and then stored is issued for use by day three. I'm amazed that its been mentioned on this thread that a Captain would be on the PA asking for people of a certain blood group to come forward on a sailing so it can go out of one and straight into another but I'm not a medical man so I guess its ok.

I'm surprised at this as when you give blood you also have samples taken which are tested and the results take 1-2 days to come back. I'm not sure I would want blood straight from someone else but I guess it depends on how serious the circumstances are.

Hasn't the booking terms changed recently with Royal in that irrespective of which jurisdiction you book your main country of residence dictates your terms and conditions. I think you confirm this when you check in. I recall receiving an email from Royal but perhaps this is just a UK thing.

As bonsai states, as long as you are flexible around the peak times our experience in a junior suite has been that we have been able to have dinner in coastal kitchen every night.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. The two formal/dress your best nights on our Greek Isles cruise we’re absolute chaos. Everyone must have been in the MDR. It was all handled very well by Royal in fairness.

Things seem a bit different in Europe. We were surprised how smartly dressed people were most nights on our recent Greek Isles cruise on Explorer. This may be due to the majority of the passengers being from Italy and Spain.

We are not long off Explorer. 1 I think the shuttle from the ship to Venice was $65.. It was never listed in the cruise planner you purchase from a QR code in the cruise compass on board. 2. It leaves at various times and you pick the one that suits you. I understand it can take 2.5 - 3 hours. 3. The shuttle after the cruise to Ravenna again leaves at various times and you book the same way and it costs $10. A lot of people on departure got the shuttle to Ravenna then the train back to Venice. You would have to change at Ferrara but it would be quicker and cheaper than the shuttle. We got the train from Venice to the cruise and then the train from Ravenna after the cruise to Bologna. It was all very easy. Have a great time on the cruise, we really enjoyed Explorer from Ravenna.

This was exactly our experience two weeks ago on Explorer. There were nearly 2000 Italians on our Explorer cruise, I wouldn't say it was traditional formal wear as there were not many tuxedos' or ball gowns etc on show but most passengers were very very smartly dressed on formal night. It was like a Prada, Versace, Gucci fashion show and we really enjoyed it. I personally wouldn't take a tux but if you want to dress up you will be in good company with the Italians, you will have a great time on Explorer we really enjoyed the Italian vibe.

It was on Explorer last week, three Heidi machines. You can turn the sound down but then it is full volume for the feature 😀

Personally I think the reason is clear, if Royal is at 100% capacity it doesn't necessarily want the experienced cost conscious cruiser like you and me who recognise the cuts in service. The last thing Royal wants is ships full of price savvy, high loyalty status returning passengers with their two bottles of wine making their drinks vouchers last all day and not spending on the ship. New cruisers is where it's at for Royal and that's clear with Icon, advertising outside of the usual recognised avenues and instead using Apple TV, MLS or whatever will draw in this required demographic (just my opinion).

I think your right about underestimating the "pulling power' of football in general and various associations with clubs by Royal Caribbean could be a genius move especially with the US hosting the World Cup in 2026. After all who would have thought we would see the day that Super Bowl winning legend Tom Brady would buy a stake in a UK football club (Birmingham City).

I thought it was just me, I tried the Lavazza coffee machine once on our recent Explorer cruise and I could have had a helicopter hovering outside the balcony to winch me off making less noise. We are from the UK so predominantly tea drinkers but in all seriousness I am assuming that fancy coffee pod machines don't usually make that sort of noise.

You're right, I couldn't find out any information about the shuttle to/from Ravenna before hand from customer services. It was only from here and FB groups that I knew there was one and then when I arrived there was Royal representatives everywhere. I don't know why this wasn't conveyed or promoted as I'm sure a lack of information of the logistics of travelling from either Bologna or Venice to the port put a lot of people off booking.

Yes it was $10 each way. We just turned up at the shuttle point going and they added our room number and we were charged to our room. The shuttle back to Ravenna does not show up before hand. You scan a QR code on board and book the time you want and again it is charged to your room. People on our FB group got really stressed with the transfers from Venice or Bologna and then how to get to the port but it was really easy and well organised.