ORDPLATAA

So, today is our final sea day and I would like to share a few updated items from our first RCCL and Freedom OTS cruise.

We found great value in the 15-Drink coffee card. Honestly, when you start doing Venti espresso drinks at $5.50 - 6.00 a crack, it is well worth it. Again, one punch per drink (but sometimes they only punched the card once for two drinks).

I had made reservations at Chops for my husband's birthday dinner and ended up with 8 people in our party. Without a doubt, it was the WORST "specialty dining" experience we have ever had onboard any ship/line. Knowing this was a large party and knowing it was a special dinner they have us the most inexperienced & poorly trained waiter possible. Drink orders were messed up, delays in getting our starters out, clearing plates while others at the table were still eating (a la Windjammer), poor steaks, I could go on. The Food & Beverage Manager came by at the end of the night and just listened, no apologies and then the server was right there and interjecting himself into the conversation.

By contrast, we did a 2nd night at Giovanni's Table and loved it. The service was great, the filet was incredible (as was the half order of rissoto we had as a shared side dish).

Bar service in Bolero's was tough at times - preferred R Bar for drinks.

We stayed aboard FOTS at Labadee - was a great call as we basically had the ship to ourselves. That meant that there were only 6-7 people at the Flowrider so we got to boogie board several times. Had a blast until hubby's last run when he cracked his foot. I will say there is a nice medical center onboard and (thank God) nothing serious but the did have to tape up two of his toes - sprained but not broken. We received a follow up calling making sure he was okay.

So, that's the latest. Very bumpy/stormy last night as we headed towards Cuba. Can't imagine how much more rocking there would have been on a smaller ship.

I think it was $10 for a martini.

Currently aboard the Freedom OTS. 1st time cruising with RCCL (normally Celebrity and HAL). So far, I would say everything is fine. Not bad but not overwhelmingly good. Kind of like staying at your average Sheraton if this were a hotel.

Room is good - surprising amount of storage. Even though I understand the ship was refurbished in 2015, she seems a bit rough around the edges. Carpet seams are splitting, carpet all over the ship looks faded and our sofa has a big stain on it.

Wi-Fi is good so far. Was a bit slow yesterday but that was most likely due to it being a totally rainy day at sea and everyone was online at the same time. I will say it's better than some domestic flights I have been on recently!

Coffee Card - we bought one (15 drinks for $30 online). There seemed to be some questions on these boards about the # of punches per drink size. We have been drinking venti lattes and only getting charged one punch per drink.

They are offering a 10 cocktail punch card today for $75 + 18% svc. This is day 3 so maybe liquor sales are slow? We did not buy the full cruise drinks package so we will be getting the card as it makes the most sense of what we will most likely drink this week.

Crew seems fairly nice but not very polished. Had challenges ordering a drink in R Bar before dinner - server didn't understand what a dirty martini was (basically brought a glass of gin and lemon peels) and she had never heard of a negroni.

Dinner in main dining room was fine if a bit banquetish. I get they are trying to feed 1-2,000 people at a time but food just didn't seem to have any flair. We did buy the 3 specialty dinner package for $70pp + svc (we had already bought one night at Chops and were able to upgrade). Since last night was formal night (and we aren't into formal nights), we did our first specialty night at Giovanni's Table. It was wonderful and worth the price. The filet was one of the best I have ever had at sea (and better than a few I have had in land as well). We brought our own wine and we did not get charged a corkage fee.

That leaves the ship. I know this is purely subjective but, after a day and a half, I am not a huge fan. It feels very claustrophobic to me in that there aren't really any windows on decks 4&5. There are just a handful in Bolero's and R Bar but that seems to be it. The Celebrity & HAL ships we have been on seem to have tons more natural light. Also, the Royal Promenade just feels like being at Woodfield Mall and seems to be a bottleneck when the show lets out.

So, all in all, we are having a good time. We paid $600 per person for a balcony guarantee and got a D3 so no complaints there. Just thinking that the RCCL brand isn't for us.

Just my .02 cents - and your mileage may very (so please no flaming).

On the 11/25 sailing on the FOTS. We are with a group and had booked a PR cabin. On Friday there was a huge price drop and we (through the group TA) managed to upfare to a Cat X Balcony GTY for a whopping $22 more per person. Cabin assignment was within a few hours (like 3) of approving the charge. Assigned a Cat D3 on Deck 7 - almost a $300p.p. upgrade. Very Very Happy!

Considering the May 2015 PP group to Bermuda. I did the TA on the Eclipse a few years ago and had a good time. Nice group of folks onboard and have kept in touch with a few since then. Just curious if anyone has done this trip before and curious as to thoughts about the group mix as well as what Bermuda is like (never been so how's the weather and is there enough to do for three days or will we be bored?).

Cheers!

Bob

m) Did I mention that the temperature is in the high 90’s and the humidity is 125%?

We are on the March 31st sailing out of Singpaore (a charter for Atlantis Events) and have booked a Cat A1 (stateroom 1114) for the cruise. Since this is one of the new cabins, have you heard how the air conditioning is working for these folks? Just thinking that, with really nothing above these cabins besides the basketball court, have these turned into little easy bake ovens?;)

We'll be on the Millennium Asia sailing March 31-April 11th with Atlantis.

An excellent summary of the Atlantis experience from the perspective of someone who has actually done a couple. My partner & I (40 years) feel much the same way about the all-gay charters.

 

Both the European and the Alaska cruises attract a somewhat more mature crowd than the January and the Mexican Atlantis cruises, so be prepared for that.

Totally understand that the October cruise will certainly be a more party-centric crowd. How will we enjoy it - not sure but willing to give it a try and form my own opinion. Crystal has a great Mexican Riviera itinerary post Thanksgiving that would cost less, have an overnight in Cabo + a $500pp onboard credit. Of course, the flipside is a much older demographic (we are in our late 40's) and a much more formal experience (formal nights aboard, etc.). So, this is a great case of what do you value in a vacation and what choices are you will to make/compromise.

We are leaving on our third Atlantis trip this October (doing the Mexican Riviera). Our previous two experiences with Atlantis (Alaska and the Baltics) were great - especially since we did not: stay up partying until 3am; partake in any "chemical" enhancers; sleep around with every other guy on the ship....all of the things folks think you have to do on an Atlantis charter. Instead, we met folks that we count as dear friends, had incredible conversations with couples who have been together for 15-20 and even 40 years (and we thought we were an old married couple at 10 years). Yes, we do Drag Bingo and Dixie's Tupperware party - we find them amusing. We enjoyed cocktail hour with our new friends, leisurely dinners where we laughed and shared stories of our lives. We would probably do more Atlantis trips but the timing of their trips can be a challenge.

I realize that there are downsides to the charters - I won't go near the steamroom/sauna complex (ick) but on my recent Celebrity Eclipse crossing in April there was plenty of guys partaking of "activities" in the sauna (both gay and straight guys) so it is not just an Atlantis/RSVP thing. As far as drinking goes, you should have seen the folks that bought the premium beverage packages that were sucking them down as fast as they could so that they could "get their monies worth" on the crossing. And true, prices are higher than what you can find on a scheduled sailing. Please keep in mind that the chartering company takes all of the risk to fill the ship and they have to price it to break even factoring in the chance they don't sell out and they also have to bring in talent, decor, etc..

So, I will turn my rant <off> ;). I think that charters/gay groups and scheduled sailings all have their +'s/-'s. It really is what works for you.

Hi Bonnie-

Thanks for all of your great tips! We just were able to grab 7688 on the Navigator next July on a chartered trip with Atlantis Events going from Barcelona to Rome. We had 8390 but I didn't realize that it had the "storm" type door versus the sliding glass doors. The photos you posted were a great help and I am sure we will love 7688 as much as you do!

Thanks for all of the valuable information and for being so gracious with your time.