bouhunter

We bring a liquid hand soap dispenser each cruise.  They're cheap and it's nice to have onboard.

5 hours ago, island lady said:

People, you DO realize that when you are up for another crystal block the LA will send you a card asking if you want the block or prefer to decline it?  You check the choice and then you simply drop the card off to the LA's desk.  There is also a drop box there if the LA is not present.  

 

 

Well our block showed up in the room no questions asked, no card in the room asking if we wanted it.  This was 6 weeks ago.

23 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Yes, but it's a tiny cheap piece of plastic. Lapel pins are meaningless unless you're Pinnacle

Pinnacle pins meaningless also, except in the eye of the Pinnacles who proudly wear them 24/7.

On 4/20/2024 at 2:19 PM, lovesthebeach2 said:

Odyssey is our favorite ship.  We love everything about it. I’m  sorry it’s going to NJ and leaving Florida.

Agree.  First time on Odyssey was last March and we loved it.  Beautiful ship.  FYI OP, lots of "cheap" pay dining also - namely the Pub, Playmakers and Giovanni's wine bar.  All are inexpensive and a nice way to shake things up.

17 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

When I was on Adventure several months ago they did not allow you to use Diamond Plus drinks on debarkation morning. There have been numerous posts about this issue. From my experience and from what I have heard getting loyalty level drinks on debarkation morning varies from ship to ship and sometimes from cruise to cruise. 

And we used Diamond + vouchers last morning on Adventure 2 months ago.  I guess it doesn't matter much "which ship", just "which day"........    🙂

4 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

If I was to pick one restaurant on Symphony it would be Hooked. Second would be 150 Central Park. I would pick Chops from the three you mentioned. As others have stated, food is very subjective and ultimately you know what kind of food you like best. 

Agree, we would choose Hooked.  Chops would be second but we had no complaints about Jamies.

4 hours ago, js said:

Oh my! WOW, I wouldn't have thought that the 3 day would go so quickly, the sailing is next April.

I will buy the next time I see it, if it comes up, and then watch prices.

I will also just buy the UDP and cancel if the 3 day comes up. 

Thank you so much.

FYI Odyssey also has some great, cheap pay dining too.  Namely the Pub, Playmakers, and Giovanni's wine bar.  I highly recommend the bbq nacho's and chocolate desert at the pub 🙂

34 minutes ago, mets123 said:

I assume El Loco Fresh replaced JR's and Playmakers replaced the Pub next to Sorrento's.

There is a pub on Odyssey.  Some decent food for 4.00 each 🙂

19 hours ago, nolegirl01 said:

Agreed! Two70 theater is not my favorite. It’s a cool and unique place but horrible for shows. We tried to get seating upstairs but it was packed, nothing available. I think those might be the best seats as you can see everything from up there. I didn’t care for the story on both the book and the effectors but the tech, the acrobats, the performances on both I appreciate. 

Agree with all you said.  2nd level seating is best for Two70.  As you said it's cool and unique, but odd in a way.  D+ seats there were perfect.   Last month was our first time on Odyssey and we loved the ship overall.  Wish it was going to be in Florida next year.  The nachos and chocolate desert at the pub are well worth 4.00 each!  🙂  

1 hour ago, dramamommao said:

Nowadays (in the US anyway) the historical plantation is losing popularity due to a more modern gaze.  

 

 

What is that even supposed to mean?  Modern gaze?????

3 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Congrats and enjoy your new cabin.  Not sure of the norms, but $1400  seems like a high bid to me.  Is the cruise longer than a week? 

 

M

Yeah that's a high bid, not surprised it was accepted.

Samba on Radiance last month was AWESOME.  Server, food, everything.  

9 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

While this may the posted time, it's not guaranteed. Our posted time last week was also 1:00 but the cabins did not open until about 1:40.

50+ cruises from Florida the rooms have been ready at 1:00 every time.  

On 12/31/2023 at 9:05 PM, firefly333 said:

You have to be out of your cabin by 8 am. I dont see it as fun sitting on the ship somewhere just sitting.

EXACTLY 🙂

1 hour ago, Another_Critic said:

$5K for a balcony is also no way.

Yeah, would never pay 5k for a basic balcony.  On any ship.  

18 hours ago, nelblu said:

As long as you have the patience to wait for an available elevator.🤣

Exactly.  Elevators can be a very big PITA on the last day.  So you either wait and deal with the crowds or use the stairs.  There will always be elevators and escalators in the terminal which aren't as bad.

22 hours ago, crazyank said:

nope

the post you quoted was NOT MINE.  Not sure how that ended up that way.

Looking at Icon pricing makes us thankful we like the smaller older ships.  We can do 4 cruises for the price of one 🙂

15 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Either way, you're going to have to file a claim with Royal if she decides to file an insurance claim for the lost/stolen/misplaced piece of jewelry. The insurance company will require the official claim denial from Royal that the piece couldn't be located with the insurance claim. They'll also require a copy of the original receipt from when it was purchased. And then, the insurance for lost jewelry is limited at $500.

Serisously?  You have no idea what the OP's insurance claim requirements or reimbursement limits are........,.,,.good grief.

RCCL is infamous for lost items never being returned from the "lost and found" department.  Wish you luck but don't get your hopes up.

12 hours ago, ILOVESHIPS said:

Do they have a coffee machine that works?

Lounge coffee machines are always a question mark, they seem to have a lot of maintenence issues.  Personally I've never been impressed with what they dispense even when they are working.

11 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

Yes, prices are insane- but since people still are willing to pay them, they will not decrease.  Early booking is the key for newer ships.  If you don't mind the old rust buckets, you might still get a more reasonable price.  Or consider another cruise line.  We are considering MSC for a cruise as their prices seem more reasonable.

We'll be on Grandeur, Explorer and Radiance for 6 weeks soon.  I guess we love rust buckets.  Has nothing to do with the prices we just don't like the chaos and crowds at elevators, windjammer, etc. on the huge ships.  Watching people lay on the floor on the sun deck on Symphony last winter because all the chairs were taken at 7AM every day was the last straw.  In fact half those 6 weeks are "free" thru casino comps, we could have chosen any ships and intentionally stayed away from the monsters.

As for prices, the lines have billions in debt to pay off after covid, it's not surprising.

On 12/3/2023 at 9:47 AM, schooner_Drinker said:

 

 

it’s not how much you put in it’s how much you play though 

 

 

Exactly 🙂  

1 minute ago, Tlbecker1 said:

I honestly have never had one, but most lunches in the Windjammer are full of individuals with burgers.  

Windjammer burgers are fine, I just wouldn't call them "delicious"....  🙂

On 12/14/2023 at 3:30 AM, brillohead said:

Then you will DEFINITELY not like Oasis class.  

For me, Freedom class is the "just right" size for me.  The Solarium is bigger (than Voyager class) with more shaded loungers, and you don't spend half the day walking from one end to the other (like Oasis class).  

Agree on the size, though not so much the walking.  On our Symphony cruise last spring elevators, pool decks and windjammer were SO crowded and chaotic the entire week.  Glad so many people love the big ships, keeps the smaller ones more pleasant.  We have 6 cruises booked this winter and NONE are on Oasis class 🙂