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Our 5/26 cruise on Eclipse features this concierge class day 1 lunch.  We are in Aqua.  Does this apply to us?

I just want a regular coffee in the early am.  We don't pay for specialty coffee anywhere.  For us, its a waste of money.  Our suite did have a coffee maker but no cold milk or cream.  We like to welcome the sun up with regular coffee, at a table, indoors.  Not in the suite.  Not outside at the pool deck.  We can have this on all the other ships we've been on.  

I wrote down menus from the app.  I am fairly sure the day 7 lobster did not include one free tail and another for 16.99. Only the one for a charge.  Hopefully some other passenger from this cruise will be able to clarify.  

On my Mar 7 sailing, day 7 was Cod, Chicken Marsala, Strip Steak, Pasta, Stuffed Peppers and the lobster was $17. 

There was no lobster in MDR without charge for the 8 nights on our Vision sailing. Only a lobster mac and cheese.  Some nights it was available for $17

I researched fully.  I knew what was included.   I like small ships and Vision was quite good.  I was not expecting more perks.  I am simply comparing RCL to my many cruises with other cruise lines.  And the price was NOT least expensive.  Came to  400 pp per day with OBC .  And I loved the short drive to Baltimore and the Baltimore port.  As a senior, I do not care for water slides and top deck activities.  Many seniors would be interested in the things we like and our point of view for this RCL sailing.   It just doesn't match well to our suite experiences in MSC, X and NCL.

I researched fully.  I knew what was included.   I like small ships and Vision was quite good.  I was not expecting more perks.  I am simply comparing RCL to my many cruises with other cruise lines.  And the price was NOT least expensive.  Came to  400 pp per day with OBC .  And I loved the short drive to Baltimore and the Baltimore port.  As a senior, I do not care for water slides and top deck activities.  Many seniors would be interested in the things we like and our point of view for this RCL sailing.   It just doesn't match well to our suite experiences in MSC, X and NCL.

My 1 specialty dining was a suite perk.  Not diamond.

Vision on March 7 had only milk in pitchers at the coffee stations.

I knew well in advance that  there was no special Suite dining options.  I was simply stating that for such a suite, on this exact ship, for the price, it was disappointing compared to other cruise lines.  

My overall experience on Vision was fairly good.  We like the smaller ships.  I was only comparing our first RCL suite experience to what we have had on X, NCL and MSC.  

We cruised on Vision from Baltimore on March 7, 8 nights.  It was our first on Royal and got Diamond due to our Celebrity Elite status.  We also cruise NCL and MSC.   This is what we seniors experienced.

Vision was sold out, approx 2000 guests.  Very nice overall condition with few areas showing age (carpets in hallways, eg).  Lounge and theater furnishings all comfy (Unlike NCL who prefers form over function). 

We had a Grand Suite which was stupendous.   Big.  Lots of storage.  Fancy.  Great bedding.  Great attendant and 2X per day service.  Small TV, but it accepted inputs from my DV Player and my Fire TV.  Had more tv channels than expected. 

Suite class featured concierge service (Jaime was fab) and access to the Concierge Lounge.  This was outstanding.  Nice cocktail hour with appies. Enough seating for all the suite guests and good views.

Suite class also came with breakfast daily at Chops.  Good but still we had some breakfasts in Windjammer (but no smoked salmon).  A VIP area in the theater was good.

Still, we were VERY disappointed with dining as a suite guest.  No dedicated restaurant.  Dinners only in the MDR, and no special menu, seating area or timing.  Quite a bit down from our experiences with Celebrity, NCL, MSC. 

MDR.  We are foodies and found the main dining to be average some nights, disappointing on others.  Not as good as other lines.  Lobster was an upcharge.  The strip steak was cooked properly but seemed like a lower grade of beef.  Not tender.  Theme nights were unattractive to us.  Breads not a strong point on RCL. 

Windjammer:  Fairly good for breakfast, but there was only one inconvenient egg station.  Bacon always crispy!  No milk dispensers.   Had to pour a glass out of the coffee area pitchers.  Sheesh.

Lunches were like average diner food.  Nothing special.  WJ not open early enough for us early birds.  Hard to find coffee in the am unless you don’t mind getting it outside on the pool deck.  Could not even sit in WJ until 7am.  

Park Café at the solarium.   Had nice food but lousy hours.  No lunch until 1 pm, when a big line formed immediately.

Specialty dining.  We bought the 3 night plan to add to the 1 night which came with Diamond.  Izumi was 10 stars.  Great sushi and sashimi.  Chops was very good with excellent rib steak and filet.  Giovanni was also VG…osso bucco fabulous. 

Pleasant surprise:  we left Charleston shortly after docking, due to poor weather.  RCL refunded our port fees.  WooHoo.

Solarium and poolside.  Seating and tables commonly available. Tiny hot tubs…only 4 can squeeze in, and they were always crowded.

Just off Vision Mar 7 cruise.  The ship is in generally nice shape.  Carpets in the hallways can use replacement, but we didn't notice much more that is needed.  Its an older ship, so you cant change decor.  Furniture in lounges and theater were very good.  We had a suite which was beautiful.  

11 hours ago, BND said:

That's because it doesn't really rain there, it drizzles.

It does rain.  Cinders, ash, bombs, pumice.   An umbrella would help against at least pumice.

LOL

We expect some rainy weather for our early March sailing on Vision.  Does anyone recall if suites provide umbrellas?

Charleston is worth walking around even in a modest rain. 

Thanks all.

That's the info I was looking for.

Hmm.  This is our first RCL sailing and we are a bit surprised at Vision of the Seas.  Only 2 theatre shows for and 8 nighter listed on the app as of 2/26. 

Is this the new RCL?   

Do larger ships have more theatre shows?

Yup.  Elite on Celebrity got us Diamond on RCL

This will be our first RCL cruise.  Vision has the Centrum for viewing entertainment, and I see only one indoor lounge.   We have access to the Suite and Diamond Lounges.  Will there be any music there, late afternoon, early evening?

Right off the ship are several good things to do.

The museum is outstanding.

Fun Golf is the best miniature golf I ever played....by far.

Just taking the free hop on around the Dockyard is good.  

Shopping in the dockyard is Blehh

How good is this internet?  Streaming?

Will it support Youtube on my firestick?

We sail on Vision in March, our first time with RCL

Today I was looking at the add on 3 night dining package, but I'm not sure I understand the details as stated. 

What restaurants are included?

Are some restaurants or entrees upcharged?

What is the a la carte pricing?   Says there is a $20 food credit.

Thanks for advice.

We are booked in a Grand Suite, Vision of the Seas, March sailing.  Today we received our Royal Up invitation for bidding.  

The Royal Suite description states: Enjoy our Royal Suite with a comfortable bedroom, a spacious living area and a private balcony plus extra perks for suite guests.

The other suite options do not mention extra perks.

Anyone know what these are?

Anything beyond what we are already entitled to in our Grand Suite?

Help very much appreciated.

We sail Megaviglia in NOV and have questions about the tv.  We seniors like to sleep to something on TV that is not exciting or dramatic.

1.  Do tvs have input for AV or HDMI accessories?  DVD players or streaming sources.

2.  Do Yacht Club rooms have a DVD player? 

3.  Does the television come with any channels such as History, Science, Smithsonian etc?

I have a portable DVD player but it only has an 8" screen.  When we travel I can usually plug it into hotel tvs for decent viewing.

You can also go to Google maps.  Zoom in on the Battery.    The pier 11 ferry will appear.  Click on it to get to the schedules.

Our plans from Atlantic Highlands  NJ are to take the Seastreak ferry to NY Pier 11 and then the NYC ferry to Red Hook.  Seastreak timing is aok.

Sure beats the horrific charges for parking at the Brooklyn port.