JBC11

There were some interesting facts from the different tours.

• The Galleys for the 4 main dining rooms are very separate. They are really setup for dynamic dining. They don’t have 1 for deck 4 and one for 5, they have 4 separate, independent galleys.
  
• All left over bread for the day is dried out overnight and then smashed to make the bread crumbs for whatever the chefs want.
  
• After the Galley tour they had drinks and nibbles laid out for us.
  
• Ovation is in the Guinness book of world records as the tallest observation deck at sea. The official certificate is on the bridge (photo shown previously)
  
• We had a dancer as well as the theatre manager with us in the Royal Theatre.
  
• There are three dance Troops on Ovation. One for the Royal Theatre, one for 270 and one doing the Dreamwork characters
  
• The dance troops come on the ship together and leave together. They start their contract in Miami where they rehearse in the theatre they have made there to the same dimensions as the ship.
  
• The cast member helping with the tour had been on the ship while it was based in China. They told us they can tell exactly where the ship is, as soon as the curtain opens. In China they face a sea of screens. Everyone is up early in China and the first show is packed, while the second show has no one there, and they often don’t schedule anything past 10pm. In Australia, there is more clapping.
  
• Every couple of weeks the dancers are weighed and have photos taken of them in their smallest clothes, which are sent back to Miami, to make sure the image is maintained.
  
• The Bridge tour was cancelled the first day as the ship was in thick fog, and they didn’t want the distraction on the bridge.
  
• We did the bridge tour after the captains talk, it helped as the captain had explained the screens below.
  

 

The screen on the left shows our course and the allowed deviation. The black line and dark grey. If there is an obstruction or some other reason why it needs to move outside the grey area, they may be able to do that, but can’t until they get captains permission. So anywhere within the grey area, is the allowed course the officers on the bridge may sail in. These are all part of the electronic maps that they have now.

 

 

 

• In 270, the cost of the room, including robots and the screens, computers etc. is the same cost as RCI first ship (not allowing for inflation). $2-3 Million.
  
• They have pressure pads next to the windows, so if the screens are being dropped and someone is standing there it won’t hurt them.
  
• 270 is open all the time (unlike the main theatre) and they do rehersals that anyone can watch
  
• Ovation doesn’t have broadway shows like Anthem as the ship moves between Australia and China, so must cater for the non-English speaking clients.
  
• The sets are built in a location in the middle of the US, boxed to fit strict dimensions and then sent out to be assembled on board. There is a very narrow space to load new sets (the wings that open when the ship is in port) and it takes longer than a single turn around day to get new sets loaded, which is why they generally only change shows during a dry dock, as they can’t store the old and new sets on board, while they are assembling them. Even if they could get the new sets on board on turn around day, they would have to take the Royal Theatre off-line for a number of days to get it setup.
  
• They use air brakes for the sets to stop them moving once in place.
  

Well I hope that you have enjoyed this (long) review. It has taken me six months to write. If anyone still has any questions, I would be happy to try and answer them.

 

Thank you if you managed to read all the way to the end. I have appreciated the feed back and comments as I have been posting.

 

 

Next up is the Aqua Theatre A1 Suite on Symphony in December - I wonder if this is the same December sailing as CruiseLifeRick? We are in the US for a month, including Christmas in New York + a week at Disney and Universal, if you are going to fly all the way. Make it worth while.

 

 

Then early 2020 - 2 weeks in Asia on the Celebrity Millennium

Fantic reviews thank you

John:):p

I've been waiting for a while. Sometimes, I wondered if I would ever get there. Watching everything about the Symphony launching while I was stuck doing a lot of work that I hate and working through the difficulties of life in miserable Scottish weather. Finally, it is nearly here. 10 days until I board the Symphony of the Seas!!!!!!

 

I am Joe. I have been posting on Cruise Critic for a while now, and have recently made my biggest move by maintaining the Cruise Director List (alongside sharing plenty of opinions). This is my first time doing a LIVE thread on CC, having been inspired by CruiseLifeRick when he did his LIVE thread on Symphony's inaugural in April.

 

I come to you from Glasgow, Scotland, a city well known for it's friendliness:

(disclaimer: Don't watch if you have no sense of humor, take things too literally or hate any use of strong language). ;p

 

Looking forward to your updates, I am saoling her i September, cant wait.John

 

This will be my 13th & 14th cruise; my 6th & 7th Oasis Class cruise and 2nd B2B. This will also be my 5th & 6th cruise around the Med and my 4th & 5th from Barcelona. There will be one first - my first time on Symphony! Having sailed all 3 sister ships, I am very excited to see everything new that Symphony will have to offer. I am hoping to try both Playmakers (wings! :)) and El Loco Fresh which are new dining venues on SY. Please give any other suggestions of things to try. All welcome.

 

I'll be back with more soon!

Looking forward to your updates, I am sailing on Symphony in September.

John:D;)

Casino Royale takes bets on select sports like March Madness, NBA, NFL & the upcoming World Cup.

Thank you

JC

There is not.

Many thanks for a quick response.

JC

This thread has been so useful, would love to see more reviews. I am sailing on Symphony in September SC from Barcelona, now really looking forward to it.

Thanks

John :):D:p

Hi, Does anyone know if Playmakers o Symphony OTS has a booker maker for placing bets on sports events?

Thank

John

Email addresses in this document:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Pz4Im5qh4cqd1zE5A9srLm3wGd0_SNZwTdbLTa59EF4/edit#gid=0

Many thanks

JOHN. ;p;)

Try emailing the concierge on the ship and ask them to connect you to your Genie. Calling to make sure you Star Class was the right thing to do, but after that the workers at the call Centers don’t really know about it.

 

Where are you sailing from?

Hi A&L Ont,

Hong Kong on the 27th May 5 night sailing.

Sorry to be a nuisance, how can I find out the concierge email, this is only my second sailing, booked now hooked for sure.

JC

Hi, no, had nothing at all as yet, don't know who to contact. :(:(

Just spoken with the RC call centre who confirms my booking is Star Class, but he had no idea or even heard about the RG, beggars belief, said would try and find out and follow up. :(:mad:

JC

You usually hear from your Genie around 2-3 weeks from your cruise, which is getting closer for you. Have you received your pre-cruise survey? That is typically 5-6 weeks before your sail date.

Hi, no, had nothing at all as yet, don't know who to contact. :(:(

Hi all, I am travelling on Ovation of the Seas on the 27/05/2018 in Star Class, really looking forward to it. When does the Genie make contact with you, as yet no email has bee received.

I have checked in, but there are no luggage labels to print, is this because I am Star Class, on all previous cruises I have always printed the luggage tags a few days before departure.

any replies would be most grateful.

Will give a report on my experiences on my return, only 12 more days to go, not as of I am counting!!!

many thanks John

;p;)

If those pesky colonies hadn't separated from the Mother England, we wouldn't need this discussion today. If you weren’t born with class it was steerage for you, and we didn’t have to breathe the same air.

 

Oh, for the good old days. harumph!

HAHA, that made me laugh. I think you pay your money and take your choice, aeroplane seating is no different, you could be top tier, but still in an economy seat, if you don't pay for First.

Happy cruising :):p

JC

Looks very good too me and some great wines

I'm booked and will be sailing on the Ovation, in May '19, for her first Alaska cruise.

 

Thanks for the video.

I am booked for the following week, looks fantastic indeed.

JOHN:)

Hi Guys,

I live in Asia, can I use a USA based travel agent or does it have to be one in your own country.

Thanks

John :)

Indian for me

:D:D

We have varied from $100 to $150 per person, for a seven day cruise.

Thanks for the info

John

We tipped the genie $700 for a 2BR Aqua theater suite.

 

I’ve seen people on CC mention $200 to $1200.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thank you for that, I have the 2BR suit for five days, so I am in the right ballpark, which is good to know.

John:):D

Hi Guys,

I am on a five-day cruise in may on the Ovation and lucky to be in Star Class with a Royal Genie, really looking forward to it. Can I have some guidance on tipping the Genie, I don't want to under or over tip but be generous for the service received. Should I also give some of this tip at the start of the cruise?

Thanking you all in advance for any suggestions.

John