mac_tlc

Just did the fjords last month.. will be following along! mac_tlc

This is definitely their MO lately: She also told me there are no plans to make an announcement of these changes or to notify people already booked in Sky Suites. She also said there’s no plan to offer any compensation or allowing penalty-free cancellation or return of deposit. Three of our future X cruises are in Sky Suites. This along with the debacle of the Beyond redeployment, vaping in casinos and skyrocking prices have soured us on X. We were already soured on Royal and will sail our last booked cruise with them next week. Other than the Alaska family cruise next August, we will reconsider our February Beyond and November Apex cruises. They were booked on board under the old rules, so only $100pp at risk. I’d rather forfeit that and move to YC or Oceania or Viking. This cheapening of the advertised, and booked, product is ridiculous. Was never going to make Pinnacle or Zenith anyway😜. mac_tlc

That is a fabulous post and mirrors our feelings. As a matter of fact, my DW and I were just talking about the “thousand cuts” when I read your post. We find ourselves questioning the value proposition. Our future cruises, except one, were booked a while ago when the prices were a lot lower. Still, Royal and X can, and will, make changes that impact already booked cruises. I think we will be trying MSC YC, and maybe Oceania and Viking. mac_tlc

I think my daughter and grandson will go to Cats, probably not me .

A quick perusal of the app for the current Allure cruise only shows the house band in Dazzles. We will be on Oasis next week. I will be sure to voice my displeasure at yet another cut and poor replacement. mac_tlc

Just took another look at Phoenix's website schedule and it indicated that they were on Allure this week. Wonder if it actually happened. mac_tlc

It really is becoming a race to the bottom. Other than E-muster, I can't think of a single change on Royal or X since the restart that has been positive for the paying guests. mac_tlc

According to their web site, Phoenix is on the Ovation in August and the Oasis in November. We saw them on Oasis and they were excellent, although the Music Hall is an awful venue, IMHO. Horrible sight lines, most bottom floor seats don’t face the stage. mac_tlc

I agree. We won’t be sailing on Icon, or Wonder for that matter, given their current pricing. That plus 6998 other Icon passengers. No thanks. mac_tlc

We never noticed any vibrations in the back. We loved the aft views. mac_tlc

Great to hear from you Frank! When it’s just the two of us, we have gravitated to X and the Retreat. Now, Royal and X suite prices are crazy. Plus with Royal seemingly going all in on 3/4 nighters, we have expanded our view. Considering MSC YC, although those prices are creeping up also. Also looking at Oceania and maybe Viking (for the itineraries and lecturers). Hope our paths cross again! mac_tlc

Safe travels M & A!!!! mac_tlc

Following along! Just did the fjords on Jewel of the Seas and loved it! Geiranger! Flam! Olden! All awesome. gotta do the Loen skylift in Olden!

What a ridiculous statement and comparison, but that seems par for the course. Last I checked, I’m not driving the ship, so I don’t need to see what’s in front. And I’m not in a station wagon. Have you done the Geiranger or Flam fjords in an aft cabin? I have and it’s the absolute best view there is, from the comfort of your own balcony. I’ve also done Alaska in an aft and will do it again next year on Edge in a sunset verandah. 180+ degree views. And I’ll see any spouting whales regardless of what side of the ship they are on, as I did the Seven Sisters Waterfall and their lonely brother on the other side of the fjord, and see them both at the same time. mac_tlc

IMO, a sunset verandah would be superior to any other cabin. To be in the aft sailing through the fjords is spectacular.

We had a port call at Molde cancelled last month on the Jewel so they could get back to Amsterdam early, do to the salt levels in the river beyond the locks. The locks were only going to be operational from 6am to 7pm, and our original itinerary would have had us at the locks about 1am. Docked at 6pm, and overnighted in Amsterdam. A bunch of people left early, I think there were 8 people at Giovanni’s on the last night and 4 of those were our party. mac_tlc

Just did a Norwegian Fjord cruise on Jewel of the Seas last month. Here is my order of the ports we did, from must see to just awesome: 1) Geiranger 2) Flam 3) Olden 4) Honningsvag 5) Alesund We were suppose to do Molde but it got cancelled because we had to return early to Amsterdam because of the availability of the locks. Pick the itinerary that does the top listed ports. You won’t be disappointed. We had an aft balcony and I would recommend it highly! Best way to sail in and out of fjords. mac_tlc

Happy Anniversary Andrew and Lisa!! We will be sailing on Oasis in two weeks and will be celebrating our 40th! Yikes. mac_tlc

While I also think that their mind may be made up, I could read those changes to the website to be referring to the 8 week test on Equinox and Eclipse. The “itineraries where e-cigarette smoking is allowed” is indeed the 8 week test on the two ships. mac_tlc

I miss the various salts they used to have a few years back before they changed the menu. mac_tlc

The last cruise before drydock is October 12, 2024 and is 11 days, ending on October 23, 2024 in Southampton. The next cruise is the transatlantic departing from Lisbon, Portugal on November 9, 2024 mac_tlc

Hopefully the purple monstrosity doesn't . mac_tlc

Eden is on both, LeVoyage only on Beyond (and Ascent eventually). mac_tlc

For those who are happy with one-a-day service, thats great. To me the issue is, when it was twice a day, all of those who only wanted one a day could still get it ! Now that it’s once a day, those of us who appreciated twice a day service are SOL. mac_tlc

Our only tender port was Geiranger. A Costa ship got the floating dock so we had to tender. If we were the only ship, we would have had the dock. We got in line for tender tickets about 15 minutes before they started distributing them, we got group 7. Was still about an hour + to get to our number. Coming back to the ship the tender line was enormous as everyone seemed to want every last minute at the port. We left about an hour late. mac_tlc