Patty00

Don't miss the arial shows in the centrum .... very cool...above the Windjammer the is a deck that over looks the front of the ship ... makes for a good view... any specific questions ... I can answer ... we are most likely going on her again in march 2017 to the southern Caribbean

No more Ariel shows......was on her in Jan., 2017 and Feb.,2017.

If I am not flying, I always bring my own egg crate. Just roll it up and put plastic over it.....use ribbon to tie it. Lightweight.....easy to carry....don't trust RC for their makeshift padding. On the Grandeur......you better bring a egg crate because the beds are hard. Yes, they no longer have egg crates due to sanitary reasons.

I too have received the exact same response on two occasions from special needs. Here is what I was told. There are no more "foam" or "egg crate" mattress toppers on the ships - they were removed for hygienic reasons and are not being replaced. Those who have reported having them on their beds should consider themselves lucky as they are probably gone by now. Unfortunately I found out the hard way (pardon the pun!) that the egg crates were gone, because I was promised one "on embarkation day" on my February AOS cruise and of course it was nowhere to be seen. The special needs agent told me that the cabin attendant's have been told to use folded up comforters (same as what you have ON your bed, UNDER the bottom sheet to add more padding. This is what was done on my AOS cruise and I can assure you it did absolutely nothing to soften the mattress. If you have made a recent request through special needs, you should be aware of what you will get and not believe you will have an egg crate topper, or you will be in for a sad surprise once onboard.

 

I was actually relieved that I finally got a straight answer from special needs s that I could make alternate arrangements for myself. I posted the picture of the mattress pad I am taking with me on my November Freedom cruise. At least this way I am assured that it will 1. Be there and 2. Be very comfortable. I am just not willing to take my chances and wind up with a back ache every day.

I was also told on the Grandeur that they no longer have mattress toppers for hygienic reasons. I can understand why. On the day you leave, the cabin steward tosses them out in the hall and they get stepped on etc. I am sure that all the ships will no longer have them. The message here is bring your own!

We were surprised on our Anthem Aug. 25th cruise, on the 2nd nite we received a notice that the mini bar would be emptied and gave a listing of drinks/snacks to choose if we desired to keep in the bar. We chose total empty and used the mini bar fridge to keep the 5 bottles of water and 2 diet cokes received as complimentary for the D+ status. Total surprised and was wondering if it's a new RCL policy. Has anyone else experienced the same?

Wouldn't that be wonderful if RC would standardize this hopefully new policy. I would love the choice of a empty mini bar especially if they would do the emptying. I always do it myself and sometimes get charged. I have never used the mini bar and would love a choice.....even prior to boarding. RC, think of saving personal and paying someone to check each day.

Always check your billing statement a day or two prior to the final day. I have 3 drinks loaded on my card and decided to use one at the Schooner Bar on the Oasis. He took my card but I never signed anything. I gave him a tip and thought that was how it was handled on the Oasis. However, the charge for the drink showed up on my bill plus a $2 tip!! Yep, he wanted a larger tip. GS took it off the charge but I was glad that I made the trip to GS a day before the long last day line.

I was on the Oasis recently, and being Pinnacle, enjoyed the perks of the SL with wine and beer from 11-11! Does anyone know if there is any merit to the rumor of a higher Pinnacle ( like P+) only using the SL. DL for D+ and Pinnacle only? Also, why doesn't RC standardize? Wouldn't it be nice if you could go on any RC ship and know what to expect according to your level? That may be too much to ask......

On my last cruise.....2016....the Grandeur had them with diamonds. I had mine made.....paid for the cast and would give you the jeweler and address but, I don't think it is allowed.

Did you get the message from RC not to come to the ship prior to 11:30? I think because of Carnival's mishap....

I am no longer going to book a Jr. Suite on a Vision class ship. I have always had disturbing noise.....either rolling carts or foot steps that sound like elephants walking over me. Maybe others have had better luck with them and can share what cabins. The noise varies.....but no afternoon naps for sure from my experience.

OBC from VISA points is completely refundable and any unused portion can be redeemed at Guest Relations for cash the day prior to debarkation. Have been doing that for some time now.

I have been doing that as well but did not know that you could go anytime to the casino and get the money and not have to pay the 5%....did you?

I was late getting out of my cabin on the last cruise, and saw how the egg crates were thrown on the hall floor.....not very sanitary. They are very thin....maybe a inch at best! It is better to bring your own....

Not for me! Postage size cabins! Old ship....antiquated and band aid refurbishing. If the Empress sails out of Baltimore (my home port) then I will start flying to cruise....Florida here I come.....

I'm not a chemist and you're right to say I shouldn't say they're the same - they're not. From what I read Gravol it is dimenhydrinate and apparently metabolizes it into diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Again, I'm not a chemist so take it with a grain of salt. Just a tinnitus sufferer looking for clues.

Totally unrelated.....in our local newspaper someone wrote in that taking Biotin helps tinnitus. I take it in a "Hair, Skin, and Nails" formula....3000mcg. ( you can find it in any drugstore/vitamin store). I also have tinnitus and have found relief...not knowing why. I think it is the Biotin. Unfortunately, or not to my knowledge, it does not help motion sickness.

I would love to see the water bottle filling stations like they have in airports. Sort of like a water fountain, except you sit the bottle on a shelf, water comes from above and a spout never touches any bottle.

 

M

I second that....RC are you reading this???

I thought of two things that I wanted to add to my review.

 

First, stateroom JS-8564 has a pole at the foot of the bed.

 

Secondly, my son turned 21 the second night of the cruise. I've read that your age for the whole cruise is whatever age you were on the day of sailing. However, he went to guest relations, and they printed him a new non-child seapass so thereafter he was permitted to purchase alcohol.

Would love to know if your cabin was noisy? Also, were your beds pointed in the direction of the ship.....like if you were laying in bed were you going in the direction of the ship in JS - 8564? Thanks

Because we use the fridge for my Insulin and Hubby's Embril which must stay cold plus fruit and juice we bring from the Jammer in case my diabetes is wonky with extra walking that day.

 

For the week it's our fridge and there isn't enough room with all the Woo Haa in it as well.

 

Special case, I know.

Not so special.....I also need the fridge for medical reasons. So, why doesn't RC ask on the reservation if we want the fridge empty or full? Wouldn't that save some money not having to pay someone to fill it? This RC employee could be doing something else.

My pet peeve is that RC does not read the reservation. I always put beds apart and they always put the beds together. Why ask on the reservation if you are not going to check out the bed configuration requested?

I would like to see more activities that are free!

It would be great if the WJ were open more hours....later as well....

I also vote for the MDR to be open for lunch on Port days...

I would like to see RC be respectful of those who wish to go to bed early...like 11p.m. Tours next day....early ports...the music/noise goes on pass 11 and they forget about the cabins up/below and near the elevators. The Viking lounge should stay open late, late..

I was on this sailing as well. Loved the ship, staff.....so friendly. We did have super calm seas....so, I am sure everyone enjoyed that! No mini golf...but lots of other things to do. I was concerned about the NVirus...but was surprised to find the ship so clean. To my knowledge, no one was sick from it and the staff said it was gone!! I loved the food in MTD. Did not eat in the WJ but chose the Park Cafe instead which I thought was great. The only complaint I had was my cabin was close to the centrum and I would not advise that. The music was really loud and didn't stop till after 11p.m. Check out the cabin map and chose wisely. Overall, I thought it was a great cruise and went smoothly....no issues!! I would give the Grandeur high marks!

What about the Noro? Is it all gone? Is the staff still serving in the WJ? Thanks....

You have the right to feel however you want. I reported what was told to me straight from the person who got the e-mail. I made it very clear that it is not necessarily going to happen, just that there is a possibility. I am only guessing that it depends on what is going on, gastro wise, on the ship now and in the very near future.

 

I am not a rumor starter on this or any other message board I belong to. Searching my name here will only show that I try to be helpful and honest to any questions asked.

 

But, like I quoted myself above, I would like the opportunity to have a plan B just in case my vacation plans have to be altered. I did not post this to cause mass hysteria, or to "spin lots and lots of future Grandeur passengers into a tizzy".

 

I, for one, am grateful that you posted. It gave me time to think about a plan B if it our cruise is cancelled or late embarkation. I just assumed that they would have the ship sanitized by now but that may or may not be true. I hate to see folks slammed when they are just passing on information to help others plan for what may happen. It is always best to be prepared and my cruise in a couple weeks may or may not take place as scheduled. Thanks for the warning.

Some of your replies are rude and sarcastic, and you were just giving your opinion of your experience on the ship. I'm sorry to see that. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with your post

 

You should be able to write about the ship without getting slammed. What say "Host"?

I so much agree!! I hesitate to comment sometimes with the backlash that can come back to me. I was on the Enchantment and did experience a rouge wave. Now don't tell me it wasn't......fact is it was! My table mate was on a bridge tour and the captain was not present. However, the first officer was in charge and he said "this is a rouge wave and everyone must leave the bridge". So, if you can't believe the first officer in charge of the ship.....who can you believe? People did get hurt! The ship tipped 45 degrees. This happened about two years ago on a ship out of Baltimore. You can have rough waves and wind as you leave the Chesapeake Bay into the Atlantic and folks need to be prepared for cancellation of ports, ship activities, etc.

We also have been charged for "stuff" we did not use. We never use the fridge and always ask that the bar staff empty it. That rarely works. After reading this post, I will just empty it myself and leave a note where it is so they can check. I wish RC would ask on our reservation if we would like the fridge stocked or not!! It would be so much easier both for the guests and the RC bar staff.

Hi MM, just off Explorer today. Indeed the bar servers are not too happy with the new program. One problem is that they all do not have access to all the complimentary drinks available with the coupon. The port wine was one example. The second comment was that they are not getting the usual 15% tips.

 

As a second point. If you have access to the Concierge Lounge, please remember to tip your waiters. The service there was great and I know many guests did not leave tips.

We always tip our drink servers in the CL/DL......we are D+. However, you may not see me actually handing him the envelope with the tip. On our last cruise, when I handed our wait staff the envelope, no one saw me thus you would assume that I did not tip. I have never not tipped but, I do it discretely.

...I hope I am wrong.

 

And as long as I am being skeptical I will also add the D+ will likely lose access to the Concierge Lounge, which will then be Pinnacle and Suites.

I cannot express how upset I would be if RC took away the Diamond/Concierge lounge. We are D+. That is basically our cruise. Chatting in the CL lounge with old cruiser friends. We use it as much during the day as in the evening. I don't care about the 3 drinks....that is fine...but, take away my lounge and I am gone RC!! I can drink my 3 glasses of wine on another ship and pay much less for the cabin. With no one to socialize with.....what is the purpose of going with RC?

I think it does fit under both bridges. However, another option is moving the port to another location in Baltimore....Annapolis or another area not affecting the bridges. I think I heard that Grandeur was here to stay.....at least through 2015.....hope that is not true and they do bring the Radiance class ships....