Engineroom Snipe

DO NOT, even jokingly, give them any ideas! 😱

Can you say, "Avalanche?" 😮

I never thought of a cruise ship in those terms but as I contemplate your post, "floating theme parks" seems to be a valid expression.

I know that some of the land based fun have raised their prices and are now getting a bit of push-back forcing them to off discounts on park reservations, hotel reservations, enhancement of black-out dates, etc., etc. I have read on these forums how "everything has gone up" in price. I have no problem with price increases if the quality of the product remains the same or goes up with it. As the price point of cruising approaches land-based options, I am with you and ready to "find equivalent value or better land based fun." Currently, there is a 9 Day Cruise out of Bayonne in November (not over the Thanksgiving Holiday). The spacious ocean balcony was advertised for $4,300 for room and tax. Add another $288 (suggested gratuity). This does not include a Unlimited Drink Package of around $1,338 for two people (2 people at 30% discount) including mandatory gratuity. An Unlimited Dining package (including current discount of 30%) is $665 to include gratuities. I think I can get a decent 9 day land vacation in November for two adults with the $7000 in cruise cost. As you know, we have other options. 😁

I am riding out the last two reservations I made over a year ago at much better prices than available now. I have one for next year at a very good price. I will only tolerate once a day room service and reduced menu options both in the Windjammer and Main Dining room if I can get an excellent price. Considering that I used to do three cruises a year, I am already slowing down my cruise reservations and dollars. I know the law of supply and demand. I am more than happy to let someone else demand a cruise at a higher price. I have my limits and will cruise less until I see a reasonable balance between excellent service and price.

Thank you for your time sharing your review (voyage) with us. 😁

I am thinking of a "Simpsons" episode as I read this, Homer puts a hotdog to be reheated in a microwave for thirty seconds. As it reaches 15 seconds, he irritably laments, "Why does it take so long?" 😁

Interesting to add, the current trend is providing smokeless casinos as evidenced on the conversion of the Jazz Club spaces to smokeless casinos on the Oasis Class ships. Smoking on board ships has been as old as the United States Navy. Imagine the safety hazard on an aged wooden hull. Times are changing as the percentage of North Americans who smoke have decreased in the past twenty years and the amount of people vaping has significantly increased over the past five years. If there is money to be made by smoking or not smoking, corporations will always find a way to profit. I just wish we all could be courteous in our addictions. 😁

I have noticed the thin crust. If I were to only have pizza by itself for a meal, I might go to a thicker crust with more sauce and cheese but we are talking about being on a cruise. I eat more food than I normally do so a thin crust which resembles a pita bread with a less generous amount of toppings is actually a good thing. I treat it as a "snackeral" and it satisfies the need (also a great little add-on to disrupt drinking on an empty stomach in the afternoon). Great quote, "It's not gourmet, but it gets the job done." @The Fun Researcher 😋

On South Beach, I saw age groups from 11 to 50 huffing and puffing playing volleyball on a sunny sand filled court. I had so much fun just watching them have a good time. I was almost tempted to try and be a "weekend warrior" but my common sense prevailed. In those types of games, my body tries to cash checks that have been bounced a few times. The game is free but the visit to my chiropractor and physical therapist two week later will make it an expensive ego trip. 😬

SO many free activities available on the island for that age group. Do not pay for the water park at that age. When they hit the 12 to 15 year brackets, the water park might be more appropriate. Someone has to supervise them for safety until then.

Thank you for taking us along with you on your voyage. Safe travels home.

Same here. I have a cruise in November, 2023, arriving at 12pm and leaving the next day at twelve 12. I might try a tour on the first day knowing I have extra time to get back to the ship, The second day is a bit more difficult for one needs to be in sight of the ship at around 11am. Not many things open super early to do.

You have the right idea. It is YOUR vacation and you value being in the wave pool all day. You enjoy it and weigh the experience against the cost point. I can agree with almost everything said in this entire subject by all of the posters if I place myself in the posters' mindsets. We all have a choice to pay or not to pay. For whatever reason, RCI has set their price. You get to vote with your Benjamins (or Pounds)! 🤔

Small aside, the amount of dust in your picture would take about two weeks or more to accumulate. It appears that somebody "wiped the shelf" recently but missed that section. Could this possibly have been a room that was not attended to because it was not occupied on the transatlantic? One guess is that it was not cleaned when it left Baltimore because no one was booked in the room the week following its last use. Upon its next use, it was assumed to be clean because it was not used (you). Not an excuse for it but I cannot see a table getting that dusty under two weeks. The dust had to have a chance to settle with very little movement or airflow in the cabin. I am humble enough to say that I have cleaned many a room in my lifetime.

I was on the Enchantment out of Baltimore, April 20, 2023. I left a brief CC thread of my experiences. Once a day room service was the norm and ours was in the morning as we requested from a steward who was attending a room in our area (we did not see our steward for two days). Our room was clean upon arrival (interior on third deck) and was cleaned daily. We are very tidy in general so as long as the room was clean to begin with, there would be no issues. The room did show normal wear and tear which was to be expected. Everything worked as expected. I would not be happy if I had your experience. See if you can find the Manager of room stewards in your area. I had a problem and he was to solve it for me. Try and enjoy the rest of your cruise.

I have read many of your posts and I can concur with some of your observations. My last two cruises were not up to the standards I am used to on RCI. For for the amount of money that I paid, they were more than adequate. The total experiences were positive. I have two more this year which were booked over a year ago at very attractive pricing. I have one next year which I locked in at a very good price. I have read enough critiques on multiple postings that my expectations have been lowered significantly concerning food and service but I will still enjoy my booked cruises. After that, unless the pricing is extremely attractive, I am "abandoning ship" for awhile. That is the only significant action which will either improve standards and services or decrease the pricing which I find approaching other vacation experiences. My Crown & Anchor status is nice but not a significant factor in booking a cruise.

I do BBQ in New Jersey in February but you need to put a bit of insulation around the barrel and beef-up the combustibles (wood and charcoal). 😋

I wonder how much business RCI will be cannibalizing from their other ships to fill the Icon? Will they be able to back-fill the smaller ships as customers forgo two or three cruises a year on smaller ships to pay for one cruise per year on the Icon? At the prices you quote, it is going to take a large amount of cash to feed this vessel and keep it full: otherwise, they have overestimated their revenue stream which will significantly decrease as the novelty of the first voyages of repeat cruisers wears off.

As long as the "Ugly Duckling of the Seas" can lay some golden eggs for RCI's coffers, beauty is in the eye of the shareholder. 😉

"Don't go breaking my heart....." (Elton John and Kiki Dee) which was sung right after Rocket Man and Hotel California referred to in post #42 @Sizzlechest. 🤣

I could always count on the salad bar to be a great back-up option. "Those were the days my friend, I thought they would never end...." (Mary Hopkin) Oh the inhumanity of it all, not the salad bar! 😭

I appreciate your response. That is exactly what I have noticed too! 🥹

Enjoy your balcony and a private moment with the sea! Thanks for sharing your voyage with us. 😉

😢