Cruising89143

Not a lot of info but yes it’s a dry dock. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/07/royal-caribbean-cancels-holiday-freedom-sailings-for-drydock/

I won’t be surprised to eventually see Eclipse of the Seas, Solstice of the Seas, Edge of the Seas, etc…….Seems to be moving that way.

We were on the Symphony late last year. We docked at Coco Cay along with the Independence. Over 10,000 guests on the island. It was definitely crowded and felt that way. We were also there the week prior on the Freedom. The only ship docked. 100% difference. I personally have no desire to pay Celebrity’s prices to land at this island.

We had issues on the Solstice in April. The lady in the stateroom next to is loved the “F” word. She screamed at the top of her lungs day and night. I think she liked the go go juice a bit too much. They were rude and crude.

Had wings today at a local restaurant. Six wings was $18.99. The RCI prices are a bargain.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/05/norwegian-cancels-winter-program-in-europe-on-epic/

Our first cruise was on Norwegian Caribbean Lines (before they changed to Norwegian Cruise Line) on the MS “Starward” in May of 86 out of Miami to the western Caribbean for seven nights. The price for two in a standard outside stateroom was around $3000.00. No balconies on the ship at that time. I don’t recall the brochure price but the room was tiny. I remember almost being able to touch both walls with my arms spread when standing in the center of the room. The standard bathrooms today look like palaces compared to the ones back then. There is very little that I miss from cruising during that time.

Agree. When we book a cruise we book with the full intention of going but “life”happens. Things can change which can require a person(s) to change their plans. Not a chance that I’m willing to take. Someone also posted above asking if you lose your full deposit if you cancel. With their new policy RCI is taking your full deposit for canceling a suite booking even if you want to just change sail dates. You can bet X will follow with the same policy.

Agree. We booked/cruised three RCI cruises last October and all were in a GS. Two of the ships did not include Wi-Fi which we had to purchase. On the Symphony we had use of CK and Wi-Fi was included. I realize that all ships do not have CK but RCI needs to up the perks to at least include Wi-Fi in full suites on the older ships. I find their prices to be higher than Celebrity at times who gives full suites Wi-Fi, butler service, OBC, gratuities and Luminae.

The big difference with X versus RCI is that Sky Suites receive entrance and full use of the Retreat and Zenith’s no longer have access. Sky Suites are considered a full suite whereas the JS currently does not. I can see why X moved to this position for all suites.

Looking forward to your comparison between the two. We cruised on Bliss in the Haven shortly before the pandemic. Will be interested in your take on NCL and the Haven.

Miami has a lot going on with new terminals. They will be taking that title back. Not crazy about either port but Miami is building. I read that PC is looking to add another terminal over the next two to three years as well. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022/03/msc-breaks-ground-on-new-miami-cruise-terminal/ https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/28b-royal-caribbean-portmiami-deal-gets-green-light

Mailed mine in three weeks ago. It arrived in two days. Expedited. Check was cashed the day after they received it. Hoping to have it back within the next few months. You can check the status online….https://passportstatus.state.gov

General routine maintenance. Nothing special. It will only be in dry dock for about two weeks. I was told that this was the only shipyard available since the ship is on the west coast. A good amount of travel time to and from Singapore.

It will be in dry dock. Heard that from several crew members last month. The ship will be traveling to the Sembawang shipyard in Singapore which is why it’s has the month of March zeroed out for cruises.

We had MSC YC booked five or six times but all during Covid and all sailings were canceled due to the pandemic. We were anxious to try them but after having to deal with their customer service reps in FLL trying to obtain refunds we changed our mind. Incompetent and downright rude. I have read that one should stick to the YC. We found the same situation on the Norwegian Bliss just before Covid hit. We loved the Haven but outside of the Haven, the ship was a zoo.

My source was a UK travel site that attended the tour where Bayley was present and spoke. It was posted on an RCI group on Facebook. I’m not linking it here as it might be in violation of CC.

It’s been packed on our last four or five cruises. Personally I will take the R bar or the Viking Crown. I’m not a fan of sweet cocktails. It has a nice atmosphere.

Read an article this morning that stated Michael Bayley alluded to a possible seventh Oasis class ship after Utopia on the media tour of the Icon yesterday.

We were back on a few weeks ago. Food is gone in the Bamboo room. Drinks only.

They can want all day long. The O class does not tender. That leaves out Catalina Island and I have doubts that it could fit into Ensenada or many of the Mexican Riviera ports if any at all. Cabo is a tender port. Also, there is no current terminal out here that could handle this size ship. Won’t happen for many years if ever. Also, there’s nothing keeping RCI from doing cruises to Hawaii now with the NV.

Not all of us want an O class out here. I like the NV just fine. Was back on an O class in October (SYM) and it reminded of me of why I stopped cruising on them.

There is no charge for the movies on the pool side screen. She is confused and must be referring to the TV in her stateroom.

We were there last year twice on a side by side cruise. The first was the Freedom only which had around 4300 give or take. The next week we were back on the Symphony along with the Independence OTS. The total was around 9500-10,000 with both ships. It wasn’t bad but we could definitely tell a difference from the prior week. It was doable but get off when the ship docks and find your choice of chair/umbrella.

We did this tour some time ago on the EQ. There are a LOT of steps in some of the towns like Positano. Also a lot of walking (Pompeii) and if it’s hot as it was on our visit then it will be even more strenuous.