Scotland01

Thank you for posting all the great photos. We were on 26 May cruise.In JS1586! Wonderful room attendant Foster! Made sure we had a supply of Tetley teabags. We had no problem with Charmaine in CL. She was always very friendly to us She is leaving RCI this month. Not so Richardo who ignored all us mere D+ on Navigator TA a few years ago.

We were not aware we could have breakfast in Chops!!

Margaret

As stated earlier, wife and I are in aft JS Balcony.

 

Last night around 2:30AM, we almost got bounced out of bed by the ships vibrations.

At first I thought we had come into port and was docking, until I looked at my watch.

Lasted for about an hour.

 

Can't say I'd recommend an aft cabin if this is a normal thing.

Oh dear we are in JS 8062 on Aug sailing hope thats not affected by vibration!

How is Chops? Thanks Margaret

On this particular itinerary the first formal night will most likely be day 6. It will not be day 2 or 3. This is a very port intensive cruuse and the first 4 full days of this cruise are long and full-on. They don't hold the formal night until the first sea day which is day 6

We are on May 26 sailing and sea days are 3 and 4

So if we have 2 sea days in a row that means 2 formal nights in a row? Seems kinda weird... (Not that I've ever dressed formally - except when I was a Junior Marshall at high school graduation and was required to wear a formal white dress.)

No will not have formal nights 2 days in a row! Will be either day 2 or 3 and sea day later on.

Margaret

Have sailed many times in the Med. My husband has not taken a tux./dinner suit for last 4/5 years. He wears a black cord. jacket white shirt and black trousers. The formal nights are usually on sea days.

Margaret

Will not be able to use CL on 26May sailing on Brilliance wondered if anybody can tell me who will be in charge of Diamond lounge.

Also not been on site recently please can somebody explain what a Genie does. I take it Aladdin is not an employee of RCI!!!!

Thanks

Margaret

D+

You'd be surprised. I've witnessed it on more than 1 sailing. And how, well for example I go into the DL/CL just before cocktail hour to get a coffee. Groups already have their seats and are awaiting drinks, 90 minutes later we enter the lounge, the same people are still there and are obviously 'enjoying' themselves. Still there when we leave maybe 1 hour later, and they cannot speak coherently! And I can confirm that was as recent as this Feb.

 

Winner!

Totally agree with you Pete we were on same Adventure TA 2 years ago as you.

you had a suite to celebrate your partners birthday and CL packed every night. Same group every night sat on right side the entire time! Note you are going on Azura soon. We have had several Caribbean cruises on her or sister ship Ventura. No drinks perks but much cheaper drinks!!

Margaret

If I decide to take on board 2 bottles of wine on embarkation they will be in my suitcase and not in my carry on bag. Does this mean that they may possibly ask me to open my suitcase so that my bottles can be checked? I am new to cruising and find it unbelievable that Royal Caribbean can be so mean that they will not allow say one bottle of whisky for use in your cabin for a nightcap. One bottle of spirits is hardly going to affect your spend on liquor on board over a 14 night holiday. I am a spirit drinker and not a wine drinker but if wine is all I am allowed to take on board then wine it will have to be.

Best to have wine in your carry on. Buy at duty free or in local supermarket if you are spending time there before you sail! However some people have managed to take a 3 litre winebox undetected!!! You could also pack a few minatures in your toilet bag! Or else sail with P and 0 to Caribbean lots malts at great prices and no problems taking on board from islands!!

Upcoming Reflection cruise will be second Celebrity. However we are Diamond plus on RCI giving us Elite. Are drinks coupons in addition to cocktail hour or to be used at cocktail hour? Never used them on RCI as evening event was enough.

Thanks

I agree that terrorism is striking cities all over the world, but that doesn't make the risks of future attacks equal. The UK foreign office recently changed the advice to UK nationals. It now advises against all but essential travel to Tunisia. This is not because of the two attacks on tourists or the fact that, in the attack in the Souse resort, 30 British nationals were killed and others injured. The advice was changed after British Officials, including senior security personal, met with their counterparts in Tunisia and assessed their procedures and protocols. Finding them seriously lacking, including poor intelligence and a lack of clear procedures for dealing with any evidence of risk. The risks of successful future attacks were, consequently, considered too high. Other cities (New York, Boston, London, Paris etc) have been badly struck by terrorism, but their security, including what they have learned and changed as a result of their experiences, is much better. Our Governments, and presumably Cruise companies, balance the benefits of travel against the risks. The evaluation of risk includes a constalation of factors.

 

For me, irrespective of Government advise, I am not happy to travel to a country with a porous border to either Libya or Syria. So Turkey and Tunisia are out for me. Lets face it, if these countries were good at security, those borders would not be porous! Its a terrible shame, especially for the good people of those countries who rely on tourism for their livelyhood, but there are other places to visit. We get get blown-up in some other places too, but the chances are less.

Thank you for posting such a sensible well thought out response. With Quilting Diva we are also on 21Sept sailing Have been twice to Istanbul and stayed last time 2 years ago in Grand Hyatt just off Taxsim Sq just after demonstrations held there. Everywhere was milling with heavily armed police.Would probably be happier if we did not go this time. Our family have just had to worry about us sailing through Suez Canal Red Sea and past Yemen on Quantum of the Seas in May. Our grandson aged 18 with his girlfriend were in a hotel 2 along from where the shooting was in the Tunisian resort. They were on a trip during the morning and heard the shooting on their return thought it was fireworks. They were confined to the hotel for the rest of their stay . Never has an 18 year old 6foot 2inch grandson been hugged so much on his return!!!

Margaret

Beware these cabins are also lacking in storage space. Was on Legend April 2013 Singapore to Dubai and was booked into E1 of then newly refurbished ship. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a JS but our friends were stuck with that E1. Not having a fridge was bad enough but layout of cabin and lack of decent storage a pain.

Have any UK pax had anything back from ABTA? RCI are probably hoping we have all calmed down and spend the paltry OBC!!!

Do you mean you don't think it's acceptable?

 

A Quantum cruise in February had an electrical problem for 1 NIGHT! They got free drinks till 10pm & every passenger got a 10% credit to the value of what they paid for that cruise to use for a future cruise. Doesn't seem fair really when we are inconvenienced for most of our journey & get some OBC... We are on the Dubia to Singapore sailing...

 

As I've just said in a previous post - a holiday is what you make of it but it just leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth at how this has been dealt with by RCL

I read this as OP felt $250 was not acceptable. Maybe I misread!!

I do think $250 is an acceptable amount for what they are doing and for all the disruption

We are on Barcelona to Dubai leg and agree with you. Particularly since we UK cruisers paid so much more. Sent e mail to Stuart Leven UK Director expressing our disappointment. Had a phone call from Resolutions department yesterday. They have had a lot of complaints but will not increase OBC.

Send them an e mail the more of us who complain the better

Margaret

Please can we just stick to the issue and not mud sling about various nationalities. Surely one of the joys of cruising is to all meet up.

Can I just state again I booked this cruise not to see Mamma Mia but to experience sailing on a brand new ship to interesting ports.This was an extremely expensive cruise and to offer a paltry sum of $250 only represents 4% of our cruise spend.

Of course we on CC going on this sailing were aware of rumours about changes which is why some of us from UK, Australia and US contacted senior management not call centre operators for answers before final payment. We were assured nothing was going to change. I should point out that I did not book the sailing to see Mamma Mia having already seen an excellent London production but to experience the Quantum of the Seas on an excellent itinerary.

I'm even more shocked now and I know how how much their visas are costing them for India alone. Once again with no refunds in the UK market, even more disgusting behaviour from RCI.

 

Peter

Good to hear your relevant comments.(met you on Adventure TA last year)

Margaret

Could we substitute "stitched up" for screwed please.

Am going on this cruise and feel equally aggrieved. A material change has been made to our cruise which in the eyes of UK laws requires a company to make suitable reparation, ie Cancel, Compensation or book something else.

We booked last September at what is now a considerable premium for a balcony which turns out to be more than a junior suite.

It is now clear that RCI does not care about its customers and is only focussed on revenue which leads to such unethical or sharp practices.

We are Diamond Plus and its clear that means nothing to the current RCI team at RCI UK HQ. Our deliberations with them have been unreal.

The current offer of $250 is an insult set alongside of being over charged $1100.

Shame on you RCI, You have followed the Peter Principal of how to lose customers.

We have 2 more cruises booked fortunately with Celebrity, which has a UK Call Centre.

We are on the Quantum Barcelona to Dubai next month and have every confidence in RCI judgement. 2 years ago we did Legend Singapore to Dubai. Next leg was Dubai to Rome. We were told that additional security personnel would join ship and precautions taken. I am sure that will happen next month. My scariest ever cruise moment was being on an open trolley bus in Mazaplan in Mexico which drove through a gun battle between drug gangs.

Totally agree with last poster

Not in the UK. We are on Quantum in May prices are down considerably with free tips. Told by RCI that we would loose deposit and airfare increased (fly package booked with them) and it would cost more????

Scotland 01,

Just wanted to say hello. Donna and I are well and hope that you and Neil are also as well as Cristina and Ken. We are cruising next month; New Orleans to Boston for a re-positioning. Would love to sail with you all again.

 

Ronn452

Well Hello Capt Ronn and Donna

Good to hear from you! We are well after a few health hiccups!! We really enjoyed your company and were so grateful to your showing us New Orleans! Off on Quantum in May Barcelona to Dubai. Christine and Ken have moved house so have reduced cruising. Keep in touch

Margaret and Neil

So sorry you are missing Tortola. There 3 weeks ago on P and O Ventura. Had to tender and a bit of a walk to reach tour buses and taxi stands but had a wonderful day on Cane Gardens Beach!! No problems. Margaret D+ on RCI

Was in Tortola 2 weeks ago and had a ships tour booked so were in first tenders off. Be warned it is quite a walk through the building work before reaching tour buses. The tour to Cane Garden Beach with lunch was great.

Sailing on Ventura this Saturday. flying on Friday. Can I purchase alcohol at shop at Barbados dockside on Saturday morning and take back on board? If I purchase at departing airport will it be taken from me on boarding ship? Many thanks