gr8.guy

Don't go.... Big disappointment

Please elaborate on why it was so disappointing. The island looks really nice and seems like a quiet respite from the crowds on labadee and apparently the staff seem attentive

Awesome review

I'm onboard Brilliance now and find the internet to be sufficient for FaceTime and for Netflix.

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For those just off Brilliance, what was the VOOM internet like?

I have Chromecast and never could get it to work onboard. I bought a Samsung remote to allow HDMI port access, and a travel router. When everything was connected properly I could use it for a minute or two and it'd just stop working.

Later I bought AppleTV and love it because the integration is seamless.

I want to go for the All inclusive but some of my friends do not drink.Does anyone know if they would be able to hang out with me or would they have to be at a different area.

You can hangout with your friends in the non-inclusive area but they will not be allowed to hangout with you. The inclusive area includes many amenities such as buffet, drinks, pool, tiki huts with a table and chairs, and waiters whereas the non-inclusive area has some chairs on the beach and a walkup bar.

According to a Macy's thanksgiving parade wiki page, they have had 2 floats to appear in the parade. Their first float called Voyage To Adventure first appeared in 2004 and then retired after 2007. Their second float called A World At Sea debuted in 2013 and has been in the parade since. The second float retired after 2015.

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The TVs are most often Samsung units set to hotel mode. I have bought a universal remote and downloaded the instructions on turning hotel mode off. Hotel mode restricts the use of the available input ports. You will have to be able to authenticate your device but you could clone your MAC address to accomplish this.

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An earlier post mentions strong winds in the turning basin requiring some ships to call on a tug to assist and there is a small craft advisory currently in place and the channel may be choked up with small vessels trying to get back into the marina or Allure is waiting on a window of calmer weather.

So did you like anything on your cruise? Did you bring your problems to someone in management? How were others on your cruise reporting that they were onboard a little before 11?

The site you question looks like most sites that are operated by cruise enthusiasts and relies heavily on input from many sources. The good (and bad) thing about sites like this are an unbiased review of all lines and vessels. Unlike pay sites the information is updated when it is convenient. Basically it's a free resource, don't expect perfection or an answer to why they haven't updated their ships. Who knows, they may not feel like updating the stuff right now their paying job may be keeping them busy.

If it is such a good deal, why aren't YOU doing it?:rolleyes:

Thanks for your response, we all have to help serve humanity in the best way possible by using the skills that we have. As a nurse, I'm there to hold your hand when you are scared, silently pray that the tumor being removed is not cancer, hope that you don't bleed to death at 3:00am after a horrific traffic accident where you were hit head on by a drunk driver, cry with you when you wake up from surgery because you asked for your wife and kids and found out they died.

I have never gotten a tip for what i do for work, and I work very hard and sacrificed a lot to get to where I am today. If you think I don't tip for good service then you're wrong but I refuse to part with my hard earned money for someone that preys on someone else through intimidation to be rewarded for pushing a cart of luggage a few feet inside a building to pass them off to someone else so he can hurry outside to get more.

The porters are union employees of the port, and probably make a very decent salary to put your bag on a cart and push it a few feet. Save your money.

I think there are areas of travel that should be avoided such as those areas where extremism is allowed and could be considered the norm. Over the past few days incidents of violence such as those in France pushes terrorism to the forefront and the media will always be there to cover each and every detail. I'm of the opinion that these extremist groups want us to fear them and from that fear we will decide to not go to a venue or even take a cruise because something "could" happen. Anything could happen, you could have an accident crossing the street on the way to the market. Why should we bury our heads in the sand and give up our vacations because some people want us to fear them and to stay at home?

I think there is a lot of safety onboard the Royal Caribbean fleet, in much of the waters sailed, military protection is just a radio call away and is relatively close at hand. I hate to imagine someone going on a cruise just for terroristic reasons but as we all have seen, these people don't care because it is their mission to become a martyr for their religious beliefs.

The point is, anything could happen but don't let recent events prevent you from enjoying a well deserved vacation. Additionally, I don't think Royal Caribbean will place its assets in volatile regions without taking precautions first.

I You should definitely tell a supervisor or manager.

That's a good point but how would a guest be able to find the right person to tell? There is a sea of people at Labadee on the RCI payroll but I've never seen an officer as you would onboard. I know there is security at the dock and there are food and beverage staff at the dining pavilions but I think it'd be more trouble to wander around searching for the appropriate supervisor than it would to be to just forget it and make a mental note for next time if there was to be a next time and to try to enjoy the rest of the day.

I was there last week and pretty much had the same situation. Very pushy men following our group asking if you wanted a chair, and even when I said NO. He wouldn't leave us alone if had wasn't so pushy and hounding us it would have not been a problem but I hate being hounded when all we wanted to do was enjoy Labadee. We were on the concrete pathway, not looking for a spot and already knew where we wanted to go, and didn't need any help. Once we got to the spot that we were looking for we were open to having a chair and would've tipped also. The vendors in the artisan market were very pushy as well, we overheard someone mention that it was a preview of what was to come in Jamaica.

They're in the same area and while they're together, they're separate. You can choose from the selections offered at Jade and your travel companions can choose their meal from the windjammer and you may all dine together at the same table.

On the Royal Caribbean website, under Onboard Extras, you will find the following..,

A: Your friends and family can contact the ship by calling (888) 724-7447. Or from outside the U.S. they can call (321) 953-9003. The cost is $7.95 USD a minute and can be charged to their MasterCard[emoji768] or Visa[emoji768]. From outside the U.S. additional long distance charges will also apply.

You can make ship-to-shore calls from your stateroom, 24 hours a day. The cost is $7.95 USD per minute and will be automatically charged to your SeaPass account.

Freshly squeezed orange juice is available to anyone and is included in the various drinks packages except the soda package. I have only had a milkshake from Johnny Rockets and it was perfect. Not sure where you ordered it but I suppose if they don't have ice cream close by they couldn't really make one. I have ordered a virgin mudslide which was pretty good but somewhat icy.

Can't wait to see the transformation of Quantum.

No. You can have full service breakfast in the MDR on Deck 3, buffet style in the Windjammer, and my favorite, room service.

You can buy it OTC in Mexico.;)

Actually, you can't buy antibiotics in Mexico any longer without a prescription. The rules were tightened a year or so ago preventing consumers from self medicating with antibiotics in an effort to reduce instances of MRSA/VRSA type infections. I admit on a recent visit to Cozumel, I bought a jug (not bottle) of amoxicillin for a few dollars, and still have it and self medicate on occasion. I know it is wrong but as a nurse, I also know the implications and take it appropriately.

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That being said...stepping foot out of one's cabin compromises one's security/safety.

I think most people at your table could honestly care less whether you are at the table or not. Personally, reading some of the responses and reactions inclines me to think that if I were tabled with some of the posters on here I would ask to have my table reassigned as I left the MDR on night one.

I genuinely am curious why anyone that feels their security is being compromised once they leave their cabin. How could a person with the extreme level of fear and societal anguish would ever contemplate going on a cruise in the first place. Please know that I am not trying to poke fun and anyone's mental capacity or any medically recognized disabilities I'm just following the thread and trying to understand the response.

Waiters and sometimes even cabin attendants know your specialty reservations. On Allure in 2013 we had late dining and our attendant was doing the turn down around then. He asked us one day," I see you are dining at chops tonight, Can I do your turn down then?"

 

 

 

 

 

On Freedom, we had Chops reservations for 45 minutes earlier on the last night. Our waiter said he saw we were eating at Chops the next night and thanked us for allowing him to serve us and to have a safe trip home. We told him We would probably come back before the end of dinner and have one last drink with our table mates. As soon as we arrived the drinks were there and he knew not to fuss over anything else. A pleasant experience.

I have had that same experience, I've also seen my waiters in the windjammer and they would find us a table and return with our drinks and sodas. To me, that is awesome service, and these guys work really hard and when they go above and beyond, I will tip very well and I've even given WOW cards so many people on these boards take the staff for granted but these staff and your interaction with them can make your vacation so much more memorable.

On Sunday when you board, there is so much to see and do, and you'll want to do it all at once. My suggestion is for the first day, find the basics. Food, spa services (discounts today) your cabin, muster station (hope yours is inside) entertainment, and relaxation.

Monday is a sea day go exploring. My favorite thing is to literally start on deck 2 and wander everywhere and look at all the art that is scattered around in the books and crannies.

If you get lost, start walking and you are bound to find an electronic way finder in all the elevator lobbies. Enjoy your cruise on Freedom of the Seas I hope you come to love her as much as I do.