JEDIKNIGHT

I know this is a personal thing - but we're all anonymous so :)

In Coastal, or another alternative dining room - how much do you think is good tip to leave?

Ok, want to start a rumor? Only someone immature, who loves screwing with people for personal enjoyment would do it. (I don't know anyone like that)

Walk around with a McDonald's soda or coffee cup and you'll be asked many times where it is. You can make up a deck, or just tell them the ship is testing it out, and you aren't allowed to say which deck.

Afterwards you might see the same pax diligently looking around the ship in a rather harried way, like they are looking for the Holy Grail of Christ or something.

I am loving this thread. The comments about Coastal are sublime - food and service both.

Sort of nervous reading so many negative Quantum reviews so nice to know that Coastal will be a bright spot.

Do people actually read that stuff in the mail? Stuff that you know the business has copied for 1000s of other people and a computer typed your name in?

For years in my business which is retail oriented, I've not sent out junk mail. I just can't imagine people opening it.

BUT now, I *sadly* do work in NJ and I've noticed, people actually read the computer generated junk and they might actually think the gang at RCCL is truly thinking about the jones family this holiday season. . Christmas cards are nice - but unless its friends or family I never open the junk mail. Starting to think i'm in the minority.

Even if you've done SkyLoft on different ship, any opinion is welcomed please.

Deciding today between a SkyLoft, and RoyalSkyLoft for an upcoming Quantum Ship.

It's such a HUGE money difference - if I went SkyLoft, cripes, I could book a Celebrity Penthouse for a whole other cruise. *But* I still want it to be a nice vacation and not be too cramped.

Upstairs is fine for me and DW. But - downstairs, 6 year old DD will be on sofa bed.

Big Question: IS there secluded space for 2 year old DS and his crib? Sure there's space - but somewhat secluded where we won't be waking him up all the time?

I've never gotten the allure of "The Captain". Ok, he's got a very interesting and unique job, a responsibility and perhaps has nice stories to tell.

But still - "The Captain" ooooooh "the captain" I just don't get it.

If a very attractive woman comes here and asks about whether a 39 year old happily married yet slightly repressed man, who is overweight and chubby but has a nice personality and wants to know his cruising schedule, I give you all permission to tell her about me, especially if she needs to know asap.

I'm looking forward to hearing about this. I like much of Celebrity's Suite program - BUT, if the MDR experience improved, and became a nicer venue for breakfast and lunch to where I'd be ok with skipping that nightmarish buffet (it was nightmarish on my recent Summit Cruise, maybe it's great on other ships)...

Then Celebrity would be the only line I ever cruise.

Am I really the only one who feels that you need to have a certain level of understanding when you go on one of the VERY FIRST cruises on a BRAND NEW ship with BRAND NEW technology and boarding procedures? I would be shocked if there weren't bugs! It is unfortunate that your family had some challenges and lost some of your vacation time, but I think you also need to have some understanding considering what you booked.

IF RCCL sends a huge refund to the poster, then I'd say it's totally acceptable.

But if RCCl is charging the regular rate - they aren't making concessions for offering a terrible product, so the customer should expect a good product.

Even if the ship has been at sea for years - I"m glad that passengers speak out if something is wrong. Sure, some passengers love saying "stop complaining - a cruise is what you make of it!" - well, ok, I wonder - if I send in my final payment, $100 short along with a note saying "here RCL, it's what you make of it" - would they be so forgiving?

Doubt it

Sorry for your terrible experience.

I"m starting to worry - we're booked on Quantum come February. Putting aside my apprehensions of being on a huge Mass-Market ship - I'm not starting to get the impression that this might be worse - a huge mass market ship, think WalMart on Black Friday - only for added comfort, the whole darn thing revolves around i-pads and high tech that causes confusion for simple things.

I'm telling myself that this is because Quantum has just started off. Royal can't be the world's largest cruise line by putting out bad cruises. I'm hoping by February things settle down and are of good quality and organized.

Yes- very interested on who Butlers are if I'm going on an X cruise.

Ditto Concierge.

Great point Ken. It would be better if they'd just focus on doing current offerings better - vs confusing things and branching out again. Speaking just for myself - I'd prefer 3 "great" restaurants over 20 good ones.

Back the choices - they are all wonderful choices but BBQ- if you get 1000 people together, you'll get 1000 different methods of cooking it. If you get another 1000 people to taste it - you'll get 1000 different opinions - i just can't see how a BBQ restaurant will even be "good" onboard.

Finally consider - how many people form Kansas City, Texas, or Carolina work in the kitchens? None.

My opinion: I'd rather let the staff that is from Asia - make authentic, high quality Thai or Indian food. Cost-wise, it would also be more feasible for RCCl than very meat intensive dishes.

I wonder if some of the issues such as slow service at JR - are symptoms of a big huge ship that is brand new and therefore has some kinks in the system - kinks that will improve themselves as time goes on.

OR - does it mean the ship is understaffed to keep expenses low, and the kinks will be a permanent part of the cruise/

The Freestyle Machines create Cherry Coke that is not accurate. It's coke with cherry flavoring, yes - but not Cherry Coke.

This is taking the Nectar of the Gods and tarnishing it so for that reason I consider the Freestyle machines my enemy for ruining Cherry Coke - a pillar of America right after our Constitution and the Flag.

If I take over the ship as dictator and rename it the RCCl Jedi-Stan, I will outlaw such machines.

I wish they would put in a restaurant like Qsine on Celebrity. It is one of my favorites now and with a great variety so you can go many times and each time eat something different. Also a great place to try different dishes.

Indeed. Did my first Qsine in May - and still remember every dish I had. Delicious food and perfect service.

Indian or Thai. Much of the crew is from this region so the food would be authentic and also, it's not as costly for the cruise line compared to typical steak-seafood offerings.

Also, many people don't use Indian or Thai as "go to" choices for lunch at work so it might be a nice change, or even new exposure for some.

Thanks for the report. I know you touched on Food but few questions nevertheless....

*Any meals at Windjammer Cafe? If so how was the organization and crowd flow? The food?

*Room service - same questions.

*How was the food at Johnny Rockets?

Sorry to hear about the casino!!! I hate smoke smell *but* i'm not one of these anti-smoking zealots. I just wish they'd have better air circulation or non-smoking sections and tables! Casino is one of my favorite things in cruising but if it's too smokey - I won't play and I usually play every night for hours. I really wonder why cruise lines wouldn't make some accommodation for non-smokers in casinos.

Thanks everyone for feedback!

RAZORBACK - you said that the 'service is fantastic' in a Royal Loft Suite - can you describe more? I've never done RCL hence I'm asking.... thanks

I maybe doing a SkyLoft, or Royal-SkyLoft on Quantum. It's my first RCCL cruise so I'm still learning the rules of the road.

Room Service..... other than the menu:

If I'm fine paying for it, do you think I could order the following things to the room?

*Shrimp Cocktails

*Fruit Plates

*Champagne

Also, Overall - how os the quality of room service food on RCCL? Thanks

Very nice pictures - appreciate it very much.

My SkyLoft on Quantum is 740 square feet - and I keep telling myself there will be a nook to put the crib - somewhere where it won't be in sight of the sofa-bed -- and maybe, somewhere where I can tip-toe down from the bedroom and escape the room without the crib being bothered.

Yes, have requested a pack-play, my TA claims it's not a problem. Thus far on Celeb and NCL I've requested it, and it's in suite before our arrival so I'm hoping that a more family oriented line like RCCL will be ok with providing crib?

The *best* would be if they'd stick a roll-away bed in the upstairs bedroom. DD could sleep there with us, and crib could be downstairs with no risk of being bothered.

I might be in a SkyLoft - Quantum in Feb 2015.

Anyone know who the concierge will be, and is he or she a good one?

Thanks

Sky Loft.....

Upstairs bedroom, that's of course fine for me and DW.

Also have 6 yo DD, 2 yo DS

Is there room for a rollaway/sofa bed for DD......

ALSO...

Is there space for a crib - where 2 yo DS will be sort of separated from DD, and upstairs bedroom?

Trying to keep DS segregated - because he can be a nutjob if he wakes up at the wrong time :)

This is a very personal thing, and whatever anyone decides to give staff in addition to tips is nice and thoughtful.

However, I look at it like this. Seriously, especially if you don't have lots of money - at your job, do you want the boss to give you a bonus of teddy bears, chocolate, phone cards, or cash?

I say cash is king.

Thanks Pencruise....

When you were in a SkyLoft - did you get the personal escort to board the ship fast?

Also, disembarkation - how quick and personalized is that, any difference between SkyLoft and RoyalLoft?