onyourtoes

Just curious which side of the ship you prefer and why. We are on the port side for our next cruise.

I prefer the inside:eek:. Happy New Year everyone and safe cruising:)

That feeling hits me on that last night as I start to pack up...However small previews of it start sometimes as soon as you get onboard and there's talk of information about debarking...and those tidbits in the Cruise Compass and flyers left in your cabin...YIKES...I just got here :eek::eek:

I know how you feel. At least let me have a drink (or 12):D before you start giving me the "Debarking info."

"Here's your hat. What's your hurry?":)

were already booked for the Majesty. We just got off her today - it was horrible. That ship had gone downhill. Quite the booze cruise now. AND we had to skip Coco Cay....

I am so sorry to hear that about Majesty. She is my favorite "small" ship:). I have sailed her six times and hate to think she has become a "Carnival ship in training.":( I have some wonderful memories of Majesty and think of her fondly whenever I look at my photo album. Oh well. Nothing good lasts forever. Merry Christmas (Happy Holidays) everyone and a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year filled with many, many cruises :)

so you can book another ship instead?! :D

Crewel;)

That is simply the funniest thing ever!!!!! And hilariously closer to the truth than not.

I would find that funny if I were not a Diamond Member:rolleyes:

It is quite funny:D - LOL

I suppose being called cheap isn't a mean thing to say or infer in your book but it sure is in mine!

I hope I don't sound "mean" when I say this, but to me, anyone who can afford a cruise, any cruise, is not cheap. If you want to go on a ship with a Diamond Lounge, do your homework and, as you did, ask questions. Not all ships with a Diamond Lounge are the super and mega ships. I am going on Enchantment next year, which is a "smaller" ship, but it has a Diamond Lounge:cool:. (Which, I didn't even know at the time of booking until I saw pictures on Cruise Critic that someone one posted from their cruise on Enchantment). I don't know if it has the hot/cold appetizers as the other Diamond Lounges (although I don't see why it wouldn't-but if it didn't it wouldn't bother me).

I was on Freedom last year and never even utilized the Diamond Lounge. I'm sorry that you feel people think you are cheap. Just take whichever cruise you can afford. And honestly, I prefer the term frugal;). Everyone should choose their words more carefully, including me. I hope I have done so in this post, and I hope I have also helped the OP regarding "smaller" ships with Diamond Lounges.

Happy and safe sailing to us all:)

Over the past few years as Royal have brought out additional ships we have tended to mostly sail on the newer and larger ones, that we consider offer better facilities.

 

However having just completed a Thanksgiving cruise on The Enchantment I have to say that we were really pleasantly surprised with the overall cruise experience. Sure as an older ship there are signs of wear and tear in some areas, but the ship is generally well maintained, However the best part of the ship is the crew.

 

On this cruise I realised the real meaning of the word LeaderSHIP as the crew are guided by some of the best Senior Officers on any ship.

The 3/4 striped officers are all over the ship, ensuring that things happen the way they should. Not only are they are involved in supervising their teams but also visably involved in a variety of activities. They are used as "bring me a" in The Quest, and even add to the fun with other involvement that we have not seen on other ships.

 

The CD on this sailing was the very energetic John Blair and his wife Katrina is the Activities manager, who both hosted an exceptional Thanksgiving Flag Parade with some extra special "add ons" from the normal.

 

But without doubt the energy and attitude come from the very top Captain Shawn McDuff and Hotel Director Mark Rook, along with Nithan (F&B) and Georgy the Bar Manager are a real asset to Royal Caribbean and ensure that the Enchantment Team continue to deliver the WOW. I also want to mention Reyno the Concierge who was the initial reason that we decided to take this sailing, he never fails to deliver

 

Massive thanks to everyone on The Enchantment, we will be back :D

Thank you for posting this. I have sailed Enchantment (once in 2004) and have been on Voyager and Freedom classes since. I will be back on Enchantment in late April next year and after seeing some of the pictures posted of her since her "lengthening" I am really looking forward to sailing her again and going back to the Bahamas. I'm sure I will sail Mariner and Freedom again, (I love the promenade), but for the time being, I will be sticking with the "smaller" ships. Safe cruising and Happy Holidays to all.

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Hanukkah.

 

Safe travels to those traveling. May your Thanksgiving and Hanukkah be fruitful.

 

Best,

 

Daniel

Thank you. To you and yours and everyone in the Royal Caribbean family. Long story, but I have a lot to be thankful for this year. I wish each and everyone of you, and yours, safe travel. Continued health and prosperity to you all.

So, me and my family just got off The Freedom of the Seas. We have cruised many times before but we were shocked at how much we loved our cruise director (Richard Spacey). The cd position has never before seemed to make a big difference as to how much we enjoyed the cruise but Richard actually really added to our cruise. We enjoyed him so much that we made sure we never missed his morning show. He was hilarious. What do you guys think? Who has been your favorite?

Richard Spacey. No doubt about it.:D

Great photos. Thanks for this review. We'll be on Enchantment in a few months. Looks good.

The pictures ARE great. I was on Enchantment's last sailing before she went in to dry dock to be lengthened (which was in 2004) I am booked on her for April 28, 2014 and I can tell by the pictures that I am really going to enjoy sailing on her again. I've already picked out my two favorite spots R. Bar and Oasis :)

I couldn't agree more!!........I love to cruise in January when its really cold here in PA....always great coming back to work with a TAN!!! :D

I know what you mean. I still have mine from January 2013:eek: Enjoy your cruise on MY favorite ship.:)

in this case no your friend may NOT use the lounge as she is not entitled to it by her status nor is she a member of your household. does not matter if you are sharing a cabin.

 

all you can do is ASK the concierge. if the cruise is stacked with many D and D+ cruisers be prepared to be told she cannot join you. I have been on cruises.. same ship same Concierge when one it was permitted and another he refused to allow it.

I may get "flamed" for this comment, but therein lies the problem. The concierge should get on the same page. It should be no across the board unless you have earned the right to the club(s). I was on Freedom in September, and the concierge at the Diamond club was not allowing anyone in that was not Diamond or above. (I don't know if it included people who were members of the same household that were different statuses) An older couple (maybe mid 60's) were knocking on the Diamond club door and was let in by someone, only to be escorted right back out (less than 30 second later) by the concierge. I was sitting in the Viking Crown Lounge with my friend from work and witnessed it. I explained to her about the Diamond status and on the first night (since it was her first cruise) I didn't use the lounge. The rest of the trip I did because she was a little more comfortable at a bar of her choosing (Schooner Bar).

I know how you feel. I remember the days when the Cruise Docs and Luggage Tags would show up in the mail. It meant the cruise was just around the corner! Oh the excitement. It was like waking up on Christmas Morning and seeing the presents under the tree. Miss those days.

However it is nice not worrying when they'll show. Just go on line, download the Cruise Docs, print the tags and there you go. For me the excitement comes when the Cruise Docs are issued and the SetSail pass is printed.

Computer age, you know?

I agree:). Regardless of how I receive my documents, seeing that they've been issued makes my heart skip a beat. I don't have to wait for my travel agent to call me and tell me that she has them, or wait for days for the mail to come just to get them. I go online, print them out (in color mind you) and then I'm ready to go. I'm doing a short cruise this year because after my Freedom cruise in September, I can't wait another year for a cruise. Look out Enchantment, I'm coming back:D

Happy Cruising to All

If they're holding funds because you used a debit card, yet another reason not to use debit cards.

 

In regards to the transfers, your problems are exactly why we use taxi's and not RCCL transfers. Taxi's are usually no more expensive, and you get where you want to go immediately without any confusion or waiting around for other passengers to fill a bus.

Amen to that. I used to use the RCCL transfers up until about 3 years ago, then I started using an independent company (mainly Orlando because I take Freedom a lot). I booked 2 weeks before I arrived and when I got to the airport the transportation was waiting. On the return, however, I do used Royal's transportation because my vacation is over and I don't care what time I get home LOL. I am sorry to hear of all of the things that went wrong for the OP. I hope whichever line he chooses to travel next that things are better. Happy cruising to all:)

I spent 9 nights on EN in cabin # 7600 and enjoyed every minute. The

 

room had a fridge and a safe that allowed me to use my own code. I'm

 

not sure about noise from the centrum, since I stayed out late almost

 

every night. The one night I went to bed early, I don't recall hearing any

 

noises.

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed cabin 8600.

 

 

I would definitely stay in a POV cabin again.

I'm glad to hear about this cabin. I will be staying there in May 2014. Do you have any pictures?

We switched to 7053, and when I called today I asked the guy if there was a refrigerator in the room and he said no, but he would request one for me and it would be hooked up and waiting when we got there!! Very excited to save so much money by switching dates, and we still won't be in spring break territory, so should be great!

You mentioned those two dreaded words - Spring Break:eek: When is spring break next year. I am on Enchantment the week of May 19 - 23. I hope I don't have to change it. Thanks.

I would like to see the daily tips become non-removable!! Then those who are cheap will either have to pay the tips or not cruise with Royal Caribbean.

Why not just add it to the price of the cruise, like they did/do when the price of a barrel of oil goes up? If you can afford the price of the cruise and booze and the shore excursions and all the money gambling, if $80 something odd dollars is going to put you over, then you're not doing something right. JMO

(Flame on, I'm ready for it:eek:)

The ship is our destination. Could care less where it goes.

That's how I feel. I have been to a few places. I love being on the ship. My favorite ship/destination at the moment is Freedom of the Seas - Eastern Caribbean. I love the back to back sea days. I have sailed on her in 2011, 2012 and will sail again this September. When we reach the islands, a lot of the time I don't even go ashore. I love being on that big "empty" ship.

After doing 2 Ken Rush cruises I think i'll look at Q for Feb 2015... :rolleyes:

Ouch:eek:. Is he that bad? The name sounds familiar, but I don't think I ever had him as a CD.

I'm So Ready To Cruise!!!!!!!!!!

 

FREEDOM, Take Me Away..................................................................

I just got back from Freedom on 9/16. Loved every minute of it. Will be heading out in August next year to Bermuda on Explorer. I've been on Explorer before, but never to Bermuda. Looking forward to that one:D

Yep, it is on the new menu every night. Same with the shrimp cocktail.

I'm not really a "shrimp cocktail" kinda girl. But escargot - mmmmm. Happy tummy:)

Others have posted menus (thank goodness! I kept forgetting to take pictures).

 

Here are the options for appetizers and main courses available every night:

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Great review, but the ESCARGOT has returned? :eek: Say it has, please, please, please say it has:) Sorry, that's the gluttony in me:D

I think adult areas should remain adult only at all times!

 

###

I say build a big sling shot and whenever a kid, or kids, come into the Adult Only area, slingshot them over to the Disney ship:eek:

(only kiddin;))

proceeded to scratch himself in his privates.

Sweetheart, that's not strange, that's being a man:D:D:D:D:D:D

On our December Navigator, a grown woman passenger, who appeared sane otherwise, wore Pajamas and big animal slippers everywhere, all day (she did change out to different PJs - although they mostly looked flannel). She wore them to breakfast; she wore them to line dancing and trivia; she wore them drinking cocktails, and she wore them in the prominade (and thats just the places I saw her.) Now that was very strange. It didn't bother me either - its her vacation.

Maybe her luggage got lost:eek:. The "strangest" think I ever saw was this guy wearing a thong speedo (didn't know they made them) on Majesty. On the front was the American flag. His behind was so flat that every time he walked, I thought the thong was going to come out. Not only was he a member of the noassatall club, he was the prez.:eek::D