S.O.C.I.O.C.A.T.s
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Posts posted by S.O.C.I.O.C.A.T.s
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I would hope this would be offered every year...can not do so in 2023 but would be very interested in
a similar cruise for 24 or 25
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I have now booked 3 American Queen voyages for 2023-4 but do not qualify for the airfare...
the reason is that it is only for those voyages short term while we tend to book further out.
Does sort of penalize those that plan ahead doesn't it.
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We will be on a B2B on the Westerdam during October and november 2017. I have heard she will be dry dock in April and major changes occurring. Can anyone enlighten me on details. One source says the Music Walk will be installed (but where will these locales be and what will they replace?) Any insights would be appreciated
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Does the Eclipse have any self service laundry facilities? Last time we were on celebrity in 2014 it was not the case and wonder if anything has changed. Wife wants to know in case she needs touch up ironing. Thanks
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Our cruise will be overnighting in NYC where we have close relatives. We would like to invite them onboard the ship to dine with us at one of the specialty restaurants and then tour the ship with them. Has anyone done anything like this? What is the procedure to allow this to happen? Your insights and suggestions appreciated.
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Heard that they are replacing or have replaced Bistro on 5 on the Reflection with a Sushi bar. Fact or fiction? Going on Reflection in fall and really enjoy the Bistro
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We prefer the lido. The MDR usually takes up to 2 hours. If you are not with a group, you usually find yourself with others you do not know and making small talk for 2 hours is not my cup of tea. At the Lido you can have the servers place as much or as little as you wish on a plate . you can sample several entrees at once--small portions of each. And you can take as much or as little time as you wish--you are on your schedule and not that of the server.
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I received the survey. I indicated two items: 1) would prefer more ports in the Southern Hemisphere (South Africa, New Zealand) and 2) more ports that have not generally been available (Manila, Guam as examples)
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This review is of the post-drydock Oasis of the Seas westbound TA (October 15-27,2015). Since we were on the Eastbound pre-drydock TA in September, we can accurately compare the two ships and voyages pre and post dry dock. The overriding factor in the Westbound TA of the Oasis of the Seas has been congestion, overcrowding, and SRO. We have never been on a cruise where the masses tend to dominate. Lounges and Bars were alway occupied and overcrowded; Trivia and lectures were SRO with some participants coming 1-1/2 hours early to secure seats. Breakfast venues had 15-20 minute waits or 100 person lines for seating or no seats available(buffet). This has lead to rude passenger behavior and even fisticuffs (never have been on a cruise with so many rude, inconsiderate and irate passengers—could this be cause and effect?). Naturally, many in our party have vowed never to return to this ship due to the masses that abound everywhere (even the theatre is SRO with several lines of people; in Dazzles the progressive trivia left many teams in the aisles and staircases).
The reason for this is quite obvious: during dry dock the Oasis added 40 cabins (up to 100 more people) while eliminating much public space: when you have more people and less public space, these problems tend to occur. They did so without adding any additional staff so more people with less staff means less quality and poorer customer service, which we also noted as major differences from the previous TA on the same ship (The spark and excitement is missing in a lot of the staff eyes. You can see they are just running through the motions to make a living). It appears very obvious that RCI intends to milk the ship for all the revenue it can get without any regards for the convenience or quality of the passengers. The promenade, once a beautiful football long area to sit, talk and relax, people watch or just stroll aimlessly has been reduced to offering hourly K-mart blue light specials on cheap merchandise with ear splitting announcements about the newest bargains from the name brand retail shops. More emphasis is on selling then allowing the passenger to relax. The ship may be able to accommodate 5500 passengers but the public venues do not have the carrying capacity to do likewise.
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Thank you Ken.
This is a postscript to my thread. I truly wanted to end on a positive note, but I also want to tell the truth.
The cruise is ending the same way it began - with long lines, delays, and much chaos. They are now over an 1 1/2 hours late with the disembarkation, with little end in sight. We heard so much about how what happened in Rotterdam and Southampton with the embarkation was an aberration and we will see the difference when we land in Fort Lauderdale.
Well we did and we didn't.
Many of the same issues that took place in Europe were repeated here in Florida. Problems arose, RCI blamed someone else (this time it was immigration) and nobody from RCI was around to help. It actually feels like they hide whenever things don't go smoothly.
It also happened during the performances of Cats as there were long lines, without any assistance by RCI personnel. It seems like they don't learn a thing and history continues to repeat itself.
I guess my final evaluation of RCI as a cruise line would weigh in heavily on the negative side. Sure it could be great if everything ran perfectly. But we all know that isn't reality and when things do go wrong, RCI does not put the passengers first. There were one or two exceptions - like Israel Sanchez and Rami Tabassi - who went out of their way to try and help. But that was the exception not the norm.
Ellie's definition of WOW is, "WOW, could they be any less caring or helpful"?
Amen. Totally correct on all accounts.RCI is off our list until these customer service problems fixed.
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How much does a self service load cost? Is the iron coin operated or is it free?
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We know that HAL has laundry facilities available but does that include irons and ironing boards in the facility?
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Just a note we heard today while on the Oasis. Although DD will have 4 different venues, it is told each will have a single permanent menu. This is an attempt, many feel, to drove many to the specialty restaurants to get higher quality, more varied menus.
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For what it is worth, am currently on Oasis and have talked to Concierge and Head Waiter and others on board:
1. The "secret" balconies aft decks 11 and 12 aft will become aqua suites like decks 8-10
2. The Diamond Lounge, currently on deck 6 above the promenade, will be moved to where one of the private
dining areas ( Port side deck 4) reside. Its space will be renovated into a suite
3. The Concierge lounge, currently on deck 11, will be moved to where the Viking Crown Room currently exists. Its space will be converted into “Grande” a upscale restaurant for suite guests only. Chef’s Table will cease.
4. Pinnacle chapel and lounge will become two Royal Suites
5. Izumi will be relocated to deck 4 - the starboard side private dining rooms (and make some space for the Windjammer on deck 16 which will be greatly expanded)
6. Seafood Shack is replaced by Sabor, an upscale Mexican restaurant (e.g.,Navigator)
7. The Main Dining Room will be decked over and prepared for Dynamic Dining but Dynamic Dining will not actually be launched until February. Instead Decks 3 and 4 will become Mytime Dining while Deck 5 will retain traditional dining.
8. Cupcake Cupboard will be converted to a retail shop
9. the Donut Shop will be replaced by the Boardwalk Doghouse. Donuts, though, will still be available on the Boardwalk, like Allure, across from its present location in a self serve mode
10. Most interestingly, the ship will be actually cut so an entirely new engine can replace on
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Celebrity must not make the same mistake that "Oldsmobile" Did. Both companies wanted more young customers. Oldsmobile ad was "This is not your father's oldsmobile" and had William Shatner and his daughter. The young were not impressed and did not buy. The old were insulted that their loyalty was not valued and also did not buy. Oldsmobile faded away. Celebrity had better hope that by pushing the younger customers they do not alienate their present older customer base. Their current " Modern Luxury" theme tends to overstate their quality. By setting very high expectations, they may not (and the example of our last cruise with them) deliver the quality promised by their slogan.
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Sounds like the cynic's definition of a sale: an event where the price is doubled and then halved to advertise 50 percent off!!
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Loved Rita's Fiesta on Allure back in March, haven't tried the "A la Carte" version.
For $20 you got 3 drinks and a decent batch of Mexican food, plus glow gear and acting like a fool with a bunch of strangers :)
exactly right
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Whatever happened to dining packages? On the Allure in April, we were able to secure a dining package to 4 restaurants for a considerable reduction over their individual prices. We will be on the Oasis in September and that dining package no longer exists? Will the packages be brought back? Why were they dropped in the first place? Any replacement notion?
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[quote name='grandgeezer']This raps up our feelings exactly.[/QUOTE]
same here. It if is branded as an upscale "Modern Luxury" cruise line, you should expect certain items. If they are not present, you will be disappointed. If is perfectly acceptable to compare current cruises to past cruises. -
Is this permanent or only for the Alaskan cruises?
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For the people who say that Celebrity hasn't changed a bit has either not sailed with Celebrity in the past few years or hasn't been paying attention. Celebrity has been our line of choice for the last several years. We just got off the Silhouette a week ago and here are some of the changes we noticed.
Capitan's Club party: What happened to the food stations and entertainment?
Where are the Stings quartet and Accapella group?
Service in dining room slipped. We believe this is because the kitchen can't keep up. We book a table for two so we can get in and out quickly. In the past, that meant 1 to 1 1/4 hours. This trip, the shortest was 1 hour and 40 minutes, mostly 2 hours plus. We kept waiting for them to bring the breafast menu rather than the dessert menu.
Quality and choices in the main dining room. I know this is subjective, but fish was terrible and the choices were limited. I ordered more off the every day menu than I did the daily menu.
Entertainment. Guest entertainment was hit and miss. There was a singer named Jayne Curry who was fantastic, but she was the only one. Production shows. Singers and dancers performed well but the shows didn't have the punch they normally do, no scenery changes for example. The music for the last production was so bad, we walked out before it was over, the first time in over 330 days at sea.
It was a nice cruise for Princess or Holland America, but this wasn't them, it was Celebrity and we expected more based on our previous 13 cruises with them.
We have two more cruises booked with them this year but now our expectations have been lowered, it'll be more upbeat.
I must agree. I was on the same TA with you and my experiences indicated Celebrity has declined in quality from what it was even last year. All your points (and more indicated in my review) are valid.
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We were on the TA that just ended. I have just finished posting my review which to say the least is very unflattering.
PAH
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All you guys seem to be experts and in the know. Can anyone provide me with hints on whether the 2015 Fall Radiance of the Seas itinerary will be similar to that in 2014 (that is Transpacific followed by 2 circumnavigate australia cruises). Or does RCI in fact going to change a winning combination once again. Any advice or insights would be appreciated.
PAH
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We were going to book the 2016 version on the Millenium only to find out they are now doing a Sydney-Vancouver transpacific. We must now find an alternative.
Chicago hotel?
in American Queen Voyages
Posted
Same here. Have Toronto to Chicago and then 3 days in Chicago before the Chicago CHicago
Lake Superior cruise. Wish to stay at same hotel obviously so would want to book two additioanl days. By the way, does boat arrive in Chicago proper or is there a long bus trip to where the boat docks.