DrD

I generally do a mix of private and ship excursions. Last year on Oasis we did the Xplor excursion and it was great, no complaints.

I do wish they wouldn't wait for late people, I understand they don't want to deal with people demanding their money back even though it's stated you have to be on time, but it sucks to have to wait in the hot sun because some people can't be on time.

For this reason I often book private tours. It's worth the money.

Totally agree wrt the app. We're on the June 21 departure from Rome (Civ.). I didn't realize the ship was going to be based in Barcelona when I made the reservation over a year ago, and now am a little bummed we won't get all the "sail away" festivities on our first day. They are kind of cheesy but I enjoy them just the same.

I'm in the same boat as you (haha) but the bright side is very easy embarkation and the ship will be much less crowded that first day. It'll be nice going to the WJ without hordes of people. And getting off should be easier also, no big line.

I enjoy keeping up with the news.

I like to stay in touch with work, a bit, because often a small problem that I can solve in 30 seconds would require someone else at home hours to solve, or not get solved at all. I couldn't do that to someone.

My teens like to keep in touch with their friends, especially GF.

I also find it very useful to research ports and on a few occasions make arrangements for excursions a few days before, from my ipad. Also sometime excursion operators need to notify us of itinerary/meeting time changes etc.

I like to post on FB for my family and friends and they tell me they enjoy it.

So I do get the internet package.

I certainly am online far, far less on a cruise than I would be at home, but it would not be practical or enjoyable for me to be completely offline for a week.

sorry for jumping on your thread, but you'll be boarding from Rome shortly before my daughter and son-in-law (they're at the end of july).

 

so far she hasn't been able to find out definitively whether there is stay a while in rome or not (there is in barcelona on her cruise).

 

it would be great if someone could check with guest services when you're on board the ship and then post on the board the good or bad news... :)

 

thanks in advance!!!!

Yes please! I’d like to know also, so I can make pickup arrangements.

So...it's all about making you feel good?

Ahh, the age old philosophical question.

Is there really such a thing as altruism? Many people do good because it makes them feel good, so is that selfish? Or is the fact that altruism makes them feel good the essence of altruism? We think about this alot in kidney transplant, our donors tell us they love the feeling of having donated, so are they truly altruistic? And what about a parent who donates to a child because, well, it's their child? Is that just DNA talking? Or a wife who donates to hubby so he can get off dialysis and go on vacation with her, is she selfish? Altruistic? Some of both?

I don't know the answer to this, I will leave it to the philosophers. But it's pretty clear it's better to feel good by doing good, right?

Never have I ever

skipped dessert

I've been through security at least 5 times with my 2 bottles and they've never made me take them out and inspect them.

If it was me, I'd get a screw-top bottle of wine, drink it, and put the honey wine in that. As long as it looks like regular wine I highly doubt they would notice.

It's a Steakhouse,why would you pay a lot of money to go there if you are vegetarian?.

Well, I'd guess that she is going with one or more other people who aren't. Kind of awkward to leave her behind no?

First, this is written in English on a web site targeting Americans, perhaps the most susceptible to this kind of message because Americans already expect to tip.

 

Second, it's not uncommon for group tours to do this, the tour operator negotiates a better deal with the supplier by promising to do everything they can to promote tipping. They would never do this with an Italian audience.

 

Third, as a sentient adult I know that you don't believe everything you read on the internet. That nonsense about a customary minimum tip in Italy is laughable.

Well as a caring adult, I'd much rather tip when not needed than vice versa. It's not a lot of money to me and it makes me feel good to be generous.

Thanks. That seems very fast to get to airport, what port? (yes I realize I could look it up)

Anyway I'm going soon so very glad to hear you loved the ship.

Well we're signed up to tour both, and Vesuvius, next month. With 2 boys ages 14 and 16. I'll let you know how it goes. It's nice that they don't have to pay admission.

All the tour sites I have looked at mention tips as a not included extra.

And on my tour voucher:

Entrance fee (where applicable) and Tips are not included in service cost shown above.

Payment is on the day to the driver in cash, only Euro, unless other arrangements have been previously authorized.

If you are pleased with the service you received from your driver, a minimum of 10% gratuity is customary in Italy.

Yeah that seems very pricey. I'm paying 560 Euro for an all day 10 hour tour for 3 from Naples, goes to Pompeii, Vesuvius, and Herculaneum with a guide for Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Also you can only sell one kidney, not both. Unless you were each going to sell one.

so when do we segue into dress code?

We selected Harmony for our first ever cruise for myself, spouse and 3 kids ages 6-11. We all had a fantastic time overall.

 

We had such a great first time, I am concerned a future cruise may not live up to what we just experienced.

 

 

What ship would you recommend we take for our next cruise?

 

 

We prefer ships where we can all partake in activities from the pools, to slides and shows etc.

I've had a habit of going on the same ship again, usually because as I walk off I promise myself and family we'll be back. So nothing wrong with doing the same one. I did FOS 3 years in a row before I moved up to Oasis.

Congratulations to your daughter and son-in-law on their marriage. I can't blame you about your last statement.

 

While it's wonderful to rave about and stand up in support of a company one loves, it's never okay to insult or ridicule a fellow member for taking the time to post a statement, concern, critique, opinion, review, or something they feel is important enough to write about. Yet, it seems to occur quite often on this site. We may not all agree on every post or understand why something is an issue to another member, but we should all be respectful of each other. Sarcasm might be funny when written about a company or object, it's not so funny when it's directed at another member. Try spreading some kindness, it will come back to you ten-fold. Peace out!

Which is exactly why she shouldn't have posted it that way. How do you think that makes someone feel who couldn't afford any honey moon at all, and now 30 years later scrimps and saves every penny to go on a 4 day cruise in an inside cabin? Probably pretty lousy. It came across as crass and disrespectful.

And no I'm not referring to myself but I know for sure there are people who don't like reading stuff like that.

Is it so hard to sugar coat a bit? Like:

"My daughter is so excited to be starting her honeymoon on the beautiful HOTS ! She got on the ship fine, no travel issues, and the ship is great. Only small issue so far is she didn't get her champagne yet but got someone else's retirement wine lol. Oh well I'm sure it'll come."

But you must have a great life indeed if that is a negative start to a honeymoon. For me that'd be getting injured, or robbed, or someone in the family dies, etc. I guess we're just jealous that major adversity for you is not getting a bottle of bubbly on a cruise ship.

I wish they could be clear if this was an option, I need to make transportation arrangements and it'd be nice to know before I leave if I can stay on for awhile.

Norwich cruiser is onboard now and is going to try to find out, if there's time.

Dear Annelle,

Thank you for your recent inquiry into the operations of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Below please find the answers to your questions:

1. There are significant structural and logistical requirements around docking a large ship in port. There must be sufficient infrastructure and local vendors to allow the ship to restock fresh goods. Transportation networks must exist to allow for smooth debarkation and movement of passengers away from the immediate port area. Cruise ships have a deep draft and thus the harbor must have enough of a deep water channel to allow for safe pilotage. These conditions do not exist everywhere, and often must be constructed at significant capital expense. RCCL is continually re-evaluating our ports of call and when interest exists we would consider investing the needed resource into opening up new ports.

2. Most cruise departures from the US are on Saturday or Sunday as this is when most people start and end their vacations. Given currents, prevailing winds, and geography, there is only one feasible route that can be taken to allow stops of sufficient length and without excess speed which can be uncomfortable. Thus all many ship depart the same day and sail the same route, leading to many ships being in port the same day.

3. We pay our vendors for fuel and supplies in US dollars, and invest US dollars in our new ship construction. Thus if we charged Canadians the same fare in Canadian dollars at par we would take a loss. Perhaps if you could convince all our vendors to take Canadian dollars at par we could make it work. But don't tell the Indonesians, they would be able to cruise for a buck (14,500 Rupiah per dollar.)

Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any further questions.

Sincerely,

CEO, RCCL

You are very brave.

 

Six months later watch starts running very fast, gaining several hours each day.

Well at least you weren't late for anything.

Are only positive comments allowed on cruise critic? It seems if you say anything negative you get blasted.

No, but most people are naturally optimists and believe what they want to believe. Since most of us have cruises booked, we will try to find a way to negate criticism so we are not worried that we won't enjoy our next cruise. We simply don't want it to be true so will argue that it isn't. It's human nature, don't fret over it.

I hate hate hate the windjammer announcements asking you to leave if you are done eating. Rude rude rude. And it is constant.

I agree, it's terrible that people have to be prodded into what should be normal behavior. That's the world today I guess.

Personally I can't imagine lingering at a table after I'm done when I know others are waiting. I'd be very uncomfortable.

You are very kind to be answering all these questions!

Is there a late debarkation option in Rome? I've been told they sometimes offer this, since they don't have to turn the whole ship over.

And my other question is, how happy are you right now!!!

It started about 3 years ago when a boy drown on the oasis in the little pool with a current. Do I think we should have life guards? No I think parents should have to watch their kids and be responsible instead of drinking all day. Everyone wants to sue and blame others when things go wrong. Own up.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

They should, but they don't, so lifeguards. It's not the kids' fault if their parents are negligent.

When we were on the Grandeur in December, we talked extensively to the LG Supervisor. We were often the only ones in the hot tub late in the evening watching movies and got to know her quite well. (We also had a son her age.) Being a lifeguard for RCL does NOT suck. lol They rotate pools every 30 minutes and take turns opening and closing the pool. They have no other responsibilities, so when the pool is closed, they are doing continued training or are completely off. They also take turns rotating their off time when they are in ports, so everyone gets can see different places. As a supervisor, she had a cabin to herself. They participate in crew parties and do have decent down time. Living at home in her off time, with minimal expenses, she was socking away about 6 grand a month. Not a bad gig for a young person, even if you only did a few rotations.

Wow, do they have to be young? Is there an upper age limit? Time for a career change perhaps. ;)