Desertbelle

I listen to books on my iPhone (or iPod) and I have come to love hearing books read by narrators that bring the book alive. Audible books (I buy mine from Audible.com) are less expensive than real books and you can share them just like real books. My husband and I share an account.

I book a Kindle Paperwhite last year and I do occasionally read a book on it (it's much lighter and smaller than holding an iPad and there is no glare and you can read it in the dark or in the bright sun light).

I am in my 60's and I love embracing new technology.

We have been on many different cruise lines and my feeling is that there is way more in common among cruise lines than differences. Unless you are looking for something specific that Royal doesn't have, I think you will love Royal Caribbean, and you will be surprised at how similar it is to what you already know. :)

What I like about Royal is the ocean-like colors and peaceful decor. I love how the ships are designed for easy travel all around the ship. I also love how relaxed the crew is, very pleasant and helpful.

Great post. Booked on the repo cruise Dubai to Istanbul next year via Suez Canal & Israel cannot wait! Shame though that there is no stop in Egypt.

My husband and I love to travel and part of traveling is going to new, amazing and maybe not completely safe places.

Maybe I have a sick sense of humor but when people would say that going to Egypt was dangerous, what if we were killed or captured I would reply: If I die on vacation, then know I died doing what I love to do, and if we get captured we will have a great story to tell when we get released....kind of like the story of having our motor home run into by a rhinoceros!! (true story) :D

Life is more fun if you relax and enjoy the ride! Have a great cruise voyager70!!

Why are people upset because they get emails? Unwanted emails are easy enough to get rid of...it doesn't seem reasonable to get annoyed by them.

RCI is a business, they advertise and want to entice you to help them make money. Hardly shocking!!

The hump balconies, including desk 7, also have a clear view down to the sea without life boats in the way.

You will not have any problems making reservations for the specialty restaurants while onboard. Don't worry about it at all. :)

As for MTD, it seems you can't book the most desired times online, we have tried as well, but when you get onboard you can make reservations for any time you wish.

Our Baltic cruise is in May and we intend on spending one day in Moscow while in port for two days at St. Petersburg. I am not worried.

We went to Egypt, Israel, and Turkey in the Fall of 2012. Everyone thought it was too dangerous, and that Royal would cancel the cruise, but they didn't and there was never a moment I felt unsafe while there. We even stayed overnight in Cairo. It was wonderful.

More like $9.50 a day. :)

We've stayed at the Embassy Suites every time. We love it.

And if you stay there don't forget to walk across the street and have lunch or dinner at Kelly's Landing!! Yum!

My husband and I spend a lot of time on our balconies enjoying the ocean but if this isn't that important than I would go for the two rooms for the extra space. More than any other ship we have been on the our Oasis cabin seemed extra small and cramped.

Fresh.

It's been a few years since we were on a Celebrity cruise, but they escorted us to our cabins....also greeted us on board with champagne and orange juice. We usually refused the escort to the cabin because we like to look around as we make our way to our cabin.

You need to discuss this with your cabin steward to know what needs to be done. We have done 5 B2Bs where we had to move and each one was handled differently.

 

Sherri:)

I agree, each of ours was slightly different.

There is no advantage of loading anyone with kids or even special needs onto the ship earlier. Everyone has a cabin already purchased. There aren't any lines to speak of and there is plenty to eat and drink for everyone. :)

If you are concerned about a huge rush of people all trying to get on in a hurry I would avoid the 10:30 to Noon time period. Pretty much after that rush is over you should be able to have very little wait time at any point.

Is this your first cruise? If it is I will give you a short rundown of what it will be like at the pier. If you know all this, sorry, just trying to be helpful. :)

When you arrive at the port you will hand off your luggage to a porter, make sure you have your luggage tags on them. Then you will walk inside and you will be directed to a line to check in. There are several different lines, but don't worry, they will have many check in agents and the lines go fast. You will need your SetSail Pass, ID's and a credit card to check in. Check for a family of 4 might take 10-15 minutes You will leave with your SeasPass cards that you will need to get on and off the ship and buy anything while on the ship. These are important, do not lose them. After check in you will be directed to an area to either wait until the ship is ready to board, or you will be directed to the gangplank to board the ship. It's fool proof, so no fear...lots of people to direct you. :) Usually there is a photo opportunity spot right there where you can have your family's first cruise photo. When you board the ship you will use your SeaPass Cards. Once onboard, you are vacation! Have a great time.

We only were on one NCL cruise and we were seriously underwhelmed. Nothing special at all. I can't imagine the circumstance that would get us to try it again.

To us vacation time is too precious and costly, both in time, money and being away from our family, to take any chances. We know what to expect with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity and that is where we will likely stay from now on.

On our cruise out of Civitavecchia we came in the night before, and stayed at a hotel in Civitavecchia. The hotel provided us with transportation to the hotel from the Rome airport for a reasonable fee.

When we arrived at the hotel we were hungry and they referred us to a local restaurant that was amazing. A family restaurant with outstanding food. The walk there and back was romantic and a lovely way to start a vacation...relaxed and not rushed. The next morning the hotel had transportation to the port. We are very happy we did that instead of rushing in the next day.

BTW the hotel we stayed at was Hotel Traiano. It was simple, clean, nothing fancy, and very reasonable rates, something like $110 a night. They had a nice breakfast buffet included.

Thank you for your replies. We have been on the FOS and they did love it!!!

If they loved the Freedom, they will go bonkers for the Oasis.:)

The Coke FreeStyle Machines are in the promenade (by the elevators) and in the Windjammer, and I am pretty sure I saw them in a couple other places. The machines only work with the Coke cup they give you. I carried mine around all over the place, it wasn't a problem at all.

In the MDR, Windjammer and all the other restaurants and bars you need to show your card and you will get soda from the fountain...they will provide the glass or they will fill up your cup. I never brought my cup to meals.

Can I be in your family?? :D

We are up to 19 now.....so no more of those trips unless a fairly huge chuck of rich drops into my lap! :eek:

I took my whole family, 11 of us, on a cruise. I paid for everyone, but I only got 11 C&A credits for myself. I would have loved to have gotten all 121 points for myself, after all I paid for them, but rules are rules. Not worth getting upset over. :)

It's been recently reported on CC that cabins stewards are no longer able to clean out the refrigerators. Rather you have to contact a bar cabin attendant if you want it emptied.

I will say it again....the steward isn't the one who will clear the cooler out, but if you ask him he will see that it is done.

You might love Princess, give it a try. You will never know for sure unless you experience it yourself.

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Cabin stewards no longer do that - it's now the responsibility of the bar staff that checks daily to see if anything was used.

Yes, I knew that, that is why I said the cabin steward will have it done for them. :)

Easy choice for us, after two very unsatisfactory cruises on Princess, we won't be making that mistake again....Celebrity is our choice!

Great. Thanks. That's what we had on freedom too. We just took all the stuff out so we could store milk and juice for the kids.

One question to check off my list. Lol

 

 

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If you ask your cabin steward he will have all their products removed from the cooler, so you don't have to deal with it.