ccotting

On our recent BtoB we walked off for a very short time and were the first in transit passengers to return.  Everything seemed to proceed quite normally until shortly before departure we received a call from security on our stateroom phone.  They seemed quite surprised we answered.   The ship computer didn't show our return.  We received a visit from a very stern security officer who examined our passports and us intently while we insisted "yes we really did badge in with our new cards!"   Good thing we ate the BtoB lunch and ordered a drink so we could say "see! We were here".   And then we asked how we could order a drink if the system showed we were not on board but were informed the systems were different.   Felt like a stowaway for the rest of the trip!

6 hours ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

What does the thermal suite consist of on this class.  I have a B2B on Jewel in Oct/Nov.

 

I have been to thermal suites on Celebrity. I love the heated loungers. I am not much on the sauna.

There is a sauna, steam, aroma therapy room, showers, heated tile beds (about 6 if I remember correctly).  I like the steam room which has a long tiled bench and big windows to look out at sea.  The aroma room is hit or miss depending on whether the staff keep up the essential oil.  It functions as a cooling off room from your sauna or steam.  Usually eucalyptus oil scent.  It can be busy so I understand the point about crowd control but we tend to use it in conjunction with the inside pool going back and forth and so are not interested in being tied down to  a single session on any specific day.

Hello all:

It's been a while since we were on RCI and I was looking forward to booking a week pass for the thermal suite but when I went to book online the system required I book a specific time.  We always enjoyed wandering in and out as the day fell out.  Do you now have to book? Same time every day? How much in advance?  I understand that this might have applied at the height of COVID but is this now required still?  I tried phoning in and the contact also wanted a time for purchase of a pass.

Additional question just looking at the updated D+ benefits page someone else posted, does the 20% off spa treatment benefit apply for purchase of a week pass? 

3 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

I 100% agree Ken. We’ve done two Hawaii cruises on Royal in the past, and I’ve wanted to book another Hawaiian TA for the past couple of years, but Royal doesn’t stop at Kauai at all now and even the Hawaii ports are just ok….except for Lahaina. Now, there’s no way I’ll book another cruise to Hawaii in the near future. Royal should be ashamed to make this change without any compensation. I’m sorry but Seattle or Vancouver are nothing like Hawaii. Shame on Royal.

Well, we are booked on Brilliance for Hawaii in September and we are stopping at Kauai and that was the planned itinerary before the situation with Maui unfolded.  

Hello:

Just wondering if I should pre book hop on/off?  We are visiting in September with Royal Caribbean and all our excursions are already sold out.  I know that you can usually purchase at the harbour but given all excursions sold I wonder if I should lock in.  If so, is there a particular firm folks recommend?

If I remember correctly they are the type which requires you to continuously push a button while using it for safety reasons.   I have arthritis in my hands and so I always bring my own as so many hotel provided hairdryers have this feature and are too hard for me to use 

On 4/22/2023 at 11:20 AM, island lady said:

 

I think you may be talking about a Vision class ship?  Also called the "secret staircase".   Which is accessible on only one side.  

 

That stairwell on Radiance class is crew only on all four sisters.  

You are right!  I stand corrected.  Thank you!

I've been aft on Brilliance but I don't remember the rear stairs and whether we used them but on Radiance we used them all the time.  They went up into the spa and were available to use at about 8 am and closed I think at 9 or 10.   Really only useful if we wanted to scoot through the spa to the pool

17 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Oh, I understand. IMHO you should have specifically asked for a steak on a clean plate. You accepted what they offered without insisting that the understand your situation. 

Well, I see the point you are making but in good and correct food service this is not necessary.  I lunch regularly with someone who has a seafood allergy and good protocol for such allergies means that the kitchen must ensure the production line is clean when prepping a dish for someone with a specific food allergy.  This includes cutting boards, knives and food handling.  Most probably this was a training deficiency with the waiter who presented to the kitchen saying 'passenger doesn't want the lobster' and so they just popped it off rather than mentioning the allergy.  The situation presented by lakeloraian is very serious and she has my sympathy.  She could have died.  It is not her fault.  This is a company that plates hundreds of thousands of meals daily to people all over the world and they would know standard practice for food allergy.   I hope she complained to a high level and the company responded with appropriate apology.   This is a staff training issue and eminently correctable.

An excellent discussion of the issues involved in living in close quarters with others.  Situation is the same as in any apartment.  Too much too close of something not to your taste.   Have personally never had the music issue but our worst experience involved folks in the cabin below us having jello shooters to celebrate transiting the panama canal (they announced this to all from the balcony, still wondering how they managed that) and then singing "Sweet Caroline" off key multiple times.  Painful.  Can never hear that song anymore without reliving the experience.  This went on for nearly an hour....   We take a small bluetooth speaker but have only used in the cabin precisely for the reasons expressed at length here.   

Point to note whether you stay on the coast or go through the St Lawrence.  Sailing to/from Quebec City is very beautiful during fall colours and I recommend a full aft on a Radiance class ship as they have sort of wings that keep the balconies from being as windy.  Full aft gives you panoramic view along the river transit.  QC is full of fun stuff and lots of history.

All of the Maritime Canadian ports are small town compared to Boston so bear that in mind in terms of what to do and what to expect. A lot of history, much cultural heritage.  Concur with the post about early October for best colours.  Around Canadian Thanksgiving is usually peak colours (second week October).  September is usually most sunshine and clear weather in Halifax area.

Great beer, wonderful celtic music,  all things apples (Nova Scotia), francophonie heritage all through the Maritimes not just Quebec, old british forts, lots of handicrafts.   Spectacular scenery.  Lobster Lobster Lobster and all kinds of great seafood.  Enjoy!

22 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

It honestly never crossed my mind when we booked the second leg from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Hawaii seemed like such a distant port, but it's certainly not a foreign one so that was that. Part of the reason I booked it was the flights from Vancouver to the east coast were so difficult if you wanted a nonstop direct flight. It required a hotel stay and a more expensive flight. I thought why not add on this inexpensive leg and fly direct from LA at a good price? Five more days of cruising, perfect. We got word about two weeks beforehand that we were in violation. We met others on the Hawaii leg who had the same problem. I'm not sure how they can fix the system to not let you book it but it would be nice.

I think the computer system can surely be programmed to not allow the booking.  Never mind the reps, this seems so much a basic.  Such a sin to put so many through this angst and we read about it on cruise critic many times.  Come to Vancouver to start the journey.  Radiance class ships are lovely.   The Ship will have 1 more visit port than Quantum and 1 less tender port due to ship size.  We have done this cruise itinerary many times and actually our best Hawaii cruise ever was on Rhapsody, a vision class but a lot of that was due to a lovely Polynesian group that was booked for the entertainment.  Hula dance every day and music from Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti.  Fabulous group and the entertainment really made that cruise stand out. I wonder what happened to them given COVID as I have seen no mention on cruisecritic.

3 hours ago, CruiszBug said:

Not sure the size of the ship matters? 🤔 If it's registered to a foreign country and you are not doing a round-trip to the same port, sounds like you are in the same "boat" as us?

We are leaving from Vancouver.  Roundtrip to Alaska from Vancouver on Brilliance then to Hawaii on Brilliance.  As previously mentioned the Jones act looks at start and end port and whether both are US.  So we are free to do the 2 back to back.  I know many enjoy the size of the Quantum but for us we like the ports and Quantum is too big for all the Hawaiian ports.  We like the Radiance class and have had many happy cruises on them including previous to Hawaii.  My feedback to all is to think outside of the US box for your starting port.  

This all sounds so complicated to me.... We are doing a back to back starting Vancouver ending Honolulu, with the roundtrip Alaska.   It is with the smaller ship though.  Had you considered that?

20 hours ago, davekathy said:

I'm don't drink coffee, but regardless the coffee machine should be operational. I blame the DLC for not ensuring his/her DL isn't up and running 100% at all times. On our March Explorer cruise the automatic door closure wasn't working one evening on the first leg of the cruise and the DLC had maintenance on it immediately.   

I empathize when the perk is something that folks plan for.  My understanding of the coffee machine problem is it is often related to parts.  They are expensive machines made for knowledgeable operators, passengers often are not and so they often break down from hard use.  Concierges have complained to me that they cannot get the parts in a timely  manner, even though the ship may carry some spare often they must order parts and wait to repair due to the unpredictability of what might be wrong.   And that was before the current COVID related supply problems.  

2 hours ago, cruizer rick said:

Thank you CCotting - I agree that they appear similar, however I should have been more detailed in my question, I am looking for the Metal Framed (with Blue webbing) - not Teak  Here is an image I found on the web (just an example)..

I see, I was thinking of these type also made by Barlow Tyrie; we have had something similar with some cabins on the ship.  The ones you are looking for are very stylish! Sadly I have no idea....

They look to me like Barlow Tyrie chairs, a British manufacturer.  Have a look at that website and see if there is a local supplier to you. Marine grade aluminum.

Looking for some recent information.  I have seen mixed information in postings I searched.  As a D+ I have drinks coupons loaded to my seapass and will be taking my first Grand Suite on a radiance class ship.  

Someone posted suites guests get 3 drinks coupons loaded to their pass daily.  Is this so?  Is that on top of my D+? Or does being D+ eliminate any coupons for being a suite guest?

Someone else posted that if you are in the concierge lounge the staff do not deduct your coupons for drinks.  Again, is this so? Perhaps a ship specific thing?

Lastly, did folks experience any suites specific events on that size ship? Like a drinks event or a sail away?

Thanks in advance for your help.

2 hours ago, Cigar King said:

Sounds to me like your problem is your phone is set to allow roaming.  Turn that off.  It could happen anywhere.  You should only roam when you absolutely need to as it often incurs additional charges.

 

 

Agreed but I was using my international roaming package.  So... with the other responses, put the phone in airplane mode before sailing.

On 7/29/2022 at 9:18 AM, Cigar King said:

That's terrible advice.  Put the phone in airplane mode once the ship sails and you'll be fine.

Nope.  Beg to differ.  I got dinged for extra charges sailing out of Southampton because the phone connected to marine masts.   

41 minutes ago, the penguins said:

Not quiet the full story. At the time no "lady" would have a tan. Only working class women exposed their skin to the sun. So the object was to ensure that "ladies" kept their skin perfect i.e. untanned.  

I first heard the definition on P&O in the 60's.  According to Merrium-Webster dictionary site (US), this was a PR thing promoted by P&O who called their frequent sailors the "Posh Seafarers Club".  Oxford dictionary also begs to differ.  "early 20th century: perhaps from slang posh, denoting either a dandy or a coin of small value. There is no evidence to support the folk etymology that posh is formed from the initials of port out starboard home(referring to the more comfortable accommodation, out of the heat of the sun, on ships between England and India)."   But I like the story!  It add to the Suez transit lore.

21 hours ago, the penguins said:

A fantastic day, you have to be up early and be on the right side of the ship for the best views. Going North you want a balcony on the port side, going South on the Starboard side. There is nothing to see on the other side.Relax and enjoy

This is the origin of the word 'posh': port out starboard home and has to do with which side is shaded in the days of British travel to India and no air conditioning. Posh cabins were the coolest.  As you can tell the direction above gives you the sunshine but it gives you the views.  We really enjoyed our suez cruise. It was harder to get detailed information about the suez transit than it is for the panama, but really helpful to do a bit of studying in advance.  There should be some information on the loudspeaker and hopefully that is connected to the tv if you stay in your room and watch.  For transits like this we prefer full aft so we can see both sides.

It's been a while since we've been on Royal.  Is it still the case that to use your member coupon for for a glass of wine that you have to get it from a bar before entering the dining room?  Or can you now use your coupons to order a glass of wine at the dining table?

The last time I took a spa service the attendant told me that their ability to have a full day off was based on volume of products sold.  They get some time off but if they want a full day off in port they need to have produced a certain volume.  Of course, these types of tales could just be to try to get you to take pity but I thought she was telling me the facts of her life. 

I am enjoying your review very much too!  We are booked on Enchantment next year and I hear that since she was stretched she does not have a sauna or steam available.  I appreciate in the Caribbean you may not have checked but we will be travelling to Alaska and things may not be so toastie!