RavaRiles

Following the muster drill I always enjoy the sailaway party and the song that always reminds me of my cruises is the Cupid shuffle, never a hit in England or even released but I still listen to it now and it brings back great sailaway memories

Hi everybody,

Just was wondering what the table minimums are for playing blackjack on board CCL. I usually cruise Royal and whilst I am happy with there product I think that $10 minimums is bordering on a joke, and prices a lot of people out,

Please tell me carnivals is a more realistic enough price as I am looking to book to go on either magic/ breeze or dream next year.

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Ian

Oh good always enjoyed the Viking lounge

Cheers for your help in answering the questions,

Most helpful.

Kind Regards

Ian

Thanks, that's a real shame about the crypt, had some great nights in there.

So does this ship have no nightclub now ?? Seems silly that a ship of this size wouldn't ??

Hi everyone,

Just a few questions if I may.

1. Just watched a video on you tube that did a tour of freedom and the person who made the video commented by saying " this is where the crypt nightclub used to be ". What happened ??? I loved going in there with my wife for a dance and a late night drink following some singing at the schooner bar.

Has another nightclub venue been opened elsewhere on the ship, or perhaps the opening hours extended at another bar ???

2. When I sailed freedom last year we bought the drinks package which included everything and we found that it worked for us as we like a little drink or five !!

But with the ever mentioned drinks prices going up does this mean that the drinks package I bought ($55 pp per day ) has now gone up another 40 %.

That would now seem ridiculously over priced to me.

Many thanks if anyone can assist in answering these questions.

Kind Regards

Ian :)

Excellent review Bill,

Really glad you had a great time, just a few questions if I may.

1. Is quantum class now your favourite following this wonderful cruise

2. Which restaurants on board quantum required a cover charge ???

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Ian

My wife and I bought the Premium drinks package on our honeymoon on freedom in January and thought it was great value, we both were able to try drinks that we had never tried before because of all the options available on the drinks package.

I suppose the drinks package seems like a very wasteful thing to buy, i.e tried a new cocktail, didn't like it so immeadietly tried another one but not worrying that you have paid perhaps $15 - $18 in individual payments finding a new drink that you like.

I honestly thought it was wonderful value and when buying my cruise holidays in the future will always add the premium drinks package on as I think making your holiday all inclusive is the way forward.

Kind regards

Ian

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A very merry Christmas to you all,

I hope you have a wonderful day and I wish you all the very best for 2014.

Thank you for all of your tips and advice throughout the year

Kind regards

Happy holidays

Ian

(Just passed midnight here in the uk !!!) :)

Thanks Craig

Kind regards

Ian

Apologies for posting thread twice, I didn't think the first attempt worked

Cheers ian

Hi everyone,

I have just purchased the "just married" stateroom decorations as a surprise for my wife to be along with some chocolate strawberries be in the room on our arrival and just noticed the romance packages that they have available for purchase.

Can anyone tell me if they have purchased a romance package before and what they thought about them ???

One of the romance packages costs £430 / 679 dollars !!! Not that I am a cheapskate but could put that amount of money towards drinks packages for the two of us.

Any tips or advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated

Kind regards

Ian

Absolutely amazing John !!!!

I think you deserve a free cruise for your dedication to your projects !!!!

If you ever wanted to sell them you could make a fortune !!!!

Great work

Kind regards

Ian

DECISION MADE -

Having taken all things into consideration and been given a price to transfer from freedom to allure (£231.72p) we have decided to stay on freedom. My girlfriend doesn't want to be driving all them hours from orlando to Fort Lauderdale and vice versa. (That drive wouldn't have bothered me !!)

It just seems easier as our shuttles have already been booked and everything is in place. Not to mention my girlfriend reminding me that there is no airport beach on the Western which she knows I love !!!!

Hopefully one day we will get to sail on an oasis class ship.

Thank you everyone again for your input.

As I have previously said whatever we chose was a no lose. We are very lucky to be going on a RCI cruise regardless of the ship.

Have a great day

Kind regards

Ian

Don't think the propulsion issues affect the western cruise itineraries.

Might be wrong ;)

If part of your holiday involves the Orlando theme parks I would suggest Freedom. I have sailed Freedom and Allure. Both are great ships. However, Freedom is much closer to Orlando that Allure/Fort Lauderdale. What would you rather do, spend time in the Orlando theme parks, or spend it traveling in a car?

To be honest it wouldn't really affect one of our days as it would be travelling to a port regardless just would mean getting up much earlier for Fort Lauderdale.

Definitely leaning towards the allure have watched a few clips on the ship and it is unlike anything I have ever seen

Also just a thought on the allure would I now find it difficult to get specialty restaurant reservations given that the cruise is not that far away ???

Thank you again everyone for all your kind words and input.

Much appreciated,

I will have a look at the shore excursions offered on the western as well.

What are the best beaches to go to on the western itinerary ???

Cheers Ian

RavaRiles, I see on your profile your interest is football. Are you a red or a blue? Either way, did you plan it that you'd be back in Liverpool for the derby at the end of January or is that happy coincidence?

 

In May we spent three days in Liverpool - our third time to the city. Love it!

Hi, yes i am a big liverpool fan actually going to miss the first merseyside derby next week as I am on my stag party ( bachelor party I believe you call it ) in Munich next weekend glad you enjoyed liverpool.

Kind regards Ian

Wow !!! Thanks everyone I can see that opinions are quite varied.

Going to call back in to the travel agent tomorrow and get some more info and check cabin availability, It's nice to get varied opinions on something that regardless of what we do it will be great anyway.

Have been reading a few reviews about the itinerary that allure does and no one seems to like Falmouth Jamaica much as a stop.

One thing that also attracts me to freedom is st maarten love maho beach and the planes !!!

Thanks for your input everyone still can't decide !!!!

Cheers

Ian

The wedding itself is actually all sorted ( not by me ) !!!

I am in charge of the honeymoon at least my wife to be let's me think is am !!

I really am stumped !!.

Incidentally out of interest how long would the drive from orlando ( international drive) to Fort Lauderdale be ???

Hi everyone,

I am booked on the Freedom of the seas 12th January (eastern) and have a D2 balcony cabin booked.

Today I called into my travel agent and after a bit of a chat it seems that it may be possible for me to transfer ships and cruise on the Allure of the seas (also on the 12th) instead.

I have sailed Explorer before and done quite a bit of research on Freedom and am really looking forward ( if we don't change ) to sailing on her.

We have 4 days either side of our cruise in orlando to do theme parks and water parks so the logistics of getting to the port albeit quite a drive wouldn't be to much hassle as we won't be in a rush to make flights etc.

After our honeymoon my new wife and I will then be looking to get a mortgage and buy our own house so the wonderful world of cruising may not be possible for us for quite a while.

I am more happy with the eastern itinerary that Freedom provides but I think the allure would be a holiday in itself.

My fiancée thinks that we should switch whilst I am not so sure.

Either way I love Royal and I know we will have a wonderful time regardless.

What would you do ??????

Any advice suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Kind regards

Ian

$150 seems steep but I would be really interested in doing the tour, is it worth the money ????

Hi HesterMofet,

Great review really getting me excited for my honeymoon cruise in January !!!

Just wondering what the all access tour cost and also if it was expensive was it value for money.

Many thanks

Kind regards

Ian

Once I saw FR pop up on Marine Traffic around 4 AM. She did not show before and when she sails out of Port C for an Eastern Itinerary, she stops showing pretty quickly. On the Western Itinerary, she can be picked up on Marine Traffic on Saturday night sailing up the FL coast.

Thank you Sherri,

Hopefully my new wife and I will be able to say hi to you as we are on the same sailing in January as you.

Kind regards from Liverpool, England

Ian

Thank you,

Wizard of oz !!!! It never gets old !!!!

Cheers

Ian