Keasel

All Royal has done is convert three complimentary dining venues into three complimentary dining menus. Same number of seats before and same number of seats after the conversion. They've even added complimentary seats for suite guests which means less pressure on the non-suite venues.

 

There has never been enough complimentary seating to accommodate each and every diner at one single seating on any cruise ship. Why do you think they had early and late seating? The only reason you're seeing a difference is in the past those in traditional dining were forced to show up at a specific time which regulated the flow into the complimentary venues. Dynamic dining allows passengers to show up when they like. There will be queues at times.

I agree with you. The transition on Oasis and Allure should be easy. On Oasis, the Opus Dining Room has a capacity of 3056 (two seatings can accommodate 6112). The ship has 5400 guests (double occupancy) with a max capacity of 6360 (with all the cabins capable of third and fourth passengers full). Even at max capacity, less than 4% of the passengers will have to go to pay restaurants (or the buffet).

However, compare this to Quantum. The four-part main dining room can seat 1730 with another 128 at Coastal Kitchen. Two seatings can accommodate 3716. But Quantum has 4180 guests (double occupancy) and 4905 at max capacity. So, at max capacity, 24% of the guests have to go to pay restaurants (or the buffet).

The capacity is not there in Quantum.

We were on the Dec 12th cruise. The car was in line at 1145 and reached the luggage dropoff at 1220. I thought about going the wrong way down the side street to the parking lot and wheeling the bags over; but the signs still state it is not permitted to do so.

There are separate dropoff lanes for buses, cabs, and cars. But the separation does not occur until you are nearly at the terminal. Also, there were no buses at that time and all cabs were going into the main car lane. The extra dropoff capacity was not used.

At the Captain's corner, they said it was better than before and they hope it will be even better after the carpark is built (but they didn't say when that would be).

I read another posting that indicated the priority elevators were an error, not a Diamond and Pinnacle benefit. the WOW bands operated on a similar frequency as the transmitters that medical responders used to switch the elevators to priority. As someone has said, the glitch has been fixed. While I don't have first hand knowledge of this, perhaps someone on board can confirm the myth at Captains corner.

That "myth" was started at the Captain's Corner.

I was on the Dec 12-20 sailing. The priority override of the elevators happened often.

At the Dec 19th Captain's Corner, they stated that they discovered that some passenger's room keys operate at frequencies too close to the medical responders frequency that put the elevator in priority mode.

If one were to put their room key (or WOW band) by the reader by the elevator call button, it would place an elevator in priority service. The elevator would go to the location that called it and everyone was told to leave the elevator.

I'm not sure if was really fixed by the end of the cruise. Later on the 19th, I was on an elevator that acted as if it had been called in such a manner by stopping, then going in the opposite direction. But it didn't state that it was in priority mode.

I did enjoy the cruise. Mama Mia and Sonic Odyssey were great and I didn't have any dinner reservations cancelled.

But some of the glitches cause concern. Doesn't someone check ahead of time for interfering frequencies on medical emergency capabilities?

Do you know which cruise is couples only in Dec? We are on Silhouette 12/13/15 and want to make sure it is not a swingers cruise!!!

It looks like the November 29th cruise. It's not available to be booked through Celebrity's website.

We booked the Dec 12 cruise and made show and dinner reservations in mid October. All shows were available at all times (roughly 55-60 days out). Most restaurants were available at most times; but Izumi (small venue) had very limited choices of times.

I went back and checked today (16 days out) and 2 of the 3 Mama Mia and Sonic Odyssey shows were closed and 4 of the 8 Starwater shows were closed. Restaurant choices were more limited; but not that bad.

Is there more than one guest entertainer and I just haven't figured that out yet when I was booking the shows?

On our 8-night cruise in December, there are two guest entertainers. They use the same icon in the scheduler; so it is not clear at first that there are more than one. But after you chose one guest entertainer show, you'll be allowed to pick another guest entertainer show. On an 11-night, there may be a third guest.

Yes, the Quantum did it, very early in the morning, before sunrise when harbor traffic was at a minimum. They had to get special permission to do so. It was a one-time event to commemorate her arrival in the US. It is not something that would be allowed on a regular basis. Your idea was for Royal Caribbean ships to do it upon departure...late afternoon when the harbor will be jammed with traffic. That will not be allowed.

 

As I said over a year and a half ago when this was discussed, it is not an issue of whether a ship is physically capable of performing the maneuver, it's an issue of harbor safety. Traffic would have to be held at some distance away from the ship to prevent possible accidents involving other ships. Look at the video in post 66...there's not another ship or boat within sight.

They're doing it right now and they've done it in the late afternoon three times in less than a week.

The Quantum just pulled out from dock and is heading back up the Hudson River before their next 'cruise to nowhere'.... It would be nice if they did that when we board on Dec 1st, but somehow I doubt it. :)

I'm hoping Quantum continues the Hudson pleasure tours into December also (I'm on the Dec 12th cruise). But it is easier to do this on cruises to nowhere when you just turn around in the Atlantic and come back rather than having a distant next port of call. On the other hand, fuel is relatively inexpensive at the moment and they are trying to compete with cruise ships that sail out of Manhattan.

Hi All,

I am patiently waiting for entertainment to open up for booking on our March cruise. For those that are on an earlier 8 day sailing can you give me an example of what days/times the shows are?

Thanks,

Donna

For the Dec 12 sailing

Mama Mia

Day 1 830

Day 2 230 830

Starwater

Day 2 900

Day 3 1030

Day 4 830

Day 5 800 1030

Day 6 730 930

Day 8 1030

Sonic Odyssey

Day 7 700 900

Day 8 730

Guest Entertainer

Day 3 700 900

Day 4 900

Guest Entertainer 2

Day 5 1030

Day 6 830 1030

A huge cruise ship trying to make a u-turn in the Hudson River/Upper Bay with all the ship traffic would not be a very smart idea...it would be a giant safety hazard and I doubt the Coast Guard would allow it...in fact I doubt any ship's captain would try it. You can't stop, start and turn a cruise ship like a car...or even a small boat.

Quantum of the Seas seemed to be able to make the maneuver.

See posts 59 and 60

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2099947&page=3

It would be nice if they did this on a regular basis.

Have anthem do 9/10/11 nights cruises just not to bermuda its only there now for 6 hours on a 9 night cruise . Then put a radiance or vision class ship to do bermuda and make it a 7 night cruise not a 5 night cruise have too ships in nj ncl has too ships in NYC for years doing the same thing.

Celebrity Summit is already doing the 7-night cruises to Bermuda. I'm not sure if the parent company would want two of their ships competing with each other out of Bayonne with the same itinerary.

Near the end of the article it mentions:

 

Is there supposed to be a second phase? What else would they possibly add?

 

Jonathan

Phase 2 is a big question mark. But Phase 3 is profit.:D

Interesting article looking at the proposed new route to the port of Venice and the option of a floating port at Lido.

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/The-importance-of-mud-to-Venice/35772

New trademark applications were filed for

Spectrum of the Seas

Pulse of the Seas

Passion of the Seas

Ovation of the Seas

Joy of the Seas

Harmony of the Seas

Emblem of the Seas

Apex of the Seas

We are sailing on Splendour on Saturday, does anyone know if the vouchers are available on her? I never use the Diamond Lounge as my friend has not yet reached Diamond status but it would be nice to have a free glass of wine :)

Thanks for any information.

On the August 30th sailing, Splendour did not have vouchers. Even if you don't normally do so, stop by the Diamond Lounge anyway to see Daniele (concierge) and Fernanda (bar server). They're very nice.

Any idea what the backup plan for the parking garage is if it's not ready when the sampler cruises start Nov 18th? It was thinking about booking one of those and driving up. The sampler cruises are more likely to attract more of a drive-up crowd and what remains of the old parking lot may not be enough.

We will be staying at the Best Western Olimpia - is it just across a bridge from Piazzale Roma. They got good reviews on Trip Advisor. We have not stayed there yet - will be in Oct. Make sure you ask for a room in the MAIN building - otherwise, you will be staying at their Annex which is down the "street".

My wife and stayed in the Hotel Olimpia one night before and two nights after our Aug. 30th cruise. It's very clean with a friendly staff and only one modest bridge from Piazzale Roma.

My husband and I like MTD and usually opt for the early seatings........5:30 - 5:45. On our Splendour Cruise leaving from Venice next month the earliest time for MTD dinner each night is 6:30. Is this true for the fixed dining times and Windjammer? Thanks!

On the August 30th sailing, MTD opened at 630 and first main seating was also 630. Windjammer opened at 7. Chops and Izumi opened at 6.

The biggest obstacle to that location is the current bridge that is downstream for the proposed location only has a clearance of 140 feet!

Don't worry. There's a plan for that. All you have to do is tender everyone. Self debark should be fun :rolleyes:

http://chesapeakecurrent.com/cruise-ships-at-solomons-pie-in-the-sky-p864-86.htm

"Donnelly says instead of bringing the ships under the bridge, they could be berthed or anchored to the south of the bridge directly across from the Solomons boardwalk and serviced by tenders. He notes that tenders frequently ferry passengers back and forth at various ports in the Caribbean, Bermuda and elsewhere. So why not here?"

One significant difference - RCI Freedom of the Seas was named and launched first in 2006 while Carnival Freedom followed in 2007. It is surprising to me that a cruise line would use a name - or one very close to - one already in use by another competitive line, especially so soon after the first one was launched. I don't think RCI would want to do that.

Carnival Liberty preceded Liberty of the Seas in the same general time frame.

The repeating of names makes sense from a search-engine standpoint in order help marketing to first-time cruisers. Someone thinking about a cruise may have heard something from a coworker about a cruise ship named Liberty. At home, they search for cruise Liberty and get hits for Carnival when their coworker was actually talking about Liberty of the Seas (or the other way around).

What is the current price to dine in Chops Grill on Grandeur of the Seas? And can anyone who has recently sailed on her advise me as to whether they were offered a reduced price deal for making a reservation once they were on the ship? If so where, when, and how were you able to get the reduced price deal? Any tips would be appreciated, as any $$ saved is $$ that can be spent and enjoyed elsewhere on the cruise! Thanks in advance.

On the May 30th sailing, Chops was $30 and Giovanni's Table was $20. They were offering 20% off at Giovanni's the first night. So, $16 each. We ate at Giovanni's Table. I don't know if Chops had a similar reduced price offer or whether it was for the first night only. They both seemed pretty empty when walking past them going from the Diamond lounge to the main dining room on the other nights.

I'd like to see Epic of The Seas.

The major lines do seem to repeat names a lot so it's possible.

Just between Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean, there are two ships named

Dream

Magic

Fantasy

Legend

Freedom

Liberty

Splendour/Splendor

Back in late 2012, Royal Caribbean applied for several trademarks which did include Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

 

The other names trademarked were:

• Ovation of the Seas
  
• Passion of the Seas
  
• Pulse of the Seas
  
• Vantage of the Seas

 

It's probable that Oasis 3 would be one of those.

The trademark applications to Pulse, Passion, and Ovation of the Seas went abandoned on January 13, 2014, and the trademark application for Vantage of the Seas went abandoned on September 9, 2013.

A new trademark application can be filed. Freedom of the Seas first application went abandoned in 2002, but was refiled 2+ years later. However, many of the abandoned application names are never used (e.g., Endeavor, Journey, and Traveller of the Seas).

It seems that Pulse, Passion, Ovation, or Vantage are not going to be the name if the name is selected soon (otherwise they wouldn't have abandoned the applications). However, if the name is selected later they could reapply for any of the abandoned names or come up with new names.

Not guardians of the galaxy, lol. The movie title escapes me but it was a Dreamworks movie, lol.

 

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It was Rise of the Guardians.

OP, there's a good chance you'll be able to see How to Train Your Dragon 2 onboard when it opens (June 13) or shortly therafter.

I cant really find a definitive answer in a search of the threads.

 

Is luggage available for Port Everglades to FLL on 4 day cruises?

 

I am flying to Atlanta direct on Delta so I know that Delta participates.

We did the luggage valet on Liberty (April 3, 2014) on a 4-night cruise. But it was unavailable on Independence (Dec 1, 2013) on a 6-night cruise. Both were out of FLL. There were reports that Independence resumed Luggage Valet after Dec 2013. It seems to be hit or miss. I'm not sure if calling Royal Caribbean would definitively give you the right answer either.