mek

Which ships?  Are they both out of Miami?

3 Night cruises regardless of the line, tend to be party cruises and if it's over the weeknd, there will be more children.

It usually depends on the cut off date for my Amex, which I pay off each month. If I can push the payment into the next billing cycle, that gives me an extra month to not have to part with my $.  LOL.

OP - skip the body wash and shampoo as an all in one product is in the shower stall.  I use it all of the time with my own conditioner and my color treated hair looks and feels just fine.

17 hours ago, slyster said:

I'm going to be on Allure next year and I'm looking forward to trying something else besides Chops (we ate there on Enchantment earlier this year).  We will probably still eat there since we love steak.  What are your other favorites?

 

Allure has Chops, Giovannis, 150 Central Park, Samba Grill (on my list), Izumu (thinking about the hibachi).  I have a 3 dinner package.  I think we will probably have lunch at Sabors for lunch one day.

 

I'm just wondering what your favorites are?

My husband is a picky eater so we don't go to the speciality restaurants for dinner, but I was on Allure last week and did the Sushi and Sake lunch and it was great and the last time I was on the ship I did the Sushi making class/lunch - fun and a huge amount of food to eat, (but I ate all of it!)

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

Kind of late to the game but we were on Quantum Oct. 3 for a 10 night.  MDR, Windjammer and the Bistro had the worse food of any Royal sailing I have ever been on. Chop's and Jamie's were both fantastic. The only spot worse was 270, brown wilted salads and sandwiches out of the Panini make like rubber.  Crew however was a absolute 10. Had the best Negroni of my life from Vintages.

I was on Allure 4 years ago and then again last week.  I thought the food was OK in the MDR, but not as good as I remembered from the past cruise.  My opinion of the the Windjammer for breakfast and lunch is that it's the Golden Corral OTS.  Boring selections with lukewarm to cold food that should be hot.  Desserts, with the exception of the bread pudding, are horrible, tasteless, and gelatin based. .

I wish I had passed on the buffet on Labadee - burgers were not hot and tasted like the meat had filler in them.

The Park Cafe was great.

2 hours ago, CruiseMomTX said:

Wondering if things on the Allure with MTD are any better or still long lines?  We sail on the Allure on 11/27 and will be our first cruise since early 2020.  I know I should remember but if we were to change to early or late traditional dining are there then 2 show times for the theater, aqua show, etc.?  For the most part we always did MTD but that is sounding like a cluster even with a reservation.  What times do they usually have the popular shows (I know it can change each cruise so just a rough estimate)?  Wha!t is your preferred dining time/style and why?  Thanks for any input!

I was on Allure last week - we had traditional @5:15pm and a table for two by the window on deck 3.  We had fantastic service and were out of the dining room by 7pm.  When we left there were l-o-n-g lines for MTD every night - one night winding around past the elevators.  While 5:15 is early for me, I was glad we weren't part of the mess outside of the dining room.

There were early and late shows most evenings, except for Mama Mia and the late night adult comedy shows.

As much as I enjoy the Oasis class ships - done Oasis 1X and Allure 2X, I think I'm going to go back to the smaller ships and look for itineraries I haven't done.  Jewel has a great 12 night cruise, RT Amsterdam, that goes to Iceland in May and I think that may be my next cruise, although I will probably have to do it solo because it doesn't sound like something my husband will be able to do with his mobility issues.

On 10/22/2022 at 9:45 PM, Painter4me said:

Booked many cruises for the ship and not the ports. We’ve been to most of the Caribbean islands multiple times. There’s only so many islands and itineraries. I might like them to change some of the itineraries. Most of the time, I don’t even get off the ship.

We were on Allure last week and only got off in Labadee.  My husband uses a transport chair and it really didn't seem worth the effort to get off and walk to town in the heat, so we just stayed on the ship and relaxed.

On 10/21/2022 at 9:10 PM, singinalot said:

Curaçao was one of the port stops on my very first cruise so will forever hold a place in my heart. thanks for the pics!

I was on your sailing and I remember when smaller ships sailed past the colorful buildings and docked right in town.  

20 hours ago, PolicromaSol said:

While I like the convenience of being able to have the internet to look things up, buy a ticket, or pull up a boarding pass (heck, cell phone tech support is what I do for a living), I seriously hope that nobody takes any ideas from Disney right now. They've turned Disney World into microtransaction hell. I don't want that insanity spreading anywhere else, especially a cruise where the whole point is to chill and relax and not think about the rush rush rush of the rest of the world.

 

Disney World right now is a pay-to-win dystopia trying to extract every last bit of cash from people by keeping them glued to their screens pressing buttons instead of actually enjoying the park. This is not an example of the wonders of technology. 

Never been to Disney, except Epcot and with the possible exception of Animal Kingdom, I have no desire to set foot in the Magic Kingdom. or any others.  I live 25 minutes from Kings Island, which is a great amusement park and see no reason to pay $$$'s to go to and be a part of the craziness. I have family members who are addicted and go at least once a year.  I just don't get it.

53 minutes ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Uber or taxi to arrive @ assigned time.

Nope - my husband is disabled and the shuttles that pull a  trailer have more room for my husband's chair and our bags.  It really is a matter of convenience for us.

On 10/20/2022 at 1:09 PM, Joseph2017China said:

I don't understand how "covid" improved boarding.  The idea of showing up, getting scanned by a person with a tablet, and being checked in, wait until rooms open, and get your cards at the doorway.  Depending on the ship (quantum class started it) this was around pre-covid.  It was always the plan to streamline the process with the apps

 

The only thing that happened was the muster drill, and I think that was already in the works, but maybe, covid moved it faster.  

 

Many of the things also depends on the port.  

 

Boarding times are set up to ease congestion, but we are part of the me generation, where, a suggestion used to mean something to do, but now it means everyone else should do it, but not me. So, yes, boarding times matter, but no one bothers since it's everyone elses issue

Just to be clear - I wasn't trying to arrive early on purpose or ignore my boarding time - I simply didn't have a choice with the time the hotel shuttle picked us up.  I would imagine that quite a few people have that happen and it's not fair to assume people are simply trying to bend the rules just for the heck of it.

On 10/16/2022 at 11:05 AM, livingonthebeach said:

 

I thoroughly agree that the boarding process and muster drills have improved due to Covid. The process is much faster and does away with that pesky pre-covid PITA muster drill. 

 

The only thing that irks me about the changes is you have to ask for a Cruise Compass - no more copies at Guest Services - you have to stand in line to ask for one and they look at you like you have ten heads and tell you to use the APP.  You can also ask your room steward to drop one off each evening - I don't mind asking but I liked the pre-covid method better. 

We had a printed Compass waiting for us every evening and never requested it.

On 10/16/2022 at 6:36 AM, jean87510 said:

mek are you on the Allure next week? 

No - we were on the 1/15 sailing - just got home this afternoon.

All went well with check-in.  We arrived around 10:35 am and were onboard by 11:10 am.  No questions about our early arrival and we are only asked if we had been vaxxed - no proof was required.

Everything seemed normal except that there were multiple had washing stations in the Windjammer and at other locations throughout the ship.

Thanks for the responses - our first post Covid cruise.  Sounds like we will be ok.

The hotel we are staying at in Ft Lauderdale provides a shuttle to the ship leaving at 10 am.  Hoping they will be picking up at other hotels but we will probably arrive before our 11:30 scheduled check-in.  So what happens when we arrive early.  On Allure.

1 hour ago, topnole said:

We typically sail oasis class.  If you’ve cruised much, you aren’t doing oasis class for the ports.  Your doing it for the ship and the ports are secondary.   

Totally agree - I don't care very much about the itinerary when I sail on these ships.

11 hours ago, Woody14 said:

I am totally with you.   My default is if the price I am looking at is the same or less than the category below I will take it as a win.  I have the attitude that the worst balcony is better than an ocean view.  (the worst ocean view is better than an inside) once in a while it does bite me but rarely, mostly I have appreciated my obstructed view balcony for the price of an ocean view (or less).

I got really lucky on our Allure cruise that sails this Saturday.  It was a cruise originally booked in November, 2019 on Oasis and has been canceled/rescheduled 3X.  When I decided on this date the offer on a guarantee OV balcony was just too good to pass up and when we got our cabin assignment, I was thrilled - deck 6, the first cabin on the aft hump.  I told my husband I probably couldn't have picked a better location if had paid for assigned cabin.

20 minutes ago, djkk said:

I would be happier with a lower deck, not under the sports court. Actually, a central park balcony cabin would've been my first choice. Next time I'll pay for it.😀

Sorry you were disappointed.  Whenever I book a guarantee, I locate the worst cabin I could possibly be assigned and that isn't a problem, then I go with it, but they aren't for everyone.

44 minutes ago, djkk said:

I booked a neighborhood balcony for the Oasis this month. The cabin was assigned two weeks before the sailing. It is too late to change the cabin, since the cabins are sold out in the category. I would not choose guarantee again since I am not happy with my assignment ( deck 14, Boardwalk). In years past, it seemed they assigned cabins much earlier, so it was relatively easy to switch if you were not happy. I will do my best to have a great time regardless. Happy Sailing!

Not being snarky - just curious - with what location would you have been happy? 

2 hours ago, emeraldcity said:

If it's a quantum class ship, you might want to think twice about choosing a balcony guarantee. We got 6186 on the Odyssey. The price difference was considerable, so I accept this was the result and we didn't let it spoil our vacation.

 

 

No biggie IMO.  For the right price I would take that in a heartbeat.

8 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

The licking 😜 or the donuts being confiscated? Not sure since I’ve never brought donuts on a ship before.

 

Food confiscated.  Many times I've taken things aback like candy, chocolate, pastries, and never given it any thought.

13 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

That's when you stand there and lick every one and then throw them in the trash. 🤣

That's so bizarre.  Is this something new?

I can't count the times I've brought food back on a ship - especially in Europe where we've stopped at a bakery to get some things to enjoy in our cabin.

On 10/10/2022 at 3:21 PM, pfdaxe358 said:

But how many cruises and thousands of $$$ to get those "free" items. Nothing is free...

I'm not sure exactly why it matters how often or how much is spent on cruising.  The fact is as Diamond, my husband and I get 8 free drinks per day + some other perks.  They are not charging an extra surcharge or membership fee to get the perks so they aren't costing me anything.

But, it seems you want to troll, so enough said about the subject.