Ken Greco

Has anyone cruised as a single cruiser in which RCCL matches you up with a stranger or has anyone booked one of their new single cabins? I am thinking of a European cruise out of Venice or the UK

I work for the Baltimore Visitors Center in the Inner Harbor. If you are coming north on Amtrak get off at the BWI Rail Station not the Baltimore City station. There are always taxis outside of the train station to take you to the port and it is about $20, They may charge your extra for the number of pieces of luggage. If your are getting off at the Baltimore City station there are taxis there also about the same price.

If you want to spend time before or after the cruise in Baltimore have the taxi take you to the Inner Harbor and spend some time exploring the city. The Baltimore Visitors Center is open from 10-6 and give you great ideas on where to stay and what to see.

Does anyone have a current Grandeur compass they can post?

did you book Grandeur, Ken?

My wife and I are thinking about the Grandeur to Bermuda in the summer. Are you booked on the ship? We live in Columbia MD

What is the entertainment of the Grandeur like; main room? piano bar? small venues?

Is the Quest game played on the Grandeur?

What is the entertainment on the Grandeur out of Baltimore?

I can understand your disappointment with this cruise. Like you we have had things go wrong that frustrate us. People must understand that with 1500 or so crew there are times when you get someone that does not do their job up to standards we expect. But look at the bright side; you are on a multi million dollar ship, the views on the water can not top anything else, staff are at your beck and call, and 99% of the people want to be on that ship.

We really enjoy dining in the MDR with others so we can make new friends. Could this work with Dynamic dining also? I assume you would have to coordinate with strangers as soon as possible to do this?

It may seem a log shot but how about renting a car when you get back from the cruise and drive back down to Key West. Rent a car and make the 130 mile trip driving along the keys then you can stay right in Key West. Rent bikes, take a sailboat ride, have dinner in one of the great restaurants avoiding all of them along Duval St and see the sunset at Mallory Square.

What is the current entertainment of the Independence of the seas in the Main Lounge and the Royal Promenade?

How do I find out who else would be going in the December 28th New Years Eve cruise on the Independence of the Seas?

My DW and I are on the IOS for the New Years Eve cruise. We have been on 9 RCCL cruises but this is the first time on NYE. Does the ship do anything special on New Years Eve? Also, we may want to sail on the MOS two days later. Can I get a good deal for the next cruise on the IOS before we come back to Fort Lauderdale?

After reading all the posts about the IOS; we are going on the New Years Eve cruise this year; my comment is that people have expectations set when the go on a cruise. If the tables are not cleaned quickly in the Windjammer or the beds are not made quickly; people get upset. Remember, the cruise worker works long hours 12-16 hours a day sometimes to wait on your simple pleasures so give them a break.

Don't go too cheap on hotels here in FL or else you'll regret it. I would not stay at a Comfort Inn down here (I live in Ft Laud).

Perhaps looking at hotels a little west of FLL or north can save you a few $$. But winter months are peak time here so I would also just accept that you will be paying more then normal and stay at a nice place. It's one night and it's VACATION!!!!

 

 

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I agree with you about most of the Comfort Inns and their lack of quality sometimes. I am business traveller for the past 34 years, now retired, I logged over 300 nights in all types of Choice hotels such as Comfort inns and Sleep Inns. The new Cambria Suites hotel line is superb for the money; you do take your chances with Quality Inns and other Comfort Inns.

The Grandeur was the first ship we went on 23 years ago. Yes, it is an older ship. Our last cruise was on the Allure. Your really can not compare them. But if this is your first RCCL cruise you should enjoy your selves. Remember any cruises ship serves thousands of meals each week so food can be great, not so great, good or even poor depending on your level of food you are used to. Always remember you can send something back or order two entrees if you love one item.

Thanks for the comparisons.

Thinking of taking the Ruby Princess for the first time. Have only been on Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruises. Can you tell me the pros and cons on Princess?

Insight Guides publishes a book called " Mediterranean Cruises" which you can generally find at your local library. it has a wealth of info on ports. We took a 12 day cruise out of Rome on Carnival. It was the same price as a 7 day cruise on RCCL. More ports, less money. Venice has to be on any bucket list.

What is the strangest thing you have seen on a cruise?

What is the strangest thing you have seen on a cruise?

Now we know why the chicken crossed the road; to get to the other side of the buffet line.

What is the strangest thing you have ever seen on a cruise, not counting what goes on at the Quest?

On three of our cruises, Haiti twice, Croatia once we bought real paintings from local artists paying no more that $50. We had the canvas ones framed for $150 at Micheals; much better deal than art on a ship. Two paintings we had the cruise director and captain sign the artwork,

Never been to the Princess stop on Turks island. Anyone have photos or reviews of the stop?