Tatka

About 9:45-10AM

I’d say cruising became possible to less sophisticated crowd. Although 7 years ago it was already not good old cruising. 🙂

Well, they are business which during pandemic (up to the end of 2022) kept loosing and lost about 22 billion dollars. They MUST be after immediate money to stay profitable. There are other ships of RCI which are not as expensive. I am not loyal to Royal (check my signature). We sailed with 8 lines for 17 years. We did get to D and then D+ in a process and we cruise more now. And we do it with Royal not even for perks, but for variety and proximity. If this was not a case we would sail with any other company. Royal was not even our line of choice previously. We only had 5 cruises with them up until 2016.

Exactly. There is no point to compare it to Celebrity. Celebrity is a great line, but it offers different experience which may cost less due to less demands from smaller target group. We sail without kids so we are happy to be on any RCI ships, but Icon class is not a priority at all for us. Priority is 5 full length 7 (sometimes 6, last year 5) - 12 (rarely 14 days) cruises spread out through a year. If Icon class comes to home port near us and won't cost arm and leg we will sail. Otherwise we are happy with other choices.

We became somewhat of loyalists 29 out of 60 cruises are with Royal. Lately all our cruises. And we are sailing on all classes which homeport in NJ (all classes), Baltimore (only Vision class) and Boston. We would sail with X again if they offer something better from following ports and price is competitive. I suppose RCI counts on people willing to spent $$$ on shorter vacations, on 1 vacation a year. I will wait. 🙂

It is a different product with different features. It is like comparing Disney to X.

On Quantum class it is only shows in Two70. Also on Anthem for example Spectra's Cabaret is running for 8 years so reservations are not necessary. You will find a seat. Maybe not on first show during your cruise (you probably still can, but maybe on balcony), but on consecutive. You can book them on ships WiFi.

We won't. It is like a year of cruising. 🙂 We'll wait till people satisfy their urge and excitement and then we will try it if it comes to our neck of the woods.

I am not sure and I do not want to guess. In any case.

I can provide examples of situations when passports where asked. When we attended casino in Germany We watched American couple asked for a passport in vaporetto in Venice (water taxi) by police In both cases DL did not work. I am not sure if it was right or wrong to demand passport ... but do we want to gamble (no pun intended) ? It easier to have passport and peace of mind. We are usually in good condition, we do not overindulge on drinks and we can watch our stuff.

We always take passports with us except for private islands of RCI or other lines. We are taking them not because we are afraid we won't be able to fly back. For this there is a procedure. But passport is our main document abroad. While we know that chances of using them are slim we had to use them in some situations during our travels, we also watched people asked for passports.

We had friendly staff even in January, but they were less organized.

We sailed 1 week before you and I agree with your points. We noticed improvements in service, food(buffet) and especially internet which was abysmal for Thanksgiving 2022 and January 02.2023.

14 cruises since restart, no Questions, but we do check-in online and questionaire. Less and less questions asked now. Not even about vaccines.

Thank you. I do not have kids, but I am concerned about absence of a roof over pool adjacent to Solarium. It will make it colder to get towels while on our way to Solarium. Indoor pool was that place between outside and Solarium. Also it will be interesting to see pool situation during first 2 days out of NJ and last days. For our sailings on Thanksgiving (still should warm up fast) and in January (not many kids on board) I suppose it will be not bad, but for Christmas and New Year it can get interesting. Maybe I'm overestimating the importance of an indoor pool?

Last week on Anthem there was medivac on our way down to Coco Cay.

For some time after pandemic you had to scan QR code unless you asked to bring a menu. Now it is back to old ways.

I do not hold hopes after that event on Freedom...

I so agree with you. I cannot even imagine paper program now! I love how we can "schedule" events and get notifications. And service is terrific and ship is in good shape. I don't want Anthem to go after this season 😞

Maybe parents who know that balcony is something absolutely new for their kids/teens and they won't be able to make good judgement of what may happen if they climb need to explain consequences. Although it is difficult to predict of course. 😞

I so agree. I constantly hear some weird things about cruises. Mostly from people who never cruised. It is so unfair.

As you said it was not really cruise specific. This situation is no different from any other on land. I also read that persons under 18 should not be alone on balcony. This is another strange suggestion really. All over the world people LIVE in condos with balconies and kids don't just fall from them!!!

Why do cruises attract such a special attention?!?! Balconies exist in various buildings in various resorts. Why cruises? 😞 My heart goes to the family of 16 years old... RIP.

Sea rules are different than land rules. Not only regarding to jumping. Diapers are also not allowed into the pool. Also life guards were introduced after several passengers drown. One was on Anthem btw.

We use this one. Cordless. Just to be on a safe side https://a.co/d/5eOoEk9