Charger2008

Now for the Ugly:

 

A disclaimer first though, I am an advanced surfer and boogie boarder on the flow rider.

 

Now with that said the sports staff on the Independence are just flat out horrible. They are by far the worst group I have ever encountered on a ship. Normally the sports staff are some of the most fun and enjoyable people to be around not here though. Throughout the week I met just one nice one that was helping people. They refused to be helpful and help others that needed help to learn how to surf and were just way to uptight.

 

The flowrider restrictions were supposed to be eased and more tricks allowed per Adam Goldsteins blog post. This however is most defiantly not the case. You are allowed to do 3 tricks on the boogie board, a knee 360, lay on it, or sit on it. That is all. I know numerous other tricks many of which I have learned on their ships but was allowed to do none of them. When I said that the restrictions have been eased I was brushed off and said no they haven't, and were like that throughout the fleet which contradicts other reports. On the surfing side many tricks were outlawed as you always had to have the board on the surface. To make matters worse the staff wouldn't follow these rules and do whatever setting a bad precedence after jumping others for doing it.

 

The thing that is was the most ridiculous was that the sports manager got mad and was seriously yelling at me for carving the wave and sending water over the side, saying that it was serious and illegal. I kindly said that it was a splash zone and that there are signs and he should know that its a splash zone since he works there. Normally you would be encouraged to try new tricks and cheered for being good, but aboard the Independence it was the exact opposite.

 

Needless to say we shall never cruise the Independence again and go back to the other lovely Royal ships.

I guess that answers my question I aksed you on the other thread about your Flowrider experience on your cruise. That is horrible. I am so sorry you had a bad experience. The sports staff that was on our IOS cruise last March was hands down, the best staff we have ever encountered and we have stayed in touch with most of them to this day. I hope that some of those people come back to the IOS before we board the ship in March.

Also, thanks for the "head's up" about them not knowing about the relaxed rules. I believe I will print that information out before we board the ship.

Just back from Labaddee and it was $250 for the cabana for everyone not per person. At those rates they would have no one in them.

Did you win the best of the best on your cruise? Who is on the IOS for Sports Staff these days? I think everyone we met last March is now on different ships.

E

A friend of mine was on that sailing and told me that someone broke their leg on the Flowrider :( Wondering if anyone else was on board and knew what had happened. So very sorry someone was hurt and hope they will be okay.

My reason for inquiring is because RCCL had just recently eased up on the restrictions for Flowrider and I am hoping that this very unfortunate accident does not change the rules again.

Do you get to see the Best of the Best Flowrider competition? A friend of ours was on that cruise and he won second place :D

DD and I participated in the walk for wishes, but the belly flop contest was just finishing up....

 

 

 

The winner!

Is it just me or does that one guy (not the winner) look a bit miffed?

Hi everyone,

No news yet on fall 2015 official sailings, but I am still hoping they will release the sailings bookings before next April, so people can plan. I am still guessing that there will be some Caribbean as well as some New England sailings that fall.

 

I did have a a great experience in San Francisco last month. I was out on the West Coast, and when the America's Cup final went to a tiebreaker race, went to San Francisco and saw the finals race on that Wednesday the 25th.

 

It was free, as no one had anticipated a tie breaker. It was great seeing the race and seeing the U.S. win the race. We were positioned right by the new pier which will be used for future cruise voyages in San Francisco. It was a good reason( at least in my opinion) to get back a day late to the office.

 

Edna and Frank, I saw where Royal is going to allow flowriders to do tricks again, so we are all expecting fantastic new video shots of your advanced riding!

 

I hope everyone is enjoying early October weather and football season.

 

I just wish Royal would release some new updates on Quantum. If anyone knows anything new, please post it up.

Have a great rest of week,

Kelcie

Our local park is closed for the season. Hopefully we won't get too rusty before our March cruise :)

Hello Edna, I don't remember if I said that, but after a few cocktails you just don't know what a guy might say. LOL I see your getting a lot of practice on the Flowrider and maybe becoming Semi-Pro, so I think I will just set back with a cold beer and watch the pro in action.:D And watch out for that high post count It's contagious:)

Frank and I tried to get to the waterpark as much as we could this summer. Still learning tricks and hard carving, but it is coming along :)

It will be a LONG time before I get a post count as high as y'alls' are :)

Awesome! Excited for another new ship. However, I won't be on this particular sailing.

We have a cruise booked for April 24, 2015 on the Quantum but are up for a second cruise that year :D

I can't wait to hear from people who sail before us as to what they think of the ship. You will have to post a review :)

Hi Kelcie, Elaine & I are here and still on standby, just can't wait to get the RTR'S back on board again for another great cruise.

I'm going to have to get more of y'all to try the Flowrider this time :D I believe it was your voice I heard in the background of the video of me on the Flowrider on the Oasis saying "Hey Edna, there's a cat over here" ;)

Hello there! :D

Long time no talk to, how are you? :)

Hey RTR!!!

 

I was behind a car today & the license plate read...RTR!!!! LOL

 

Now you all know I thought of you guys!!!:D

Awesome :) I still wear my RTR tank top on every cruise. I wear it when I climb the rock wall :D

DAY 4

 

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This was the 7th cruise that I was on that had at least one Flowrider on the ship. However I had never given it a shot, until this day. I tried the surfboard (key word - tried) but I kept on wiping out just moments after the instructor let go of my hands. I did leave with some pretty neat parting gifts in the form of bruises on my elbows and knees. I decided to give the boogie board a try a few days later. Spoiler - much better result.

I was wondering if you tried the Flowrider :) Did you meet Tam? Sorry to hear that your stand up surfing was not as successful as the boogie boarding. Some folks catch on much quicker (the very young whose bones knit much faster) that others. It took us a while to finally get it, but once we did, we were hooked :D

Sounds like you had a wonderful cruise. Thanks for the review and we agree 100% about the Solarium, it is MUCH too warm. We prefer the Freedom class for just that reason, the Solarium is cooler, bigger pool and nicer to spend time in. :p

HI Edna!!!!

 

I liked your old name wth????

But this new name is delightful, too!:)

 

You love those ships with flowey-riders!!!! lol

You are the Queen of the FR!!!

Hi Sheila :) Had to change it because I guess some folks just don't like cats OR they are just jealous because Frank and I rock it on the Flowrider :D

Can't wait until we call all sail together again :p

Hi everyone,

Nancy so great to hear from you. I think the prices on Indy are really good for a 6 day cruise. My family is already deposited for a W. Caribbean cruise in mid December 2014, but I might be open to change if it was the same time frame in December 2014, or else book Indy in the low season weeks in Jan 2015. Please give Krystal and the rest of your family my best.

 

Sheila and Jimmy, sounds like ya'll had a blast in Key West. Plus with all of the excitement of Diana Nyad finishing her Cuba to Key West swim while ya'll were there. I'm thinking I could swim maybe a mile in the ocean at best, 110 miles was incredible.

 

Edna, changed names again? Great price on your Indy cruise and on Quantum. Please tell Frank hello for me. Are ya'll the surf champions on flowriders yet?

 

Celebrity fan, I am hoping to get another group together for Quantum in late August or September 2015 when pricing has calmed down from the inaugural prices for a Caribbean sailing during low season. I am hoping that

Royal will release schedules sooner than April 2014 for the Quantum for summer and fall sailings in 2015.

 

I had an absolute blast with the people I sailed with on Oasis and Allure, and I would love for all of us to back together on a sailing where everyone can plan and have time to save up for it. It made for great fun loving cruises.

 

I a definitely open for an unofficial get together in 2014 if we can get a consensus. Now explaining that ot my office, might take a little longer!

 

Take care,

Kelcie

Well, I was using Frank's 'Raptor2010' log on because after so many people were so flippen rude to me when I had the 'Catlady27' account, I deleted it. Oh, get this, after I created the Charger2008 account, one of the "people" (you know what word I am thinking of) started giving me grief again but this time I played it by the book, I reported his posts and sent messages to the admins asking them to make him cease and desist from harassing me. I am sure he is still cyber stalking me and reading everything I post so he can "catch" me saying something wrong [insert eye roll here :rolleyes:].

Anywho, this weekend is the last weekend the waterpark will be open but we are planning on renting it out soon for about three hours so we can get some good quality ride time. I have learned some new tricks and Frank is doing great on the wave. I still need to win the lotto so I can put one in the backyard :)

I agree that waiting for prices to be released for Summer-fall 2015 is a little disappointing, but the good news is is that we will know more of the details of the ship, and the prices will in all likelihood be lower than the first release sailings. Anthem is to debut in the spring of 2015, so maybe Quantum prices will be more reasonable by then. I did get through this morning before the website went live, and got several prices for different sailings, and they were about what I expected for a new ship. A couple of my friends booked this morning, and they do not have a higher tier status, and no problems for them booking. Royal Caribbean was also allowing two people instead of three to book the family junior suites. I think when all of the dust settles, several people may have buyer's price remorse, and look for a less expensive cabin or sailing. Some of the larger suites were over $11,000 for two people for a week.:eek:

 

I personally don't want to sail in the winter out of the New York area, as I have done that before, and the first couple of days we couldn't use the pools, just the hot tubs, as it just wasn't warm enough outside.

 

I am looking forward to more details being released, and the excitement building for the ship.

With regards to pricing, it is about the same as an 8 day on the Independence. We booked a Spa Junior Suite for $1,699 pp (would have been $1,599 but I waffled for a day on whether or not to book). Our Junior Suite on the Independence was $1,659 pp, so only $40 more on the Quantum and the suite is larger and has a bath and a half :) Also, flights to NJ are much cheaper than to Florida for us. I priced a trip for $413 for the two of us to NJ and it is about $860 to $900 to fly to Florida.

I joined AARP so I can get discounts on car rentals and hotels so not worried about pricing on those. Hey, this getting a bit older is not too bad if I can get discounts.:D

Hi Kelcie!

We had an incredible labor Day W/E in Key West,

weather was a tad hot but still very enjoyable.

How was your holiday weekend???

 

We are very much looking forward this reunion cruise,

and seeing everyone!!!!:)

Frank and I have booked the Quantum for April 24, 2015; HOWEVER, we are all in for another one in September :D We will be on the Indepdence in six months and 11 days - woooooooooooo hooooooooo

We would love to cruise with all of y'all again :)

Has anyone done the mystery dinner theater on FOS? It is the 1st night of cruise & wondered if it is fun!?!? Have really wanted to do it on other cruises but it was never available. Would love some insight.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Cheesy but lots of fun, we have done it three times now :)

So talked to Royal Caribbean and for our cruise (Oasis in April 2014) they do not have beach day available yet, and do not know if they will add it in. We are docked 7am-2pm in Nassau. Through Blue Lagoon website they say they include ferry, lunch and beach day for $54/pp. The only problem I am facing is.... their ferrys back are 1pm at the earliest. Anyone done this? Thoughts?

 

How far from RCI cruise ship dock to get to terminal to take Blue Lagoons ferry ride over? Walking?

 

TIA!

We did the Seal Lion excursion when we were on the Oasis and we had plenty of time to do the excursion, play on the beach, caught the ferry back, had some drinks at the Hard Rock and get back to the ship. It was very nice.

We had a PR cabin on our IOS sailing last year and while it did save us a lot of money, never again. It was a beautiful cabin but it was much much too small for us and we like being able to open the curtain and see what the weather is like outside. A BIG thing for me is a larger bathroom with a tub so it is back to at least a Jr. suite for us. Also, we spend a lot of time on the Flowrider and there is simply not enough space in the PR cabin to hang up wet rash guards, boards shorts, swimsuits and wetsuits so they will dry for the next day.