RCI nightlife vs Carnival

[BAV2005]

Thanks everyone for the replies! It makes me feel better about the cruise!

 

 

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[janetz]

My stateroom ceiling usually spins late at night once I lie down.

 

 

 

:p:p I have had my foot on the floor a few times after I lie down.

[camreesmom]

We have sailed on RCCL, Carnival & Princess and have always had the best time in the Viking Crown on Royal. Also, my husband has been known to tip the DJ to play specific music & they've always played anything he's asked for.

 

 

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[onyourtoes]

My stateroom ceiling usually spins late at night once I lie down.

 

 

I'm past the "ceiling spinning" days, but yes, I remember it well:D

[Sat1]

Bav, On the NOS last Dec. I had a blast at the Dungeon, up till midnight several nights, and I'm an 85 yr-old widower. Now in May, will have to find fun elsewhere, since the Dungeon is gone, but I'l find some!

[allennn]

I know that most are saying RCI is rocking but we did the Allure in early December and despite it being a full boat the nightclubs and such were dead starting at like 9pm. I asked the bartender at the wine bar and he said its almost always like that. Not sure where the discrepancy is.

[LMaxwell]

I know that most are saying RCI is rocking but we did the Allure in early December and despite it being a full boat the nightclubs and such were dead starting at like 9pm. I asked the bartender at the wine bar and he said its almost always like that. Not sure where the discrepancy is.

I was on the Allure the second week of December; ship was always hopping 10pm - 2am in the pub, live entertainment in VCL, On Air lounge on Karaoke nights; pretty much every venue on Deck 4 Entertainment place. Casino was crazy at 1am.

[luvbigdogs]

Headed on the Allure in a week. Thought I read somewhere that the Schooner Bar was a sing-a-long piano bar much like Club 88 on the Carnival ships. Any truth to that?

[Clarea]

Headed on the Allure in a week. Thought I read somewhere that the Schooner Bar was a sing-a-long piano bar much like Club 88 on the Carnival ships. Any truth to that?

Depends on the entertainer in Schooner. If you get someone like Matt Yee, you will be singing along. Others have different styles.

[jules71]

Depends on the entertainer in Schooner. If you get someone like Matt Yee, you will be singing along. Others have different styles.

 

Totally agree. Some are really great--others just okay. Matt Yee is the best, but Kieran ? on the Radiance a few years ago was also really good.

 

 

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[maureencruiser]

I know that most are saying RCI is rocking but we did the Allure in early December and despite it being a full boat the nightclubs and such were dead starting at like 9pm. I asked the bartender at the wine bar and he said its almost always like that. Not sure where the discrepancy is.

 

At 9pm, half the people are still eating and a lot of people are at the shows, events, etc. The actual bar scene picks up later.

[BAV2005]

Well I officially booked us on the navigator! Hope it's rockin the week we are there

 

 

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[debbs0723]

The Crypt nightclub is now replaced with the Mexican specialty restaurant Sabor.

 

 

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Well that is a shame because that was a super cool looking club inside. and I had to laugh about the rotating comment as well. Hilarious.

 

Debbie

[Jimnbigd]

On the Navigator the night disco is now in the Viking Crown on deck 14, and I think goes until 2am or so -- anyone know for sure?

And the Schooner Bar (deck 4 in front of the casino) will go until midnight or maybe even 1am. But, darn it, Phil Anderson won't be on the ship anymore for a while.

You'll also have live music in Boleros (deck 4 behind the casino) until midnight or so.

And music and/or Karaoke some nights in the Star Lounge (deck 5 forward).

And music in Two Poets pub (the English pub on deck 5) until midnight or so. Gosh, I wish Derek Lewis would return to Galveston in the pub.

And there will probably be a pool deck party one night.

And a 70's disco party on deck 5.

And the Quest adult game show in Studio B (deck 3), probably either night 5 or 6.

And their version of the newlywed game in the theater -- maybe you could try out for the "middle couple".

And midnight comedy one or two nights.

And a parade or two in the Royal Promenade (deck 5).

And of course the casino.

And if you are hungry, Cafe Promenade (deck 5) is open just about all the time, maybe closed in the early morning for cleaning for an hour or so.

So, yes, there is lots of night life.

 

FYI...This is the first time in a while RCI is sailing from Galveston in the summer. Before, the ships were in Europe then. I do suspect there will be more kids and parents, but not enough to slow down the night life.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Jimnbigd

[BAV2005]

Wow jimnbigd! Thank you SO much for all that wonderful info! I'm printing it out to put in my cruise binder right now :)

 

 

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[Jimnbigd]

Someone posted the Cruise Compass (daily schedule) for their March 2 Navigator here: [url]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2007717[/url]

[theotherchad]

Several things that can affect the nightlife onboard are the length of cruise, the port it sails out of, the time of year and the size of the ship.
Someone mentioned upthread about the Allure having no nightlife. It may be that they sailed in the winter. Winter sailings are usually more likely to have a majority of older cruisers. It's not that they don't party, they're just more likely to go to the schooner bar or the lounge, etc, rather than the dance club.

You've got everything in your favor on this cruise. Summer sailing, Texas port (Texans are fun!), and best of all, they eliminated the Dungeon. By returning the dance club to the Viking Crown on deck 14, they will have much better attendance, is my bet.

The Dungeon was hard to find and for some reason, when they made announcements about various activities, when we were aboard the Mariner OTS, they almost never mentioned the Dungeon.

BTW, someone else mentioned a really bad DJ. We had one of those on the Voyager once. It seemed like he was trying to get people to stop dancing so he could go to his cabin and sleep, and he refused to play requests. (The nightclub has flexible hours. If people are still dancing and drinking in sizable numbers, they stay open until 3 or even 4 am sometimes.)

It just so happened that one of the officers on the hotel directors staff walked in, so we complained, in detail. Shortly thereafter, he straightened right up and started doing his job correctly.

[BAV2005]

Thanks guys! I'm feeling better and better about my decision to go with RCI :) now if I could just catch a price drop...;)


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[allennn]

[quote name='LMaxwell']I was on the Allure the second week of December; ship was always hopping 10pm - 2am in the pub, live entertainment in VCL, On Air lounge on Karaoke nights; pretty much every venue on Deck 4 Entertainment place. Casino was crazy at 1am.[/QUOTE]

so we were on the same ship at the same time and saw two different things. The areas we went that were 'dead' were the crown lounge and the places off central park and the upper decks. We didn't go down to the deck 4 area very often. I dunno.... we were there and there weren't many if any people after 9pm.

[SpatterTX]

[quote name='BAV2005']Thanks guys! I'm feeling better and better about my decision to go with RCI :) now if I could just catch a price drop...;)


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We are sailing the NOS the week after you. This will be our first cruise and I'm so excited! I spend way too much time reading these forum boards lately :D I'm learning a lot though and have a feeling that this will be the first of many cruises for us.

[BAV2005]

[quote name='SpatterTX']We are sailing the NOS the week after you. This will be our first cruise and I'm so excited! I spend way too much time reading these forum boards lately :D I'm learning a lot though and have a feeling that this will be the first of many cruises for us.[/QUOTE]


Congrats on your first cruise! I have only cruised once before but it was years ago so I've forgotten it all! I'm a newbie all over again! I would be on your sailing if it was going to Grand Caymen! We are cruising for our 10 yr anniversary which is on the 24th durning your cruise, but I want to go back to grand Caymen to do the turtle farm again ;) planning is addictive, I'm already planning one for 2016 with my whole extended family lol! I just wish next June would hurry up already!


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[LMaxwell]

[quote name='allennn']so we were on the same ship at the same time and saw two different things. The areas we went that were 'dead' were the crown lounge and the places off central park and the upper decks. We didn't go down to the deck 4 area very often. I dunno.... we were there and there weren't many if any people after 9pm.[/quote]

Central Park was never designed as a later at night party spot. They have some light live music but it's not a night spot. VCL had the two girl performers that were really good but we usually would split out early to go to On Air where it was standing room only (way too small venue for the ship). Deck 4 is named Entertainment Place with the comedy club, dance club, jazz club, studio B, casino. Between that and the Royal Promenade that is where you find most late night action.

The pool deck/outer decks were very underutilized for night time entertainment unfortunately but they did turn the Solarium into a late night dance club at least 1X.

[Jimnbigd]

[quote name='BAV2005']...but I want to go back to grand Caymen to do the turtle farm again...[/quote]
Just a heads-up. Cayman is a tendered port (where you take a small boat between ship and shore). Occasionally the seas are rough and Cayman has to be skipped. On my January, 2004, Rhapsody of the Seas, a couple on the ship were planning a wedding on Cayman. Friends and family flew to Cayman for the wedding. Yep -- The seas were too rough and Cayman was skipped. I think the couple got married at the next port (Cozumel, and friends and family flew to Cozumel from Cayman), but it sure messed their plans. On the other ports-of-call run for the Navigator, Belize is tendered. Oh, and even docked ports can be missed on rare occasions. I'm sure a whole thread could be started (and probably exist) for "missed ports-of-call". Edited April 21, 2014 by Jimnbigd

[BAV2005]

[quote name='Jimnbigd']Just a heads-up. Cayman is a tendered port (where you take a small boat between ship and shore). Occasionally the seas are rough and Cayman has to be skipped. On my January, 2004, Rhapsody of the Seas, a couple on the ship were planning a wedding on Cayman. Friends and family flew to Cayman for the wedding. Yep -- The seas were too rough and Cayman was skipped. I think the couple got married at the next port (Cozumel, and friends and family flew to Cozumel from Cayman), but it sure messed their plans. On the other ports-of-call run for the Navigator, Belize is tendered. Oh, and even docked ports can be missed on rare occasions. I'm sure a whole thread could be started (and probably exist) for "missed ports-of-call".[/QUOTE]


Thank you for the heads up! I guess I will just hope for calm seas :) I'm hoping that in June I will have the weather on my side since I'm not near hurricane season, however I know it can be seriously unpredictable


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[Dave85]

[quote name='LMaxwell']Central Park was never designed as a later at night party spot. They have some light live music but it's not a night spot. VCL had the two girl performers that were really good but we usually would split out early to go to On Air where it was standing room only (way too small venue for the ship). Deck 4 is named Entertainment Place with the comedy club, dance club, jazz club, studio B, casino. Between that and the Royal Promenade that is where you find most late night action.

[B]The pool deck/outer decks were very underutilized for night time entertainment unfortunately but they did turn the Solarium into a late night dance club at least 1X[/B].[/quote]

My theory on not utilizing CP or the Boardwalk as a late night spot is noise -- not wanting to create too much noise to disturb those in the inward facing balcony cabins. Same goes for the main pool deck -- could disturb those in the CP balconies. Also makes sense given the insane number of entertainment venues.

IMHO using the Solarium for the 1 or 2 late night parties every week is great. It's a space they clearly designed with that use in mind and it doesn't cause any cabin noise issues. I've really enjoyed the four parties I've attended thus far in Oasis Class solariums!