Family OV vs Family Promenade - Noise?

[Sandysbuddy]

I originally posted this under Cabin Selection Tips, but thought I might have better luck here.

 

We currently have a Family Ocean View room booked on the Freedom for a Caribbean cruise in May. However, we are considering changing to a Family Promenade. I know we would enjoy the view off the front of the ship, but the promenade room is more centrally located, has a walk-in closet and a tub instead of just a shower. The promenade room is also a little cheaper.

 

However, we are concerned about the noise from the promenade. For anyone that has stayed in a promenade room (family room or not), was noise an issue? How late are the parades and were these an issue?

 

Any other advice?

 

Thanks!

[cymru cruiser]

I originally posted this under Cabin Selection Tips, but thought I might have better luck here.

 

We currently have a Family Ocean View room booked on the Freedom for a Caribbean cruise in May. However, we are considering changing to a Family Promenade. I know we would enjoy the view off the front of the ship, but the promenade room is more centrally located, has a walk-in closet and a tub instead of just a shower. The promenade room is also a little cheaper.

 

However, we are concerned about the noise from the promenade. For anyone that has stayed in a promenade room (family room or not), was noise an issue? How late are the parades and were these an issue?

 

Any other advice?

 

Thanks!

 

Hi we had two connecting promenade cabins on explorer in June.

We were very concerned about the noise beforehand.

We where above the shops the parades etc didn't go on late. You could head the parade music.

What I was disappointed with was that music was not switched off some nights. Several nights I got up in the middle of the night 2am-4am and could still hear the music. I must stress though that as a light sleeper it did not prevent me from sleeping nor did it wake me up. It was just there.

It was our first time in promenade cabins, we normally have a balcony, I'd book one again at a push. It was great for people watching.

I'm on my kindle so can't copy and paste a link but if you search for my previous posts you should find my review which has details of our cabins and photos.

[Sandysbuddy]

Hi we had two connecting promenade cabins on explorer in June.

We were very concerned about the noise beforehand.

We where above the shops the parades etc didn't go on late. You could head the parade music.

What I was disappointed with was that music was not switched off some nights. Several nights I got up in the middle of the night 2am-4am and could still hear the music. I must stress though that as a light sleeper it did not prevent me from sleeping nor did it wake me up. It was just there.

It was our first time in promenade cabins, we normally have a balcony, I'd book one again at a push. It was great for people watching.

I'm on my kindle so can't copy and paste a link but if you search for my previous posts you should find my review which has details of our cabins and photos.

 

Thank you! I was able to find your review and appreciate the pictures and information. Was the music that played at night just background type music or more intrusive?

[cymru cruiser]

Background x

[marmstro]

We had a promenade family room on Freedom in 2012 and other members of our party had an ocean view family room. A little noise during the parade and 70's party; other than that, no problems with noise keeping us up and I would choose it again over OV for the bathtub. I also loved the convenience of being able to walk into the walk in closet to change my clothes.

[EagleAction]

We had connecting promenade staterooms 8321 & 8323 on Liberty of the Seas last month. I heard no noise with the exception of the parade (we attended the 70's party). I would book those cabins again in a heartbeat. Little too high up on Deck 8 for people watching on the promenade but loved being able to walk down 3 flights to the promenade & up 3 flights to the pool deck.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sandysbuddy]

Thanks, marmstro and EagleAction! What time do they usually have the parade and 70's party?

[EagleAction]

Parade started at 10pm & 70's party started at 9:45pm on our cruise!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sandysbuddy]

Parade started at 10pm & 70's party started at 9:45pm on our cruise!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

Thank you!

[PattyW]

We've done the family oceanview on Independence and a family promenade on Freedom. ASide form the parades, etc we didn't notice any noise in the family promenade cabin on Freedom (although we were awake and watching/participating in all the parades/70's party). The both have their pros and cons - I LOVED the view from the oceanview. I loved the convenience of the location of the promenade cabin. You definitely do a lot more walking in the oceanview cabin.

Edited August 9, 2015 by PattyW

[ColoradoGurl]

Just got off the Adventure today. We had a promenade room that was centrally located above the casino stairs. We could hear noise anytime there was a party or a musician but it was muffled and served as background noise. It didn't bother us at all, but it would definitely bother people who are expecting complete silence. The parade last night started at 10:15pm and some nights the parties (like 70's party) seemed to go until 11pm, but did actually get completely silent afterwards. I liked the promenade room, but would probably book an inside next time simply because the inside rooms have more floor space and walking room than promenades because of where they place the beds. Also because almost every room, including ours, kept the shades closed the whole time. The novelty wears off after day 1 and then having a window kind of defeats the purpose. We got the promenade cheaper than an inside and if that was the case in the future Id get a promenade but otherwise I would be perfectly happy with an inside. This was the first time we didn't have a balcony and I was pleasantly surprised to find the room was MUCH less humid than the balcony rooms (which is off topic but thought id mention it).

Edited August 9, 2015 by ColoradoGurl

[A2Mich]

We really enjoyed 7607 on Freedom. Only noise ever heard was during parade or party as stated above, but was muffled. No noise any other time Cabin was very quiet. Loved the separate bunk bed area, bathtub, and walk in closet. We did notice that the cabin was a bit run down, particularly the bathroom, but we still really enjoyed the FP cabin.

[KansasK]

I had a Promenade room on the Freedom and found like most people, only when there were parties or parades did I hear anything. It was not every night and was not much past 11:00.

 

The comment about background noise during the night made me wonder, because I had a bad first night sleeping because of what I thought was background music in the Promenade. I found a knob to control what I was hearing on the desk under the mirror. It was in our room and not in the Promenade after all. Someone may have accidentally turned this knob and caused the music.

 

Or there could have actually been music in the Promenade that the OP heard. This was just a thought.

[casinostreer]

Promenade!! We loved our room (6615) last year on Freedom! If you like parades - you canNOT find a better seat. The noise is negligible - certainly didn't keep us up at night.

 

 

Whichever you pick . . . . . ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!!

[cymru cruiser]

I had a Promenade room on the Freedom and found like most people, only when there were parties or parades did I hear anything. It was not every night and was not much past 11:00.

 

The comment about background noise during the night made me wonder, because I had a bad first night sleeping because of what I thought was background music in the Promenade. I found a knob to control what I was hearing on the desk under the mirror. It was in our room and not in the Promenade after all. Someone may have accidentally turned this knob and caused the music.

 

Or there could have actually been music in the Promenade that the OP heard. This was just a thought.

 

It was not cabin music ours did not work. It was music coming from the speakers mounted on the walls of the promenade by the cabin windows.

I queried one night if it was coming crom the casino but as it was 4am in the morning the casino was closed. We think they simply forgot to turn it off it wasn't annoying enough to complain, it was just surprisingly there as as I say if it wasn't for the fact that I wake up quite often in the night I'd have never known.

[TheTruthCanHurt]

I originally posted this under Cabin Selection Tips, but thought I might have better luck here.

 

We currently have a Family Ocean View room booked on the Freedom for a Caribbean cruise in May. However, we are considering changing to a Family Promenade. I know we would enjoy the view off the front of the ship, but the promenade room is more centrally located, has a walk-in closet and a tub instead of just a shower. The promenade room is also a little cheaper.

 

However, we are concerned about the noise from the promenade. For anyone that has stayed in a promenade room (family room or not), was noise an issue? How late are the parades and were these an issue?

 

Any other advice?

 

Thanks!

 

I had a promenade room on the navigator. VERY VERY VERY NOISY until 11pm every night. Would never make that mistake again. ( perhaps, however, one of the ends as opposed to the middle would be better)

[A2Mich]

I had a promenade room on the navigator. VERY VERY VERY NOISY until 11pm every night. Would never make that mistake again. ( perhaps, however, one of the ends as opposed to the middle would be better)

 

 

What deck were you on? We were on deck 7 and wasn't bad at all. Maybe there was a speaker right outside your window?

[Russ Lomas]

We currently have a Family Ocean View room booked on the Freedom for a Caribbean cruise in May. However, we are considering changing to a Family Promenade. I know we would enjoy the view off the front of the ship, but the promenade room is more centrally located, has a walk-in closet and a tub instead of just a shower. The promenade room is also a little cheaper.

 

However, we are concerned about the noise from the promenade. For anyone that has stayed in a promenade room (family room or not), was noise an issue? How late are the parades and were these an issue?

 

Any other advice?

Not to change your question around, but I thought I would mention one other option to you (to make your decision even more complicated;)).

 

Did you consider the Family Panoramic Oceanview cabins? There are only 2 of them on the ship (added during the last drydock to the Freedom). They are located at the very front on deck 12, but the views should be incredible. We had the regular Family Oceanview cabin at the front on the Liberty of the Seas and loved the view from the front, so having the panoramic windows would likely make it even more spectacular.

 

We have both the Family Panoramic Oceanview cabins booked for a 2017 cruise and are giddy with anticipation about being in those cabins.

 

Below is a link with some photos of those cabins. The total for the Panoramic was about $250 total for our family of 6 more than the regular Family Oceanview.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2186535

[CruiseDancer]

I had a Promenade room on the Freedom and found like most people, only when there were parties or parades did I hear anything. It was not every night and was not much past 11:00.

 

The comment about background noise during the night made me wonder, because I had a bad first night sleeping because of what I thought was background music in the Promenade. I found a knob to control what I was hearing on the desk under the mirror. It was in our room and not in the Promenade after all. Someone may have accidentally turned this knob and caused the music.

 

Or there could have actually been music in the Promenade that the OP heard. This was just a thought.

 

We just got back from 8307, a family promenade on the Liberty. The knob under the mirror is what allows you to hear the captain's announcements. When there were no announcements, music was playing. This can easily be turned off.

 

Like others said, the walk-in closet was great. I could go in there to change (with plenty of room), while my sons changed out in the main room. Also, there is plenty of walking space, even when the sofa bed is open.

 

The last time, we had 8500 on Explorer, which was kind of divided into three rooms with doors. While I liked the privacy that room offered, I did prefer the bathtub and the walk-in closet.

[Sandysbuddy]

We just got back from 8307, a family promenade on the Liberty. The knob under the mirror is what allows you to hear the captain's announcements. When there were no announcements, music was playing. This can easily be turned off.

 

Like others said, the walk-in closet was great. I could go in there to change (with plenty of room), while my sons changed out in the main room. Also, there is plenty of walking space, even when the sofa bed is open.

 

The last time, we had 8500 on Explorer, which was kind of divided into three rooms with doors. While I liked the privacy that room offered, I did prefer the bathtub and the walk-in closet.

 

 

We currently have room 8500 booked. I think that is part of the reason I am torn. I like the idea of separate rooms but would also really like the bathtub.

 

Russ Lomas, I had no idea they had a panoramic family room. That view looks amazing and the 1.5 baths would be really nice. Now I have more to debate!

[Russ Lomas]

Russ Lomas, I had no idea they had a panoramic family room. That view looks amazing and the 1.5 baths would be really nice. Now I have more to debate!

They only have 2 of these and they may already be gone, so do not get your hopes up for one. Best thing to do before debating if you would like one of them is to give RCCL a quick call and just ask if they have one available and if so what the pricing would be. If they do have one and the pricing is decent, then you will have to make a decision. If they are unavailable or pricing is insane, then you would not even have to consider it.

 

We already have the cabins booked for March 2017, so people who know about them book them FAR in advance.

 

As an idea for pricing for you, for our cruise (in Canadian funds with port fees in) the prices RCCL WERE asking at the time we booked it for 6 people in total were...

Family Interior - $3371

Family Promenade - $3446

Family Outside - $3656

Family Panoramic Outside - $3986

[TheTruthCanHurt]

What deck were you on? We were on deck 7 and wasn't bad at all. Maybe there was a speaker right outside your window?

 

I was on either deck six or seven. Cant remember it's been so long. I was almost dead center of the promenade. For me, it was very noisy. but again... each cruise is different. and of course if you dont go to bed until 1 am it would probably not be a big deal. For me... it was a deal breaker.

[A2Mich]

I was on either deck six or seven. Cant remember it's been so long. I was almost dead center of the promenade. For me, it was very noisy. but again... each cruise is different. and of course if you dont go to bed until 1 am it would probably not be a big deal. For me... it was a deal breaker.

 

 

We were on deck 7 directly across from Ben and Jerry's and didn't bother us too much. Of course, we may have been up higher than you and the only time we ever really heard any noise was during the street party or parade. Then again, you may be more sensitive to noise than myself, too. Never noticed any real noise past 11pm. We had a family promenade room, and the kids never had any problems sleeping, though they were probably so exhausted that noise wouldn't have bothered them anyways LOL.

[cymru cruiser]

I had a Promenade room on the Freedom and found like most people, only when there were parties or parades did I hear anything. It was not every night and was not much past 11:00.

 

The comment about background noise during the night made me wonder, because I had a bad first night sleeping because of what I thought was background music in the Promenade. I found a knob to control what I was hearing on the desk under the mirror. It was in our room and not in the Promenade after all. Someone may have accidentally turned this knob and caused the music.

 

Or there could have actually been music in the Promenade that the OP heard. This was just a thought.

 

 

Hiya

I've interestingly just found this on another thread from a member called glum.

It backs up the issue we experienced. I never thought of complaining maybe we should have in hindsight, it may have been turned off.

 

 

My wife (chez2) and her sister (michchez12) are on the Explorer at the moment and they are saying the quality of service is a lot lower than in previous RCCL cruises.

 

For those booking cabins that face onto the promenade, be aware that the music piped into the promenade area can be heard in the cabins *all* the time according to my wife. They had to move cabins