In Alaska now on Radiance - any questions?

[Clarea]

Here - this was taken from Concierge Club on deck 13 [emoji41]

 

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Thanks, that makes more sense.

[lmwallace22]

Bob, I think you may have missed my review... no drink cards offered, and the internet speed was so poor that it wouldn't even connect to do the test LOL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2645176

 

 

 

I've read some negative reviews lately of food/service in Windjammer and MDR. Do you recommend dining package for some of the days? Do they have the lobster/steak night in MDR? Thanks! Glad you are having fun!

 

 

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[RSLeesburg]

I've read some negative reviews lately of food/service in Windjammer and MDR. Do you recommend dining package for some of the days? Do they have the lobster/steak night in MDR? Thanks! Glad you are having fun!

 

 

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We are the wrong people to ask about MDR as we rarely ever eat there; however, they had lobster tail and I think prime rib last night in MDR. We did buy three restaurant package, as my DW loves Izumi, and my son and I love Giovanni’s. The other nights we ate on shore or in WJ. We have loved the food we have had in WJ and specialties.

 

 

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[molsonschooner]

We did whale watch in Icy Straight Point. Was great. Doing Lumberjack show and trolley tour in Ketchikan - will report back after we do both [emoji6]

 

 

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that is exactly what we did. We did a private whale watching excursion with Misty Bay Lodge at Icy Strait. Their boat only holds 6-8 passengers but it was awesome. We saw the totem poles and lumberjack show in Ketchican.

[RSLeesburg]

that is exactly what we did. We did a private whale watching excursion with Misty Bay Lodge at Icy Strait. Their boat only holds 6-8 passengers but it was awesome. We saw the totem poles and lumberjack show in Ketchican.

 

 

 

Yes. We did the whale watch through ship, so many more people, larger boat - but was still great and saw lots of whales and otters, and a few eagles, sea lions, and porpoises. The lumberjack show was great and the trolley ride was interesting. One last sea day, and then we need to make long trek home.

 

 

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[A&L_Ont]

Here - this was taken from Concierge Club on deck 13 [emoji41]

 

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Looks like my live review might be spotty while on the ship.:eek:

[RSLeesburg]

Looks like my live review might be spotty while on the ship.:eek:

 

 

Yes, but depending on your carrier - we had excellent Verizon coverage in Anchorage, Seward, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. I would upload your photos there, and just type your words when on Voom. I am waiting to do my report when I get home, so I can scan the docs and upload pics.

 

 

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[A&L_Ont]

Yes, but depending on your carrier - we had excellent Verizon coverage in Anchorage, Seward, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. I would upload your photos there, and just type your words when on Voom. I am waiting to do my report when I get home, so I can scan the docs and upload pics.

 

 

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I have a Canadian carrier which will work in the States, and a monthly plan with 10GB. I figured posting from the phone and hot spot to the iPad where I can. I will make notes and cut and post them with pics. I will have it prepared at night and post in the day time along with pics from cellular. Uploading YouTube at night will not be happening like on Oasis Class ships.

 

Have you found a better location to post on board, such as mid ship, the atrium or Concereige Lounge etc? Our cabin is midship so I am hoping that it has some extra luck with signal connection.

[RSLeesburg]

I have a Canadian carrier which will work in the States, and a monthly plan with 10GB. I figured posting from the phone and hot spot to the iPad where I can. I will make notes and cut and post them with pics. I will have it prepared at night and post in the day time along with pics from cellular. Uploading YouTube at night will not be happening like on Oasis Class ships.

 

 

 

Have you found a better location to post on board, such as mid ship, the atrium or Concereige Lounge etc? Our cabin is midship so I am hoping that it has some extra luck with signal connection.

 

 

 

I have tested in Colony Club, our cabin on deck 10, and Aurora Theater, and found them all about the same. But these were on sea day in afternoon - so when in port during day there may be less traffic.

 

 

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[A&L_Ont]

I have tested in Colony Club, our cabin on deck 10, and Aurora Theater, and found them all about the same. But these were on sea day in afternoon - so when in port during day there may be less traffic.

 

 

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Awesome and thanks for the tips. Safe travels and thank you.

[RSLeesburg]

Awesome and thanks for the tips. Safe travels and thank you.

 

 

 

No problem. Hope you have as amazing weather as we did.

 

 

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[ocoka2]

Sailing on the Southbound, July 6th.

 

How are the shows, activities, and CD? Some previous posts said that the CD was rarely seen and that the shiws/activities were a disappointment.

 

How would you rate crew morale?

 

Also. How was debarkation? I have a tight connection with a boat 3 piers over, and wonder how fast the self service line is to get off the ship in Vancouver.

 

Thanks.

[RSLeesburg]

Sailing on the Southbound, July 6th.

 

 

 

How are the shows, activities, and CD? Some previous posts said that the CD was rarely seen and that the shiws/activities were a disappointment.

 

 

 

How would you rate crew morale?

 

 

 

Also. How was debarkation? I have a tight connection with a boat 3 piers over, and wonder how fast the self service line is to get off the ship in Vancouver.

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

We saw 4 of the shows - the production show was pretty good, not as good as shows on the bigger ships but better than I expected. The magician was fantastic. The impressionist was so-so - parts were good, parts were not. The farewell show was pretty good - it also had a comedian who was pretty good. So, overall I would rank the shows that we saw as A-/B+ overall.

 

Cuddy was CD and was great. We just had him on Navigator over Christmas, so we were happy to see him again. We saw him at all the shows, love & marriage game, CC meet & greet, 70’s show, once in WJ eating, and on TV with his morning show.

 

Ship morale was excellent. Everyone we talked with was very happy.

 

I cannot say how the walkoff was. We normally get escorted off by concierge, but we had tour and airport drop off scheduled, so we met in colony club and walked off with others on our tour. It seemed like they were running late, but hard to tell - one thing I would look at is how many ships are in port the day you disembark. We were only ship, so had a ton of people to clear us. If there are multiple ships there, things might get backed up.

 

 

 

 

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[ocoka2]

We saw 4 of the shows - the production show was pretty good, not as good as shows on the bigger ships but better than I expected. The magician was fantastic. The impressionist was so-so - parts were good, parts were not. The farewell show was pretty good - it also had a comedian who was pretty good. So, overall I would rank the shows that we saw as A-/B+ overall.

 

Cuddy was CD and was great. We just had him on Navigator over Christmas, so we were happy to see him again. We saw him at all the shows, love & marriage game, CC meet & greet, 70’s show, once in WJ eating, and on TV with his morning show.

 

Ship morale was excellent. Everyone we talked with was very happy.

 

I cannot say how the walkoff was. We normally get escorted off by concierge, but we had tour and airport drop off scheduled, so we met in colony club and walked off with others on our tour. It seemed like they were running late, but hard to tell - one thing I would look at is how many ships are in port the day you disembark. We were only ship, so had a ton of people to clear us. If there are multiple ships there, things might get backed up.

 

 

 

 

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Awesome! Thanks. I think the majority of the negative threads were from the first two Alaska sailings of the year, and the crew was still trying to get into the new routine.

[RSLeesburg]

Awesome! Thanks. I think the majority of the negative threads were from the first two Alaska sailings of the year, and the crew was still trying to get into the new routine.

 

 

That could be - we saw a number of folks that transferred in from Navigator (Cuddy and several members of AO staff). Cuddy also mentioned that other folks from Navigator came over to Radiance. But we spoke to several people who loved coming to Alaska.

 

 

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[reallyitsmema]

Awesome! Thanks. I think the majority of the negative threads were from the first two Alaska sailings of the year, and the crew was still trying to get into the new routine.

 

We were on the first southbound sailing and had a different CD. Sounds like Cuddy is a great improvement to the guy that we had.

[Trixie21]

Can I ask about the land tour you have booked?

I have seen reference to these but not sure where to find details about them.

We have an Alaska cruise on ovation booked for next year ( our first to Alaska).

 

 

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[A&L_Ont]

Can I ask about the land tour you have booked?

I have seen reference to these but not sure where to find details about them.

We have an Alaska cruise on ovation booked for next year ( our first to Alaska).

 

 

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Land tours are for one directional cruises from Alaska to Vancouver or Vancouver to Alaska. They do not work with round trip sailings. It is basically a set amount of days in Alaska prior to or after your cruise to give you the Alaskan experience.

 

You should be able to find information about them on RC website or through the “old fashioned”;) magazine that you can get from a TA.

[RSLeesburg]

Here is the link I used to find info on the tours

 

http://www.royalcaribbeancruisetours.com/resources/

 

 

 

 

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[kastke]

I've read some negative reviews lately of food/service in Windjammer and MDR. Do you recommend dining package for some of the days? Do they have the lobster/steak night in MDR? Thanks! Glad you are having fun!

 

 

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I was on same cruise as OP. We enjoyed the food we had in the MDR and WJ. No complaints from us about quality, but food is subjective. Prime rib was served on night 1, and Lobster/prime rib night was on the second formal night, which was Day 5 of this cruise - same day as Icy Straight Point. They chose Day 5 for second formal night because we had an early all aboard time (2:30) so more people did get a bit more dressed up.

 

We did go to Giovanni’s one night and Samba one night. Both were excellent!!

 

For the person that asked about alcoholic hot drinks, the day we cruised Hubbard Glacier they were selling hot chocolate at the helipad viewing area, with an assortment of alcoholic choices to add to it. I don’t know about other times.

 

Cuddly was a great addition as CD also.

[FlamingoStarship]

Thanks for the great info! We are going in August and can't wait. I'm trying to figure out what time we should schedule our dining for. What time are the shows? I'm thinking about doing shows first then dining after.

[RSLeesburg]

Thanks for the great info! We are going in August and can't wait. I'm trying to figure out what time we should schedule our dining for. What time are the shows? I'm thinking about doing shows first then dining after.

 

 

So, the shows were at 7pm and 8:45pm, and I think they had a late show at 11 one evening. I will post the cruise compasses in my review.

 

 

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[RetiredCruiser2015]

Speed test results from our cabin on deck 10:

- Ping: 2ms

- Download: 336.5 KB/s

- Upload: 405.5 KB/s

 

Coffee Cards are $36, and any size drink is one punch.

 

 

 

 

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Question about Vroom packages. We are two adults...would you recommend the packages?

[RSLeesburg]

Question about Vroom packages. We are two adults...would you recommend the packages?

 

 

It depends on what you are planning to do with them. We bought the 1 device package because my wife’s parents are in poor health, so she wanted to check messages a few times a day, and my son likes to watch his YouTube videos before bed. But, we had Verizon service in most ports - Icy Strait Point was not that good, and you need to connect to Bell or Rogers in Vancouver. But if you only want to check messages or make calls, and can wait till you are in port, then you probably don’t need it.

 

 

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[FlamingoStarship]

So, the shows were at 7pm and 8:45pm, and I think they had a late show at 11 one evening. I will post the cruise compasses in my review.

 

Thanks! How long are the shows for? I currently have 8pm scheduled for dinners and am thinking I need to push it back to 830?