IV--Would You Book or Book Again?

[FM]

On ‎12‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 5:22 AM, Cruise a holic said:

We will be in an infinite veranda stateroom in a few days.  I think based on many opinions, we should have booked a picture window cabin and saved our money- the IV really doesn't seem functional.  

 

I like the cabin to be cool-so if the AC shuts off when the IV is open, with the folding doors closed, sounds like a poor design IMO.  Fortunately, we have the Deluxe Beverage package- which I will use!!  So perhaps the IV will be fine.   LOL

Look forward to hearing how you like the IV.  As you have noted, we also like to be able to retreat to a cool cabin after spending as much time as we want on a verandah … I can't see that being feasible with an IV, as the cabin temp will quickly match the outdoor temp the longer you have the window open.  The question is how quickly the AC kicks in and cools the cabin down to a more comfortable temperature, especially if it is very hot and humid outside … that has me reconsidering the IV choice …

[SevenSeas1492]

From all of the reviews of the IV rooms, my husband and I feel we will stick to the S/M class ships.  We love the balcony cabins and spend a lot of time on them.  From the pictures we’ve seen, we think the IV’s look like over priced ocean views!  Could be wrong, but not willing to spend a lot of money to find out!

[cruzdude1]

4 hours ago, hcat said:

 

Ouch..Are the bed and couch that close to each other`?  Maybe a small  towel wrapped around the couch leg would help...

 

Thanks for the reminder...We will close the  veranda window upon leaving the toom..that should be automatic.  Would not want to come back to any surprises..like seagulls!

When I say wind tunnel effect, I mean if you leave the veranda window open and try to leave the room the suction is so strong the door is hard to hold. The first time it happened it totally got away from my wife. I promise you if someone was walking by they would have been injured. 

 

I like the towel idea. 

 

 

[richsea]

1 hour ago, dides said:

We noticed it particularly when it hadn't been cleaned for a while - two lots of rainspotted glass is hard to look through.

I just followed the link to your review dides & want to thank you for providing so much great insight to the Edge experience. The photos of the Infinite “balcony” are particularly helpful. The balcony itself look like the same size as the small balconies on NCL Breakaway & the new Princess ships, which we didn’t mind as much as we thought we would. The deal breaker for us with the Infinite bslcony is what you have to go through to close the bifold doors, The fact that they can be locked by the Captain, & having to hold the buttons while closing the window. Also, an early riser has to run the risk of disturbing their partner by sitting out there. I doubt we’ll ever see the inside of this class of ship.😕Too many other choices out there.

Edited January 1, 2019 by richsea

[dides]

6 minutes ago, richsea said:

I just followed the link to your review dides & want to thank you for providing so much great insight to the Edge experience. The photos of the Infinite “balcony” are particularly helpful. The balcony itself look like the same size as the small balconies on NCL Breakaway & the new Princess ships, which we didn’t mind as much as we thought we would. The deal breaker for us with the Infinite bslcony is what you have to go through to close the bifold doors, The fact that they can be locked by the Captain, & having to hold the buttons while closing the window. Also, an early riser has to run the risk of disturbing their partner by sitting out there. I doubt we’ll ever see the inside of this class of ship.😕Too many other choices out there.

 

Thanks for your kind comments - glad to have been of some help 🙂

[spiritkat090909]

As a bargain hunter, it sounds as if these cabins may become (in time) something that may be offered at something of a discount. Perhaps as a freebie to casino club members. (We have already been offered a last minute inside room on the Edge that didn't work timewise.)  So.... I could not say NEVER would I EVER.

 

BUT, I love sitting on the balcony each night listening to the waves, the fresh air, while DH is in the cabin doing his own winding down watching some sport/tv junk.

 

AND  he insists on the balcony (rather than an inside) because he has the unreasonable (IMO) fear of another TRIUMPH event where the ship is dead in the ocean for a week. Odds are that was a one off and will never happen again...but, I have to agree that IF that were to happen, the reason for the balcony ...AIR & PRIVACY, with no electricity.. Well. Just one time I wanted to use my balcony as a real balcony and I was locked out would be IT for me!  OH NO... he didn't! 

 

So, thinking along those lines... as a super technological ship, what happens if your cabin has a computer issue?  What if someone comes up with the idea of HACKING THE COMPUTER?  Theoretically, they could disable the ship, not just your room/balcony.  Probably NEVER happen.  At least not until things get older and start breaking down...

 

So.  NOT for us.  Barring  free, because that is how I roll. 😉

[Oville]

5 hours ago, hcat said:

 

Ouch..Are the bed and couch that close to each other`?  Maybe a small  towel wrapped around the couch leg would help...

 

 

Here’s a picture.  There a small nightstand between bed and sofa.

Edited January 1, 2019 by Oville

[CoconutOne]

9 minutes ago, spiritkat090909 said:

AND  he insists on the balcony (rather than an inside) because he has the unreasonable (IMO) fear of another TRIUMPH event where the ship is dead in the ocean for a week.

 

 

I didn't know we were married!

 

Tell him he's not alone. I booked a balcony because of Triumph, too. If I have to use a bucket as a toilet, it'll at least be on my own balcony!

[ecslady]

1 hour ago, spiritkat090909 said:

As a bargain hunter, it sounds as if these cabins may become (in time) something that may be offered at something of a discount. Perhaps as a freebie to casino club members. (We have already been offered a last minute inside room on the Edge that didn't work timewise.)  So.... I could not say NEVER would I EVER.

 

BUT, I love sitting on the balcony each night listening to the waves, the fresh air, while DH is in the cabin doing his own winding down watching some sport/tv junk.

 

AND  he insists on the balcony (rather than an inside) because he has the unreasonable (IMO) fear of another TRIUMPH event where the ship is dead in the ocean for a week. Odds are that was a one off and will never happen again...but, I have to agree that IF that were to happen, the reason for the balcony ...AIR & PRIVACY, with no electricity.. Well. Just one time I wanted to use my balcony as a real balcony and I was locked out would be IT for me!  OH NO... he didn't! 

 

So, thinking along those lines... as a super technological ship, what happens if your cabin has a computer issue?  What if someone comes up with the idea of HACKING THE COMPUTER?  Theoretically, they could disable the ship, not just your room/balcony.  Probably NEVER happen.  At least not until things get older and start breaking down...

 

So.  NOT for us.  Barring  free, because that is how I roll. 😉

 

You bring up some great questions?  What if the Captain disabled the windows, and then the ship lost power, and there was no manual override?  Oh my!

 

i was on a Princess ship years ago that lost power, thankfully we were in port.  But still it was an adventure for the afternoon and night. We were in an inside cabin and lucky to have friends opposite us in a balcony where we al hung out.

[SNJCruisers]

18 hours ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

That's an excellent picture showing what a dumb concept the IV is. It looks as if the person is sitting in a glass elevator.

Guess you have never seen ships that have metal enclosed balconies on upper levels or the various ships in the Carnival fleet that have Cove Balconies near the water level on deck two on all of their recent builds.  And where have you ever ridden in a glass elevator that had an open window that allowed the breeze to come in?

[yorky]

5 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

Guess you have never seen ships that have metal enclosed balconies on upper levels or the various ships in the Carnival fleet that have Cove Balconies near the water level on deck two on all of their recent builds.  And where have you ever ridden in a glass elevator that had an open window that allowed the breeze to come in?

Many of these kind of balconies are for structural or safety reasons, i’ve sailed in one on the QM2. The difference here is Celebrity designed them that way.

[SNJCruisers]

8 minutes ago, yorky said:

Many of these kind of balconies are for structural or safety reasons, i’ve sailed in one on the QM2. The difference here is Celebrity designed them that way.

I'll agree with you regarding those types of balconies on upper levels that are usually in the forward sections of the ship, but the Cove Balconies on Carnival are all down on deck two, which is usually where many OV cabins are located on other ships.  They are totally enclosed on the sides and if there are rough seas, the doors to the balconies can be locked by the captain.

[yorky]

2 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

I'll agree with you regarding those types of balconies on upper levels that are usually in the forward sections of the ship, but the Cove Balconies on Carnival are all down on deck two, which is usually where many OV cabins are located on other ships.  They are totally enclosed on the sides and if there are rough seas, the doors to the balconies can be locked by the captain.

That’s the safety issue I mentioned, they give cruisers the chance of a balcony cabin rather than an OV. The one we had on the QM2 was built into the superstructure as it was again lower down in the ship. The difference with Celebrity is they have designed something they did not need to change. I’m not sure that any other mainstream cruise line has done that on the scale Celebrity has. I feel it’s always going to polarise opinion in truth and in cold weather cruises I can see the attraction to be fair.

[Rob the Cruiser]

2 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Guess you have never seen ships that have metal enclosed balconies on upper levels or the various ships in the Carnival fleet that have Cove Balconies near the water level on deck two on all of their recent builds.  And where have you ever ridden in a glass elevator that had an open window that allowed the breeze to come in?

 

Your guess would be correct. I have zero interest in anything Carnival offers. What does Carnival have to do with Edge IV "balconies"?

 

Yes, I have ridden in a glass elevator with a window that lets the breeze come in. 

 

[villauk]

45 minutes ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

 

Your guess would be correct. I have zero interest in anything Carnival offers. What does Carnival have to do with Edge IV "balconies"?

 

Yes, I have ridden in a glass elevator with a window that lets the breeze come in. 

 

So did Charlie (re glass elevators) 😆.

 

Perhaps my theory is correct: X are trying to attract Carnival cruisers on Edge and not the millennials 🤣. 

Edited January 2, 2019 by villauk

[hcat]

50 minutes ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

 

Your guess would be correct. I have zero interest in anything Carnival offers. What does Carnival have to do with Edge IV "balconies"?

 

Yes, I have ridden in a glass elevator with a window that lets the breeze come in. 

 

So sad that we now compare X to Carnival  and Norwegian...

Used to be Royal and Princess..but now X is in the mainstream pack!

[hcat]

8 minutes ago, villauk said:

So did Charlie (re glass elevators) 😆.

 

Perhaps my theory is correct: X are trying to attract Carnival cruisers on Edge and not the millennials 🤣. 

Sounds like it to me

Edited January 2, 2019 by hcat

[Stateroom_Sailor]

50 minutes ago, villauk said:

So did Charlie (re glass elevators) 😆.

 

Perhaps my theory is correct: X are trying to attract Carnival cruisers on Edge and not the millennials 🤣. 

 

Millennials aren't flocking to the Edge, and they're not going to.  The Ritz Carlton Yacht will have better luck, especially if they overnight in ports.  Carnival is actually a better target, especially the more mellow off season crowd, that may be getting tired of the downgraded food and disrepair of their ships.  Still, many are a loyal bunch, that insist they're not about to spend extra on anything fancier:

 

April 2019 Verandas for Hawaii:

 

12 Nights X, $1,400

12 Nights RCL, $1,600

7 Nights NCL, $1,800

15 Nights Princess, $2,000

15 Nights Holland, $2,000

14 Nights Carnival, $2,500 

 

43 minutes ago, hcat said:

So sad that we now compare X to Carnival  and Norwegian...

Used to be Royal and Princess..but now X is in the mainstream pack!

 

They're not comparable.  When the beds are so uncomfortable that the crew is playing mattress roulette to satisfy complaints, you know that you got on the wrong ship.  When the water is yellow, alternating scolding and freezing showers, mold in the vent, veranda door handles that fall off, gangways that are down, stabilizers malfunctioning, and an engine room fire, you 2nd guess taking another Carnival cruise.

 

Still, if we're not happy with these Revolution changes, or if the line goes downhill, we'll switch to Holland America after the Reflection's final refit.

[Cruise Junky]

4 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Guess you have never seen ships that have metal enclosed balconies on upper levels or the various ships in the Carnival fleet that have Cove Balconies near the water level on deck two on all of their recent builds.  And where have you ever ridden in a glass elevator that had an open window that allowed the breeze to come in?

I've seen them and sailed on them and now avoid like the plague..much like I will these IVs.

[cluso]

Hi All,

I am the OP. Just wanted to let you know that "dides" has posted a review with great pictures that confirm issues about the IV.  This review is not on the CC site.  Go back up this page (4) to post #124 and click on the link at the bottom of the post.  Pictures really capture the "feel" of the room and balcony, plus room service food placement.  Pictures are worth a thousand words, and these are the best I've seen of the IV issues.

The room service pictures are near the end of the review.

 

Thank you dides!

Edited January 2, 2019 by cluso
add info

[hcat]

Thanks.. right now many are having  issues logging in to C C threads but i will look for that link again...

[dodger1964]

4 hours ago, cluso said:

Hi All,

I am the OP. Just wanted to let you know that "dides" has posted a review with great pictures that confirm issues about the IV.  This review is not on the CC site.  Go back up this page (4) to post #124 and click on the link at the bottom of the post.  Pictures really capture the "feel" of the room and balcony, plus room service food placement.  Pictures are worth a thousand words, and these are the best I've seen of the IV issues.

The room service pictures are near the end of the review.

 

Thank you dides!

i don't see any links in post #124...(under the old cc i had much of the extraneous items turned off so maybe that is why I can't see it?? in the old cc you could open the remainder of hidden info...I can't seem to do that if that is indeed the problem)

 

[hcat]

On 1/1/2019 at 12:02 PM, dides said:

 

Thanks for your kind comments - glad to have been of some help 🙂

Wow...I followed the link..This is the best EDGE review to date and I have read  many of them.  Hope you post to the Celebrity review section...I did not see it there ( may have missed it ? )

[hcat]

5 hours ago, Cruise Junky said:

I've seen them and sailed on them and now avoid like the plague..much like I will these IVs.

We actually ruled out Carnival, NCL, Norwegian at the outset of our cruising.....Royal was great til the ships got too big and theme park like, and more family/ kids oriented.

 

.We would have to look at Cunard,  maybe Princess???? ,  Holland .  Azamara is in the same  loyalty  group as X  but ships seem a bit small to me as do Oceana's..

Edited January 2, 2019 by hcat

[SNJCruisers]

8 hours ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

 

Your guess would be correct. I have zero interest in anything Carnival offers. What does Carnival have to do with Edge IV "balconies"?

 

The cove balconies on Carnival are similar to the metal enclosed balconies on ships such as the QM2 that has been mentioned, which is somewhat similar to the IV.