Bigger vs smaller ships

[island lady]

16 hours ago, broberts said:

 

Makes me wonder how Columbus managed it. 

 

Lots of Wine/Port to drink.  😉 

Edited June 27, 2019 by island lady

[Clarea]

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Going to be on Serenade from Sydney to Honolulu, happily picked central cabin for less bounce.  😉 

 

Bucket list cruise for us!

[John&LaLa]

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Agree.  Won't be on Harmony until December, so no sure how available those (six?) seats are with that smaller venue.  Radiance Alaska was never a problem though...not many higher tier C&A members on those, and limited suites on that smaller ship. 

 

When we sailed Serenade Caribbean b2b in spring 2017, the same 6 people sat in the same seats the entire happy hour. 

 

I know because we would go to early dinner and they would still be there when we came back

[John&LaLa]

Just now, Host Clarea said:

 

Bucket list cruise for us!

 

Have you done TP yet? Our only one so far got canned

[island lady]

Just now, Host Clarea said:

 

Bucket list cruise for us!

 

Me too...check one off the list!  Actually getting to Sydney two weeks early for "land tour" on our own.  Hop on board the last three legs (New Zealand, Australia, South Pacific) then the fourth leg up to Honolulu.  Want to stay on board to finish up in Vancouver once bookings open for it.  Not sure if we will do one first loop to Alaska after that though or just fly home from there.  🙂 

[island lady]

16 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

We crossed from Tampa to Barcelona on Rhapsody.  The ship did fine

 

Bucket list as well!  🙂 

[John&LaLa]

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Bucket list as well!  🙂 

 

You would have liked the reverse last year. She ended up in PC due to bad weather in Tampa. Saved me a long drive to pick Laura up.

[Clarea]

3 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Me too...check one off the list!  Actually getting to Sydney two weeks early for "land tour" on our own.  Hop on board the last three legs (New Zealand, Australia, South Pacific) then the fourth leg up to Honolulu.  Want to stay on board to finish up in Vancouver once bookings open for it.  Not sure if we will do one first loop to Alaska after that though or just fly home from there.  🙂 

 

Very nice!  That will have to wait for retirement for us.

[island lady]

7 hours ago, NumnuT said:

 

G'day Island Lady,

Yes the CL was never even half full...

DL was full every night.

I especially like the chairs up at the bar...

loved watching the flying fish jump the waves from the CL.

 

If you don't want an overflowing CL/SL then sail from Sydney.

 

We only had 1 x pineapple, but around 150 D+

 

Enjoy..

Craig

 

Perfect!  Thanks so much for the info!  We found that true for Alaska cruises as well, felt sorry for the concierge in the DL though...it was almost empty every night on those cruises. 

 

On Radiance class ships, we always prefer the CL to the DL.  And yes...love the seating at the half circle bar.  Struck up many an interesting conversation there as it is so easy to talk to people in that type of seating set up.  

 

+2 on the Pinnies on those legs from Sydney.  😉 

[island lady]

6 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

You would have liked the reverse last year. She ended up in PC due to bad weather in Tampa. Saved me a long drive to pick Laura up.

 

Oooh..yeah!  That would work for us too!  🙂 

[island lady]

6 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Very nice!  That will have to wait for retirement for us.

 

Ahh...well then happy "almost retirement"....you will love it.  We sure do!  🙂  No moss growing under our feet since retiring..that's for sure...we are making the most of it.  

[mjldvlks]

17 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Bucket list cruise for us!

We've booked Serenade  TP for 2021.  Come along, the more the merrier.

 

Wea are also contemplating staying on for the following cruise to Vancouver.

Edited June 28, 2019 by mjldvlks
typo

[RCCL Fan]

Check out my review of Vision of the Seas... our first time  going small

 

 

[island lady]

8 hours ago, mjldvlks said:

We've booked Serenade  TP for 2021.  Come along, the more the merrier.

 

Wea are also contemplating staying on for the following cruise to Vancouver.

 

"Sea" you there!  🙂 

[mjldvlks]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

 

"Sea" you there!  🙂 

Really looking forward to this one. I thought combining the TP with the Vancouver cruise [30 nights or so] was ambitious, but sounds like you will be one of the crew by the end.  Serenade is a great ship. We did a 2 week  Snow Bird Migration cruise on her in 2015.  One of my favorites.

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, mjldvlks said:

Really looking forward to this one. I thought combining the TP with the Vancouver cruise [30 nights or so] was ambitious, but sounds like you will be one of the crew by the end.  Serenade is a great ship. We did a 2 week  Snow Bird Migration cruise on her in 2015.  One of my favorites.

 

Hmmm...even worse now.  DH just insisted on doing the whole thing down there.  Just finished adding to the line up.  I am now on the ship from 2/10/21 until 5/5/21.  😮  B2B2B2B2B2B2B  

Edited June 28, 2019 by island lady

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

Hmmm...even worse now.  DH just insisted on doing the whole thing down there.  Just finished adding to the line up.  I am now on the ship from 2/10/21 until 5/5/21.  😮  B2B2B2B2B2B2B  

 

Same cabin🤔

[mjldvlks]

2 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Hmmm...even worse now.  DH just insisted on doing the whole thing down there.  Just finished adding to the line up.  I am now on the ship from 2/10/21 until 5/5/21.  😮  B2B2B2B2B2B2B  

LOL, will you get a permanent plaque in the Centrum or something? 

[travelplus]

On 6/23/2019 at 9:34 AM, peacefrogdog said:

We have only cruised on Voyageur, Freedom, Quantum and Oasis class ships mainly because our kids have enjoyed the activities on those larger ships.  We are planning an adults only trip on a European cruise.  While I see that Oasis class ships sometimes sail these routes, I am looking into some of the Radiance and Vision class ships.

 

for those who have sailed both larger and smaller ships, I would appreciat your opinions regarding:

what did you miss the most (about the larger ships) when on the smaller ones?

what did you appreciate the most about the smaller ships, having done both? 

 

For context, my wife and I tend not to stay up late, and we do not prioritize the shows.  We anticipate doing excursions or tours at each European port.  We really enjoy the areas on the larger class ships (like the promenade or Central Park) to sit, have a snack when we want, and have a coffee or a drink at night.

I have been on the Serenade, Brilliance, Explorer, Splendour and Navigator Of The Seas. I must say that the Serenade and Brilliance are amazing ships. I will be taking a 22 Night Cruise this Fall on the Brilliance with my Parents as its a great ship to introduce my Mother to cruising as she has only been on one cruise on Holland America to Alaska. 

 

My Father and I have 72 nights and counting!  I do miss Cafe Promenade but we do have Park Cafe which is just as good if not a tad better with their bagel bar, Weker Sandwiches etc. 

 

I do like the intimate feeling of the Radiance Class of Ships with the Colony Club and Schooner Bar. I do not feel lost on these class of ships.  Let me tell you the Main Dining Room, Theater, Chops Grill and Giovannis are great and there is lots going on. About the only negative is that smoke from the Casino sometimes billows into the Centrum but thats about it.

 

 

[travelplus]

On 6/23/2019 at 11:23 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

I’m going to echo what others have stated. Just got off allure, it’s a tough call, but I believe that radiance class is still my all time favorite. Views to the outside are excellent on thAt class. We did 10 days on rhapsody from Venice a few years ago and have zero regrets with that also.

 

For an European vacation I recommend picking itinerary first and foremost. This includes paying attention to port times along with how many ships are in port. Santorini with two ships is an entirely different experience than Santorini with seven.

 

We were exhausted from ports most nights, so while entertainment on rhapsody was significantly “poorer” in quality than the bigger ships, it just didn’t matter. 

 

Hope this helps

I agree with you 2000 percent!  I just happened to see an itinerary in my local newspaper that looked very interesting this Fall. It just so happened to be on the Brilliance of The Seas(a ship that I could spend more time on) and the Ports are great.  

 

For the 22 night voyage we are going to Villefranche, Portofino, Livorno, Cvitavecchia, Salerno, Malaga,  Cartgena, overnight in Lisbon and Azores before going to Tampa. With enough sea days to boot.  I already booked our tours in all the ports. 

 

I just could not pass up this itinerary with tours to Nice, Eze, Monaco, Portofino, Almalfi Coast(on a Cruise Critic Roll Call  excursion),  Cinque Terre,  Lake Brachianno from Cviitavecchia, Murcia, Cordoba, Cascais and Sintra. I can't do this by car in the amount of time and if we like the cities we see we will definitely be back!

 

I use a cruise as a foray into the culture and to see how we would do if we rented an AirBnb in Lisbon for instance.   

 

What I suggest is to look at 3 or 4 itineraries and perhaps do a Back2Back especially if its going to where you want to go.  Then narrow it down to the top two If you like the top two book them as a B2B! 

 

Fair winds to you!

 

 

[tamom]

Thank you RCCL Fan for the link to your review.  It was very helpful and informative.  We realize that the size of the ship is a very subjective thing and we can take people's recommendations but have to decide what we can and can't live with ourselves.  That being said, we are very close to deciding on the Vision TA and hoping the great crew remains for the crossing!

[island lady]

20 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Same cabin🤔

 

No, drats.  Have seven legs and have to move four times.  Can't believe how those cruises this far off are being booked up.  Have favorite corner aft cabin for the important part...cruising the New Zealand fiords for legs 4 and 5, only have to move right next door for next leg (but wait listed for corner aft) .

 

Up to mid hump cabin for TP up to Honolulu...which is a good thing actually..since we will be bounced around in the mid Pacific.  😉  Then hope to book and keep same cabin when bookings come out for transfer to Vancouver.  

 

First three legs (circling Australia, and overnight Tasmania) is same hump cabin for legs 2 and 3, but wait list on first short 5 leg just down the hall.  

[island lady]

19 hours ago, mjldvlks said:

LOL, will you get a permanent plaque in the Centrum or something? 

 

LOL!!  😄  But I bet the bartenders will know us by name through the whole 4 months.  😁

Edited June 29, 2019 by island lady

[John&LaLa]

8 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

No, drats.  Have seven legs and have to move four times.  Can't believe how those cruises this far off are being booked up.  Have favorite corner aft cabin for the important part...cruising the New Zealand fiords for legs 4 and 5, only have to move right next door for next leg (but wait listed for corner aft) .

 

Up to mid hump cabin for TP up to Honolulu...which is a good thing actually..since we will be bounced around in the mid Pacific.  😉  Then hope to book and keep same cabin when bookings come out for transfer to Vancouver.  

 

First three legs (circling Australia, and overnight Tasmania) is same hump cabin for legs 2 and 3, but wait list on first short 5 leg just down the hall.  

 

We do the NZ fjords on Ovation 😇

[island lady]

17 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

We do the NZ fjords on Ovation 😇

 

Nice!!  We spent our "real" honeymoon in New Zealand (six months after wedding), and now are finally getting back there again for our 25th anniversary, (celebrating a bit early...but that's season).   Only spent time on the north island previously, so we are excited to not only see south island, but lots of Australia and even Tasmania.  Plus south Pacific as well.  🙂  

 

Are you doing TP as well?  

Edited June 29, 2019 by island lady