Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" 😁 day in lockdown... how was yours?)

BonTexasNY · September 7, 2023

@FromSea2ShiningSea Helen, as always, your pictures are stunning!

@Tree_skier You have a great dilemma. I never took a 4 day cruise but given the options, I would stick with HAL. RCI would be my first choice but it seems it isn't an option. Too bad you aren't near Galveston, lots of 4 and 5 night Voyager class cruises.

TravelGirlinDallas · September 7, 2023

54 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

My question/concerns... I'm concerned that HAL will be way to boring and Carnival not boring enough. I've not been on either line so I have no frame of reference. I've heard those short Carnivals are just booze cruises and absolutely horrible. I've got a close friend who is a princess fanatic who loathes Carnival and he warns against them like the ships descend right into hell itself. I've got a cousin who has done a few HAL's with his parents. He's close to my age and temperament. He has cruised Royal several times and prefers it over any other line. He said HAL was the most boring cruise he has been on.

I've cruised both Carnival and HAL. I've done short cruises on Carnival (out of Galveston) and had a great time; never saw any terrible behavior, although I've heard it happens.

We sailed HAL a couple of times when we were still in our 30s and loved it. Not bored at all. But we are always happy just to be on a ship with a balcony and enjoying the view. I loved the fresh flowers and the Waterford chandeliers and the food. If I had to choose between Carnival and HAL, I'd choose HAL. But either way, pretty much any day on a ship is better than a day at home. Right? 😄

Edited September 7, 2023 by TravelGirlinDallas

c-leg5 · September 7, 2023

33 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Stick with Royal.

Short party cruises can be troublesome and some of the music venues stay open until everyone leaves which can be at least 04.00am so if your cabin is anywhere near you will get no sleep.

I thought the whole point was Royal wasn’t available?

I haven’t done Carnival but agree it will be a party boat. I did the same itinerary for my first cruise ever on Norwegian 25+ years ago, when cruising was much more traditional, and it was also a party boat!

Short weekend cruises tend to be worse than weekday breaks.

Edited September 7, 2023 by c-leg5

Sunshine3601 · September 7, 2023

3 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

Sharron is the same way. She enjoys cruises but I am the addict. She thinks I'm nuts with all the time I spend on Cruise critic.

+1 same in our household😃

Tree_skier · September 7, 2023

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

So I've got a question for everyone... I've had a week open up at the end of October so I quickly looked for a short cruise I could fill in there. I could depart Monday Oct 23 if it was a leaving out of SoCal or the 24th if it was leaving out of anywhere else. The other condition is I must be back in CA by Saturday the 28th. Unsurprisingly there are very options that fit into that narrow equation. Sadly, Navigator is on a 7 day charter that week so no 4 day available. The only options I can find are Carnival Radiance 4 day going to Catalina and Ensenada or the HAL Koningsdam repositioning from Vancouver to San Diego. I probably wouldn't get off the ship for the Carnival Radiance. The HAL Koningsdam has only one port of call Astoria OR which wouldn't be a big thrill either.

The overall price would be a little cheaper on Carnival Radiance since there would be no flight to YVR or precruise hotel.

My question/concerns... I'm concerned that HAL will be way to boring and Carnival not boring enough. I've not been on either line so I have no frame of reference. I've heard those short Carnivals are just booze cruises and absolutely horrible. I've got a close friend who is a princess fanatic who loathes Carnival and he warns against them like the ships descend right into hell itself. I've got a cousin who has done a few HAL's with his parents. He's close to my age and temperament. He has cruised Royal several times and prefers it over any other line. He said HAL was the most boring cruise he has been on.

Does anyone have any thoughts, suggestions or recommendations?

Sorry to quote my own post but there is a third option as well... Just book a nice hotel in San Diego or somewhere near there and take a few days by the water.

Tree_skier · September 7, 2023

46 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

@FromSea2ShiningSea Helen, as always, your pictures are stunning!

@Tree_skier You have a great dilemma. I never took a 4 day cruise but given the options, I would stick with HAL. RCI would be my first choice but it seems it isn't an option. Too bad you aren't near Galveston, lots of 4 and 5 night Voyager class cruises.

1 minute ago, Tree_skier said:

Sorry to quote my own post but there is a third option as well... Just book a nice hotel in San Diego or somewhere near there and take a few days by the water.

I actually looked at Voyager but the dates don't work... Florida is just to far to fly for a 4 day cruise when I can't fly out until Monday. If there was something leaving on the Tuesday I'd consider it.

Sunshine3601 · September 7, 2023

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

So I've got a question for everyone... I've had a week open up at the end of October so I quickly looked for a short cruise I could fill in there. I could depart Monday Oct 23 if it was a leaving out of SoCal or the 24th if it was leaving out of anywhere else. The other condition is I must be back in CA by Saturday the 28th. Unsurprisingly there are very options that fit into that narrow equation. Sadly, Navigator is on a 7 day charter that week so no 4 day available. The only options I can find are Carnival Radiance 4 day going to Catalina and Ensenada or the HAL Koningsdam repositioning from Vancouver to San Diego. I probably wouldn't get off the ship for the Carnival Radiance. The HAL KoningsdHAL Koningsdamam has only one port of call Astoria OR which wouldn't be a big thrill either.

The overall price would be a little cheaper on Carnival Radiance since there would be no flight to YVR or precruise hotel.

My question/concerns... I'm concerned that HAL will be way to boring and Carnival not boring enough. I've not been on either line so I have no frame of reference. I've heard those short Carnivals are just booze cruises and absolutely horrible. I've got a close friend who is a princess fanatic who loathes Carnival and he warns against them like the ships descend right into hell itself. I've got a cousin who has done a few HAL's with his parents. He's close to my age and temperament. He has cruised Royal several times and prefers it over any other line. He said HAL was the most boring cruise he has been on.

Does anyone have any thoughts, suggestions or recommendations?

Maybe check out reviews of the Koningsdam on CC. We have done Hal with my parents a couple of times and always enjoyed. It is definitely a different vibe but we were never bored.

We had lots of fun in their late night club and their casinos. I say give it try its only a couple of days. What's the worst that could happen if you were nice and relaxed😃

George C · September 7, 2023

I have done several cruises over the years on Hal . It’s normally a older crowd but they do have some good musical entertainment, plus a piano bar , food is decent. I prefer rccl but would consider Hal .

Edited September 7, 2023 by George C

NHProud · September 7, 2023

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

So I've got a question for everyone... I've had a week open up at the end of October so I quickly looked for a short cruise I could fill in there. I could depart Monday Oct 23 if it was a leaving out of SoCal or the 24th if it was leaving out of anywhere else. The other condition is I must be back in CA by Saturday the 28th. Unsurprisingly there are very options that fit into that narrow equation. Sadly, Navigator is on a 7 day charter that week so no 4 day available. The only options I can find are Carnival Radiance 4 day going to Catalina and Ensenada or the HAL Koningsdam repositioning from Vancouver to San Diego. I probably wouldn't get off the ship for the Carnival Radiance. The HAL Koningsdam has only one port of call Astoria OR which wouldn't be a big thrill either.

The overall price would be a little cheaper on Carnival Radiance since there would be no flight to YVR or precruise hotel.

My question/concerns... I'm concerned that HAL will be way to boring and Carnival not boring enough. I've not been on either line so I have no frame of reference. I've heard those short Carnivals are just booze cruises and absolutely horrible. I've got a close friend who is a princess fanatic who loathes Carnival and he warns against them like the ships descend right into hell itself. I've got a cousin who has done a few HAL's with his parents. He's close to my age and temperament. He has cruised Royal several times and prefers it over any other line. He said HAL was the most boring cruise he has been on.

Does anyone have any thoughts, suggestions or recommendations?

I’ve never sailed on Carnival cruise line before so no comment . Haven’t you done that itinerary just recently with your grandkids? Been there , done that!

We sailed on the Koningsdam this past January to Hawaii from and return to San Diego . It’s an older crowd and the advantage is no kids . There is a deck devoted to music venues and we especially liked the Lincoln Center quartet. We tried the B B King music hall . It was too loud . We were not interested in anything else as my husband likes classical music and opera .

The food was okay . We signed up for Club Orange and had our own dining room and upgraded cabin . We ate at two premium restaurants and the food was delicious and the presentation was very nice.

The shows were not up to RCI standards in variety and quality. There were a few that dealt with Hawaii , of course.

Major complaint and it’s big :

We contracted Covid the last four days and were forced to sit in a room of over 100 people waiting for wheelchair assist because of my husband’s bum knee . I finally went up to the person charge and complained and we were evacuated immediately.

I would cruise with HAL , again. And as my geometry teacher told the class in high school many years ago …. Only boring people are bored .

We are sailing the Pacific coastal this month and in Astoria we are opting to tour Tillamook and the Oregon coast.

NHProud · September 7, 2023

20 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Sorry to quote my own post but there is a third option as well... Just book a nice hotel in San Diego or somewhere near there and take a few days by the water.

Or , take the Catalina Express in Long Beach to Avalon . Stay at the Pavilion Hotel or splurge and stay at Mt Ida.

Sea Viewer · September 7, 2023

7 minutes ago, NHProud said:

Or , take the Catalina Express in Long Beach to Avalon . Stay at the Pavilion Hotel or splurge and stay at Mt Ida.

Double like on this! When I lived in LA this was my GETAWAY weekend trip.

akcruz · September 7, 2023

7 hours ago, jmh2006 said:

@FromSea2ShiningSea Helen thanks for sharing your pictures! So enjoying them! Dave and I are in Washington DC this weekend for a wedding! It’s hot 🥵!

My granddaughters soccer practice was cancelled yesterday due to the heat, grandsons was on today though. Daughter said it is hot, stay cool, enjoy the wedding.

All the talk about boats, we bought our first in 1996, upgraded in 2003, still have that one, a 22 foot bow rider. Doesn't get used as much as it used to but still going strong. Unfortunately we don't have a place to store it for the winter, it is on our dock for the summer, so back it goes to the marina for winter storage each year. Worth the expense when family is in the Poconos. Have looked into getting one here at the beach or moving that one here, just not worth it.

George C · September 7, 2023

Haven’t posted any pictures of Joebob recently

lenquixote66 · September 7, 2023

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

Sorry to quote my own post but there is a third option as well... Just book a nice hotel in San Diego or somewhere near there and take a few days by the water.

We have cruised more on HAL than any other cruise line.Granted we are old but there were no negatives to us.

Ocean Boy · September 8, 2023

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cruiselvr04 · September 8, 2023

I’d do Catalina or Hal. Our last Carnival we said never again. We didn’t pay a lot but it wasn’t even worth that. We actually want to try Hal as they have some interesting itineraries.

Coralc · September 8, 2023

1 hour ago, George C said:

Haven’t posted any pictures of Joebob recently

He is so pretty! He is almost too gorgeous to be a Joebob.

Sunshine3601 · September 8, 2023

2 hours ago, George C said:

Haven’t posted any pictures of Joebob recently

He sure is a beautiful cat...or should I say handsome?

TravelGirlinDallas · September 8, 2023

2 hours ago, George C said:

Haven’t posted any pictures of Joebob recently

What a gorgeous cat!

FromSea2ShiningSea · September 8, 2023

More icebergs, interesting mountains, waterfalls and glaciers. But having problems uploading photos. Please stay tuned.

Edited September 8, 2023 by FromSea2ShiningSea

ReneeFLL · September 8, 2023

1 hour ago, George C said:

Haven’t posted any pictures of Joebob recently

Love his face. So pretty.

ReneeFLL · September 8, 2023

9 hours ago, Jimbo said:

…How are the seas today on your sailing back to Canada?

Right now they are mild. Just a gentle rocking.

5 hours ago, jagsfan said:

@ReneeFLL You did your time in a quarantine cabin. I hate you’re not able to get out and experience everything. I hope you feel better before the cruise is over!

I’m self quarantining in our cabin. Luckily we ended up with 1 covid test that I was able to use. We decided not to bring any, but after I got sick I was looking in my luggage for any extra cold medicine. Found a test in a side pocket. It was negative so I didn’t contact medical. When I had covid it wasn’t this bad. I’m just not sure when to start going out again. I think for covid they are saying after 5 days you don’t need to quarantine anymore. I googled for a cold and it said I could be contagious up to two weeks! 😯 I do feel like I’m starting to feel a little bit better, but it could be the medicine. I don’t plan on going into St. John’s tomorrow. I hope when we dock I’ll at least have a decent view from the balcony.

4 hours ago, Momof3gurlz said:

@ReneeFLL so sorry you’ve been under the weather. I hope you haven’t missed out on too much and that you feel better very soon.

Thanks, so ready to start feeling better.

Edited September 8, 2023 by ReneeFLL

George C · September 8, 2023

Exciting football game to start the season Detroit Lions 21 KC Chiefs 20 , I sure Seadog isn’t happy , i believe KC would have won in Kelse was in uniform. Too many dropped passes by KC

Sea Dog · September 8, 2023

23 minutes ago, George C said:

Exciting football game to start the season Detroit Lions 21 KC Chiefs 20 , I sure Seadog isn’t happy , i believe KC would have won in Kelse was in uniform. Too many dropped passes by KC

This game ended exactly how I thought it would. The Lions are an incredible team. Chiefs lost it with their wide receivers. Would Kelce and Chris Jones make a difference? Maybe, but this was all about the Lions out playing the Chiefs. Kudos to them.