Grandeur of the Seas

[OnTheJourney]

18 minutes ago, SargassoPirate said:

I can sail out of Baltimore without any air travel or hotel bookings

 

Agree totally on not needing air! We're only a few hours away and so love going out of either Baltimore or Bayonne. With Baltimore, though, we love the inner harbor and so usually add a few days pre-cruise. That was the plan for this past March and again next year. 

[Lady Hudson]

I have several Grandeur blocks.  Have given a couple away but will hold onto what I have.  Many fond memories!  Katherine

[twangster]

I love the optimism of eBay sellers.  "Oasis, Rare!, $190".  At least shipping is included.   

[OnTheJourney]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I love the optimism of eBay sellers.  "Oasis, Rare!, $190".  At least shipping is included.   

 

eBay selling is a weird experience at times. People often don't fully read listings, resulting in all sorts of confusion. I had a guy bought a 90s Nordic Track ski machine, paid for it, and simply never picked it up. Finally relisted it and sold it (at a higher price!)  I did refund the first guy's money, though should have kept it as storage fees (went on for months). Amazing thing about the guy who actually did buy (and pick it up) is that he drove 7 hours one way for it. When the offer came in, I figured...here's another guy who didn't read that part about "local pickup only", but, sure enough...talk about wanting something really badly. Then there was a tenor sax mouthpiece that would have gotten a .50 sticker at our local church flea market that had guys bidding against each other from several countries and wound up going for close to $900! Never know what'll happen. Sold pool chemicals to a guy who left me negative feedback (though never fully explained why - it remains a mystery though thankfully got it removed) - and apparently returned the item to the post office minutes after opening it. It's still designated "in transit" as though he never received it. So what truly happened to it I have no idea, and quite honestly don't care. He failed to respond to any of my messages. 

 

As to the optimism you refer to....what I've found really works is to provide as much description as possible...and good quality pictures. People eat that stuff up (assuming they take the time to read it all). Sometimes assumedly "rare" items turn out to be just the opposite. It's a bit deflating when you think you really have something that'll go for a good buck and then, after doing the research, find out that there are 50 listings of the same thing going for less than $10! 

Edited October 24, 2020 by OnTheJourney

[CntPAcruiser]

On 10/23/2020 at 12:12 PM, Milwaukee Eight said:

A bit off topic but I just saw a Grandeur Crystal Block on EBay. Better get one while you can. 

 

We sailed on Grandeur in February 2020—ours was the cruise right after the flu on board but before the shutdown. With everything that has happened, I'm glad we got the opportunity to sail her, and as luck would have it, we received our first crystal block on that sailing. Didn't realize we were going to have a collector's item!

[Another_Critic]

12 hours ago, CntPAcruiser said:

We sailed on Grandeur in February 2020—ours was the cruise right after the flu on board but before the shutdown. With everything that has happened, I'm glad we got the opportunity to sail her, and as luck would have it, we received our first crystal block on that sailing. Didn't realize we were going to have a collector's item!

 

Me, brother, daughter, and ex-wife were on the same cruise (2/20 to 2/28) and my brother also got his first block that cruise.

[Merion_Mom]

On 10/24/2020 at 12:56 PM, OnTheJourney said:

 

 Sold pool chemicals to a guy who left me negative feedback (though never fully explained why - it remains a mystery though thankfully got it removed) - and apparently returned the item to the post office minutes after opening it. It's still designated "in transit" as though he never received it. So what truly happened to it I have no idea, and quite honestly don't care. He failed to respond to any of my messages. 

 

 

 

 

I suspect that he thought that "pool chemicals" was a euphemism for something else.................

 

😉 😄 

[OnTheJourney]

The buyer should have known what he was getting via the pictures and description. I take ample pics of anything I sell. Here's the issue - it was a container that was partially used. Originally it had 10 tablets in it. I used 4 of them this season and so clearly spelled out in the description that there were 6 tablets remaining "out of the original 10". However, the issue MAY have been that my listing title referred to a "partially used container of 10 tablets". So I suspect he took this to mean that there were 10 tablets. People don't often read everything nowadays, so if he didn't read the detailed description, it could  have lent to some confusion. His negative feedback simply said "the package was open". That's it. I have no idea what he actually was referring to. Still don't and don't really care quite honestly. It took some doing to get eBay to remove the negative feedback. Long story. 

Edited October 30, 2020 by OnTheJourney

[Sunshine3601]

On 10/24/2020 at 10:34 AM, OnTheJourney said:

 

Agree totally on not needing air! We're only a few hours away and so love going out of either Baltimore or Bayonne. With Baltimore, though, we love the inner harbor and so usually add a few days pre-cruise. That was the plan for this past March and again next year. 

Same here.    WE love Baltimore Harbor.    We have good friends who live in VA outside of DC and they usually come up and meet us for crabs and make a night of pre-cruise.       We have done New Years Eve at Fells Point for several years, lots of fun!      

As RCL keeps saying they will do drive up ports in the beginning I sure hope that includes Baltimore and Bayonne as each is about a 2 hr drive from our home and they are both very easy ports for parking, luggage handling and boarding.     

Grandeur was our very first RCL sailing early 2000's prior to that we had sailed with my parents on HAL.   My parents always enjoyed the Grandeur too!

[OnTheJourney]

My wife's sister loves that ship also - been on it countless times on the way to becoming pinnacle. I suspect Grandeur has been very successful for RCL. Often people get on there for weeks (or longer) at a time. I like going out of either port. Besides the Grandeur in March I also have the Summit booked in May so see how they both play out. Right now things aren't looking too good. 

[Patty00]

I am a Grandeur fan, also.  However, Enchantment is a sister ship.....just a little larger due to being cut in half.  For those of you who have never cruised on her.....you will not notice much difference.  I just wish the other class ships could fit under the bridge.  I have heard rumors that others can but, RC prefers the vision class....I guess.

Of course, the latest news on cruising is disappointing.  7 day or less.....and when? Hope it is soon..... 

[Merion_Mom]

2 hours ago, Patty00 said:

I am a Grandeur fan, also.  However, Enchantment is a sister ship.....just a little larger due to being cut in half.  For those of you who have never cruised on her.....you will not notice much difference.  I just wish the other class ships could fit under the bridge.  I have heard rumors that others can but, RC prefers the vision class....I guess.

Of course, the latest news on cruising is disappointing.  7 day or less.....and when? Hope it is soon..... 

 

 

I will have to differ with you there.

 

I like the expanded pool deck, the peekaboo floor, the sky bridges, the bungee trampolines.

 

But there were no provisions made for the increased passenger load.

 

The theater is the same size with the same number of seats.

 

The Windjammer is the same size with the same number of tables and chairs.

 

The Main Dining Rooms are the same size with the same number of tables and chairs.

 

There is only one specialty restaurant:  Chops.  Grandeur has three - Chops, Izumi, Giovanni's Table.

 

The "extra" space on the stretched Enchantment is all cabins, except for the aforementioned pool deck.

 

And the Concierge Lounge and Diamond Lounge are, to put it mildly, ODD.  Oddly located, oddly sized.  Grandeur's lounges are superior to those, IMO.

 

That having been said, I will happily sail on the Enchantment, if and when cruising resumes.

[Merion_Mom]

On 10/24/2020 at 12:56 PM, OnTheJourney said:

 

. Sold pool chemicals to a guy who left me negative feedback (though never fully explained why - it remains a mystery though thankfully got it removed) - and apparently returned the item to the post office minutes after opening it. It's still designated "in transit" as though he never received it. So what truly happened to it I have no idea, and quite honestly don't care. He failed to respond to any of my messages. 

 

 

 

On 10/29/2020 at 11:19 PM, Merion_Mom said:

 

 

I suspect that he thought that "pool chemicals" was a euphemism for something else.................

 

😉 😄 

 

On 10/30/2020 at 11:18 AM, OnTheJourney said:

The buyer should have known what he was getting via the pictures and description. I take ample pics of anything I sell. Here's the issue - it was a container that was partially used. Originally it had 10 tablets in it. I used 4 of them this season and so clearly spelled out in the description that there were 6 tablets remaining "out of the original 10". However, the issue MAY have been that my listing title referred to a "partially used container of 10 tablets". So I suspect he took this to mean that there were 10 tablets. People don't often read everything nowadays, so if he didn't read the detailed description, it could  have lent to some confusion. His negative feedback simply said "the package was open". That's it. I have no idea what he actually was referring to. Still don't and don't really care quite honestly. It took some doing to get eBay to remove the negative feedback. Long story. 

 

 

It was a joke.

 

A JOKE.

[OnTheJourney]

Sorry...but I don't get it....

[Germancruiser]

Ah- Enchantment- thanks for mentioning her. Also great memories of that ship- we did the Maiden Voyage out of - if I remember right - Southampton. Unforgetable- also Petula Clark was on board- great shows! I loved the ship in it original configuration. Can´t say anything about her after the stretching! Can´t have been a huge success- though- since they did not repeat that on the other Vision Class of ships!

[Lady Hudson]

I like the “stretched” Enchantment - especially the “pool bridges”.  Problems, however, with the stretch — more cabins but dining room, theater, casino, etc. still have the same capacity.  So more crowded conditions.  I also heard that the engines were not upgraded with the stretch.  There were issues with longer trips and that was one of the reasons for moving her out of Baltimore to do 3/4 day trips down south.  May or may not be true but I heard this at one of the “Captain’s Corner” get together.  Will be interesting to see what the future will bring!

[twangster]

1 hour ago, Lady Hudson said:

Problems, however, with the stretch — more cabins but dining room, theater, casino, etc. still have the same capacity.  So more crowded conditions.  

 

Similar argument can be said for Voyager class and Voyager Ultra (Freedom) class the day Freedom was launched.

 

Original Navigator stats (pre-AMP):

Total cabins: 1,643 cabins

Theater capacity: 1,281

Studio B capacity: 832

Star Lounge capacity: 300

 

Original Freedom stats (pre-AMP):

Total cabins: 1,891 cabins

Theater capacity: 1,281

Studio B capacity: 832

Star Lounge capacity: 300

 

248 more cabins, same public area capacity.

 

[twangster]

Just realized...

 

Only one bookable Grandeur cruise is 7 nights.  All other cruises between now and her last cruise on the website are longer than 7 nights.  That means unless they plan to redo all of her cruises only one cruise qualifies under the CDC CSO and that's on Jan. 2, 2021.  

 

Anyone think she'll be seeing Royal guests ever again?  

[retiredgram]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

Just realized...

 

Only one bookable Grandeur cruise is 7 nights.  All other cruises between now and her last cruise on the website are longer than 7 nights.  That means unless they plan to redo all of her cruises only one cruise qualifies under the CDC CSO and that's on Jan. 2, 2021.  

 

Anyone think she'll be seeing Royal guests ever again?  

I have already accepted that our 4 cruises in the first 3 months of the year are not happening. We always do B2B and each cruise is longer than 7 days.  Time will tell if she gets to cruise from another port someday.

[Biker19]

6 hours ago, twangster said:

Anyone think she'll be seeing Royal guests ever again?  

I think that ship sailed in April, even before it was announced she's not going to Pullmantur.

[Giantfan13]

We have sailed on the Grandeur only 3 times, but each time, we feel like we came back home. We also sailed on her when they celebrated her 20th anniversary of being launched with a huge party. If memory holds she was launched Dec 1996 and the celebration was Dec 2016. 

Hope she survives, but it just doesn't look promising. 

 

Cheers

Len 

[Another_Critic]

1 hour ago, Giantfan13 said:

We have sailed on the Grandeur only 3 times, but each time, we feel like we came back home. We also sailed on her when they celebrated her 20th anniversary of being launched with a huge party. If memory holds she was launched Dec 1996 and the celebration was Dec 2016. 

Hope she survives, but it just doesn't look promising. 

 

Cheers

Len 

 

Looks like I was on the same cruise.

 

RCCL Grandeur of the Seas - 12 days - Baltimore to St. Thomas (tendered), Roseau (Dominica), Bridgetown (Barbados), Castries (St. Lucia), Philipsburg (St. Maarten)  to Baltimore - December 10-22, 2016

[rcclmiami]

Our last GoS cruise was the ta after she was “revitalization “. We called her Sewer of the Seas. They added cabins and deck 4 smelled like sewage. Some cabins had no water. I will not mis her. Did 5 weeks on Enchantment and prefer her.

[retiredgram]

13 hours ago, rcclmiami said:

Our last GoS cruise was the ta after she was “revitalization “. We called her Sewer of the Seas. They added cabins and deck 4 smelled like sewage. Some cabins had no water. I will not mis her. Did 5 weeks on Enchantment and prefer her.

We will miss her.  Sailed on the Enchantment when she was here in Baltimore for a couple years.  Did not care for her.  They did not enlarge any public space to accommodate extra passengers that came after her stretch. Yes, we will cruise on her, but just would prefer the Grandeur.

[rcclmiami]

Enchantment lengthening included expanding mechanicals on decks 1 and 2. Grandeur shoehorned in more cabins in existing space.  No space allocated for the increased water and sewer demand. Royals greed apparent. I was on the ta for the cruise prior to the ceo inspection of the amplification. Watched crew spray oil on hull in Cadiz and scramble to clean up and paint in Tenerife. Captain avoided passengers until last day at sea and got blasted by passengers furious about the condition. 
Enchantment added Boleros, concierge lounge during lengthening. I was on her out of Philadelphia during her “tour” on her way to Miami.