When will RCL spice up their itineraries?

[BirmanCrazy]

I sure would like to see something different like Grand Turk, and Tortola added to the usual routine itineraries RCL does. Spice it up a little RCL! :D

I already love the ships and service...I want to love the itinerary too!

[surfklutz]

As long as they keep making their ships larger and larger - the itineries will just get more lame. Pretty soon they will not stop at any ports - your destination will be the cruise ship itself- I see that trend start to form.

[cruisin from florida]

I'm with you...

It's getting difficult to get excited about the Western itinerary, for me. Grand Caymen and Cozumel.. Again.

 

Since they tender so many places, it can't just be a matter of the docks not handling the big ships.

 

I love cruising, but I'm starting to think about an all-inclusive vacation rather than visit the same ports for the 4th or 5th time.

[ramidon1]

I agree. We waited 5 years between RCCL cruises because we did not want to do the same itinerary. In the meantime, we tried 3 other cruiselines and found that RCCL is our favorite...guess we will have to try Southern or Panama Canal or Europe....if we can swing the $$.

[Nliedel]

1. The ships are too big. They can't dock in those ports and they would overrun the islands.

 

2. They are very successful in the ports they are in. People get to taste something different without it being too different (take the Jamaica detractors). They are making money playing a comfortable card there is no reason to change it and risk the farm, so to speak.

 

We have circumnavigated the problem by booking a Silverseas Cruise (not as expensive as you might think) and still doing RCI for that big ship experience. That works for us. Windjammer Barefoot Cruises also go to small islands with more flavor.

 

I am anti Ginormous ship for this very reason btw.

[Soxfan05]

I'm also willing to bet that many ports don't WANT cruise ships overrunning their pristine locales. I cringe at the thought of thousands of people each day converging on a natural paradise like Tortola. Once cruise ships start stopping at these islands, they become like every other "McPort".

[MGoBlue2]

I sure would like to see something different like Grand Turk, and Tortola added to the usual routine itineraries RCL does. Spice it up a little RCL! :D

I already love the ships and service...I want to love the itinerary too!

Ask and you shall receive ...

 

Grandeur is stopping at Tortola this fall on its repositioning. Empress is also doing a holiday 5 night that is stopping there, it's currently sold out, but space might open up later.

[Jtd724]

They do need to spice it up, The only ships that are too big are the Voyager class. All other RCCL class ships can hit almost any island. CCL, Costa, Princess, X, all go to different islands with their "big ships" (80-90K ton). RCCL is more then capable of doing the same. They need to expand on the ports, big time.

[Tamara]

We are an active family and also feel it is getting harder and harder to get excited about revisiting the same ol' ports. Although we LOVE sea days, exploring new places and meeting the locals (+the carrib. weather) is why we cruise, so staying on the ship is not for us. If the size of the ships is the reason RC doesnt get to some of the other ports, maybe they should consider overnites in some of their current ports. I feel that the few late afternoon hours in San Juan are a waste of time. There is more to do during daylite that is not available as currently scheduled, perhaps the ship could overnite and leave at 2-3 the next day in some of the current ports. -Tamara

[above sea level cruiser]

I'm also willing to bet that many ports don't WANT cruise ships overrunning their pristine locales. I cringe at the thought of thousands of people each day converging on a natural paradise like Tortola. Once cruise ships start stopping at these islands, they become like every other "McPort".

 

Very well said. Love the analogy:)

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Two suggestions for RCI:

 

1. Have a cruise to Burmuda that leaves from a Florida port. If Costa can do it, so can RCI.

 

2. Have a Southern Caribbean cruise (not Panama Canal which they currently do) that leaves from a Florida port, even if it means a twelve or fourteen day cruise. I'd much prefer that to flying to San Juan and staying in a hotel there before and after the cruise.

[SilkieGirl]

We are an active family and also feel it is getting harder and harder to get excited about revisiting the same ol' ports. Although we LOVE sea days, exploring new places and meeting the locals (+the carrib. weather) is why we cruise, so staying on the ship is not for us. If the size of the ships is the reason RC doesnt get to some of the other ports, maybe they should consider overnites in some of their current ports. I feel that the few late afternoon hours in San Juan are a waste of time. There is more to do during daylite that is not available as currently scheduled, perhaps the ship could overnite and leave at 2-3 the next day in some of the current ports. -Tamara

 

Your suggestion about doing overnights in ports makes so much sense. I don't understand why they would take you to a hot night spot like Key West and Miami and then pull out at 5 in the afternoon! I guess that's great for the older crowd, but the nightlife is the main attraction in Key West and Miami too! When we stay in Key West I saw a lot of ships not leave until the middle of the night so I'm surprised that every stop we're making pulls out in the afternoon.

 

Can someone tell me what a repositioning is? :o

Thanks!

[tommoore1]

One word: CUBA!!!

I know all about that stupid embargo, but I can't help but think that a cruise to Cuba would book quicker than they could print up the brochures!

Woof!

[tommoore1]

Mary:

A repositioning cruise is when a ship changes itineraries. The trip to the new port of origin is usually very deeply discounted, and is one-way.

--Tom

[Fairsailing]

Bring back the Australia/New Zealand routes!

[pcur]

Bring back the Australia/New Zealand routes!

 

Oh, yeah! I just pulled out the Grand Adventures brochure I kept from 2000- 2001. Wow, I would love them to go back to these. They just didn't get the pax on them, I guess.

 

Barrier Reef and Down Under

Asian Pearls and Ancient Mariners (Thailand, Singapore, India)

Journey of the Spice Traders and Ebony and Gold (they had to avoid the Red Sea area, I guess)

 

These were all on the LOS.

[FrogCruiser]

I'd like to see a different itinerary out of Galveston...why not an Eastern Caribbean route, or Southern...if they can do an Eastern out of NY they sure can do one out of Galveston. Come on, a little variety would be nice!

[surfklutz]

Your suggestion about doing overnights in ports makes so much sense. I don't understand why they would take you to a hot night spot like Key West and Miami and then pull out at 5 in the afternoon! I guess that's great for the older crowd, but the nightlife is the main attraction in Key West and Miami too! When we stay in Key West I saw a lot of ships not leave until the middle of the night so I'm surprised that every stop we're making pulls out in the afternoon.

 

Can someone tell me what a repositioning is? :o

Thanks!

 

I don't know the reason why they pull out so early...but I can take a guess. I imagine that ships lose money being in ports at night - lost casino revenue, lost drink revenue, gift shop revenue - and maybe increased port fees. I think it is really sad when I saw one of the lines this year pull out of Monte Carlo at 4:00 pm.

[jwlane]

Galveston...why not an Eastern Caribbean route, or Southern...

They'd have to go to ten days. It's just too far to do in seven.

[cruzinmecrazy]

I'm with you on new Islands, but I would also enjoy staying in one place for a couple of days or at least until midnight. It would be great to go to St Martin and spend the day at the beach then check out the night life. or be able to rent a car and take your time seeing the entire island. Not having to worry about leaving at 4:30.

[katiel53]

I think part of the reason the ships don't stay in port late is because it isn't safe for tourists to be wandering about after dark. I know there are islands where it is safe and the ships (Southern Caribbean or Panama Canal) stay late, ie Aruba. (I don't want to get in a discussion of Natalee either.)

 

Silkiegirl,

I resent the remark that the ships leave port because of old people. I am 65 and love cruising as much as people in their 30s and I am not in a rush to leave a port. I think you have some growing up to do yet, and when you get to be "older" I think your opinions will change, at least hopefully so.

[Nliedel]

I think part of the reason the ships don't stay in port late is because it isn't safe for tourists to be wandering about after dark. I know there are islands where it is safe and the ships (Southern Caribbean or Panama Canal) stay late, ie Aruba. (I don't want to get in a discussion of Natalee either.)

.

 

Actually it's not for saftey at all but many other reasons.

 

1. Econimic (that old Chestnut). You can't sell beer to people who aren't on the ship because they are in a bar on land.

 

2. You can't make the next port if you are in the last one.

 

3. Port fees. They are quite high, charged by the hour and go up when a ship is in port after dark.

 

It is not so much about saftey. Most caribbean ports are safe after dark. I do a lot of land travel too and have never felt more uncomfortable in the evening than during the day, although some ports do close up shop after the cruise ships leave.

[Nliedel]

Second time today I got a double post. I am blaming the pain meds. Yes I am. It's not me, it's Vocodine, I swear.

[katiel53]

Nliedel,

I am talking about St. Thomas. I was a travel agent before I retired and that is NOT the safest port to be wandering around. There are others I am sure, but I know economics are the determining factor. Safety should be the main issue and I thought it was, but I could be wrong.

[dolphincruiser404]

I was just thinking the same thing this morning. I have done the Western route too many times now, and the Bahamas are getting real old. Not to mention, every cruise I take that is supposed to go to Coco Cay ends up with another sea day. The Eastern cruises out of Florida usually hit Nassau or Coco Cay (or so they say) and St. Marteen and St. Thomas. That's just not enough excitement for me. I love seeing new places.

 

I finally booked my first All Inclusive and will be going to Sandals in Jamaica in June. Thought about booking another AI in December in Cabo San Lucas, but decided on the Southern Caribbean route. I've always wanted to do it, and the $797/person for the balcony was a deal I could NOT pass up!

 

I agree though! Some new itineraries are in need. Especially out of Florida!