Experienced Cruiser, Possible Newbie to RCI - Several Questions

[hazeleyez3]

Ok, I have a few questions for those experienced with RCI. Some will seem quite odd to you, but I am trying to plan a 40th anniversary surprise for my parents (DH and I will also go), and I am thinking of things they tend to look at.

 

Free Drinks

• I have read on the website that iced tea, lemonade, coffee, and hot tea are available. With that said:
  
• Are juices extra?
  
• Are they just free in the morning (similar to Princess)?
  
• Is there an area like Carnival where you can go up and get a glass of iced tea at 3am, or would you have to use room service?

Bingo

• How much does it cost?
  
• How many games are played at one session?
  
• How do they show the numbers that are already called? Is it a pathetic little board like NCL (which rarely works)? Is it a huge screen like Carnival?
  
• What are the payouts like?

Casino

• Is there Texas Hold 'em?

TV (Yes, this is something my Mother uses, so I am hoping that the RCI board will not make snide comments about watching TV - like I have seen on the NCL board).

• Do they have a range of stations like Carnival, or do they just get a few episodes of shows and replay them throughout the cruise?

Piano Bar

• Is the piano bar one where they will play Sinatra, and you will sit back and relax, or is it like Carnival where its a sing-along?

Shows

• I know you have to get tix to see the ice shows, but are they an extra charge?
  
• Do they have the production shows twice - once for main seating, and another for late seating?
  
• Are they either tables or cup holders for you to place your drinks? (NCL did not, and it was a pain holding it while watching the show)
  
• Is there ever an adult comedy show?
  
• Are the production shows taped music, or is it an actual orchestra/band playing?

I think thats it for now...I'm sure I'll have others later.

[rncruiser]

I'll do my best to answer all your questions.

 

Free Drinks: Juice free at breakfast only

Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate all readily available 24 hours on

Voyager and Freedom Class. I don't know about the others

 

Bingo: $35 per session, six games/session

Great electronic board

Payouts vary depending on number of players and length of cruise,

with final jackpots in the thousands. I've seen as high as $13,000 on a

9-night cruise

 

Casino: I believe there is Texas Hold-em but not being a big user of the

casino I can't say for sure

 

TV: Decent selection of stations including mivies, sports, news, and kids

stations

 

Piano Bar: Depending on the ship there may be more than one lounge with a

piano. There is all different types of music being played in the

various lounges

 

Shows: No charge for ice show tickets

Yes, there are usually two showings of each performance in the main

theater each night, one for each seating

There is a live orchestra

There are cup holders, but the drink containers don't seem to fit them

There is usually at least one late-night adult comedy show

[DonnaK]

Ok, I have a few questions for those experienced with RCI. Some will seem quite odd to you, but I am trying to plan a 40th anniversary surprise for my parents (DH and I will also go), and I am thinking of things they tend to look at.

 

Free Drinks

• I have read on the website that iced tea, lemonade, coffee, and hot tea are available. With that said:
  
• Are juices extra?
  
• Are they just free in the morning (similar to Princess)?
  
• Is there an area like Carnival where you can go up and get a glass of iced tea at 3am, or would you have to use room service?

Shows

• I know you have to get tix to see the ice shows, but are they an extra charge?
  
• Do they have the production shows twice - once for main seating, and another for late seating?
  
• Are they either tables or cup holders for you to place your drinks? (NCL did not, and it was a pain holding it while watching the show)
  
• Is there ever an adult comedy show?
  
• Are the production shows taped music, or is it an actual orchestra/band playing?

I think thats it for now...I'm sure I'll have others later.

 

I'll answer the ones I know.

 

As far as juice is concerned, it's free at breakfast. I'm not sure about the remainder of the day.

 

Not sure what ship you are looking at. Voyager and Freedom class ships have the Cafe Promenade where you can get coffee/tea/water and snacks throughout the night, but not iced tea. I suppose that would have to be ordered through room service. I believe Radiance class ships have someplace similar.

 

 

The ice show is free - the tickets are just for crowd control

 

There are two production shows, one for each seating, with band/orchestral music (not taped)

 

Yes, the seats have cup holders, and yes, there are late-night adult comedy shows.

[FL_Cruiser64]

Ok, I have a few questions for those experienced with RCI. Some will seem quite odd to you, but I am trying to plan a 40th anniversary surprise for my parents (DH and I will also go), and I am thinking of things they tend to look at.

 

Free Drinks

• I have read on the website that iced tea, lemonade, coffee, and hot tea are available. With that said:
  
• Are juices extra?
  
• Are they just free in the morning (similar to Princess)?
  
• Is there an area like Carnival where you can go up and get a glass of iced tea at 3am, or would you have to use room service?

iced tea, lemonade, coffee and tea are free throughout the day. Just go to the Windjammer Cafe and get yourself some. Don't know about the juices but I have seen cranberry juice in those self serving thermoses.

 

Ice tea is also free and readily available where the Pizzeria (free Pizza, hot dogs and burgers) is at night. It is usually located in the Solarium pool area.

 

 

Bingo

• How much does it cost?
  
• How many games are played at one session?
  
• How do they show the numbers that are already called? Is it a pathetic little board like NCL (which rarely works)? Is it a huge screen like Carnival?
  
• What are the payouts like?

Not a big Bingo fan but I believe each session is like $30 or $35 per session and involves multiple games. Payouts are from small monies, free cruises to a jackpot which is usually worth several thousand dollars.

 

Casino

• Is there Texas Hold 'em?

I have not seen any RCI ship without Texas Hold'em. Yet they vary in size. Some ships have larger tables and some rather small Texas Hold'em tables (i.e. Enchantment has a rather small table).

 

TV (Yes, this is something my Mother uses, so I am hoping that the RCI board will not make snide comments about watching TV - like I have seen on the NCL board).

• Do they have a range of stations like Carnival, or do they just get a few episodes of shows and replay them throughout the cruise?

I don't remember the selection on Carnival. I rarely watch TV on a cruise ship. But RCI has soap channels, movie channels, sports channels, couple regular channels, news channels and of course a channel where they reply certain RCI stuff such as game shows etc. The channel line up is nothing like DirecTV or DishNetwork but it gives you some choices.

 

Piano Bar

• Is the piano bar one where they will play Sinatra, and you will sit back and relax, or is it like Carnival where its a sing-along?

On some ships are distinct Piano Bars but a few lounges have a Piano as standard (i.e. the Schooner Bar on the Enchantment). If it is a relaxing sitting back or sing-a-long largely requires on the cruisers and the music selection. Sometimes it is a quite, relaxing time and at times a dance and sing-a-long.

 

Shows

• I know you have to get tix to see the ice shows, but are they an extra charge?
  
• Do they have the production shows twice - once for main seating, and another for late seating?
  
• Are they either tables or cup holders for you to place your drinks? (NCL did not, and it was a pain holding it while watching the show)
  
• Is there ever an adult comedy show?
  
• Are the production shows taped music, or is it an actual orchestra/band playing?

No extra charge for the ice show. Tickets are just there to prevent overcrowding. Pretty much all shows are twice a night so the different dining seatings all get their chance. The seats do have cup holders. Some of the drinks don't fit though which seems to be limited to the mixed drinks. Regular cups, glasses, bottles fit in them.

 

The adult comdedy show is usually the last night of the cruise.

 

All production shows are live.

 

I think thats it for now...I'm sure I'll have others later.

 

Ask away and happy cruising. :D

 

What ship are you going on?

[cruiseguy1016]

There is a table for an on going Texas Hold 'em game in the casino. They also hold tournaments from time to time (not on every sailing) for about a $50 buy in.

[DonnaK]

Ice tea is also free and readily available where the Pizzeria (free Pizza, hot dogs and burgers) is at night. It is usually located in the Solarium pool area.

 

 

I believe this area by the solarium is only on Radiance class ships (maybe on Vision class too?). On Voyager-class, pizza is available at night from the Cafe Promenade, and while other beverages are available there, iced tea is not.

[FL_Cruiser64]

I believe this area by the solarium is only on Radiance class ships (maybe on Vision class too?). On Voyager-class, pizza is available at night from the Cafe Promenade, and while other beverages are available there, iced tea is not.

 

The Vision Class as well in the Solarium. Heck I don't remember the Sovereign Class though. But I stand corrected on the Voyager Class. Thanks.

[JanineM]

Just want to jump in on the TV station selection. There is a CBS station that is made especially for the cruise ship, so if you want to catch a regular series, you may be out of luck.

 

The ones I recall were CNN, Fox News, CNN Headline News, a cartoon channel, a movie channel, a channel running re-runs of old & new sitcoms, and then the usual ship-run channels (shopping, etc.). There must have been a regular network or sports station because we watched the Penn State game one Saturday afternoon.

 

Since the ship receives signals from satellite, you may receive different stations or spotty service depending on where you are sailing.

[hazeleyez3]

Not sure what ship you are looking at. Voyager and Freedom class ships have the Cafe Promenade where you can get coffee/tea/water and snacks throughout the night, but not iced tea. I suppose that would have to be ordered through room service. I believe Radiance class ships have someplace similar.

quote]

 

Actually toying with two different ones: Ultimately, I'd love to do the JOS Panama Canal. Unfortunately, that would leave me with only 3 vacation days for the remaining 9 months of '09. Not sure if I want to do that, so I am also looking at the 7-day Southern Caribbean on the Enchantment. It leaves from Panama, and has a unique route.

[DonnaK]

Actually toying with two different ones: Ultimately, I'd love to do the JOS Panama Canal. Unfortunately, that would leave me with only 3 vacation days for the remaining 9 months of '09. Not sure if I want to do that, so I am also looking at the 7-day Southern Caribbean on the Enchantment. It leaves from Panama, and has a unique route.

 

 

Have you priced airfare to Panama? :eek:

[hazeleyez3]

Have you priced airfare to Panama? :eek:

 

Yep, most don't go out to 2009, so I looked at Feb '08, and Oct '08 (the latest date they had). Prices were about the same for a trip to LA

[wrp96]

My other question is, have you also accounted for transportation from Panama City to Colon? It's about a 2 hour drive if I remember correctly and you may not have as many transportation options.

[cruisenfever]

Ok, I have a few questions for those experienced with RCI. Some will seem quite odd to you, but I am trying to plan a 40th anniversary surprise for my parents (DH and I will also go), and I am thinking of things they tend to look at.

 

Free Drinks

• I have read on the website that iced tea, lemonade, coffee, and hot tea are available. With that said:
  
• Are juices extra?
  
• Are they just free in the morning (similar to Princess)?
  
• Is there an area like Carnival where you can go up and get a glass of iced tea at 3am, or would you have to use room service?

On Radiance class ships there are machines located outside of the Windjammer that are functional 24 hours. They offer hot water (hot chocolate packets are available in the area where the sugar, cream and tea bags are) and both decaffeinated and high octane coffee and then there is a juice machine that has 2 types of juice (sometimes one juice and fruit punch), ice cold water and I believe lemonade.

 

In addition, The Solarium Cafe on Radiance class makes wonderful made to order crepes and also has pizza, salads and wraps. Their hours vary, but are listed in the Daily Compass.

 

The SeaView Cafe also has varied hours, but offers wonderful made to order items for lunch and dinner and they are opened for late night snacks. And they have the best onion rings.

 

There is no additional charge for both the Solarium Cafe and SeaView Cafe.

[Sue L]

Have you priced airfare to Panama? :eek:

 

 

 

JOS Jewel of the Seas, isn't it going to do round trip out of Miami to the Panama Canal. basically taking over the route from the Brilliance?

[hazeleyez3]

Actually toying with two different ones: Ultimately, I'd love to do the JOS Panama Canal. Unfortunately, that would leave me with only 3 vacation days for the remaining 9 months of '09. Not sure if I want to do that, so I am also looking at the 7-day Southern Caribbean on the Enchantment. It leaves from Panama, and has a unique route.

 

My other question is, have you also accounted for transportation from Panama City to Colon? It's about a 2 hour drive if I remember correctly and you may not have as many transportation options.

 

I've looked at buses, trains, and shuttles.

 

JOS Jewel of the Seas, isn't it going to do round trip out of Miami to the Panama Canal. basically taking over the route from the Brilliance?

 

JOS does have the roundtrip, but the Enchantment leaves from Colon.

[MoeAndSue]

On Radiance class ships there are machines located outside of the Windjammer that are functional 24 hours. They offer hot water (hot chocolate packets are available in the area where the sugar, cream and tea bags are) and both decaffeinated and high octane coffee and then there is a juice machine that has 2 types of juice (sometimes one juice and fruit punch), ice cold water and I believe lemonade.

 

In addition, The Solarium Cafe on Radiance class makes wonderful made to order crepes and also has pizza, salads and wraps. Their hours vary, but are listed in the Daily Compass.

 

The SeaView Cafe also has varied hours, but offers wonderful made to order items for lunch and dinner and they are opened for late night snacks. And they have the best onion rings.

 

There is no additional charge for both the Solarium Cafe and SeaView Cafe.

 

Wow You sure cruise alot, that's wonderful... I was wondering, you seem to like RCCL, this is our first cruise, can you give me some hints and tips? cruising Legends on May 08 08 to the Med.

[cruisenfever]

Wow You sure cruise alot, that's wonderful... I was wondering, you seem to like RCCL, this is our first cruise, can you give me some hints and tips? cruising Legends on May 08 08 to the Med.

We like RCI because of the benefits that it provides us since we have sailed so many times. C&A discounts on balcony cabins, On board credit when booking on board, shareholder benefits and On board credits that we can get with the RCI Platinum Plus Visa Card after cashing in points.

 

We've sailed Legend three times and loved the ship and crew. I think that you will really enjoy the size of the ship. It is well laid out so that getting around is easy.

 

As far as tips and pointers.............hmmmm....that's difficult. I think the best advice that I could give anyone going on their first cruise is to not be too judgmental. What is good for one might not be good for another. Each ship is different and offers different activities. If you find something that displeases you in any way report it immediately to Guest Relations. Always voice your concern..........don't let it fester inside during the entire cruise. Always remember that a cruise is what you make it. The staff and crew on board any ship work very hard to make each and every passenger as happy as possible and to make their cruising experience as memorable as possible.

 

If you have special dietary needs, inform your TA or RCI, whomever you booked with, about a month before your cruise so that they can accommodate your needs.

 

Sometimes things occur on any ship that are unavoidable, like missing a port due to bad weather, a medical emergency..........these are occurrences that are out of the control of the cruise lines.

 

Wishing you a wonderful first cruise and hopefully the start of many more to come.