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wish i got this advice before i met my wife ??? Apologies to any wifes on forum ?

In general I think that any cruise is going to be a cultural experience that reflects where the majority of the guest population comes from. Sometimes Europeans dislike cruising in North America on American cruise lines for this exact reason. That was a major reason why MSC first brought ships here so that their customer base could have the same experience they get on MSC cruises in Europe. In that case they marketed the ship to Europeans who would fly over and cruise the Caribbean. The guest population had few Americans on board, only those that found the ship somehow and booked it. With 4,500 Chinese guests and a handful of other nationalities on Quantum out of Shanghai I would expect it to be anything but an American experience. One cultural difference is the personal sense of space. I think it is more of a cultural norm in China, at least in the large cities, to find crowded elevators and transit systems. I don't think it is a matter of them not letting you on the elevator so much as it is normal for them to jam pack an elevator to the point where Americans wouldn't feel comfortable getting on but it just how they live their lives at home everyday. They are more aggressive in crowds because they have to be at home. Royal isn't trying to provide an American experience rather they are trying to provide a cultural experience that Chinese guests will feel comfortable with in their own country. That is how they will create return guests who want to cruise more. Spectrum for example was built for the Chinese market. It was designed to suit this culture and reflect Chinese consumers with the goal of creating a loyal, local customer base. With this awareness I booked Spectrum and Quantum out of Singapore. I'm not expecting a normal American experience but looking forward to more of an Asian experience without the full Chinese experience if I sailed out of Shanghai.

Source: Urban Dictionary https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pot Calling the Kettle Black Pot Calling the Kettle Black An expression that is said when one accuses another person of that which they are equally guilty of.

As I write this on July 10th, 2018 - Radiance of the Seas, Southbound, interior cabin, $499 pp. Ocean view $799. (plus $193 pp port fees/taxes) No special C&A discount, no casino rate or other promo. YOLO! Seriously, for Alaska this is a fantastic price. Airfare wasn't that bad either but when a 7 night Alaskan cruise is cheaper than a Caribbean cruise I YOLO booked it! I did this itinerary on Celebrity last year and I've already booked a few excursions I couldn't last time. Anchorage to Seward train is available too, both direct or through Royal. I booked it through Royal this time.

Come to think of it, instead of signing out a towel at all, I could just swing by the pool deck in the morning where there are unused towels available presumably laid out by the ship for any guest to use.

Being that I'm the Grandeur Poo-Bah ..... Naturally, I'd go for Option 3.

Ended up getting the ultimate dining package for the three of us. Thanks for all the friendly advice. Ultimate dining package, soda and voom package and a bungalow on Labadee. Plus a day before and after in Miami. That's how you do March break.

Posting my first topic as I finally created a profile. Needed to, as the first thing I do in the morning is check the RCblog. Recently retired and my wife and I are doing a B2B, 11 night, out of Sydney to NZ and then 11 night to South Pacific on Radiance in March/April of 2020. We are Diamond level so we know the basics. We are spending 5 nights precruise in the Rocks area of Sydney. Have a few questions to put out there. 1: we have same balcony cabin, with B2B do we need to disembark ship or are we assigned to a lounge to wait out boarding?, 2: On an 11 night, does menu repeat after 7 days? We will probably do some of the specialty restaurants especially on second cruise but wanting to plan out for possible packages. 3: Should we expect any extra perks from RC other than typical Diamond since we are doing B2B? 4:Any "must do" ideas for Sydney, NZ or South Pacific? 5: Anyone stayed at the Rendezvous Hotel in the Rocks area? I have already gotten lots of ideas online from different sights but wanted some other input. I know, lots of questions. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or ideas. DRLPP (Larry)

That would be funny. Sit on their towel. Put on their flip flops. Read their magazine. Wait for them to return. That might be scope worthy.

Let me know where I can read your review. I wish I had kept my invoice.

And free Footware too by the looks of it.

But my single digit dance is elsewhere....?...guilty...

twangster the quality of your pictures is in my opinion second to none I so look forward to your photo posts

Won't you be happy that you purchased an ultimate drink package!

I was fine just doing MDR food each night for 9 nights. Food is very personal though. I'm not a foodie and I am easily pleased (because I didn't have to make it). Certain items I've learned to avoid. Steak Dianne is high on the avoid list for me, but maybe someone else loves it. That's okay, to each their own. This applies to the whole fleet. Overall fantastic service in Grandeur's My Time MDR for me.

? Reppin' Dubz in the air ? lol Will have 12 people in my party with a few first-time cruisers. Going to try to turn them into Royalists.

I had heard of similar comments with respect to panning for gold excursions at any Alaskan port. Ironic as I think about it. The original gold rush in 1897 was largely over-blown, over-hyped and over-stated with very few winners but a whole lot of people who were misled and lost everything. Alaska excursions involving gold in some cases continue to maintain that phenomena 120 years later.

absolutely amazing so open the views are breathtaking the only down side still only 2 electrical outlets when I cruise I like to sit in the Viking crown lounge and watch the scenery these pics were taken from the room its like having a large balcony without the heat and humidity I have a pano booked on adventure in November 2018 I personally will book only these rooms whenever possible before Royal jacks up the fare on them

may I suggest that you try freedoms panoramic view rooms I was on it recently and she did not seem tired the pano rooms were added not to long ago they were fascinating and also you might try majesty on a cuba itinerary

Just to clarify - BOGO 50% off works out to 25% for both 30% is still 30% regardless of the number of people. $1000 cruise for BOGO 50% is $1,500 for 2 $1000 cruise for 30% off is $1,400 for 2, a 5% difference.

Completely agree on the Brilliance and the sailaway, especially under the Sunshine Skyway. However, sailing in December, it will be dark, the Skyway lights are fun but Edgmont Key is probably impossible to see at that time of night.

YIPPEE ! That's GREAT !

Always be careful reading reviews from regular guests. You never know what their expectation was or what their travel resume looks like. Some people don't travel well. Even long time friends have sometimes turned into not so good travel mates at times. Traveling around the world and expecting it be American everywhere is going to lead to disappointment yet some people do exactly that. Other people embrace the cultural differences. For me those differences are why I want to travel abroad. If it will be very close to a home experience why bother sitting on airplane for a day to get there?

I'm not sure @twangster is giving you a hard time, if I read correctly somewhere in the FB/Blog/Periscope world a certain someone has Double Digit cruises booked, so there is a strong possibility he's doing a single digit dance as well! LOL!!!?!

@Boston Babe cancelled that one! lol And yes, I have ventured into the dark Carnival side, once, and that was more than enough. Or...are you still giving me hard time because in one day I'll be doing the single digit dance?!

aah well much as we hate to go we all wind up at Walmart once in a while?

On other ships were I've done more than 7 nights then menu hasn't repeated verbatim, rather it's the same menu items you've seen before in different combinations. Night one might have chicken, beef and fish. Night 8 might be Lamb from night 2, beef, and the lasagna from night 4 or something to that effect. One new item may be introduced here or there. To be honest I've usually found something that interests me, even when I've done 19 nights on a B2B. On longer cruises some nights I simply go to the Windjammer for dinner for a different experience. Dinner in the WJ tend not to be as busy as lunch or breakfast there and there is usually everything there is create a nice dinner. Dinner rolls, salad options, variety of main entrees and ample choices of sides. There are some nice theme nights in the WJ too. On B2B I haven't seen any perks other than a special lunch for consecutive cruisers on day 1 of the next cruise. If you haven't already make sure to inform Royal that you are indeed consecutive cruisers, or have your travel agent do it, it's not an automatic thing as each cruise is distinct and separate from the next with new SeaPass cards, new onboard account, etc. In the US while doing a B2B you must disembark, visit US customs and wait with other consecutive cruisers to re-board once local authorities clear the ship. Consecutive cruisers are the first to board, followed by wedding parties and then pinnacle/suites, D+, D, etc. I'm not sure if the AU authorities have the same procedures.

I'm with you -- Karma will take care of them .... have faith.

@Adriana Rest of what I did on Anthem... Boston: Walked the Freedom Trail Portland: Did a food tour (booked outside of Royal) Also in Portland, be sure to stop by The Holy Donut. Did a donut run the first thing in the morning once we had docked. Helps any give a quick glance at the live blog I had done... Just don't look at it if hungry.

This. But if you’re eating in the MDR, you may want to pick up a glass of whatever you’ll be drinking beforehand, then order another as soon as you’re seated. Drink delivery in the MDR can be slow sometimes.

Great question! I am doing the New England and Canada on the Anthem in September and was wondering the same thing for those ports as well as Boston and Portland. Not sure to stick w RC or go independent (never have, always felt more secure w cruise tours) and which. Or just walk around?

We had this happen on our last cruise. We couldn’t pull it up anymore but when we got on the ship we had our tickets and the excursion was listed on the cruise compass. Maybe currently sold out, or a website glitch.....knowing current conditions a website glitch could be plausible.

Honestly, I don't stalk the shore excursions tab in my cruise planner all that often, so I can't answer that. I've only had a couple cancelled over the years. I did recently get a notification when an excursion we had booked changed a stop - just one small part of the day - giving us the option to cancel if we don't like the change. I wouldn't panic at this point. I have noticed things like bungalows and cabanas disappear and return all the time. As long as it's still appearing in your calendar I wouldn't worry. If it makes you feel better, you can call shore excursions to make sure it hasn't been cancelled.

WAAAYTOOO....too bad we are already going in March and can't swing February too. We are worried about snow in CT and have a house sitter so don't like to cruise until mid-March. Crazy deal though!!

So, we've decided to change it up. Planning on flying in on Tuesday (late night arrival to ANC). Spend three nights in ANC, staying at Lakefront Anchorage Hotel, first day (Wednesday) open for on our own exploring to get out bearings from the long travel and time change effects, second day (Thursday) Rust's Guided Fly-in Fly-fishing (float plane) from the lake at the hotel, third day (Friday) Goldstar service to Seward and board that beautiful Radiance of the Seas! Woot! So darn excited!

So, are there bars at all these pools? That would be one hell of a bar crawl, sign me up!

Wow! that is some long hair! You are beautiful my friend! Hoping to see you July!! Will send PM later to you.

A full review of Paradise Beach is forthcoming in the next week or so on this site. Just went there on Saturday for review purposes.

Bless you, my son.

It's definitely creative math

Not sure if it helps but the "new" Mariner Izumi menu (after dry dock) has ramen noodles. It also has spring rolls, tempura, and crispy chicken under apps. I suspect Navigator will follow the same trend.

Yikes ! Hoping you did not get sick. Nothing worse. Well, yes, there is something worse - being sick and NOT being on a cruise is worse.

On my last cruise on Harmony, I was at the pool at around 8 am on a sea day and planned on staying at the pool most of the day. I had my laptop to get some work done, my headphones, a book, and my drink package. So I was set for the long haul. I found a decent spot for my wife and I, although there were not many available at 8 am. The two chairs next to us had towels and sandals on them, much like the pictures above. Other than a few trips to the bathroom, I never left my area (I skipped lunch). At around 3 pm two older people finally showed up to those chairs, picked up their towels and shoes, and left. They didn't even sit in the chairs. These were in a shaded area, so pretty prime real estate. I wanted to say something to them, but I was so stunned that by the time I got over my shock they were gone. I do not understand how people can be that rude. I pray that karma comes around on people like that.

Personslly i think you would be disappointed . I dont think it matters what is suggested by others or what ship you eventually sail, im sure it will be a let down in some way

Terrible. Hopefully Royal will cancel this excursion and stop using this tour operator. Even if the husband went without being given the instruction to, that possibility shouldn't be allowed to occur and that is the zip line operator's error.

There is a system. If I see an unattended lounger for 30 minutes while I am waiting for one, the stuff gets moved, by me. They can take it up with me when they return. SImple. ?

One of the best things we ever did on any port was Tru Bohemian. They will take to some amazing food stops as well as Graycliff. After your can walk to Pirate Brewing for some decent craft beer and then to Queen's Staircase.

On our recent Grandeur sailing there was a Top Tier event one evening. To my knowledge that is the only loyalty event that we had. Typically we don’t attend these events but we went to this one. I don’t believe they even have the Welcome Back parties anymore, do they ?

My best advice is transfer your reservation to a travel agent so they can assist with all billing issues. The RC site has its quirks, and I'd hate for you to miss an important payment or something else as a result.