Matt

We've just recently returned from Mariner of the Seas cruise from Singapore to Shanghai and had a great time. The entertainment was fantastic and the food was still the usual RC standards (although had heard some poor reviews before going). So I would love to go back and see more and enjoy a bigger ship! Although there have been some changes to Mariner for the Chinese/ Asian market - lots more shops on the promenade and fewer places to sit and enjoy a drink - they've crammed cafe promenade, Ben & Jerrys and sorrentos all into one location,

So I'm just hoping that they think about these things and not start making changes to quantum 6 months later! Our cruise was predominately UK,

US, Canadians and Australian guests which is apparently not always the case on these cruise route but I did hear a lot of complaints about the ship changes so fingers crossed that Quantum has the perfect balance to suit all cruisers without the need for many changes!

Thanks for the first hand report!

I rather a delay on boarding that getting sick.... Been there and it is a nightmare !! Got a 24 hours lockup in my room, with a bad stomach ache!!

Clean, clean , clean before boarding!!!

Agreed

One of our favorite trips was Bayonne RT 2 days out, 2 return, 3 nights in Bermuda --RCI Celebrity. Very leisurely, kickback trip!

We did an overnight in Bermuda too. Great opportunity!

April 2014

20 - b0rderlinecrzy (Independence of the Seas)

26 - Roebruk (Serenade of the Seas)

29 - bob (Vision of the Seas)

 

May 2014

4 - Auburn14 (Allure of the Seas)

12 - Don (Serenade of the Seas)

 

July 2014

3 - Sandya (Explorer of the Seas)

20 - Islandspud (Freedom of the Seas)

 

August 2014

2 - angel1912 (Oasis of the Seas)

31 - Bryce G. (Allure of the Seas)

 

September 2014

12 - greenline627 (Grandeur of the Seas)

28 - CaribbeanPirate (Brilliance of the Seas)

 

October 2014

2 - Shocked (Independence of the Seas)
5 - Marc (Allure of the Seas)

15 - ChrisTravel2114 (Oasis of the Seas)

15 - ian91 (Oasis of the Seas)

 

November 2014

9 - RCL lover (Navigator of the Seas)

16 - Greg (Allure of the Seas)
23 - Sheltie (Quantum of the Seas)

 

December 2014

6 - Swazoo (Independence of the Seas)

13 - Auburn14 (Explorer of the Seas)

27 - Islandspud (Explorer of the Seas)

27 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas)

 

January 2015

3 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas)

 

March 2015

14 - Marc (Independence of the Seas)

21 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

21 - RCKRZR (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

21 - pnyxprss (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

29 - ian91 (Quantum of the Seas)

 

April 2015

5 - FloatMe (Adventure of the Seas)

10 - CaribbeanPirate (Grandeur of the Seas)

 

May 2015

10 - RCL lover (Independence of the Seas)

 

June 2015

13 - Shocked (Anthem of the Seas)

 

September 2015

26 - RCKRZR (Jewel of the Seas)

 

March 2016

13 - Marc (Freedom of the Seas)

 

From what I've read, it's the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) that restricts passenger vessels like cruises. The Jones Act restricts cargo vessels.

Thanks Marc.  I knew it was some act....that's close, right? :P

Wow, seems New York really made out. 

NY has become a big market.  NCL started it and Carnival answered so RC had to up its game there.  So Anthem coming there makes sense with Quantum leaving.

Hey all! I'm Stacy and love everything Disney but when I'm not doing Disney I'm planning a Royal Caribbean cruise.  I've only sailed once on RCCL - FOS but I have 2 cruises booked right now: Indy in Nov '14 and FOS Mar '15. I've been enjoying the podcasts, gathering the tips/tricks, and getting excited for the cruises!

Welcome Stacy! Glad to meet another Disney/RC fan and hope you'll post here often so we can all get to know you

I may be wrong but I don't think they can do that; that have to have at least one stop in a foreign country, otherwise they have to abide by the American labor and pay laws (which would likely make the cruise unaffordable).  A long time ago I looked at a Norwegian cruise around Hawaii, and they made the trek down to some tiny island that I believe was part of French Polynesia just so that they could have a foreign stop.  I think this is also why RCI's 2 west coast itineraries have a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, just so they have a foreign port.  

You are correct, they must make at least one stop outside of USA per obscure regulation (I forget the name....Jones Act?).  It's dumb but it's been a boon for ports like Nassau and Ensenada.

I'll keep the tip about Indian food in mind for my next cruise - I found that even the buffet style food in the Windjammer is superior to what I can find locally.  I chalk it up to so many of the chefs being from the subcontinent.  

Agreed.  Once when I made Indian request the head waiter said, "Sir, we have hundreds of Indian workers on this ship, you can be assured there will be good Indian food available for us to get you"  :lol:

I was really surprised by the decision but it makes good business sense if that's where RC sees the money being.  If Europe had panned out nearly as well as they had hoped a few years ago, we'd have seen Oasis-class ships there earlier but market never materialized.

 

Anthem coming to NY is fine with me (and even Liberty in the meantime is still an upgrade over Explorer).  

April 2014

20 - b0rderlinecrzy (Independence of the Seas)

26 - Roebruk (Serenade of the Seas)

29 - bob (Vision of the Seas)

 

May 2014

4 - Auburn14 (Allure of the Seas)

12 - Don (Serenade of the Seas)

 

July 2014

3 - Sandya (Explorer of the Seas)

20 - Islandspud (Freedom of the Seas)

 

August 2014

2 - angel1912 (Oasis of the Seas)

31 - Bryce G. (Allure of the Seas)

 

September 2014

12 - greenline627 (Grandeur of the Seas)

28 - CaribbeanPirate (Brilliance of the Seas)

 

October 2014

2 - Shocked (Independence of the Seas)
5 - Marc (Allure of the Seas)

15 - ChrisTravel2114 (Oasis of the Seas)

15 - ian91 (Oasis of the Seas)

 

November 2014

9 - RCL lover (Navigator of the Seas)

16 - Greg (Allure of the Seas)
23 - Sheltie (Quantum of the Seas)

 

December 2014

6 - Swazoo (Independence of the Seas)

13 - Auburn14 (Explorer of the Seas)

27 - Islandspud (Explorer of the Seas)

27 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas)

 

January 2015

3 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas)

 

March 2015

14 - Marc (Independence of the Seas)

21 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

21 - RCKRZR (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

21 - pnyxprss (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

29 - ian91 (Quantum of the Seas)

 

April 2015

5 - FloatMe (Adventure of the Seas)

10 - CaribbeanPirate (Grandeur of the Seas)

 

May 2015

10 - RCL lover (Independence of the Seas)

 

June 2015

13 - Shocked (Anthem of the Seas)

 

September 2015

26 - RCKRZR (Jewel of the Seas)

GREAT report Bill! Thank you for taking the time to post it.

 

Nassau unfortunately is rather lacking and it's one of those "one and done" ports.  I mostly get off the ship, do a little shopping for an hour or so and then come back onboard.  I think it gets so many calls because it's so close to USA and can accommodate any size ship.

 

Have you been on Freedom class prior?  Curious how you'd compare the two given your preference for other classes in general.

 

BTW for Indian food in MDR at dinner, it was removed from menu BUT I always ask for indian food from head waiter for MDR and I get something different each night.  

Michelle, definitely agree that the 3/4 and 4/5 night cruises are great intro cruises, need to keep them in the mix for that reason (taking one this summer to introduce some friends to cruising as a matter of fact).

 

Just seems like the only option after those is 7 nt west / 7 nt east with the same stops everytime, would be nice to have some other alternatives out of florida (Oasis/Allure/Freedom basically do exactly the same thing week after week).

One would think with now 3 Oasis ships, they'd have more flexibility to move an Oasis ship or two around to offer other itineraries.  Plus Quantum class will give more flexibility.

Woo Hoo more money for Mojitos onboard

Glad I'm not the only one that looks at saved money as more money for drinks!

More happy news! The prices dropped for this sailing. I called up Royal Caribbean and got them to adjust the pricing for our booking to the new, lower price!

That's the best kind of news!

April 2014

20 - b0rderlinecrzy (Independence of the Seas)

26 - Roebruk (Serenade of the Seas)

29 - bob (Vision of the Seas)

 

May 2014

4 - Auburn14 (Allure of the Seas)

12 - Don (Serenade of the Seas)

 

July 2014

3 - Sandya (Explorer of the Seas)

20 - Islandspud (Freedom of the Seas)

 

August 2014

2 - angel1912 (Oasis of the Seas)

31 - Bryce G. (Allure of the Seas)

 

September 2014

12 - greenline627 (Grandeur of the Seas)

28 - CaribbeanPirate (Brilliance of the Seas)

 

October 2014

2 - Shocked (Independence of the Seas)
5 - Marc (Allure of the Seas)

15 - ChrisTravel2114 (Oasis of the Seas)

15 - ian91 (Oasis of the Seas)

 

November 2014

9 - RCL lover (Navigator of the Seas)

16 - Greg (Allure of the Seas)
23 - Sheltie (Quantum of the Seas)

 

December 2014

6 - Swazoo (Independence of the Seas)

13 - Auburn14 (Explorer of the Seas)

27 - Islandspud (Explorer of the Seas)

27 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas)

 

January 2015

3 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas)

 

March 2015

14 - Marc (Independence of the Seas)

21 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

21 - RCKRZR (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

21 - pnyxprss (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!)

29 - ian91 (Quantum of the Seas)

 

April 2015

10 - CaribbeanPirate (Grandeur of the Seas)

 

May 2015

10 - RCL lover (Independence of the Seas)

 

June 2015

13 - Shocked (Anthem of the Seas)

 

September 2015

26 - RCKRZR (Jewel of the Seas

I'd love to see them sail to Costa Maya as a regular stop, we loved it when we stopped there several years ago.

Agreed, I stopped in Costa Maya on Oasis of the Seas and loved it.

I want Royal Caribbean to sail from the US to far away destinations, like Fiji or Tahiti. That way I can save on airfare!  :)

:lol: Good point Tylor although I always seem to run out of vacation time before money becomes an issue

Great question Michelle.  I would love to see RC sail more overnights in ports they already go to.  Overnights really make port stops more interesting since you have significantly more time.

Let me dig through my pics but on the Poster (which I'm not sure if they still let people do) we would just say like "Hi - what's Up" or things like that so it would catch people's attention - I've seen birthday decorations etc also

Interesting.  When I was on Navigator I was walking down the Promenade and some girls were waving to everyone from their window.

Hello...

Had to cancel April 10, 2014 cruise. The love of my life has been in the hospital for the last month fighting A.L.L. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia...She is winning the battle, and we planned another cruise on the Quantum of the Seas, March 29, 2015...This cruise will be a celebration of life and survival.

Glad to hear she is doing better! At least you have her back with you and a new cruise to look forward to together.

 

Might I also suggest considering the cruise the week before, which is the Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise? http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/royalcaribbeanblogcom-cruise-aboard-quantum-seas

Thanks for using the photos in your post Marc to illustrate your points

Less than a year! 3 more months and I'll be looking at purchasing my airline tickets. I'm not to sure about a red eye the night before the cruise or fly in a full 48 hours before the Cruise :unsure:  :unsure: ? First round is on me Matt!

If you can swing it, 48 hours sounds great.  It will give you more time to get adjusted to eastern time and you can always sight-see in NYC.

 

Can't wait to take you up on your offer!  ^_^

I read elsewhere that Liberty will be staying on her 4-5-5 night rotation Summer and Fall 2015. 

 

Can anybody confirm this?

Have not confirmed it yet on my end.  Liberty and Navigator are two ships we don't know their plans yet for 2015-2016.

When I went on Navigator of the Seas in February they were televising the winter olympics.  So as others have said, they will try to.