twangster

Celebrity ship are smaller than Royal's newest ships, smaller than Voyager class ships by the numbers of pax.  They are closer to Radiance class in terms of passenger count compared to something like Mariner.
At CocoCay if I had to be across the pier from another ship, which is likely, I'd much rather it be a Celebrity ship.  

I did the rental car thing which allowed me to stop at a Target and replenish sunscreen and other things.  
Plenty of time.  No need to rush.

I seem to recall a limit on the use of outdoor PA announcements in Alaska but I can't find a regulation that imposes this restriction.  I think it was on a more recent Alaska cruise in 2022 when it was stated there would be minimal outdoor announcements while in Alaska so as not to impact wildlife.
I do recall in 2018 on Radiance the captain making some PA announcements while at Hubbard but it wasn't a narration of the visit.   
Here is some video from that visit:
Honestly I prefer not to have outdoor PA announcements so you can hear the glacier moan, crack and make other noises. 
It's bad enough that other guests can't seem to avoid talking nearly non-stop, often making obvious statements that amount to useless drivel.  "I hear it cracking" (duh!) or "I think its going to start, there it is, look, it's calving now, it's definitely calving, oh my god its calving, wow look at it calving I've never seen it calve like that and it's still going, OMG its still calving and blah, blah, blah".  Some guests, especially their spouses when talking to each other just feel the need to talk and talk and talk.  
In making the video above the hardest part was finding bits where there wasn't useless endless talking.
I guess many spouses in long term relationships learn to tune out their spouse's endless drivel but it can sure be annoying for the rest of us at moments like this. 🤣😇

I can't remember the last time I was on the only ship at PDCC.
White ship, blue ship, baby blue hull ship, whatever.  It's their island, of course they are going  to use it. 
Maybe one day there will only be a Celebrity ship at PDCC.  Oh the humanity!   😱🤣

I did the rental car thing which allowed me to stop at a Target and replenish sunscreen and other things.  
Plenty of time.  No need to rush.

This little corner of Haiti has prospered from the presence of Royal and the Labadee private destination.  Somewhere around 400 locals are employed.  Royal built a school in the local village.  Housing tends to be better built with real construction material.   This community is not your typical Haiti village and they know that.
Like any small town with a large employer the community tends to be very pro-company.  
I can see why Royal would want to maintain that sentiment.  It's in their long term interest to see the local community gets some relief and their standing maintained.
The local community must be really feeling the lack of ship visits.  Their livelihoods once snatched away from them just like it was during the pandemic.  Innocent victims out of work facing incredible hardship supporting families.  All thanks to distant gang violence.

I did the rental car thing which allowed me to stop at a Target and replenish sunscreen and other things.  
Plenty of time.  No need to rush.

I did the rental car thing which allowed me to stop at a Target and replenish sunscreen and other things.  
Plenty of time.  No need to rush.

I did the rental car thing which allowed me to stop at a Target and replenish sunscreen and other things.  
Plenty of time.  No need to rush.

I did the rental car thing which allowed me to stop at a Target and replenish sunscreen and other things.  
Plenty of time.  No need to rush.

I seem to recall a limit on the use of outdoor PA announcements in Alaska but I can't find a regulation that imposes this restriction.  I think it was on a more recent Alaska cruise in 2022 when it was stated there would be minimal outdoor announcements while in Alaska so as not to impact wildlife.
I do recall in 2018 on Radiance the captain making some PA announcements while at Hubbard but it wasn't a narration of the visit.   
Here is some video from that visit:
Honestly I prefer not to have outdoor PA announcements so you can hear the glacier moan, crack and make other noises. 
It's bad enough that other guests can't seem to avoid talking nearly non-stop, often making obvious statements that amount to useless drivel.  "I hear it cracking" (duh!) or "I think its going to start, there it is, look, it's calving now, it's definitely calving, oh my god its calving, wow look at it calving I've never seen it calve like that and it's still going, OMG its still calving and blah, blah, blah".  Some guests, especially their spouses when talking to each other just feel the need to talk and talk and talk.  
In making the video above the hardest part was finding bits where there wasn't useless endless talking.
I guess many spouses in long term relationships learn to tune out their spouse's endless drivel but it can sure be annoying for the rest of us at moments like this. 🤣😇

I seem to recall a limit on the use of outdoor PA announcements in Alaska but I can't find a regulation that imposes this restriction.  I think it was on a more recent Alaska cruise in 2022 when it was stated there would be minimal outdoor announcements while in Alaska so as not to impact wildlife.
I do recall in 2018 on Radiance the captain making some PA announcements while at Hubbard but it wasn't a narration of the visit.   
Here is some video from that visit:
Honestly I prefer not to have outdoor PA announcements so you can hear the glacier moan, crack and make other noises. 
It's bad enough that other guests can't seem to avoid talking nearly non-stop, often making obvious statements that amount to useless drivel.  "I hear it cracking" (duh!) or "I think its going to start, there it is, look, it's calving now, it's definitely calving, oh my god its calving, wow look at it calving I've never seen it calve like that and it's still going, OMG its still calving and blah, blah, blah".  Some guests, especially their spouses when talking to each other just feel the need to talk and talk and talk.  
In making the video above the hardest part was finding bits where there wasn't useless endless talking.
I guess many spouses in long term relationships learn to tune out their spouse's endless drivel but it can sure be annoying for the rest of us at moments like this. 🤣😇

The shuttle bus is a ~10 minute ride.  I suppose you could walk it but there isn't a lot to see on the road.  It's 5.5 miles.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&mid=14wMpL7D-1JbSoYZt6jr5FfOwpuE&ll=57.091431313510576%2C-135.36448000000001&z=13
The trails around the National Historical Park are easy with minor elevation changes.  I just did them a few weeks ago.  I took the free shuttle and walked the 10 minutes from the shuttle bus stop to the Park.
If you are going to look for more hiking in the area outside of downtown come prepared with bear spray and a cowbell or something that makes noise.  Definite bear country.  

I seem to recall a limit on the use of outdoor PA announcements in Alaska but I can't find a regulation that imposes this restriction.  I think it was on a more recent Alaska cruise in 2022 when it was stated there would be minimal outdoor announcements while in Alaska so as not to impact wildlife.
I do recall in 2018 on Radiance the captain making some PA announcements while at Hubbard but it wasn't a narration of the visit.   
Here is some video from that visit:
Honestly I prefer not to have outdoor PA announcements so you can hear the glacier moan, crack and make other noises. 
It's bad enough that other guests can't seem to avoid talking nearly non-stop, often making obvious statements that amount to useless drivel.  "I hear it cracking" (duh!) or "I think its going to start, there it is, look, it's calving now, it's definitely calving, oh my god its calving, wow look at it calving I've never seen it calve like that and it's still going, OMG its still calving and blah, blah, blah".  Some guests, especially their spouses when talking to each other just feel the need to talk and talk and talk.  
In making the video above the hardest part was finding bits where there wasn't useless endless talking.
I guess many spouses in long term relationships learn to tune out their spouse's endless drivel but it can sure be annoying for the rest of us at moments like this. 🤣😇

I seem to recall a limit on the use of outdoor PA announcements in Alaska but I can't find a regulation that imposes this restriction.  I think it was on a more recent Alaska cruise in 2022 when it was stated there would be minimal outdoor announcements while in Alaska so as not to impact wildlife.
I do recall in 2018 on Radiance the captain making some PA announcements while at Hubbard but it wasn't a narration of the visit.   
Here is some video from that visit:
Honestly I prefer not to have outdoor PA announcements so you can hear the glacier moan, crack and make other noises. 
It's bad enough that other guests can't seem to avoid talking nearly non-stop, often making obvious statements that amount to useless drivel.  "I hear it cracking" (duh!) or "I think its going to start, there it is, look, it's calving now, it's definitely calving, oh my god its calving, wow look at it calving I've never seen it calve like that and it's still going, OMG its still calving and blah, blah, blah".  Some guests, especially their spouses when talking to each other just feel the need to talk and talk and talk.  
In making the video above the hardest part was finding bits where there wasn't useless endless talking.
I guess many spouses in long term relationships learn to tune out their spouse's endless drivel but it can sure be annoying for the rest of us at moments like this. 🤣😇

I seem to recall a limit on the use of outdoor PA announcements in Alaska but I can't find a regulation that imposes this restriction.  I think it was on a more recent Alaska cruise in 2022 when it was stated there would be minimal outdoor announcements while in Alaska so as not to impact wildlife.
I do recall in 2018 on Radiance the captain making some PA announcements while at Hubbard but it wasn't a narration of the visit.   
Here is some video from that visit:
Honestly I prefer not to have outdoor PA announcements so you can hear the glacier moan, crack and make other noises. 
It's bad enough that other guests can't seem to avoid talking nearly non-stop, often making obvious statements that amount to useless drivel.  "I hear it cracking" (duh!) or "I think its going to start, there it is, look, it's calving now, it's definitely calving, oh my god its calving, wow look at it calving I've never seen it calve like that and it's still going, OMG its still calving and blah, blah, blah".  Some guests, especially their spouses when talking to each other just feel the need to talk and talk and talk.  
In making the video above the hardest part was finding bits where there wasn't useless endless talking.
I guess many spouses in long term relationships learn to tune out their spouse's endless drivel but it can sure be annoying for the rest of us at moments like this. 🤣😇

I seem to recall a limit on the use of outdoor PA announcements in Alaska but I can't find a regulation that imposes this restriction.  I think it was on a more recent Alaska cruise in 2022 when it was stated there would be minimal outdoor announcements while in Alaska so as not to impact wildlife.
I do recall in 2018 on Radiance the captain making some PA announcements while at Hubbard but it wasn't a narration of the visit.   
Here is some video from that visit:
Honestly I prefer not to have outdoor PA announcements so you can hear the glacier moan, crack and make other noises. 
It's bad enough that other guests can't seem to avoid talking nearly non-stop, often making obvious statements that amount to useless drivel.  "I hear it cracking" (duh!) or "I think its going to start, there it is, look, it's calving now, it's definitely calving, oh my god its calving, wow look at it calving I've never seen it calve like that and it's still going, OMG its still calving and blah, blah, blah".  Some guests, especially their spouses when talking to each other just feel the need to talk and talk and talk.  
In making the video above the hardest part was finding bits where there wasn't useless endless talking.
I guess many spouses in long term relationships learn to tune out their spouse's endless drivel but it can sure be annoying for the rest of us at moments like this. 🤣😇

I hear those noises every morning when I first step out of bed.

Gotcha! Well I can definitely say that it is the style of vacation I seek, but my pocketbook says otherwise!!!

Twice.  Remember it includes drinks, wifi, gratuity and shore excursions.  It's also a small ship experience so often that means ports of call or itineraries you won't find elsewhere.  With a guest to crew ratio of around  2:1 service tends to be very good.
It's the luxury brand in the family.  Just like luxury car cost more than regular cars, luxury cruising costs more.  However if that is the style of vacation you seek, SilverSea is a luxury experience.  

Twice.  Remember it includes drinks, wifi, gratuity and shore excursions.  It's also a small ship experience so often that means ports of call or itineraries you won't find elsewhere.  With a guest to crew ratio of around  2:1 service tends to be very good.
It's the luxury brand in the family.  Just like luxury car cost more than regular cars, luxury cruising costs more.  However if that is the style of vacation you seek, SilverSea is a luxury experience.  

This little corner of Haiti has prospered from the presence of Royal and the Labadee private destination.  Somewhere around 400 locals are employed.  Royal built a school in the local village.  Housing tends to be better built with real construction material.   This community is not your typical Haiti village and they know that.
Like any small town with a large employer the community tends to be very pro-company.  
I can see why Royal would want to maintain that sentiment.  It's in their long term interest to see the local community gets some relief and their standing maintained.
The local community must be really feeling the lack of ship visits.  Their livelihoods once snatched away from them just like it was during the pandemic.  Innocent victims out of work facing incredible hardship supporting families.  All thanks to distant gang violence.

If I'm not mistaken CBP facial recognition limited to US and Canadian citizens.  Some signage still reads US passport holders only.  

If I'm not mistaken CBP facial recognition limited to US and Canadian citizens.  Some signage still reads US passport holders only.  

I enjoy Quantum class because they are different.  I've sailed four of them and mostly to bucket list destinations like Alaska, Hawaii and New Zealand.  
Oasis class, until Icon came about, have always been in a league of their own and can't be compared to any other ship class.  Oasis and now Icon are very wide ships, much wider than all other classes of ship.  It's the extra width that allows things like Central Park and Boardwalk.  On any other platform without the extra width it's not practical to install these areas without removing all guest cabins in those areas.  Removing guest cabins to add more venues and features isn't practical for any cruise line.
Oasis class are much larger ships at 225,000+ GT while Quantum class are around 168,000 GT.  That extra 30% of space allows them to put more venues and areas on Oasis class.  
Why doesn't Radiance class have ice skating rinks and zip lines and central park and boardwalk and aqua theaters and so on?  Because Radiance class is one third the size of Oasis class and obviously you can't put the same features and venues on a ship that doesn't have the space for them.   
The Windjammer on Quantum class is my favorite across the fleet.  I really dislike the Windjammer on Oasis class.  The food stations are all over the place with some on the side and some around the corner on the back.  It's really hard to find seating on Oasis class Windjammers at peak times.  Oasis class Windjammers are truly jammers slammed with people.  Some Quantum class Windjammers have outdoor seating which I love.
The lack of waterslides is known before booking.  It appears odd to me to complain they are missing.  That's like buying a sedan then complaining it's not a 4x4 pick up truck.  Given where most Quantum class are deployed waterslides are impractical.  
It's okay not to like something but that doesn't justify calling it a dud.  
Royal's next class of ship, Discovery class, is not going to be a mini Oasis class ship.  They too will be much smaller ships that won't have the space for all Oasis class features.  Like Quantum class the smaller footprint will allow them to sail into ports that Oasis class can't fit into.  That's kind of the point.  They will be different too.  Different doesn't make them duds.  
Oasis and Icon class ships are the destination and the ports you visit are less important.  If the itinerary is boring it doesn't matter because the ship is as much the destination as the itinerary may be.
Other classes of ships can visit more unique ports of call where mega ships can't sail.  When visiting these areas the ship isn't the destination as much as the ports of call are the destination.  
Anthem out of Bayonne was a perfect pairing with two sea days down the coast and two sea days on the way back home in the cold Atlantic ocean where few would be using waterslides most of the time.  The indoor family pool means kids are not trying to sneak into the adult only solarium pools on those colder sea days in winter months.
What I love best of all my 14 Quantum class cruises are the memories of the destinations.  Alaska, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand for example.  Greek islands and Europe for Odyssey is a great summer pairing.  
I like that Royal's fleet is diverse and not just ships that are variations of the same thing.  With research I can choose a ship that fits my needs based on the region I'll be sailing.  I suggest doing more research next time and avoid booking a ship that doesn't have features that are important to you.