Bazza

Hi @ChrisV Looks like you saw my post on Facebook and joined here! It is a great site full of helpful people, tips and reviews. Well worth spending time reading trough many of the threads. I am sure there was a very good one about the All Access Tour ( @twangster was it yours?) that is worth finding. Ovation does not get too many reviews at moment due to fact it is based around Australia and not North America, however, a lot of the people on here know Royal Caribbean really well and most of the tips are universal! Maybe bump into you in March! Happy New Year.

And a Happy New Year

Hi @Sailor_to_Cruiser I am on Ovation from 13th March from Sydney - the 10 day package is shown above, the 3 day 'taster' cruise is about £55 and then the 14 day Sydney to Singapore one is around £255. Apart from the expensive one they seem to be coming in around £18 per person per day. Based on other threads I am hoping they offer package where it may be just 5 or 6 speciality meals for around £100 instead of booking the whole thing. For now we have just booked the 3 day taster one so we can try Chops/Wonderland etc at some point! The one you have at $32 per night equates to about £24 I guess? Maybe that will come down? Enjoy no matter what!

Maybe I want to throw money away for no apparent reason! I may as well back Cleveland to win the Superbowl!

Crazy....unless of course the on board costs have been fluctuating massively and 20% and 30% relates to a moving benchmark!!! How about this for confusion - this is today, same time, same place, same Ultimate Dining Package...so difficult to choose which one!!!

Must be ex- insurance underwriters as they have no idea how to calculate premiums either!

Hi @Matt I would accept that if there were but it is a one off excursion, no AM/PM options or different dates etc!!! I have emailed them to ask!

It also changes it's mind between screens! Rate £161.12 each becomes £179.36 each when select it! Yes it says *from but as only one tour then not really any variables!!

Maybe you are getting an extra 1.5 days cruising for free and just charging for the Voom! They have just forgot to tell you....

Not having been yet I am relying on the Voom to give me Whatsapp/Messenger/email etc but not my phone calls and SMS texts....

Well written @KristenM , and I have learnt a new word "asshat" (I can say that right?!) Is that purely to describe bad cruise staff or can it be used in any walk of life?!!

Thanks again @F1guynz. Can't wait. I have booked the Ultimate Dining Package for the 3 day taster cruise in the middle of the 3 back to backs so will get to try some of the 'better' restaurants. Hopefully they will offer the 5 night package either before we depart or whilst on board - worried if book the UDP for teh 10 or 14 day part will feel obligated to go 'posh' for the duration! Pity our only stops in NZ are Dunedin, Napier, Wellington and Picton - although that is a great excuse to come back some day!!

As you are walking back to your ship expect this...

Hi @murphmatic Went to Barcelona a few years ago and stayed at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187497-d623893-Reviews-Hotel_Villa_Emilia-Barcelona_Catalonia.html Was great little hotel in a good spot - probably about 20 minute walk from top of Las Ramblas one direction and about 15 minutes to Font Magica in the other direction. About 20-30 minutes by taxi to cruise terminal based on Google Maps!

When you have never cruised with anybody and your first cruise is with RCI in a little over 90 days but you feel part of the family already - and you are looking to book a short 3 day one in August just to jump up the C&A ladder to Platinum!

@F1guynz great review. I'm on Ovation March 13 from Sydney so hopefully boarding will be better! Can I ask what they charged for the dining package please as the Ultimate one is probably not justifiable for 27 days!!! Somehow doubt my obstructed view balcony will get a double upgrade!

Will do. Hopefully I will be able to provide some answers and not just ask the questions!

TV screen by the pool - no harm in that!!! :-) Although the time difference for the sports I want to be watching it will be too cold and dark to relax by the pool!!!

Hello all Anybody know if the ship is likely to be screening live sports events? Whilst I am on Ovation in March/April there is the latter part of the English soccer season, The Masters golf as well as the 6 nations rugby union championship - some of them I may be able to stream via Voom but hoping that somewhere on the ship they may actually screen them? Thanks Barrie

Yes but hopefully they offer a gift wrapping service on board!! May struggle getting it on the plane to take home...

Free access to this wonderful blog!!! (Well, I never paid so hopefully Matt not going to backdate any fees!)

Hi Matt What is usual cost - and do they sell a life size model

Hi all Following on from my previous, with the UDP, do you have to pre-book the speciality venues or can you decide on the day to just 'turn up' (assuming space!)? Thanks

Copied from the beverage thread as more relevant here I guess... On the Ovation in March I noticed a few of the shore excursions dropped so re-booked those. Refreshments back to around $21 in conversion rates including gratuity so don't think they will go any lower. Booked one device at around $12.75 as cheapest it has been to date. The Ultimate Dining Package is the one I am unsure about! Read Matt's article and I am very tempted. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/07/11/royal-caribbean-ultimate-dining-package-costs-and-review Costs for UDP are - 10 day cruise = £258.72 (approx $345 or $34 per person per day), 3 day cruise is £55.44 ($74 or $25 pppd) and 14 day cruise is same cost as 10 day one (go figure!) at also around $25pppd. I am in two minds - just do the 3 day one so we get to sample Chops/Wonderland etc in the middle OR say what the heck and go for the 14 day package. Expert opinions welcome!! I am tempted to go for the 14 day option...maybe need somebody to convince me!!

On the Ovation in March I noticed a few of the shore excursions dropped so re-booked those. Refreshments back to around $21 in conversion rates including gratuity so don't think they will go any lower. Booked one device at around $12.75 as cheapest it has been to date. The Ultimate Dining Package is the one I am unsure about! Read Matt's article and I am very tempted. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/07/11/royal-caribbean-ultimate-dining-package-costs-and-review Costs for UDP are - 10 day cruise = £258.72 (approx $345 or $34 per person per day), 3 day cruise is £55.44 ($74 or $25 pppd) and 14 day cruise is same cost as 10 day one (go figure!) at also around $25pppd. I am in two minds - just do the 3 day one so we get to sample Chops/Wonderland etc in the middle OR say what the heck and go for the 14 day package. Expert opinions welcome!! I am tempted to go for the 14 day option...maybe need somebody to convince me!!