Catopalooza

We had a JS on Wonder this month. It's good to look up the sea class benefits.

From what I recall, we were able to use the suites pre-boarding waiting area and board with suites, pinnacles and The Key.

We had to pay for internet/beverage packages.

There's a ton of storage space including a big walk-in closet, a tub (with a weird shower glass half door setup), and an overall feeling of more space in the room and the balcony.

You can use your cabin's phone to call and request a reservation for Coastal Kitchen, but it depends on availability. The menu is smaller than the MDR but the same setup with the new selections and the classic ones at the bottom. It's much smaller then the MDR, but the service and views are nice.

Our cabin attendant made up the room twice a day, and we were delighted with Ikadek's service and smiles.

1) The smoke smell from the casino wafting into the front of the MDR is unappetizing at best. If Celebrity makes bank in their smoke-free casinos, make all RC casinos smoke free. Make the smoking sections far away from the pools. One section at one of the the top floor's aft section, far away from other venues and ventilated to the outdoors.

2) Make chair hogging financially painful- and make a big example out of some egregious chair hog behavior. $100 per hour of the "reserved" chair being unoccupied- and spell this out everywhere. Pay some crew to be chair "meter maids", and enforce the rules. The cameras/facial recognition can show who the jerks were that set up towels at 6AM and didn't show up until noon.

3) Part of the appeal of Virgin Voyages (who are very likely grabbing RC revenue) is the ability to enjoy a nice dinner without a  screaming child at the next table. Set up the seating arrangements so that families traveling with kids can use the port side or the 3rd floor of every MDR, and people traveling without kids/ couples who are enjoying their honeymoon/1st trip without the kids/anniversary can use the other area.

 Adventure Ocean could be expanded to include a nightly "Chucky Cheese" type (or multiple TV's like sports bars but they would play cartoons, plus McDonalds playground type venue) entertaining dinner for kiddos.

  We had an MDR experience on Wonder where a 3 year old with a very high pitched/shrill "outside voice"  screamed through the entire meal, crawled on the table, banged on the window etc, and his family didn't seem to pay attention to his antics. The next night, a family in Chops looked stressed when Mom & Dad were taking turns walking their toddler son around in Central Park, returning him to the table then repeating the cycle after he's start fussing again for 9 more times.

4) Yes, bring back the old MDR menus. Not everyone is a foodie or wants to have imaginative food.

5) End the hard sell approach to the spa. I adore a good spa experience, but I avoid the spa on ships because I'd rather not feel like I'm in a time share presentation after paying for a relaxing massage.

On 5/21/2023 at 10:56 AM, bobroo said:

There is one thing Royal Caribbean does worse than IT.......M-E-R-C-H-A-N-D-I-S-I-N-G!!!!

 

I can recover the $40B we are in arrears effortlessly over a few short years by implementing a merchandising program. 

 

It's entirely possible to revamp their retail. Take the accessories: They have a vast desert between the $$$$$ handbags and the (grossly marked up prices on faux leather) Nine West bags marked as BOGO on the last night. And offer some middle ground in jewelry between Effy and the questionable quality/taste things hawked on the tables in the promenade. Brighton jewelry, Tommy Bahama clothes, Brahmin bags to name a few middle ground brands.

Also, if Celebrity can carry Lilly Pulitzer clothes and accessories, it would be an easy sale on ships like Wonder.

I didn't understand the appeal/need for them until a recent Youtube video talked about the ability to keep things neat when someone needs to find something. I pack soooo very carefully & inwardly cringe when my sweet husband rummages through the suitcase looking for something when I am otherwise occupied.

I'm less worried about seeing someone in sandals than I am about seeing someone in "Nope, I don't own a mirror" skimpy pajamas. The only cruise that we have been on was another cruise line(Carni---) and there was a verrry large and confident woman rocking her extra small Winnie the pooh shorts and crop top jammies walking through the buffet.

On 10/30/2018 at 6:11 PM, Twangster Fan said:

Again Why I Wont Sail On Carnival 

I won't either, after we took our first cruise & the comedian kept calling it "The Section8 cruise! Now this story adds another "ewwww' element to cement my decision!

On 10/29/2018 at 10:35 PM, SolariumSnoozer said:

On Aruba, go to Palm Beach.  It is just a short cab ride away and is beautiful and tranquil.

On Bonaire take the Sea Cow Snorkeling excursion.   Bonaire has some of the best snorkeling in the world or so I was told by some very experienced snorkelers.  Personally, I am an amateur and had no issues.  They provide life vests if you want which allows you to snorkel with very little exertion, just float and look below the water.  There is something to see everywhere you look.  

After the excursion I agree with @rjac go into town to the ice cream shop, get a cone and explore the town.

Thanks-how deep is the water near the sea cows? I guess the reason I am hesitant to snorkel is that I am not great at swimming (near drowning as a kid). I'd be into floating but not in super deep water, guess I may be out of luck.

Hello and thanks for letting us join! We have a cruise 4/25/20 on Adventure of the Seas to Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.

We are both in our mid 50's and not really into scuba/snorkeling or super athletic type excursions.

Have you had any good (or bad) experiences there? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and happy cruising!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi!! We went in April to Balmoral Beach via Carnival Cruise.

Pros:The beach itself is nice, sugar sand, no real need for water shoes, clear/aqua water, plenty of loungers and a separate pool via some stairs. it is a wide stretch of beach and the tender didn't take very long. You can view Atlantis across the water. There are two small shops for some "meh" souvenirs, and two bathrooms.

Cons: Carnival didn't include any food on this excursion, so 2 hot dogs & 2 Cokes was $41.00. There was a super loud DJ in the main area, so if party music isn't your style, be selective in your seating area. The excursion we chose was simply a trip to the beach, so the workers there wouldn't allow us to even photograph the stingrays or dolphins not walk on the bridge near them. The bathrooms were not well attended.

Your mileage may vary, hope you have a great cruise!!!