Mike.s

I just left the Captain's Corner and asked about Project Discovery. 
I was surprised when the Captain deferred to the hotel director for an answer, but the answer was interesting. 
1. There was a large brainstorming meeting held in January.  It included hotel directors, Captains and cruise directors. He stopped short of saying he attended, but it is my impression that he did.
2. The ship being discussed would be a little smaller than Voyager class. "About 120 to 130 thousand tons"
3. We should expect to be sailing on this class in 2029.
Based on this, I am even more convinced there will be some kind of announcement before the end of 2024.

I've been thinking about this for several months.  I don't want to sound like a grumpy or winey old man. I think, in the end, my wife and I are done with the big ships.  I know many here love them, and I've been trying to put my finger on why we didn't like our cruise last October on the Mardi Gras... yes, I know this is a Royal fan site, but Royal even more than Carnival is in the big ship game.  If this post offends you, please back out of it while I try to make a short, but I think relevant point that I think some here will agree with.
For my wife, it was simply the number of people jammed onto the ship, the poor service associated with managing 6500 people in such a small space, ect.  She probably wouldn't go back for free if offered.
For me, it was something different.  I didn't like the crowds that were everywhere all the time.  I didn't like having to use my phone on the ship to make reservations, but that really wasn't it.  I think it was the loss of connection with the sea.  It used to be when on a cruise, you were one with the sea.  There were great vantage points everywhere, and people would stand at the rail staring at it, being part of it, looking a the horizon, perhaps daydreaming of what could be or what could have been.
Now with all the activities and people, the ships are more like an amusement part, and the people are everywhere.  On the Mardi Gras, in the public areas, the rails are higher and set back from the side by an extra foot... the panoramic view is substantially cut for people of average height.  On these ships, the sea has become just another interstate.  It's nothing more than a way for the cruise line to kill time while they fill you with food, drink, and activities that drive revenue.
I haven't been to this site or posted as much in the last six months, and I think, sadly, it's because I've lost a lot of interest in cruising.  Again, not wanting to be a winey child, I've really tried to figure out why I didn't enjoy that trip at all, and wondered if any of the long time posters here have any of the same thoughts.

"Collection" = "Circular file" 😁

Having the same issue on both Royal and Celebrity apps, changed the password on Royal, for the same one I had previously, on Celebrity I get a HicUp message saying we can't change your password right now. How can a company this big be this bad when it comes to IT.
They should be ashamed and embarrassed.

We just completed an 8-day cruise on the Odyssey and we had 4 sea days.  As you can imagine, the chair hogs were out in full force but Odyssey’s staff were ready.  Each pool area had at least two attendants that worked all day long…They were tagging all unoccupied chairs and removing the items if the person didn’t return in time.  They were using little yellow stickies to mark the time they placed the tag, the number of chairs and they placed the tag on the chair in a location the person would not notice.  The staff got lots of thanks and I only witness one upset lady…She came back three hours later and was upset her stuff was removed.  Way to go Royal!!!

Other cruise lines go to Tonga and Fiji including Celebrity.
Royal tends to stick to Mystery Island, Noumea and sometimes Vila. The itineraries are less diverse than they used to be because some islands never reopened for cruising after Covid, and also some places limit the ship size. Maybe having Voyager/Adventure will provide opportunities for new ports.
Cruises also tend to be shorter now than they used to be with less opportunity to travel further afield. I think it is the cruise ship equivalent to chocolate bar manufacturers who make the chocolate bar slightly smaller each year but still charge the same price.
Also the ships are travelling slower so a port stop that used to take 2 days now takes 3 so the total number of port stops is less.
 

I believe that is the plan.

We just got off Odyssey and men were almost anything.  Even on formal night, I saw one dude with t-shirt, gym shorts and flip flops.  However, most guys wore polo shirts or dress shirts.
I sort of wish they enforced long pants on guys on formal/dress-to-impress nights.

Yes, definitely pickleball. Too much pickleball IMO

Just listened to the latest webcast from Celebrity, in the Q&A session Laura Hodges Bethge was asked about updating the ships that missed their upgrades due to the pandemic. She confirmed they are looking at updating the Solstice class ships but was non committal re the Millennium class ships, stating they were nearer the end of their life. Sad as we love the smaller ships, we're hoping they don't follow Royal by building ever larger ships.

Sadly the whole 2025 Europe deployment is very disappointing, feels like Royal is only interested in short sailings to CocoCay

Sadly the whole 2025 Europe deployment is very disappointing, feels like Royal is only interested in short sailings to CocoCay

Frankly, Royal is getting exhausting.  There should be no debate that the fine service people deserve great compensation.  But gees, every time I turn around Royal is holding a masterclass in separating me from my money.  Firstly, the Royal beverage packages are the most expensive at sea - so your 18% is higher dollar amount.
Second, in one year Royal changed cabin service from twice a day to once a day, I did not mind but RCL and / or cabin attendants benefitted.  Right on the heels of that gratuities go from $14.50 to to $16.00 and we all scramble to pre-pay our existing bookings quickly.  Now one year later the $16.00 to $18.00 and I need to start looking at my cruise receipts and call my TA again.  Then at the end comes the “Tip Tip Hooray” envelope suggesting you should do your share.  We always throw extra cash along the way but if you want to feel nickel and dimed this is the place.  Oh and if you want one of the new ships, well you know that pricing.
i’ve never been on Virgin Voyages but on their web you see one price (that is reasonable) that includes gratuities, WiFi, and sodas, juices, and water it is obvious they are stepping into a marketing hole Royal and others created. 

Might be worth getting the earliest boarding time, completing your muster drill and then getting off the ship to see the city. That way you get rid of your bags and have the day to explore.

We used Celebrity's recently in Tampa, it was a large old bus but it did the job. When we booked it they stated it wasn't for flights before a certain time. It was reasonably priced and got us there in plenty of time.

Might be worth getting the earliest boarding time, completing your muster drill and then getting off the ship to see the city. That way you get rid of your bags and have the day to explore.

Just had 9 days on Constellation, have to say the service was excellent. First night MTD was a mess but other than that all was good. Lots of waiters around serving drinks, didn't wait too long when at a bar. We loved it and have to say with Royal's move to shorter sailings on larger ships we'll be spending more time on Celebrity ships.

Just had 9 days on Constellation, have to say the service was excellent. First night MTD was a mess but other than that all was good. Lots of waiters around serving drinks, didn't wait too long when at a bar. We loved it and have to say with Royal's move to shorter sailings on larger ships we'll be spending more time on Celebrity ships.

Just had 9 days on Constellation, have to say the service was excellent. First night MTD was a mess but other than that all was good. Lots of waiters around serving drinks, didn't wait too long when at a bar. We loved it and have to say with Royal's move to shorter sailings on larger ships we'll be spending more time on Celebrity ships.

Just had 9 days on Constellation, have to say the service was excellent. First night MTD was a mess but other than that all was good. Lots of waiters around serving drinks, didn't wait too long when at a bar. We loved it and have to say with Royal's move to shorter sailings on larger ships we'll be spending more time on Celebrity ships.

Just had 9 days on Constellation, have to say the service was excellent. First night MTD was a mess but other than that all was good. Lots of waiters around serving drinks, didn't wait too long when at a bar. We loved it and have to say with Royal's move to shorter sailings on larger ships we'll be spending more time on Celebrity ships.

I definitely have a trend.  I do bad at the beginning of the cruise and even worse towards the end !  😔

I think you mentioned you're from the UK, sadly we can't reprice our cruises, unless we book them through a US travel agent 😞
 

https://www.crew-center.com/royal-caribbean-build-new-cruise-terminal-barcelona
Coincidence??? I think not

An email from C&A, that would be a first for many of us 😉