SteveinSC

15 minutes ago, coneyraven said:

I am absolutely crushed ......

Enchantment..... not bad for a rebound? 

2 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Also just posted from @Matt:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2019/10/16/grandeur-of-the-seas-leave-royal-caribbean-fleet

The fact that they had cruises scheduled that now have to be considered, and the problems the ship had last month with the propulsion, lead me to wonder if the change is a result of the problems? Perhaps a sign that "its time"? Interesting. 

4 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

From a fellow insider....

This is exactly what I referenced in my post in the general discussion area about smaller ships. Older, smaller ships being sent off to subsidies. Wonder what ship will replace it in Baltimore? 

171 days till Rhapsody of the Seas - April 04, 2020

Looking to book one in Hurricane season of 2021. Bring it, Mother Nature! 

Have a couple great cruises! The STEEL of booking not one, but two cruises in hurricane season is ADMIRABLE.

Loving all the feedback here. Thanks everyone! @twangster you knocked it out of the park with your feedback. Exactly the deep dog answers I was hoping for. 

I have always selected cruises based on date availability and itinerary....and I don't see that changing. If I'm destined to always be on a smaller ship....no complaints. 

2 minutes ago, StayFrosty said:

The most significant renovation to a smaller ship was when they cut Enchantment in half and lengthened her.  

Thank you for sending me to Google on that adventure! Thats cool as (choose your own emphasis).  I was unaware they did that. Too cool to look at the photos and videos. 

As for the changes on the smaller ships.  They just seem minimal, at best. COMPLETELY agree with the "paid for" comment.  Its not like the lack of attractions is keeping people away. 

4 minutes ago, WannaCruise said:

I think it's a good thing how they have variety in the fleet so there is something for everyone.  

Which I get, and agree with, really. I just wonder what the reason is.....if I were to wager, my money would be on the economic aspect of it.  If they can invest in something that will get a nice return on investment, they will do it. For WHATEVER reason, be it drawing people with a different preference, or not investing money in an older ship thats going to be put out to pasture sooner than later.....theyve determined that NOT adding things to the smaller ships returns more money. Perhaps the people that want those things are then forced to the bigger ships, where they are able to put in multiple attractions and get into peoples pockets more?  Because im surely going to spend more money with my kids in tow, than if it were just me and my wife. So, draw the families to the ships with the family items, and watch the money pile up. Let the people cruising without kids, and dont care about slides and stuff, go on the smaller ships? Im probably giving this way too much thought, but its what I do...... 

I see a LOT of posts about updates to ships. I see things are being added to Quantum class, Oasis class, Freedom class.....but never the little guys (Vision class, Empress, etc...).  Things like slides and water play areas, interior things like escape room, family friendly fun in general). I just wonder if its only due to the size of the boat, or if its an economics issue?  Something to do with the smaller boats being older, and probably sooner to be pushed out to the other subsidies (example: Sovereign of the Seas) so you dont want to invest too much into them?  I ask because it seems like they are really good at figuring out how to get specialty restaurants into the smaller ships......but not other attractions? 

On 10/13/2019 at 12:25 PM, KathyC said:

LOL Nothing wrong with it at all!  We had ours split one cruise too.  We were in an interior with our two boys.  

We asked for our beds to be split, and boy was life easier!  The kids could use the ladder down to the gap inbetween and off they went.  No more plopping on our beds.  

We sleep together every night - a week apart never kills anyone!  LOL 

We are booked in a room with our two boys, and are looking at this very scenario......good to hear an experienced person give some input!!!! And I couldnt agree more with the last remark. Its a week....itll be fine. 

On 10/8/2019 at 8:56 AM, Fuzzywuzzy said:

Don't blame Norweigan, blame the Chinese. Ruining cruises is just the beginning of this new sinister Communist plot. What's next? Raining on parades? They must be stopped.

Today's weather in South Carolina was great. How do you say "thank you" in Mandarin? 

On 9/18/2019 at 8:19 AM, Kerry said:

Can you crash a Royal Wedding and reception on board?  I swear there's a wedding on every single embarkation day at least, and there is just about zero resources for what it's like. "The first rule of Cruise Weddings is we don't talk about Cruise Weddings."

1 hour ago, Fuzzywuzzy said:

OK. How is this profitable??

It's getting the foot in the door to sell you other, higher profit percentage items. Lots of industries do it. Think rental cars. You can find a car online for 10 bucks a day. Not profitable....but gets them in the door to sell them insurance, satellite radio, etc....I'd be surprised if cruise companies rely on bookings to be profitable. I suspect they make their money on the "extras". 

What could go wrong? 

Ive been looking at all of the things to do in Belize.  Ive been there before, and did Altun Ha ruins.  Enjoyed that, but dont believe my 8 and 4 year old would, and people im traveling with have done mayan ruins before and arent interested in that, either. Ive looked at the Zoo tour, and Kukumba Beach day. That looks promising, but I can go to a zoo here, and have two other all inclusive beach resort days booked.....so afraid it might be overkill.  HEEEEEELP. Has anyone done anything in Belize that was of note, that can be done with my parents and my 4 year old son? 

These are awesome. Thanks for posting and sharing your, undoubtedly, long hours of work! 

have a blast....

16 minutes ago, Matt said:

Just to be clear, I think you will be okay in that room.  It's just that ideally, many of us prefer to split up to get 2 rooms instead. 

I think we will be.....fine. We are cruising with my parents, in a Grand Suite, and my brother and his wife, in a junior suite.  In other words, weve got options if its entirely too cramped. I just dont want to rely on anyone and was curious how they will lay out the room. @Matt are you aware of the previously mentioned rule about no children under 5 in the pullman beds? My 3 year old (will be 4 at time of sailing) sleeps on an elevated bed (one of those with open play area underneath) with a rail right now with zero issues. I get from a liability standpoint why they would be concerned....but....meh. 

Just now, Momof4crazytocruise said:

oh no! Kids under 5 are not allowed in the bunks as a general rule. Up to you if you want bypass that, but our room steward was adamant that my 3 year-old son not sleep in the top bunk. Hopefully it's a pull out bed!

interesting. I havent seen this anywhere. I might need to give them a call. 

6 minutes ago, Momof4crazytocruise said:

If you're doing cruising right, you're only in there to sleep and change.

EXACTLY! Just a place to crash and clean after a day of fun. 

1 minute ago, ChessE4 said:

Normally, you should have the choice of using the separate beds or having them pushed together.  

Thank you! This is exactly what I was curious about.  Dont necessarily want my wife and I's bed seperate, but understand if it must be due to space and what not. Im even fine with having to leave a ladder off of one of them, as Im fine lifting my toddler up there anyway. Will they allow that? 

I looked at getting larger rooms, balconys and such, but it was nearly double the price.  No thanks! Wed rather spend freely on excursions and what not, than spend our budget on the room. 

Before I see the remarks....yes, were doing exactly what everyone says NOT to do, and we booked one interior room for my family of 4. Im curious what the room configuration will be? Im guessing my wife and I will be separated under each "bunk" bed for our boys? Anyone have experience with this?  

4 minutes ago, mworkman said:

I must be the odd one here, prefer Blanton's on the rocks

Nothing odd about that at all.....Blanton's is amazing and should never be mixed.  Bravo. Im a bourbon guy, also....but in the tropical spirit of vacations....I like to venture into the tropical flavors. I cant drink a lot of the thick, sugar drinks.....which is why I stick to Cocunut rum and sprite zero. Here lately ive discovered mixing coconut rum and those La Croix flavored seltzers is GREAT, and NO HANGOVER....yet. lol  

Coconut rum and sprite....simple, tropical, and keep them coming. 

Step outside your comfort zone. Grab the ol Cruise Compass, circle some things you think you wouldnt normally do, stop by a bar on the way to order a few shots of liquid courage, and create fuzzy, hilarious memories.