Ampurp85

I have been on Mariner twice, once before the restart and once after. The first time I went she had just been amped and it was amazing, I enjoyed all the productions and had an amazing time. Then I went in Jan 2022 and was so disappointed. The talent was C/D as I left in the beginning or middle of every performance and don't get me started on the food. Mariner is okay in that it ranks higher than Grandeur but not on my list as a top anything. It was the ship I was served raw chicken twice on, which are the only times I was served raw chicken. Once at brunch with the waffles and then during the first night of the old menus. I am giving the ole gal another shot in Jan, as I have to take my experiences in 2022 with different lenses. I hope I love her the same as I did in 2019.

Once you reach pinnacle, you are getting 6 drinks a day, internet on one device, laundry, etc. If you are pinnacle and prime or higher in the casino, you get even more. So "Sharon" is probably only paying taxes on her cruise in a lot of cases.

I agree with @Matt But I have done both, I think both are equal even though I do S2S a lot more than B2B. But I am all about maximizing the length of a cruise. I mean 7 nights total versus 9 nights for an extra $100, I would do the 9. There will be pros and cons. Possibly being able to stay in the same room and getting to book specialty dinning and shows before the masses is a pro. But it is the same itinerary could be a con. On a different ship you can explore more and compare experiences.

@WAAAYTOOO It is in a sense . The scooters seem to bring out the worst in folks . The blind gent doesn't like to ASK for help. So, I get the sense that if I book him help, he will partake but if it makes him seem like a burden or uncapable, he won't.

I personally feel like quantum class is more susceptible to swells and waves.

@Neesa No it helps. The one vintage went on a cruise in April, on CCL, and this happened to her. So, she asked if I could request the wheelchair beforehand to save the embarrassment and energy. She said she was fine all throughout the cruise but something about that ramp was rough. She said her hip locked halfway up and she spent the first day in a jet pool trying to loosen it. She would prefer to have her energy the first day.

@Xaa Thanks for the link, I will fill it out.

Hello all, I am traveling soon with a couple of new "vintages" who require assistance at the port. One has had hip surgery and needs a wheelchair to get on and off the ship for embarkation/disembarkation. How do I arrange that? Do I just tell a crew member when we arrive? Second, I have a blind "vintage" and he needs help but doesn't like to ask for it. I would like a crew member to help him on the ship. Mainly because I will have my hands full with other wondering vintages and such. Thanks.

I was on Oasis in Jan and there were so many people vaping, like walking the promenade and vaping. This cruise was full of actual children. So, it is not just the shorter cruises on small/mid-level ships. It is people in general who lack couth. I have a 5N on mariner in Jan, with my mother and brother who have never been on the smaller class ships. I told them to temper the expectations when it comes to shows, activities, food, and general people.

Omg I love all the birds and the pictures are amazing. That Lava Cactus reminds me of corral from the sea for some reason.

I did laser tag on Freedom; it was really fun, but I did horribly. Love the blanket as a full robe look.

That room is beautiful and thanks for the photos, you always deliver.

You should be able to change/modify your payment.

I recall reading that the escape room is down, as in not operating at the moment. The adult comedy show is the only one with required reservations and the room is small, so it fills up fast. If the shows became available at day 42, like Allure, it is possible that the spots were all taken within days.

I get what @asquared17 is saying. I feel like as a loyal member, I am being both priced and sort of phased out. Most of the things I read prior had me believing it would be quiet and relaxing. However, if you are charging just to have a DJ and access to pizza it sounds more like an experience. It sounds like a club at PDCC. I like to people watch and chill, I don't need the beach to do that, but I was excited for Hideaway Beach because I thought it would be some bars, hammocks, shaded chairs etc. Meaning I could read without some child being extra and screaming about an itchy butt(sand) . Now I feel like it is literally a Vegas pool knockoff, which is imho the worst thing about Vegas.

I don't think this new place will change anything at PDCC. In fact, I think they will start to see what they can monetize that already isn't. I avoid Oasis Lagoon other than a smidge of people watching. The pool is always a bit too crowded; I like South Beach because I can usually find shade and read. But I cannot imagine paying anything to do the same thing I can do for free, so Hideaway beach wouldn't be for me and that is fine. Was there anything about how they expect people to get there? Is the transportation separate and included in that cost?

The staff for the specialty restaurants were going around asking people to book. I was in the DL and they said as long as you were D, they would give you the BOGO. Nobody asked, the staff offered to get covers. I saw a couple of people take advantage, but Grandeur has Giovanni's table, Chops and Izumi only. I didn't partake because I had already eaten at Chops and I loathe Giovanni's table. I recall making a post because the staff tried to convince me this was a perk for D members.

You need to put in request around 30 days before by emailing. If you have MTD, then you will get a private table. No reservations are required for breakfast and lunch. Also note that lunch is not always served. It may just be brunch on sea days.

@WAAAYTOOO Coincidentally enough I was on Grandeur when they were allowing D to do the BOGO. Thats why I said YMMV. I asked about it and several people said they were able to partake on Radiance and Vision class. But we both know that Royal is really inconsistent .

@Jolly OgreI laughed so had about the DJ thing. Lots of people just play music from their phone and think themselves a DJ. I nearly died of laughter when one of the youths explained silent walking to me. Which is walking without some sort of device playing, at 38 I consider this just walking. I have been to PDCC enough that I mostly stay on the ship, the casino is open and I have the ship at my disposal.

I am told on small ships they will allow D members to partake of the BOGO offer. YMMV on all ships as some will require you to book and dine on night 1 and/or 2. While other only care that you book then and can dine any night. But it is based on onboard prices which according to CP list Chops at $65+ grats. If you only want to do two nights of specialty dining, then it is a good deal as you pay for one night and get one night free. Hooked and Hibachi along with Chefs table aren't included in the offer.

I would agree with you. I guess my point didn't come across as I thought it would be a quiet, relaxing place.

I average between 5-8 cruises a year. Which would make me a frequent cruiser and I don't live near a port. It is a combination of the casino, being remote for over 75% of schedule and when I can take vacation. I get three weeks in Jan and two in October. So I usually do between 4-6 cruises during that time. I am big on S2S and occasionally a B2B. Plus I take a couple of 4/5N casino comps. I used to do Vegas around 3 times a year but now I just gamble on the cruises. So even with the gambling I am doing those 6-8 cruises under $10k for the year with flights, hotels and packages included. It will be any combination of interiors, balconies and suites. This year I will only have 5 cruises but my expenses aren't high,so you don't have to be retired or rich to cruise frequently. I am middle class and a couple of years shy of 40, but I budget well and prefer cruises. I use to take a big foreign vacation in October and easily shell out $10k for Italy, Egypt, etc. But now I get more vacation by cruising.

I was consistently booking the balloon and it was consistently being cancelled. The one time I didn't book it went up. After seeing it go up, I realized I dodged a bullet. It is less than 5min total that you are up in the air. When I was booking it was $35ish and then by early 2022 it was in the $50s on Black Friday sales.......now it is $70+.

My brother made an interesting point. He thought the Hideaway beach would be offered to adults, aka people who are over 35 and wanted a quiet place to relax. When he read his email, he thought 18 is still children and given that a main draw is pizza and a DJ, he is right. This isn't what they touted it as, it is just a beach night club. I originally thought charging would go over like a lead balloon. But they are marketing towards the 28-30 crowd imho. And that crowd has no problem paying for something that is actually included and can be achieved for free.