cruise-y

If you want to dress up, dress up. If you don't want to, don't. Men can wear a nice shirt and slacks; women can wear a long sundress and sandals. If you live somewhere where dressing up is fun, then do it. If you live somewhere where dressing up is a drag, then don't do it. Just don't wear shorts, t-shirts and flip flops and you'll be fine.

It's almost always an "At Sea" night.

I know I'm in the vast minority here, but I don't use a TA and never have any problems. I use the cruise line's website to research online and book online and I'm done. If I have any issues or questions, I contact the cruise line directly (usually through an online chat option) and all is answered or fixed. I just can't see adding another middle man to the equation. I know what I want; I don't need somebody else to guess what I want. Like I said, I know the majority here, who love their personal travel agents, disagree with me. But I will say this, back in the pre-Internet old days, when you had to use a TA, I had many more issues with really bad airline flights, miscommunications, lost tickets and general screw-ups than I do now.

I agree with FloatMe, the Junior Suites are the best. So much room and storage space. The walk-in closet allows you to get those suitcases, backpacks, shoes, wet swimming suits, jackets and other junk totally out of sight. And the balcony is really roomy, with even a chaise lounge. I've stayed in much more expensive rooms on other ships with way less space. And IMO, once you have a balcony you'll never go back. To me, it's half the fun of a cruise.

Ah, well a little online research and I answered my own question. Apparently "Jade" is just one of the lines in the Windjammer buffet. A bit misleading I might say, but ok.

Sorry to be late to respond. If you are going on the Belize leg, you could see the Mayan ruins there, as it is a shorter bus ride than the one from Cozumel. Then, at the Cozumel stop, you could do the Secret River Cave in Playa Del Carmen. We absolutely loved it. You wade and swim (with a wet suit and life jacket) through an underground cave with all of the cave sights (stalactites and the like). The water is never over your head, mostly knee to waist high. The grounds are very pretty as well and they have a super nice buffet lunch included. Not sure about your tastes, but you mentioned natural beauty. We like the outdoors and like to hike.

Sorry I'm a little late with my response on this post. The Lamanai Mayan Site and River Tour (Belize) was the highlight of my cruise 2 years ago. It's fantastic and, as you noted, was broken up by a river ride and a stop for a very nice lunch in an open-air pavilion on the river. Bus rides through the Caribbean countryside never bother me because I always enjoy seeing the sights, villages and foliage. I've also been to Cichen Itza, probably 30 years ago but it was fantastic and I'd go again in a heartbeat. Much more complex and massive than Lamanai. We actually stayed overnight at the hotel there and did not drive in from a cruise so I can't say anything about that bus trip.

My last RC cruise was 2 years ago and I thought at the time (on Navigator) Jade Sushi was specialty (pay extra) dining, or maybe it was closed. I saw on the Liberty of the Seas website that "Jade Sushi Asian Fusion Cuisine" is listed as complimentary. Did that change? Where is that eatery located? Is it a waiter-serviced restaurant? Thanks!

I am a voracious reader (love history and nonfiction) and can't imagine a sea day without a great book (whether it be Kindle, iPhone or hardback) and a deck chair next to the adult pool, looking out at the ocean. What a relaxing way to spend the day, complete with coffee in the morning, lunch brought back to my lounger from the buffet and a couple of rum drinks in the afternoon. I even sit in the pool and read when I want to get some sun. In fact, it's part of the reason we cruise. It's definitely not high literature by any means, but if you want a fun read try "Cruise Confidential" by David Bruns. A non-fiction look at the crew behind the scenes.

This is my biggest gripe about RC. The bar tab already includes an automatic 18% but they also have a tip line for you to fill in something more (this is also true in the spa). If you cross it out you feel like a schmuck. And I witnessed the bartender definitely giving better and faster service to those he knew added more on top of the 18%. Everyone else sat and waited. On Oceania the 18% tips are included and the tabs do NOT have an extra tip line. If you want to add more you can, but you don't feel obligated by that blank line to fill in. Yes, the Oceania base price is more, but, in the long run, I think it really evens out. The staff doesn't leave tip envelopes on your bed or at your tables either. And they are genuinely friendly without it being a gimmick to get more tips. I understand they get paid better. Much classier.

Flypped73 - I totally understand what you are saying. Cruise lines take you to the most touristy places and the Jamaican locals ARE pushy; much more so than in other Caribbean locales. But I've stayed in Jamaica for several weeks at a time on 3 different occasions and have nothing but wonderful memories. We drove all around the country and saw some beautiful and amazing vistas. We frequented little thatched hut bars (with ice chests and no electricity) that were buried deep in the jungle, available only by way of worn footpaths. We toured abandoned sugar cane plantations, overgrown and falling down, with the ruins enveloped in a misty haze. We drove through mountaintop guava groves that were so overladen the heavy fruit had fallen thick all over the road. The groves emitted a sweet musty smell as we drove over and smushed hundreds of guavas, with no other car in sight. We met wonderful, friendly people, sharing the best fried chicken we ever ate (no exaggeration) along with macaroni salad and fried meat pies. We swam in sparkling pools hidden beneath fern-laden waterfalls, far away from the tourist spots. We visited Bob Marley's gravesite. We bounced along a rutted dirt road in a beat-up old school bus, with a monsoon rain pouring down, passing around a jug of Hawaiian Punch mixed with rum, listening to reggae on a boom box, only to have to turn back because the bridge was washed out - one of the best excursions I've ever taken (OK, admittedly I was young). I know these are all pretty bohemian memories, but I think you CAN have a good experience in Jamaica. I would do some online research and book a private driver. Tell him what you want to see, your timeline and the experience you want to have. Tell him you don't want to be bugged by locals trying to sell you something. Tell him to take you to a private palm-studded beach or a secluded restaurant or horseback riding or whatever. You can vet these guys online and see reviews. I would go back in a heartbeat. Oh and P.S. I've been to dozens of places in the Carib and the only time I ever had theft was in St. Kitts, supposedly one of the higher-end islands. Hertz (yes Hertz) employees had given the car security code to all their buddies and our car was broken into and robbed. Corporate Hertz couldn't care less when I called to complain.

We were so thrilled with the very large size of our Navigator Junior Suite. Can anyone tell me if the Junior Suites are the same size on all the RC ships - or if they are smaller on some of the ships? It will make a difference to me on what I book. Thank you

I've been everywhere in the Caribbean so always, always want to find a new port. Back in the early 90's, while we were in Jamaica, I was ready to book an illegal helicopter day trip - but my husband and son talked me out of it. Because it was forbidden to U.S. citizens, Cuba is definitely a place I would love to go. But I will probably wait until the novelty wears off a bit. It will get cheaper as time goes by.

OK, for what it's worth, here's my (personal) comparison. Everybody's preferences are different, so I tried to explain that in the discussion. I welcome any feedback. Itineraries: It's not fair to compare the itineraries, because the difference between the western Caribbean and the Mediterranean are like night and day. So we'll skip that. Convenience of departure: I live in Texas so it's a lot easier (and cheaper) for me to drive to Galveston than to fly to Rome. However, it's always fun flying in business class to Europe. So, I'll just say this: The Galveston port experience was chaotic, crowded, confusing and stressful. The Rome port experience was fast and smooth as silk. So, even though the ports themselves have something to do with that, the cruise line also gets credit for how they handle the departures. Advantage: Oceania Rooms: We stayed in a Junior Suite on the RC Navigator. We were thrilled at its size, large balcony, storage space and huge closet. We stayed in a regular balcony stateroom on Oceania, which was smaller. So maybe the comparison isn't fair (although the Oceania balcony room cost more than the RC Junior Suite). On Oceania, you really don't have a lot of choices. It's a regular balcony stateroom (90% of the ship) or a suite with a butler. The butler is at your beck and call 24 hours a day, will unpack your suitcase, pour your drinks, serve all your meals in courses in your room, press your clothes, etc. We didn't want that kind of intrusiveness - but we didn't have the option for a larger room with no butler. Advantage: RC (However, here's a caveat: I'm not sure the other RC ships have the roomy Junior Suites of the Navigator). Food: Here you may be surprised. We are foodies and we chose Oceania because of the reputation for food. We did take a culinary class onboard and it was great fun. But I was disappointed in the Oceania food overall. 1) We found the main dining room on RC to be delightful, with lots of innovative and different options. We looked forward to every meal. The main dining room on Oceania was horrid, because nobody ever ate there. 2) The buffet on Oceania was superior to RC. They had specialty items, lobster and steak every night (not just pasta and hot dogs). They also had seating on the deck outside, which was wonderful. We had to eat inside on the Navigator. 3) Oceania provides "specialty dining" at their high-end steak, sushi, French, Italian, etc. restaurants included in the (higher) cruise price. However, those restaurants fill up fast and you have to book far in advance. RC charges you to eat at those restaurants. Because I live in a major metropolitan area, eating at those restaurants was not that big of a thrill to me. Honestly, I preferred the unusual courses I had in RC's main dining room. Of course, I realize this is a personal preference. 4) Snacking. RC had a place where you could get a variety of nice open-faced sandwiches and finger desserts late at night. Oceania did not. 5) Drinks. Oceana had coffee, juices, soft drinks, bottled water, ice cream sodas and the like always available for free. These were harder to find (or not available at all) on RC. Advantage: Tie Shore Excursions: Again, the venue makes a difference. We took excursions in almost every port on both cruises. However, in terms of organization, waiting, confusion, lunch quality, etc. they were pretty much equal. Advantage: Tie. Shipboard Experience: Gambling and bars were available on both ships. Oceania prides itself in its classy, "low key" shipboard experience. There's not a lot of loud activities, cheesy bands, karaoke, games or kids. Oceania doesn't have a surfboarding or rock climbing area. They don't have places to buy counterfeit art or overpriced jewelry. They don't have a lot of really bad entertainment at night. Admittedly, to me, that's nice. But it may not be to you. At Oceania's bars, I didn't feel "obligated" to add an extra tip above the 18% already included, because they gave you the bill with no extra tip line for you to fill in. That was really nice. At RC, I DID feel that pressure. A lot. I was also pressured in the spa. Advantage: Oceania. Pools: Oceania's one pool was very plain and exposed. No kids, but simple and square and really boring. RC's Navigator had a loud common pool with DJ's and slides and splashing and the like. But they also had a very nice, quiet adult pool (in a separate area) with much nicer landscaping, tropical plants and decor. I always enjoyed hanging out there with a book and a quiet drink. For exercise, RC's Navigator also had a better, larger and accessible jogging track. Advantage: RC

We were on the Riviera. Yes, it's apples to oranges, but there are comparisons as well. A lot of things we actually liked better on RC.

Hello - I took a RC cruise to the western Caribbean in 2015 and an Oceania cruise to the Mediterranean in 2016. I was wondering if anyone wanted a comparison between the two? If everyone here is loyal to RC and won't cruise anything else, then there's really no point. I don't want to go into a big diatribe unless people are really interested and think they might sail on Oceania. So let me know!

Asphodel - Wow. You are certainly "right on" with your comments about Cruise Critic. A lot of intense arguments and finger stabbing about nothing. This site is much friendlier and more helpful. IMO

Actually I want to amend that. The RC listings simply state "size, deck size". So they don't imply that the first number is just the cabin size. Thus, I'm assuming that first number is the total size. Other cruise lines state "cabin size, deck size" Thanks

I'm sorry to repeat a question that has probably been asked dozens of times but I'm trying to compare apples to apples between cruise lines. The RC site lists cabin sizes (comma) and then deck sizes. Does the first number include the deck or not? Thank you!

Yes, have fun and let us know. I, personally, like the eastern Caribbean much better, but I think that is because it is more "foreign" and exotic to me since I live in Texas and I get a lot of the western Caribbean flavor already as just a daily thing.

We always take turns swimming. We've been to dozens and dozens of beaches in the Caribbean and, this is not meant to offend, there are always people lurking around in the bushes (so to speak) waiting to steal from you. My octegenarian dad tucked his cheap-o watch into his towel, dived into the surf for a few seconds, came back out and found his watch gone. The beach was totally bare. He never saw anyone at all. We love the Caribbean and the people in the Caribbean, but there are thieves everywhere. Miami, Malibu, Bermuda, Galveston, Tahiti, St. Thomas. Don't leave your belongings unattended.

I totally agree with Monorailmedic. I could do this if I had a real world-wide itinerary. But I couldn't do Cozumel every week, or even every other week. Mercy. Plus, I like to cook once in a while. I'd have to have a kitchenette. And a washer/dryer. Not sure if those even exist.

Thank you Billy! This was a great help. I really appreciate it. I think there is an Oceania tour that is just as you describe. Zadar, Coatia is another stop that I was wondering about. It's hard to tell whether to take a bus trip off somewhere or to stay and enjoy the port city. I never stay in the Caribbean port cities because there are too many great things to do on excursions. But in these small Eastern European cities, it seems it might be better to sometimes hang around and explore. I'd appreciate any tips on Zadar as well. Liz

This may seem like a strange request, but I was wondering if the posters here are all devoted RC cruisers and never cruise any other lines? Or if you cruise a lot and move around? I'm not talking about Princess and Celebrity and all that ilk; I mean other European-based lines or luxury lines and river cruises. This is really a great forum. There's a lot of good info and it has a ton of activity so there are new posts all the time. You can learn everything here - shore excursions, food, hotels, port parking, how things work. Somebody will have an answer for you. It really is super. I'm taking an Oceania Mediterranean cruise in the fall and I can't find any forums for it like this one. There's a section on Cruise Critic but it's just a big long string of posts on a variety of topics. What do you think of Cruise Critic? I'm particularly looking for info on the Kotar, Montenegró port. I know nothing about these Eastern Bloc areas. You guys are great, thank you

Yes, Carnival shore excursions are cheaper, probably for the same thing. Carnival cruises are cheaper too, but you don't get the same thing. So, if you want the lesser-quality Carnival cruise so that you can get the (probably same quality) shore excursion for less, then that is a choice you make.