CelebrationFlCruiser

Yes, please

Wrong Picture....

Let's see, the last fire, happening months ago on the Freedom, is still being repaired and they did not cancel any cruise weeks. Just a guesstimate at $800 a stateroom X 2000 = $1,600,000 a week (a million, six a week). Would you dry dock it?

Seems like the new ice berg is fire-on-board. Maybe the cruise lines would be smart to get some fire experts on board to be in the engine rooms.

Here's another link: http://www.u.tv/News/2015/10/22/NI-mans-cruise-terror-as-fire-breaks-out-on-board-47462

"Royal Caribbean's Splendor of the Seas caught on fire this morning as the cruise ship was sailing in the Mediterranean near the Greek islands. “There’s thick acrid smoke all over the cabins," reported an Irish passenger according to UTV in London. “We can constantly smell smoke. Smoke here. Smoke everywhere. Everywhere on the ship we can smell smoke," added the passenger. A crew member contacted me after the engine room fire, saying that it was a "big fire" and the crew were summoned to their emergency stations for many hours. The ship is now heading toward Venice. There were no deaths and the cruise line claims that there were no injuries. However, a passenger commented that "many elderly and disabled passengers appeared to be struggling," He added “everything is smoke damaged. The smell of burning plastic and burning rubber was very thick on our floor so everything in our room is contaminated.†Royal Caribbean tweeted: "#SplendourOfTheSeas experienced a fire this morning in 1 of its engine rooms. Fire was contained & extinguished, all systems are functioning." Royal Caribbean experienced a large fire in July when the Freedom of the Seas erupted in flames as it approached Falmouth, Jamaica." J. Walker, Cruise Law http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2015/10/articles/fires-1/splendour-of-the-seas-catches-on-fire/

We also just got back from the FREEDOM of the SEAS. We love that ship and the crew. This seems to be the perfect size ship for us. We also noticed some unidentifiable smells just before docking in the lower deck areas. This was usually when we were at port. There are always some issues, but overall, this is a GREAT ship and crew. And, the Captain is understandable and seems truly interested in keeping the cruisers informed. One day we had to divert due to weather. The Captain was on the overhead explaining and came on the TV with maps and graphs to explain how he reached his decision to divert to another port. He, in my opinion is an excellent Captain. And almost the entire crew, with just a few exceptions, was excellent. It's a shame they are moving Freedom to Ft. Lauderdale. We like at Port Canaveral.

Went on the Freedom of the Seas on a B2B2B from September 13 through October 3rd, and I report that they are still working on the "very, very minimal" area that caught on fire. They still have temporary walls covering the affected area. One day on the cruise they had one of the walls down. The heat from the area was almost unbearable. The Diamond Club Lounge is still closed and has been relocated to a much smaller area. The whole area is still being repaired. From early in the morning until late at night you can hear men working. I feel sorry for those with rooms in the rear and are affected by the construction/renovation noise and constant banging. We ate at Johnny Rockets a couple of times, excellent food and entertainment I might say, and saw a bunch of workers going in and out of the work area. This has been quite a while since the actual fire. There are signs posted in the back of the ship outside and inside to in effect, please excuse the on-going work. When did the fire happen? There are now rumors that the Freedom is going into dry dock to complete the repairs, but that has not been confirmed.

Here's the latest for the Florida area. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&fdays=2 11:00 AM AST Tue Sep 8 Location: 14.3°N 42.8°W Moving: W at 20 mph Min pressure: 1007 mb Max sustained: 35 mph Wind speed bursts up to: 58 mph (usually sustaining 1 minute) http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIAPWSAT2+shtml/081432.shtml _____________________________ Next is Hurricane: LINDA (Eastern Pacific area) http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPEP5+shtml/081431.shtml obtained from the National Hurricane Center-Miami

"Quantum’s Most Important Innovation: Fast Curb-to-Cabin Check-in Perhaps Quantum’s most important innovation, smart check-in greatly reduces the time you spend in line on embarkation day. The new boarding procedure begins right in your own home. Simply hop online, fill out some details (passport information, birth date), and upload your own photo ID (take a picture with your webcam or upload a more formal portrait). Then, you print your documents and head for the port. When you arrive at the terminal, dozens of check-in agents are standing at the ready with tablets in hand. They scan your documents and passport and then direct you to the security line. Once you step through the metal detector, you’re on your way to your cabin. (The process took just eight minutes for me.) If you hand luggage over to the porter, it will be tagged with an RFID (radio-frequency identification) chip, which uses electromagnetic fields to wirelessly transmit data. In conjunction with an app on your smartphone, you can monitor the progress of your bags from check-in all the way to your cabin. Once you arrive at your cabin door, there will be an envelope that holds one key. Let yourself into your stateroom and you’ll find the next smart ship innovation waiting for you: Royal Caribbean’s WOWband wristbands." CN Traveler There's more; http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-11-21/royal-caribbean-quantum-of-the-seas-smart-ship-technology

Going on the Anthem in November. Could not complete on-line check in without submitting acceptable pictures of all those in the stateroom. Yes, you can, not submit a picture, and do your check in at the port, but that would delay your boarding. I'm not sure how that would work. We have always done on-line check in. You have to complete on-line check in to get your SetSail Pass. This pass must be presented to enter the building at the port. I would think this would be a huge inconvenience. This was mandatory to complete on-line check in for the Anthum for the November sailing. It would not let you complete until an acceptable picture was submitted for everyone in the stateroom. And yes, you can arrive when you want, but again, that will delay your boarding. Currently this is only for the QUANTUM CLASS ships, (ANTHEM OF THE SEAS, OVATION OF THE SEAS, and QUANTUM OF THE SEAS ) Hopefully this will roll out to the fleet. Two positive points are, I can get a much better picture myself and others than relying on those webcams they have at the ports at check-in. And, this is one less step Royal Caribbean has to supply while checking in at the port. Everything being said, this new procedure should speedup the boarding process.

“Royal Caribbean Godmothers bring good fortune to our ships and guests†Royal Caribbean Perhaps you could choose a Royal Caribbean Godmother’s name. Royal Caribbean has named the Godmother for its soon-to-launch cruise ship Anthem of the Seas. Emma, she is a travel agent. Emma could bring good fortune to you, you have certainly brought good fortune to her. Emma, the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean ship's Godmother. What ever you choose to name her, bless you for taking in a rescue dog. http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6281

â€Not a teen but not an adult eitherâ€, vaguely sounds familiar, almost like a song .......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlV7RhT6zHs

FRED & GRACE are not hurricanes. Currently, just something to watch development and see.

There are 2 new disturbances that we need to keep an eye on, as reported by the National Hurricane Center, Miami FL. It is predicted that both will dissipate over the next few days, but we need to watch to see if they develop. It's better to be cautious. FRED a tropical depression and GRACE a tropical storm. NOAA: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/05/us/tropical-storm-grace/index.html