MTNeedsAVacay

I'd love to see a RC ship home ported in Norfolk, VA!

I'd love to see a RC ship home ported in Norfolk, VA!

Royal hasn't said yet but they have announced that due to a sudden increase in demand, there will now be a charge for the umbrellas in Central Park!  Tonight's live performance in Central Park is rumored to include Singin' in the Rain!

I'm still wondering how much the new Waterfall suites are going to cost!

I just wish you had some pictures

I recently had an opportunity to sail in the Grand Panoramic Suite on Oasis of the Seas.  It is one of the finest suites I have ever sailed in.

Cabin 1758 category GP is a fairly unique suite.  There are exactly two in the fleet with one on Oasis of the Seas and one on Allure of the Seas.  Later Oasis class ships consumed this space and the similar Owner's Panoramic Suite (OP) on the other side of deck 17 for a larger Coastal Kitchen / Suite Lounge space.   The Owner's Panoramic Suite is slightly larger.

The Grand Panoramic Suite (1758) and Owner's Panoramic Suites (1701) were not originally found on Oasis of the Seas but were added during a dry dock in 2014.  The Grand Panoramic Suite was originally the Pinnacle Chapel while the Owner's Panoramic Suite was originally the Pinnacle Lounge.  These unique suites were added right around the same time that Royal Caribbean introduced the Royal Suites Program found exclusively on Oasis and Quantum class ships.  As part of the Royal Suites program the Grand Panoramic Suite and the Owner's Panoramic Suite are Star Class suites.  

The Grand Panoramic Suite can accommodate four guests and it features two bathrooms.  
The primary bedroom consists of a king sized bed that cannot be separated into two twins. 

The nightstands on either side of the bed are fixed in place.  The mattress is a one piece Duxiana mattress making this one of a handful of beds on board that cannot be separated.  


One of the best features of the Grand Panoramic Suite is the primary bathroom.  It is without question one of the largest and nicest guest bathrooms in the fleet!

The bathroom features a full sized bathtub.


There are two sets of identical sinks.

There is also a full size shower with a rainfall showerhead.  The shower includes a handheld wand that can be operated independently or at the same time with the overhead rainfall.

The toilet area has a frosted glass door to separate it from the rest of the bathroom and includes a bidet.

A makeup area with a stool is found on one end of the bathroom.  

The bathroom contains the closets with ample storage space and a safe for valuables within.

Additional closet space is found on the back wall.

The secondary bathroom is found near the front entrance to the suite.

This bathroom contains a large shower minus the overhead rainfall shower head and no bidet.  
Additional guests sharing the suite have their own makeup area.

This area also contains closet space for additional guests.

A large glass table near the entrance is perfect for enjoying all the dining options that come with Star Class such as specialty restaurant room service.  

The living room features a large sofa with a pull out sofa bed for the third and fourth guests in the suite.

One of the great features of this suite is so much space! 
The wet bar can be stocked as part of the Star Class experience.   This is replenished during the cruise.

The suite has high ceilings making it feel very spacious.

The living room TV includes a soundbar with subwoofer that is bluetooth enabled so you can connect a smartphone to play music from your device independent of the TV.

The primary bedroom has a glass door that can be closed for privacy but the space above the door towards the ceiling is open so you will need to mindful of any sounds that might be heard in the living room if you have additional guests with you.

The balcony is long but somewhat narrow.  The loungers are placed in the only space they can fit.

The balcony includes a private hot tub.

It takes around 45 minutes to fill the hot tub which you can do yourself or you can request the cabin attendants fill it for you.  
The hot tub is small and perfect for a couple who don't mind close proximity but I'd be hesitant to try to squeeze four adult guests into the hot tub unless they are well acquainted.


The balcony does not offer a lot of privacy and you will see and be seen by guests on deck 15 below.
The view from the bedroom with the shades down and curtains open.

The view from the balcony.

To assist with privacy the bedroom has remotely controlled opaque shades that be raised.

The shades will prevent anyone from seeing you in the suite while allowing a lot of natural light into the suite.  The shades are seen here partially raised.  They can go a little higher but they do not go all the way to the ceiling.

There are also both sheer and separate full blackout curtains that be operated independently to control daylight.

During the day with all curtains open there are wonderful views from both the living room and the primary bedroom.  


With the shades down and curtains open you will see the deck 15 pool deck.

From the pool deck looking up towards the Grand Panoramic Suite.

With the shades down and curtains open guests on the pool deck can see into the bedroom.

Knowing the shades provide privacy does allow one to manage privacy quite well.
There is no privacy on the balcony so dress accordingly.


From off the ship here is where the Grand Panoramic Suite is found:

The shades can be seen partially raised providing privacy in the bedroom.  

The balcony provides partial forward views.

While at sea:

Combined with the morning Star Class delivery of Starbucks and a mimosa...

...this became a morning ritual.

Beyond a lack of privacy on the balcony the only other drawback is that pool deck sounds can be heard in the cabin during daylight hours.  
You will hear all entertainment sounds coming from the pool deck.  During the day you will clearly hear bands performing and during events like the belly flop contest you will hear all the announcements that are made even within the suite with the balcony door closed.   From the balcony you will hear guests playing ping pong on deck 14 below.
Despite these two drawbacks I'd gladly book this suite again.  Mr. Stumpy agrees...

...as do the two that were fighting over the departure instructions on the last sea day begging me not to leave.

Yes, they will be up in arms but it will be for the better once the dust settles. The Diamond lounge is an absolute waste of space IMHO. 

This will probably be a controversial take, but completely axe the 55 point tier. 
Give the welcome waters and snacks to Platinum and above and move Emerald to 80 points, Diamond to 175 Points, and Diamond Plus to 340 points. The benefits should stay the same per point tier, but it would make more sense in my opinion. 
As it is right now there are 4 benefits that kick in at 340 points (some of the best benefits if you ask me), but there is no status name change. I'm sure people with 340 cruise points realize this, but it just seems like it might fill the gap a little better between Diamond Plus and Pinnacle as well. 
 
I should also mention I'm currently Emerald and I think I'll survive without the 2 water bottles and a cookie. 

My TA got me an Owner's Suite on Odyssey of the Seas for the price of an Owner's Suite on Empress of the Seas (difference was about $7k).  Thanks @michelle!!

as a jersey resident, what are you trying to say here?? 😄 just kidding hahaha

Just providing a bit more context, while I did not witness the exact scenario OP described, I was on the Enchantment last week and can attest that the reservation book for NC had slots available for 3 separate NC reps in 30 minute time slots from just about 9am-9pm at least for the last 2 days (didn't look back in the book at the earlier days when I signed up). When I arrived for my afternoon appointment, there were only 2 reps available (I got the impression the 3rd rep was sick), leading to many more people with appointments than there were available reps. It was about 20 min after my appointment time that I was able to sit down with NC, but I can definitely see how that might have led to some unhappy people. However, I felt absolutely terrible for the 2 reps who were there, because they seemed like that hadn't had a break in hours and the rep who I saw was apologizing profusely when he stated he needed to run to the restroom before he sat down with me. 

I guess I need to go and trademark “Mouster” before Iger beats me to it. 🙂

It was on Enchantment last week on the last night of the cruise. I didn't go, but I heard the cruise director make an announcement about it!

We were in Port Canaveral last Monday and saw the outer decks of the Disney Wish packed with passengers and the crew in their bright yellow vests doing their muster drill. Added it to my list of reasons we stay loyal to Royal 🙂

As far as I’m concerned, a bad port day in Miami beats a good day at work. 
 
Sometimes it’s very hard to behave in threads like this. 

We just received our Odyssey block this past Saturday (earned January 2022). 

My Odyssey blocks (three of them) from September, October and December 2021 have not shipped.  I contacted CAS.  As of Friday last week I am in the queue and the vendor has my details.  
I liken it to when iPhones were so popular on release date it was not uncommon for fulfilment to occur over a period of weeks/months.  That was pre-pandemic.  I imagine that the vendor received a long list and while in our minds they should ship based on who earned them first, the vendor may have used their own logic, as in alphabetically by surname or simply the list as offered by Royal sorted by no one knows how.
At any rate I am in the queue and they confirmed I'll get all three plus one from Wonder.  

Hadn't gotten around to recontacting C&A about the block, but my family member just received the Odyssey block from October 2021!!! 

Hadn't gotten around to recontacting C&A about the block, but my family member just received the Odyssey block from October 2021!!! 

Too bad that guy who lives on the ship wasn't there. He would have had them reopen it.

I'm sure you'll find the cruise contract covers them.  I'm not aware that any space on the ship is guaranteed. 
Being pissed?  Absolutely.  Compensation?  Good luck with that.
I've seen the SeaPlex closed on a ship.  They were refinishing the floor.  Flowriders get closed when they replace the surface.  Slides are closed while they repair water leaks.  
Ship happens.  It's unfortunate but areas are sometimes closed.  Same thing occur at theme parks.  Plan to go on some special ride (to you) and it's closed!  Argh!  That's life.  

I noticed the reservation system doesn't ask for ages of kids anymore

They are back.  They must have have upgraded the website power source from the old gerbil to a hamster.

Thanks as always, Royal IT. 🙃
 

My biggest concern with the avatars in that video is that apparently only skinny people are allowed to sail on icon