lildawgscottFL

I tried to "like this" on your comment, Doc, but for some odd reason, there's a limit to the amount of posts you can like in one day. That's very strange. Why have that feature? To what benefit?

So now two others are also cruising with us! The six of us will be reunited from our Oasis 2013 cruise together! :D :D :D Kerry & Mike from Whitegate, Cheshire, England, UK Barbara & Damian from Fingal, Ontario, Canada The Queen & I from Orlando, Florida, USA As Doc's kid pointed out, one of the best things about cruising is meeting people from all around the world. Doc clearly has a brilliant child! When I heard the news, I was, at first, super excited and then immediately got more concerned than I already was. "Had I known, would I have picked Navigator? The price was amazing, but now there's Anthem! And Harmony! Who knows when we'll reunite again? Is April the best time of year? Will the weather be good? Do I persuade them to do all the specialty dining we had intended on doing, or do we sacrifice for the benefit of all? What about excursions? Breakfast? I suck in the morning. Morning for me is 1:00 pm. My wife knows I do not speak for at least 30-60 minutes after waking up. I can't do that with them! That would be rude!" My neurotic brain keeps rambling off these sorts of questions and concerns. But then I remember, I'm a "glass is half full" sort of guy. I'm sure that monctonguy is right when he said, "Hopefully the fact that you made friends with them during a cruise and it worked out well then, that things would be similar with them this time!" And Jerel is right too, "they wont mind, nor would you" - I'm pretty laid back about stuff. So I'll be honest and tactful, and keep my fingers crossed. And to quote the sage thoughts of Jerel once again, "Keep in mind your going with cruisers, im sure you will all have a great time, together and apart." Absolutely correct! These are fun people!!! If they weren't, I would never have met them in the first place. The only question left is, at what point do we qualify for the group rates? Or better yet, at what point do I get deals as the group organizer! ;)

Rick, you're a man I could cruise with! :D B) Not everyone drinks like us though. I'm starting to think, if they're even slightly concerned about it, they should take that as a sign they probably won't make it work in their favor. If you're on the fence, play it conservatively. Don't be tempted by a "deal" - it may not be. For you and I, however... ;) We're not gonna get preachy on here, are we Doc? :(

I'd don a Royal Caribbean Blog Speedo! It would have to be more of the thong style. I like for my cheeks to breathe. But, if it was printed on the front, mine would read, "Roy" and nothing more. :( People might think I named my fella! ;)

It's probably been 30 years since I've seen an episode. Knowing what I know now, I should check one or two out. See how they portrayed it.

The Queen and I have never planned a cruise with another couple, family, group, or anything along those lines. We even bailed on the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle. We're very spontaneous people, and we tend to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. On the other hand, we always manage to meet people on board who become lifelong friends. :D Which is exactly what happened two years ago on Oasis. Now, those Oasis friends will be joining us on our Navigator cruise. :D We're totally stoked about this! But... How do you get alone time? How do you organize for four, as opposed to just two, especially when we've been together for 22 years and, for the most part, agree on everything? What if they don't like what we like? Bummer! :( When couples disagree, they're used to sorting it out and moving past it. What do you do in the worst case scenario (I know, this is me being too pessimistic)? What do you do if that old magic doesn't return and now you're stuck for a week? When you meet people on board, there always seems to be an unspoken, understood arrangement whereby you give each other some space. For instance, you meet another couple at R Bar on Monday. You choose to meet for dinner and the evening debauchery on Tuesday. It all works out and you keep up the routine throughout the cruise. But, you leave the excursions or other daytime activities out of it. Or some other example, but somehow it's all silently understood. However, when you're planning a cruise with someone, do you just state outright, "Uh...we like you and all that, but we don't want to see you all day." That sounds rude, no? But, I'm sure they also would want alone time, right? In the past, when we've met people on board who we didn't really want to spend time with, we just found convenient ways to avoid them. That's not gonna work here. I know this is a totally personal, totally subjective experience, and the situation just needs to be handled tactfully, with grace and care not to offend. But, maybe you folks have some experience doing this before? Maybe someone met with disaster? Maybe someone pulled it off without a hitch? We want to cruise with them. Please don't mistake that. It's just our first time planning a cruise where other people have a say in how the cruise turns out. And, we want to remain friends with them when it's over! We also want to be able to do this again with other people. Thanks for your thoughts! - Mr. Nervous Wreck :unsure:

My favorite ship! Happy you enjoyed her! 3. Good feedback. Royal is amazing, but I'm sorry to hear that about Disney. 11. Love St. Maarten! Favorite Caribbean port! 12. Food where? Everywhere? I know that the MDR gets mixed reviews, but otherwise? 13. :P :D 14. Only my wife's guac can compete. (see the attached photo) But, she doesn't come with a cruise ship surrounding her, so Sabor still wins! 15. That's it. I'm done hearing about it. I must find out for myself! I will do what must be done for the sake of the Royal Caribbean Blog! I'm not doing this for me. I don't want to sit down to a lovely meal and gorge myself on tasty treats, but I will make that sacrifice! ;) Chops, you and I have a date with destiny!

Oh, and this... "...unless you consider having lunch at some of these places okay to repeat." I don't consider anything "okay" on a Royal cruise. It's all amazing, even if I still find fault. ;)

That's kind of what I figured out too. I forgot about Izumi though, because I'm not a sushi person (I know, blasphemous). And, for some reason, we never get room service. So that leaves us with 6 options. I guess we'll be repeating then. You see? This is why I'm such an Oasis fan. I love variety! Thank you, sir.

No, not really. Those are for late day noshing after too much booze, or the post-lunch/pre-dinner #1 snack.

I'm trying to figure out if I can go to a different dining option every day for lunch and dinner, and never repeat the same place twice. It doesn't seem like I can, can I?

I'm so addicted to cruising that I . . . ...become friends with the crew! I just got sent these photos tonight. What great people!

Show off ;)

1. Joined Matt's periscope while on the clock at my Disney bar. Shh! Don't tell! 2. Consider whether or not anything and everything we do could be better done on a cruise. "Honey, should we head out to the beach?" "We could just book a short cruise and go to the beach in Labadee instead" "Okay!" "Babe, want Mexican?" "You mean Sabor?" "Uh...not what I meant, but....sure!" "Wanna go to NY to visit family?" "Could we cruise instead?" "But we haven't been back in 8 years." "Hmmm?" "Eh, screw it. You're right. Cruise!" 3. Wonder why there aren't any cruises in Wine Country! Build a river or something, damn it! Oh, Doc, this list could go on forever!

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Don't anyone dare touch my R Bar! ;)

That's so funny. :lol: I was just thinking that this would make a great topic! I almost created it, but then I decided to search instead. And, of course, Doc is on top of things! B) But why didn't this take off? I think this would provide such useful information. Oh well. :( I guess I'll take a stab at it too. (I had not intended on this becoming an novel. Sorry.) As I've said many times before, I have to hand it to the Oasis Of The Seas. As I've also said before, it's hard for me to put my finger on the "it" factor, but the Oasis definitely has "it" in a BIG way! So in defining "it," I have to find the more subtle, more overlooked features that added color and richness to my experience. After all, every ship has a Windjammer. I love the Windjammer, but it doesn't separate one ship from another for me (though I do find myself enjoying it more each time I cruise). And that's not meant as a knock against anyone. It's just not THE quintessential "favorite ship" thing for me. Which brings me to my first IT factor item... The Chef's Table (scroll down to see my photos and videos) - Other ships now have The Chef's Table experience too, but from what I've seen so far, none have it quite like the Oasis does. Matt, as always, is on top of things and has a great blog about it here (with some help from Marc Schwartz): http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/05/19/guest-review-chefs-table-oasis-of-the-seas. (The pictures blow mine away! Of course, back then I had no idea I'd one day be sharing them with you all. Also, check out this video from Royal: ) The memories created that night are still vivid in my mind. Additionally, we met our UK friends Kerry and Mike that night, and have remained friends since. We're actually all cruising together on the Navigator in April of 2017. (We also met our Canadian friends Damian and Barb, through Kerry and Mike, at the On Air Club, where we all spent many nights carrying on like youngsters! We've since hung out three times with Damian and Barb at Biketoberfest in Daytona. If not for The Chef's Table, we never would have met such great folks!) And, as is usually the case with Royal, the crew helped make the night! Such amazing service - caring, attentive, and yet unobtrusive. Though, at times, the crew became part of the show and they were wonderful! The Broadway show is also not THE quintessential "favorite ship" thing for me. We saw Hairspray twice while on board. We love Broadway shows. But, even with as fabulous as the performances were, they still weren't THE factor. Though, I will say that the Broadway shows do help me draw a line in the sand between ships that have them and ships that do not. Which brings me to my second IT factor item... Classical Musicians - Much like the new elevator piano guy on Anthem, these musicians would show up at different places and different times throughout the cruise, and, whenever we could, we'd hunt them down just to catch a few moments of their stellar performances. I've never seen anything like them before or since. Again, it's not something that would headline anyone's description of the Oasis - it's a subtle thing that adds depth and makes memories. I remember being in Central Park, wine in hand, sitting next to my Queen, and just listening to these two. A wonderful moment in time! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41VaJKWq_l0UWwtMEVUaHU5ZzA/view?usp=sharing Now when I say that the Broadway show is not THE thing, I do not want to give the impression that the performers were anything less than top-notch. Hairspray was fantastic! But that's actually not where they made memories for us. The performers were far more involved with the guests than any others I've witnessed. We actually went on an excursion with the troupe! Admittedly, that was total luck. They sang on the bus ride. Their energy was contagious. It took an otherwise disappointing excursion and made it memorable. Which brings me to my third IT factor item... The Performers - Two things stand out for me when it comes to the performers: a not-well-advertised and not-well-attended event in the Viking Crown Lounge, and the 70s Dance Party! We were extremely fortunate to have Jim Bullock ("Monroe" from "Too Close For Comfort") starring in the role of "Edna" in Hairspray. Bullock and his co-star Nancy Hill (she starred as "Tracy Turnblad") performed in the Viking Crown lounge to a very small audience, late one afternoon. It was an informal, dressed-down event, that simply showcased the singing. They also hosted a behind-the-scenes event, which was lots of fun. Here's The Queen with Jim and Nancy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h2sjWp-kKNkVPC01fe76kM6QDW9pXTMTKw/view?usp=sharing. The 70s Dance Party was electric! It completely blew away what we saw on Freedom. The performers, again, are to credit. On Freedom, it was a spectacle. On Oasis, it was immersive! Here are some videos of The Queen, Kerry, Barb, and Mike dancing with the performers. Check it out... https://drive.google.com/file/d/11x2TlgWCGLDuevPCygyydj0wO7P-6rbnQw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/18TNvGU_-H1_GYJ-TqnD8-GLKhmPhoyoDpg/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W0oPaXdaKveec4yGbSheGg2BrTJ_TSeXDQ/view?usp=sharing Okay, so this one won't be so subtle. My fourth IT factor item...THE SHIP ITSELF!!!! WOW INDEED!!! The Oasis Of The Seas - Groundbreaking! Awe-inspiring! Revolutionary! Innovative! There are just not enough adjectives to accurately describe what the Oasis brought to the world compared to what came before it. The neighborhoods! Of which Central Park is my favorite. The dining! Of course The Chef's Table tops my list here, but also Giovanni's Table. Giovanni's Table was so far beyond what it was on Freedom. Of course, some of that credit probably is due to its location in Central Park. The activities! A zip line at sea!? Wow! The entertainment! A diving show at sea!?!? I saw it, but I still don't believe it's possible! And a comedy club!? That's fantastic! The Royal Promenade! The Globe & Atlas Pub was so much fun (especially with our new British friends). Boleros was total excitement. The Solarium! Ahhhhhh......relaxation......!! I can almost still feel it. And who can forget the art!? The Small Wonders was one of The Queen's favorite little things to do each day. (http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/video/32/the-wonder-of-oasis-an-art-gallery-at-sea/) I could go on and on, but an Oasis class ship is something to be experienced, not described. Which is why we'll be on the Harmony as soon as humanly possible! And finally, my top reason why the Oasis Of The Seas is my favorite ship, and will likely always be. An IT factor to end all IT factors... The Joy It Brought To My Queen - It had been a while since my wife and I were on vacation. In the years leading up to our Oasis cruise, we had a lot of challenges. Things that tested us as individuals, and as a couple. After 22 years together that's bound to happen, you know? So when it was finally time to get away and leave that past behind us, my wife was overtaken with joy. Her response upon entering the Oasis Of The Seas will live with me forever, and it's why we'll never stop cruising (and probably never try another cruise line). https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41VaJKWq_l0WHZwazZWSHV3T0E/view?usp=sharing The Chef's Table Photos and Videos https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41VaJKWq_l0S1B0UC1DeVdTLVk/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41VaJKWq_l0TC1zTXRvNkswbTg/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sWS59CrKWUFmf9jRQ_DcxJb75BqzDQpBPQ/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1leaZXiA90OPZX2LD-ZAo2ifnO9AFLviAlA/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/187F1IfYMNKw_k2QgrPG0YETRIBQbfloHGQ/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZkinqP_F4uoOTIh2gzkFKCoOF24j3ekwdg/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQcz6vCJwxyfcW8q1LqSuLo-Jp3K-gPE-g/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WmEfrRivRZzEm4Yj4Wh1Q6b0iKrd3_UMRw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ukx9E1_H44dkNH5kqPiwWa2xN7YP4gTdag/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lTc6p6OknSZdtIPHSzh4qkwCSC9GIQwIuw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xaTRk1On_Kn_vFfmm_GSHGutIJcaHFlzgA/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SVRU-1GC76eDGxJw2_2D4QehjPyawrfBLA/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1re6VLn2rnfMHxNvr977d5dRLOP7pxKiLHw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FnJ6jHLyWvxAzMXp4-Cj1wQfmQXqKoWIw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/13_LjGQuaOCYtsKaecLpQj_0fjpVvS-r7cw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/198iMLun1eLM5_msxCUm88JDGZ9sp-1ltxw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aRkSMMOhuS-bOmR1Mzcp6IZZlsP5kZBVZw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/102q-ogZO9nZJnv03bX36Pn_pdKLfXsCsxQ/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mhXGLm5oVubMF_WmBCtxfjmwhZbLUuVPFw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gVvmZF0XM8XWipzIfXrF-Up_YhE7QCy7xA/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hWjKDtDOKJpL5bHeaQUFQsrlNqwgawGQUg/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1whO2-RDJcgZQeQVa1z8epUCm5WiJ2tWP6Q/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/131el24ieFmDOqbNvZxb1GJmMUfKm9k1Lww/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MglxBXYAfZvlHTdnFRLlnz5f0zLCGDbRvw/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b9WJT0CAyjPql4d_BckIseG51IKzGkvT0Q/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yLbxMwoueCLGzUvG2lTwt37c0ctsnv3nCA/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BA8HNwFhzESgyZaVfdWAdfgxh0AROSkH9Q/view?usp=sharing

Oh, well that makes sense then.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!!!! Mr. Marc!!! I take offense! (not really) I AM THE BIKER OF NOTE!!!! (not even slightly) How dare you, sir! How dare you! (you're probably right)

Speaking of Oasis, Mr. Hochberg! I just listened to an episode of Cruize Cast, wherein you said that your favorite ship is the Oasis, but since then you've said it's the Navigator! What gives!? Why the change? What's the revelation? The People need to know!

I think we're all seasoned enough (me being the least seasoned, of course) to have this sort of nuanced discussion. For a newbie, this is all over their heads. We've all been new to things and we all will be new again, and what's the drive for a newbie? What are we aiming at as newbies? I think it's some sort of guarantee that our time and money will be well spent. That we'll receive value. That we'll be satisfied that we made the right choice. And this is something we cannot possibly know in advance. Thus, my recommendation for the WOW ships.They offer the best chance of delivering satisfaction to the most amount of people. They offer something for everyone. After all, a rookie has no idea if they'll be like you, Doc, and be itinerary focused, or like Matt, and be food focused (how is he not 4,000 pounds!?), or like me and be....well.... I actually have no idea why Oasis is my favorite. I just know that it is. And maybe that's the beauty of those ships - they're damn appealing! But who knows!? Tonight's my Friday night and I'm throwing back a few. For all I know, I'll disagree with everything I've just said when I wake up tomorrow. ;) :lol:

I disagree, Doc. I think there is a bad choice. The problem is, when you're new, you don't yet know what that bad choice is for you specifically. As you said, you're itinerary focused. Others may be casino focused, or food focused, or whatever. And, to complicate it more, we all change what we want, depending on the circumstances. I, for one, have stated several times that I am an Oasis class fan, and I don't love the older, sub-Voyager class ships. That said, as a Floridian, I have the luxury of taking a cheap cruise whenever I just want to get away. For that, Majesty works just fine. And when it's time for that Alaska cruise, I don't have much choice in ships - it is what it is. If I want Sabor (and I do!), then that directs my options. (Which, by the way, I'm now pissed off because no guacamole will ever compete! Damn you, Sabor! You're my crack!) Again, it all depends on the focus. Moreover, irrespective of our personal opinions, the bells and whistles of the mega-ships WOW people, regardless of the cruise line. I'd hate for someone to compare Carnival's latest and greatest with Royal's older, more quaint ships, and then walk away with the opinion that Carnival is better, when it's not. #justmytwocents

Welcome Mr. Biker! Ask away! Someone here will almost always know the answer. Biker? As in HD?

It's not just an Adventure thing. I remember seeing that on the Freedom cruise compass. I did not have time to attend, so I cannot speak to the quality of the event. Check out the days and times here: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compasses/freedom-of-the-seas/sun-2015-10-18-0000

No, they do not! :( :angry:

On my very first Royal cruise (Legend), the Viking Crown Lounge was THE cigar bar and it was packed - half partaking and half just hanging out. I loved it! My wife, who does not smoke cigars, loved it too! I don't smoke cigars as much these days, but I like to do so 3-4 times a year in the right venue, and a cruise is the right venue. However, Royal has made a sea change (pun intended) in its cigar smoking policy, relegating cigar smokers to tiny rooms where no one goes. Cigar smoking is, for many of us, a social thing as well as an indulgent thing (like the Native American or Indian smoking rituals). By hiding us away, they've taken much of the enjoyment out of the experience. For instance, on the Oasis two years ago, the cigar smoking area was not just on the pool deck - it was in a tiny area that one had to find magically by climbing a hidden flight of stairs, and it was secluded from everything and everyone else. At least on the Freedom (a month ago), cigar smoking was allowed around the main pool area (as well as the Connoisseur Club). But I don't want to sit in a section full of cigarette smokers while I'm enjoying my cigar. Cigarettes take away from the refined flavors and scents of cigars. Cigarettes are for the proletariat. I am The Bourgeoisie! I am Royalty! ;) Hence why I cruise on Royal. :lol: Long story short, I'm disappointed with the direction Royal took on this. Cruises, by their nature, are indulgent. Relegating cigar smoking is akin to relegating the drinking of alcohol, but I don't see that happening. Give us back a front and center night club!!!!