lildawgscottFL

These are the same sort of people who complained when Root Beer overtook Sarsaparilla. Some people just find things so they won't be happy.

We, too, will be old, stodgy, stubborn men someday who are stuck in our ways. Let's try to remind each other when we're being too intolerant. Deal? P.S. If you couldn't tell, I'm more of a Rick Steves guy. I feel like he's in Arthur's world, but is far more tolerant. A live and let live, travel and let travel, sort of fellow.

Wow! Strange coincidence. I hope we don't need to tolerate another scumbag lawyer.

We'll be on the Navigator in April 2017 for a 9-Night Southern Caribbean (ABC itinerary). So that will be a great test. I'd consider that Explorer trip, but we're already heading to the UK at that time. :( :D

Can I see it both ways and not shunned? :unsure: Though, on balance, I clearly agree with you. :) Remember, Arthur Frommer comes from a very different generation and a very different philosophy, based on helping people explore our world frugally. He is a pioneer and I am not sure where travel would be without his influence. He helped to take travel out of the hands of the rich, and make it accessible for the masses. In his day, the world was not so small and exploring it was not as affordable as it is today. He also helped pave the way for all travel writers and bloggers. For that, we owe him our gratitude. That said, I disagree with Frommer when it comes to cruising. Cruising is a hedonism. It's pleasure-seeking. It's fun!!! :D Cruising is not exploration, however. Traveling in order to explore our planet can be, at times, not so much fun, but exploration is always educational, enlightening, and uplifting. And while they may both compete for our vacation dollars, they really are two totally different industries. While cruises do travel to exotic places, they do not allow for the depth and breadth of exploration that Frommer advocates (and Steves, and others like them - though Rick, I'd say, is more in our camp than Frommer's: http://blog.ricksteves.com/blog/so-is-cruising-really-travel/). However, people do not cruise to Athens just to see Athens. They cruise to Athens so that Athens is a part of a "larger cruise experience." And when they are enjoying that "larger cruise experience," they want more than to just sit and look at the sea. I say that as a person who will spend many of his cruise hours sitting and looking at the sea. I spend the extra money for balconies simply because I feel more at peace than I ever do on land when I just sit and look at the sea. I am a big, big sea guy (though, oddly, not a huge beach guy). And even being the big sea guy that I am, I still want satiating dining experiences, breathtaking entertainment, first-class amenities, and I want to unwind and party a little at the many exciting bars and nightclubs. And while I'm at sea during the day, I want to do more than just read or play bingo! Though I do like the art. ;) So, maybe Frommer overstepped. And maybe he should have followed Steves's lead: "...I’ve left the cruise-ship rundowns to the industry aficionados..." But, he does have a point. When does it become less about being at sea and traveling to foreign lands than it does about the hedonism? If the Voyager class ships and beyond are all destinations in themselves, why do we need to sail anywhere? To be honest, I'd be fine with that. Sail out to sea, just so I can see the sea, and sit there. Or go to Coco Cay or Labadee. A cruise to nowhere would be perfectly alright by me! P.S. "About half those photos are just RC's photos." I didn't know that. That's funny! :lol:

Report back! We're on Enchantment in Feb 2016. Very excited. :D

Frommer's took some great photos of Anthem. I though I'd share: http://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848070-royal-caribbean-s-anthem-of-the-seas-a-photo-tour

Good points! I love my Oasis!

I agree with taking a longer cruise, as regards who will be your on board companions. I have several reasons for that, but that's a different story, for a different day. Great point about the itinerary. We're all about not going in season. Besides, when it's cruise season, it's also Disney season. Can't afford to leave then. 1 of 32!?!? Didn't have enough children on board!?!?! That's my idea of family friendly!!! We avoid any DreamWorks activities like the plague! ;)

Majesty is supposed to be offering it as well, once the refurb is complete. If I'm not mistaken.

As some on here know, The Queen and I both work for Walt Disney World. We have a very high opinion of the company. We actually had our honeymoon at Disney, years before we knew we would be moving to Orlando. That said, we have no interest in taking a Disney cruise because we do not have kids. We see Disney as a family/kids cruise line that also has adult areas. Whereas, we see Royal as an adult cruise line that also had kids areas. Plus, we see the Disney brand 5 days a week. We do not just "see" it, we live it; and we really do not want to see it when we are on vacation. I know that Royal has been driving toward more family friendly cruise ship designs, which makes sense. They should. It is a smart business strategy. I also know that the older ships tend to get more of a senior crowd. So where is the ship that is just right for young-ish couples? Which one is the "Goldilocks" ship? Not too young. Not too old. My first inclination would be to say that the Oasis and Quantum class ships would be, but the ever-expanding offerings for kids makes me think otherwise. All I can say is, THANK YOU ROYAL FOR THE SOLARIUM!!!!

As expected, the lawyer is changing his tune: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3313148/The-video-shows-happened-gay-man-jumped-cruise-ship-Victim-s-lawyer-changes-story-says-man-did-jump-protest-previews-new-video-incident.html

For St. Maarten, check out my review of Soualiga Destinations Boat Tours: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php/topic/1161-st-maarten-st-martin/ You want relaxing and laid back? That's the ticket!

When you pull out of Orlando all things tourism, there's not much left here. And there's no food! All the NY Jews and Italians moved to South Florida - that's where all the great food is! It's as close to NY as you can get. (And, for the record, the only reason Sorrento's is good, is because anything is good when it's free and you're "drunk hungry" at 1 AM, and when you're on a cruise.) So come here only if you want to be my neighbor and we can lament together that we're not on a cruise. Otherwise, go south, my friends. Go south! (Or at least go to Tampa so you'll have the ocean.) By the way, the Everglades wouldn't be bad - you could ride the alligators! Florida gators are friendly - they like when you do that! :D

Royal lost out on me. When we finally decided on the PP, my brain went, "Challenge Accepted!" I won, and it was glorious.

We haven't thrown European cruises out just yet, so don't go exiling me! ;) We're thinking of doing a fjords trip out of Southampton. I don't really care much about the fjords, so that would be a good test. The Queen wants to go to Alaska, but we've learned that the fjords gives you more of the nature, more of the northern lights, more of the animals, and just plain more of everything, so going to the fjords would kill two birds with one stone - her nature cruise and our test of a Euro cruise.

I hadn't thought about that, bcarney, and you're right. Message boards are more organized (except for CC - I hate CC's boards - just plain ugly! - but I still like their main website). Conversations do get lost more easily on Facebook (though they are very searchable). I stand corrected! But I still think Facebook is where the future (and present) is, and we could blow up Matt's numbers on Facebook (he should be at the same 30,000+ that some other groups are at). He deserves it because he earns it. His brand is better than a lot of what I see out there, which is why, once I found him and his world, I dove in head first. I pretty much ignore everything I used to do. Maybe there's a way to do both the boards and a Facebook group? "The Unofficial Royal Caribbean Blog Facebook Group" (which would still have Matt in it, so it would still be official, but calling it "unofficial" makes it sound rebellious and people love to stick it to the man! Sorry Matt, in this case, you're "the man," but we still love you!)

You think you're cruise addicts! I moved to Florida just so I could cruise more! :D :lol: :P

That's so funny! Because we were thinking the exact opposite. We just got back from our Freedom cruise where we had the Premium Package (PP). We loved it! But, we did wonder, once we got off, if we really got any sort of deal after all. So, on our Enchantment cruise in February, we're going to drink freely, with no thought to the money (so we'll have an apples-to-apples comparison), and see what our tab comes out to be. If it's higher per day, then PP every time! That said, one can always pick and choose based on the type of cruise you'll be on. If we're on a transatlantic, PP time! If we're in port 6 out of 7 days, then maybe no PP. We'll be sailing with our friends from the UK on the Navigator next year, and they drink like professionals. That's a big PP time! Socializing always increases boozing. Which is another reason for us to buy the PP - we always make friends on cruises and then the party's on! And remember, as Matt always says, if you have 4 days or more left in your cruise, you can order the package on board. So if it's home, port, port, port, port, sea, sea, sea, home (or whatever), then order the package midway, because you'll be drinking more the second half of the cruise. Too bad you can't order it for just the first half!

I agree that $100+/-/night/person is very hard to beat with all that's included in cruise, if not impossible. I need to stay at some agritourism places and B&Bs, with low cost eating, to make it work, price wise. But, overnight is not what I have in mind when I think of exploration. Perhaps in countries that I have less interest, I might be able to pull that off. Anyway, this is the dilemma. But again, there's no question when it comes to Sandals, et al - cruises win every time!

I'd agree that I'd not do a resort like something all-inclusive in the Caribbean or Disney, etc., but it's hard to really get into some Asian or European country in depth in just the few hours alloted. We've tried to merge cruising with exploration, but we just can't seem to make it fit.

What does? The land-based travel experience vs. the sea-based pleasure vacation?

One of these days, I think I'll need to join the group cruise. BUT WE'RE NOT DRESSING ALL FANCY-LIKE!!! ;) :D :lol: :wacko:

Not sure if you all saw this, so I'm re-posting it here. ******************************************************************** Well, there goes the neighborhood. http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-3/news/news.cfm?ID=6642 I'm sure Royal will be soon to follow. Believe me, on balance, I'm happy about it.

I didn't think so, which is why I went for it. You're a benevolent leader. :D Plus, it's Rick Steves - a totally different product. Speaking of, do you travel on land ever? I always wonder about frequent cruisers - how do they have the time and/or money for other travels if they're cruising so much? We have to keep our cruising down to 1-2 per year, tops, to be able to afford a travel experience on land once a year. Some people seem to cruise every month!