Jamesszy94

On 1/24/2024 at 7:45 PM, AnneB said:

Hi. So excited to be going to Nz on this amazing ship! First time on RCL

Ovation is a great ship! Hope you enjoy. 

What's the pressure on the showers like? Do they have options to change the pressure? I hate low pressure showers.... 

What are the elevator wait times like?

18 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Here's proof that paper Compasses exist.

It's a shame they didn't spruce them up or make them a bit fancier for the inaugural... you'd think being as ICONic as Icon is... they'd put in a lot more effort. Alas, it is what it is. Thanks Ashley.

That last bit about the departure details though

What I want to know is if they've gone away with paper cruise compass's entirely, or can you still get them and what do they look like?

Anything special or are they the standard cruise compass you'd find on any other ship?

6 minutes ago, LandstromCruise said:

if you are interested I would definitely reach out to a TA and see what prices they have.  some of them might still have group rates available for some sailings at about half the cost of what the website shows.  Not a guarantee, but worth checking.  

Yeah, thanks for the advice lol. I've checked with MEI Travel but they only deal with US prices - like all travel agents do (at least ones based in the US) and Danny from Harr Travel doesn't deal with Australian clients.. yet, I live in Australia, so if you convert USD back to AUD, it'd probably be about the same. I'll just wait till 2034... when the prices come down real low 

But on top of that... I'd have to fly to the US (which would cost even more for flights and hotels) but it's not like Icon is travelling to any port that I particularly want to visit, I don't care about PDCC..

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Lunch at Aquadome Marketplace again. 

Today we did the noodles and Mac n Cheese. Noodles were not impressive. They are not stir fried. They just put all the items in a bowl for you and off you go. WJ noodle station is better. At least that is stir fried while you wait. @Matt can vouch for me that I did say this. WJ for the win in this area. Mac N Cheese was ok. Nothing gourmet or anything but a good snack. Then we both went back to get Greek again. This time I got the rice base, I liked the pita better from yesterday. 

 

Does this mean you've converted back to being a WJ person?  at least for noodles? 

1 hour ago, GatorCruiser said:

I feel like such a dork wanting to be there hanging with people I’ve never met (you mods) but I do. Thanks to everyone posting. I know it can be a pain but I’m loving it. 

I agree so much! I'm just sitting at my computer looking at Icon of the Sea prices... but that's all I'm doing - looking, I can't afford to sail on her... so I'll just live vicariously through this live blog and the mods

7 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Hubby said it was “not too bad”. Today on a sea day, for mixed wave, he waited about 30mins for each turn. If that is “not too bad” for the FlowRider, I don’t know what is considered bad lol

Really good! Real lobster pieces in it, small but there, and full of flavour. 
Also, we had to ask if the CK was rounded up from SY cause the chicken noodle soup was identical to the original one we fell in love with on SY last NYE. Our waiter was not sure which chef made the soup lol

 

Left the kids at home

 

Your husband must be very patient if 30 minutes is "not too bad"... I waited almost 30 minutes just to take 2 photos with Mickey Mouse on the Disney Cruise I went on last week... 30 minutes felt like almost an hour cause there was so many people... Haha about the kids!   Glad you are having a great time though! 

2 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

If QN has cafe 270 then you should get breakfast there and stay out of the WJ. 

Yeah, QN has two70. I've never tried two70 for breakfast, but I have tried the Solarium Bistro - the Solarium Bistro is definitely less ratchet than the WJ buffet (for lack of better word). Maybe this time I can convince my dad to not go into the WJ at all... unless we absolutely have to.

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

It’s formal night! 

Just you and the husband this time? No kids? 

14 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

For me, I used to love the WJ in our early days of cruising. Now, I avoid the WJ like the plague for several reasons: 

- way to crowded

- like @Neesa said, wish they would serve because so many people don’t have proper buffet etiquette

- the food quality is no longer that good, and it’s very repetitive

I see, yeah, these are valid and fair points and I can understand why people would be turned off by the Windjammer.

I do try to avoid the Windjammer during the peak hours - but we have no choice for breakfast... might just order Room Service this time or try somewhere else. But usually I go around 7-8pm where it's not as crowded because most people are either at the shows or the casino/other activities - anyone recommend any good places to have breakfast on QN class ships? 

You're right about the proper buffet etiquette, so many times I've seen people just grab the food with their hands or they drop something on the bench or the counter next to them and then they just leave it there or put it back into the food. 

1 minute ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I don’t personally like the windjammer, however, it’s a better option than the main dining room IMHO. The food in the dining room has gone way down hill & fast!

The last time I was on Ovation (March, 2023), the MDR food was nothing to scoff at, like it wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything amazing either, but I remember when I sailed on her back in 2016 - because she was still relatively new at the time, I remember the MDR food being so good! Maybe for my upcoming New Zealand cruise... I'll avoid the MDR and finally try one of the specialty dining venues...

LOVE seeing the ICONic new ship from Royal! Here's to many more exciting days ahead for all of you.

Legitimate question though: Why does everyone not like the Windjammer?  

I mean my guess would probably be because the food is kinda crap? 

I don't mind Windjammer food honestly... but that's just me, as long as I'm fed, I'm a happy camper, but interesting to get other people's takes on the Windjammer.

What would be considered "smaller" size though? (in the context of Royal Caribbean)

Is it smaller than Icon but bigger than Oasis?

Is it smaller than Oasis but bigger than Quantum?

Is it smaller than Quantum but bigger than Freedom?

Is it smaller than Freedom but bigger than Voyager?

Or will it be smaller than Voyager but bigger than Radiance?

I have a feeling it'd probably be somewhere between Radiance and Voyager class - Maybe 120,000 GT?

11 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Do you have traditional dining or My Time Dining?  If you have My Time, you will get a table for 2 if you request one.  

If you have traditional dining, then use these instructions from the Australian RCL website:

 https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/faq/questions/can-i-request-a-particular-type-of-table-or-location-for-dining-?country=AUS

 

I have traditional dining for 5pm. Thanks, I'll follow the link

On my last cruise in March, we were put with two other couples in the main dining room, I don't mind this normally, but I would have preferred just a table for two. I'm going on another cruise in March, How do I request one before I get on the ship?  Cause the reataurant manager seemed convinced that there were no more tables for just two people on my last cruise.

6 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

If you cannot see your cruise use the "link a missing cruise" feature in the app or on the website.
If it does not allow you too I recommend you contact Royal Caribbean and have them fix this issue-even have them verify you are booked!

All good, the cruise showed up today.

Might have just been delayed.

I've used both US and AUD to tip waiters/room stewards before, they'll take any because like someone said above, it means they can spend it onshore on what they want

10 hours ago, ChessE4 said:

That doesn't make a difference. Our cruise showed up in maybe a week. Perhaps try using a laptop to view your CAS account and see if the trip is there.

The trip is not there when I use a laptop

Starting a roll-call here for anyone else that will be on this cruise.

Mine also won't show... but I've only paid the deposit...

On 12/12/2023 at 9:22 AM, asquared17 said:

we actually didn’t even clear it with each other!  

yeah, let’s go, gang!!! fun times for all!!!

 

guys i’m fading fast and the weather was only so-so today. so while they may give me my vintage card early… i am glad we have the 5pm dining slot tonite

 

That menu looks so good!! And I love your dress!

Glad you're having fun!! So jealous

1 hour ago, Chili said:

How many fingers have you got , I have 11  . LOL.

 

I believe Royal and our state Gov was assessing a terminal at Kembla before COVID.

I think we should get a plan for something in the new year.

Brisbane is supposed to be Oasis capable but it’s can’t fill Quantam .

OPT is supposed to be Oasis capable but I doubt the terminal could process 6,000 people.

But Kembla with a nice terminal with a train station in it would make sense. It’s quite  a nice train ride and a destination in itself.

 

 

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/port-kembla-port-5085

I've got a feeling the reason that Brisbane can't fill up Quantum is because the destinations that it goes to are pretty much all the same, it's literally just some combination of Tasmania/Queensland and/or South Pacific. For most people those destinations are one and done. There's no variety, so people are going to pay less money to cruise to somewhere they've been before...

The thing is, Kembla is based in Wollongong - which is still about a 45min-1 hour train ride. 

Honestly my last cruise back in March - the checkin and embarkation process at the OPT was a complete s**tshow (for lack of better word). They didn't have enough counters open, and then when we finally got a spot at one of the checkin counters, they couldn't verify our identities which meant we had to wait even longer because other people also couldn't verify their identities. People were waiting in line for almost an hour, there was no ventilation inside. Just an unpleasant checkin experience. So yeah, you're probably right, it probably won't be able to handle 6,000 passengers... which is why OPT needs a seriously multi-million dollar revamp, or just build an entirely new port altogether. But we all know what the government has been spending their money on recently.... 

44 minutes ago, F1guynz said:

Six months seems like a long time for a dry dock and I don't recall any ship being out of service that long.

I think any dry dock will be more of a technical update/ refresh rather than adding anything new. Odyssey is the newest Quantum (ultra) class, and it basically has mostly the same features as Ovation.

This website compares the two ships.

Odyssey of the Seas vs Ovation of the Seas - Ship Comparison (cruisespotlight.com)

Yeah, you're right. 6 months is a long time for a dry dock. I guess during those 6 months she'll just be sent somewhere else...

21 minutes ago, Chili said:

We are just a hillbilly backwater,nobody cares about us .   LOL

 

Theres strong possibility port Kembla may get a terminal. Don’t know how big a ship can get into Kembla but the Wharf looks like it will take a Oasis class.

Plus Andrew Forest is currently building a L.N.G. Facility there .

Yeah but hasn't the Kembla cruise terminal been in the works for the past 3 years now... I've heard about it since the start of the pandemic and nothing has come to fruition.

Yeah, you're right about us being a hillbilly backwater country - nobody does care about us! It's not like we have the 14th highest GDP in the world...