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Jamesszy94

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Posts posted by Jamesszy94

  1. Australia/NZ Cruising News

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, F1guynz said:

    The pricing the suites on Anthem is WOW (and not in good way). Seems to be about double what we have been paying on Quantum.

    The GLS we had on Quantum cost around $13,000 NZD in total, now that is the cost PP.

     

    Probably cause the sailings are just new and those suites are often in high demand. I expect them to go down in the next few months

     

  3. Australia/NZ Cruising News

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, F1guynz said:

    Not very exciting itineraries and we will have been on Voyager in Croatia in September.

    Now we need to wait for Asia release to see if there is anything enticing there, it would be cool to try Spectrum at least once.

    I would also like to try Spectrum. If I had to fly to anywhere to cruise, it'd be Singapore or Hong Kong, since they're places I actually like.

  5. Australia/NZ Cruising News

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Vanessa77 said:

    It was ‘amped’ prior to the last time it was in Aus for the 19/20 season. However the amplification was quite lackluster in my opinion. Added some slides, removed Johnny rockets, didn’t add any of the pool deck coolness added to navigator or mariner. Added more cabins and some were refreshed. It was still a nice ship, though I think it really needs another complementary eatery - ideally pool side - as literally there is only the cafe, buffet, and MDR. 

    Even if her amplification was lacklustre, honestly, it'll be nice to just have a bit of variety. We've had Ovation (not sure about Quantum) for like 7-8 years, it'll be a nice change... even if it does mean we have to fly to Brisbane for Voyager. Sydney getting Anthem is nice I guess... it is still a Quantum-class and it's basically a carbon copy of Ovation save a few differences.

    Hoping Royal will give us Brilliance also and she'll alternate between Brisbane/Sydney. Honestly, the South Pacific, Queensland, Adelaide & Tasmania and New Zealand itineraries are getting boring. There's no variety. If we had a smaller ship like Brilliance, she could tender/dock in places like Norfolk Island, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji etc. At the moment from the "leaks" from a couple of days ago, it looks like the itineraries didn't change, and it's still South Pacific and New Zealand - I'm hoping Royal has a surprise up their sleeve, but I'm not holding my breath.

  7. Australia/NZ Cruising News

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    2 hours ago, mattymay said:

    Me too! Definitely booking at least once, some longer South Pacific with extra ports from the usual would be perfect!

     

    Maybe the Red Sea issue has worked in out favour this time, too hard to send it anywhere else so might as well keep it in Brisbane year round? I would definitely chose Voyager over Carnival Splendor and the P&O ships that are here in the winter.

    I'm hoping Royal has some surprise ports on their South Pacific cruises. Hoping Fiji or Vanuatu.

  10. Australia/NZ Cruising News

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    36 minutes ago, Chili said:

    It would be good if it does but who knows. I suppose no one else wants Voyager so we may as well take it.

    I don’t know where they would send it in our off season.

    I don't think it's that noone wants Voyager - It's probably just that Royal has nowhere to send her to. Assuming they're not going to send any ships to the Middle East/Red Sea region for the foreseeable future - so that rules out Voyager being sent there, and I doubt it'd go to Asia - since Asia would have 4 ships

  16. Australia/NZ Cruising News

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    10 hours ago, twangster said:

    I was comparing the markets on the basis of route stagnation, not the actual ports of call. 

    Unless it's a casino comp I can't see myself booking a Royal ship to the Caribbean.  Yawn.  Same old stuff on every itinerary.  Just about every Royal itinerary in the Caribbean is all about beach, sun, water sports, etc.  No history.  No culture. 

    Seriously repetitive.  Different island, same s***.  Is that you feel about Royal in Australia? 

    Granted for many, especially those that have to suffer a miserable winter somewhere, beach, sun, water sports, etc. sounds pretty freaking great.

     

    Ah, yeah, fair enough then. I was mainly just saying that because of how many ships are in the United States that there's more route variation in a way.

    Honestly, once you've been to Adelaide and Tasmania for the 194871209451294th time, like you said, it seriously gets repetitive. I guess those types of cruises aren't aimed for me. Maybe it's time to try different cruise lines that sail to more exotic destinations.

  17. Australia/NZ Cruising News

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    9 hours ago, twangster said:

    Curious what your expectations were that were not met.  Not trying to start or suggest anything.   

    Do other lines have more diversity to better ports of call?

    Are there new or unused ports of call that Royal mysteriously avoids?

     Trying to understand what Royal is missing that other lines do better with.

    Florida even has itinerary stagnation but there are more ports of call reachable from Florida so it's more of a hidden issue unless you are a frequent cruiser.  California and Texas are subject to a lot of itinerary stagnation due partially to a lack reachable destinations that fit desirable cruise lengths.   Bayonne has very limited options for ports of call since it's so far North.  

    What is Royal missing in Australia?

    Carnival and P&O Australia goes to ports like Moreton Island, Fraser Island etc, and P&O goes to Fiji. P&O also goes to Norfolk Island. But what do I know. 🤷‍♂️

    You can't really compare ports in the United States to Australia imo, because while, yes, you still need to travel to get to other ports around the US, at least the other ports still have some variety in their itineraries. Unlike Australia where we literally only have Quantum and Ovation and they basically have identical itineraries.

     

  20. Odyssey / Quantum -- Royal's Dud?

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    On 4/2/2024 at 11:12 PM, jeffmw said:

    I respect everyone's opinions here. Most things in life are subjective.

    I will say, however, the predominant nature of the responses 1) cite the fact that Quantum ships were developed for cold weather, and/or 2) appear to be written by people without young kids who are on cruises to have a mostly 'adult' experience. All of that is fine. It makes total sense for there to be cruise ships with more indoor options if they're going to be deployed outside of warmer climates. It also makes total sense for there to be cruises with more adult-driven experiences (although I'd argue the lack of Central Park and the Aqua Theater with no replacement is a bit underwhelming in that respect.)

    However, for most of Odyssey's short history -- including this cruise I just went on -- it has been deployed in the Caribbean packed with families with young kids -- which is increasingly Royal's target demographic.

    If I were taking a Celebrity Cruise in Alaska, Odyssey would be an amazing ship. But for a cruise full of kids needing things to do during two sea days, it underwhelmed. The SeaPlex continually kicking kids off the sport court to have adult sports competitions, giving the hundreds of kids no where to go on a ship built for cold weather, was particularly unideal. It was a Spring Break Caribbean cruise with no waterslides, no mini-golf, no sports court, no Boardwalk, no carousel, no Abyss, no ice rink, and no designated karaoke venue. It does, however, have a lot of specialty restaurants and a giant crane that you could pay to stand in and take pictures. To me, that wasn't an even trade.  

    I also didn't mention the massive footprints of the Music Hall and Boleros. There are huge back areas of these venues far from the entrance, which serve no purpose other than to provide huge spaces for people to drink. Again -- great for a Celebrity or Virgin ship catering to adult experiences. Not ideal for one catering to families. 

    Could it have been that you went during school holidays/holiday season?

    I sailed on the Disney Wonder a few months ago with my niece and nephew and they seemed to have a great time - even though the Wonder is like 30% smaller than the Wish - ergo less things to do - but they seemed to still be entertained by all the meet and greet characters, the shows and just the general vibe of the ship. I guess it depends on how small your children are - I've noticed that young kids are entertained easily.

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