PRC

My last Freedom sailing was 11 months ago (end of May, '16).  As I recall it was usable, but nothing you could stream with.  Email, a quick news check, or Facebook as long as you don't go crazy uploading tons of photos were fine.

Hell for a 3 night Enchantment I'd be tempted to do Chops all 3!

I have a difficult time ranking them against each other.  

Some have been great because its a new ship for me or a port or two I've never been to.

Some are great because its a different region (Alaska vs Caribbean).

Some are great simply because its nothing new: its a familiar ship, familiar ports, and I don't feel the need to "not waste a second" and can just enjoy "being there".

knock on wood I've never had a bad one, and hope i never do!

Three "RCCL" ships showing for sale right now.

Its a guessing game, as they don't give much detail to the public, but in trying to combine the photos and the slim details it appears to be:

1) Photos indicate Vision/Rhapsody twins.  Year mentioned indicates Vision.  Listed at $200 million

2) Photos and year mentioned indicate Grandeur (from the Grandeur/Enchantment twins)  Listed at $300 million

3) Photos and year indicate Majesty's sister Monarch (admits its a Sovereign Class ship, now sailing with RCCL's Pulmantur line)  Listed at $125 million

In the latest public announcements from RCCL, Bayley mentioned that while Empress is the largest they can take to Cuba now, soon Majesty would be able to dock there.  To me that shows an intent to keep her around for a bit rather than move her to their smaller brands like her sisters were.

7 minutes ago, lollilb said:

Thanks @PRCYeah that's exactly right. We're there 7 days then cruise then back fir the return of our holiday. 

 

That was my concern. I've seen all these crime dramas where they get called in because the person hasn't been seen for days lol. 

Yeah I was going to leave the extra clothes I won't need on the cruise but take all the valuables etc. 

I would assume that the hotel would have no issue.  Just let them know that no housekeeping would be needed, etc.

If i'm reading this correctly, you have a hotel booked for 18 nights, and 4 of those nights (somewhere in the middle) you will jump on Majesty.  correct?

I've never done such but I would think that the hotel wouldn't care as long as they are getting paid for the room what difference does it make.  But like i said, I've never done it.  Would you be completely removing all posessions from the room for those 4 nights or would you be leaving things at the hotel until you return?

I would let them know though, as you wouldn't want housekeeping to report you gone and consider the room and your things "abandonded".

Specialty restaurants won't take a reservation past then, same with MTD.  WJ will start to close down a bit earlier than posted but won't throw you out.

Here are a couple videos i shot while on Serenade last November.

One is a ride on the glass elevators, the other a "walkaround" from a water taxi while in St. Lucia.

Just now, mom2mybugs said:

Wish i knew what my 14 year old is going to do!   We are trying MTD this time.   If we eat early she will likely eat with us,  but if we eat late she will be with her friends.   We'd like to be just the 2 of us if she isnt with us and don't care as much if she is.  Not sure other make reservations we can do.   Im sure you can't request just 2 at some meals and not care at others!  Jane

With MTD, you can make a res for each night in advance, or simply walk up and say "table for x".  You may wait a few minutes, but you can vary table size at will with MTD.

I've noticed that I tend to favor the starboard side (like 90%).  No particular reason, I guess I book it without realizing it.  

Southbound Alaska I purposely selected a port side balcony, but I don't think there was any advantage to it for me, as if it was daylight I wasn't down in the cabin anyway.

Different menu each evening.

4 hours ago, klaconqueso said:

Given that I have no choice but to fly in the day of my honeymoon that leaves the day after my wedding, I am going to choose not to read this article and hope that the honeymoon gods show their favor.

When my daughter got married in '07 (in Orlando) we sent them on Freedom from Miami for their honeymoon.  

We drove them down that morning and it all worked out... I was the only nervous one!

TheNativeChoice, in Costa Maya is great.  Run by 2 locals (Ivan and David...we had David as out guide), we had a fantastic time.

Radiance Class ships remain my favorite.  

Brilliance is the only one of the four I have not sailed on.  

25 minutes ago, fmanke said:

And what is that for us uninformed?

In a very un-detailed nutshell this is wht foreign flagged ships cannot transport in the US from one port to another without stopping at a "distant" foreign port.  

"Distant" meaning Europe, Asia, South America, or the ABC Islands.

A lot more to it than that, but thats why Alaska one-way sailings are between Seward and Vancouver, not Seattle.  Or why repositioning sailings from one US homeport to another go and stop at one of the ABC's or Cartegena, Columbia.

Also why NCL had to flag one of their ships in the US (at a huge financial operating cost) to sail solely within the Hawaian Islands without having to sail all the way to Kirabati for a stop (the closest foreign soil)

The PVSA is a lot more than what we cruisers refer to as the Jones act.  I agree it is out dated and serves no purpose, but that one would take years to unravel...

Poolside big screen movies from the Navigator 9 night sailing earlier this month:

Moana

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Dr. Strange

La La Land

Masterminds

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Inferno

They usually had two per evening, rotating the early and late times of each selection.  On evenings where there were other things going on at the pool deck (white attire/black light party, etc.) there was only one.

Just now, Matt said:

Come spend the night with us and join the pre-cruise fun!

Now THAT is tempting...

Cambria's are nice.  This would be a good choice!

2 minutes ago, RestingBirds said:

I'm glad you mentioned this.  Forgive me for asking, but I've always wondered why at any buffet i have to get a new plate eventhough I'm the only one whose been using it since it's been washed.  I always comply, just seems like more work for the cleaning staff.  What's the reasoning behind this?

Prevents anything 'contaminated" from coming back close to the serving area.  For example, tongs used in the serving line could touch something existing on the p[late that had touched the fork that had been in your mouth, and so on, and so on.

long shot? Yes, but what the heck.

Packing for a 2 week cruise:

Yet another instance where I am thankful for my "Y" chromosome!

seriously... pack for 1 week and re-use... 99.9% of the people on week #2 will not have seen you on week #1. (full disclosure, I suggested that to my wife back in the day and I just got "the look")

These aren't mine, but i had a pair just like it as a gag for a long time.

May have to make another pair...

I may live in Florida now, but the Texan in me refuses to go the "flip flop" route.  I have been known however to bring out some "beach boots"... :P

I've stayed at all the joints on 17th street.  Hyatt pier 66, Hilton marina, Renaissance, HI Express, Extended Stay, Embassy suites.  All are good places.  if you're flying the hyatt pier 66 is over the big bridge from everything else so it will be quite a hike or a cab, but from the others everything is walking distance to all the shops and eateries and quite safe.  

I think Matt was investigating a group rate somewhere but i don't know where that stands or if its still a possibility.