rjac

On 6/7/2025 at 1:21 PM, JeffH said:

@rjac, that's good to know! Thanks!!! Looking at visiting last week of May. 

You're welcome. Check out VIATOR.com. They offer many different excursions depending on what you are looking for. Have a great and safe trip! 

DO NOT GO June-August, very hot. If it is over 100 degrees the Greek ruins will be closed.

When you're a kid, it makes you feel proud when someone says "Wow!
You've gotten so big since the last time I saw you!"
As an adult, not so much.

19 muscles are activated when you open and drink a can of beer. I should be in great shape by the summer!

I was on my computer this past weekend printing off some lists. All of a sudden, my printer started playing different kinds of music. I guess it was jamming.

You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands. For instance, if they're around your throat, she's probably feeling mad at you. 

You are officially old when it takes longer to get over a good time than to have it.

Did you know, they're putting jokes on the back of bacon packages? It says, serving size two slices.

32 minutes ago, Cruiser70 said:

Hi

Going on the Symphony staying in a Sky Jr Suite what art the perks for the Suite Lounge. Reading different things. 
 Has anyone stayed a Sky Jr Suite lately ?

Thanks

Haven't stayed in one. Here is a link to help you out:Symphony of the Seas Junior Suite Details and Pictures 

45 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

Does it have  a "solarium-like" space instead?  It has an adults-only pool/hot tub area.  Was it the indoor space you missed?

We were on the Icon last month. We, too, missed the Solarium like on all the other RC ships we have been on and I let Royal know about our disappointment in the post cruise survey. As far as the "adult-only pool/hot tub area, it was a joke. A sign (as in 1) that said "18 years and older only" which was not enforced. Located on the aft end of the ship with practically no shade at all a small crowded bar and loud blaring music. The pool (small) and hot tub were filled with teenagers who looked well u der 18 years old. 

We will not be back on the Icon on future cruises. 

15 hours ago, Caleb Ultimo said:

I just sailed on the Icon of the seas last week. The ship is very nice but I really missed the solarium and the hot tub 

Us too! 

1 hour ago, Hooey said:

Does anybody Know if you rent a Cabana and the weather is bad do you get a refund? Going on October 12th.

Not sure by what you mean by bad. We were on the Icon two weeks ago and our last port was Coco Cay. The wind was so bad ( 30-40 mph) that the Captain of the ship could not dock the ship and he cancelled that port. We headed back to Miami and everyone got a refund for any excursions, activities, etc. for which they had booked/paid. Hope this helps. 

On 4/5/2025 at 8:39 AM, B2D2 said:

I’ve booked a Mediterranean cruise on Voyager of the Seas for August 2025.

Be prepared for the heat. We did a Greece cruise last July on the Explorer OTS. If it is over 100 degrees on the Greek Islands, they close the historical sight seeing features. We booked catamaran trips through VIATOR, the water was great! 

On 4/7/2025 at 7:55 AM, asquared17 said:

@rjac thank you for the lovely update!!

express boarding is always a treat; we got it once and were delighted and i’m so happy to hear your vacation kicked off in no time at all!!

 

also the maine lobster tails — steamed!! — sound amazing

it would be a tough sell to get some of my family on icon from the sheer size of her, but the gluten free section you called out is of interest for sure. 

thank you!!

You're welcome! I would hope that Royal adds a gluten free section to all of their Windjammers. 

7 hours ago, twangster said:

Care for a partial ownership of the Brooklyn Bridge?  I know a guy.

Hey, I know the same guy! 

"Kids sail for free" is a great deal for a family with a couple of children.

The Miami Terminal (our first time out of Miami) was impressive. New, clean and organized. Upon debarkation, our luggage was easily located thanks to the LARGE numbered signs. Our check in time was 12:00 (noon) and we showed up at 10:45 am in spite of all the texts and emails saying not to show up early. We had Express Check In on our Sea Pass paperwork and just breezed through the terminal and was on the ship in about 15 minutes. more bars and places to eat/get snacks that we could handle in just 7 days! The Park Cafe on deck 8 had the delicious Kummelweck sandwiches every day. Word of caution, they no longer use the one hand hold buns. The buns are now a definite two hand grip loaded with roast beef! Elevators, remember on all of the prior Royal cruise ships that had elevators towards the bow, center and aft of the ship? That had those buttons you had to select which flow you wanted? That many times kids would push all the floor buttons so you got an extended elevator ride and eventually got to your floor? Not so on the Icon. Elevator stations at the bow and aft, no buttons to push inside the elevator. Elevators are marked A-I and there are multiple key pads at each station where you push the floor number you want and an alphabetical letter is displayed. You go to that letter and within 30 seconds your elevator arrives for everyone going to the same floor you selected. GREAT feature! Great entertainment, book as early as you can. I recommend booking the Aqua Show twice, fantastic. There is an escalator on deck 5 that takes you to deck 2 (gangway) on port days. On Embarkation day and on Day 6, the Windjammer has a Seafood Station. All the shrimp, crab legs, calamari, lobster tails (yeah, Maine lobster tails that have been steamed not boiled) you can eat. And at the back of the Windjammer they have a Gluten Free Station (very considerate). 

Atricks & tonyfsu21,

A HUGE thanks for the recommendation about getting to Royal terminal at the Miami Port regarding traffic. We left the hotel at 9:30 (15-20 minutes from the port we were told by the hotel and van driver and arrived at the terminal at 10:45! Traffic was horrendous but moved along and the tunnel was closed due to construction. Thanks again for your tips! 

On 3/12/2025 at 9:31 AM, Matt said:

The equivalent space is the Hideaway on the back of the ship

Matt,

Was on the Icon last week. The Hideaway was 18 and older (not enforced) but a joke. Infested with teens of all ages and shapes, no shade to speak of and what there was by the bar was used by the afore mentioned. What ever happened to young folks getting off their butts to relinquish their seat for a senior citizen? The Overlook was also a disaster. There were 7,230 passengers on board. For the first time EVER, three counties in Florida had Spring Break at the same time, last week. As a result, the Overlook too was infested with children of all ages, shapes and sizes. It IS NOT designated an over 18 year old area either. FAR from the quiet, serene relaxing atmosphere of the Solarium on other RC ships. 

Sorry for the rant, I could go on but I won't. The Icon was just too big for us, plus no Solarium and sailing out of Port Miami. We'll stick to the Oasis Class. 

Icon requires you wear socks and long pants. They recommend elbow and knee pads if you have them. We were on the Icon last week and saw the Ice Rink, it was chilly! 

This WEEKEND, Icon of the Seas!!!

Is a reservation for dinner required or is it first come first served? Thanks!

rjac 

On 3/16/2025 at 10:13 AM, Pat Rice said:

Hello I hope that this post will not give you the same headache that it has given me. Every couple of years my family and I have a generational family vacation (This usually includes my parents, me, my brother, and my kids). This is my year to plan it, and I was thinking of going on a cruise. After our family meeting yesterday two family members are afraid of the open ocean. do you have any tips for first timers who are afraid to get on the boat, and how they can still have fun while forgetting that they are in the middle of the ocean??

 

thanks in advance

Hi Pat,

Show this to your first timers who are afraid to get on the ship

54 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

It’s hard to explain to non cruisers the feeling of cruising. I liken it to kids first entering Disney world. I get so amped up on embarkation day. Cruising is the best. 

What we love about cruising is you get to your cabin, unpack your luggage and the only decisions you have to make is where and what to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Beats the hell out of going on a vacation by automobile or worse flying to a resort for a week. On a cruise, you get to see a different port/location pretty much everyday. 

I would strongly recommend you have a travel agent set everything up for you if your family decides to do a cruise. [email protected] has been handling our reservation for our cruise this coming weekend and so far it has been smooth sailing. Please note that mei-travel is a sponsor of this forum and a lot of folks here book through mei-travel. By the way, I was the same way many years ago and finally caved in in 2006 when my brother in law kept bugging me after five years. I had the same fear about the ocean, getting sea sick, etc. We went on the Navigator of the Seas. When the cruise ended, my brother in law asked me if I liked the cruise. My response was "no, it was too short". We have become "cruise addicts " and have been cruising pretty much every year doing back to back cruises or cruises over 11 days. Hope this helps!