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Thanks for the suggestion...I found our ship lacking of things to do so the music got to me.

That is why I was wondering about other ships. I think the bigger ships are better for some many reasons.

I will consider Oasis or Allure!

Yea I find that the bigger newer ships are much better! I have been on 18 Royal Caribbean cruises and two weeks ago I just came back from one of their old boats Vision of the Seas. I have decided I will never go on such an old boat again. It was just to boring and not enough to do but i do recommend Freedom class ships, oasis class ships, and Quantum looks like it will be amazing! 

Yikes! Then I will add it to my list of "maybe not this ship"

What about the ships that sail from Port Canaveral or Miami?...do you know?

I suggest you try Oasis or Allure out of Ft. Lauderdale. Those are my two favorites and i found they play a variety of music and there is so much to do and so many places to eat and hang out that the music is not even the main focus. 

That makes sense.

 

But when I went walking around with bills AND quarters, there were VERY few machines that accepted them. Most machines had the slot blocked out, and only took those nifty cards! Felt so left out...Had to go SEARCHING for the few machines that took coins or bills.

I think I might know what you mean. Some machines make you put your sea pass card in so that they can track you and also you can earn points and redeem them for prizes at the cashiers areas. If that is not what you mean then I am out of ideas lol. I am surprised alot of machines have not let you put in bills. I know most machines don't let you use quarters anymore but I never saw a machine not let you use bills thats wierd. 

Isn't there a casino card you can get, too? I always see people with one that is tethered to their waist...

That is for people who spend alot of money is the casino.. I happen to spend alot of money in the casino and royal caribbean tracked my spending and invited me to become one of their "Casino Club Royale" players. We get a special card and membership number. It is so great because you get really good discounts on future cruises that only casino members get. I saved $1,000.00 of my quantum cruise just because I am a casino member so for me its worth it. 

make sure to let us all know how it goes!!

I will make sure to do that. I am hoping they have a big party!

Hi Stephanie , I haven't cruised with RC over the New year but we have with other cruise lines and it was absolutely fantastic  :)  :) and I am guessing that RC does similar to the following. From around 21:00 we went to the pool deck for a party and when we got there it was fab , we were given hats and blowers and even some glow sticks and then danced to a live band under the stars. At around 23:45 we were all given Free Champagne to see in the new year and then just after midnight we had a disco till the early hours it was AWSOME.

 

Click this link and it will show you New Year on the Oasis which i'm guessing will be similar to the Allure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s3iIo0nTog 

Thanks Dave, It sounds like it will be a blast. I'm glad you think it was worth it and I liked the link so thank you for that as well. 

HI Everyone, my fiance's parents have surprised our whole family and are taking us on Allure of the Seas on Dec 28 2014 during New Years Eve. I have always wanted to do this but because of the very high cost have never done it. I know Royal does special things on Holiday cruises but I am just wondering if anyone has been on a New Years cruise and knows maybe exactly what they do? Love to hear from everyone! - Stephanie 

I would like even after final payment day has come. If you notice the price for your cruise has come down that they honor the reduced price and give you money back. 

So once we book our baggage in we have to stay with it?

we cannot turn up at 11am, book our luggage in and then take a walk around the ship, I assumed once you booked the luggage in it was taken away and delivered to your room, people talk about tipping the porter, but if I have to stay with my luggage until I am allowed in my room then what is the point of getting people booked in early?

No, Outside the ship you drop your luggage off with the porter. Then through out the day they deleliver the luggage to the different staterooms. You do not have to walk around the ship carrying luggage. I like to get on the ship at 11:30. I go and have lunch at Windjammer, then I have a quick drink at the pool and by the time thats done its 1:00 and my room is ready. You will be fine don't worry and like I said as long as you drop the luggage off with the porter you do not have to carry it around with you. 

We have 450!total on board credit from RCI and expedia. Can they be used on alcohol, excursions, on board purchases, etc? Are there usually exclusions? I may have to call and find out.

You can use OBC for all the things you listed above. You can also use it for specialty restaurants and spa treatments.. Pretty much anything you would buy onboard. 

That wasnt my point at all.

 

This is not a cultural issue so don't even try to imply that. We give to homeless shelters, we drop clothes off at goodwill stores, we tip servers etc here in Canada as well..

 

My point was that the porter at the dock, lift's my suitcase from the ground to the cart....thats it. And the suggestion was made here that is worth $10! If thats the case, then every single person who does anything for you at anytime derserves a tip!  And I was not implying that porters are wealthy or that wealth plays a roll in tipping or not. I was simply statting that if everyone tipped the porters $10, they would be some of the best paying jobs in America or any country for that matter.

 

To each their own....I just don't think lifting my suitcase is worth $10. And by suggesting and setting that precedent, you make them come to expect that. Do you tip the check in person at your flight counter $10 for lifting your bag to the belt??

I personally tip $10 for the following two reasons #1 I am nervous that if i do not tip the porter that my bags will be lost or will not go to the correct area of the ship because the porter was mad that they were not tipped so they put my bags in the wrong spot... #2 I feel like it is a nice thing to do to tip someone who has to stand in the florida heat and lift my stuff even if its only 2 sec. I personally feel its the right thing to do...

 

I just would also like to tell you that yes when I am flying on an airplane I do tip the curb side check in guy so it really must be a personal preference... 

What would be an appropriate amount to tip the porter?

I personally tip the porter $10.00 and I usually have 3-4 bags. 

I had a party last night to celebrate my half century - Imagine my surprise when this was produced!

 

I hope my family gets me a cake like this!! 

Mine as of now is... 

 

1. Chops Grille

2. Samba 

3. Giovanni's Table

4. MDR

5. Windjammer 

 

But I agree with Matt that I might change my mind... Espically after I try new restaurants on Quantum! 

Really?....so i do a booking, pay $100  deposit. The I see a couple of months later its alot cheaper. So i suck it up and lose the $100 deposit to book a cheaper cruise.

 

They could come back and charge me the difference?

 

That would be the last cruise I would book with them if they did.....wow. I have never experienced anything like that in my 15 years of travels with any type of travels or company...hotel, air, cruise, resort, etc

You do not lose the $100 deposit if you find a cheaper cruise and cancel your original cruise. I have put down a deposit before and cancelled because I have found the rate went down. I cancelled my cruise then they refunded me the $100 i put down and then I rebooked the same cruise for less. 

At least one ship, I don't remember which, had a Brazilian steak house but the reviews I've seen on it weren't that flattering.

 

I had heard somewhere that they were supposedly replacing Rita's Cantina with Margaritaville but that may just have been a rumor.

Allure, and Radiance both have Samba the Brazillian steak house. I have been on Allure twice and every time I eat at Samba's and i love it. I think the meat is delicious its just they offer too much food I never can try all the different meats but if you are a meat lover its def. a restaurant you should try!

Thank you for your opinion! I loved Hairspray. I just love the music and dancing of Saturday Night Fever.  B)

I do too. I actually happened to see this play off-Broadway in Ft. Lauderdale about 10 years ago and really loved it. I just felt like on the ship they shortened it a bit too much but still it does have the great singing and dancing you know and love so i still think you should see it.. 

Thinking about booking a 5 night Liberty cruise in December when my wife has a break from her masters classes. I gotta see Saturday Night Fever before they take it off!  ;)

Tylor, I was on Liberty and saw Saturday Night Fever. It was a great show but in my opinion it was not as good as Hairspray or Chicago only because when Liberty was first built it was not built with the intentions of the broadway show so the sets and scenery were not as good as on Hairspray or Chicago. It is still worth seeing just in my opinion not as good. Liberty itself was a really great ship with lots to do. I'm sure you will love it! 

Just booked a quick July 12th 2014 cruise on Vision of the Sea out of Ft. Lauderdale for 5-nights.. Thats my next cruise.. Then I am going on Quantum of the seas on March 13th 

Just want to make sure, if 1 person gets the package dso does everyone else in your stateroom?

No only one person has to get it, but if you buy the package for only one person and you use it to give someone in your stateroom a drink and royal caribbean catches you they will suspend your package with no refund. 

Is there much difference between a Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony and a Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony on the Navigator of the Seas? I have booked a Superior D3-6548. I am a little confused as to how the D numbering system works. My main concern is that the room is by the elevator, the RC employee I spoke with assured me it would not be an issue. What does everyone think? Can I find a better room than this one? Is it worth the extra $ for the superior over the Deluxe? Some descriptions say that the superior has a couch on the balcony while others do not.

I actually love staying near the elevator! I have never heard any noise and its just easier being near an elevator. I also agree agree with Dave and like being closer to the aft elevator because I find more things I like to do are on the aft of the ships. 

I would totally do the Crown Loft. I stayed in a Grand Suite on Allure and of course it was very nice but if I had the chance to do Crown Loft for same price Crown Loft is the way to go!

When I was on Navigator before the Refurbishment they use to have 1 day for mexican dishes and then one day for chinese dishes. I liked when they did that my friends and I looked forward to going to Windjammer to see what new things they would put out

Do they have Shrimp with cocktail sauce??... My kids love to eat that on our Disney cruise and I know that they will be looking for it!! I can't wait to eat at the Windjammer as it is our tradition to go have lunch as soon as we board!

I have been on 7 different Royal ships and unfortunatley I have not seen shrimp with coctail sauce at the Windjammer but they can get it every night for dinner in the MDR. 

I enjoy the pre-cruise planning because to me it's fun.  When it comes to vacations, I'm definitely type-A and like to research my options but again, I enjoy all of it.

Matt, I am the exact same way. If I am going on an Oasis-Class ship the second royalcaribbean.com will let me schedule shows and restaurants I am right there doing it and loving every minute of it!