FManke

I don't think it's the stick that is hated; it's the user. Some people used them in inconsiderate ways and don't pay attention to others around them.

You are the correct. The stick itself is very innocent. :D 

This used to be done. In fact, cruises used to be priced and advertised with airfare included. Other lines are also starting to added discounts on airfare to entice cruisers. This has been done with European itineraries and Princess has a promotion where you can save $300 on your airline ticket if you book air through them. The luxury cruise lines already include the air, which in part is why they're more expensive.

Adding airfare would have a perceived added value to the price, whether or not the flight was actually available cheaper on it's own. Most people would pay the little extra to have it all bundled together. One stop shopping.

In some ships, they do have a poolside BBQ.

 

BBQ does seem to be making its rounds through the industry, though. Carnival has added Guy Fierri BBQ restraunts to most of its ships and Princess is added a surcharge BBQ restraunt to its Caribbean Princess which is in dry dock right now.

 

Personally, I'd like to see a French restraunt. I'd be okay with BBQ, but I'd want an international BBQ restraunt where they had traditional, Hawaiian, Korean, etc. That I think would be cool, unique, and eclectic and more importantly different from the rest.

That sounds awesome. I love Korean bbq and I personally can't get enough kimchee! There are so many different bbq styles, just in the US alone. I don't know about French. I'd be ok with it, but I think the time for French restaurants sailed, back in the late 80's. Pun intended! ;) Who knows maybe it's time for a comeback.

I saw them in use on Navigator in February and haven't read about any restrictions yet.  I know Disney parks prohibit them.  While I don't own a selfie stick, I can't think of a time they've impeded my ability to have a good and safe time, though the same could be said for shorts in the main dining room ;-)  [drops match and walks away]

The D in MDR stands for dining and not diner, right? ;) 

RCL has numorous food selections and styles, but what's missing?

Anything you would like to see added to menus?

I think a bbq concept would be great. Slow smoked brisket, anyone?

Totally agree, and I hope I didn't inadvertently imply inferiority with my last comment!

Nah, I got it. It's just like when all the Big 3 car companies, each had three classes of cars. Each for a niche in their market. I miss my old Pontiac!

This is a hot topic that Matt and I discussed on a podcast a few months back.

 

Yes, Celebrity has ships that are small compared to newer RCI builds, and Azamara has R Class ships which are quite small (30k gross tons).

 

Royal Caribbean is a "mass market" or "contemporary" line, but that doesn't make their product inferior.  This is just the way the market is sliced up.  Azamara is a luxury line, yes, but if you're a family looking for ice skating, flowriders, parades, etc then you're not going to feel Azamara is a superior experience - while others may if they have different goals and desires.

 

That out of the way, I do wonder how RCI will keep cruisers who prefer sailing out of say, Baltimore and Tampa, ports that are a looong way off of supporting larger ships.  There are consumers in that market that want RCI's product.  Will we see offers for residents of certain states that make it more appealing for them to go to alternative ports?  We'll see.  I do think it's an intersting stumbling block they'll need to conquer.

Maybe a solution would be to offer discounted airfare in certain cities to entice people to travel to a different port. it's not a perfect solution, but if you can't bring the ship to the people, bring the people to the ship.

Yes. As @monorailmedic would say, they're the "mass market" line. Primarily geared to families and the least expensive of the three for comparable itineraries.

 

Seems to be the trend with cruising companies. Have three lines to appeal to the different demographics. With the exception of MSC Cruises, whose parent company is mainly involved in cargo shipment.

Well, now I feel like I just bought a car with manual roll down windows! Last one I owned was from 1973! ;) 

They're the luxury line. As opposed to Celebrity, which is the "Premium" (their marketing word, not mine) line in the middle.

So that puts RCCL at the bottom, so to speak?

It's the instant gratification generation. I want it and I want it now. People don't want to wait for anything now. I blame microwave popcorn and instant rice! ;)  They even sell microwave instant rice! :blink: 

RC has proven they can make bigger and bigger ships and make money on them.  I think for the RC brand, bigger is the direction.

 

Sister company Azamara and Celebrity seem to pick up the small ship slack, so to speak.

I'm not familiar with the Azamara line. What are they like?

I just saw a post on another site where someone said selfie sticks are prohibited on RC cruises.Last year, I saw lots of folks with them. Does anyone know if this is true and if so, where is that listed on their site?

If not, they should be! I find them annoying. Just my personal opinion, but I am getting crabby in my old age. Sorry RBRSKI.

Never had an issue or even noticed a split/seam.

I won't bother me either, but my wife is a different story. She has a hard time sleeping away from home as it is. Thanks

With the current industry trend to continue to build bigger ships, any chance they will build new smaller ships?

I think, at least with a lot of people here, some of their favorite ships are the smaller ones.

At some point, you can only retrofit the smaller ships to a point to keep them updated with the newest amenities.

So I know that you can have beds pushed together to form a king size bed.

Do then they just make it as one bed, with one sheet and comforter? Still two separate mattresses, yes?

Anybody ever have any issues about the bed separating?

I know that people say there are no silly questions, but this might be the first.

30 - 45 minutes should be plenty of time.

 

Since you have a large group I would definitely recommend getting there NLT 30 minutes prior.  Officially, you are not permitted to save seats but if you are there early and you have enough people to at least stagger every other seat or something of that nature, you shouldn't have a problem.  I have seen some ugly interactions when people try to save too many seats so I would minimize that situation to whatever extent you can.

How early do you have to arrive to save pool chairs for a group of 8? ;) 

LOL. By the time I take my next cruise, I'll probably have come to terms with the charge. I'm also hopefully optimistic that the change will actually result in something positive--better food, quality, and service.

If any of the above items mentioned, improve, then it will be worth the $7.95 charge, maybe. I'm going to give room service a try in Oct. I won't know if it's better than before, never having cruised before, but I will give my honest opinion about quality of food and service.

As mentioned in the blog post, it is/was available on Grandeur.

I should have paid more attention then. ;)  Any word beyond those two ships then?

I know that most cruises sail fully booked. But, I was just wondering if any body has been able to upgrade or change their cabin on embarkation day?

If so, what was the price differential over booking that same cabin ahead of time?

Did you get a deal since that cabin would have gone unsold?

Not in my experience.  Only two places that offer that are Park Cafe or Cafe @ Two70.

 

 

Here is a look at the dining options from a Jewel of the Seas January 2017 cruise compass

 

Screenshot.png

Jewel, Radiance, Brilliance and Serenade all the same, no?

We actually currently have an interior cabin booked for the Apr 28 sailing of Majesty of the Seas - all 4 of us in one cabin. I see that there are several places with adjoining (only 1 set of connecting) cabins still available, including a string of 10 neighboring oceanview cabins. I wonder what the chances are that the prices on those will drop in the next couple of weeks?

I assume that if I want to change our current 1-cabin res to 2-cabins, I can call RC and just pay the difference?

From what I've read and my experience, albeit new, prices only go up as you get closer to your cruise.

 

"However....I still love having the shoe organizer and I will continue to use it". A shoe organizer, seriously? I usually cruise with a pair of sandals and one pair of "dress" shoes for formal nights. Don't need much of a shoe organizer for that. Of course, I do take a ration of you know what from she-who-mus- be- obeyed about my footwear. 

 

Maybe a two pair organizer would be helpful to you. Really cuts back on the clutter.  ;)

I just realized my long ago booked cruise for Allure in April 2018 is a balcony cabin on deck 14 which is right under the main pool. Wasn't careful in my cabin choice I realized. Anyone have experience with this? If I have to change cabins, I may have to change ships. Is it worth canceling and trying to rebook or is the noise at night when they clean and drag the chairs around, not that bad?

How do they clean the pools, if they are open 24/7? Do they just tell people to get out?

I can definitely do that lol. I'm just wondering why it says it includes cocktails if the standard ones are all priced higher than the limit of $12. There might be your daily drink but o was happily planning to work my way through the menu

I don't have that answer, but I know somebody else out there does.

Panthers  :D

Makes sense, seeing your location. You really took it to my Blackhawks the other night!