Michael Vitale

All about convenience and $$$. Offsite parking is cheaper but a hassle, hauling luggage and waiting for a shuttle. Depending on the length of the cruise the savings might not be worth it.   On a long or transatlantic cruise, we drive over from Florida’s West Coast, renting a car one way, and drop it off 2 miles from the pier. Otherwise I drop my wife and luggage off, park at the port, and figure the price for convenience is part of the cruise price. 

By the time this ship is built, if Icon is any indication, it will cost $10,000 for an interior guarantee.  No thanks.  
It's said in some quarters that they're still recovering from the Covid shutdown/losses.  That's why the obvious cost cutting measures on board, such as blah, unimaginative dining choices, elimination of the turndown service, and institution of charges for room service, among other things.  But throwing another $1B+ onto the debt load ???  No problem. 

By the time this ship is built, if Icon is any indication, it will cost $10,000 for an interior guarantee.  No thanks.  
It's said in some quarters that they're still recovering from the Covid shutdown/losses.  That's why the obvious cost cutting measures on board, such as blah, unimaginative dining choices, elimination of the turndown service, and institution of charges for room service, among other things.  But throwing another $1B+ onto the debt load ???  No problem. 

By the time this ship is built, if Icon is any indication, it will cost $10,000 for an interior guarantee.  No thanks.  
It's said in some quarters that they're still recovering from the Covid shutdown/losses.  That's why the obvious cost cutting measures on board, such as blah, unimaginative dining choices, elimination of the turndown service, and institution of charges for room service, among other things.  But throwing another $1B+ onto the debt load ???  No problem. 

Just finished 5 nights on Radiance.  Service was wonderful.  Food in MDR was acceptable for the most part.  Portions small, menu limited.  Prime rib ok, beef tenderloin very good.  Skipped the MDR the rest of the cruise based on menu.  However, the drop in quality in the Windjammer is stark.  When we began cruising, the Windjammer was an event.  Officers wandered around proudly.  Roving bar, fruit carvings, huge displays of deli, fruits, desserts.  Chocolate night !!!  I remember cookouts on the pool deck with again, huge displays of fruit carvings, and bread offerings.  Sadly, the WJ has become a small version of Golden Corral.   Who ever heard of carving stations serving chicken ?? 

Just finished 5 nights on Radiance.  Service was wonderful.  Food in MDR was acceptable for the most part.  Portions small, menu limited.  Prime rib ok, beef tenderloin very good.  Skipped the MDR the rest of the cruise based on menu.  However, the drop in quality in the Windjammer is stark.  When we began cruising, the Windjammer was an event.  Officers wandered around proudly.  Roving bar, fruit carvings, huge displays of deli, fruits, desserts.  Chocolate night !!!  I remember cookouts on the pool deck with again, huge displays of fruit carvings, and bread offerings.  Sadly, the WJ has become a small version of Golden Corral.   Who ever heard of carving stations serving chicken ?? 

Just finished 5 nights on Radiance.  Service was wonderful.  Food in MDR was acceptable for the most part.  Portions small, menu limited.  Prime rib ok, beef tenderloin very good.  Skipped the MDR the rest of the cruise based on menu.  However, the drop in quality in the Windjammer is stark.  When we began cruising, the Windjammer was an event.  Officers wandered around proudly.  Roving bar, fruit carvings, huge displays of deli, fruits, desserts.  Chocolate night !!!  I remember cookouts on the pool deck with again, huge displays of fruit carvings, and bread offerings.  Sadly, the WJ has become a small version of Golden Corral.   Who ever heard of carving stations serving chicken ?? 

Just finished 5 nights on Radiance.  Service was wonderful.  Food in MDR was acceptable for the most part.  Portions small, menu limited.  Prime rib ok, beef tenderloin very good.  Skipped the MDR the rest of the cruise based on menu.  However, the drop in quality in the Windjammer is stark.  When we began cruising, the Windjammer was an event.  Officers wandered around proudly.  Roving bar, fruit carvings, huge displays of deli, fruits, desserts.  Chocolate night !!!  I remember cookouts on the pool deck with again, huge displays of fruit carvings, and bread offerings.  Sadly, the WJ has become a small version of Golden Corral.   Who ever heard of carving stations serving chicken ?? 

Just finished 5 nights on Radiance.  Service was wonderful.  Food in MDR was acceptable for the most part.  Portions small, menu limited.  Prime rib ok, beef tenderloin very good.  Skipped the MDR the rest of the cruise based on menu.  However, the drop in quality in the Windjammer is stark.  When we began cruising, the Windjammer was an event.  Officers wandered around proudly.  Roving bar, fruit carvings, huge displays of deli, fruits, desserts.  Chocolate night !!!  I remember cookouts on the pool deck with again, huge displays of fruit carvings, and bread offerings.  Sadly, the WJ has become a small version of Golden Corral.   Who ever heard of carving stations serving chicken ?? 

we absolutely LOVED this place.  no need to book an excursion.  just jump in a cab to Magens Bay.  Pay to get in, rent chairs & umbrella, and you're all set.  theres a cash bar with very reasonable drink prices.  $4.50 for Miller Lite !!!!  

I have also found after all these cruises we've been on so far that often times, you find yourself wearing an item for a very short period of time. If you shower, wear a dress shirt to dinner, then take it off after dinner, hang it back up, I don't see any reason why that shirt can't be worn again later in the week. Yes, I admit, I'm a re-wearer. ?

I have also found after all these cruises we've been on so far that often times, you find yourself wearing an item for a very short period of time. If you shower, wear a dress shirt to dinner, then take it off after dinner, hang it back up, I don't see any reason why that shirt can't be worn again later in the week. Yes, I admit, I'm a re-wearer. ?

Maybe it's me, but after my first cruise experience where I realized that a Walmart sized bag costs $30 to have laundered, I found it rather easy to pack extra socks/underwear/tee's. I'll pay $30 for a souvenir, or 2 drinks, or lunch at Johnnie Rockets, but I refuse to pay $30 to wash a few t shirts. Ironically, I find the dry cleaning services onboard to be quite reasonable for those dressier items. 

Yes, you are wrong ?    There’s been much speculation about Liberty being replaced by a larger ship at some point, but nothing has been announced yet. Liberty will be in Galveston until at least the end of the spring 2021 season. 

Just curious, if you’re sailing out of Galveston, and you’re concerned about how small Enchantment is, why not book on Liberty ??  She’s a great ship, my fav, and has all the bells and whistles. Certainly she’s not Oasis class, but she’s an awesome ship. 

Just curious, if you’re sailing out of Galveston, and you’re concerned about how small Enchantment is, why not book on Liberty ??  She’s a great ship, my fav, and has all the bells and whistles. Certainly she’s not Oasis class, but she’s an awesome ship. 

I have also found after all these cruises we've been on so far that often times, you find yourself wearing an item for a very short period of time. If you shower, wear a dress shirt to dinner, then take it off after dinner, hang it back up, I don't see any reason why that shirt can't be worn again later in the week. Yes, I admit, I'm a re-wearer. ?

I have also found after all these cruises we've been on so far that often times, you find yourself wearing an item for a very short period of time. If you shower, wear a dress shirt to dinner, then take it off after dinner, hang it back up, I don't see any reason why that shirt can't be worn again later in the week. Yes, I admit, I'm a re-wearer. ?

While I can’t say I remember cruising back in the old days, 10 years ago, I have cruised 10 times over the last 4-5 years. With all due respect to the original poster, I cannot believe any of that story. Sorry. I can’t remember one time where I wasn’t treated as a valued guest. Oh sure, the occasional Windjamaire busperson who isn’t smiling perhaps, or the random pool bartender who looks like he just can’t pour one more drink of the day. But outright rudeness????  Nahhhhh

My 2 cents:  in doing some preliminary research for a May 2020 sailing out of Barcelona, it looks to me like flights from EWR to BCN are much less costly than from JFK to BCN. For whatever reason.
Another odd thing, it looks like I can fly to EWR from here in DFW, then EWR to BCN for about half of what it costs to set up a DFW to BCN flight. 

Seems to me RC is aiming directly at the “family” market. Splashaway Bay, bumper cars, mini golf, water slides, etc. The nightclub crowd is a totally different demographic. Certainly not an absolute, but judging by the comments here it’s apparent their numbers are decreasing. Heck, just think of cruise ship demographics overall. Isn’t the largest percentage group 50+ ?  That’s me. And I’m not going to any nightclubs any time soon. Heck, I’m not even awake at that time any more ?

Seems to me RC is aiming directly at the “family” market. Splashaway Bay, bumper cars, mini golf, water slides, etc. The nightclub crowd is a totally different demographic. Certainly not an absolute, but judging by the comments here it’s apparent their numbers are decreasing. Heck, just think of cruise ship demographics overall. Isn’t the largest percentage group 50+ ?  That’s me. And I’m not going to any nightclubs any time soon. Heck, I’m not even awake at that time any more ?

Seems to me RC is aiming directly at the “family” market. Splashaway Bay, bumper cars, mini golf, water slides, etc. The nightclub crowd is a totally different demographic. Certainly not an absolute, but judging by the comments here it’s apparent their numbers are decreasing. Heck, just think of cruise ship demographics overall. Isn’t the largest percentage group 50+ ?  That’s me. And I’m not going to any nightclubs any time soon. Heck, I’m not even awake at that time any more ?

Seems to me RC is aiming directly at the “family” market. Splashaway Bay, bumper cars, mini golf, water slides, etc. The nightclub crowd is a totally different demographic. Certainly not an absolute, but judging by the comments here it’s apparent their numbers are decreasing. Heck, just think of cruise ship demographics overall. Isn’t the largest percentage group 50+ ?  That’s me. And I’m not going to any nightclubs any time soon. Heck, I’m not even awake at that time any more ?

My advice: if you’re “not a big drinker”, you don’t need to be committing $47/day to an alcohol package. #alacarte ?