Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:01:53 -0500 (EST)
From: "Luisa Alfonso" <LUISA_84120@hotmail.com>
Subject: Calendar

December 9 - 17, 2006 - Radiance of the Seas - Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Lauderdale - Luisa, Casey,Robin, Jeff, Mike, Michelle, Jeremy,Rose, Becky - LUISA_84120@hotmail.com - Anniversary/possible engagement - I am so Excited for this cruise. I hope I get engaged on the cruise it would be so romantic.

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Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 13:34:10 -0500 (EST)
From: "Tom White" <jthomaswhite2003@yahoo.com>
Subject: New Years Eve Cruise

We are booked on the Serenade of the Seas from 12/30/06-1/06/07 leaving from San Juan. My question is concerning New Years Eve. What kind of parties do they have and what is the attire. I am guessing formal wear, but would like to hear from anyone with any knowledge or better yet experience.

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Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 09:05:27 -0800 (PST)
From: "Libby Child" <libby_child@yahoo.com>
Subject: Experience on the Vision - Response to Previously Asked Questions

I was sorry to read about your cruise on the Vision of the Seas. My husband and I have cruised for the last 10 years, sometiimes on RCCL and sometims on Celebrity, Holland American, once on Carninval and once on NCL, and by far, our best expereinces have been with Royal Caribbean.

The editor of the website had some good ideas about what to do if there's something your don't like, and I can only emphasize that. We've never had a 'perfect' cruise, but have been delighted with most. And we've had to ask for some things and/or point out problems, but they've always been graciously handled.

We would also suggest you try Royal Caribbean again; we have a cruise planned for December and several after that, and we're eagerly awaiting each of them.

Libby and Bob

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Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 08:54:52 -0800 (PST)
From: "Libby Child" <libby_child@yahoo.com>
Subject: Boarding time for the Adventure - Response to Previously Asked Questions

When I was on the Adventure last January, the boarding process started about Noon. I believe they purposely have a late sailing tine when a ship departs San Juan to assure that all incoming flights (with or with delays) have landed.

Have a great time. They Adventure's Captain is scheduled to be Captain Nyseter who is very experienced, and has been one of the Captains of the Adventure for several years.

Libby

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Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 07:08:05 -0800 (PST)
From: "Libby Child" <libby_child@yahoo.com>
Subject: Dining options - Response to Previously Asked Questions

My husband and I cruise frequently with RCCL, and though this as never been a 'hot' issue, we do often find that we like to change seats and so we can get to know others at our table (we always ask to be at a table for 10). We're usually with several other couples, as RCCL does their best not to put us with a group of 8 traveling together, as we might be treated as the 'odd couple' (perhaps not far from the truth). More often that not, everyone likes the experience of changing seating options. However, your thoughts about asking at the first night's dinner is a good idea.

Libby (and Bob)

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Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:21:16 -0500 (EST)
From: "Libby" <libby_child@yahoo.com>
Subject: Calendar

May 6 - 13, 2007 - Freedom of the Seas - Miami to Miami - Libby and Bob - libby_child@yahoo.com - 1st Anniversary Cruise - We're fortunate enough to be joining a group going with Louise Calder, Godmother of the Freedom, for her first anniversary cruise of the Innaugrual Cruise, May 2006.

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Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:17:03 -0500 (EST)
From: "Libby" <libby_child@yahoo.com>
Subject: Calendar

March 4 - 18, 2007 - Adventure of the Seas - San Juan to San Juan - Libby and Bob - libby_child@yahoo.com - A Winter Get-Away - We love the S. Caribbean, but usually go out of Miami; we decided to depart from San Juan, and since it's a longer trip from Michigan, it made sense to do two 'back to back' 7 nights on a ship we've gotten to like the size of (Voyager class) with a delightful captain we got to know on a smaller ship. We're looking forward to the nice island stops as well as the relaxing days at sea.

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Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:39:34 -0500 (EST)
From: "Libby" <libby_child@yahoo.com>
Subject: Change in Cruise Plans

How do I change a posting on the cruise calendar? Our plans for March have changed, and instead of a cruise on the Empress, we'll be doing a back to back on the Adventure. I can't figure out how to delete the EM of the Seas so I can add the Adventure.

Thanks,
Libby

Hi Libby,

To change your calendar listing, just send us a new listing of the correct information, then add "Note:  this replaces my listing on (whatever date) on (whatever ship)," and the replaced listing/s will be removed.

Best,
Lois

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Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 09:15:41 -0500 (EST)
From: "Peggy" <KiddyNurseVa@comcast.net>
Subject: Calendar

November 11 - 18, 2006 - Navigator of the Seas - Miami to Miami - Bruce & Peggy - KiddyNurseVa@comcast.net - 20th Wedding Anniversary - We are going day after tomorrow--wheee!

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Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 16:23:31 -0500 (EST)
From: "Helen" <hghuffman@shaw.ca>
Subject: Review - Radiance of the Seas - October 28 - November 5, 2006

Our cruise was an 8 day caribbean and it was wonderful. We loved the ship and the food and staff were terrific. Our waiter, assistant waiter and cabin steward couldn't do enough for us. We only did one tour which was a snorkel in Antiqua. I am not a good swimmer and we were taken a ways out by catermeran and the water was rough, so if you are inexperienced you should deffinetly check on where you will be going to snorkel. We have cruised before on the Royal Caribbean Legend to the Panama a few years ago and it was a wonderful experience as well. We will definetly do another cruise with Royal Caribbean.

Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 14:43:46 -0500 (EST)
From: "Carol from Canada" <canuckwdwnut@hotmail.com>
Subject: Dining Room - keep same seat at table entire cruise or not?

Fellow Cruisers - I'd love to hear other opinions on whether it is OK to sit at different locations (at your assigned table) on different nights of your cruise.

On our first 7 RCCL cruises, my daughter and I were at different seats every night, to get a different view of the dining room and scenery through the windows, and no one minded at all - fellow table mates also seemed to enjoy the variety, and many initiated the change, if they arrived first.

On our recent 8th cruise, when we switched spots and were the first arrivals that night, our table-mates (who were also fairly experienced cruisers like us), looked EXTREMELY upset - like they wanted to pull us out of our chairs bodily! They stood behind us in our chairs like they expected us to move - we didn't, as we didn't realize right away what the fuss was - then they asked why we moved chairs, as "we were not supposed to". We told them during other cruises, "chair-switching" was common, as it is nice to have a different view, so they sat down and eventually calmed down.

I would really appreciate hearing opinions on whether we were rude to switch seats or not, plus hear from anyone who has had a similar experience. I still feel badly about causing an awkward moment - that was certainly not our intent!

For future cruises (we have 3 more RCCL cruises booked in the next year), we will be sure to bring this topic up on the first dinner each cruise, to ask our table-mates if they would like to see various views or not for upcoming nights, so we don't offend anyone else.

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Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 11:33:13 -0500 (EST)
From: "Claudia" <draper.claudia@sympatico.ca>
Subject: Boarding time

How soon can you board the ship? I am on the Adventure of the Seas. Dec 10-17 2006. We sail out of San Jaun, but don't leave till 11 at night...but how soon can we start boarding?

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:36:01 -0500 (EST)
From: "Lori Flores" <loflo45@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Review - Vision of the Seas - October 22 - 29, 2006

The ship itself looked attractive enough, there was ample seating around the pool/deck areas and in the casual dining room.

Our room steward was wonderful, our waiter and head waiter were very good, the assistant waiter however left much to be desired. To be fair, I have to wonder why these employees are directed to spend so much time doling out the one dinner roll allotted to each guest than is worth it - time is money and it seems ridiculous to devote so much time to a piece of bread. I finally gave up on getting a glass of ice tea and drank water with dinner every night.

The food was average - the lobster was tasteless. The buffets in the Windjammer Cafe were OK, though one night the entrees were duck and fish -I love fish so that works for me, but my travelling companion does not, and the duck just plain (literally) stunk. I couldn't get it past my nose let alone my mouth.

The beds were the worst I have ever slept on in my entire life. They were sheet metal cots with approx. 6 inch thick, very low density foam pads - even with two "egg crate" mattress pads I was still extremely uncomfortable and couldn't sleep more than a couple hours at a time, getting an average of about four hours consecutive sleep per day. RCI's response to this? "Well you can't expect Sealy Posturepedic", and of course "No one has ever complained before". I heard many guests on ship complaining bitterly about the beds, including one woman who had cruised extensively and said these were the worst beds she'd ever seen.

RCI chose to refurbish the cabins while guests were on board, so guests on the 2nd deck were given an 8 hour window of time in which they were expected to vacate their cabins so that carpets could be replaced. They were also asked not to have any belongings on beds or furniture.

The "mattresses" were changed out during disembarkation, taking up two elevators and a lot of floor space - to hell with the guests trying to disembark with luggage, etc.

Service in the Schooner Bar was awful. If you didn't add to the already 15% gratuity you were ignored. One waiter would look right at us, and then turn his back - serving no one.

We only made one port due to Hurrican Paul (we were sailing the Mexican Riviera). Can't blame this on the cruise line certainly, but it would have been nice had our onboard experience been a little more accomodating.

If I ever cruise again, which I doubt, it certainly will not be with RCI.

Ed Note:

As a very experienced RCCL cruiser who is happy with food, service, and beds, I am sorry you had a disappointing cruise, Lori.

Regarding the service in the dining room, if you should have any problems getting iced tea or any other item, let your Head Waiter know and he or she will quickly correct any problem.  That is their job.

In addition to hot dishes available in the Windjammer, there are carving stations (alternatively beef, turkey, lamb...), sometimes sushi, and cold items as well as vegetarian selections.  Have you tried the pumpkin lasagne?  It sounds unusual, but is terrific.  The Windjammer is where you can sample items you might not otherwise order.

Regarding the mattresses onboard Royal Caribbean Ships, all mattresses are being replaced during the last quarter of 2006.  I've experienced these wonderful new mattresses and can say sleeping will be a pleasure for all future cruisers.

I hope you will cruise Royal Caribbean again.

-L.A.E.

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