General Chat

Mac

It seems some people love them, some hate them, at least now I have gathered some good advice and the main thing to come out of it is that we should have a short cruise first and see if we like it.

Hope you're feeling okay now

Barb xx

Thanks for that Merlin wmsl, me on a pedalo, should have seen us once in a canoe, it took half an hour to dock the blooming thing, he was paddling one way, me the other, laugh I almost wet myself......

Barb xx

Barbara, With your £11.50. Would ,nt take much luggage if I were you, You can,t get much on a "Pedalo" **M**,rofpmsl.xx.

I think a luxury ship it has to be Carol, thanks for all the info, I'm going out now but will look in later.

bye for now
Barbara

xx

For children there are these Areas a section for three to five year olds with seven computer stations, a new art studio area and an ocean liner-themed play area; a room for six to eight year olds, that has been quadrupled in size from previous Voyager-class ships, featuring seven computer stations, themed evenings, Adventure Science, including an exploding volcano, and Adventure Art by Crayola projects including making masks from a variety of regions of the world; and a section for nine to 11 year olds, with seven computer stations, five flat-screen televisions and such activities as Survivor Night, conducted by the year-round counselor staff of 14 (which is beefed up with two more for school holiday periods).

Teens have three special areas to hang out in and their program has been divided (sensibly) into two age groups: 12-14 and 15-17. Navigator has a Back Deck, an outdoor area for teen parties with music and buffets. Fuel is the teen disco, complete with dance floor, Internet Cafe with eight stations, four flat-screen televisions and bar for nonalcoholic drinks (a Coke Card for unlimited drinks is $20 for the whole cruise; an Ocean Potion Card is $24.95 for 12 non-alcoholic specialty drinks).

Beyond this, teens also have The Living Room, a place to hang out during the day with games, books, flat-screen television, futuristic furniture and Internet Cafe with seven stations. This last place is so cool the counselors have to politely chase many an adult away! A large video arcade is nearby and so is Johnny Rockets to satisfy the teen appetite with burgers, fries, shakes and other goodies. Group baby-sitting is available from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Adventure Ocean. Cost is $5 per hour per child. Children must be at least three years old and fully toilet trained -no diapers or pull-ups. In-cabin baby-sitting is available through Guest Relations and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Children must be at least six months old. The charge is $8 per hour, in cash, for up to two children within the same family; and $10 per hour for a maximum of three children in the same family. There is a two-hour minimum requirement.


Fellow Passengers
Average age is early 40s. People from all walks of life with a good mix -couples, singles, and many families.


Dress Code
Casual is the key word during the day. There are two formal nights when dark suits and cocktail dresses predominate. Other evenings, most guests don casual attire.

For anyone thinking about it a cruise is a great holiday, never had any sea sickness and far less bumping about than on any plane I have ever been on, the cost they say about £100 per day per person but increases with type of cabin you book, there are far cheaper cruises but once you have been on a Luxuary cruise ship these don't seem to compare.

We will seriously look for a deal soon Mac said a Nile Cruise is nice too so will look at that option too. I'm sure we would love it and we are used to being together a lot because we work together all day so that wouldn't be a strain, will have to save up a bit before we tackle a world cruise though.

Our ports of call included Western Mediterranean Ports: Cannes • Florence • Gibraltar • Lisbon • Monaco • Nice • Rome • Sardinia • Villefranche, it was great would I go again yes can't wait, world cruise if I had the money yes please. Value for money, everything on our ship was charged in dollars and we only spent half of what we expected on board as the exchange rate was so good.

Wow Carol

Thank you for that information, am packing as we speak, it sounds wonderful and really what we are looking for, how long were you away at Sea.

We want to do it properly if we are going to go and so would be willing to pay that bit extra for luxury, but I think a world cruise may be too long 111 days is the one we have seen. so we are thinking of taking a shorter cruise, but that does sound wonderful Thanks again.

Barb xx

My last cruise was with Royal Caribbean wow what a great experience. We drove to Southampton and as we pulled up our luggage was taken from our car direct to our state room, a lovely large room with bathroom with shower, alsohad a lounge seating area and balcony, a fridge tv, telephone ect!
We went to our boarding check in desk very fast and straight onto the ship where we were directed to The Windjammer Cafe on Deck 11 in the Plaza area, they serve buffet-style breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner. Several stations including salad/sandwich/soup, meat carvery, entrees, burgers, breads, thirst quenchers and frozen yogurts make it easy to get your choices for a meal. Waiters come around the Windjammer offering coffee, iced tea and lemonade to diners -- a nice touch, so you don't have to be getting up or juggling drinks with your food, all included into the cruise price. then to our canin and we were off, sailing out of Southampton we were called first to muster station you put your lif jacket on in your room and then are directed to the exact place where you would go in an emergancy, back to our cabin unpack and then take a look around the ship firs entertainment There are options galore: Broadway-style productions, like Now & Forever Singers and Dancers performing music from such shows as Dreamgirls, The Producers, Mamma Mia and Fosse, as well as variety shows are presented in the 1,350-seat, Metropolis Theater. One of the most unique features at sea -- and found on all the Voyager class ships -- is the ice rink in Studio B; typically there's at least one performance if not more on every cruise. It received a standing ovation during our sailing.

There is piano music in the signature, nautical themed Schooner Bar, and Latin jazz with a side of "mojitos" and other popular Latin drinks beckon in Boleros. The Ixtapa Lounge has karaoke and themed night parties. Smokers will enjoy the Connoisseur Club, a cigar lounge housed within the Ixtapa Lounge. You can sample a pint or two at Two Poets Pub within sight of portraits of such luminaries as Dickens and Thackeray. Or sip bubbly at the Champagne Bar. There is smooth live jazz at the Cosmopolitan Club in the Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 14. Sports fans can head for 19th hole, the sports bar. Not tired yet? Well, a popular late nightspot is The Dungeon, the two-story disco with a decor evocative of Medieval Europe. Otherwise how about One of our favorite areas on board the Solarium, a pleasant enclave themed to Tuscany, with a pool, fountain, two Jacuzzis, bar and lots of chaise lounges facing the sea, along with greenery, bronze horses, and murals inspired in the Tuscan countryside of Italy.

Nearby is the ShipShape Center on Deck 11, with its mirrored, ocean-view aerobics area with spinning bikes and free weights, ocean-view gym with 20 Lifefitness treadmills, 14 Lifefitness elliptical cross trainers, six recumbent bicycles and four stationary bicycles, Lifefitness weight machines and steppers, additional free weights and a round thalassotherapy pool. A stereo system and television monitors provide entertainment while you work out. The ShipShape Spa, one deck above, is a serene oasis with an ocean-view beauty salon, 14 massage rooms, one dry floatation room, Rasul suite and a relaxation area with sea views.

Other fitness and recreational facilities include a jogging track (five times around equals one mile) an outdoor sports deck complete with mini-golf and golf simulator; a full-length sports court for basketball, paddle ball or volleyball; a curvy in-line skating track; and of course, the awesome Rock-Climbing wall -- 200 feet above the sea. Are you game? If not, it's fun just to watch!
The public rooms An $8.5 million art collection graces the ship -- with a mind boggling 2,213 art pieces in the public spaces. The Royal Promenade, in essence a seabound mall, is the heart of the ship. It's four decks tall, longer than a football field and anchored at each end by atriums. Anchored by shops, bars and casual eateries, on special nights, the Royal Promenade comes alive with street entertainment such as jugglers, magicians and mimes and at 12:30 a.m. -- at least once on every voyage -- it sets the scene for a fun Mardi Gras parade with music from various parts of the world. Monumental sculptures adorn each atrium, including our favorite work of art onboard, Aquaria, by American sculptor Larry Kirkland.

This spectacular sculpture that spans the 11 levels of the Centrum atrium, has 6,000 shimmering, hand-gilded spheres inspired by the bubbles produced by scuba divers. An assortment of lounges range from intimate enclaves like the Champagne Bar to Vintages (a wine bar in association with Robert Mondavi and Beringer Blass Wine Estates with wine appreciation programs for both novices and aficionados), and the Two Poets Pub.

Other public spaces include an ocean-view, intimate wedding chapel for 60 guests on Deck 15, the Vegas-style Casino Royale (with a New Orleans theme here) featuring nearly 300 slots, eight blackjack tables, three Caribbean Stud Poker tables, three roulette wheels and a craps table. There's also a library, a cyber lounge with 19 computer stations: royalcaribbeanonline -charge is 50 cents per minute (and a flat surcharge of $4.95 per transmission to send a video postcard). Like on all Royal Caribbean ships, there is no self-service launderette, so pack accordingly.

My dad was Royal Navy, but in the war of course, never knew they called it the Grey Funnel Lines, thats funny lol

Lol I wish 'Grey Funnel Lines' = Royal Navy

I must admit I think we will have to do a couple of short cruises before we would contemplate going on a long cruise, but we are quite sociable and do go out quite a lot so this wouldn't be a problem

I don't think I like the sound of being herded around the attractions though DET, will take that on board :))

What kind of uniform did you have to wear Col, you weren't the captain were you?? lol

I went on several with 'Grey Funnel Lines' trouble is I had to wear a uniform ;-)

lol Shimms, see you later hun.

xx

When you're both seated on the balcony of your Stateroom, being spoilt like royalty, looking out at the beautiful wide ocean, I shall raise my glass to you both too.

Off to do that dreaded h*ousework, back later. xxx

It is good to have a dream Shimms,
We've both worked hard all our lives and I think I would like us to have a reward for that when we retire, so will start saving like mad and one day when OH and I are sat on the balcony of our stateroom lookin out at the wide ocean, I'll raise my glass and say cheers to everyone on GR, we made it.

Right what can I sell? lol

xx

Oh Barb

What are you like lol?!

How you brighten my day, truly you do!!! :)))))))))))))))) roflol

You'll get there, tis good to have a dream. xxx

Morning Shimms

I am saving hard towards a cruise but only have £11.50 so have to think about ways of saving some more, may have to start up the car boot sales again but I haven't got any left .......

xx

Morning Barb, everyone ...

I haven't yet ohhhhh, wouldn't it be lovely :))

Have friends who have been on Cruises of various sorts and each one of them has had such a wonderful time.

xxx Shimms xxx

Thanks for that Mac, hope your'e feeling a bit better this morning, now a Nile Cruise would be fantastic, I've got a great book my hubby bought me about all the treasures and places to see, so will look into that Mac .

We need to save a bit more Squirrel if we're to have a good time, will cut out the chocolate now...lol

Barb xx