Cruise forum for Royal Caribbean Line?

[zbuddy]

Just wondering if any of you know of a great forum for the RCCL. I have found this site to be chock full of great tips. We've done 2 Disney cruises and are doing the Mariner of the Seas in November. Just wondering if anyone knows of good, "unofficial" info sites for that cruise line.

If anyone here has done the big RCCL ships and Disney...what are some tips?

zbuddy in GA

 

[luv2tvl]

www.cruisecritic.com has a LARGE RCI forum! Enjoy!

 

[tezb]

We are planning on doing the Mariner in June 2004...Please let me know how it goes in November....am anxious to hear all about it. We have never cruised anything other than DCL til now.

 

[gail1771]

We have been on Adventure of the seas. It is the sister ship to the Mariner. A beautiful ship. We sailed our of Puerto Rico last July. We loved the cruise. We are going on our first Disney Cruise on the 4 day Wonder on 8/24/03 than off to the Wilderness Lodge for 4 days. Anyway you can check the site cruisemates.com they also have alot of information on the Voyeger class ships. We are also going this February on the Exployer of the seas with our children staying home. We are taking them on the 10 day Disney sailing on 12/18/04. My daughter will be 7.5 at the time of the sailing and my son will be 3.5. We are on deck 5 cabin 5024. The first cabin on the forward side. I am hearing alot of negative information in regards to the noise level and traffic in that area. Since you have cruised Disney before have you heard this information?? I wonder if I should switch cabins??? I know it has a secret porthole which is a plus. Please feel free to e mail me if you have any questions in regards to the Mariner. I would appreciate it if you have any information regarding this cabin and deck. We have been on three RCCL ships and the Carnival Glory for their first cruise out. That is another story. Sincerely Gail1771

 

[noseybuddy]

I was just reading some of the reviews on www.cruisecritic.com. I was reading about RCCL Navigator because I was thinking about doing a cruise with RCCL. Also was reading reviews about the Magic because I have booked this cruise for the first time. Was having doubts if I should do the Magic or not, my kids being 12 1/2 and 15. After reading these reviews about the Navigator I think I probably made the right choice in booking with Disney. Kept reading complaints about lines and more lines, too crowded and food being just ok. The reviews for Disney seemed much more positive. I love going to DW. The only time I was a bit disappointed with DW was last August 2002. Felt it just wasn't the same as it use to be. Not as clean and staff wasn't as nice and caring as usual. I hope that I don't experience this on the Magic. I hope it is as wonderful as everyone says.

 

[tezb]

It's hard to say Nosebuddy because everyone has a different opinion about what they want/expect in a cruise. I heard great things about RCCL and after doing 3 DCL cruises am anxious to try something new! I have heard the opposite about the food though. I have read that DCL is just okay and RCCL and other cruiselines have better food.

You will probably enjoy DCL as well. Just don't have high expectations and you won't be disappointed. A few people on this board expected so much I guess and came back saying they were disappointed....However that is a small percentage also.

We are leaving DCL mainly because our kids are older teens now and a soon to be 18 yr old and we don't feel DCL has as much to offer for their ages anymore. My DH and I also would like something more for adults, night life, casinos, etc. The Mariner and other Voyager ships sound like they have everything you could imagine. We're not really going for the Ports anymore just to experience what the ship has to offer.

I think you will enjoy DCL, it's a great cruise line also.

 

[mac_tlc]

zbuddy,

We (me 43, DW 44, DD 16, DS 8) have sailed DCL twice with a third scheduled for November and the Voyager-class ships twice, The Explorer last August and the Navigator in February. Have the Mariner probable for Feb '04 and the Voyager a definite in October '04 from NYC. I have a fairly detailed comparison between DCL and the Voyager-class RCCL ships on my web site. E-mail me and I can give you the address.

Both are very good. We did not experience the issues that nosebuddy describes on the Navigator. In fact, the lines were extremely manageable, even during President's day week. We thought the varierty of food was better than DCL, and much more availability outside of the formal dining rooms, especially on the Promenade. Everyone is different, I guess.

Also on my site are the Compass activity sheets from both cruises. They are a good source of info. I tend to agree with tezb, we enjoy a little more night activities for adults, including the casino and the art auctions, and no ship I have sailed on comes close to the options on those ships.

As far as forum sites, also try www.cruise-addicts.com

mac_tlc

 

[noseybuddy]

tezb

I still have the Mariner of the Seas on hold for July. I have 2 more days to decide before I give up the ressie. I don't know which one to pick. I want to be on the Magic for NYE, but I also want to sail on Mariner of the Seas next summer. Didn't want to do 2 cruises that close together. Well i do, but DH doesn't really want to. If only my daughter was able to go to the teen club, my mind would be set. Wish they would change the age like RCCl.

 

[noseybuddy]

OK, thought I had made up my mind. Now I am confused again. Maybe I should do just both Just can't seem to make a decision anymore. Always worried that someone isn't going to be happy with the vacation.

 

[mac_tlc]

noseybuddy,

Seems to me like you have no choice... you have to do both !!! You can always pay the deposit on the Mariner ressie for now and if you cancel within 60 days of sailing, you get your $$ back... You have to put up some $$ now, but you can always change your mind.. Availability and prices most likely to go up for the summer cruises..

Go ahead, you can't take it with you !!!

mac_tlc

 

[noseybuddy]

mac_tic
My thoughts exactly!

 

[tezb]

Do it Nosebuddy...mac is right!

We are going 6/20/04 on the Mariner? Want to join us? RCCL board had a cruise group rate going for the week. I have a ressie on hold too w/ RCCL but by booking w/ the cruise group I could save approx 560.00!

Also, if you don't care about which rooms at this time, the deposit is only 25.00pp then in January you pay 225.00 pp more and final due 3 mos prior to cruise. Check out the cruisecritic.com and you can see dates for the cruise group rates...it will explain more about it too.

 

[Mjasp]

Noseybuddy...Why can't your DD go into the club. Doesn't DCL have a teen club for 13 and up? I know they have 10-12, but whats after that?

 

[noseybuddy]

At the time of sailing my daughter will be 4 months shy of her 13th birthday. She also is going into 7th grade. She does not want to be with the 10 - 12 year old kids. She wants to be with her brother in the teen club. So, all that I have read on this boards tells me that she doesn't have a good chance of being let into the teen club (Common Grounds). I hear they only let them in a higher group if they are within 1 month of their birthday.