We looked at that board one day. Along with the notes about Friends of Bill W. someone had posted a note for a meeting of Enemies of Bill W. They were meeting at 3:30pm at the Champagne Bar.
Ouch. That's both very funny and seriously warped.
We looked at that board one day. Along with the notes about Friends of Bill W. someone had posted a note for a meeting of Enemies of Bill W. They were meeting at 3:30pm at the Champagne Bar.
Totally agree with this. We were a bit surprised by the percentage of elderly passengers - and I don't just mean recent retirees in their 60s but downright elderly. I've never seen so many canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters on a cruise before. Quite a few people really had significant difficulty getting around, which poses a pretty big challenge on a ship in general and particularly one as large as Oasis, especially at times like the last day when we were in rough waters and the ship was swaying quite a bit.- clientele: this is neither good or bad, but I feel like the crowd skewed very very "retiree".
The only 2 places where we encountered smoke (and we are both super-sensitive to that) were in or near the casino or in the smoking section on deck 15 (which we accidentally walked into one night not realizing it was there). Other than that, we found the ship delightfully smoke-free.- smoking: could have been much worse and i think smokers would love this cruise line, but it was noticeable and gross to us
We never encountered that. Where did it happen? What were they selling? Spa services?- upsell: man I thought the spas at DCL were bad, but this was embarrassing. I felt really gaddfor the crew sent out to harass you while waiting in line for food etc.
That was the only sales pitch we got, once at dinner and once in the bar that night. Personally, I wasn't bothered by that at all. I really found it to be more informative than upselling.the second to last night I actually bought a wine tasting someone was peddling but mostly because it was $10 with the drink package.
When I first read this I thought you might be talking about the spa attendants trying to sell you product after your service. My experience there was decidedly low key. After my Tip to Toe special on Falmouth day, I had to actually ask for a product that I wanted to buy.- upsell: man I thought the spas at DCL were bad, but this was embarrassing. I felt really gaddfor the crew sent out to harass you while waiting in line for food etc.
That's interesting, Jeff. We never encountered them selling dinner packages. Where did that happen to you?After further consideration of @sambycat's post though I think this refers to the hustling of the drink and dinner packages. Yes, I found that a bit annoying.
This is one thing that totally annoyed us and I complained about it in my comments to RCCL. The use of the Promenade, the main indoor public area, is inappropriate. The daily barrage of sales of cheap crap, costume jewelry, watches, scarves, handbags, etc. made navigating that area such a pain in the butt. And the frenzy with which other passengers approached those sales was ridiculous. I think what they really need to do is ditch the high-end shops that were always deserted (Coach, Tiffany, Kate Spade, Michael Kors) and replace them with the stuff that people actually want to buy - namely all of the things they were selling in the middle of the Promenade. Do they really need 3 high-end handbag stores on one ship?Also, did anyone love the shopping on board or art? Seemed like cruisers were going crazy over 10$ shiny cheapish looking caftans and purses and it added to the mall like atmosphere. And you can golf for a chance to win a tag heuer watch or something? Disney has the cheesy shopping talks and trunk shows too but they seemed easily avoided even when in the shopping area and of course the actual merch on Disney ships is unique and interesting and at least for adults, tends to be stuff you can't find elsewhere.
I wonder if RCL doesn't make money by leasing these shops. Actually the more I think about it, of course they do.I think what they really need to do is ditch the high-end shops that were always deserted (Coach, Tiffany, Kate Spade, Michael Kors) and replace them with the stuff that people actually want to buy - namely all of the things they were selling in the middle of the Promenade. Do they really need 3 high-end handbag stores on one ship?
This sailing skewed older than almost any other cruise I have ever been on...except Princess to Alaska. It was even worse!! A couple of reasons I discovered for this...the casino was holding one of their tournaments where they bring back winners from other sailings (tend to be an older crowd). The other is this sailing had a lot of availability still, when this happens they start offering free or reduced priced sailings to their high level C&A members, casino players as well as FL resident offers. It tends to be an older crowd that has the flexibility to take advantage of these. Especially in Florida in December (snow birds!).
When I read some of these comments, it reminds me just how much Disney has changed the cruising industry. Many of the things mentioned I consider to just be part of cruising, but for those who cruise DCL I can see why they would seem so different. For the most part, DCL is the exception not the rule.
I am sure I have said this on the show....I believe Disney Cruise Line is the standard, second to none in my opinion. In many ways they took the "cheese" out of cruising. But, like anything, you pay for the best. And for many, that price is to high or just to difficult to justify. For me as a Platinum Disney cruiser, it just started to feel to been there done that. The dining room menus, the shows, the onboard activities. I know for some, it is this familiarity that keeps bringing them back. For me, it makes me want to see what else is out there. I have been cruising for almost 30 years, there is something about it I love. There are plenty of things I don't as well...but for me, the good still outweighs the bad!
Typically other cruise lines will be less than Disney up front. Some as much as half or more. BUT, on these lines you will typically spend more onboard. You don't have to, but most of us will and the cruise lines know this. Thus the nickel and dimed feeling some people report. For most at the end of the day, a RCL cruise will come in less than Disney. It is up to each individual family to weigh the savings over the difference in product.
My number one like for this cruise.....
My Royal Genie - I had splurged on a suite as Chris and I brought our parents. This is very different than our usual way of cruising-- I am sure we will discuss it on a future Dreams show.
My #1 Dislike....
Windjammer Buffet - we ate here twice for lunch and I was very underwhelmed. I have enjoyed this location on my other RCL cruises...often eating half my emails here in a week. But this time, it missed the mark for me.
I'm sure that RCCL gets money from them. And I'm sure that they make a few sales each cruise. But certainly there is nowhere near the demand for that stuff as there was for all of the stuff being sold on the Promenade. I'd just like to see them devote a little more retail space to the average guest and maybe move some of those crazed sales out of the main thoroughfare.I wonder if RCL doesn't make money by leasing these shops. Actually the more I think about it, of course they do.
These shops did have others in there browsing/buying the times we were in there or walking by so there is certainly some demand for them.
Thanks, Tracey. That makes sense. We were very surprised by the elderly demographic but it sounds like there were a number of reasons for it on this particular cruise. I was hoping that wasn't representative of RCCL's typical clientele.This sailing skewed older than almost any other cruise I have ever been on...
This was our first RCCL cruise and I thought the buffet was pretty good. I had breakfast there all but one day and had lunch there twice. What would you say was different than on other ships? The only thing we had to compare it to was other non-RCCL cruises we've taken and we thought it stacked up very well.My #1 Dislike....
Windjammer Buffet - we ate here twice for lunch and I was very underwhelmed. I have enjoyed this location on my other RCL cruises...often eating half my emails here in a week. But this time, it missed the mark for me.
very much appreciate your take Tracey
Do you think with the Wonder re-do (new show, new restaurant, etc.) and then the two new ships coming that it can help keep DCL fresh for you? (or at least fresher?) Or is it other things about the cruise line that make it more "been there done that"?
Thanks, Tracey. That makes sense. We were very surprised by the elderly demographic but it sounds like there were a number of reasons for it on this particular cruise. I was hoping that wasn't representative of RCCL's typical clientele.
This was our first RCCL cruise and I thought the buffet was pretty good. I had breakfast there all but one day and had lunch there twice. What would you say was different than on other ships? The only thing we had to compare it to was other non-RCCL cruises we've taken and we thought it stacked up very well.
My Royal Genie - I had splurged on a suite as Chris and I brought our parents. This is very different than our usual way of cruising-- I am sure we will discuss it on a future Dreams show.
I was impressed with the ethnic diversity of the offerings, though I also realize that can be a double-edged sword depending on the palate of the passengers who happen to be on that sailing. There weren't a ton of standard "American" foods. It seemed a little heavy on the Indian options. While I enjoyed some of them, I'm sure there were many others who didn't.I also found limited choices that appealed to me. I do realize that can be personal taste.