TSC Guide to a GREAT time on Radiance of the Seas

Transcription

 TSC Guide to a GREAT time on Radiance of the Seas A BIT ABOUT OUR TRAVEL BACKGROUND: We are travel experts and have been in the All
Inclusive business since 1998. We have extensive experience
with Hedonism, Braco and Desire thru our travel agency that has
2 sides; a vanilla side and a lifestyle specialty side. We have
been a top-producing agency for 11 years with companies like
SuperClubs, Funjet & Travel Impressions.
We have first-hand experience with Hedonism 2 & 3, Braco and
Desire. We have partied at all the nude resorts; Hidden Beach,
Sans Souci, Braco…you name it, we have checked it out.
Our first mass market cruise together was on the Carnival Legend
in April of 2009. And if you were onboard you know it was
LEGENDARY! Note: All Menus & other pdfʼs are found on the
Radiance Info Link on our home page www.theswingercruise.com
OUR PREVIEW CRUISE ON RADIANCE OF THE SEAS: We were hosted by the good folks at
Lifestyle Cruising who are the charter organizers. This included Bob & Tess from French
Connection Events. They are the masterminds behind the parties, events and overall ship
schedule. During our cruise they literally combed every inch of the ship and planned a minute-byminute exciting schedule for the 2010 Couples Cruise on Radiance. We had extensive
conversations on making sure there was diversity to the entertainment and plenty of play space
and a variety of high quality entertainment.
Our goal was to really get to know the ins and outs of the ship so we could create this guide full of
insider information and helpful hints. On the April cruise there were a lot of first time cruisers…
so forgive me if Iʼm a bit obvious, but as a first time cruiser I just didnʼt know! I have included
EVERYTHING you need to know.
BOARDING Have your passport and SetSail Pass in hand. Royal Caribbean requests that you do this online
check-in 3 days prior to sailing. I had miss keyed the credit card number when I did the online
check-in and SetSail Pass on my computer… so I had to complete hand written paperwork.
FIRST TIMER TIP: Itʼs faster at check-in if you do the SetSail Pass and get all the info
correct. If you forget or make a mistake or lose your SetSail Pass… itʼs not a tragedy,
you can fill it in during check-in.
TRAGEDY: Forgetting your passport will ruin your cruise.
TRAGEDY: Arriving late; the ship will not wait for you! Be early or at least on time.
FIRST TIMER TIP: Arrive the night before. Stay at our ʻlifestyle group hotel.ʼ Visit
http://www.TheNightBeforeTheCouplesCruise.com . You wonʼt risk lost suitcases and
having to sail without all your shoes! We have booked a 100% lifestyle takeover at the
http://www.theswingercruise.com
877-348-6570
All photos and content of this document are the property of TSC TheSwingerCruise.com and may not be copied or
reproduced with out our written permission.
Hampton Inn in Ybor City in conjunction with Char Travel. And donʼt miss our ʻStowAway Partyʼ at Green Iguana bar near the hotel.
We boarded the ship early with our group and did an inspection of every room category. Yes,
every one of them. We wonʼt go thru all the room by room differences here, but I thought Iʼd invite
you to take a look at a few pics on our fan site on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/TheSwingerCruisecom/168299148372?ref=mf Give us a call with any specific questions that you might have.
Our toll free number is 877-348-6570.
OUR FIRST IMPRESSION: Radiance of the Seas is a lovely ship. I loved watching her glide
silently in to the San Diego harbor. The décor is transitional with a nice mix of nautical,
contemporary and traditional styles. Glass, polished wood and brass make the ship glow. It is
also huge. It has multi floor dining rooms and an atrium that runs from deck 3 to deck 11. Glass
sided elevators are also a treat to ride in, some face the atrium while others have a view of the
exterior of the ship, which is an ocean view…..spectacular!
There is a comfortable up-scale feel to the ship. Staff was very welcoming and we could tell from
our first moments aboard that service would be top notch. Any crew member who deals with
guests speaks excellent English and we noticed a variety of other languages. The crew is from all
over the world and the officers are mostly Norwegian.
WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU BOARD: We completed our tour around 2:00 pm and went
over to the Windjammer Café on Deck 11 to enjoy a
buffet lunch.
After that we checked on our stateroom. We were in
a category E2 #8154. Despite being only 6 cabins
from the aft and some rather stormy weather we had
a comfortable ride.
INSIDE SCOOP: Deck 7 has balconies
that extend out several feet further than Deck 8. (I donʼt think the balconies are bigger,
just the way the floor plan is) The point being if you are looking for an audience and
you are on the end of your balcony on Deck 7 – Deck 8 & Higher will surely see the
show.
HOW TO FIND OUT WHATʼS GOING ON: Royal Caribbean prints a daily schedule called
“Cruise Compass.” You will find EVERYTHING in here…Dining room times, Seminars, Shows
and Party Schedules as well as Shore Excursions & Tours. Everything minute by minute that
takes place on the ship is listed here. On the Couples Cruise this schedule will include the Royal
Caribbean offerings + all of the special lifestyle events planned on the ship.
You will find the daily schedule in the room when you arrive. Your cabin steward will place a new
one in your room every evening… that way you can plan for the next dayʼs fun.
They even have a special issue on the steps for Departing.
877-348-6570
HOW TO GET YOUR LUGAGE: The luggage you checked in before boarding the ship will be
inspected and then delivered to your stateroom. They will set the bags outside the door, so there
is no need to sit in your cabin and wait for it. Depending on the crowd on the ship this process
can be quite lengthy. All bags are x-rayed. Suspicious bags and also a few random ones are
opened and manually searched for contraband.
Here is a full list of things you should NOT bring on a cruise ship: Firearms & Ammunition,
including realistic replicas, sharp objects, including knives and scissors (Note: Personal grooming
items such as safety razors are allowed.), Illegal Drugs & Substances, Candles & Incense, Coffee
Makers, Clothes Irons, & Hot Plates, Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks, Cricket Bats, Bows & Arrows,
Illegal Drugs, Skateboards & Surfboards, Martial Arts Gear, Self-Defense Gear, including
handcuffs, pepper spray, night sticks, Flammable Liquids and Explosives, including lighter fluid
and fireworks, HAM Radios, Dangerous Chemicals, including bleach and paint, Personal Alcohol
Note: Confiscated goods on the April 2009 cruise were not returned. Royal
Caribbean also reserves the right to deny boarding to anyone bringing on
prohibited items, so even if you have furry handcuffs with rhinestones donʼt
bring them.
Do not pack alcoholic beverages or wine in your suitcase. Royal Caribbean
prohibits you from packing any wine in your suitcase. This rule is different
on Carnival which allowed one bottle of wine per passenger.
Bags that are being manually searched are the last ones delivered to the cabins. The owners of
the suitcases that are being searched will be announced on the overhead PA system and asked
to come to the security area to supervise the search of their belongings.
INSIDER SCOOP: They expect to find plenty of sex toys on the Couples Cruise, so there
is no reason to worry about that. Itʼs not a vanilla cruise so nobody is going to look at you
funny if they find your vibrator or dildoes.
FIRST TIMER TIP: Pack a change of clothes for the evening & a swim suit in your
carryon bag. Also keep necessary medication, sun screen, jewelry, electronics
(cameras, computers etc) in your carry on. If itʼs something very valuable or you canʼt do
without it for a few hours then by all means carry it with you.
UNPACK OR CHECK OUT THE SHIP?
Because the Couples Cruise is a 5 nighter you can expect that things will be hopping from the
moment you get onboard.
FIRST TIMER TIP – those welcome drinks they offer when you walk onboard are not free
– they are however very strong. Trust me, they are strong….and tasty!
LIFEBOAT DRILL you will hear announcements about a few important things. One of them is
the lifeboat drill. On Royal Caribbean you are not required to take your life jacket with you to the
drill. After the emergency siren sounds proceed to the station listed on your SeaPass.
We were impressed that our cabin steward came to introduce himself and explain a few
877-348-6570
essentials like laundry, how to work the room safe, requesting linen changes & the lifeboat drill
procedure while we were unpacking. This is the one member of the crew you will see several
times per day. We believe in over tipping the cabin steward because they work so hard and are
so helpful the entire cruise.
NOW, FOR A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ON DINING OPTIONS
Here at the Swinger Cruise we take our jobs seriously and wanted to make sure we could give
you the most thorough review possible. So we made it a point to try to eat & drink in every venue
on the ship! Was that a joke? Well no, we really did try to hit each food and beverage venue.
TSCʼs FAVORTE DINING
Breakfast: Room Service or Windjammer Buffet Lunch: Cascades (we requested a small table) Dinner: Chops Steak House Late Night Snack: Sea View Café
Breakfast on Radiance of the Seas – seemed very similar regardless of where you choose to
dine; Cascade dining room, Windjammer Buffet or Room Service.
We liked breakfast from the Windjammer buffet better than the Cascade dining room. We were
very happy with room service breakfast. Take a look at the Radiance of the Seas our menus on
our web site http://www.theswingercruise.com One thing I should mention is that we are also
pretty early risers. Tables were more available and food was fresher in Windjammer at 7:00 a.m.
than it was at 9:00 a.m.
FIRST TIMER TIP: Room Service Breakfast: You can pre-order breakfast with a door
hanger the night before. Nothing is quite as indulgent as breakfast in bed or on your
balcony.
INSIDE SCOOP: If you forget you can call and place an order in the morning. We were
also able to phone in the morning to request our order at 7 am rather than the 8:00 am
we had indicated when we filled out the order ticket.
At Breakfast the food on the Windjammer buffet seemed hotter than our ala carte meal at
Cascades. Eggs Benedict & a Kippers Plate were only available in the Cascade dining room.
Eggs cooked to order were available in both restaurants. Scrambled was the only egg offering on
the room service menu – and for the convenience of it they will do just fine.
Lunch on Radiance of the Seas – I wasnʼt impressed by the hot line offerings at Windjammer
Buffet. Hubby on the other hand loved it, especially the pre-made sandwiches. When I list the
foods it sounds pretty good: Sandwich station, Asian stir fry corner, salad bar, pasta station,
theme of the day station, desert station,
I think what I didnʼt like was the bulkiness of the food: pasta with alfredo or tomato sauce, stews,
fries, pizza – everything seemed a bit heavy. Ok I know itʼs a buffet on a large ship. The food
was decent and prepared for a general audience. I have to keep in mind they are trying to create
something appealing for kids, senior citizens and fussy foodie travelers like me. I was hoping for
more ʻgrilledʼ proteins… ie: grilled fish, grilled chicken breast. In summary the buffet is varied,
served at the right temperature and tasty, not gourmet but good.
877-348-6570
Our Favorite Lunch on Radiance of the Seas – On one of the sea days we enjoyed a leisurely
lunch in Cascades. This might have been our favorite meal during the whole cruise.
We requested a small table and started with a bottle
of Champagne from our Wine Package. They have
a program they call ʻBrasserie 30ʼ which guarantees
they can get a 3-course lunch served in 30 minutes
or less… we were not in any hurry but loved the
selections on the menu. We both chose lamb in pita
bread as an entre & chocolate cake for desert.
We started with an awesome salad from the huge
made to order salad station set up in the middle of
the dining room. This was the freshest and most
gourmet salad offerings on the ship. We both chose
ingredients for a Greek style salad. Some of the
ingredients included: Feta cheese, artichoke hearts,
kalamata olives, red onions, roasted red pepper,
asparagus, shrimp, chicken. There was also a large selection of artisanal breads.
INSIDER SCOOP: Itʼs okay to get off the pool deck during the day and do something
else! On the Couples Cruise why not plan an intimate lunch for 2, 4 or more for one of
the sea days (we recommend day 5) then enjoy desert back in your cabin or a playroom.
Dinner on Radiance of the Seas Cascade Dining room menu was okay. We were disappointed
that the menu descriptions created different expectations. Not that the food was bad, it simply
was not what we expected.
Example an onion tart appetizer was actually an onion quiche. Pots au Chocolate desert was
really just chocolate pudding.
I thought the proteins (steaks, fish, chicken) offered were average. Hubby points out that if you
want veggies or a potato with your entree to be sure to ask for them, the menu is ala carte. Plenty
of side dish options but you need to order them.
INSIDER SCOOP: A grilled steak option from the ʻChops Grilleʼ specialty restaurant was
offered each night on the Cascades Menu for an additional $15. The quality of those
steaks was excellent. If you are in the mood for an upgraded steak and canʼt get into
Chops Grille consider this option.
Formal Night dinner in Cascades was again average. The Chefs Recommended special was
Escargot Bourguignon, Filet of Beef and Grand Mariner Soufflé.
nd
INSIDE SCOOP: On the 5 night sailing with the Couples Cruise the 2 night is proposed
to be the only formal night on the cruise and we hear lobster will be served. Hurray!
The Escargot was excellent tasting. We had a large table and some of our diners enjoyed hot
escargot while others were served at room temperature. Giant ship – giant dining room. No
problems with returning it and getting a new hot one.
We asked what the difference between the Tenderloin on the Menu & the ʻChopsʼ tenderloin was.
877-348-6570
The server told us the menu tenderloin was ʻslicedʼ… which could have gone wrong in a number
of ways. What they served was a superbly prepared ½” thick slice of tenderloin. Outstanding!
No lobster or crab entree offered for the 4 days we were onboard.
The Grand Mariner Soufflé came out lovely in individual ramekins. The waiter proceeded to break
a big hole in the middle and pour what looked to be an equal amount of grand mariner cream
anglesʼ sauce into the soufflé. Without all the sauce we thought this would have been good.
INSIDE SCOOP: If you donʼt have a tuxedo donʼt worry. You can rent one on board for
about $100. You will not be out of place if you wear a tux, and letʼs face it guys look
dashing in a tux and no doubt will draw the affectionate notice of many of the ladies. You
can also wear a suit or a nice jacket for formal night. Ladies of course have a wider
variety of options…this is definitely the night you want to wear the dress that makes the
men turn their heads.
Chops Grille Specialty Steak House Restaurant
Itʼs an extra $25 per person and an upscale steakhouse atmosphere (think Ruth Chris). Friends
tell us itʼs usually GREAT, but we had a rather tiresome experience. On their recommendation I
would definitely give it another try. A lot of the servers seemed new and missed points of service
like pouring wine into the correct diners glass; I thought about showing them the ʻbread & drinkʼ
finger trick, but figured they should already have that.
Between the 6 of us we saw quite a few of the starters.
•
•
•
•
•
Mushroom Truffle soup was earthy, creamy and rich. We highly recommend this
appetizer.
Lobster Carpaccio - I thought Lobster Carpaccio was a challenging idea, but we gave it
a go, it was fishy and watery. We donʼt recommend it. Carpaccio of fish should also be
served much cooler, on a cold plate, to hold the fish together.
Dungeness Crab and shrimp cake was very commercial batter crusted, deep fried and
lots of bread fillers. The remoulade was more like a tartar sauce. Recommend with
reservations, we know some folks like this sort of crab cake – we like one thatʼs
handmade all crab, no fillers, so we didnʼt enjoy this appetizer.
Not so traditional Caesar Salad looked great. It was a quartered head of romaine
served whole, topped with Caesar dressing and shaved Parmesan cheese. Hubby didnʼt
like having to cut up the whole lettuce; the procedure turned out a bit messy and left the
salad without enough dressing. Order the dressing on the side if you get this.
The Signature Chops salad that we were served didnʼt match the description. The
roasted baby beet (first ingredient listed) were missing. Mixed greens were iceberg
lettuce. Crumbled bacon was an ʻXʼ of bacon on top of the salad. It tasted fine, but didnʼt
match the menu description.
The restaurant did much better with the steaks and lamb.
INSIDER TIP: Itʼs a chop house – order meat!
Everyoneʼs steaks or lamb was served to the right temperature. The filet was thick and medium
was closer to medium rare – the quality was GREAT. The down side was close to a 45 minute
delay between appetizers and entree.
877-348-6570
Cedar Wrapped Halibut was served un-cooked and sent back. The large shrimp were truly THE
largest prawns we have ever seen. They had a bread crumb stuffing which was scraped away
and discarded by those who ordered this entree. The prawns were excellent. Like we said, order
the meat when you go to a steak house and you canʼt go wrong. Sides are served family style so
order a variety of them since you will share with your table.
We got the wine package when we boarded the ship. We shared a couple bottles with our friends
at this dinner so everyone was happy.
INSIDER TIP: Book in advance online when you complete your SetSail Pass
Desserts were one of the high points of the meal. We did drink a lot of wine between the
scheduled 8:00 p.m. start and 11:30 p.m. completion of this meal. Chocolate cake was rich and
amazing, cheese cake amazing. Everyone enjoyed the desserts they ordered so Iʼd say you canʼt
go wrong with any selection.
INSIDER TIP: Canʼt decide on which dessert to order? Get 2!
Room Service
You can order bar drinks and beer thru room service. Bottles of Wine and the wine packages
cannot be consumed in your rooms.
INSIDER TIP: The beer bottles will be opened by the room service waiter. If you want
to order a few to put on ice, bring your own keyhole bottle opener so you can open
them when you are ready to drink them.
We didnʼt order entrées, just a few snacks: The chicken drummies are the drum portion of the
wing, battered & fried. Served with a few carrot & celery sticks and blue cheese. Tasty pub food.
The Chili Chorizo is tasty – basically a bowl full of chili with a dollop of sour cream and guacamole
on top. Served with chips. This was great after a night of partying.
WINE PACKAGE We ordered a 5 bottle Diamond package for a 4 night cruise. Your waiter will
put a sticker on your SeaPass as proof of purchase. We ordered ours in advance thru the web
site when we did our online check in. Cost was $137 + 15% gratuity. Royal Caribbean says this
represents a 25% savings from ship rates.
We particularly enjoyed 2 Spanish wines; the Faustino VII Rioja and the Codoriniu Classico, Brut
We have included a copy of the wine program. Keep in mind this could change at any time.
INSIDER TIP: For a 5 night cruise I would plan to order a 7 or 10 bottle package,
since we plan to be sitting with friends that we want to share wine with.
SODA CARD – JUICE – BOTTLED WATER We ordered one soda card – I like club soda with
lime and that counts as a soda onboard – so I thought this was worth it. My hubby doesnʼt drink
soda, water or cokes. Pass was $24 on a 4 day cruise. There are a lot of packages offered on
the web site when you check-in for the cruise. I recommend you view the juice and water service
options there.
877-348-6570
NOW ON TO OUR REVIEW OF THE BARS…
We gave it a shot but didnʼt make it into all of the bars for a drink… guess we will have to tackle
that challenge on the Couples Cruise!
Champagne Bar – Deck 6 Love it! Veuve Clicquot was about $14 a glass served ice cold with
a few canapés: crumb coated fried cheese and a phyllo dough bite. This is a romantic
champagne bar. We stopped by on formal night. Exceptional service and a varied selection. Schooner Bar – Deck 6 Great spot. Itʼs nautically
themed and has the smell of gunpowder and sailing
ships as you enter thru the portico…not sure how
they do that. A piano sits in the center and they
often had a piano player or guitarist playing in the
evening. Soft leather couches and booths. The
servers here hustle and the bar tender pours a stiff
drink and were fun to chat with. Kind of reminded
us of a nice upscale place in a big city.
INSIDER SCOOP: We think this bar will
be one of the hot spots during the
evenings on the cruise since the worldʼs
biggest playroom might be right next
door!
Lobby bar – Deck 4 We sat here a few evenings waiting for friends to gather for dinner. They
had a live band or jazzy guitar player each evening. Itʼs fun to be in this huge lofted space. Love
it! There was a lot of nice music in this spot. It is a dramatic setting being 9 stories high. Itʼs a
central meeting place on the ship and the bartenders are fast and efficient. You can look down
from each floor and see who is down there if you are meeting up with someone. You can also just
hang out and listen to the music in comfortable chairs and couches.
Viking Crown Starquest Disco - Deck 13 – ok itʼs a rotating bar – The music was good and the
dancing was fun – both the rotating bar and the night seemed to go pretty fast!
SHOWS AND ENTERTAINMENT
We really enjoyed the entertainment program. The nightly shows in the Aurora Theater were top
notch. Since the performers will be different on the Couples Cruise we will just stick with the
summary that it was well done.
INSIDE SCOOP: We hear Happy Cole was requested as one of the onboard
Comedians! I wonder if he still has our Sybian Rodeo featured as a bit in his act?!!
This ship has a movie theater where adult themed movies are scheduled to run thru the day and
night.
PLAYROOMS – PLAYROOMS – PLAYROOMS
The preliminary plans for the playrooms are outstanding. Wow – itʼs Huge! When we said Bob &
Tess went over every inch of the ship, a lot of time was spent on hashing out details for the play
877-348-6570
room. First the logistics were considered; are there bathrooms close by and what about drink
service. We hear there wonʼt be a shortage of mattresses either. Many popular themes are on
the planning slate; chocolate room, bdsm room, fucking machines & sybians room. You get the
idea. The one thing I can tell you for certain is that there will be plenty of space for play. A huge
venue and a few smaller spots have been tagged as playrooms.
We canʼt wait to see what the final project looks like!
POOLS, SUNDECK, SPORTS DECK & WATER SLIDE
Have your seen our ʻQuickie on the Radianceʼ
video? It features a few great looks at both the
solarium pool and the main pool. Watch it on
youtube or our facebook fan page. Or look for
ʻRadiance documentsʼ on theswingercruise.com
The ship has a large sundeck on Deck 12 that
surrounds the entire ship. Main swimming pool &
solarium pool are on Deck 11. We loved the
Solarium and think it will be the sexiest 24/7 party
spot. If you are looking for us at the pool, check the
solarium first! I love the solarium pool because the
roof protects from sun burn, and I get burnt easily
FIRST TIMER TIP: All pools are salt water
INSIDER SCOOP: Pools & hot tubs are open 24/7
INSIDER SCOOP: I love Water Slides! The one on this ship is build for children and
really not that exciting for a waterslide loving adult. Yes I went down the slide & video
taped the ride. Check TheSwingerCruise fan page on facebook to see that! I was able to
stop on the way down by raising my head, or maybe it was the swimming suit that slowed
me down. Darn it!
KEEPING INTOUCH WITH REALITIY: Internet and Cell Phone Service
Cell phone- works just fine in port and at sea. International roaming applies – and can be quite
expensive. Ask your cell phone company what your international rate is so you arenʼt shocked.
Ship to shore satellite telephone service is also available and very expensive. We texted a lot with
the kids…much cheaper.
Wi-Fi – we got it in room 8154 although you could bring a LAN cable too or use wifi in public
areas. 55 cents a minute was the rate weather you use the ships internet café or bring a laptop.
If you buy a package of minutes the rate drops. You can purchase them at guest services on deck
4. The business center has printers and by the minute service if you would like to print a boarding
pass out for your return trip home.
STATEROOM AMENITIES:
Again we were in room #8154 a Category E2 Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom (with balcony) so Iʼm
877-348-6570
describing that category. Suites have an entirely different upgraded amenities and services
program.
On past cruises we were warned to bring extra wire hangars with us. I brought 6 but found about
20 in my closet. What a pleasant surprise. There seemed to be plenty of storage space. I like
that the suitcases fit under the bed.
Dispenser on the Shower Wall – there is a shampoo dispenser hanging on the shower wall –
itʼs not labeled so just an fyi. Ladies bring conditioner. B
athrobes and slippers are provided ONLY
in suite categories.
Pull out couches. They are small, but comfortable. Many rooms have them. Your steward can
show you how to pull it out should you require an extra bed for your in room activities.
INISDER TIP: Not really a tip but something to think about…If you donʼt have a pull
out couch, you donʼt have a large soft area to play if that is what you prefer. Now I
know we are all creative but Iʼd like to talk about strategies for ʻin room activities.ʼ Iʼm
considering bringing an inflatable mattress or something to soften the floor – or I guess
we could just pile on one bed or play in a play room.
TAKING CARE OF THE BODY: Spa & Gym
On the radiance Mr. went for his first acupuncture treatment. Here is what he had to say:
“I went for an acupuncture treatment. My first time. It was interesting. I have a lower
back problem and I had aggravated it traveling out to the West Coast. I saw the
acupuncturist and he treated it for me. The first day it helped a lot. In general it worked
very well. At least as good as taking a pain medication to alleviate the pain. Iʼd
recommend this treatment for aches and pains, seasickness, etc. It costs $150 for the
first treatment, $125 for each additional treatment. Donʼt know why it works but it
does.”
The SPA is run by Time to Spa. Featuring Elemis products and Go Smile. They are on the high
side but inline with luxury resort spas. I had a 55 minute Swedish massage. The therapist was
excellent. I didnʼt have a chance to enjoy the steam or sauna. And for an extra charge they offer
a great thermal spa.
INSIDER TIP: Sauna & steam are usually separated for men & women. On the Couples
Cruise they will have co-ed hours available.
FIRST TIMER TIP: The most popular days at the spa are the sea days (day 2 & 5)
considering booking spa treatments for these days in advance on the website when you
do your SetSail Pass. The ship usually offers discounts at the spa on the days the ship is
in port (day 3 &4). Wait until you are on board to find out about those specials.
THE GYM is nice. It has a large variety of equipment form cardio machines, to cable resistance
weight systems. They also have a nice selection of free weights. If you are a weight lifter you will
be able to train on board. A running track is also available on the upper deck and plenty of folks
use it. For a real different workout they have a rock climbing wall. It can be a real challenge to
climb those walls. Give it a try for something different. Donʼt worry…you canʼt fall too far…they
make you wear a safety line. If you try this naked, the ship is not responsible for rope burns on
877-348-6570
your naughty bits J
INSIDER TIP: On some days classes like Yoga were free and on other days there was a
charge for the same class.
Medical Center is located on deck 2. They can handle most medical emergencies and a doctor
and nurse are available. They can set broken bones, deal with cuts and scrapes etc. Itʼs an
infirmary so serious medical problems would be evacuated after being stabilized. Sea sick pills
are available here in a big bowl on the receptionistʼs desk. Use them if you need them.
Crew and Service staff:
On a whole they were excellent, as were the officer corps. Everyone is professional and very
friendly. Generally I think RCI hires genuinely nice people who are also good at their job.
Seriously, they must look for that character trait first because the folks are all very nice and
genuine first and foremost. Our room steward was excellent. It was like he had a sixth sense to
clean and prepare your room as soon as you left it. Whether it was 7 in the morning or 2 in the
afternoon, when you came back it was done. Same for the drink servers and bartenders. You
barely waited for more than minute for a drink or drink service and they often remembered your
name and drink if you came back more than once. Found the same level of service among the
officers and management team. I found even the cooks in the buffet line would remember the
names of the folks they met the day before and a few of them would even flirt with the elderly
guests. One fellow in particular would state heʼd never forget a pretty ladyʼs name when one of
the ladyʼs expressed surprise that he remembered her name the next day at lunch! Canʼt train
people to be that friendly. They either are or they are not.
Overall an A+ for staff and service. Well done here!
SHORE EXCURSIONS:
NAKED ISLAND PARTY – COUPLES CRUISE STYLE
We think the #1 pick for what to do in Cozumel is to Party Naked on Passion Island. We've rented
out the entire island so the only people you'll see are couples from the Couples Cruise. This is an
optional tour with an additional cost.
INSIDER TIP: You can book this tour after you complete your Online Registration aka
SetSail Pass for the cruise. Booking will be available in the Royal Caribbean online
system under tours. Book EARLY -- there are 400 spots on this tour and 2300
passengers on the ship!
The Passion Island excursion will include transfers and a catamaran sailing to and from Passion
Island. On the island you will find restrooms, showers, lockers, sun beds and hammocks. Also
included are pedal boats, kayaks, trampoline on land and in the water and volleyball. There is a
Mexican buffet included with BBQ chicken, Mahi-Mahi Fish, green and fruit salad, rice,
guacamole, pico de gallo and chips. And of course, an open bar includes soft drinks (Pepsi,
orange, 7 up, diet), mineral water, beer, rum punch, tequila sunrise, margarita, sex on the beach
and passion island special.
We have a number of stops to make on the cruise. Itʼs our understanding that Royal Caribbean
will offer the normal excursions and other lifestyle type options will be available as well. As soon
877-348-6570
as a complete list is available we will publish it. I donʼt think there will be a shortage of things to
do.
When you leave for an excursion you need to know a couple of things:
First you need your sign and sail card to get on and off the ship. If you donʼt have it you canʼt get
off the ship. Itʼs your ships ID and has a photo chip in it so they can verify who you are when you
board. I always take my passport with me. You donʼt have to but if you missed the ship for some
reason and had to make your way home, itʼs a lot easier to start the trip with your passport then
without it.
Second, know what “shipʼs time is” and have a way to track it. Use a watch or your phone. The
ship runs on ships time. Your excursion starts on ships time, not local time. The last shuttle back
to the ship also leaves on ships time. If you miss the last shuttle back the ship does not wait…for
anybody. Make sure you know the right time and get back onboard well before the last minute.
Finally. Your bags will be searched and X rayed and you will go thru a metal detector when you
return from an excursion or shopping. You can buy liquor but it will be stored for you and given to
you when you leave the ship.
TRAGEDY: Donʼt buy illegal drugs and try to sneak them back on board. In many places
the police run sting operations on the docks to snag foreign tourists. Donʼt be the guy
who gets caught and left behind in Mexico. The ship will not wait and you will spend a
fortune trying to get out of that mess and back home, instead of spending a few months
in a Mexican carcel. (jail)
DEBARKATION
Sadly your cruise will come to an end. The debarkation procedure is fairly painless. The ship will
arrive at the dock by 7 a.m. if not earlier. Itʼs easy to sleep through it, the procedure is very
smooth. The night before you will be given some paperwork such as luggage tags and customs
forms.
You will pack the night before and leave your bags outside the room. The crew will collect them
after midnight and store them in a secure cargo hold based on the color of your tag. Make sure
you donʼt pack anything you will need the next day since you will not have access to your
luggage. Youʼll need a carry on that will hold your clothes from the evening and your toiletries.
Also you need to make sure you leave out what you are wearing home.
You will have plenty of time to grab some breakfast. The Windjammer buffet and Cascades
restaurants are open at 6:30 a.m. so you can grab something to eat and some coffee.
If you havenʼt already done so, now is the time to go to the photo center (near the shopping mall)
and pick up your pictures. Iʼd do it the night before so you arenʼt rushed but you donʼt want to
leave any good shots behind. The photographers roam the ship and take pictures all day. You
only pay for the ones you want to keep. If you donʼt want your picture taken they will not shoot it.
FIRST TIMER TIP: You can also view your sign and sail account on your room TV and
check out that way.
If you are a cash customer you will need to settle up with customer service before leaving
877-348-6570
(deck4). The debarkation will start around 8:30. Foreign nationals first, then the other passengers.
You have about 10-12 segments that will leave the ship one at a time. Everyone is off no later
than 10:30 am. It makes no sense to try and get off early since your bags are not put in the
customs area until your color is called. It moves quickly so donʼt worry. Itʼs not like an airplane.
They get you off the ship quickly and from multiple areas. You will need your sign and sail card to
get off the ship. You will also need your customs form. Claim your bags, go thru customs and
then grab a taxi or shuttle to the airport or wherever you are going.
INSIDER TIP: The airport in Tampa is about 30 minutes away. You may have to wait
30 minutes for a shuttle or taxi so plan accordingly. Lots of shuttles are vanʼs so you
can put a few couples in each one. Print your boarding pass the night before and then
do curbside check in to breeze right thru this portion of your trip.
FIRST TIMER TIP: Claim your bags before you leave the cruise terminal, they do not
automatically go to the airport!
You can request early debarkation if you need to be off early. Early debarkation begins at
8:30 am. If you donʼt have any bags checked, just carryon bags, you can leave whenever you
want.
Make sure you get the numbers and e-mail addresses of all the new friends you met before you
get off the ship. You want to be able to keep in touch after the cruise. Donʼt wait for the last
minute!
877-348-6570

TSC Guide to a GREAT time on Radiance of the Seas

Transcription

Similar documents

party cruise - Charleston Harbor Tours

layout 1 - All Celebrity Travel

Turama - Yacht Masters

New Jersey 2013 Trans Am Run

USS CONYNGHAM DDG-17 History Collection

ordering instructions mail order

Cruise Holidays 5x88.indd - Cruise Holidays of Burlington

The Write Bloody Baller`s Cookbook Vol 2