They've went down from 2 ships to 1 ship in favour of short Caribbean cruises (which appears to be quite a lucrative market). The ship they have in Southampton (Anthem) is a newer, larger one (though actually my least favourite) so they're probably not giving up but more that they're less invested now. I'm gutted that they sent the other ship (Independence) to the Caribbean, she was great and really popular in the UK so a baffling decision.Royal Caribbean seem to be slowly giving up on Southampton I think, even before covid there was a lot less choices the past couple of years to the years before.
Try Celebrity, the RCI sister company, and if you ask them to transfer your Captains Club points then you'll get the benefits. They go from Southampton.I absolutely love cruising, value for money for seeing different cities, prefer Royal Caribbean to P&O but unfortunately they don’t do many out of Southampton (and yes I’m lazy and don’t like fly cruises)
I’ll have a look! I really should look into fly-cruises as I am never a big fan of the 2/3 sea days from Southampton at the start or end of the tripTry Celebrity, the RCI sister company, and if you ask them to transfer your Captains Club points then you'll get the benefits. They go from Southampton.
I can’t help on the heights thing, you are high up I can’t deny that!I'd like to try but from what I've seen on photos of friends who have been and enjoyed, is that they seem to be allocated a table at meal times and must stick to that. Or that its a shirt and tie and posh frock for evening dinner. Not that I would turn up in t-shirt and shorts. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also the husband has a chronic fear of heights and I doubt he'd cope with being on deck. Does anyone have any input on this?
So...I'd like to try but from what I've seen on photos of friends who have been and enjoyed, is that they seem to be allocated a table at meal times and must stick to that. Or that its a shirt and tie and posh frock for evening dinner. Not that I would turn up in t-shirt and shorts. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also the husband has a chronic fear of heights and I doubt he'd cope with being on deck. Does anyone have any input on this?
Oh bless him! Then nope, don't bother!Yes he would, we were in a high rise building in London and got seated near the window which I thought was great until I looked at him. He couldn't approach the table. We had to move. Yes I can see, cruising isn't going to be for us. Thanks for the replies.
I like most of these, I don’t want to be anywhere near others guestsAs much as I love cruising, this video outlining all of the rules puts me off big time for the foreseeable future.
The main points made:
- All guests & crew must wear a 'contact tracelet' throughout the entire cruise except for when in stateroom.
- No available drinking taps on ship.
- Limited tables in dining venues (possible reservations though unclear).
- 5 people per hot tub/jacuzzi and 15 min time limit.
- Guests should remain in 'bubbles' with those from their respective party.
- Temperature checks at all onboard venues.
- Queues outside venues if over limit of people allowed in.
- Face coverings required around all areas of ship except bars.
- Guests not allowed to consume beverages outside of bars and restaurants.
- Limited seating in theatre.
- No physical menus in dining venues.
- Gym sessions must be pre booked.
- Social distancing: regardless of whether or not you are in their 'bubble', everyone must maintain 1m distancing from each other.
- All guests required to have negative COVID test prior to cruising.
- Health questionnaire to be taken and checked by staff prior to boarding. If not 'passed', you cannot board.
They can't actually expect people to pay thousands of pounds/dollars for this? Why would you voluntarily go somewhere which potentially has more restrictions than your own home country?
Doesn't sound much of a holiday to me. Just read these rules out to OH and he's said we'll cancel our summer river cruise.As much as I love cruising, this video outlining all of the rules puts me off big time for the foreseeable future.
The main points made:
- All guests & crew must wear a 'contact tracelet' throughout the entire cruise except for when in stateroom.
- No available drinking taps on ship.
- Limited tables in dining venues (possible reservations though unclear).
- 5 people per hot tub/jacuzzi and 15 min time limit.
- Guests should remain in 'bubbles' with those from their respective party.
- Temperature checks at all onboard venues.
- Queues outside venues if over limit of people allowed in.
- Face coverings required around all areas of ship except bars.
- Guests not allowed to consume beverages outside of bars and restaurants.
- Limited seating in theatre.
- No physical menus in dining venues.
- Gym sessions must be pre booked.
- Social distancing: regardless of whether or not you are in their 'bubble', everyone must maintain 1m distancing from each other.
- All guests required to have negative COVID test prior to cruising.
- Health questionnaire to be taken and checked by staff prior to boarding. If not 'passed', you cannot board.
They can't actually expect people to pay thousands of pounds/dollars for this? Why would you voluntarily go somewhere which potentially has more restrictions than your own home country?
Me too! I was reading them all thinking fine, yep, ok, fine, ok......I like most of these, I don’t want to be anywhere near others guests
I would love to go on a cruise again too.I was extremely anti cruising pre 2018... the thought of being stuck on a ship and in the middle of nowhere terrified me. However my husband convinced me to sail on a Royal Caribbean ship around the Eastern Caribbean and it was genuinely the best holiday I have EVER had. I would cruise for every holiday for the remainder of my life (obviously excluding Covid related issues!!); it was just truly incredible.
Definitely this! My husband and I are pretty antisocial and we love sitting in one of the top deck bars during the day. They are closed, so no staff, so we get drinks elsewhere, but it's so nice to be away from the crowds around the pool.I loved the fact that even though there were a few thousand people on board, there were quiet little spots on the ship that you could just have some time to yourself. It was an amazing holiday.
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