Freedom from the Polar Vortex... The GDF family sails RCCL

[Big Kahuna aka John 71]

From their webpage ....

 

Under the new policy, smoking will not be permitted in staterooms and on stateroom balconies fleet wide on all ships. Additionally, all indoor public spaces will be smoke free, with the exception of the Casino, the Connoisseur Club on Freedom and Voyager Class ships, and one designated smoking venue on ships sailing from Chinese homeports.  In the Casino, there will be designated smoking and non-smoking areas. Additionally, Outdoor smoking areas will be designated on the starboard side of all ships; with the exception of Oasis-class ships that will allow smoking on the port side of the ships.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

From their webpage ....

 

Under the new policy, smoking will not be permitted in staterooms and on stateroom balconies fleet wide on all ships. Additionally, all indoor public spaces will be smoke free, with the exception of the Casino, the Connoisseur Club on Freedom and Voyager Class ships, and one designated smoking venue on ships sailing from Chinese homeports.  In the Casino, there will be designated smoking and non-smoking areas. Additionally, Outdoor smoking areas will be designated on the starboard side of all ships; with the exception of Oasis-class ships that will allow smoking on the port side of the ships.

 

I can't remember, and it really has never been an issue for me, but did DCL ban smoking on balconies?  I know they used to allow it, and then said they would be prohibiting it, but I'm not sure if they did.

 

TCD

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

I can't remember, and it really has never been an issue for me, but did DCL ban smoking on balconies?  I know they used to allow it, and then said they would be prohibiting it, but I'm not sure if they did.

 

TCD

 

They did. only in designated areas. Including E-cigs

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

They did. only in designated areas. Including E-cigs

 

Aw.  Dang the man.  I guess I won't take up vaping then.

 

TCD

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

They did. only in designated areas. Including E-cigs

 

Aw.  Dang the man.  I guess I won't take up vaping then.

 

TCD

 

First, I'm impressed that TCD knowing what vaping is.

 

Secondly, without invading my privacy, how could Disney (or another cruise line) know if I'm vaping in my cabin or on my balcony?  My e-cig burns nothing and emits no smoke (only water vapor) or odor.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

First, I'm impressed that TCD knowing what vaping is.

 

Secondly, without invading my privacy, how could Disney (or another cruise line) know if I'm vaping in my cabin or on my balcony?  My e-cig burns nothing and emits no smoke (only water vapor) or odor.

 

Um, it was in a Saturday Night Live skit last week.

 

That's how I know.

 

Apparently, vaping is cool.  You're hip, Gwen.

 

TCD

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

I'm surprised that formal night was on your second evening.  Did they have two formal nights?

 

Yes, we had 2. One was on night 2 and the other was on night 5. 

 

I had a great-aunt who lived in an assisted living facility for a couple of years.  They had the days of the week posted on the elevators there too.  I don't want to see that on a cruise ship.

 

I think gyms on cruise ships are a waste of space- a really nice bar or chicken wing buffet or something could go in that space, right?

 

I still want to know if your drink package covers room service drinks.

 

I assume that Miller Light was part of the package too, right?

 

TCD

 

Ha ha! I'm laughing about the gym comment. I like your idea better!

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention room service drinks. They aren't covered. We handled that by one of us going with 2 cards to get 2 drinks. And there's something about that Miller Lite that's key... it's a screw top, and you can ask the right bartenders not to open them. We were able to keep a stash in the fridge. 

 

From their webpage ....

 

Under the new policy, smoking will not be permitted in staterooms and on stateroom balconies fleet wide on all ships. Additionally, all indoor public spaces will be smoke free, with the exception of the Casino, the Connoisseur Club on Freedom and Voyager Class ships, and one designated smoking venue on ships sailing from Chinese homeports.  In the Casino, there will be designated smoking and non-smoking areas. Additionally, Outdoor smoking areas will be designated on the starboard side of all ships; with the exception of Oasis-class ships that will allow smoking on the port side of the ships.

 

Thanks for looking that up!

 

Aw.  Dang the man.  I guess I won't take up vaping then.

 

TCD

 

Ha ha ha!

 

First, I'm impressed that TCD knowing what vaping is.

 

Secondly, without invading my privacy, how could Disney (or another cruise line) know if I'm vaping in my cabin or on my balcony?  My e-cig burns nothing and emits no smoke (only water vapor) or odor.

 

They couldn't. I'm guessing the blanket policy is to keep enforcement easier since a lot of people don't know about "vaping" and would complain when they saw what looked like smoking. 

 

Um, it was in a Saturday Night Live skit last week.

 

That's how I know.

 

Apparently, vaping is cool.  You're hip, Gwen.

 

TCD

 

You're hip too TCD. Just ask your daughters. :)

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

First, I'm impressed that TCD knowing what vaping is.

 

Secondly, without invading my privacy, how could Disney (or another cruise line) know if I'm vaping in my cabin or on my balcony?  My e-cig burns nothing and emits no smoke (only water vapor) or odor.

 

In the room with an ecig probably nothing. The probably have cameras that monitor the sides of the ship for overboard purposes so on the balcony they could probably bust you that way. 

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I do pretty much what they state with my ecig.  If an area is non-smoking, but private (hotel rooms, rental cars, inside restrooms) I will use my ecig as I please.  However if it is a public place designated as nonsmoking with other folks looking on, I will usually use the designated smoking areas. Mainly because I don't want to hear it or explain.

 

The problem is regular cigarettes have become sooooo negative in the public eye, that getting ecig usage allowed in public will be very difficult.

 

Some places are really militant about it.  It was sitting in my car in the hospital parking lot using my ecig and was told I could not use that on hospital property.

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

I do pretty much what they state with my ecig.  If an area is non-smoking, but private (hotel rooms, rental cars, inside restrooms) I will use my ecig as I please.  However if it is a public place designated as nonsmoking with other folks looking on, I will usually use the designated smoking areas. Mainly because I don't want to hear it or explain.

 

The problem is regular cigarettes have become sooooo negative in the public eye, that getting ecig usage allowed in public will be very difficult.

 

Some places are really militant about it.  It was sitting in my car in the hospital parking lot using my ecig and was told I could not use that on hospital property.

 

I agree. I think people ban them just because it's easy. I let my friend use hers in my RV, and there is no way in Hades I'd let anyone smoke in there. 

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

Let's look at Jason's pictures! First, here are the missing napkin breakfast pictures. I never miss an opportunity to totally embarrass myself. 

 

 

 

Here's his wandering from the first night....

 

 

You can see the main pool bar on the lower level (We were in front of it for sail away.) The Sky Bar is above it. 

 

 

 

This is the Sky Bar. Those people are watching a basketball game.

 

 

 

Empty splash park

 

 

The bow

 

 

Promenade 

 

 

 

Empty night club

 

 

 

 

He did go to the casino! But didn't gamble....

 

 

 

Bolero's the Latin bar was one of our favorites. He went there for the first time that night.

 

 

His last pictures from that night....

 

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Pretty pics!

[momof3kids-Yvonne 596]

You are really making me want to go on another cruise.

When we were on our cruise the casino was nonsmoking on formal night.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

 

 without invading my privacy, how could Disney (or another cruise line) know if I'm vaping in my cabin or on my balcony?  

 

I meant to comment on this question.

 

Disney has no problem invading your privacy.

 

The cruise documents say that you can't bring an iron on the ship.  Mrs. TCD always travels with an iron.  If we can, we try to get a cabin that is near a laundry room, and she will bring her iron there to use.  There is an iron provided in the laundry room, but Mrs. TCD likes her iron.

 

On our last cruise, when our luggage arrived at the cabin, Mrs. TCD's iron had been removed and a note was placed in her suitcase telling her that the iron could be picked up in the baggage claim area when we left the ship.

 

On another cruise, when we got home, I found that they had removed and taken the hanger that my suit was hanging on.  It was my wooden hanger that came with the suit, but it looked like one of DCL's wooden hangers, so I guess they opened my bag and took it.

 

So, I imagine if your cabin steward saw an e-cig sitting out in your cabin, you'd be in trouble.

 

TCD

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

TCD, I can't believe they took her iron and your coat hanger!

 

If I'd be in trouble having an e-cig sitting out in my cabin, I'd be in trouble for having a carton of regular cigarettes sitting there too.  But just because either one is sitting there doesn't mean that I'm using either in the cabin.  The only way they could prove I'm using an e-cig in my cabin is to have cameras watching my every move.  That's a scary thought and would be an unforgivable (and I think illegal) invasion of privacy.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

TCD, I can't believe they took her iron and your coat hanger!

 

If I'd be in trouble having an e-cig sitting out in my cabin, I'd be in trouble for having a carton of regular cigarettes sitting there too.  But just because either one is sitting there doesn't mean that I'm using either in the cabin.  The only way they could prove I'm using an e-cig in my cabin is to have cameras watching my every move.  That's a scary thought and would be an unforgivable (and I think illegal) invasion of privacy.

 

You're right.  Cigarettes and e-cigarettes are not banned from the ships.  So, you couldn't get in trouble for having them in your cabin.  They would have to catch you in the act- which shouldn't happen.  With the iron, the cruise documents say you can't bring you own iron.  Period.  Even if you say you're going to only use it in the laundry room.  So, I guess that's where they felt it was OK to rummage through our bags and take it.

 

I meant to mention that on our last DCL cruise, we were down the hall from two rooms that they used for DCV sales.  Whoever was working in one of the rooms smoked.  I smelled the smoke several times in the hall, and it clearly was coming from one of those rooms.  So, I guess it's just paying passengers who have to follow the no-smoking rules.

 

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

TCD, I can't believe they took her iron and your coat hanger!

 

If I'd be in trouble having an e-cig sitting out in my cabin, I'd be in trouble for having a carton of regular cigarettes sitting there too.  But just because either one is sitting there doesn't mean that I'm using either in the cabin.  The only way they could prove I'm using an e-cig in my cabin is to have cameras watching my every move.  That's a scary thought and would be an unforgivable (and I think illegal) invasion of privacy.

 

It would be creepy for sure, but remember that these ships are not registered in the US and might not fall under US privacy laws. 

 

Not that I'm suggesting that they have cameras in the rooms.  Unless these are registered in the Russian Federation. 

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

Pretty pics!

 

Thanks! Well, thanks from Jason. 

 

You are really making me want to go on another cruise.

When we were on our cruise the casino was nonsmoking on formal night.

 

You should! I'm already looking forward to November 2015. 

 

I meant to comment on this question.

 

Disney has no problem invading your privacy.

 

The cruise documents say that you can't bring an iron on the ship.  Mrs. TCD always travels with an iron.  If we can, we try to get a cabin that is near a laundry room, and she will bring her iron there to use.  There is an iron provided in the laundry room, but Mrs. TCD likes her iron.

 

On our last cruise, when our luggage arrived at the cabin, Mrs. TCD's iron had been removed and a note was placed in her suitcase telling her that the iron could be picked up in the baggage claim area when we left the ship.

 

On another cruise, when we got home, I found that they had removed and taken the hanger that my suit was hanging on.  It was my wooden hanger that came with the suit, but it looked like one of DCL's wooden hangers, so I guess they opened my bag and took it.

 

So, I imagine if your cabin steward saw an e-cig sitting out in your cabin, you'd be in trouble.

 

TCD

 

Mrs. TCD is a rebel! I think it's funny curlers and straighteners are allowed but not irons. What's the difference? 

 

TCD, I can't believe they took her iron and your coat hanger!

 

If I'd be in trouble having an e-cig sitting out in my cabin, I'd be in trouble for having a carton of regular cigarettes sitting there too.  But just because either one is sitting there doesn't mean that I'm using either in the cabin.  The only way they could prove I'm using an e-cig in my cabin is to have cameras watching my every move.  That's a scary thought and would be an unforgivable (and I think illegal) invasion of privacy.

 

Truth is, they'll never know. Blanket rules are just easy to enforce when needed. 

 

You're right.  Cigarettes and e-cigarettes are not banned from the ships.  So, you couldn't get in trouble for having them in your cabin.  They would have to catch you in the act- which shouldn't happen.  With the iron, the cruise documents say you can't bring you own iron.  Period.  Even if you say you're going to only use it in the laundry room.  So, I guess that's where they felt it was OK to rummage through our bags and take it.

 

I meant to mention that on our last DCL cruise, we were down the hall from two rooms that they used for DCV sales.  Whoever was working in one of the rooms smoked.  I smelled the smoke several times in the hall, and it clearly was coming from one of those rooms.  So, I guess it's just paying passengers who have to follow the no-smoking rules.

 

TCD

 

Ewwwwwwwww. I would have complained about that. 

 

It would be creepy for sure, but remember that these ships are not registered in the US and might not fall under US privacy laws. 

 

Not that I'm suggesting that they have cameras in the rooms.  Unless these are registered in the Russian Federation. 

 

Ha ha! That's true. 

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

Monday 3/31 continued

 

It’s formal night! We decided that we would take pictures and eat as a family, and then we’d change Z and take him to Adventure Ocean, so we could have some adult time.

 

Check out my handsome guys! I’m a lucky woman.

 

 

Z thought I looked like a princess, and Jason told him I was their princess. He’s been calling me that ever since. Pretty cute.

 

Here’s the picture Z took of us. Pretty good for a 5 year old!

 

 

And here’s all of us waiting on professional pictures.

 

 

Buying the professional photo package was my anniversary present I asked for. I love pictures, like really love them. We got some good pictures too! And buying the unlimited package is so much cheaper than paying $20 each. The same company does Disney and Royal.

 

Here are some pictures we got that night. We never find time to do this at home, so I’m glad we did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got to dinner and our seat was great.

 

 

 

Scallops au gratin…. YUM!

 

 

Beef Tenderloin with mushroom sauce… just OK

 

 

The head waiter heard about Z’s teeth. So he came over to cut up his steak for him. Now that’s service!

 

 

After dinner we headed back to change Z, and found this waiting on us.

 

 

Z was so excited that his pal Ray had a buddy! I decided to change into a different dress because my shoes were bothering me.

 

After dropping off Z, we went to the dance club for a drink.

 

This is NOT Disney.

 

 

 

Then, we went to Schooner, the piano bar. I love piano bars, but this lady was horrible. Really horrible. She was singing really slow songs and wasn’t the fun kind that picks sing-a-longs. I was bummed because I thought we’d spend a lot of time there.

 

 

After the horrid singing (didn’t stay too long), we decided to head to the Promonade to see what was going on there.

 

Here’s the pizza place. It has pizza, salads, some light apps and meats, desserts, and a Panini of the day and is included in your cruise fare. The pizza is just so so though. Kind of like what you get at Disney.

 

 

We wandered into the Irish pub that had a guitar player. He took requests! And was fun! Ah, much more like it. We had a good time and ended up spending a lot of time here.

 

 

The beer menu, you can see prices too. They don’t have beers from everywhere, but Jason was able to find several he liked.

 

The Chimay was not included in our package (probably because it was the size of a bottle of wine). Jason had last had that while completing the Grande Slam at BOG.

 

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

Last picture wouldn't fit.... 

 

I thought this was funny. Second cousins of beer

 

 

That’s all for Monday night. We picked up Z and headed to bed. We were arriving at Labadee in the morning. 

 

PS- Sorry the pics uploaded from my phone on photobucket mobile come out so big. I can't figure out a way to limit their size. 

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Irish pubs on RCCL ships are great!  Boo to the bad piano bar.  I've never experienced a bad one before.  My favorites are the ones that have dueling pianos.

 

The pictures that you got with the professional photo package are so good!

 

BTW, this was my 9,100th post.  Only 900 more to go until my goal of 10,000.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

 

 

BTW, this was my 9,100th post.  Only 900 more to go until my goal of 10,000.

Hope you don't stop at 10,000!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Great update!

 

That beer selection is much better than DCL's and the prices are much lower too.  But then, I haven't had to pay for many beers on DCL since I can bring my own.

 

All of those bars look like more fun than what they have on DCL.

 

What about shows?  I'm sure they had shows?  You haven't gone to one yet.

 

I am looking forward to the Labadee photos.  I'm going to see if I can find any of my old ones from our first cruise.  I know they're in a box of old photos at my house.  But, I'm not sure if I'll have time to search.

 

TCD

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Hope you don't stop at 10,000!

 

No way!

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

Irish pubs on RCCL ships are great!  Boo to the bad piano bar.  I've never experienced a bad one before.  My favorites are the ones that have dueling pianos.

 

The pictures that you got with the professional photo package are so good!

 

BTW, this was my 9,100th post.  Only 900 more to go until my goal of 10,000.

 

We had soooooooooooo much fun at the Irish pub. I think we went every night at some point. 

 

Hope you don't stop at 10,000!

 

She won't! She's like me and can't be quiet!

 

Great update!

 

That beer selection is much better than DCL's and the prices are much lower too.  But then, I haven't had to pay for many beers on DCL since I can bring my own.

 

All of those bars look like more fun than what they have on DCL.

 

What about shows?  I'm sure they had shows?  You haven't gone to one yet.

 

I am looking forward to the Labadee photos.  I'm going to see if I can find any of my old ones from our first cruise.  I know they're in a box of old photos at my house.  But, I'm not sure if I'll have time to search.

 

TCD

 

That particular bar had the best selection. There was also a wine bar that had WAY more wines than the others. But I'll get to that one later. 

 

On DCL, can you bring alcohol on at any port or just when you embark?

 

You already notice the no shows, huh? You might be disappointed. We didn't go to a single show in the main theater. They had one every night, generally 2 seatings, and I intended for us to go to the magic show at least, but it didn't happen. That night we were having fun doing something else, and I was really working on going with the flow. Shows aren't really Jason's thing. He'd much rather chat, have drinks, and listen to live music. I enjoy that a lot too. The reason we haven't been on a cruise in so long is because Jason felt too scheduled. I tried really hard not to do that, so we'd go again sooner. And it worked. We're going again next year. We do attend an adult scavenger hunt show and the ice show though, so stay tuned! (And when we go with my mom next year, I'm going to some shows!)

 

That would be awesome if you could find old Labadee pictures. One huge change is that we don't tender. But I know there are lots more. 

 

No way!

 

See! She's like me. She'll never be quiet!