Just Cruises Plus

Majesty of the Seas

The Majesty of the Seas is the last of its class in the Royal Caribbean fleet.  She will be heading to Europe in April of 2016 to sail for Pullmantour Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean International.  When she was built, she and her sisters, at 75,000 tons, were the biggest cruise ships in the world.  Twenty-two years later, she is dwarfed by the likes of the Oasis and Allure of the Seas at 220,000 tons.

She has been relegated to the short cruise market with 3 and 4 night cruises from Miami.  We sailed on her about 10 years ago and recall her wonderful crew and small (cozy) staterooms.  In Florida for the winter?  Why not take advantage of super low last minute rates?

Grandeur of the Seas anchored in Georgetown’s harbor.

We were looking for an early November cruise that was reasonably priced and didn’t require flying. The ship that came closest to meeting our needs was the Grandeur of the Seas departing Baltimore on November 2^nd. We had to make one compromise. While we would have preferred a balcony, the price for balconies was a lot higher than we planned to spend. This is common for the Grandeur and similar ships. Since there is only one deck of balconies, they are in short supply and can therefore command premium prices. However, there are lots of oceanview rooms and there were great deals on them so that’s what we chose.  As a bonus, the cruise was 10 days long which was good since we were leaving from Baltimore in cold weather so 10 days gave us lots of warm weather days.

Western Caribbean Ports of Call

The ports were Falmouth, Jamaica, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Labadee. These are standard cruise ship ports and except for Falmouth, we had visited the other ports before. Falmouth was a sleepy little town on the

Falmouth Cruise Port

north coast about 20 miles from Montego Bay. The port was developed specifically for the giant Royal Caribbean ships, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas. As soon as you get off the ship, you are in a large shopping area with newly built “fake” warehouses which are the stores. Jamaican people are required to have a permit to enter this gated area. This is to protect us from the folks who (sometimes pushy) hawk their wares. The real Jamaica is in Falmouth, just outside of this protected area.

We took a culinary tour, not offered by the cruise line. Two very competent and informed women escorted us around town where we visited street vendors, restaurants and a private home where we sampled typical Jamaican food including coconut water and jerk chicken. They not only explained the food but they also gave us a running history of Jamaica and its culture. We discovered that marijuana is a key part of the

Our culinary tour guides with one of the food vendors.

Rastafarian religion but marijuana (ganja) is illegal in Jamaica. We highly recommend this tour to folks who are a bit adventurous. And it is only $45 per person.

Clients who were on the cruise with us took a private tour of Montego Bay which first went through the mountains to the area where the Maroons live. This is a community which descended from refugees who escaped slavery in the Americas and formed independent settlements. They thought the tour was excellent.  Another possibility is to go to Montego Bay and Doctors Beach. There is a small entrance fee but it is a beautiful and clean beach.

Our next port was Georgetown, Grand Cayman.  Sting-Ray City and 7 mile beach are the big attractions in Grand Cayman. Since we’ve experienced both, and we enjoy snorkeling, we found a great snorkeling spot within easy walking distance of the tender dock (note that all ships require tendering in Grand Cayman) where the fish were plentiful and you can rent fins and masks.

An artistic display on Cozumel’s main street.

We usually scuba dive in Cozumel (for divers, we recommend Sergio Sandoval). However, on this trip, we taxied into town, checked some of the shops and ended up in Pancho’s Back Yard (not a bad place to end up). The Margaritas are huge. Another favorite spot in Cozumel is Chankanaab Lagoon which is a short taxi ride from the ship. There are some Mayan ruins on Cozumel and the cruise line offers a tour to Tulum but you need to be aware that this tour requires a ferry ride which occasionally can be a bit rough.

The final stop was Labadee which almost everyone who has taken a Royal Caribbean cruise has visited. The beaches are beautiful. However, the food lines can be long if you don’t get in line early. There is a very appealing zip line but it is nearly $100 (we skipped it because of the price).

The Ship

The Grandeur of the Seas is a seagoing contradiction. As ships go, she is both small and old.  The Oasis of the Seas is 3 times as big as this 18 year old veteran.  Most of the size difference is in the width

Bar in the Centrum

(she is about half as wide as the Oasis of the Seas) and height (she has 6 fewer decks). However, her 866 foot length makes her feel pretty big.  As for the age, after her complete overhaul in 2012, she is completely up to date. Her sleek public spaces are as modern as any cruise ship, with the possible exception of the Quantum of the Seas. The wide wooden promenade deck is a feature that she has kept and we love it. It gave us (remember – no balcony) a chance to sit out, watch and listen to the ocean.

For a before dinner drink, Diamond members have their own lair where the drinks and appetizers are complimentary. The Schooner bar is always hopping before dinner usually with a musical trivia game. For those looking for a quiet drink with a view, head to the Viking Crown Lounge.

A sampling of Izumi

We were quite impressed with the food in the main dining room. The beef dishes were just OK but every other dish was excellent. We also tried each of the extra cost restaurants and we rank them as follows: Giovanni’s was the best in terms of both service (beyond outstanding, in part due to the warm and welcoming hostess) and food (fantastic). We had lunch at Izumi, a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi. For sushi lovers, it was great. Non sushi people had the option of chicken or beef on a skewer. Chops was fine and if you want great beef, this is your spot. However, while the staff did their job correctly, there was no WOW to the service.

While we appreciated the “main stage” entertainment, we especially loved the crew’s creative use of the multi-level Centrum for aerialist acts and late night audience participation entertainment. The South Pacific lounge was also put to good use for game shows and a fun version of “crew” karaoke.

Aerialist entertainment in the Centrum

Embarkation could be lengthy if you arrive between 11AM and 1PM. Later arrivals should be able to board quickly. However, in order to board the ship, you must walk up about 5 decks through a zigzagging walkway. If you have any physical challenges or concerns, don’t be shy, ask for a wheelchair. The Royal Caribbean staff will wheel you aboard on the lowest deck where you can ride the elevator to your deck.

Overall this was a terrific cruise. The staff was superb the food well above average and the price of an oceanview room made this a great value. We booked the cruise 6 months in advance and were glad we did. As we got close to the cruise, the price went up and the sailing was full.

North Star – Enjoy the Views!

The staff of Just Cruises Plus was invited to experience the Quantum of the Seas, which sailed from Cape Liberty on a two night cruise to “nowhere”.  Very few of us understand the real meaning of “quantum”. However, all of us recognize the term “quantum leap” and this ship is most certainly a quantum leap in cruise ship construction, function, and passenger experience. You see the change even before you board the ship. The terminal is brand new (no more buses) and there are no desks for check-in (WOW!).

Check-in staff members are standing in the terminal with tablets. Show them your passport and give them your set sail pass and they click a few buttons and send you to the escalator and the gangway and you’re ready to cruise (took about 5 minutes from the time we entered the terminal). You can cut a minute off if you upload a photo of yourself(s) when you do your on-line check-in.

When we boarded the ship, we headed for our beautifully appointed oceanview room and turned on the light switch.  Nothing happened.  We discovered that we needed to put our key card in a slot by the door to turn on the electricity to the room. When you leave the room and take your key card with you, the lights automatically turn off in a few minutes. This is a small part of what makes this ship the most energy efficient in the world.

There are no desks (in guest relations and excursions, for example), just computer tablet stations with staff on hand to assist. When you get to your room, you’ll look for the slot to put your key card in and find there is none. Instead you tap your card on the spot on the door and the door unlocks. Once inside, you’ll find wrist bands (WOW bands) which serve the same function as the key card. Both the wristbands and the cards have imbedded RFID (radio frequency ID) chips and from this point on, they can be used interchangeably, with one exception. Only the key card will work to turn your lights on when you enter the room.

The rooms on the Quantum of the Seas are larger than on previous Royal Caribbean ships and have lots of closet and drawer space although stateroom safes are on the small side. We were especially impressed with the family suites that can accommodate up to eight people.

Silk Restaurant – One of the Complimentary Options

You’ll find that there are no “early” or “late” seatings for dinner. In fact, there is no “my time” dining. Instead, there is “Dynamic Dining”. With Dynamic Dining, you can (and should) make reservations at any of 12 restaurants before you cruise (four are complimentary and eight have an additional charge). Every restaurant has the same menu each night. For example, if you choose to dine in the American Icon Grill every night, you’ll see the same choices each night.

Complimentary evening dining options that do not require reservations include the Dog House and the Windjammer Café.

Thirsty? How about a drink made by a robot in the ultra cool Bionic Bar. WOW! These “guys” are good. Beer aficionados will appreciate Michael’s Pub where they have a very nice list of craft beers.

The Bionic Bar is just one example of the use of technology on the ship. Smart phone users can upload an app, referred to as “Royal IQ”, which allows you to view your schedule and change dinner and entertainment reservations while on board. Don’t have a smart phone or didn’t bring yours with you, IQ tablets are located all around the ship. Also, the passenger photos are no longer on display in hardcopy. You retrieve your photos online.

Bionic Bartenders

The Quantum brought the most popular features from other ships including rock climbing and the FlowRider. However, the real WOW comes from the spectacular new venues and activities. Seaplex is a fantastically innovative space that morphs from a basketball court to a roller skating rink to a trapeze school to a bumper car amusement ride. It can even become a dance floor. For those who want to feel as if they never left home, Xbox stations are available.

Two70, named for its 270 degree view of the sea, is the most startlingly unique space where we saw a most unusual and entertaining show called Starwater. This multimedia show was a total WOW and will be aboard Quantum during all voyages from Bayonne. Like Seaplex, Two70 can be reconfigured by the touch of some buttons. This one-of-a-kind space features 6 robotically controlled LED screens that become actors in the shows.

The best place to relax is the glass-canopied Solarium. Whirlpools, waterfalls and a pool add to the peaceful atmosphere of this adults-only space. The Solarium features the Devinly Decadence Bistro where you can enjoy light snacks.

Indoor Pool – Next Door to Solarium

Here are some other cruise ship “firsts”. Kids will have the first wave pool on a ship in the water park. Take flight, as in skydiving with RipCord by IFly. Perhaps the signature feature of the Quantum of the Seas is “North Star”. Here you will rise to 300 feet above the ocean and out over the ocean. WOW!

The entertainment is of the highest quality and is continuous throughout the day and evening. Especially notable is Music Hall where we were treated to several fantastic tribute bands. The space is on two levels. On the lower level is a dance floor and bar and on the upper level, chairs and pool tables.

Mama Mia (the full Broadway version) is every bit a good as the Broadway version and will be the featured show while the ship is homeported in Bayonne. WOW!

Was everything a WOW on the new ship? Of course not. We’re reserving judgment on “Dynamic Dining”. The reservation software has been “buggy”. It should be noted that, in each of the complimentary restaurants, the menu is the same every night so most people would want to change restaurants each night. On a 12 night cruise, if you did not eat in an extra cost venue, you would have the same menu at least 3 times. While we were blown away (WOW) with the modern décor in the public areas, there was one minor exception. The hallways were a bit drab and lacked artwork. Perhaps this will change (who hangs out in the hallways anyway).

Example of the Amazing Artistic Touches in the Public Spaces

Finally, there is no promenade deck where you can read a book in the shade while watching and listening to the ocean. Since 90% of the rooms have a balcony, and the indoor staterooms have a “virtual balcony”, Royal Caribbean probably decided that there was less need for open deck space.

This is an amazing ship, way ahead of any other ship in the world. I guarantee that you will say WOW frequently as you experience all of the new and unique features.

The Quantum of the Seas will sail from Bayonne through April 2015. After that it will be repositioned to China where it will do shorter sailings from Shanghai. The Quantum’s sister ship, Anthem, is scheduled to take its place in Bayonne in November of 2016. Be among the first to experience this magnificent new ship.

Quantum of the Seas

We were shocked and disappointed when we heard that the Quantum of the Seas would be moving to China after its first inaugural season sailing from Bayonne.  The ship will move to Shanghai in May of 2015.  If you want to sail on the Quantum out of Bayonne, N.J., you must book a cruise that departs between November 18^th 2014 and April 24^th 2015.

The Quantum will be replaced in Bayonne with the Liberty of the Seas for the 2015 summer season.  As much as we love the Freedom class of ships, it’s hard to go back to an older class after experiencing the newest and most innovative ship from a local port.  We question whether the Liberty will succeed in Bayonne unless it is priced aggressively which, so far, it is not.

Royal Caribbean’s turn to the East is certainly based on research which evidently showed that China’s odd combination of communism and capitalism is creating a booming middle class ready to fill their newest ship.  With a population 4 times the size of the U.S., Royal Caribbean may be onto something by heading to Shanghai.

Royal Caribbean is Throwing Us a Bone

They will move the follow-on ship to the Quantum class, the Anthem of the Seas, to Bayonne for the winter 2015 season.  Beyond that, there is uncertainty.

A significant proportion of our clientele hate the hassle and expense of flying and would prefer to leave from a “local” port.  Philadelphia is out as an embarkation port.  It was tried in the past and discontinued.  We heard rumblings that the unions in Philadelphia were harder to work with than those in Bayonne and NYC and/or that the casinos could not be opened while the ships sailed in the Delaware Bay.  Since Philly is out, our local ports are Baltimore, Bayonne (Cape Liberty) or NYC (Manhattan and Brooklyn).

Distance is an Issue

Bermuda is the ideal port for local departures since it is located directly east from North Carolina and therefore is much closer than islands like St Thomas and St Martin which are far south and east of Florida.  Five, six and seven day Bermuda cruises are easily done from local ports.  The Bahamas can also be reached on 7 day cruises since these islands are quite close to Florida.  If you’re looking for an island like St Thomas, you’ll need more days from a local port.  Islands further south, like Barbados and Aruba, require even more time.

If you’re highly flexible with your dates and you have a generous budget, you can do pretty much what you want.  However, if you are limited to a week cruise, compromises are required.  You may need to fly in order to get the islands you want or you will need to accept Bermuda or the Bahamas as your destination.  By the way, we love Bermuda.

Artistry II Panorama Suite

If the trend we’ve seen within our business is representative of the travel industry, the demand for river cruising has taken off.  Many of our clients who have enjoyed ocean travel for years are now looking for new adventures on the European rivers.

So we think it’s timely that Avalon Waterways has ordered two more ships for delivery in 2015,   This is in addition to the 3 already on order for delivery in 2014.

The 2015 ships, Avalon Tranquility II and Avalon Tapestry II,  will be similar to the three ships that are to roll out later this year: the Avalon Poetry II, Avalon Illumination and the Avalon Impression.

Avalon introduced it’s first Suite Ships in 2012 and 2013. The vessels offer three passenger decks with a large central lounge, a cozy Club Lounge, outdoor seating areas and a main restaurant.

Avalon says Suites Ship cabins are among the industry’s roomiest, with 80% being either 200-square-foot Panorama Suites or 300-square-foot Royal Suites.

With the addition of the five vessels on order, Avalon will have 10 Suite Ships in its fleet by the end of 2015, all in Europe. They’ll account for 66% of the line’s European capacity.

Holding 128 to 166 passengers, all five of the new ships are part of Avalon’s new Suite Ships class, which feature suites with what the line is calling open-air balconies — extra-large sliding glass doors with seven-foot openings.

We have found that the these rivers crusies fill up early, so whether your looking at the Rhine, the Danube, Rhone or any of the other picturesque European rivers,  take the “early booking” deals – pricing is not likely to improve and many cruises are sold out a year or more in advance.

– Credit for the information in this article goes to Gene Sloan, USA Today/Cruise Log Blog

Celebrity Century

According to French news reports,  Celebrity Cruises’ 1995-built Celebrity Century will be transferred to Croisières de France (CDF), a French cruise line owned and operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises, in 2015.

CDF is currently sailing the Horizon and will temporarily add sister-ship  Zenith to its fleet in 2014 –  both are ex-Celebrity ships.  It is expected the Century will take the place of the Zenith in 2015 at which point the Zenith is assumed to be heading back to Pullmantur, a Spanish cruise line which manages CDF and which is also owned by Royal Caribbean.

With the arrival of the Century, CDF is said to be hoping to spend longer days and overnights in the bigger ports, and plans to make its first foray into Northern Europe, carrying an estimated 120,000 passengers in 2015.

Celebrity has so far offered no comment on these reports.  As of this date, the 1800-passenger Century is scheduled to sail with Celebrity at least until April of 2015 and has itineraries that range from  Caribbean and  Alaska to Australia/New Zealand and the Far East.

During yesterday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade festivities,  Royal Caribbean announced that the Broadway show Mamma Mia will play onboard its next cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas.

The addition of Mamma Mia to Quantum of the Seas follows the trend of adding Broadway shows to cruise ships that Royal Caribbean started when it added Hairspray to Oasis of the Seas followed by Chicago to Allure of the Seas.  Royal Caribbean also offers Saturday Night Fever onboard Liberty of the Seas.

Quantum of the Seas will debut in November 2014 and be based at Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

Oasis of the Seas - New Sister Expected

Two of the largest passenger vessels afloat, the Oasis and Allure of the Seas, are now looking forward to a new sister.  Last week, Royal Caribbean International kicked off the building of a new mega-ship with a steel cutting ceremony at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

At 227,000-gross tons, the ship, which will be the third in the line’s Oasis-class, will be slightly larger than its sister ships, which are 225,282-gross tons.  The as-yet-unnamed ship is scheduled for delivery in mid-2016.  Royal Caribbean has an option with STX France for a fourth Oasis-class ship.