Interesting trip

[happy daze john in oz]

A cruise is what you make it.

There is no need to become involved with others, plenty of open space on deck rarely used.
Most crowd round the pool, but so many other quiet spots.
Dinning on a table for two gives you a lot of privacy.

We do mix at times with others and have made some good friends we still keep in touch with.
But you soon spot the, 'we have done so many cruise' types and stay clear.

As to going to other placers, doubt we would have got to the extreme north of Norway without that cruise, or to Komado island along with a few other places.

[Johnny Kieran]

A cruise is what you make it.

There is no need to become involved with others, plenty of open space on deck rarely used.
Most crowd round the pool, but so many other quiet spots.
Dinning on a table for two gives you a lot of privacy.

We do mix at times with others and have made some good friends we still keep in touch with.
But you soon spot the, 'we have done so many cruise' types and stay clear.

As to going to other placers, doubt we would have got to the extreme north of Norway without that cruise, or to Komado island along with a few other places.

Ahhh! now there's the difference.
I don't know which boats you talk about John in oz, but yes, they used to be like that, but not any more. As newer, bigger boats are being introduced, the good old ones are sold off or scrapped. Dining for two is a bit of a nonsense these days unless you get lucky. They seem to be putting ten tables in a row, with six inches between them, then filling them up and serving as one table, calling each table "a table for two".
Finding a little space is impossible on the bigger boats, it just doesn't exist, due to so many thousands on board. In fact, it's getting difficult to walk between rows of sunbed these days, that's away from the pool areas.
I personally wouldn't bother with cruising, but after telling my Mrs about sailing around the world for years, once we retired, she wanted to see it all herself, big mistake methinks. Started off OK, but the older boats are gone now, and the huge things are here to change cruising forever.

[j.sabourn]

#12 Sounds a bit like I remember Butlins especially at Filey in Yorkshire. Was ok for the kids though they liked it. Remember my daughter she must have been all of 12 and thought she was going to go to an evening dance by herself , the wife soon put her right. Took 3 days for her to get out of the sulks. JS

[Doug Hardie]

Re 12 &13 My lad went to sea with Royal Caribbean , he was a lighting technician for the entertainment side of things . He did a couple of trips out in the Far east . A lot of the passengers were from China boarding in Shanghai ,They all made for the Casinos onboard so there was plenty room to have some peace and Quiet . He much preferred the Korean passengers as their personal Habits were much easier to stomach . The ships themselves were large and more like the proverbial pigeon coop. He always felt sorry for the “Normal westernised passengers “ as it was like the 6 o’clock swill at meal times with. 2 types of passengers the quick and the hungry. I don’t think it was much different to our time as he worked long hours and the crew food was mediocre He did a few trips then came ashore. He went on to work at Butlins in Skegness , again which was a bit of a work Horse but it rounded off his university education . He know has his own very successful Business in Theatre and event Tech . It’s all based on his early education and subsequent experience.
Doug

[happy daze john in oz]

Yes Royal Caribbean ships are far too big with as many as 7500 bloods onboard.

We have done most of ours with princess and currently the biggest is about 3900 bloods.
Never had a problem finding a quiet spot away from the crowd and they do have a special section for those who wish to be away from it all, known as the sanctuary it is ideal for some solitude should you need it.

Yes there are some tables as you say, but also many set well apart from others.

Even on the Sky Princess, one of the biggest we got a private table away from the crowd.

They did venture into a system of any time dinning, but it was not so good.
Received an e-mail last week to say they have gone back in one restaurant on all ships with just two sittings where you may if you wish have the same table and winger every night. The any time was causing problems for some of the dinning room crew.

[Johnny Kieran]

That's interesting John in oz, coz we're going on the Sky Princess next week. We usually go on P&O, but our Daughter and family booked this one up, so we thought we'd spoil it for em and join em, be a nice change methinks. We did do a Princess cruise a few years back which we enjoyed, so we'll see.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Watched a cooking program last night on TV, saw the Queen Victoria in the Dardanelles going into Turkey, I thought how many would get off her in a hurry.
De

[happy daze john in oz]

That's interesting John in oz, coz we're going on the Sky Princess next week. We usually go on P&O, but our Daughter and family booked this one up, so we thought we'd spoil it for em and join em, be a nice change methinks. We did do a Princess cruise a few years back which we enjoyed, so we'll see.

I think you will enjoy it.
We have done two on her, the first back in 2022 and she was only just into service then.
Plenty of restaurants and bars but with plenty of space.