Review of Quantum of the Seas aka queues of the seas

 I am on a 15 day pacific crossing from Seattle to Japan. Overall, it was just Ok. Nothing bad but nothing terrific either.

Ship paid transfer from Seatac airport to port. They check you in for the ship and give you a wristband so you will go right thru at the port. Make sure you have your Sea pass printed out as you will show it about 4 times prior to boarding the ship. However it’s a long wait to board the bus, as they give out colour cards and fully board the passengers and luggage on a bus before boarding the next bus. Note there were 3 buses but even though we had just enough people waiting for two buses they make you wait in the cold for an about a half hour. I have never seen the ground crew be less efficient and less welcoming.

It takes about a half hour to get to the port. As long as you have the cruise tags on your luggage they load it directly on to the ship once the luggage is unloaded. Then the embarkation is speedy, you just show your sea pass and get on the ship. Your sea card will be on the door of your cabin.

Note rooms are ready at 1 pm. My cabin is called a super solo balcony. The cabin is small but the balcony almost the same size. The bed is a 3/4 with a topper. Quite comfortable. Note the bathroom is regular size with a larger shower, but water pressure is not great. You will need to ask for extra hangers, pillows, bathrobe and ice from your room steward. Use the app to order and this means you will get it quicker and meet your steward.

This is a very crowded ship. It seems there are no quiet places. Note the ship passengers profile is about 50/50 Asian and Caucasian. This means the free eating venues will be packed all day with Asians and they will not leave the tables so others can eat. This means constant announcements to vacate your table after eating which go unheeded.  Also they don’t put out whole fruit, or the smoked salmon, in the buffet. You have to ask an officer to get you a piece of fruit. They say many passengers take too much fruit.  I have to ask the officer daily for an apple. So disappointed. I wrote to the hotel director and now they deliver an apple/orange a day.

As on all ships the  room stewards and waiters are top notch. 

Entertainment staff middle of the road, not bad just have attitudes towards the passengers. It’s their ship not the guests so comply or they will berate you. I saw this more than once so far, and was taken aback, but just stayed out of the melee.  There was only on shore excursion talk on Japan. This is the only ship where there are no general port talks or enrichment talks on Japan. I am vey disappointed. Just enrichment talks on airplanes, don knots, the history of Rcl and a psychological discussion of murders. So yucky.

It’s all ages but not that many children.

Entertainment is typical cruise ship style with in specialty show where you need reservations. It was just ok and extremely loud. Not to my taste but many liked it. Mostly they show old movies in the theatre.

Dining room has set reservations and they move you around even if you don’t want to move. This is just strange.

Many of the entertainment shows are just to sell you, art more cruises etc.

I don’t hate the ship, just ok with it as I hate crowds and queues, and this ship should be called queues of the seas.

A highlight of this cruise were the Japanese ports. In muroran you pay for a shuttle to the train station return. 15 usd. The town is not great but the people are nice and cheaper shopping. In Hakodate, the disembarkation was chaos for a free shuttle to nowhere good. Grab a cab to Hakodate tower and gardens 2100 yen each way. In Akita the 20usd shuttle is a great deal as it leaves you off at the park, a must see and free. The downtown is walkable with shops.

In shimishu, for Mount Fuji, get a cab to the ropeway and viewing terrace. 3000 yen each way. The ropeway, and shrine and museum combined ticket is 1975 yen. The terrace is free. Best view of Mount Fuji. This is a must do.

You get in an inconvenient terminal and there is a free shuttle to a train station and then you are on your own to get to Tokyo.its a nightmare. 

RCL doesn’t do logistics well… and on a ship this size, shame on them

Hope this helps

Marcia

Charleston an expensive cruise port and not welcoming

 I have been to Charleston 3x before this and I noticed that the sidewalks and many of the grand houses are in disrepair.  It’s a walkable port but be very careful on the cobblestones. Lots are broken.

I typically walk on Meeting street to church street as this street has beautiful houses all on historic registry. They have signs re the original owners. Walking on the sea walk offers great views of fort sumpter and the bridge.

Near the ships dock watch for the dolphins.

Don’t waste your money on the horse drawn carriage. It 50 usd per person. Instead take the free dash bus.

Most of the historic houses that have been turned into museums and are over 15 usd to enter and no discount for seniors.

Food and souvenirs are expensive and most made in China. The local sweet grass baskets are over $100, and painted oyster shells are $50. 

For me Charleston has lost its shine. Perhaps that is why they are trying to ban cruise ships.

Hope this helps

Marcia

Why I like Norfolk as a cruise port

 I had never been to Norfolk on a cruise. I really liked it. It’s a very quiet and laid back city.  Almost Everything is free to see. Must dos

- no need for a tour

- get off the ship early as it’s hot in Norfolk

- walk the cannon ball trail. It is easy and flat but in the historic district be prepared for cobblestone and uneven pavement. Lots of historic homes. Go into the Hunter house . It’s free and interesting 

- go to the Chrysler art museum. Again free and 2 floors of great art

- go to the Mcarthur memorial. Free and interesting

Skip the mall… very few stores. 

I did not do the Wisconsin ship nor the harbour cruise. But both were recommended by those who did.

Watch the sail in or out to see all the navy ships

Hope this helps

Marcia

Boston cruise port Is it walkable?

 From Flynn cruise port it’s walkable but long and confusing. Here’s some suggestions 

Take the free SL2 bus when you leave the port building.  It is a 2 minute walk

to the stop. It is free from the ship to south station. Note it is not free on the way back. It’s $2.40 a ride.  

From south station it’s a 15 minute walk to Quincy market  on Altlantic ave or if you want same distance to Boston common going north on congress or Oliver street.

Shopping for souvenirs is everywhere but mostly in the Faneuil hall market. 

Regular stores are on Washington st.

I didn’t like that the water is now blocked by condos and hotels.  Columbus park still has the best views of the harbour.

Mikes pastry on Hanover street still has good but not great Cannolis.  They are $7 each and while still good, the one I had limoncello was not great.

So yes you can and will walk all over Boston, but take the free sl2 bus to save your steps for downtown Boston

Hope this helps

Marcia

I was sad that 

Newport Rhode Island what to do in port

 Newport is a tender port so get off early to avoid a long wait 

There is a free trolley, number 67 that goes from the harbour to the mansions, cliff walk and old town. It begins at 8:40 am and run about 12 hours. It’s every 10 minutes starting at 10 am.

The cliff walk is free, paved and great views of the water and mansions. 

The Newport art museum is small and $10 for seniors. I felt like I gave a donation as it took less than 30 minutes to see everything . The building is beautiful and the exhibitions change frequently 

Newport is extremely busy on weekends so you will knock elbows with lots of people

Shopping is expensive with tee shirts starting at $30 usd, and it’s not a souvenirs stop

The harbour is terrific with multiple sail boats and yachts. Just sit on the ship or on a bench in the harbour parks of which there are many. You will see sailboats racing 

The synagogue is worth a visit as is St Mary’s church where JFK married Jackie 

Lovely port to visit

Hope this helps

Marcia 

Island princess review June 2024

 On an 11 day Canada and colonial New England cruise out of NYC.   Here’s  my review

Overall a nice, but old ship. Very comfortable ship, and so small that it’s easy to get around. Note given its age the layout is very different from all the newer princess ships. There is no international cafe and you cannot print out your statement from a kiosk. Their financial system doesn’t work. If you have a refundable credit it shows it as non refundable. There front desk says they can’t fix it but won’t give you the refund. They say it Will be fixed by there finance department and a check sent. I don’t believe them.

Other things to know

- old ship that is clean but frayed carpets, lawn chairs on balconies needing to be replaced, lots of rust and stains, rusty mirrors in bathroom and toilets that will likely need to be repaired multiple times. It’s been repaired once already.

- Sheets are discoloured and mine had holes

- has the smallest shower I have ever been in

- staff not communicative but gets the work done

- food is tasty but the most limited variety in the buffet of all Princess ships. The air conditioning is poor in the buffet so I was worried and rightly so as I got stomach issues.

Note I have enjoyed the food as compared to the Regal princess, this is really good especially in the dining room. 

- a mix of ages with lots of multi generational families 

- beds on Princess are really comfortable

- cabin stewards very efficient but not particularly talkative 

- if you want to do sea crafts go a half hour early as they limit supplies. Very annoying that they turn passengers away instead of opening up another box of supplies

- tender service slow, so go early

- cruise director disappears after 8 days and all of his team useless except for Robbie

- entertainers ok with the  4 Production shows different, but the cast familiar from other ships. Note the theater is quite small and you can only access it from deck 7. Go about a half hour early for an aisle seat

I would not take this ship again

Hope this helps

Marcia

Is there a way to get an upgraded cabin on a cruise ship?

 I have taken about 40 cruises (stopped counting so am not sure) and have gotten lots of upgraded cabins. Why?  Here's why I think I have gotten upgrades:

1. I typically take a guaranteed cabin in the cabin category I am willing to live with during the cruise. I prefer an ocean view or balcony and am not bothered if either are obstructed. If picking an obstructed cabin number I check on cruisemapper.com to see if they have pictures or videos of the view.  If I take a guaranteed obstructed ocean view I have found that Princess, NCL and HAL have given me a "within cabin category" upgrade. This means I will get a better location on the ship or often an unobstructed ocean view.  I only once got upgraded on HAL to an balcony from an ocean view guaranteed cabin.

2. When I have taken an inside guaranteed cabin I have also gotten a "within category" upgrade but never and ocean view or balcony as I have paid a low price.

3. As I get to higher levels in the loyalty programs of the cruise lines I think they have taken into account my level as recently I have gotten upgraded from ocean view to balcony but I also think this is due to the two other things... the ship being older and the sailings have not been full.  This is key as you will not get an upgrade if the sailing is popular.

4. Cruise lines definitely take into account how much you paid for your cabin. The more you paid the more likely you will get an upgrade as long as the ship isn't full. As I typically use the cruise lines' air, buy an internet package and do the transfers and one or two shore excursions, this also adds up to the total spend.

5. I own the cruise line stock (100 shares), and this gives me onboard credit and I think might be in the mix for the upgrade decision. 

6. I use a travel agent and the cruise lines like to keep them happy. I have not gotten an upgrade when I booked directly with the cruise lines. I wonder why as then they keep all the money?

7.  Don't try asking for one, just have your travel agent tick the box that your open to an upgrade. I have never gotten an upgrade by asking for one.

Hope this helps

Marcia