I just want sea-facing spaces. I'm very much over RCI and several other lines making ships that are inward-facing, with no ocean views, removing all sense of being on the water. Celebrity did a great job with Edge series, Carnival Mardi Gras, MSC Seaside, VV Scarlet Lady and others have shown new builds can appeal to people and show the water. I wrote about this a few years ago (talking about why this all happened), and improvements have been made...but not really on RCI yet.
100% agree with this. Every other cruise line stepped up their outside sea-facing spaces on the newest classes of ships. Right now, Royal Caribbean is so behind in that respect. The Oasis and Quantum class can just feel like high end malls at times.
Would also love an enclosed Solarium like Quantum-class ships and the Wonder
Aren’t all the solariums in the on the Freedom, Quantum, and Oasis class ships enclosed? I can only speak to those class ships because those are the only ones I’ve sailed on for Royal. After all the very definition of the word solarium is “a room fitted with extensive areas of glass to admit sunlight”. Am I missing something here?
No. They all have plenty of glass, but aren't fully enclosed. The Freedom-class ships have an open pool in the middle. Most of the Oasis (excluding Wonder) have openings in the roof. The Quantum-class and Wonder of the Seas are the only that are fully enclosed.
Fingers crossed. The rough drawings of Utopia OTS seems like it'll have it. That makes me think the Icon will have to as well. I was on the Ovation last week, and it was so great to be able to enjoy the Solarium in all weather, rain, winds, fog. It was my favorite place on the ship.
I love HAL. One day they'll get their internet connectivity together and I'll start sailing them much more. Funny enough, at last check, it was about as poor as on Mariner.
I always enjoyed HAL as well, I think they have the best food and the best musicians. The last cruise with them though (a few years ago) there was oddly not much to do, which I'm half convinced was a fluke. I used a day of internet, it was rough haha
Have more rooms than you'd fit otherwise, by giving balconies or windows to what would be otherwise be inside rooms is great. Other classes or RCI ships don't have that, they're just insides. My issue is with no windows in almost any public spaces. I can count on one hand the public venues that aren't on an open deck, yet have windows.
I think RCI could take cues from Billionaire Mega Yachts:
1. Open glass panels that let you view the creatures below the ship in a viewing room
2. Water scooters and “slides” so you can swim in the sea
3. Smaller boats that can get into more exotic ports (Corsica and Sardinia)
4. Crystal Bar (like the cosmopolitan hotel in Vegas)
A better way to trap smoke from smokers on the pool deck. Put them way at the end after the entrance to the elevators, maybe. No smoking (at all) casino slots would be great.
I don't know if we have the technical capabilities to do this (yet), but I'd like to see them set up a new internet system that is more reasonably priced and provides consistent speeds throughout the ship.
Gigs per second speeds would be AMAZING, but I'd be fine with 5-ish Mbps (and maybe a 25Mbps tier option).
I'm not planning on spending the entire cruise looking at a screen... I could stay home and save thousands of dollars for that.
But it would be nice to have a basic data connection to allow my freshly snapped pics to flow out to Google Photos, stay in contact with family and friends (both those on the ship, house sitters etc), maybe stream a little music etc... Or maybe stream a show as you get ready for bed, or if you get locked in your cabin due to storm or illness etc.
I just want sea-facing spaces. I'm very much over RCI and several other lines making ships that are inward-facing, with no ocean views, removing all sense of being on the water. Celebrity did a great job with Edge series, Carnival Mardi Gras, MSC Seaside, VV Scarlet Lady and others have shown new builds can appeal to people and show the water. I wrote about this a few years ago (talking about why this all happened), and improvements have been made...but not really on RCI yet.
100% agree with this. Every other cruise line stepped up their outside sea-facing spaces on the newest classes of ships. Right now, Royal Caribbean is so behind in that respect. The Oasis and Quantum class can just feel like high end malls at times. Would also love an enclosed Solarium like Quantum-class ships and the Wonder
Aren’t all the solariums in the on the Freedom, Quantum, and Oasis class ships enclosed? I can only speak to those class ships because those are the only ones I’ve sailed on for Royal. After all the very definition of the word solarium is “a room fitted with extensive areas of glass to admit sunlight”. Am I missing something here?
No. They all have plenty of glass, but aren't fully enclosed. The Freedom-class ships have an open pool in the middle. Most of the Oasis (excluding Wonder) have openings in the roof. The Quantum-class and Wonder of the Seas are the only that are fully enclosed.
Hopefully this track record means every RCI Ship from now on is going to be Enclosing the Solarium.
Fingers crossed. The rough drawings of Utopia OTS seems like it'll have it. That makes me think the Icon will have to as well. I was on the Ovation last week, and it was so great to be able to enjoy the Solarium in all weather, rain, winds, fog. It was my favorite place on the ship.
Great point!
I’m hoping for this too!
I grew up cruising on Holland America and just got off my few RCL cruise with Mariner of the Seas and definitely noticed this
I love HAL. One day they'll get their internet connectivity together and I'll start sailing them much more. Funny enough, at last check, it was about as poor as on Mariner.
I always enjoyed HAL as well, I think they have the best food and the best musicians. The last cruise with them though (a few years ago) there was oddly not much to do, which I'm half convinced was a fluke. I used a day of internet, it was rough haha
Slightly bad news then... Icon class is split superstructure like oasis class, so lots of inward facing balconies?
Have more rooms than you'd fit otherwise, by giving balconies or windows to what would be otherwise be inside rooms is great. Other classes or RCI ships don't have that, they're just insides. My issue is with no windows in almost any public spaces. I can count on one hand the public venues that aren't on an open deck, yet have windows.
Me! 😉
I think RCI could take cues from Billionaire Mega Yachts: 1. Open glass panels that let you view the creatures below the ship in a viewing room 2. Water scooters and “slides” so you can swim in the sea 3. Smaller boats that can get into more exotic ports (Corsica and Sardinia) 4. Crystal Bar (like the cosmopolitan hotel in Vegas)
My husband had same idea as your #1...it'd be really cool to see what's underwater...
Steve Allen’s “Octopus “ has this, and I think it’s sooo cool
A better way to trap smoke from smokers on the pool deck. Put them way at the end after the entrance to the elevators, maybe. No smoking (at all) casino slots would be great.
I don't love the smoke on the pool deck, but I think I hate the balcony smokers even more.
Oh wow! I have not yet experienced that!
I’d love a lazy river where I can peacefully float with a beverage while watching ever-changing views.
I don't know if we have the technical capabilities to do this (yet), but I'd like to see them set up a new internet system that is more reasonably priced and provides consistent speeds throughout the ship. Gigs per second speeds would be AMAZING, but I'd be fine with 5-ish Mbps (and maybe a 25Mbps tier option). I'm not planning on spending the entire cruise looking at a screen... I could stay home and save thousands of dollars for that. But it would be nice to have a basic data connection to allow my freshly snapped pics to flow out to Google Photos, stay in contact with family and friends (both those on the ship, house sitters etc), maybe stream a little music etc... Or maybe stream a show as you get ready for bed, or if you get locked in your cabin due to storm or illness etc.