Harmony of the Seas
Discussion
llewop said:
HoHoHo said:
Oakey said:
Wait, is all the food free?
Depends on the ship and package.On NCL ships most restaurants are included but you then pay extra for some and shows for example.
Believe me, the cruise companies know how important it is to feed people with excellent food.....and they do.
ecsrobin said:
And most ships will offer a drinks package when you board. I paid a long time ago $20 for unlimited soft drinks for a week in all bars and restaurants, for more you can have an alcoholic package which others could probably advise on.
$20 for a weeks worth of unlimited soft drinks is incredible. NJK44 said:
Quick question for anybody who's been on cruises, or even the HotS, what time do they turn stuff off? The lights on the top etc, restaurants, casinos, do they stop or is it 24/7?
casinos and shops are closed in port, theme and main restaurants have set times, cafeteria open pretty much all the time. Don't think they ever turn the lights off - on RC ships they have the day of the week in a panel in each lift, which seems funny to start with but after a few days you do lose track without it! Thing is, it depends what your definition of a 5 star hotel is. A "real" 5 star hotel is not available all inclusive for £1500 for two weeks, so I am skeptical that it is actually a real 5 star experience.
ETA: I say this because the only all inclusive I have been on was a "5-star" and it most definitely wasn't, so if the same grading rules are applied to cruise ships, I have no interest, and at the point where it actually becomes real 5 star, the price will be so high that I would prefer to go on a private boat.
ETA: I say this because the only all inclusive I have been on was a "5-star" and it most definitely wasn't, so if the same grading rules are applied to cruise ships, I have no interest, and at the point where it actually becomes real 5 star, the price will be so high that I would prefer to go on a private boat.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 26th May 09:08
bulldong said:
Thing is, it depends what your definition of a 5 star hotel is. A "real" 5 star hotel is not available all inclusive for £1500 for two weeks, so I am skeptical that it is actually a real 5 star experience.
ETA: I say this because the only all inclusive I have been on was a "5-star" and it most definitely wasn't, so if the same grading rules are applied to cruise ships, I have no interest, and at the point where it actually becomes real 5 star, the price will be so high that I would prefer to go on a private boat.
I believe the big suites on the Oasis class ships can be ridiculous in price. The top one is 1600 square feet or something with an 800 sq ft balcony. Not sure if this is true but I saw in one news article that this room (or apartment basically) is $16000 for the week. Per person. Sounds a bit much to be honest! There is only that one though, but plenty of other suites like the one they call Crown Loft Suite. Still has two floors and huge floor to ceiling windows. IMO they are just silly money for being on a boat so large with so many people.ETA: I say this because the only all inclusive I have been on was a "5-star" and it most definitely wasn't, so if the same grading rules are applied to cruise ships, I have no interest, and at the point where it actually becomes real 5 star, the price will be so high that I would prefer to go on a private boat.
Edited by bulldong on Thursday 26th May 09:08
When we go we're happy with inside or preferably a balcony. I mean if you are doing it properly, you only really use the room to wash and sleep.
On the Epic I would have said the rooms are to a similar finish as what you might find in some of the newer vegas hotels. Looked nice, modern design, nice touches. A bit fur coat and no knickers in places. But that is the american way with their faux opulence.
EDIT just checked on their website, if I were to do a Caribbean cruise on HoS next year in summer the suites range from about £3300 per person for the junior suite, though to about £6000 for one looking over the aqua-theater at the back and a whopping £15,500 for the big cheese suite!!!
I mean really if 4 of you went in there (because apparently that is the occupancy for it) thats £60,000. You could have a much better time than going on this boat. You'd have to really really want it or not care about money. You could charter your own boat for a week probably!
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 26th May 09:43
I struggle to get my head around the profitability of these things when I see the customer/staff ratio (which seems to be around 3:1), 2100 staff looking after 5700 people seems like a huge number to me...I guess most of those staff aren't getting paid a great deal, presumably why they're all registered in a country with non-existent labour laws.
ukaskew said:
I struggle to get my head around the profitability of these things when I see the customer/staff ratio (which seems to be around 3:1), 2100 staff looking after 5700 people seems like a huge number to me...I guess most of those staff aren't getting paid a great deal, presumably why they're all registered in a country with non-existent labour laws.
I'd be happy to get paid f**k all if I got to travel. Well without exception the staff on all the cruises I've been on were the friendliest and seemingly happiest I've ever seen. Always cheery and smiling; way superior to surly UK staff.
Also they're generally from all over the world and more than happy to talk about their countries of origin (Bulgaria, India, Malaysia...); one of the best adverts for multi-culti lifestyle I've ever seen.
It can't be that bad a carry on either: when I asked one of the waiters what he was doing for the rest of the day he said he was off jet skiing.
The 5 star thing is subjective: I would never go to an actual 5-star hotel, not my scene, but the cruise experience is "5-star" from my perspective. The food in the normal "free" restaurants is as good as any I have eaten in at home. No need to pay extra for the speciality ones but some do.
I compare it to the alternatives I would otherwise have taken: e.g. with the family, 2 weeks around a pool somewhere hot, out to restaurants (kids would often not eat their expensive meals), try and find stuff to do during the day, hire a car to get there etc. IMHO the cruise is way cheaper overall and way superior as an experience.
Same with the rock cruise versus a festival; we only have a cheapo cabin for that as it is literally to sleep in, then up and out. Heck, if you're teetotal it is cheaper than being at home. Also the rock band members I chatted with love it too (in their posh suites) and come back for more the following year.
Granted if you are into Michelin star restaurants all the time and private yachts it may well not be your thing.
Also they're generally from all over the world and more than happy to talk about their countries of origin (Bulgaria, India, Malaysia...); one of the best adverts for multi-culti lifestyle I've ever seen.
It can't be that bad a carry on either: when I asked one of the waiters what he was doing for the rest of the day he said he was off jet skiing.
The 5 star thing is subjective: I would never go to an actual 5-star hotel, not my scene, but the cruise experience is "5-star" from my perspective. The food in the normal "free" restaurants is as good as any I have eaten in at home. No need to pay extra for the speciality ones but some do.
I compare it to the alternatives I would otherwise have taken: e.g. with the family, 2 weeks around a pool somewhere hot, out to restaurants (kids would often not eat their expensive meals), try and find stuff to do during the day, hire a car to get there etc. IMHO the cruise is way cheaper overall and way superior as an experience.
Same with the rock cruise versus a festival; we only have a cheapo cabin for that as it is literally to sleep in, then up and out. Heck, if you're teetotal it is cheaper than being at home. Also the rock band members I chatted with love it too (in their posh suites) and come back for more the following year.
Granted if you are into Michelin star restaurants all the time and private yachts it may well not be your thing.
My parents have recently popped their cruising cherry, doing the Norwegian Fjords for a week from Southampton on P&O Azura. They absolutely loved it and can't wait to go again and when you consider the cost was £349 per person, it's exceptional value really. I'm still unsure about it as a holiday myself, but seeing the photos and hearing about it from them, we're considering it with our 4 year old daughter, but I'd prefer a line with a little less formality.
That ship looks amazing. I'd love to have a nose around it for a few hours.
I've never been on a cruise but would like to give it a go. I quite like the idea of waking up somewhere else each morning and going ashore and checking it out.
Unfortunately nobody else in my family is remotely interested. I brought it up the other day and was greated by a barrage of negativity. It seems they are just plague ships rammed full of Americans that swamp any country with tourists the minute they arrive in port.
Did anyone watch the love boat, I used to love that programme.
I've never been on a cruise but would like to give it a go. I quite like the idea of waking up somewhere else each morning and going ashore and checking it out.
Unfortunately nobody else in my family is remotely interested. I brought it up the other day and was greated by a barrage of negativity. It seems they are just plague ships rammed full of Americans that swamp any country with tourists the minute they arrive in port.
Did anyone watch the love boat, I used to love that programme.
Edited by el stovey on Thursday 26th May 23:46
towser44 said:
My parents have recently popped their cruising cherry, doing the Norwegian Fjords for a week from Southampton on P&O Azura. They absolutely loved it and can't wait to go again and when you consider the cost was £349 per person, it's exceptional value really. I'm still unsure about it as a holiday myself, but seeing the photos and hearing about it from them, we're considering it with our 4 year old daughter, but I'd prefer a line with a little less formality.
£349?! Wow. For that price I'll be interested in going ASAP!ukaskew said:
I struggle to get my head around the profitability of these things when I see the customer/staff ratio (which seems to be around 3:1), 2100 staff looking after 5700 people seems like a huge number to me...I guess most of those staff aren't getting paid a great deal, presumably why they're all registered in a country with non-existent labour laws.
Not included in the price of admission is the tips for these guys. I don't begrudge them it, they deserve it, but you do have to be aware of it before going. For the guy looking after your room I think its something like $15 a day per passenger or something. If you are on a P&O boat and have set dinning then you'll also pay a set amount per day for the head waiter. You have the same guy every night looking after your table. It can added to your room bill automatically and you settle on leaving. I think on one I remember doing two envelopes with money in for the guys. I think they do alright out of it, many of them send most of the money back home.
Yeah and crew rooms are a bit grim unless you are head engineer or whatever.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 27th May 11:31
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 27th May 11:31
Otispunkmeyer said:
I believe the big suites on the Oasis class ships can be ridiculous in price. The top one is 1600 square feet or something with an 800 sq ft balcony. Not sure if this is true but I saw in one news article that this room (or apartment basically) is $16000 for the week. Per person. Sounds a bit much to be honest! There is only that one though, but plenty of other suites like the one they call Crown Loft Suite. Still has two floors and huge floor to ceiling windows. IMO they are just silly money for being on a boat so large with so many people.
When we go we're happy with inside or preferably a balcony. I mean if you are doing it properly, you only really use the room to wash and sleep.
On the Epic I would have said the rooms are to a similar finish as what you might find in some of the newer vegas hotels. Looked nice, modern design, nice touches. A bit fur coat and no knickers in places. But that is the american way with their faux opulence.
EDIT just checked on their website, if I were to do a Caribbean cruise on HoS next year in summer the suites range from about £3300 per person for the junior suite, though to about £6000 for one looking over the aqua-theater at the back and a whopping £15,500 for the big cheese suite!!!
I mean really if 4 of you went in there (because apparently that is the occupancy for it) thats £60,000. You could have a much better time than going on this boat. You'd have to really really want it or not care about money. You could charter your own boat for a week probably!
Only £60,000? That's about 5 minutes work for that PH'er whose elderly mother is a stockmarket genius who funds her cruises through trading When we go we're happy with inside or preferably a balcony. I mean if you are doing it properly, you only really use the room to wash and sleep.
On the Epic I would have said the rooms are to a similar finish as what you might find in some of the newer vegas hotels. Looked nice, modern design, nice touches. A bit fur coat and no knickers in places. But that is the american way with their faux opulence.
EDIT just checked on their website, if I were to do a Caribbean cruise on HoS next year in summer the suites range from about £3300 per person for the junior suite, though to about £6000 for one looking over the aqua-theater at the back and a whopping £15,500 for the big cheese suite!!!
I mean really if 4 of you went in there (because apparently that is the occupancy for it) thats £60,000. You could have a much better time than going on this boat. You'd have to really really want it or not care about money. You could charter your own boat for a week probably!
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 26th May 09:43
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