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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I wonder how well the port handles all of the peopel, baggage and cars etc with that many big ships?

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Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:
Imagine handeling 4 ships larger than 100K tons each.

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The terminal itself was nice and organized and they had luggage carousels just like the Royal Caribbean terminal in Miami. Barcelona is the only other port besides Miami that I have seen this.

All in all a great success as was the cruise itself. I thought Royal Caribbean did an amazing job catering to the mostly Spanish passengers. Announcements were done in Spanish first, then English and much of the onboard programming was very different to that of the US. I really enjoyed it and found the Spanish passengers to be a very fun and charming group. I would not hesitate to do it all again.

VOYAGER OF THE SEAS is looking as good as ever, and frankly she is holding up extremely well. She looks almost as she did when she was brand new. It's nice that Royal Caribbean is taking good care of her.

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Originally posted by eroller:
I thought Royal Caribbean did an amazing job catering to the mostly Spanish passengers. Announcements were done in Spanish first, then English and much of the onboard programming was very different to that of the US.

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I've also cruised RCI from Barcelona, although they were not as many big ships at the time.

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Originally posted by eroller:
I really enjoyed it and found the Spanish passengers to be a very fun and charming group. I would not hesitate to do it all again.

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In which case Ernie do go for Oceanic. The Spanish really are a very nice crowd to cruise with and the atmosphere quite different to any cruise with mainly a UK or US citizen majority. Quite why, I really couldn't pinpoint.

Likewise I have been in Barcelona embarking or disembarking with many other ships and ne'r a problem, they really do seem to have it down to a tee. Not all terminals have carousels, the baggage is then just lined up in colour codes as usual.

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Originally posted by eroller:
The terminal itself was nice and organized and they had luggage carousels just like the Royal Caribbean terminal in Miami. Barcelona is the only other port besides Miami that I have seen this.

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Hi Ernie,

Bremerhaven's Columbus Cruise Center has multiple baggage carousels, as well.

Best,

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Originally posted by r.fiebig: Hi Ernie, Bremerhaven's Columbus Cruise Center has multiple baggage carousels, as well. Best, Raoul

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Thanks Raoul. I have not been to Bremerhaven yet but hopefully in the future!

I guess the carousels are becoming popular in some of the new cruise terminals (but not all).

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Originally posted by PamM: In which case Ernie do go for Oceanic. The Spanish really are a very nice crowd to cruise with and the atmosphere quite different to any cruise with mainly a UK or US citizen majority. Quite why, I really couldn't pinpoint.

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Pam,
On OCEANIC did they still make announcements in English at some point, and did they have a daily program that was printed in English? Also, could most of the waiters, bartenders, and cabin stewards understand English? Those would be the only roadblocks that might prevent me from sailing on OCEANIC as I don't speak or read Spanish (at least not well!). It would not bother me at all if the majority of the passengers were Spanish. That was the case on VOYAGER and it was great fun. You still try to communicate if only in bits and pieces and it was a lot of fun. The Spanish know how to have a fantastic time but at the same time are not obnoxious or overbearing. It's hard to explain but it was really refreshing.

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Originally posted by eroller:
On OCEANIC did they still make announcements in English at some point, and did they have a daily program that was printed in English? Also, could most of the waiters, bartenders, and cabin stewards understand English?

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Yes, yes & yes, some of the crew are still from her Premier days. Not all stewards/wait staff speak English by any means, but some do and when the rest suss you are English/US they like to practise on you Reception and officers all speak English. Important announcements are in both languages and the daily is printed in English for you. I have some samples online. Language is no barrier here at all. Learning a few words however is an ice breaker, as in every foreign country. Uno vino blanco por favor .. etc works wonders.. LOL

Pam

[ 05-12-2007: Message edited by: PamM ]

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy: Great photo. Those RCI ships look great from the 3/4 stern angle.

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For new mega-ships, they really are attractive (both inside and out). I normally don't like sailing on the same ship design more than once, but the Voyager/Freedom Class (and QM2) are the exception. There are enough diversions and the design is so well done that I don't mind going back again and again. There is very little I don't like about these ships.

I'll be sailing on EXPLORER OF THE SEAS on June 8th for 9 nights, and that will make my 5th time on the Voyager/Freedom Class. That is a record for me.

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Originally posted by eroller:

Those would be the only roadblocks that might prevent me from sailing on OCEANIC as I don't speak or read Spanish (at least not well!). It would not bother me at all if the majority of the passengers were Spanish.
Ernie

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Ernie, I'm booked for the OCEANIC's Nov. 19th sailing--if you come join us, I'll help you with the language--LOL. I speak Spanish, Italian, and French (a rarity for an American) so I'm not fearful of language barriers. It will actually be no different from day-to-day life here in Miami!

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Originally posted by Linerrich: Ernie, I'm booked for the OCEANIC's Nov. 19th sailing--if you come join us, I'll help you with the language--LOL. I speak Spanish, Italian, and French (a rarity for an American) so I'm not fearful of language barriers. It will actually be no different from day-to-day life here in Miami! Rich

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Thanks for the offer Rich. You never know, it's always a possibility. I'm not fearful of language barriers but certain things need to be available in English (menus, daily program) for me to get the most out of any cruise. Having lived in Los Angeles almost 15 years and also Miami a few, I've become quite accustomed to hearing Spanish. None the less I never learned it.