I'm sorry to hear you had a bad time on the LOS.

I wouldn't judge the RCCI product on that one experience.

If you want a family orientated cruise ship then try one of the Voyager or Freedom class ships, they have kids facilities galore, in fact one half of an entire very large deck of facilities specifically for children.

My friend and myself sailed on the Mariner last year and to be honest found it to be too family orientated for our taste, while on the other hand we loved the LOS [Distant Islands] especially the amazing views from almost all of the public areas, I came away from that cruise wanting to try more Vision class ships, cruising certainly lives up to the old adage, 'one mans meat is another mans poison'.

From what you have said in your earlier post, rahter than not sailing with RCCI again, I suggest you give the Voyager class a go, I think it will prove to be just what you are looking for.

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Originally posted by CliveB:
I wouldn't judge the RCCI product on that one experience.

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On the MOS I cannot imagine how you could include anymore facilities than they provide for children.

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Originally posted by CliveB:
Irrespective of being let down badly on one particular cruise, iit dosn,t alter the fact that the cruise experience on the different RCCI class of ships can be very, very different.

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I completely Agee Clive. The different ships do offer different experiences, although RCI would probably claim that they are all similar. However the departure port and area cruised alters the passenger mix.

For example I cruised 'Brilliance' from the UK (return) to the Fjords and the whole experience was more 'British' orientated (mainly Brit passengers) and more formal at times. The outer decks and pools often went unused due to the climate.

I cruises 'Splendour' in the Med from Barcelona (return) and there were lots of Italian and Spanish passengers, including families, with a party/resort type atmosphere. The formal meals were well attended.

'Explorer' in the Carib offered a much more mass-market American experience with performing waiters etc. It was the least formal of the three. The formal meals were only ever half full. Few people dressed up anyway. There were lots of families and once again a party/resort experience.

Never the less, if I was disappointed with a recent cruise my next one would certainly be with a different line.

[ 11-12-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by CliveB:
Irrespective of being let down badly on one particular cruise, iit dosn,t alter the fact that the cruise experience on the different RCCI class of ships can be very, very different.

On the MOS I cannot imagine how you could include anymore facilities than they provide for children.

Having said that depite the ice rink, in-line skating rink, huge childrens rooms including PCs, full size basketball court, mini golf [I could go on], it seemed that still the favourite kids activity was to ride the far too few lifts day and night.

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Right CB, One particular cruise, be it on RCI or any other cruise line, does not mean all cruises are the same on that cruise line!
I too, have had a bad experience on one of RCI vessels and I know the company lost a lot of both first timers and repeaters on that particular cruise.

When using the abbreviation MOS I was referring to the Mariner of the Seas not the Monarch.

I also agree Malcolm that departure point will have a significant influence on the feel and makeup of a cruise, and like yourself my experience was also that the UK based LOS was considerably more formal than the Mariner on the Caribbean, which incidentally also had half empty dining rooms most nights, we assumed that passengers felt that the food didn't warrant the surroundings and the extra effort of making yourself look smart.

I would sugget that if RCCI market the Vision and Voyager class as the same product, they would be guilty of misleading their clients.

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Originally posted by CliveB:
Ps Malcolm does this board have a spell check, if not are they planning on introducing one.

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Wel personnally I donnt need won!

It certainly does not have one. As for if it ever will, that’s a question for Joe.

Joe?

[ 11-12-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]