RCI - Baltic
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Topic author - Senior First Officer
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RCI - Baltic
Off today to Southampton for my Baltic cruise with son and family. Only travelled with RCI once before - I think my granddaughters will enjoy the facilities - they’ve only sailed with P&O and Princess previously. My youngest granddaughter declared it would be too hot in the Med in August hence we are going north and a lot of the ships are not child friendly or going at the wrong time. However I’m sure we will have a fab time - will report back on my return
Byeee
Byeee
Janis
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- Commodore
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Have a lovely time Jan as I'm sure you will
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- Site Admin
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Re: RCI - Baltic
You might be pleasantly surprised (or not) and it it actually hotter than the Med.Jan Rosser wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 07:48My youngest granddaughter declared it would be too hot in the Med in August
Have a great time with the grandkids
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- First Officer
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Hi Jan
Have a lovely holiday with the family.
Enjoy the Baltics.
Lindsey
Have a lovely holiday with the family.
Enjoy the Baltics.
Lindsey
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Have a great time Jan. It will be different from your “norm”, but that doesn’t mean not good and anyway, you’ll enjoy your lovely family time xx
Gill
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- Second Officer
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Hope you have a great time with your family, and look forward to hearing about your cruise when you are back.
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Topic author - Senior First Officer
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Re: RCI - Baltic
On deck taking part in lifeboat drill but without life jackets
Embarkation was a breeze
Embarkation was a breeze
Janis
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- Senior First Officer
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- Deputy Captain
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Hope you're enjoying Explorer Jan, we are certainly enjoying everything that Independence has to offer.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Ex Team Member
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Could you possibly post your destinations …. I / we just love the Baltic regions
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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Topic author - Senior First Officer
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Taking a bit of getting used to - layout so different- getting lost a lot Food is excellent particularly meat but waiters disappointed we don’t eat more!!! On a hoho bus today I’m Copenhagen.
Janis
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- Commodore
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Ask him for a doggy bag Jan, I'll soon take it off your hands.Jan Rosser wrote: ↑07 Aug 2019, 10:04Taking a bit of getting used to - layout so different- getting lost a lot Food is excellent particularly meat but waiters disappointed we don’t eat more!!! On a hoho bus today I’m Copenhagen.
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Ah those lovely Americans. No such thing as a small plate.
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- Deputy Captain
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Well our Independence cruise is nearly finished, Captain Iv has had his pedal to the metal since leaving Cadiz and we should be safely alongside by 11:00pm tonight ahead of the worst of the forecast winds.
There has been no force feeding and the food has been about the same standard as P&O, with probably a wider choice. About the only thing RCI don't do at least as well as P&O is their My Time version of Freedom dining, they encourage passengers to book a table and time, which IMO defeats the benefits of Freedom dining, and results in lots of empty tables and even longer queues waiting for a table. We were fortunate the assistant M'aitre D insists that we are allowed to jump the queue as priority wheelchair guests.
Of course drink prices and anything else that's not included is extortionately expensive, but the ships are so much better designed and cared for that you almost forget about the higher costs.
There has been no force feeding and the food has been about the same standard as P&O, with probably a wider choice. About the only thing RCI don't do at least as well as P&O is their My Time version of Freedom dining, they encourage passengers to book a table and time, which IMO defeats the benefits of Freedom dining, and results in lots of empty tables and even longer queues waiting for a table. We were fortunate the assistant M'aitre D insists that we are allowed to jump the queue as priority wheelchair guests.
Of course drink prices and anything else that's not included is extortionately expensive, but the ships are so much better designed and cared for that you almost forget about the higher costs.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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Topic author - Senior First Officer
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Helsinki today - survived St Petersburg - just - and we didn’t even do long tours
Unlike John we found dining okay- we did eat at the same time most nights and were thoroughly spoiled by our waiters and have never had so much attention from head waiters before but we had a couple of issues over breakfast one day and after that we have been treated very well. More about it when I return home.
Food we all think much better than P&O- surprised to find kettle in room too.
Unlike John we found dining okay- we did eat at the same time most nights and were thoroughly spoiled by our waiters and have never had so much attention from head waiters before but we had a couple of issues over breakfast one day and after that we have been treated very well. More about it when I return home.
Food we all think much better than P&O- surprised to find kettle in room too.
Janis
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- Commodore
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Don't tell me they forgot the laverbread Jan. That's well out of order.
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Re: RCI - Baltic
Yes I remember we got one of those too. But I was irritated that it came with throwaway paper cups not proper crockery.Jan Rosser wrote: ↑12 Aug 2019, 11:14Food we all think much better than P&O- surprised to find kettle in room too.
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- Ex Team Member
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Re: RCI - Baltic
You mean to say that Trish didn't take the Royal Albert set … tshhhh.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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Re: RCI - Baltic
We got proper mugs, but maybe that's because we are Diamond.Mervyn and Trish wrote: ↑12 Aug 2019, 17:32Yes I remember we got one of those too. But I was irritated that it came with throwaway paper cups not proper crockery.Jan Rosser wrote: ↑12 Aug 2019, 11:14Food we all think much better than P&O- surprised to find kettle in room too.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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Topic author - Senior First Officer
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Re: RCI - Baltic
No paper cups for us either Stockholm today - off on shuttle bus to explore. The tickets for the bus are ridiculously expensive - we can’t believe how much we’ve spent so far - a definite negative for RCI.towny44 wrote: ↑12 Aug 2019, 19:27We got proper mugs, but maybe that's because we are Diamond.Mervyn and Trish wrote: ↑12 Aug 2019, 17:32Yes I remember we got one of those too. But I was irritated that it came with throwaway paper cups not proper crockery.Jan Rosser wrote: ↑12 Aug 2019, 11:14Food we all think much better than P&O- surprised to find kettle in room too.
Janis
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- Commodore
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- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
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Re: RCI - Baltic
That'll be P&O Vanilla cruising as opposed to Rum 'n Raisin, Tutti Fruiti and chocolate chip cookie dough with RCI.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000