<!--quoteo(post=256836:date=Dec 8 2007, 08&#58;00 AM:name=JoeyandDavid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JoeyandDavid &#064; Dec 8 2007, 08&#58;00 AM) [snapback]256836[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><br /><!--quoteo(post=256830:date=Dec 8 2007, 06&#58;50 AM:name=zebra)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zebra &#064; Dec 8 2007, 06&#58;50 AM) [snapback]256830[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><br />Joey, how fantastic&#33;&#33;  You must enjoy RCCL... tell us a bit about it please&#33;&#33;  At that price I don&#39;t blame you.  Can&#39;t you tempt David to join you?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":sad2:" border="0" alt="sad.gif" />  working you know....<br /><br />Hi Jackie.......The staff are as friendly and helpful as Celebrity..... the food isn&#39;t too bad and they did have lemonade and tropical fruit drinks along with Ice Tea for consumption at no addition fees the coffee was pretty good .....although there were some minuses ... no tea pots in the coffee/tea shop.. only paper cups... <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/thumbdown.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumbdown:" border="0" alt="thumbdown.gif" /> <br />Plastic in the buffet and no trays it appears everyone is going to Platters.... <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/thumbdown.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumbdown:" border="0" alt="thumbdown.gif" /> <br /><br />..bottom line is if this last cruise is any indication..they could be very much what we were looking for as an alternative to Celebrity... this by no means means we will not stop looking for a 2 for 1 on one of the upscale lines  but as for RCI may fill the bill when we want to cruise and our first choice isn&#39;t available <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/thumbup.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumbup:" border="0" alt="thumbup.gif" /> ... <br />After all......It is what it is.. and what it is is not too bad...... <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cool2:" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /> <br /><br />Joey<br /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />Dear Joey,<br /><br />I was glad to see  these comments about Royal Caribbean - as you know it is my favorite cruise line...my budget doesn&#39;t allow me to sail on Crystal or Seabourn - I&#39;ve been very happy the last 12-3/4 years with my 59 cruises on RCL and I&#39;m very much looking forward to next week on board the Brilliance for the first <br />time.  While RCL may not have total luxury, most of the ships are very nice - I especially like the Radiance class.  However, the Monarch, is home to me.  I first sailed out of San Juan on her and, last week, when we met, was my 17th cruise.  I just hate that she is leaving California and I will bombard the Miami office with protests.  I think California needs something other than Carnival in the 3/4 day cruise market.<br /><br />I look forward to sailing again Feb 4th with you.  Keep my seat warm at the Schooner and tell all I&#39;ll be back when you see them January 14th.<br /><br />RNSANE<br />