As well, all returning guests that have signed up to Crown Anchor after their first voyage are invit

We'd heard great things about Rhapsody of the Seas from fellow cruisers who had spent time on her, so we had been looking forward to this cruise. alaska cruises sitka And we weren't let down - Rhapsody is a splendid ship.
One of the nice things about Rhapsody is her size - she has just over 2,000 passengers - which means it is big enough for some level of anonymity but also small enough that you often bump into people you might have already met. Okay, we'll admit this might not always be a good thing, but you have to take the good with the bad :)
Rhapsody reminded us quite a bit of our first-ever cruise, on Radiance of the Seas . Radiance is one class bigger but much of the layout is the same and it almost felt like being 'home'. alaska cruises sitka Being that little bit smaller than some of the other ships we've cruised on means getting around is quite a bit easier, even though more decks = more stairs = better workout, alaska cruises sitka especially if the buffet is your favourite part of the ship!
With Rhapsody it seems you are no more than a couple of decks from anywhere. alaska cruises sitka Our cabin was on Deck 8, which is one deck below the Pool Deck, Windjammer Cafe, the Solarium and Vitality Spa. Then, heading downwards, Deck 6 is the start of the dining and entertainment areas.
(Above photo - Rhapsody of the Seas docked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal , Circular Quay, Sydney, a few hours before we boarded. Normally I - Giulio - would have waited and waited for a seagull to fly into shot but this was one of the few times I put the camera to my face and this was the first frame I took!)
In case you are wondering about the actual cruise, it was an 11-night alaska cruises sitka cruise up and down the east coast of Australia, the route being Sydney-Newcastle-Cairns-Willis Island-Airlie Beach-Brisbane-Sydney. Some or all of these destinations you have probably heard of except for Willis Island (photo below).
1) If you intend using your credit card while you are away, tell your credit card provider that you are going overseas, so they don't think your credit card has been compromised and someone on a cruise holiday or in a foreign land has suddenly started making purchases. The last thing you want to deal with when you get home is a cancelled credit card and having to sort out all your direct alaska cruises sitka debits etc when your bank sends you a new one. While it's good that credit card security works this way, it's a hassle you don't need.
2) Contact your mobile phone provider and have your phone switched to international call roaming. The costs are very high if you do make (and receive) calls but it's a security blanket should you need to use your phone in an emergency. IMPORTANT - turn off data roaming on your phone (or get your provider to do it for you). Even though you may not make calls while you are away, any data that is uploaded or downloaded (emails alaska cruises sitka or app updates, for instance) will be charged at a far more expensive rate.
3) 'Dose up'. Being confined to a ship with several thousand people can be a breeding ground for germs and result in colds/flus (how many of us seem to always get a cold when we fly?). We'd suggest a course of vitamin C and/or echinacea in the lead up to your cruise. While these might not completely stop you from getting a cold/flu, they may help reduce the duration of anything you might get and, thus, give you more time to enjoy your cruise. And, for those of you who have heard of norovirus , there is nothing you can do ahead of time other than get into the habit of practising safe hygiene.
This was the first time we had booked a Junior Suite . We had stayed in a Grand Suite on our Voyager of the Seas cruise which was nice but we found there was a lot of unused space. The Junior Suite was great - everything was contained and had a place, but there was space to move. It was also located aft and, due to the design of many cruise ships, rear aft cabins (those overlooking the stern of the ship) have larger balconies.
However, the big bonus was that any wind generated by the ship or the ocean passed right over us. This meant being able to sit on the balcony and read a book, listen to music, alaska cruises sitka or look at the view, and not be blown away. We could also use the balcony as a drying area without alaska cruises sitka fear of a gust of wind blowing anything overboard.
Early on there was occasional alaska cruises sitka vibration, probably due to the fact we were above the engines/propellers. After a couple of days the vibration stopped and one morning we woke and thought we had docked because there was no movement or noise what-so-ever (a quick look out the back confirmed we were still cruising along). We don't know if the initial vibration we felt was the same throughout the ship and we could only surmise it was because we had to step on it to get from Newcastle to Cairns and the engine room was going at 'full steam ahead'.
As well as the bathroom goodies in the photo above, there is a mini-bar with soft drinks (sodas), bottled still water and boxed M M's, chocolates and biscuits. We couldn't find any prices for the mini-bar but know that drinks are charged at ship prices.
There are quite a few channels that remained constant, while others - mainly Australian terrestrial channels - came and went. Perhaps this was because we were relatively close to land the entire way. We picked up Imparja, which is affiliated with Channel 9 and operates in remote eastern and central Australia, and others such as 7Mate, PrimeTV, GEM, Channel 10 and ONE intermittently throughout the cruise.
Some of the constant cable channels included BBC World and CNN (is there nowhere on this planet you can't get either of these?), ESPN, NHK World News, Australia Network, Variety TV (lifestyle and travel) and our favourite, Tru TV, which had lots of real-life crime shows.
Other channels were on a loop, including two RCTV channels, alaska cruises sitka one of which showed great documentaries about Royal Caribbean (construction of RCI ships etc), two music video channels that appeared to comprise all promo music videos (no big stars), Turner Classic Movies, another inhouse movie channel (all of which played at one point or another in the Broadway Melodies Theatre and the big screen on the Pool Deck), the Cruise Compass channel (see Cruise Compass in the information section of this post) and the Bridge-cam from the front of the ship.
If you like waking up to the 'Morning Show', featuring the Cruise and Entertainment Directors talking about the night before and the upcoming day's events, then Channel 14, the 'other' RCTV channel, is for you!
You are given your Sea Pass when you check in at the port before boarding. Once onboard, your Sea Pass acts as your room key and wallet (ship currency will vary). Initially alaska cruises sitka it feels odd leaving alaska cruises sitka your room without your wallet and keys but this is something you get used to and begin to wish it was like this 'at home'. Bring a lanyard if you have one, or buy one when you get on board.
Previously we've had to get the guest services desk to punch a hole our Sea Passes so we could attach it to the lanyard and wear it around our neck. However, this time, when we checked in and received our Sea Pass, it already had a hole punched in it. If this is your first cruise, alaska cruises sitka don't worry about feeling self-conscious wearing your Sea Pass around your neck. Everyone does it, so you'll fit right in. Anyway, wearing it around your neck works well because Sea Passes have a habit of falling out of pockets and wallets/purses, especially if you've been frequenting the bars, clubs and lounges! We re-use our Royal Caribbean lanyards, the end of which can be unclipped, so you can hand over your Sea Pass for purchases etc. if need be.
Whatever alaska cruises sitka you accumulate on your Sea Pass can either be charged to your credit card (card details alaska cruises sitka given when you check in) or paid off with cash (RCI deal in US dollars). If you choose the cash option, you must put around $300 on the card before you can use it. When you run out it is then up to you to top up the card. If you choose to have your Sea Pass linked to a credit alaska cruises sitka card, you can decide to pay it off in cash but must do so the day before disembarkation. Your itemised account is left at your cabin the morning of disembarkation and Sea Passes linked to credit cards can still be used if need be (very little is open the day you disembark) and charged after you leave the ship.
When it comes to gratuities, you can either pre-pay with your fare or you can pay a sum at the end of the cruise calculated on guidelines recommended by Royal Caribbean. You can also pay additional gratuities as you go if you think the service warrants it. We always pre-pay and like the fact it is taken care of and we didn't have to worry about it (we still give our suite/stateroom attendant a little 'thank you').
This time around we were Platinum members in the Crown Anchor Society , Royal Caribbean's loyalty programme. This brings with it benefits such as a booklet for each Platinum member which we found in our suite when we arrived on Day 1. The booklet has specials that can be used around the ship, including such things as 15% off a Vitality Spa treatment, buy one/get one free drink (beer/wine/soda), dry cleaning discount, Bingo credit, photo and internet discount. All-in-all, over $400 in savings.
As well, all returning guests that have signed up to Crown Anchor after their first voyage are invited to a Welcome Back Party - often hosted by the Cruise Director and Senior Officers. In some cases your 'mysterious' alaska cruises sitka captain may be in attendance (mysterious because you hear his voice every day but rarely see him because he works so hard).
The Centrum is a large atrium that acts as the focal point of the ship. Located centrally, it runs from Decks 4 - 9. A multitude of events are held in the Centrum and at night it comes alive with a sea of cascading lights. Two glass lifts enhance the experience for those travelling between the decks.
If you're like most cruisers, food is high on the list of what you enjoy about your time at sea. I (Giulio) am no different and always embark alaska cruises sitka on the ritual of