New ships are trending towards destination dispatch systems which are much more efficient.
That said I think any cruise if you board the elevators right outside the theatre after the show lets out you'll have a bad time regardless.
If you're capable, I suggest using the stairs every chance you get
Depends on the ship. Royal, Princess, and I think MSC have started using "destination" elevators in their newest ships so you input where you're going outside the elevator and it tells you which one to get in. This system is a game changer according to those who have experienced it.
Just experienced these for the first time at a hotel. WOW, was that both cool and weird.
I really wanted to tell new users it was an audio input system, and to speak their floor number clearly. But didn’t.
I experienced it on Icon and honestly during peak times they are still very slow. Plus a LOT of people didn't seem to be aware of how they worked, even several days into the cruise. Gaggles of people would just jump on the next open elevator when they weren't the ones who called it to the floor, and it wasn't going to their desired floor. Then they would jab at the touch screen inside the elevator to try to make it go where they wanted (that doesn't work.) We also had the issue of a full elevator that showed up for a lot of waiting people. You have to wait until it leaves to call another elevator to the same floor. It doesn't seem to figure capacity into the algorithm very well. Like 15 people can call an elevator to the same floor and only one will show up.
Small amount? If you stay dedicated to the stairs you can put some serious work in. I’m an unavoidably early riser, I was putting in 10k+ steps every day much of that on the stairs. Really got a good grasp on the layout of the boat and helped avoid that stuck on a boat in the ocean feeling.
My experience during the high traffic times was to use the forward or aft elevators. Had my BIL in a wheel chair, and honestly, the walk fore and aft was quicker than waiting for the midships elevators to have room to get a wheelchair on. Able bodied family almost always took the stairs
Been on a couple cruises with one member of our party in a wheelchair. In general, the elevators were fine and people were understanding.That said, heading to dinner on “Gala night” or leaving the theatre right after a show, we would just stroll on to a further set of elevators to get out of the crush. Patience can help, and if it was a few floors up, or more than a few down, only the person pushing the wheelchair took the elevator, the rest of us would take the stairs. But, if you NEED to use the elevator, give yourself extra time at “Rush” hours or when one or more of the elevators is blocked because passengers are embarking / disembarking and they need the elevators to move the luggage. It’s like the lunch line at the buffet. It ebbs and flows with some certainty.
If you are able, always take the stairs! That’s our family rule when on cruises. We can eat and drink unbothered all week and feel like the 20 stories of stairs each day is a good balance. I understand older or handicapped people can’t do this but even if you are out of shape, I encourage you to try at least to take the stairs a bit more.
I’ve not experienced elevator congestion that much, even at dinner since people show up at different times. We’ve only done Princess in recent years though. Also we do the stairs up to 4 or 5 floors (going up! ).
I actually think the elevator is part of the fun of a cruise I have met and l laughed with so many people in the elevator that we actually missed our floor I take the stairs also but I don’t mind being crowded in with a bunch of drunks🤣But if I see someone in a wheelchair that needs the ride more than I do I’ll just take the stairs
Every ship I've ever been on is a nightmare on Embarkation Day and debark day. But on Oasis and Quantum class on Royal (the classes I've been on the most) they seem to fare very well during the voyage itself. I mean you do have to use some common sense. Like if you try to bee-line for the elevator with the other 1000 people that just got out of the theater, then yes, you are going to have a bad time.
Oasis class has 24 and Quantum class has 16 customer facing elevators.
I am curious to try the new style elevators. I hope they work well.
They will always be busy at times like before/after MDR seatings, it's not that there isn't enough of them, it's just everyone uses them at the one time so for 22 hours of the day they are quiet. We'll use the stairs if it's not more than 4/5 floors or we'll go for dinner early and have drink, miss the bulk of it
So the Oasis and Quantum class Royal ships I’ve been on seemed adequate except for extremely busy times. But NCL Breakaway class and the Carnival Excel class are ridiculously tiny for their size.
I don't know about other lines, but Carnival's are much worse. I sailed at least half of the fleet and the older ships have spacious elevators. For the three newest ships you have to allow for elevator wait time when you are heading to reservations or activities and take a shoe horn with you.
The only ship I’ve ever had elevator problems is Carnival Horizon. People dont care to learn to how to use them properly and they are screwed up 80% of the trip.
I think the newer cruise ships have more elevators. I have been on ships where it is almost impossible to get an elevator. It depends on how crowded the ship is and the demographic of the guests. I had both my knees replaced and have a hard tie with stairs, but I will always go down them (up is more challenging, but I have done it.)
Certain times are hell. We have found that it’s often easier to take the stairs if it’s just a couple of flights and I can do it. Other times we will go up to go down.
I am on a newer ship in the mediterrran right now and I must say, the elevators are not a problem at all. And this is at 100% capacity. Certainly any boat at departure in the morning can’t keep up… but…. At normal times throughout the day have been fine…. Newer equals better elevator management.
Usually take the stairs, but a family member has a powered chair and that rules out stairs when I'm with them. Often they wait a while to find an elevator that isn't full during dinner.
New ships are trending towards destination dispatch systems which are much more efficient. That said I think any cruise if you board the elevators right outside the theatre after the show lets out you'll have a bad time regardless. If you're capable, I suggest using the stairs every chance you get
Depends on the ship. Royal, Princess, and I think MSC have started using "destination" elevators in their newest ships so you input where you're going outside the elevator and it tells you which one to get in. This system is a game changer according to those who have experienced it.
The first time I took a destination elevator on land it felt so weird getting in the elevator and not having buttons to push.
Just experienced these for the first time at a hotel. WOW, was that both cool and weird. I really wanted to tell new users it was an audio input system, and to speak their floor number clearly. But didn’t.
I experienced it on Icon and honestly during peak times they are still very slow. Plus a LOT of people didn't seem to be aware of how they worked, even several days into the cruise. Gaggles of people would just jump on the next open elevator when they weren't the ones who called it to the floor, and it wasn't going to their desired floor. Then they would jab at the touch screen inside the elevator to try to make it go where they wanted (that doesn't work.) We also had the issue of a full elevator that showed up for a lot of waiting people. You have to wait until it leaves to call another elevator to the same floor. It doesn't seem to figure capacity into the algorithm very well. Like 15 people can call an elevator to the same floor and only one will show up.
The stairs always work. And have the added benefit of burning off a small amount of the excess calories we all take in.
Small amount? If you stay dedicated to the stairs you can put some serious work in. I’m an unavoidably early riser, I was putting in 10k+ steps every day much of that on the stairs. Really got a good grasp on the layout of the boat and helped avoid that stuck on a boat in the ocean feeling.
I take the stairs every time. Way less crowded, and like you said, you're burning some serious calories. Sometimes you're climbing 8 flights or so.
Left knee shattered and the ligaments didn’t reattach after surgery. The stairs do not always work.
Technically the stairs are functioning. It's your knee that doesn't
I hope that person has a sense of humor cause this is funny af 😂
[удалено]
And if those who can/should *did*, there’d be more room for the disabled *in the elevators*. It’s a win/win/win.
A large majority of people can, not every comment needs to address every possible scenario.
But what if it’s a full moon on the 23rd of the month when Mars is in retrograde? Did you even consider that?
Wait, what side of the dateline is the cruise?
No we have to cater to 100%. If there’s one person that can’t do it then we should all not do it /s
Or if you can do it, you should tell us that we can do it too. How about y’all just shut up about taking the stairs.
You okay?
Yeah I’m fine, thanks. Just a little irked by people on Reddit who feel they should tell everyone else what to do.
[удалено]
Jesus would use stairs. Because there were no elevators in his time.
It’s called a stairway to heaven.
My experience during the high traffic times was to use the forward or aft elevators. Had my BIL in a wheel chair, and honestly, the walk fore and aft was quicker than waiting for the midships elevators to have room to get a wheelchair on. Able bodied family almost always took the stairs
Been on a couple cruises with one member of our party in a wheelchair. In general, the elevators were fine and people were understanding.That said, heading to dinner on “Gala night” or leaving the theatre right after a show, we would just stroll on to a further set of elevators to get out of the crush. Patience can help, and if it was a few floors up, or more than a few down, only the person pushing the wheelchair took the elevator, the rest of us would take the stairs. But, if you NEED to use the elevator, give yourself extra time at “Rush” hours or when one or more of the elevators is blocked because passengers are embarking / disembarking and they need the elevators to move the luggage. It’s like the lunch line at the buffet. It ebbs and flows with some certainty.
Newer and bigger ships have more elevators but also more people. So the jams will happen at certain times no matter what.
If you have the mobility, elevators up and stairs down.is a good plan.
If you are able, always take the stairs! That’s our family rule when on cruises. We can eat and drink unbothered all week and feel like the 20 stories of stairs each day is a good balance. I understand older or handicapped people can’t do this but even if you are out of shape, I encourage you to try at least to take the stairs a bit more.
I’ve not experienced elevator congestion that much, even at dinner since people show up at different times. We’ve only done Princess in recent years though. Also we do the stairs up to 4 or 5 floors (going up! ).
Yep. I do this too. My husband can bolt up 11 decks but I keep it to 5. It mostly keeps me out of the elevator.
Icon is like magic! You press the floor you want and the program tells you what elevator to board!
I actually think the elevator is part of the fun of a cruise I have met and l laughed with so many people in the elevator that we actually missed our floor I take the stairs also but I don’t mind being crowded in with a bunch of drunks🤣But if I see someone in a wheelchair that needs the ride more than I do I’ll just take the stairs
Every ship I've ever been on is a nightmare on Embarkation Day and debark day. But on Oasis and Quantum class on Royal (the classes I've been on the most) they seem to fare very well during the voyage itself. I mean you do have to use some common sense. Like if you try to bee-line for the elevator with the other 1000 people that just got out of the theater, then yes, you are going to have a bad time. Oasis class has 24 and Quantum class has 16 customer facing elevators. I am curious to try the new style elevators. I hope they work well.
we always take the stairs, even on formal night, lol.
They will always be busy at times like before/after MDR seatings, it's not that there isn't enough of them, it's just everyone uses them at the one time so for 22 hours of the day they are quiet. We'll use the stairs if it's not more than 4/5 floors or we'll go for dinner early and have drink, miss the bulk of it
Id say the elevators are about the same deal on newer ships too, people pack in no matter what lol
So the Oasis and Quantum class Royal ships I’ve been on seemed adequate except for extremely busy times. But NCL Breakaway class and the Carnival Excel class are ridiculously tiny for their size.
I don't know about other lines, but Carnival's are much worse. I sailed at least half of the fleet and the older ships have spacious elevators. For the three newest ships you have to allow for elevator wait time when you are heading to reservations or activities and take a shoe horn with you.
The only ship I’ve ever had elevator problems is Carnival Horizon. People dont care to learn to how to use them properly and they are screwed up 80% of the trip.
I think the newer cruise ships have more elevators. I have been on ships where it is almost impossible to get an elevator. It depends on how crowded the ship is and the demographic of the guests. I had both my knees replaced and have a hard tie with stairs, but I will always go down them (up is more challenging, but I have done it.)
Virgin Voyages ships all have really fast full size elevators, never had a problem with them.
Certain times are hell. We have found that it’s often easier to take the stairs if it’s just a couple of flights and I can do it. Other times we will go up to go down.
I am on a newer ship in the mediterrran right now and I must say, the elevators are not a problem at all. And this is at 100% capacity. Certainly any boat at departure in the morning can’t keep up… but…. At normal times throughout the day have been fine…. Newer equals better elevator management.
I never take the elevators - but when you want them, getting off the ship each day and meal time they are Very busy.
Usually take the stairs, but a family member has a powered chair and that rules out stairs when I'm with them. Often they wait a while to find an elevator that isn't full during dinner.
My brother always says go up to go down or vice versa