|
rtwilli4
Jul 26, 2008, 6:15 PM
Post #1 of 21
(9367 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 14, 2008
Posts: 1867
|
So my parents have finally talked me into going on a cruise with them... and they made sure that there is a rock wall on the boat. Anyone have any experience with these? I'm assuming it will be all top rope, probably auto belay, and nothing harder than 5.10. I'm taking my shoes... should I take a harness? Chalk? What's the deal?
|
|
|
|
|
dynoho
Jul 26, 2008, 6:23 PM
Post #2 of 21
(9363 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 16, 2006
Posts: 285
|
If it is auto belay and unsupervised, perhaps a t-wrench would be useful in upgrading the route difficulty. I'm sure someone will be there for liability reasons. Just buddy up. If you demonstrate that you know what you are doing, he would probable let you spin a few holds anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
rtwilli4
Jul 26, 2008, 6:26 PM
Post #3 of 21
(9362 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 14, 2008
Posts: 1867
|
actually I just found some stuff on google...
pics were all of TR but no autobelay. they have classes and speed climbing comps. it says they have equip. and to bring socks... so i'm just gonna take my own shoes.
maybe I can win one of the comps and get free alcohol or something!
|
|
|
|
|
crackmeup
Jul 26, 2008, 7:08 PM
Post #4 of 21
(9331 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 23, 2006
Posts: 146
|
I was on a Royal Caribbean cruise a couple of years ago. The climbing wall was TR only, helmet is mandatory and the staff give you a very tight belay with a grigri. You can't use the wall when they are not around. I remember the wall was staffed for a few hours every day and the hours changed. It's mostly a novelty thing for people who have not climbed before. You can't get much of a workout because you have to wait for your turn to climb (several minutes), it takes you maybe a minute to climb a 30-foot 5.8 and then back to the line.
One afternoon when the wall was closed someone from the staff let me in to do some traversing back and forth, but she had to spot me even though I was never more than two feet off the ground. Not worth taking your shoes if you ask me, just use theirs.
There are plenty of opportunities for exercise on the cruise, and you'll need them because every meal is like Thanksgiving. I particularly enjoyed running laps around the deck.
|
|
|
|
|
currupt4130
Jul 26, 2008, 7:09 PM
Post #5 of 21
(9330 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 7, 2008
Posts: 515
|
I went on that cruise when I was 15, before I got into climbing. I was able to climb what the dude said was the hardest route at the time on my 2nd go...
|
|
|
|
|
rtwilli4
Jul 26, 2008, 7:24 PM
Post #6 of 21
(9327 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 14, 2008
Posts: 1867
|
what will they do if I climb when no one is around? It's not like they can kick me off the boat haha!
|
|
|
|
|
meesier42
Jul 26, 2008, 9:09 PM
Post #7 of 21
(9285 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 84
|
I did it a couple of years ago. shoes would be the only thing they will let you use. They do it all TR with the cruise staff belaying you. They make you wear their helmets and harnesses.
best rating I saw a couple of years ago was probably a 5.8 that number would include the sunblock lubricated holds, if they were clean it would probably be a 5.6-5.7
"maybe" they have made it better, but their clients are normally kids that want to try it, not serious climbers
|
|
|
|
|
rtwilli4
Jul 26, 2008, 9:11 PM
Post #8 of 21
(9283 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 14, 2008
Posts: 1867
|
yea i'm not really expecting to get a pump or anything... just figured it would be a fun way to keep from bleeding cash at the bar.... and with climbing walls you can always create your own routes by eliminating holds. i'm sure i'll find someone who is willing to play some games.
|
|
|
|
|
sungam
Jul 26, 2008, 10:18 PM
Post #9 of 21
(9232 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 26804
|
Just get talking to them, be nice, become friends, then see if they want to fuck with the holds so you can both climb during his off hours.
(he will prolly be a climber).
I accept the fact of equal rights between sexes, but writing "he" is easier.
|
|
|
|
|
sungam
Jul 28, 2008, 7:52 AM
Post #13 of 21
(8997 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 26804
|
newbierockstar wrote: sungam wrote: I accept the fact of equal rights between sexes, but writing "he" is easier. Yes, I can see where adding that extra sentence would be much easier than simply typing "s/he".... 
Ever notice that (not just girl guys do it too-look at me I'm being equal!) some people just TRY to get insulted by what you have to say?
|
|
|
|
|
bizarrodrinker
Jul 28, 2008, 12:49 PM
Post #14 of 21
(8951 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 20, 2005
Posts: 2316
|
Okay, i understand the desire to climb all the time cause I have been there, but its a cruise dood. Why not do something fun on the boat like getting wasted and trying to get a strip volleyball game going or something or hit the casino.
Never been on a cruise myself, but I can imagine that there would be a lot better things to do than mess around on an overly crowded, poorly set outdoor wall.
|
|
|
|
|
krusher4
Jul 28, 2008, 5:11 PM
Post #16 of 21
(8859 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 17, 2005
Posts: 997
|
bizarrodrinker wrote: Okay, i understand the desire to climb all the time cause I have been there, but its a cruise dood. Why not do something fun on the boat like getting wasted and trying to get a strip volleyball game going or something or hit the casino. Never been on a cruise myself, but I can imagine that there would be a lot better things to do than mess around on an overly crowded, poorly set outdoor wall.
WHAT!!! Not climb all the time?????? 
|
|
|
|
|
bizarrodrinker
Jul 28, 2008, 5:14 PM
Post #17 of 21
(8850 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 20, 2005
Posts: 2316
|
krusher4 wrote: bizarrodrinker wrote: Okay, i understand the desire to climb all the time cause I have been there, but its a cruise dood. Why not do something fun on the boat like getting wasted and trying to get a strip volleyball game going or something or hit the casino. Never been on a cruise myself, but I can imagine that there would be a lot better things to do than mess around on an overly crowded, poorly set outdoor wall. WHAT!!! Not climb all the time??????
Yes BLASPHEMY! Eye noez!!!111
|
|
|
|
|
captainstatic
Jul 28, 2008, 6:06 PM
Post #18 of 21
(8809 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 7, 2003
Posts: 203
|
I took my shoes an an RC cruise a few years back because I knew the boat had a wall. Their idea of a hard climb was to have a dyno. However, the guy who ran the wall was a climber from eastern europe and when he found out that I was a climber he set several decent routes just for me.
|
|
|
|
|
Arrogant_Bastard
Jul 29, 2008, 12:25 AM
Post #19 of 21
(8737 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 31, 2007
Posts: 19994
|
rtwilli4 wrote: what will they do if I climb when no one is around? It's not like they can kick me off the boat haha!
I'll see what I can do about that. PM me the details on which shipline you're on, departure date, and any known port stops.
|
|
|
|
|
oldsalt
Jul 29, 2008, 1:00 AM
Post #20 of 21
(8719 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 19, 2004
Posts: 919
|
sungam wrote: newbierockstar wrote: sungam wrote: I accept the fact of equal rights between sexes, but writing "he" is easier. Yes, I can see where adding that extra sentence would be much easier than simply typing "s/he".... Yeah, pretty much I just typed the thing, but didn't want a third equal rights talk of the day, so just tagged that on the end as an afterthought. Ever notice that (not just girl guys do it too-look at me I'm being equal!) some people just TRY to get insulted by what you have to say?
Just another case of anti-Celtism, do you suppose? [Also laughing]
|
|
|
|
|
rtwilli4
Aug 4, 2008, 7:16 PM
Post #21 of 21
(8542 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 14, 2008
Posts: 1867
|
well the cruise was eventful. Lots of partying, drinking, eating, free diving, SCUBA. Freediving Palancar Reef in Cozumel was probably the best...40 feet of clear water over amazing coral... and our guide let me go to the bottom with him even though I don't think he was supposed to encourage it. I'd recommend it to any free divers out there. The weed in Jamaica was pretty good too! I'd recommend it to any smokers out there. My brother and dad are still there haha!
The SCUBA in Grand Cayman was kind of disappointing. I had heard so many good things about it but it doesn't compare to anything I've seen in SE Asia.
The climbing wall was boring, as expected. I went to the wall on the first day and asked them which was the hardest route. They showed me a route with 7 crimpers on about a 35 foot wall. They said no one had done it before. To me it just looked like someone slapped a few small holds a good distance apart and called it a route. I opted to warm up on 'the second hardest route' and it was fun, but not to hard. 5.9 maybe. The whole wall had a slight overhang so the 5.9 was fun. I got distracted by beer and boobs and never did the hard route.
I didn't climb at all the rest of the week until the last day, when I got 2nd in the speed climbing comp. Basically you just get up the wall as fast as you can, no holds barred. I made it in 12.15 seconds... the winner did it in 10.something. Anyways, fun trip, but not really my dream vacation. I basically went with my family for free so I can't complain but I would have rather been climbing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[/laugh] very true. climb away 
