Just Back From Mariner of the Seas - Very Impressed!

[Weegl]

Yes, it sails out of Port Canaveral on 7 day trip alternating east and west caribbean itineraries.

I booked with RCCL directly to get the cabin that I wanted, then transferred to my travelk agent and got a better price!

 

[Weegl]

tchoney posted:

Can anyone tell me what the smoking policy is on Royal Caribbean?

It appeared that there was not smoking in the dining areas, but many of the lounges had smoking areas and the port side of the ship was smoking permitted on the outside decks (at least that's what it looked like to me). Also, smoking was permitted in the casino.

 

[getoutthere]

Thank you for your post. We have sailed on RCI 4 times, one of those being the Voyager which to date has been our favorite. But we didn't take our kids on those cruises. We decided their first cruise should be Disney and I am hoping I am not dissappointed. We are huge fans of RCI (even have their credit card). I'm glad you had a great time.

 

[SandraLee]

Can somone comment on the shows? The nighttime shows in the theater may keep me on DCL for another cruise. We LOVE the production-style shows done in the Walt Disney theater. What type of shows is offered on RCI? Somewhere I think I saw the main show didn't start until 9:00. Is that right? Is dinner at 6:30 or 6:00.

We are not casino people and don't really care about nighttime entertainment after the primary show. But, we are looking for a great cruise experience for our family.

 

[my3kids]

SandaLee: The dinner seatings are 6:00 and 8:30, I think. With some nights the show for late seating is before dinner, some after dinner. For early dinner shows are after.

 

[SandraLee]

What about the quality and type of show? What did they have?

 

[txaggie94gigem]

am i missing something? you keep talking about how much cheaper it is than disney but i am not seeing much price difference on the RCCL website? am i doing something wrong?

when i search most of the rooms hold 2 people...so will i have to get 3 rooms for a family of 6?

 

[NCRedding]

I don't think any of the RCCL mega-ships (Voyager class) go to Alaska. The Radiance class ships go to Alaska. They are smaller--no ice rinks, fewer cabins--but they do have the rock wall and the mini-golf.

As to the show quality: We were on the Radiance of the Seas to Alaska. We saw one "headliner" the Osmond Brothers--Alan, Wayne, and Merrill (maybe--can't remember the names. It was fun and good quality. Another night, there was a more classical musical artist--we didn't go, but heard she was excellent. We attended one show that was put on by RCCL--a review--the talent was excellent, but I've seen better staging at high school productions. The stage shows just don't compare to DCL (IMHO)--of course this varies by ship, and I understand the ice shows are amazing.

 

[BethA]

We are on Adventure of the Seas in 2 weeks and I'm glad to read a good RCL review, but I know I'll miss disney. The shows will not be the same shows for the whole family, no Disney Magic, and I'll miss the food by the pools and rotating dining rooms. Anyone out there gone on AOS?

Beth

 

[my3kids]

am i missing something? you keep talking about how much cheaper it is than disney but i am not seeing much price difference on the RCCL website? am i doing something wrong?

when i search most of the rooms hold 2 people...so will i have to get 3 rooms for a family of 6?

RCI ships have connecting interior rooms, family staterooms with windows which hold 6, family suites with verandahs for up to 8. The D1 category which is like the 5 & 6 will hold up to 4 although the deck plans only show 3 at least on the ship I'll be on this summer. RCI has a TERRIBLE internet system. The rooms that hold a lot won't come up b/c they say all rooms have a maximum of 4, which isn't correct. The suites above the Jr. suite will all hold 5 with a sofa bed brought in.

 

[padisneyfan]

Use expedia or travelocity website to try to book rooms. You will actually see the decks and rooms available on that deck. Also all the rooms should come up that would accomodate your party.

We cruised last May on Navigator of the Sea out of Miami. She is the sister ship to Mariner. Voyager, Adventure, Explorer are sister ships, there were some changed made on the Navigator and Mariner from the orginial design. We have young adult children who were 19 and 21 when we cruise. They said this was the best cruise they had even been on. The previous ones were when they were teenagers on DCL. As an adult I did enjoy the Navigator probably more than DCL. Much more entertainment to choose after dinner plus the promenade parade. I love the Disney Broadway productions, but the comedy routines are the same. This had some really good comedians who did family and adult shows. We are not club type people, but some of the lounges had some good listening music at night. Food is available 24/7 in the promenade area and the shopping on the ship was as good as some of the ports. The adult pool area was terrific. No children allowed. Great gym area as someone mentioned it was as good as my gym at home. We had a promenade rooms which connected. We had always had balcony rooms on DCL, but loved these rooms. For the price we would get them again and save the money to spend elsewhere. We could sit in our room and watch the parade and all the activies going on in the promenade.

Someone asked about smoking. People are permitted to smoke in their staterooms, but I didn't notice any smoke odor in either of our rooms or smell smoke in the hallways. Lounge areas are divided half is non smoking, same way on deck onside of ship is non smoking. Dining rooms are smoke free. I never saw anyone smoking on the promenade area or smelled smoke. Didn't go to the Casino.


DH and I hope this winter to take another cruise on either the Navigator or the Mariner. We will be cruisng DCL Oct 2006 with all our DIS friends which is really the main reason that we cruise on DCL. If it wouldn't be for that group we would be on RCCL in Oct 2006.

 

[NCRedding]

padisneyfan: I've been wondering about the promenade rooms--how was the noise level? any problems day or night with noise outside the room from the promenade??

 

[Weegl]

Our traveling companions booked adjoining promenade rooms and loved them! They were on deck 8. They said there was absolutely no noise from below and the window gave the cabins an "outside" feel to them. One thing they had to be mindful of was when the drapes were open to make sure they were discreet!

 

[bengals01]

can you bring liqour and beer on the mariner, also do they charge for soft drinks

 

[bengals01]

also how is boarding and disembarkiing with disney they start letting on at 11:45 and usually off by 8

 

[tezb]

padisneyfan: I've been wondering about the promenade rooms--how was the noise level? any problems day or night with noise outside the room from the promenade??

My 2 teen boys were in a Promenade room on the Mariner last June. They were very "cool" and you could see the parade & shops from your room. We had a veradah but I wished I had one of these rooms. They only sleep 2 though. My boys said they didn't hear but then they were out a lot too. When you change, be sure to close your curtains as the PR rooms across might get a peak...you can see others!

We enjoyed the shows better than DCL. The comedy shows were great and the interactive Quest Game was a riot! We had a lot of fun on this cruise.

Anyone interested....RCCL is coming out w/ a bigger Voyager class ship in May 2006 called Freedom of the Seas. This ship will sail out of Miami and they are saying it is the largest one yet and even will have some sort of Water Park onboard.

BTW, our cruise last year on the Mariner was approx 2000. cheaper than DCL for family of 5 and that was w/ a verandah and PR rooms.

 

[padisneyfan]

padisneyfan: I've been wondering about the promenade rooms--how was the noise level? any problems day or night with noise outside the room from the promenade??

The only time that we heard some noise was the music from the parade. Otherwise it was no problem. The promenade area lights darken at nightime so you do get the feeling of day and night when you look out. Curtains are darkening curtains so no light comes into the room. My DH just chuckled at me when I would look out the window to check what the stores sales were for the day. Then would have to go down to the mall area to see if there was anything I wanted. I spent more money in the shops then I did in any of the islands.

RCCL also has private islands. However, on our cruise there had been policial turmoil in Haiti which is where there island is, so unable to comment about that.

I was just reading on cruise critic about the new supersized ship that will be coming out.

Embarkment we started on around 12:30. You get your paper work by the decks so that went fast. Just the usual standing in line waiting to get on. There were alot of wedding on that cruise and the wedding parties all boarded before us. We were able to drop our luggage right in the room.

Disembarkment arrangement you make on TV. You put the time of your flights or when you need off and get corresponding colors. We were off and on our way before 8am. Luggage retrieval was like the airlines (at least in Miami). We found that it was cheaper to go out of Miami than Port Carnaval. If you want to go to WDW post cruise it is 3 1/2 hr ride. Easy drive.

Nancy

Nancy

 

[padisneyfan]

A couple other things that RCCL does that DCL should look at doing

From your TV you can:

Look at your charges

Book excursions (You can also prebook online as soon as you have a confirmation #)

Look at the Dinner menu each day.


These seem like little things that DCL could easy do. I'm sure it is just some sort of program that is used. Even many hotels let you look at your bill on the TV.

Nancy

 

[HookedonMagic]

We sailed Mariner (western) for spring break, 2004. I can answer a few questions.

1. We had connecting promenade rooms. Very nice...quiet and unique to Voyager class ships. No problems with noise. Very good stateroom host.

2. The shows are not good. Very poor quality...we felt badly for the entertainers. No first run movies. Bummer. The ice show, however, is wonderful. Get tickets and attend! Great novelty to see an ice show while sailing the Caribbean.

3. The food is definitely worse than DCL. Very bland...the desserts are especially disappointing. Our servers were not very enthusiastic or especially helpful. Our tablemates were all over 60 (we're late 30's.) The dining room is very elegant...somehow too much so for the quality of the meals. The specialty restaurants, however are wonderful. We dined twice at Chops and once at Portofino's. $20 per person surcharge. They allow diners aged 13 and up. Our 14 year old daughter was grateful! Loved all three meals.

4. They charge for soda, Ben & Jerry's ice cream and it is $3.95 for Johnny Rockets. Lots of little charges that all add up!

5. Embarkation is a breeze, just like DCL. But you do not enter the foyer, like on DCL. No big deal...just kind of head in the back door. Debarkation is organized, but still takes longer than DCL. Certainly not a deal breaker.

6. I agree with TXaggie...the cost was actually HIGHER for us to try Mariner. We did it because we had sailed DCL several times and wanted to try a new, larger ship. We thought our teen daughter would prefer Mariner. Wrong! She loved our 3 day Wonder cruise this past February and can't wait to get back on the Magic next spring break.

7. We sailed spring break. The ship's drinking age is 18 (it is 21 on DCL.) There were drunk teens all over the place. The pool area is large and very nice (much better than DCL), but we hardly used it because it was overrun with kids puking and groping at each other. Really not a good family scene. Also, there were a lot of OLDER cruisers who did not like anyone sailing with children. Many made comments that they NEVER would have sailed with their kids. No big deal, but we prefer the family atmosphere on DCL...even when we sail without our kids.

8. Very friendly staff...everyone was nice. BUT, no pixie dust...even my non-Disney loving husband noticed. Something that is hard to describe unless you've experience the magic of the Magic!

Hey, to each their own. Every vacation offers something different for every family. We enjoyed our Mariner cruise...just not in the same way we enjoy our DCL trips. We had very high expectations...that may have contributed to our (minor) dissappointment. Anyway, Happy sailing to all!!!

 

[BethA]

Did everyone find the servers distant? On this board you see so many good posts about excellent service, but I don't see many on the RCL board I've been watching. The CMs make the trip for us so I hope we won't be disappointed. I'll miss DCL.