May 25th, 2008 West Coast - Mexico

[4campers]

Ok we are home! Here is our trip report

Disney-
bigger ship
great pool
great service
kids club/disappointing
food, just ok
room small
clean, everything was clean

RCCL-
small ship ( I knew this)
small pool area, but it worked
service was slow, and not friendly (no Mickey smiles)
kids club-AWESOME
excellent food
big room (but, needs a makeover)
the whole ship needs a clean up and new carpet etc.
the big surprise was.....a female Captain!


We had a wonderful time for the most part. I was disappointed with several things, but got over it. I kept compairing everything with the Magic! Our last RCCL cruise was the best ever. But, as I found out, it's all comes down to 'class'.

Ok, so I'm not up on being the 'upper' class, but there is a huge difference when it comes to this with RCCL. Their ships are all broken down into 'class' and it's no joke. The Monarch is there oldest ship (which I knew) and small. And, it's in the 'lower' class. Ok, but it's a cruise and and we had a suite. Well, I'll just say, I'll be cruising in a higher class next time

DD's had a BLAST at the kids club It was wonderful. The staff was awesome. One night DD7 went on a Pirate parade. They all crawled on their bellys up to the Guests Service desk to steal the 'teasure chest'!!! She talked about that for days!! It sounded really fun. DD5 never wanted to leave! They kept the kids busy with all kinds of fun stuff. The staff was very friendly and really nice to all of us.

The food was wonderful! Everything was tasty. We really enjoyed our table friends. One family was from Alaska and had great stories to tell!

The pool area is small, but it worked. (No slide)

Our room was big and comfortable. We came in each night to some surprise. Fruit, cheese etc. We are now Platinum members and it comes with some perks. It was a nice touch.

When we arrived to the Port she was docked right where the Magic was!!!!!!!! How dare she When we walked in there was a huge line, I mean long. I was thinking I have to stand in that. Then the woman says, oh, your our Platinum member, thank you for coming back and we have a special waiting area and check in for you. My mouth must have feel open So, we were escorted up to this other area and walked right up to the desk Ok, I'm loving all this ok We were on the ship with in minutes

I'm already all over the web looking for our next trip. We are thinking Europe or Alaska. Alaska has this really cool
(14) day trip. Starting there, and ending here in San Diego. Or Europe and then stay over there for another week or so.

Plus, I want to do what Ellen is doing and go by train. I can't wait to hear your trip report Ellen!!

Hugs to all

 

[MousseauMob]

Kim, great report, thanks! Sounds like you guys had a great time, even if there were a few "bumps". I'm still twitchy about wanting to book another cruise, but our A/C went out and paying for a new unit was... Of course 5 days of high 90's weather has made me very glad that it's fixed now. My sticker shock doesn't mean I won't do one, I just need to recover a bit from the shock. Alaska is still really BIG (pun intended ) on my list - does your RCCL membership transfer/convert/work with Celebrity also?

I didn't realize it before, but we actual start our train trip on the same day the Magic set's sail back to Florida. I probably did this unconsciously so I'd have something else to dwell on besides DCL withdrawls. I SO hope we get a ship permanently placed on the west coast when they have the two new ships - I know it would probably be one of the older ones (Magic or Wonder), but I don't mind. I'll post about our trip, and what we thought of the train trip when we get back.

I'd love to see some pic's of your cruise when you have some time, and thanks again for the report, it sounds great.

-Ellen

 

[traceye]

Kim, so glad you had a nice time. We've done that same cruise a couple of different times. We've done the 4 day and I think the 3 day twice. That is one of my least favorite ships of all of the ships I've been on (about 10 or so). I don't like the way everything is located midship on each of the levels. I like when some of the decks are sprawled end to end with public areas. I much prefer the Carnival 3/4 day cruise from LA. I really like that ship. BUT that being said, a cruise is a cruise and I"ll take ANY of them!!! We've never done the kids club on a RC cruise, Only Carnival and DCL.

I think we now officially have a cruise to look forward to. My parents book an Alaskan cruise for my family and my sister's family for June 2009! It's on Holland America and i'm not so sure about the kids program on that ship. But the cousins will be together and that's all they need! Can't complain with mom and dady paying for most of it. We upgraded our room and paid the difference to an outside cabin and we'll pay for excurisions and any expenses on board, so definitley no complaiing here!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer!

Tracey

 

[4campers]

Kim, so glad you had a nice time. We've done that same cruise a couple of different times. We've done the 4 day and I think the 3 day twice. That is one of my least favorite ships of all of the ships I've been on (about 10 or so). I don't like the way everything is located midship on each of the levels. I like when some of the decks are sprawled end to end with public areas. I much prefer the Carnival 3/4 day cruise from LA. I really like that ship. BUT that being said, a cruise is a cruise and I"ll take ANY of them!!! We've never done the kids club on a RC cruise, Only Carnival and DCL.

I think we now officially have a cruise to look forward to. My parents book an Alaskan cruise for my family and my sister's family for June 2009! It's on Holland America and i'm not so sure about the kids program on that ship. But the cousins will be together and that's all they need! Can't complain with mom and dady paying for most of it. We upgraded our room and paid the difference to an outside cabin and we'll pay for excurisions and any expenses on board, so definitley no complaiing here!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer!

Tracey

Tracey! Alaska is just so beautiful and I hear the Holland line is reeeally nice!

 

[traceye]

Kim, When you went to Alaska did you by any chance go to either Hubbard Glacier or Tracy Arm? My mom booked the Tracy Arm cruise but on cruise critic everyone is saying to do the Hubbard Glacier. Just curious if you did either of them.

Tracey

 

[4campers]

Kim, When you went to Alaska did you by any chance go to either Hubbard Glacier or Tracy Arm? My mom booked the Tracy Arm cruise but on cruise critic everyone is saying to do the Hubbard Glacier. Just curious if you did either of them.

Tracey

We did the Hubbard Glacier. Also, as I recall, we were on the last ship that went to Sitka??? We did Sitka, Skagway, and Juneau, along with cruising the glacier. We went in May (cold), but we lucked out and had no rain. It's much warmer later in the months (of course!). Loved all of it!! Have you been yet? I didn't realize you have been on SO many cruises We reeally want to do Europe, but just don't like the idea of flying over. I have a friend who went a few years back and it took her 14 hours of just flying time, and then add on all the lay over time. It would kill me!!!
I'd really like to take the train up to Seattle and then board the ship and return to CA! RCCL has such a trip, I just haven't done all my research yet.
Holland is such a wonderful ship!! I hear it's about the best!! Great service, food etc!!! What a wonderful trip to look forward to!!

 

[4campers]

Ellen have a wonderful trip! Please post a report when you return!!

 

[NicoleDisneyFan]

Kim, looking forward to booking a cruise with RC now with the kids next summer since we have Disneyworld at the end of September and Disneyland in March so we are pretty booked with trips but we REALLY want to check out the kids club and finally have a vacation that my husband and I don't have to rush around after the kids and not feel guilty about leaving them home.

Hope everyone is doing well! Victor just had another surgery on his heart to close a hole in it and did EXTREMELY well!!! Keep in touch

 

[4campers]

Kim, looking forward to booking a cruise with RC now with the kids next summer since we have Disneyworld at the end of September and Disneyland in March so we are pretty booked with trips but we REALLY want to check out the kids club and finally have a vacation that my husband and I don't have to rush around after the kids and not feel guilty about leaving them home.


Hope everyone is doing well! Victor just had another surgery on his heart to close a hole in it and did EXTREMELY well!!! Keep in touch

This is for Victor And, one for Mom too

 

[disneyfan21]

Hi Everyone!!

Just got back from seeing the Magic leave for Florida, so sad I wasn't on it. No cruise for me anytime soon... planning a Disneyworld trip for next summer. Hoping that the Magic goes back to the Med, I definitely will be doing this.

Hope everyone is doing okay.. back to work for me.

 

[4campers]

Hi Everyone!!

Just got back from seeing the Magic leave for Florida, so sad I wasn't on it. No cruise for me anytime soon... planning a Disneyworld trip for next summer. Hoping that the Magic goes back to the Med, I definitely will be doing this.

Hope everyone is doing okay.. back to work for me.

Oh.....I should have gone up too. I was just looking at pics someone posted from yesterday! Glad someone from the 'swanky' group was able to send her off for us
Take care.

 

[MousseauMob]

Got back about a bit ago - sorry, it's taken me so long to get to the promised trip report.

We got to the train station at 3:30am and had to waited until almost 6:00am when she arrived and we were able to board. I kept teasing the kids that we should have stopped at the McDonalds and grabbed breakfast, but we didn't know she was late. We had a sleeper car so after boarding we all laid down for a bit and rested. The kids actually slept for a bit. Breakfast was served in the dining car around 8:30am. There is a dining car that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at set times. If you are in one of the sleeper cars you ticket includes meals - otherwise you can purchase meals. There is also a small food area in the lounge car that has microwave hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers etc. as well as bagels and cream cheese, chips, soda, and candy and stuff. The dining car had limited options available for each meal as well as some limited wine and beer options for extra purchase. Here's what I remember.

Breakfast: scrambled eggs, plain or cheese omelete, french toast, assorted cereals, grits.
Lunch: Burger, sandwich choice (was tuna salad), chef salad, cesear salad, ravioli and fries or chips with the meal.
Dinner: Steak (which was pretty good), fish (was trout - really good on the way to Chicago and not so good on the way back), ravioli, cesear salad, and baked potato or rice with the meal and a dinner salad and roll.

There was also a kids menu that also had chicken nuggets and mac and cheese - Sydney ate mac and cheese non-stop since it was Kraft.

Walking between cars was a fun challenge especially when the train was really moving. We were 6 hours late getting into Chicago, Amtrak runs on UP tracks and they are supposed to have priority over freight trains for passage, but we sat a LOT while the freight trains took priority. Our condutor was really irritated by it, but with some of the flooding they had the freights were trying to make up time. Coming home we were only 2.5 hours late getting in. On our way back we end up in the midst of all the politicians traveling to Denver for the Democratic Convention so we had the added pleasure of 5 fully armed Federal Agents walking going through the train a few times with an explosive sniffing dog. Which was funny because I was suprised by how there was NO security on the way to Chicago so to come home with this was interesting. Here's a pic of the kids on the train, we played games on this table and as you can see snacked! . We also brought the portable dvd player and watched some movies and read books. The view was beautiful through Colorado - except for our horrified realization of why they renamed that stretch of river Moon River. Of course after Colorado there's nothing but corn for miles and miles!

Chicago was WONDERFUL! This is a GREAT city for kids and adults alike. We stayed at the Park Hyatt right on Michigan Avenue, I can't recommend this hotel enough - they were fabulous. Sydney's blanket she has had since a baby disappeared and they tracked it down at their laundry service and mailed it home to us along a gift from American Girl. Which if you have girls you have GOT to go there - it was awesome.

American Girl Cafe

We visited the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and the Museum of Science an Industry(toured a WWII German Sub U-505). Took a carriage ride lakeside, saw Cirque Shanghai (and Sydney was taken up on stage), saw the fabulous fireworks, and took a night cruise with the Chicago Police on the Marine Unit boat which they let the kids drive and really had a fabulous time.

Bryce driving

Sydney driving

We had a very funny experience our last day. We returned to our hotel on our last day after sightseeing and decided we would just stay in that night watch a movie and order some Chicago Deep Dish Pizza delivered. Imagine our suprise when we returned to the hotel to find it swarming with news vans and security. So we went up to the room and turned on the news to see what was going on to find that Barack Obama had checked in to work on his speech for the next day when he would announce his running mate. We answered our door to find our nervous pizza delivery guy escorted by a secret service agent - suit, ear mic and all! I even used his pen to sign the receipt We have laughed long and hard about our "secure" pizza.

Anyway it was a fabulous trip, and I wish we had more time there were still so many things we didn't get to. Like shopping the Magnificient Mile! The kids wouldn't let me - it was torture being within walking distance of all these cool designer stores and not able to window shop.

- well this has gotten long - sorry guys!

 

[4campers]

Got back about a bit ago - sorry, it's taken me so long to get to the promised trip report.

We got to the train station at 3:30am and had to waited until almost 6:00am when she arrived and we were able to board. I kept teasing the kids that we should have stopped at the McDonalds and grabbed breakfast, but we didn't know she was late. We had a sleeper car so after boarding we all laid down for a bit and rested. The kids actually slept for a bit. Breakfast was served in the dining car around 8:30am. There is a dining car that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at set times. If you are in one of the sleeper cars you ticket includes meals - otherwise you can purchase meals. There is also a small food area in the lounge car that has microwave hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers etc. as well as bagels and cream cheese, chips, soda, and candy and stuff. The dining car had limited options available for each meal as well as some limited wine and beer options for extra purchase. Here's what I remember.

Breakfast: scrambled eggs, plain or cheese omelete, french toast, assorted cereals, grits.
Lunch: Burger, sandwich choice (was tuna salad), chef salad, cesear salad, ravioli and fries or chips with the meal.
Dinner: Steak (which was pretty good), fish (was trout - really good on the way to Chicago and not so good on the way back), ravioli, cesear salad, and baked potato or rice with the meal and a dinner salad and roll.

There was also a kids menu that also had chicken nuggets and mac and cheese - Sydney ate mac and cheese non-stop since it was Kraft.

Walking between cars was a fun challenge especially when the train was really moving. We were 6 hours late getting into Chicago, Amtrak runs on UP tracks and they are supposed to have priority over freight trains for passage, but we sat a LOT while the freight trains took priority. Our condutor was really irritated by it, but with some of the flooding they had the freights were trying to make up time. Coming home we were only 2.5 hours late getting in. On our way back we end up in the midst of all the politicians traveling to Denver for the Democratic Convention so we had the added pleasure of 5 fully armed Federal Agents walking going through the train a few times with an explosive sniffing dog. Which was funny because I was suprised by how there was NO security on the way to Chicago so to come home with this was interesting. Here's a pic of the kids on the train, we played games on this table and as you can see snacked! . We also brought the portable dvd player and watched some movies and read books. The view was beautiful through Colorado - except for our horrified realization of why they renamed that stretch of river Moon River. Of course after Colorado there's nothing but corn for miles and miles!

Chicago was WONDERFUL! This is a GREAT city for kids and adults alike. We stayed at the Park Hyatt right on Michigan Avenue, I can't recommend this hotel enough - they were fabulous. Sydney's blanket she has had since a baby disappeared and they tracked it down at their laundry service and mailed it home to us along a gift from American Girl. Which if you have girls you have GOT to go there - it was awesome.

American Girl Cafe

We visited the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and the Museum of Science an Industry(toured a WWII German Sub U-505). Took a carriage ride lakeside, saw Cirque Shanghai (and Sydney was taken up on stage), saw the fabulous fireworks, and took a night cruise with the Chicago Police on the Marine Unit boat which they let the kids drive and really had a fabulous time.

Bryce driving

Sydney driving

We had a very funny experience our last day. We returned to our hotel on our last day after sightseeing and decided we would just stay in that night watch a movie and order some Chicago Deep Dish Pizza delivered. Imagine our suprise when we returned to the hotel to find it swarming with news vans and security. So we went up to the room and turned on the news to see what was going on to find that Barack Obama had checked in to work on his speech for the next day when he would announce his running mate. We answered our door to find our nervous pizza delivery guy escorted by a secret service agent - suit, ear mic and all! I even used his pen to sign the receipt We have laughed long and hard about our "secure" pizza.

Anyway it was a fabulous trip, and I wish we had more time there were still so many things we didn't get to. Like shopping the Magnificient Mile! The kids wouldn't let me - it was torture being within walking distance of all these cool designer stores and not able to window shop.

- well this has gotten long - sorry guys!

I've been cleared to write you, just so you know

I've been WAITING for your report! Sounds just amazing! The Chicago Police boat, is that for anyone, or just the 'swanky'? Sounds really fun!! Everything sounded just really great! Good reporting! The kids have grown somehow! It's only been a few months and they look bigger!

Darn you could have given Obama a few tid bits on what to say...too bad you didn't see him!! What a pizza story you have to tell

So is mac and cheese on the menu tonight! Ha! So, good to hear from you!

Did you see varandamans reports of 20-30 ft sea's on board the Magic? What a trip they had!

Hope to meet you again someday! Hello to your sister and your children

 

[MousseauMob]

I've been cleared to write you, just so you know

Okay I just snorted Sierra Mist Free out my nose and on the keyboard.

I've been WAITING for your report! Sounds just amazing! The Chicago Police boat, is that for anyone, or just the 'swanky'? Sounds really fun!!

We met this amazing woman on our Hawaiian cruise - she was in the connecting cabin to us. I might have mentioned her in the early posts of this thread - since we were getting ready for our cruise then. Anyway she's quite a high ranking detective in the Chicago Police force. She arranged everything - they had t-shirts for the kids and everything. It was quite amazing to see her flash her id and stuff just happened. We were flagged ahead of a huge traffic jam, we had a special/secure entrance to get to the Marine Unit by Lower Whacker - for you Batman fans, they did a LOT of filming down there. Actually it was quite fun "recognizing" so much from the movie all over Chicago.

Everything sounded just really great! Good reporting! The kids have grown somehow! It's only been a few months and they look bigger!

I KNOW - what is up with that. They grow up TOO fast.

Darn you could have given Obama a few tid bits on what to say...too bad you didn't see him!! What a pizza story you have to tell

LOL, it might have been fun to see him - we really had no idea what floor he was even on. But I will admit that when I read in the newspaper that he said he would fly and not take the train to Denver I was relieved. Security was tight enough as it was, without the added restrictions of Obama onboard. The train was PACKED, and I did get a chuckle listening to all the "views" in the dining car that first night!

So is mac and cheese on the menu tonight! Ha! So, good to hear from you!

Did you see varandamans reports of 20-30 ft sea's on board the Magic? What a trip they had!

Hope to meet you again someday! Hello to your sister and your children

Oh I didn't see his report, I'll need to go find it. That's the kind of seas we had our last day on our Hawaiian cruise - made for interesting packing. It's really great to hear from you also. Did you hear the DCL to Alaska rumors? Now that would be awesome and maybe the swanky suite gang can sail again!

 

[traceye]

Ellen, thanks for the trip report it sounds amazing. That's my home town! I was born outside of Chicago and my parents grew up there. I've only spent about 4 years of my life in the area but my relatives are mainly still there. I love it there.

Kim, can you provide a link about the seas? I didn't quite understand what happend. My hairdresser just returned from the EB panama, she had a fabulous time. I wonder if you are referring to that trip.

And Ellen, what are the rumors about DCL in Alaska? We've booked our Allaska trip, we will be doing Holland america 6/19. Now I have something to look forward to again.

Thanks again for the report.

 

[4campers]

This is verandamans blog. He just did a 5 day on Magic:
http://www.verandahman.com/mydisneycruiseblog.htm

This is the thread where everyone is talking about DCL going to Alaska:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1931478&page=6

Hugs to all!

 

[traceye]

Thanks Kim, I'll have to check out Verandah man's site when I have time to read that. I have a friend that was just out there, returns today, She was on the Wonder. I e-mailed her last night about her trip and if it was affected by the hurricanes, I imagine it was now that I see that. She was traveling with her parents and two kids. They've done a few other DCL cruises already. What a bummer. I'll have to read about that.

Thanks again,
Tracey

 

[4campers]

Thanks Kim, I'll have to check out Verandah man's site when I have time to read that. I have a friend that was just out there, returns today, She was on the Wonder. I e-mailed her last night about her trip and if it was affected by the hurricanes, I imagine it was now that I see that. She was traveling with her parents and two kids. They've done a few other DCL cruises already. What a bummer. I'll have to read about that.

Thanks again,
Tracey

Hi Tracey!

You'll have to post what your friends tells you! I would think they had huge seas too!

How's the school year going? Hope everyone is doing well!

 

[MousseauMob]

Wow, I loved seeing the video's of the waves - definitely reminds me of Hawaii. The dining room was empty our last night, we were on the 5th deck looking out the window and it looked like you could touch the waves and swells if the dining room was open. I think I may have posted this before - but it was interesting speculating on each announcement from the captain on what happened to cause that one. For example - no one allowed on outside decks, then - hold hand rails when walking, then - don't put your hands in the door ways! My poor sister was so sick, she just stayed in the room. The kids and I rather enjoyed outselves - you would think I would have been more scared, but oddly I wasn't.

As for Alaska, I was following that thread, but there was another thread that I also was following that was mostly around the proposal that DCL has filed for Glacier Bay. http://www.nps.gov/glba/parknews/cruise-ship-proposals.htm

Tracey, I didn't know Chicago was your home town! We loved it so much - it's such an amazing city. The architecture is amazing. I'm SO jealous that you're doing Alaska, I still want to go so bad, I just can't seem to make up my mind. I'm so freaked that I have NOTHING planned for 2009 at all! It's bizarre and so totally not like me! Nothing - really not a single vacation plan!

 

[MousseauMob]

Well I've finally started scrapping our cruise. I need to give credit to: http://brittishdesigns.blogspot.com/search?q=fairy+godmother for the elements - she's an amazing designer.