Our RCCL Explorer of the Seas trip report with photos!

[Timon]

Okay, so it's not Disney Cruise Line but the only other cruise we've been on is the Magic, so there's quite a few comparisons.

Click on the Cass World link below and then click on Trip Reports and you will find it!

 

[strawberryblonde]

Thanks for taking the time to post I learned alot from your trip report. Did you read about others getting the $100 upgrade when you got back home? or is that over now? Glad you ended up with a balcony you liked even so.

 

[Timon]

strawberryblonde,

Thanks for replying! I actually haven't been on the CC boards since I have been home. I just posted my trip report there about an hour ago so I am sure I will have some feedback about upgrades and stuff soon, I will let you know!

 

[winnyis]

Cruise and I was able to upgrade from an H (Oceanview) to an E (Family Oceanview w/separate sleeping area for kids) for $50 total. It was an awesome upgrade because if I had booked the E originally it would have cost me $1700 more than I paid.

I agree that your pier coordinator didnt know what she was talking about because I could have upgraded to the suites for 400 and I was 1 category lower than you were.

Ginny

 

[DisneyGator01]

Okay, I just had to say..

your scrapbooks are AWESOME!! I wish I had your talent!

 

[cruisnfamily]

HI timon!

I have questions as we will be cruising on the Mariner next Thanksgiving.

1)How do the shows work? Are they offered on more than one night and you pick your night? Or are you assigned a night? How do you know when to go to which show?

2)I know you only ate in the dining room a few times but can you tell me if the dress was basically like on Disney Cruises? Or was it more fancy or more casual?

3)Are you at all familiar with the categories of stateroom? We've booked a D1 for our family of 4 and wondered what other choices there are for us with a balcony.

Thanks!

Any and all info on Royal Caribbean would be helpful!

 

[Timon]

DisneyGator,

Thank you so much! It's a talent that I had to practice at, that's for sure! Anyone could scrapbook!

cruisnfamily,

1-Just like DCL, the shows are pre-set each night, on our cruise there were 2 production shows and 2 comedy shows. They usually have two showings of each show, for those with early seating and those with late seating. So, let's say the first show was on Tuesday, you would look in your Compass (just like Navigators on DCL) and it would tell you what show to see depending on your dinner seating. Sometimes it was before your dinner, but sometimes it was after your dinner.

2-For the formal nights, I would say it was basically the same, men in suits or tuxes and ladies in evening dresses. I did notice that there were a lot more people, women in particular dressed up for dinner even on the casual nights. Even before dinner had even started! I would be walking around at 4 pm or so in shorts and a tee and there would be these women walking around the Royal Promenade in glitzy tops and stillettos etc!

3-The room categories for Mariner are a tiny bit different from the other Voyager Class Ships. From the brochure I got from RCCL, there are 10 different categories that have a balcony.

R -Royal suite
A- Owners suite
AA-Royal Family suite
B Grand ocean view suite
C Superior ocean view suite
D1 D2 D3 superior ocean view room
E1 E2 Deluxe ocean view room

the E's seem like very small balcony rooms, the D's are a bit larger than the E's (equivalent to what we had I think) and the C's are the same as the D's but almost double the room it seems.

I think a D1 would be fine for your family, you could always check for an upgrade when you check in at the port. While I was the exception, usually it's $100 from the D to a C, which is VERY worth it I think, expecially with four people in a room!

There were only a few small differences between DCL and RCCL, you always go to the same dining room table on RCCL, the times for the shows are different each night, unlike DCL where you always see the show and then eat or vice-versa. Other than that, I think we were very well prepared for Explorer by having already cruised with DCL.

I am sure you will have a great time!

 

[tbuot]

Great scrapbooks!!! Did you purchase any of your stickers and die cuts on the Magic? I know they have a scrapbook kit for sale and wondered if that is where you bought yours. I am a beginner so bear with me...how do you do your journaling?

 

[cruisnfamily]

OK, I'm still confused about the shows. I've been reading some on Cruise Critic and have read several times that you should "get your tickets for the ice show early in the week" and things like that. What does this mean?

Thanks for the help!

I find DCL to be so straightforward and easy that I somehow think it's going to be more complicated on the Mariner. We are cruising out of Port Canaveral though....I would never do Miami! It also sounds like boarding and disembarking are kind of a nightmare. I'm not looking forward to that.....have you got any more good details or info to share? Any info at all about how the kids programs work?

Thanks!

 

[Timon]

cruisnfamily,

Oh, sorry, forgot about the ice show. It is the only show that you have to get tickets for. It is listed in the Compass what days you can get the tickets. Don't worry too much though, our show was supposedly sold out and when we went, there were tons of seats left. Just get there 10-15 minutes early to get a good seat.

Don't worry too much, it's not that complicated, very similar to the DCL cruise experience. We don't have kids so I have no clue about the kids programs, sorry. I also read that some people were on and off the ship in 30 mins or so, I guess it all depends on your experience.

tbuot,
The only thing I bought onboard were the DCL postcards of Goofy, Mickey, Chip and Dale etc. I didn't buy the SB kit cus it was 8x11 and I work in 12 x12 format. My lettering is done by many many methods. Some are done in Word on my puter, some are stickers, some are die cuts, some are traced using a template...depends on my layout. Just remember, the more you SB, the better your scrapbooking gets! Have fun!

 

[tbuot]

Thanks Timon for your suggestions!

 

[KevinC]

Thanks for the report on RCCL. We have done Disney in 98, 01 & 02 & I decided to try RCCL. But my in-laws had a very similiar experience coming back from Europe on RCCL (service & staff). I then cxld & booked Disney for 6-04.

 

[abitjaded]

Ah, yes. Miami cabs. I have had a couple conferences in Miami and the cabs top my list as to what makes this city a pain. Every time we would hail one, he wasn't happy with where we wanted to go. If the Doorman called ahead, even knowing our destination, the drivers were not happy. They never showed up on time, either. And this was off-season.

I enjoyed your report, we have friends who sail with RCCL a couple times a year and they keep encouraging us to book one of the super ships instead of DCL. Well... your report convinces me to not do that, unless they get A LOT cheaper.

Carla

 

[zalansky]

Thank you for this trip report! My husband and I have cruised Disney twice...and my sisters convinced us to cruise RCCL this February. I tehn had to convince them to sail the Mariner out of Pt Canaveral....they were wanting to go out of Miami! After Timon's trip report about Miami I am thanking my lucky stars I was able to talk them into the Mariner. I have alot of reservations about going on RCCL...but it is a family reunion cruise so I didn't have alot of choice. I hope it goes well.
We have a Cat. C booked for RCCL....can anyone give me some tips on how to get a cheap upgrade? They never ever seem to work out for me either! I am obsessed with upgrades, and we are paying alot for this Cat C anyway...Any suggestions? Anyone?

 

[Timon]

zalansky,
Ask about upgrading when you check in. If they have rooms available you SHOULD be able to book a B suite for $400 I believe. Good luck!

 

[zalansky]

Thank you!

 

[nicurnc]

It was great of you to take the time to post about RCCL. We were on our second DCL this Oct., the Eastern Magic. We had a blast, but still came away ready to try something new. We are Disney fans big time, go at least once a year to WDW, but the cruise just was lacking a bit. There was just not enough incentive to book another on board, and since we've been home and talked it over with the kids (mine are grown 25 & 22) they'd like to try one of the mega ships as well.

We are going on the Mariner 11/07/04, Western. There are three other couples as well, who've decided to join us. The rates just couldn't be beat, balcony cabins for about $800 p/p.
The best we could hope for on DCL is a Cat 11 for that price.

Our only other cruise experienc was on the Grand Princess last year and we had a great time! We were booked on several excursions that trip with people on the EOS, and they were really enjoying their time on that ship, those Voyager class ships just look awesome!

I guess what I'm trying to say, rather badly, is we just enjoy trying something different. There's really no such thing as a bad vacation to us, just some better than others. However, we did draw the line at Holland America. Our original plans for next year included an Alaskan cruise with a group of friends. When they decided to go on a smaller, older HAL ship, we backed out. I know it's supposed to be a really elegant line, but I just have it pegged for "the old peoples's line" (of course, one of my friend's pointed out ' Loretta, we ARE old people!')

DCL is a great cruise, and CC is absolutely fabulous! We've heard new ships and itineraries are in the works, so who knows, we could be tempted!LOL!

Cass, thanks again for the review, and your SBing is awesome!

Loretta

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Thanks Cass for the review. We were on our first cruise 10/11 and rebooked for 10/02/04 but we were wondering about the other ships that we saw esp. since the prices are cheaper.

I actually went to the Royal Carribean website and noticed that their inside cabins were 134 sq ft which is pretty small!!

Loved the pictures from the Beach Club Villas. We too would like to buy DVC but maybe in a couple of years.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Just wanted to say thanks for the report on RCCL. We are looking at either Disney or Mariner for this year. I have been concerned about taking the kids on a ship other than Disney. You have confirmed some of my thoughts. I would love to see trip reports from you guys doing the Mariner. Thanks