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Name: Michael Mann
Email: mjm@jmps.com
Age: 38
Occupation: attorney
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Mercury
SailingDate: April 12,1998
Itinerary: western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 97
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 100
EntertainmentPoolside: 91
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Jun 1998
Time: 15:09:04
Remote Name: 12.3.64.130
Remote User:
Comments
This was our second cruise in two years. We traveled with our 3 children ages 9,7, and 2
1/2. Having read the various reviews, I found that there were no
reviewer that had our experience on Mercury with children and doing the excursions that we
did. OUr cruise last year was on RCCL Grandour of Seas, also a
new ship. We found the experiences to be quite different. We truly loved almost everything
about the cruise. We had a suite which was well worth the extra cost.
It was a large room with a balcony. We had a butler for the room who was always available
for us and the kids. most noteworthy were the appetizers in the room
at 3:00 (which the butler brought in ) and a full room service menu. One morning we wanted
hot breakfast in the room by 6:30 (we had a 7:30 excursion) he
orginally told us the kitchen does not open until 7am, but at our door at 6:30am was our
butler with omletes and sausage. If we needed apple juice for our 2 yr
old at 9pm, we beeped him and he was there in 5 minutes. The suites also give you free
access to the spa pool which was a favorite hangout for me and my wife.
The spa offered a Rasul which was a private steamroom with different muds that you put all
over your bodies and then sit and sweat in a separate private room
with cool water flowing over your feet. then when the steam stopped you get showered from
above and below and on the sides with cool water. then you put oils
on. If you get past the staff's explanations of the hokey benefits and the 'impurities'
that the oils and mud removes, it was quite fun, relaxing and different. I
should mention that my parents joined us on the ship and they assumed some of the baby
sitting duties. We also hired private sitters for the evenings, mostly for
the 2 yr old. The older boys had the run of the ship. There was plenty for the older kids
to do, although the kids program was a little light on participants which
affected the quality of fun.
Food was excellent but we liked the variety of nightly menu items better on RCCL which had
a pasta dish and light fare each night. Service in the dining room was
also better on RCCL but that was a matter of luck in getting a waiter with good skills and
personality. on Mercury the skills were ok, but personality was severely
lacking.
The excursions were great. We read so much about the Mexican tenders we were anxious to
try them. They were not so bad. But we had good weather. We
went to Xcurat in Calica. Everyone was complaining about Calica, but that was probably
because they did not go to Xcurat. It was a fantastic place with tons to
do. Most important, wear good walking shoes. the place is hugh and boat shoes or sandals
are a major mistake. We snorkeled down an underground river,
snorked in the bay, had lunch in a nice outdoor restaurant and swam with the dolphins. we
would definitely recommend the river. there was not much to see with
the snorkel but the flippers and the float are a must. My 7 and 9 year olds (who are not
great swimmers) thought is was the coolest part of the whole trip (except
for the food). Key west was nice but a little rushed. we took a tram ride through town,
went to the shipwreck museum and the aquarium. Cancun was our
favorite. we took a jeep ride on the beach. we drove our own jeep following in line with 5
other tourist jeeps and 2 guide jeeps. we were 4-wheeling on a trail
along the beach, saw mayan ruins and stopped at a beach for a barbeque, beer and a swim.
There was 'pee pee' stop (as they called it) along the way which
we think was a relative because they hawked rugs and figurines there. Definitely worth the
trip. in Caymans, we took the sting ray city tour. My wife and I loved it
but my kids got into the water and totally 'freeked' when 25 rays came swimming towards
them. they got back on the boat for good. we just kept saying 'it must
be safe'. very cool.
all and all it was a great ship and a great vacation.
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