rccl-enchantment13

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Emily Schaffer
Email: rschaff@soonet.ca
Age: 44 years
Occupation: Clerical support
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: April 30 - May 7,2000
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 2528 Cat I
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 94
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 88
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 94
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 88
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 88
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 88
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 94
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 May 2000
Time: 20:08:23
Remote Name: ppp84.soonet.ca
Remote User:

Comments

Enchantment of the Seas Review Eastern Caribbean Fort Lauderdale, Day at Sea, Day at Sea, St. Maarten,
St. Thomas, Day at Sea, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale April 30, 2000 - May 7, 2000 Rick & Emily Schaffer

Background: This was our 4th cruise and our third time sailing with Royal Caribbean. Previous cruises
included Star Princess, Splendour of the Seas & Nordic Empress. We are a couple in our mid forties. We flew
in the day before from Toronto, Ontario and stayed at the Amerisuites Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. The hotel was
great with a wonderful continental breakfast and free shuttle to the pier. We enjoyed our stay but my sister
and her husband who were also travelling with us arrived a few hours later at the hotel only to find that they
had been bumped out of their room because of overbooking by the hotel. There was a doctor's convention in
town. They had confirmed reservations since Sept/99 and were put up in a lower quality hotel and Amerisuites
paid the bill. They did not appreciate starting their vacation off on this bad note. They were not notified of the
overbooking until they arrived at the hotel.

Embarkation: This ship has recently moved from Miami to Fort Lauderdale. Embarkation was the worst that we
have seen. There were many people and long lines and no organisation to the process. This however was the
first time we have not been able to just walk onto the ship. All of our other cruises though left from San Juan. I
think that this is one area that RCI can improve and it seems to me the easiest problem to fix. It would just take
a little thinking and they could come up with a smoother process.

Ship: The ship is really a beautiful vessel. It is just under 3 years old and this was its 143 sailing. The atriums
on the RCI ships are truly breathtaking and outstanding. One of my favourite rooms was the 'My Fair Lady
Dining Room'. It is the nicest dining room we have seen. I liked the dark woods used in this room and it made it
seem very elegant. We had a lovely table for 6 by one of the large windows with a great view every evening at
dinner. Our dinner companions Madeline & Doug and new friends Porter and Joanne made dining a pleasure
and fun. I found the ship to be in very good condition and 2 other favourite rooms were the Carousel Lounge
and Orpheum Theatre. Okay… I had read on many other reviews about the vibration on this ship. Did not
notice it at all in the dining room but did in our cabin. We were located deck 2 towards the bow of the ship &
this vibration was especially noticeable at night. It did not deter from the cruise in any way. The casino aboard
this ship was one of the nicest. It had an under sea/pirate theme with some very good décor. Of course it was
not my favourite because of the donations I had to make L Availability of deck chairs became scarce after 10
a.m. Most dedicated sunbathers were out well before this time. My sister and her husband visited the gym 3 of
the mornings on ship and said that it was quite crowded morning and afternoon especially on sea days. Most
of the poolside games took place at this pool and for a quieter poolside experience the Solarium pool was a
better choice.

Food: This was another area that I had read negative things about on both the Enchantment and RCI in
general. Everyone at our table was completely satisfied and happy with the food. It was much better than our
previous RCI cruise on Nordic Empress. The menu had changed and was more streamlined and actually more
choices with certain items being offered 'a la carte' every evening like salmon & chicken. All the steak entrées
were excellent and cooked to perfection, as were the pasta dishes. Even in the Windjammer Café where it was
much maligned we found the food to be good and of great variety. You must remember that this is buffet.
Breakfast items always included cereals hot and cold, juice, coffee, yoghurt, fresh fruit, eggs, bacon,
pancakes and made to order omelettes at the omelette bar. These were very good as my husband had this
item a couple of times. The coffee however in the Windjammer was terrible. It was a bit better in the evening in
the dining room. For all you Canadians out there leave it to say we could not wait to get back so we could
enjoy a 'Tim Horton's' coffee. We also dined in the dining room 2 mornings for breakfast and found the
breakfast good as well. The service in the dining room was excellent. Our waiter Gilberto Santo from Portugal
was quite efficient, as was assistant waiter Leonel. I ordered wine most evenings and the wine steward was
quite knowledgeable and friendly. The wait staff did do their singing at dinner on Italian night and International
night as well as the 'Flaming babaloo' parade on Caribbean night. I really enjoy this and it makes for great
photo opportunities. Desserts were yummy as well and my favorites were the white truffle chocolate cake and
chocolate soufflé with amaretto sauce.

Cabin: Our cabin was wonderful. This was our first time being in an outside cabin thanks to a last minute
upgrade at a lesser price than the inside we had originally booked. We thoroughly enjoyed it. It was quite
spacious and about the largest we have had even including our cabin on Star Princess. The décor was soft
blues, peach and mauve with lots of storage space and large mirror to make the room appear larger. The twin
beds when moved together made a queen-size bed and was quite comfortable to sleep. In fact my sister
remarked she had some of her best sleeps on the ship and this was her first cruise. Our cabin steward was
Benito from Nicaragua and was very efficient and friendly. We saw him every day and he always asked if
everything was okay and addressed us by our names always. I really had no complaints about the cabin or the
service here. We had a nice complimentary bottle of wine waiting from our travel agent Anita and we used it to
go up on deck to toast our departure from Fort Lauderdale.

Staff: The captain of the ship was Per Arne Kjonso. He had a great personality and was quite witty in his
midday announcements. One of the disappointments was the cruise director Chris Laine. He lacked the
enthusiasm we have seen in other cruise directors. He did not seem at ease with his job and it just did not
come naturally. The musical groups aboard ship were very good and talented.

Entertainment: Overall we were pleased with the entertainment. I was especially excited to get to see Gary
Puckett from Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (late 60's era) He still had a decent voice and sang all his old
songs "Lady Willpower', 'Young Girl', & 'This Girl is a Women Now' to name a few. I especially enjoyed the
illusionists 'La Raf' even though I am not a magic buff. They were quite entertaining and left you wondering
how they did some of that stuff. I had previously seen them on another RCI ship Splendour of the Seas about
3 years ago and liked them much better this cruise. Thought that the production show 'Sweat Dreams' was
kind of mellow and not as upbeat as I would have liked. I much preferred the Flashback show later in the week.
The dancers on board were excellent. The Novel Quest game was funny and thought some people were going
to break a leg trying to get up to the front. As usual the Not So Newlywed Game was hilarious but with a better
cruise director this show could have been even funnier. I was amazed at the number of people who
volunteered to participate in this game all for a bottle of wine.

Shore Excursions: Since we had been to all the ports except Nassau we only took 1 ship sponsored shore
excursion. In St. Maarten we tendered in and required tender tickets. I had previously made reservations for a
car rental on my own and the gentleman was expecting me at 8:30 am. They usually let off people who have
purchased ship shore excursions but I managed to get on the first tender and arrived in St. Maarten about 9
a.m. I rented my car in St. Maarten from St. Louis Car Rental from Marius. He gives excellent service and met
me at the pier with my name on a sign and I rented the vehicle for $37.00 per day. I would not hesitate to
recommend Marius. Please e-mail me for his address if contemplating renting a vehicle in St. Maarten. We
shared the rental with my sister and it ended up being cost effective. We drove over to Marigot to the weekly
Wednesday market for some shopping and then over to Orient Beach. I love this beach and this day it was not
that crowded and just a perfect day. Chair rentals are $6.00 each and $3.00 for an umbrella. The prices will
vary by 2 -3 dollars depending on who you rent them from. After some beach time we drove back to
Philipsburg for some shopping and to drop the car off to Marius who was there waiting promptly at 4:30 p.m.

In St. Thomas we walked to the Paradise Tram and went up for the view. This costs $12.00 per person and
after we grabbed a taxi into Charlotte Amalie for some shopping. A great place downtown is the Crown &
Anchor Society Rest area. It is located in Hibiscus Alley and is a lovely room for Royal Caribbean guests and
all they have to do is show their blue supercharge card. It has lovely décor and is air conditioned and has
restrooms to use. They also sell cold drinks and have nice sitting areas with T.V.s and lockers to leave
parcels. Worth a visit and we have been there all 3 times when we have sailed with Royal Caribbean. We
returned to the ship barely in time to grab our shore excursion to St. John's for snorkelling and beach time.
Trunk Bay is a wonderful beach so pristine. It is actually National Park land and has an underwater marked
snorkelling trail.

In Nassau contrary to what many people do we went ashore. We had never been and as soon as we were off
the ship we grabbed a taxi for $5.00 each and had the driver take us to Paradise Island to a public beach. The
beach was wonderful and the water was great for body surfing. We were not haggled that much at all a lot less
than I thought we would be. We stayed about 3 hours and then walked 5 minutes over to the Atlantis Casino
Resort to their casino. I was not overly impressed with the casino. The parts of the grounds at the Atlantis that
I saw looked breathtaking. All in all we had a great time in Nassau and I guess it just depends what you do.

This & That: · Tried the wine tasting and they charged $9.95 per person but gave you a copy of the RCI Drink
Recipe Book. We felt that this was overpriced as the Compass said a nominal fee would be charged. We
enjoyed the tasting as we had never tried this before. Got a chance to sit and visit with new found internet pal
Dee and her husband Don. · All specialty drinks on board were quite yummy. Some of our favourites were
Love Connection, BBC, Kaluacinno (sp) and of course Pina Colada. · If you enjoy wine with dinner it is worth
your while to look into the 'Wine & Dine' Program. This enables you to have a bottle of wine every night at
dinner that you preselect for a cost of $109.00 plus gratuity · Tried the internet café located on deck 8 and
e-mailed a quick message to friends and co-workers just to rub it in about the great time I was having. · 2
brides got married on board and we saw one bride in her white dress, veil and bright orange life preserver
heading for the muster station. That was quite a sight. · Signs are posted at all whirlpools/hot tubs about not
allowing children under 12. My husband witnessed an unfortunate incident where 2 children ages about 10 &
6 years in a whirlpool with some adults. The children were playing and splashing each other and one of the
adults asked them to stop the splashing but they continued. The children's father, who was not watching them,
got very angry that someone would tell his children what to do and a verbal argument ensued with cursing and
swearing in front of many people including children. The children's father tried to get the adult out of the pool
for a fight. Security was called and had to diffuse the situation. Those children should not have even been in
that whirlpool as posted on the signs but RCI did nothing to enforce this rule. Some parents do not care what
their children do or where they are. This father in fact sent the children back into the hot tub. If they post these
signs then the public should abide the rules and RCI should enforce them. That day in particular children
overran the hot tubs. · Was able to meet up with friends I have met on the internet on different cruise sites.
The different cruise sites are great places to hook up with people on the same sailing. Hellos to Dee & Don
and her group as well as Mike & Kim and their children. Hope you had a wonderful cruise as well. It was great
meeting you.

Summary: This cruise was everything I expected it to be. Was very pleased with the Royal Caribbean product
and would cruise with them again. I was expecting to be disappointed in the food and dining experience
because of recent reviews I had read on the Internet but it was great. It just goes to show you that you must
read all reviews with a grain of salt and only use it as a guide. This however was my 3rd consecutive cruise
with RCI and I am ready for a change of cruise line and different itinerary. Would not hesitate to recommend
Enchantment or Royal Caribbean. Great Cruise experience! Cruising is the best!!

Name: Rich
Email: rhfun@aol.com
Age: 43
Occupation: insurance rep
NumberOfCruises: 00
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: May 7,2000
Itinerary: key west, cozumel,caymans,ocho rios
Cabin: 8548C
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 88
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 92
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino: 92
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 88
DeckSpace: 88
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 92
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 May 2000
Time: 22:19:45
Remote Name: spider-wg013.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

One truly beautiful ship with a staff that not only does a great job of pampering you, but is friendly and wants
you to have fun. There are 2,400 passengers, and at times we'd asked ourselves where is everyone? For
perspective, the ship is 30'longer than Titanic. The 700 crew is from 38 countries and were friendly. This was
our first cruise. I hope to highlight observations about the various areas of the cruise. We flew down the day
before and would recommend it to all. The stress of knowing you have a short time frame within which to
board isn't worth saving a few hotel dollars. Even if you do have the air/sea package, while they will get you to
the next port, you will still miss a full night at sea and the thrill of shoving off! We were rested and anxious to
board at our convenience. Embarkation. We went into a room and sat with 250 other passengers. Within 5
min. we were ushered by groups into another area to have our tickets processed and to get our ship cards. It
didn't take 15 min. before we were checked in and walking up to the ship.

An airplane seats about 250
people. The ship has 2,500 people, of course it is going to take longer to check in. Relax please. The life
boat drill isn't the most fun and don't know why people make such a fuss over it, want to guess how many of
your friends would gladly trade places with you to wear a bulky life preserver aboard a cruise ship? Cabins.
Please do whatever it takes to get an outside room, if for no other reason than more room. We did get
spoiled with a balcony and will now always want one, and so will you. But those inside rooms are TINY. A
queen bed and bathroom barely fit. I question other comments I read where people say you don't spend
anytime in your cabin anyway. This is said by people who A. like to be with 2,500 other people at all times, B.
like living without knowing if its night or day, and C. don't understand the meaning of the word 'romance' at
sea. I feel sorry for their spouse. I can't believe how quiet our cabin was. An occasional stacking of a deck
chair above during the early evening was all we heard. the entertainment was outstanding, though you could
easily bypass the ships singers and their show Sweet Dreams.

1 out of 3 people aboard had sailed with
RCCL before, that should tell you a lot about how good they are. In this mid-May, there were 120 honeymoon
couples, maybe 15% were over age 70, most were ages 30-60. Very few kids on this one. Announcments.
Yes you can turn the speaker off in your cabin. At most there was maybe 2 a day. One is telling you you've
docked and when you may depart. Why would anyone bring a baby along? You will not enjoy what a cruise is
all about. The ship sure isn't child-proof, most of the excursions are for people age 10 and over. The casino
people were friendly and really enjoyed playing with you. Play the slot early on, or so they seemed to be more
generous then. Dinner seating is the most apprehensive topic in all the reading on these sites I have read.
Unless you truly hate mankind, don't eat alone. You're with your mate the other 22 hours. We had so much
fun learning about the other excursions and finding out about other parts of the country. The few tables for 2
we saw, they looked bored. The other tables are laughing and talking and enjoying new friends. If you truly
have the people from #$# ,the Maitre D' will move you. You can have more than one meal,so go ahead and
try something new.

The meals aboard ranged from very good to outright excellent. No, the Windjammer didn't
have a huge selection, but we heard no complaints, it is very convenient, and we always found a nice window
seat where we sat and relaxed. It's an excellent buffet, not a gourmet restaurant. Do read the Compass and
plan your day somewhat, you can't do everything, but don't miss the special ones you want to make.It is on
your bed the night before. The ships TV has channels all about the shore excursions and later specific
shopping/touring on each port. Look at the excursions first and get your order in by that night. The talks are
very good and you should watch them, very helpful. About those ports. It's worth it to get those books that are
specifically for people taking shore tours. Read up on what is there and maybe tours you can take yourself,
but you have to know in advance. Grand Cayman is the safest place to tour yourself, Cozumel is OK, you
don't do it in Jamaica. Remember at most,you only have about 7 hours each stop. Key West. No beach, lots
of shopping, great bars, that's it. Cozumel. I heard the ruins are super, but it is a long,hot day. We stayed to
snorkel. We got bumped off of our first choice so had to take what they gave us. Donot take the Sand Dollar
tour. This was the worst excursion possible. A non-existant beach, too many people snorkling in a very small
area at a very uninspiring reef.

The staff was fun and friendly. But go else where. The fiesta party boat is a
drinking party, be forewarned. San Miguel is a small, friendly town with a lot of varied shopping. It's just not a
pretty island. The waters of Grand Cayman are unreal. You tender to the town of Georgetown. It's small and
expensive. You will also see Burger King and Wendy's and many banks. But the snorkling trips here were
superb. You might want to get Scuba certified for this truly awsome place. Sting Ray city was great I heard,we
just wanted to see more of a variety of fish and the reefs. Turtle Farm? Great for the over 70. Jamaica. The
most plush and beautiful of the islands. Here the shore excursions will make sure you enjoy the friendly
guides and hospitality, but you'll be kept away from the main population that seems to want to drive everyone
someplace. We did take a taxi and go to town and enjoy the shopping center and straw market. The market I
guess is overbearing and annoying, but you're here to see how others live. And all you do is keep walking
and say no thank you. They want your business, but are still polite about it. I suppose our first cruise will
always be great. I doubt I would try another line as this was so wonderful. Plan ahead, and do as much as you
want. Or as little.

Name: Chris Harding
Email: ChrisHarding@fsmail.net
Age: 51
Occupation: Business Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 7th May 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 7118
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 96
FoodRoomService: 92
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 93
SpaceRatio: 92
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 15:58:49
Remote Name: webcachew01b.cache.pol.co.uk
Remote User:

Comments

This was the sixth Royal Caribbean cruise that my wife Lorraine and I have taken and this time our good
friends Pam & Alan accompanied us. We are all in our early 50’s and live in the United Kingdom, therefore we
can add a British perspective to reviewing our cruise experience.

Our keyword for this cruise was ‘relaxation’. We had all had a demanding previous six months at work and at
home and all decided that on this cruise we would look for a quiet, quality experience. I am pleased to say,
that we perfectly achieved our goal. It is notable that you can have completely different cruise experiences on
the same ship during the same cruise. Watching the ‘Cruise in Review’ video at the Farewell Show, we could
almost be persuaded that we had been on a different cruise to the party antics (Belly-flop competitions - Toga
parties - Party-boat excursions, etc.) that were being portrayed. It is a tribute to Royal Caribbean however
that on this same cruise we found exactly what we were looking for, quiet relaxation in a quality environment.

As we must travel a long distance to reach Miami from London, RCI arrange travel on the day before the ship
sails, with accommodation overnight at the Fort Lauderdale Airport Sheraton. This is an excellent
arrangement giving time to adjust to the new time zone in a comfortable hotel with the added bonus of being
able to check-in to the ship at the hotel in the morning. We much appreciated this bonus when we (having
already checked in) were able to walk straight past the long lines at the pier check-in.

We transferred to the ship early, arriving at mid-day, and straight away went to search out our cabins. For
this cruise we had chosen outside cabins with a balcony on Commodore Deck (7). In the past we have always
chosen inside cabins as we found that we only used the cabins for sleeping and dressing, with the rest of the
waking hours being spent enjoying the ship’s activities (or the ports of call). For our relaxation plan, the
balcony proved to be an invaluable extra investment, and we used it to good effect on sea days and often for
breakfasts. The only downside is that it will be very difficult to revert to an inside cabin in future, now we have
experienced the delights of a balcony. Our cabin steward (Sylvia from Jamaica) kept the cabin spotless and
seemed to always be there to tidy up every time we left the cabin. These cabins are so much larger and
better designed than those on ‘Majesty’ or ‘Monarch’ that it would be churlish to criticize them, however, we
are surprised that hair dryers are still not included in the cabin amenities which seems to us a strange
omission.

Experience has taught us at least one useful tip to make sure you do on the first day, which we will pass on to
any readers of this review. If ladies wish to book hair or beauty appointments for either of the formal nights
(Monday or Friday), make sure you book them as soon as possible as these are the most popular times.

The food overall on Enchantment was excellent. We chose second sitting as, having tried both, we prefer not
having to rise early or return early from shore visits. Our waiter (Jorge from Portugal) and assistant waiter
(Sirdar from Turkey) could not have been more attentive or entertaining. We ate in the main ‘My Fair Lady’
restaurant for all dinners and took breakfasts either in our cabin or in the Windjammer. The quality of
lunch-time food in the Windjammer had actually improved against some of our recent experiences, however,
we also enjoyed the lunch-time pizzas in the Solarium. Do not miss afternoon tea (a very British institution!) in
the Windjammer and try the Bread & Butter pudding!.

The cruise staff we found to be very professional, but a little more distant than our previous experiences. Our
favorite bar for a pre-dinner drink was the Viking Crown lounge. We never found it to be at all crowded, and
the bar staff were most friendly. We tried the Schooner Bar one evening, but felt that it’s positioning on the
Enchantment gave it a sense of being a corridor, as people were constantly passing through it either to or
from the ‘Carousel’ lounge. (By the way, the ‘Carousel’ lounge is a beautifully decorated lounge and a great
place to spend a late night dancing or just listening to the great band).

The entertainment aboard Enchantment was pretty good, although, this cruise we only involved ourselves in
the evening shows. The Wave Revue singers and dancers worked hard and were very professional. The
‘Flashback’ show was, for us, the best of their two shows. The best Headliner of the weeks' shows was the
magic of ‘LaRaf’, this was first rate entertainment. We recommend that you go to the shows on each evening
of the cruise. We also went to the ‘Newly Wed and not so Newly Wed’ show, which was most entertaining (we
don’t think that we would volunteer!).

We had visited the destinations on the Western Caribbean before and had therefore visited the obvious ‘must
sees’such as Dunns River falls. This fitted in well to our ‘relaxation’ plan, and we chose this cruise to only take
‘Beach breaks’ on Cozumel, Grand Cayman & Ocho Rios.

Key West however was our first port of call. We had visited here a good number of years ago whilst driving
through the Florida Keys, and liked the ‘laid back’ atmosphere of the town. Shopping is OK, though not
fantastic, and there are a good choice of bars/ eateries (no real beaches to become excited about either). It
is a pity that the ships leave Key West so early in the day, as we remember that Mallory Square at sunset is
‘The Place’ to be for an entertaining experience.

We took the RCI ‘Beach Break’ tour on Cozumel to the ‘Reef Club Resort’. After an exhilarating, Grand Prix
style, taxi ride from the pier, we found ourselves at a very comfortable, laid-back resort on a glorious beach
and with a great pool. Surprisingly, for the reasonable entry price ($15 per person) we received as many free
drinks (soft drinks and/or local beers) as we wished. This was a really good resort, not in any way crowded
and well worth trying.

Buoyed by this success, we decided next day to take the RCI ‘Beach Break’ tour on Grand Cayman. What a
mistake! Firstly, RCI charged us $14 per person for the experience (taxi transfer not included) to arrive at a
small, not in anyway sophisticated, beach club, who initially asked us for an entry fee of $5 per person before
they realized that we had paid through the nose for the same excursion via RCI. We were only entitled to one
free drink (soft drink or local beer) and a lounger each, which we were dismayed to find were packed into a
small roped off enclosure with hardly even walking room between them. Obviously this Beach Break had been
sold on all the cruise ships in port that day, as the roped off portion of beach was teeming with people. No
sooner had we sat down and picked up our ‘freebie’ drink, than a loudspeaker unit the size of a small
wardrobe was placed no more than 1 ft. behind our heads, and we were deafened by 100’s of watts of reggae
music. Now we appreciate that many people enjoy this type of party experience, but felt aggrieved that this
was not how the tour was described in RCI’s booklet. Not to be dissuaded from our plan however we walked
down the (excellent) beach no more than 50 yards; found some palm trees for shade; put our towels on the
sand; and enjoyed the most tranquil beach and sea without anyone else around (except the 250 people
squashed into a few square meters of roped off beach 50 yards away). This is definitely not a tour we would
recommend..

RCI do not offer a beach break in Ocho Rios and so we had done our research beforehand and pre-booked
through the internet day passes ($10 each) at the Renaissance Jamaica Grand Hotel. The hotel is only a 5
minute ($3 per person) taxi ride from the ‘James Bond’ pier where we docked and is a terrific place to spend
the day. The hotel pools are great; the (two) beaches are terrific; the food (extra of course) is first class and
all-in-all a great, hassle free way of enjoying the delights of Jamaica. We heard some stories from our table
mates (Charlie & Joanne from Philadelphia) of over-crowded Dunns River Falls and aggressive local vendors
that convinced us we had organized one of the best ways to spend your day in Ocho Rios.

The final ‘at sea’ day was spent sun-bathing in the beautiful Solarium (get up early if you want to ensure your
lounger in the sun) wondering how the week had slipped by us so quickly and wishing we had more time to
come on this lovely ship.

After our cruise was over, we had organized our own five day post cruise package to the Sonesta Beach
Resort in Key Biscayne, which we would fully recommend as a quality hotel to ‘get away’ from the hustle &
bustle of Miami.

Overall, this was an excellent cruise on a beautiful and well-designed ship. We would not hesitate to
recommend the ‘Enchantment of the Seas’ to any prospective passengers, nor would we hesitate to
recommend Royal Caribbean as your chosen cruise line. We have taken one cruise a year for the past six
years with RCI, and our fears that success would lead to them ‘cutting back’ on the quality of food, amenities,
services and ‘extra finishing touches’ have not been realized. A first class experience, and we are now
planning our next RCI cruise!

Name: Ken Snavely
Email: PostalK@aol.com
Age: 38
Occupation: Manager
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: May 14, 2000
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 3098
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 84
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 84
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 86
DiningRoomService: 93
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 94
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 88
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 88
TenderService: 88
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 89
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 89
ShipCleanliness: 86
EmbarkDisembark: 82
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 84
ShopsOnBoard: 84
SpaceRatio: 88
OverallCruiseValue: 89
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 May 2000
Time: 15:19:14
Remote Name: spider-tn042.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

Embarkation was a little slow, but we were mentally prepared for this. Once on board, we were able to begin
soaking up the beauty of this ship. There is a variety of art work everywhere, and it truly adds to the overall
cruise experience.

One of the primary reasons for choosing Royal Caribbean is the children's program. We have a five and ten
year old, and they are quite demanding when it comes to their program. It would seem that this program was
the best yet. We have cruised on other RCI ships, as well as Carnival ships, but the facilities and staff, along
with the varied activities, which included just enough 'family' activities,made this the best.

Our dining room staff were wonderful, as usual, but the food seems to have slipped a bit. Food quality and
variety need to improve. I'm not saying that the food was bad, just that I expect something closer to gourmet.

Food in the Windjammer, and the availability of Windjammer, was not acceptable. Returning late from an
excursion required us to eat at the Solarium, which only served pizza, burgers, and hot dogs. I would expect
the Windjammer to be open most of the time, and that a variety of foods be available.This was definitely a
negative for the cruise.

I have read previous reviews that mentioned a vibration. It was most apparent in the dining room for me. Our
table was on the balcony overlooking the main dining room, and the vibration was a minor distraction.

The entertainment on this cruise reached an all-time low for us, with the exception of Mega-4, the band that
played on the pool deck. There was a magician act, a juggling comedian, and Gary Puckett. Royal Caribbean
definitely needs to restore to their old selves in this area. It seemed that the cruise line was cutting corners
here and there, as mentioned above with the Windjammer, the entertainment budget etc...

The ports of call were all quite enjoyable. At St. Maarten we took a cab to Orient Beach. This saved us a
fortune from the excursion price, and allowed us to arrive at the beach much earlier than the excursion.The
beach itself was gorgeous, although it was clothing optional, which didn't seem to bother anyone. At St.
Thomas we took an excursion to St. John to snorkel at Trunk Bay. This was beautiful, although I will make my
own arrangements next time, as the excursion allowed for only one hour of snorkelling before returning to the
ship.At Nassau, we took a taxi to Paradise Island and played around on the beach. Again, a very nice beach
with many activities available.

Overall, this was a very relaxing cruise, that mostly lived up to our expectations. The itinerary is one that we
will surely do again.

Name: Candy Brock
Email: cbrock@g-net.net
Age: 53
Occupation: Office Manager
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 6/13/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 3578 Cat H
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 May 2000
Time: 21:02:31
Remote Name: 207.144.136.22
Remote User:

Comments

Ship: RCI ms Enchantment of the Seas Dates: Sunday, June 13-28, 1999 Ports: Miami, St. Maarten, St.
John/St. Thomas, CocoCay

This is one cruise that I would repeat in a Chicago minute. The ship is gorgeous, cabins roomy, food
sometimes excellent and service superb. Here are a few details...

Prior to embarkation: Cruise docs arrived about three weeks before sail date. They included baggage tags,
immigration and customs forms, and a booklet describing the various excursions that would be available. We
had made our own flight arrangements again and paid $78.00 over what the RCI's fly/sail program would
have been. The best part about this is that we were able to choose our own departure times (no long
layovers) and not have to fly to unusual airports (like Atlanta to Chicago to Miami).

Embarkation: Thirty minutes from airport to cabin. No long lines.

Cabin: We were originally assigned 3018, on deck 3 (A-deck), forward & port. When the docs arrived we
found we had been moved to 3578, starboard, amidships...not really an upgrade, but more centrally located,
which means a shorter distance to get places, and less rock 'n' rollin' at sea. The two twin beds were up
against the walls with two small night stands and double window in between, but could be pushed together for
a double. A small drapery set off the sleeping area, but was just for effect, as it did not pull across for privacy.
The love seat and coffee table made a nice sitting area, and the mirror (cabinet doors on either side were
also mirrored for three-way effect), dressing table, 2 closets and 11 drawers were very generous. There was
also a large mirror beside one bed, and a full-length mirror in the sitting area. Valuables were stored in the
card-operated safe, and luggage stored under the beds. The bathroom was large enough for two and had
plenty of space for personal accessories in a cabinet with 3-way mirrors. The shower head was fully
adjustable for height (great for kids) and direction, and could also be hand-held. The volume on the PA
system was adjustable or could be turned off, and there were lots of TV stations with different subject matter.
Air conditioning was more than adequate and easily controllable. Even though we were below the main floor
of the Centrum, we could hear nothing from upstairs, hall or adjacent cabins.

Ship facilities: The ship is gorgeous...It's kind of a pleasant mix of contemporary and classic. I was particularly
impressed with the Centrum. Here you can enjoy cocktails, a little casual dancing, figure out where you are
(you can see all the levels to see what's going on where). There are little sitting areas tucked away on every
level, most with a gorgeous ocean view.

Sun Deck: There were deck chairs in the sun almost everywhere, but not necessarily when I wanted one. The
Solarium pool was a quiet place, more for lounging, enjoying the spa, eating (hamburgers and pizza were
served there) and visiting. The main pool (with a retractable roof) was more for sunworshippers and pool
activities. Here you could enjoy Ken Rush emcee-ing a bellyflop contest, race-horse auction, daily interviews
and the like. There were also quite a few tables in the shade near the rail to just relax, or enjoy a meal from
the adjacent Windjammer Cafe. The only thing I missed here is the open railing. This portion of the deck is
glassed-in (although the windows do open) and you can't hear the sound of the waves.

Dining Room : The My Fair Lady Dining Room is a beautiful two-level room with a marvelous grand staircase.
There is a nice variety of seating arrangements, happily arranged so that the service areas are not in the
middle of a traffic pattern (that always bothered me). The breakfast menu was basically the same each day;
the lunch menu varied. For dinner, a variety of appetizers, salads, soups, entrees and desserts were
available. The food was very good and the service was excellent. We were fortunate to have Sergio from
Portugal as our waiter. Sergio, his assistant, the wine steward and headwaiter Downtown Brown were
extremely personable and efficient, and did not hesitate to satisfy a special request or two.

Windjammer Cafe: The view over the bow was outstanding in this more casual dining area. Meals were
served buffet-style, but not like a cafeteria. It was served from a group of small free-standing tables, one table
for each course. The food presentation was nice, but the only exits were through the doorways where the
trays were handed out, and it was a bit congested.

Buffets: Gone are the traditional nightly Midnight Buffets we have enjoyed on other lines. They have been
partly replaced by hot hors d'oeuvres which I heard about, but never saw. There were actually three buffets
on this seven day cruise...in addition to the Captain's Gala Buffet (which was also open early for photo-ops
only), there was also a Galley Buffet in the main dining room and a Millennium Party Buffet poolside. These
other two were not very well publicized, and we missed them. As a second-seating gal I really can't enjoy
another meal so soon, anyway. The other nights there were Midnight Delights in the Champagne Terrace and
Casino Royale.

Lounges: One gem we did not discover until the end is The Viking Crown Lounge, a huge multi-purpose
entertainment area with the most gorgeous panoramic views all around. We were up there at night when it's a
disco, and missed the wonderful view. Try to go during the daytime for this marvelous experience.

Orpheum Theater: This is a huge two-level showroom with excellent views everywhere. We had second
seating dinner and had plenty of time to get good seats for the main show. Overall, the entertainment was
varied and professional.

Centrum Boutiques: There were several shops, for clothing and souvenirs, jewelry and pricey gift items,
perfumes & cosmetics. Special sales were run each day, and toward the end of the cruise, there were plenty
of moderately priced items for those last-minute purchases.

Casino Royale: Lots of slots and tables, but only one craps table. The high-rollers seemed to monopolize this
table, but I managed to break in a couple of times. The room is configured such that you must navigate the
whole room to get through it (and maybe stop at a table or machine along the way...clever), and this is the
only way to get from the main floor of the Orpheum Theater to the Centrum.

Spa: In this two-level high-tech fitness center you can work out, enjoy a facial, massage or mudbath, or
glamorize yourself in the full-service salon.

Excursions: There were 37 shore excursion options on the list, as well as St. John transfers and equipment
rentals for CocoCay, but some of them went very fast. Prices ranged from $12 to $135 per person. Towels for
all beach and water sports excursions are delivered to your cabin the prior night. Be sure to check them back
in. American currency is welcome everywhere. Take small bills and change.

ATM: Located in the Centrum, it accepts MC, VISA, AMEX, HONOR, PLUS and CIRRUS cards. No need to
worry about extra cash for excursions or tips.

Most enjoyable feature: Two consecutive days at sea (and one more later on).

Ship Activities: Each evening we received an extensive "Compass" listing all planned activities, meals, movies,
etc. for the following day. They've changed the format, and now include a smaller version with just the
activities, times and location listed. This folds up to the size of your SuperCharge Card and is more easily
carried around. With three days at sea, there was plenty to do. In addition to volleyball, Ping-Pong, water
games, golf and Friends of Bill W. meetings, the highlights were:

Monday: Tour & Travel Talk, Piano Melodies, Mr. Sexy Legs Contest, Wine Appreciation, Line Dance Class,
Shopping Talk, Dance Music, Cash Prize Bingo.

Tuesday: Step Aerobics, Art Auction, Blackjack Tournament, Cash Prize Bingo, Horse Racing, Slot
Tournament, Jewelry Seminar, Country Western.

Wednesday: Tour Ashore, Sidewalk Sale, Cash Prize Bingo, Not-So-Newlywed Game, Dance Music,
Millennium Masquerade Party.

Thursday: Cash Prize Bingo, Honeymooner's Party, Social Dancing, Novel Quest, Sailaway Party, Rock 'n'
Roll Reunion.

Friday: Cash Prize Bingo, Art Auction, Slot Tournament, Horse Racing Derby, Ice Carving Demo, Final
Jackpot Bingo, Celebrity Show Time, The Liar's Club, Karaoke, Gala Buffet.

Saturday: Activities Ashore, Social Dancing, Jam Session, Farewell Disco Party, Final Art Auction, Guest
Talent Show.

Movies on TV: Shown at various times, day and night, were: Message in a Bottle, Simon Birch, The Truman
Show, Mighty Joe Young, Dance With Me, The Horse Whisperer, Star Trek; Insurrection, Firelight, Lethal
Weapon 4, At First Sight, A Bug's Life, Enemy of the State, Beloved, Six Days Seven Nights, My Favorite
Martian, Out of Sight, Mark of Zorro, and children's programming.

Staff: Our Cruise Director, Ken Rush, was available, energetic, versatile and personable. He's very talented
and I think he will move up professionally before long.

Our cabin steward kept the cabin clean and stocked and stayed out of our way. Room service (we only
ordered the breakfast) requests were delivered by another attendant (we tipped him daily).

Our waiter, Sergio from Portugal, was MAHVELOUS. He was professional and reserved the first day as he
was trying to figure us out. When he became used to our joking around (I am always the target) he became
much more relaxed. He absolutely made the dining experience the very best ever.

Passengers: Average age looked to be about 35-40. The ship was completely booked. I know there were
children aboard, but we didn't run into too many. The kids we did see were well-behaved.

Motion: I really missed it. The stabilizers made the entire trip so smooth and comfortable, it almost felt as if the
ship were not moving. There was a slight motion and a little humming that was just enough to rock you to
sleep at night.

Disembarkation: The very well organized colored tag system moves passengers in shifts to avoid crowding.
Those with early flights go first.

Travelogue

Day One--Departing Miami: When we arrived in Miami, we took a quick cab ride to the Port of Miami ($18.00
maximum per trip, by ordinance), checked in (passports, tickets, signed the charge card) and 10 minutes later
boarded. We made a short stop at a table in the companionway to pick up our room keycards and
SuperCharge cards, and went unescorted to find our cabin. Thirty minutes from airport to cabin, MAX.

Since our luggage had not yet arrived, we eagerly pored over the flyers and magazines and went out to
explore the ship, then headed up to the Windjammer for our first taste of the Enchantment. The very first
entree I found was an old favorite--poached salmon with dill sauce, served by a very charming man in a crisp
white suit who may have been the Windjammer maitre d'. When I went back for seconds the man reacted as if
I had paid him a personal compliment. Very nice for a first impression. We took a table at the bow with a
remarkable view. The whole place is bright and airy and not at all crowded. Tables are cleared efficiently, and
the waitstaff is courteous.

We found our friends, scoped out what was to be our favorite meeting place, and went back to the cabin to
get our vests for the Muster Drill. It only took about 20 minutes for the crew to round up the stragglers. We
missed the Sailaway Party (never even felt us leave the dock) while we were at the Enchantment Tonight
show (pre-dinner for second-seating guests) where we met Ken Rush (Cruise Director), and were entertained
by Mario D'Andrea and the Wave Revue Singers and Dancers.

We met our 6 friends in the My Fair Lady Dining Room and found our table for 8 to be very comfortably
located on the main floor and out of the main traffic pattern. Sergio, our waiter, was very professional as he
explained how the selections for the evening were prepared. We ordered a non-alcoholic wine with dinner,
and the wine steward served it as if it were a fine selection from his own cellar. We skipped the Welcome
Aboard Dance Party and tried our luck at the Casino Royale.

Day Two--At Sea: Our coffee, sweet rolls and croissants were delivered promptly as ordered the prior
evening (I forgot about the tip, but he didn't seem to mind), allowing us to casually prepare for breakfast in
the main dining room. After my usual Lox & Bagels, bananas & cream, we window-shopped at the Centrum
Boutiques and met our friends at our special spot on the Sun Deck. We skipped the Tour & Travel talk
because we knew it would be re-run on television. Jim was stuck at the Ping Pong tournament and missed his
chance to win the "Mr. Sexy Legs" contest. His little bird-legs would certainly have taken that prize!

After lunch in the main dining room, we skipped the Art Auction and signed up for the next day's Slot
Tournament (pay $20 and you get 5 minutes to rack up as many dollars as you can). We missed Line
Dancing and more pool games. We came in to the Snowball Jackpot Bingo game too late, and they wouldn't
sell us cards (we've always been able to buy just one card for the coverall if we were late). "Show me the
money" Richie was a little juvenile in the way he called the numbers, and it grew rather irritating as the week
progressed. (Nothing personal, Richie...we did like you elsewhere). I don't know if it was the fresh sea air or
the constant activity, but every day about 4:00 we got really sleepy and retired to the cabin.

We skipped the formal portraits and the Captain's Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party (been there, done that)
and took our time getting ready for the first formal "Welcome Aboard" dinner, a French theme. Sergio was a
little less formal, having committed to memory who drinks what, who gets a plain iceberg lettuce salad (Jim
needs to get out more) and who takes her sweet time ordering (me) and then orders two. He just about had
us figured out. We lingered over dessert (also two) and missed the Battle of the Sexes :( but headed to the
Orpheum Theater for the Sweetdreams Revue. We entered just before the curtain went up, but got wonderful
seats. Actually, there are millions of seats and no bad sight-lines. We hung around the casino for awhile and
went back to catch the late show, starring the comedian Rick Corso (funny guy).

Day Three--At Sea: Another steaming pot of coffee & pastries was delivered precisely on time. I remembered
to leave a dollar handy for a tip this time. After another splendid breakfast in the main dining room, we opted
to skip the blackjack tournament and art auction, and hung around the Sun Deck waiting for Diamond Bingo.
This made us miss the Country Line Dancing, but finished in time for the Horse Racing and Auction by the
pool. This is something Jim really likes to do every year. In the past, the horses were auctioned off
reasonably, but these went for over $600 each, mostly because people pooled their money to buy them.
These horses didn't race that day...the owners decorated them and carried them around everywhere all week
until the race on Friday. Jim had brought his own crepe paper decorations, balloons and stuff, and we have a
rule about packing...if you pack it, you use it. Well, since there was no horse to decorate... I'll tell you later.

We had lunch in the main dining room again, then hung around for the Slot Tournament. The tournament was
rather boring because there were about 12 shifts of players and someone got a lot of money really early, and
no one wanted to stand around and watch, unless it wasn't your turn yet. What really bugged me is that
waiting for my turn, for which I had already played, made me miss the Gem & Jewelry Seminar, which I always
attend. Oh well... We tried to win the Cash Prize Bingo (again) and when that failed, we went below for a nap.

Dinner dress was Smart-Casual for the Italian Dinner, and we were welcomed by a smiling Sergio who held my
chair and put my napkin in my lap (I had almost forgotten how nice those little touches can be). Sergio began
to pick up our playful dinner moods. He planned to take my order last, so I would have more time to make up
my mind. We lingered again over dessert and missed Majority Rules, but made it to song-and-dance man
Tony Tillman's headliner show...an OK show, not great. We skipped the Country Line Dance Jamboree and
went to the casino. I couldn't get close enough to the craps table, so I lost interest and went to bed.

Day Four--St. Martin: After breakfast we tendered in to Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten (Dutch side) where we
caught up with our friends, picked out a few things to buy on the way back, stopped for a quick sandwich at a
beachside cafe (Everyt'ing Cool?), and walked over to meet our tour group for the St. Maarten Snorkeling
Adventure ($37 pp for a 3-hour trip). During the short ride out to the snorkeling site we were handed
equipment and had a short talk about what we were about to do. We were in the beginners' group because
we have a fraidy-cat in the family, and I thought he'd need me. Our guide was very helpful, teaching how to
use the equipment, explaining the different things we were seeing down there, even picking up a starfish and
letting us hold it... he was really good. We tired after about 30-45 minutes and went back aboard, had some
punch and got some sun on the upper deck. It was not one of the most exciting trips we've taken, and we
probably won't do it again. All coral looks the same after awhile. A storm surprised us on the way back to port,
and it was pouring by the time we docked. The bad part was that we were unable to go back up the street to
buy the stuff we had seen. Really great stuff, too. Oh well, another day, another port, another shopping area.
We tendered back to the ship, and--yes, fell asleep.

We missed the Sail-Away party but went to the pre-dinner Spotlight Cabaret starring the Magic & Grand
Illusions of LaRaf. We sat directly behind a structure that was part of an illusion, and I swear... I have no idea
how it's done. Dress for the Caribbean Dinner was casual, and so was Sergio. He was really getting to know
us by then. Our friends were giving me a hard time about the way I ordered my food, and Sergio just joined
right in! We got great seats for the Not-So-Newlywed Game (which we usually try out for) but the little thing
you had to do to qualify was so embarrassing we chickened out. We had fun watching, though.

Day Five--St. John/St. Thomas: Rather than getting up early to catch the view of St. John as we dropped off
some passengers, we opted to wait until the coffee came, then proceeded with breakfast as usual. We
docked in Charlotte Amalie, near Havensight Mall instead of downtown, as in the past. We walked a short
distance to the tram up to Paradise Point and rode up to the top. Here we enjoyed a breathtaking view of St.
Thomas harbor. There were a few shops on two levels, and a snack shop. There's a lady with some trained
(?) tropical birds up there. Take my advice and don't try to take a picture...she demands $10 each. Her little
demonstration lasted about 5 minutes and her attitude was rather nasty. We found the ugliest wood carving
we've ever seen and had to have it. It's name was Wild Man but we call him Magumbo. It looks like some kind
of tribal warrior or something. We walked through Havensight Mall some and found a few trinkets, then ran
out of time. I hurried back to the ship in time for Cash Prize Bingo (the pot was getting bigger as I grew more
frustrated).

The "America the Beautiful" dinner was casual that night (a relief for those of us with nasty sunburns) and
Sergio was even more fun. The main show was the Wave Revue Production of Flashback (a fun look at the
50s-90s), with guest star Rick Corso. We skipped the Rock 'n' Roll Party and went to bed.

Day Six--At Sea: Our last full day at sea started off in the usual manner (why can't I get this service at
home?). We joined our friends in the Schooner Bar for Team Trivia, which we lost, but had a great time
anyway. Then Jackpot Snowball Bingo got another $58 for nothin'. My friend and I found chaises by the pool
and got an hour or so of sun, then had lunch (I think we got food from the Windjammer that day), then
watched the Enchantment Derby. It wasn't nearly as much fun as if we had owned a horse. Our friends
watched the ice carving demonstration, and we...you know...took a nap.

The Captain's Gala Dinner was formal, service was a riot ! After everyone was seated, the guys left, went
upstairs, and made their "Grand Entrance" down the grand staircase, wearing some of the horse decorations
that we didn't use at the Enchantment Derby. Remember the rule? If you pack it, you wear it. Our friends were
still teasing me about my orders, and now Sergio was really having fun. This time he ignored me, pretended I
wasn't there, walked right by leaving me with my mouth agape, wondering if I was gonna starve! He came
back later, said "just kidding" and took my order. We laughed and laughed. He was such a relief from those
rigid formal snooty waiters. That would have been a giant yawn. After the Headliner Show (singer Marlise and
Comedian/Impressionist Paul Boland) we were too tired (and too full) to try the Gala Buffet. I heard it was
beautiful and tasty, but who could eat?

Day Seven--CocoCay: Coffee and croissants, lox and bagels...blah, blah, blah. After breakfast we tendered in
to CocoCay, which is one of RCI's private islands. Here's where we had the most fun. CocoCay is a lovely little
private island where there is a small local shopping area and lots of little private and public places to relax in
(the water was gorgeous). If you want a mat to float on, you need to reserve it way ahead of time (wish we
had). The supply is limited, and this is a popular activity. You can relax in a hammock or play volleyball, or
whatever. We had a very nice bar-b-que lunch served buffet-style outdoors near covered wooden picnic
tables (watch out for the birds...they're hungry and aggressive !). We wandered around for awhile and went
over to the WaveRunner shack for our reservations ($85 per couple, 1-hour tour). This is SO FUN ! We
watched a safety instruction video for 10 minutes and had 50 minutes in the water (two to a vehicle), following
the guide around deserted islands and coves and went out to buzz the Enchantment! From now on we're
going to see which islands have these for rent, and plan the cruise around them! We sat around in the
shade, had a few virgin RumRunners and made our way back to the tender dock.

Once back on board, we showered, slept and met our friends at our special place. It still amazes me that we
were able to get the same table every day! We didn't save it or anything, it was just there for us! The Farewell
Dinner (International Cuisine) was casual, again. I was afraid to order. I just sat there, pouting. Sergio passed
me by again, then surprised me with all the appetizers, two entrees and all the desserts. I guess I was just too
much trouble with my "two of everything" orders. As waiters go, Sergio was the very best! He was professional
(within reason), competent, articulate, funny and we all hated for this last dinner to end. If I am lucky enough
to sail the Enchantment again, I will definitely request his service. After dinner, the Enchantment Farewell
Show recapped the cruise for us in a funny and entertaining way.

Debarkation morning: After a full breakfast, we all very comfortably awaited our color call in the Schooner Bar.
As long as everybody had vacated their cabins, the guys took themselves on an unauthorized tour of the
pricey cabins (does this mean we might move up a cat or two next year?) After about 45 minutes, our color
was called, we went into the luggage warehouse and found ours right away, grabbed a porter (be quick and
aggressive about it) and a cab and were on our way to the airport inside of 10 minutes. I don't even
remember if we passed through a customs area...it was that fast. The rest was easy.

It's really a shame it will be another year 'til the next one. I loved the ship, the cabin, the service...if I could, I
would take this particular cruise again, maybe the Western Itinerary next time. The whole package was as
close to perfect as you could get. My advice? Book it.

© 1999 Candy Brock

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