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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Dayna Taylor
Email: Abudlb@Aol.com
Age: 24
Occupation: Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: July 26, 1998
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Aug 1998
Time: 17:27:31
Remote Name: 205.188.192.29
Remote User:
Comments
Let me start by saying my husband and I had a wonderful time on this cruise. We were
celebrating our honeymoon and we couldn't have asked for a
better vacation. The embarkation was a snap, a RCCL rep met us at the airport and we were
transported by bus directly to the ship. We showed ID and
were on within minutes. With in the first 10 minutes in our room our cabin steward Owen
came in and introduced himself. He was wonderful. Our room was
always neat and clean, and Owen was very friendly all week long. The food and the service
on board was just remarkable. I didn't have a bad experience
the whole week. I tried many new dishes and loved them all. Our dining room waiters were
friendly and would suggest some of the great dishes of the
night. The waiters put on a fun and energetic show almost every night at dinner...
everyone got involved young and old. The Captain's Gala midnight
buffet was a sight to see. The food did taste as good as it looked. I will be talking
about that buffet for years to come. My husband and I went on a few
shore excursions. In St Martin we took a snorkel adventure at Pinel island. It was a lot
of fun. It is a great snorkel for beginners, which we were. The
island was clean and fun. We also went shopping which was also a lot of fun. Our next stop
was St. Thomas, this was our favorite Port. It was
beautiful,There was plenty of shopping and great scenery. I would highly recomment the KON
TIKI party for an excursion. It was so much fun, there was a
steel drum band, a MC, and free rum punch. Everybody was dancing and having a great time.
Our last stop was Nassau, Bahamas. This was the only port
I was disappointed in. the people were very pushy, and the island was a little on the
dirty side. Over all this was a vacation of a lifetime, I can't wait to do it
again
Name: Randi and Mike Newman
Email: codykatz@aol.com
Age: 40
Occupation: Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: August 16-23, 1998
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 93
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 92
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 93
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 93
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Aug 1998
Time: 12:31:53
Remote Name: 152.163.205.84
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise and after sailing with RCCL, we are certain that we will never
pick another cruise line to sail with! We did the Western Caribbean
route..we had the air/sea program and found it to be smooth all the way. We were met at
the Miami airport by RCCL rep and everything was explained
perfectly to us. The ride to the port was fine, and embarkation went as smoothly as it
could go. Upon boarding the ship, the vastness and the beauty of
The Enchantment were overwhelming to us. We found our cabin on Deck 2 to be fine and all
that we would need for the time that we would be spending
there. Leaving the port of Miami was smooth, pina coladas circulating all over the ship.
One tip, activate your Supercharge card right after boarding to
avoid the longer lines, and then you can begin charging immediately. We found the food on
board to be wonderful..there was always plenty to eat and
choose from..breakfasts were eaten in the Windjammer, lunch, on sea days, were eaten in
the Windjammer or food from the solarium pool area, and
dinners in the My Fair Lady dining room were delicious! There is always plenty of food to
eat..dining room staff extremely attentive,,,Chris, our waiter, and
Bahattin, our assistant waiter, were superb!! They anticipated our every need and were
there before we even had to ask for a thing..Chris always gave
us his recommendations on the evening's selections, and he was always right on the money.
Don't forget that you can have as many entrees, etc, as you
want, and they are more than happy to bring you as many as you ask for. The after dinner
shots were delicious, but you will be asked to pay for them, we
were confused at first if they were a part of the meal or not! The dining room staff
always put on some kind of a little show for us..very entertaining. Ken
Rush was our cruise director..he was entertaining, in a syrupy sort of way..as to his
accessibility when approached by a passenger, we cannot comment
on , as we never spoke to him one on one. The cruise staff was adequate, always trying to
answer our questions. The entertainment in the Orpheum
Theater each night was different and varied. The Wave Review Dancers and The Flashback
Show were terrific. On the other nights we saw comedians,
magicians, and an excellent tribute to the Beatles, by a band called Imagine. The theater
itself is absolutely unbelievable..cup holders at every seat for
your drinks, and the rows were tiered, so virtually any seat in the house was good..second
level for those wanting to sit higher up. The shore excursions
were very well planned out,,there were many to chose from..we had to bypass Key West, due
to a problem with a turbo engine, instead we spent the day
at sea,and each family was credited $100 on their Supercharge account. The crew made all
attempts to make the unscheduled day at sea most
enjoyable. Cozumel was beautiful..go to Pancho's Backyard for lunch, guacomole and salsa
to die for, also great gazpacho and so so marguaritas..not
the best, but ok. Make sure to stop in to Carlos and Charles, quite an experience, have a
shot while there and see what they do to you! Marguaritas
there were quite good. We did the Catamaran snorkeling trip on the Fury boat..took us out
to a reef and saw some beautiful fish, then took us to their
private beach with floats, kayaks, and drinks, for some fun. Then back on the Fury, staff
was terrific, Corona's and Marguaritas abundant, and then back
to the pier..music and dancing on the way, a really fun time! Shopping in Cozumel was
good. Jamaica was an experience..people there are overly
aggressive and listen to the cruise staff when they advise you on where to shop and what
and how to handle the people there...if you want gold and
jewelry, buy it in Jamaica and if you see something that you love, don't hesitate, buy it
right away, as you will not see these prices anywhere else..ask my
husband, I begged him to allow me to buy him a gold chain that he fell in love with,
unbelievable price for what he was getting,they will haggle in Ocho
Rios and he got them down really low, but he, being skeptical, passed up the opportunity
and is still kicking himself, because he saw nothing else that
compared!!! Dunn's River Falls was fun, but too crowed at the time of the day we arrived,
and extremely unorganized!!We also did the Brimmer Hall
Plantation tour, it was good and very informative. Jamaica was not a favorite stop of ours
though, too aggressive and I doubt that we would ever go back,
except of course, to pick up that gold chain! Grand Cayman, by far, was the best stop that
we made!! It is a beautiful island, clean, and our favorite! My
husband dove in Cayman, and I did the Sting Ray City snorkel tour..it was so awesome being
in the water, on a 3 foot sandbar, and having the stingrays
swim right around you and touch you. They are gentle and will not hurt you, as long as you
don't pull on their tails or step on them..the staff on the boat
that took us out there were very informative and helpful. Had lunch at a terrific
restaurant right across the street from the pier, grass thatched roof..had
the special of the day, Mahi-Mahi, delicious! Prices at the shops in Cayman were ok, not
terrific, bought my favorite perfume there and got a great price
though! Tne casino onboard was nice,although we did not gamble at all..did play bingo on
the last day, as the jackpot was $12,000..a honeymoon couple
won..I think that everyone on the ship played that day! On the 2 formal nights, take
advantage of all of the portrait opportunities, take them all, because
then you can choose the ones that you like the best, you are under no obligation to buy
them , so have them all taken, they offer some terrific backdrops
for you to stand in front of, like the ship, the railing, the moon, etc, and you will have
a great variety to pick from..prices are a bit high for the pics, but
they come out beautiful and they are memories of the cruise. Formal nights were extremely
dressy..many, many men in tuxedos and women in formal
gowns...if you think that what you have is too dressy,,It's not!! People get all dressed
up, and even on the casual nights, people still were dressed really
nice,that's what makes The Enchantment so nice!! Make sure that you attend the Captain's
cocktail party that is given in your honor..drinks are on the
captain, and you get to meet him, take pics with him, and it's a nice way to start the
evening. It's before dinner on the first formal night. We had second
seating dinner, which began at 8:30..we liked this as we did not have to rush to get ready
for dinner, especially if we were in a port that day, and could
take our time.. only problem with second seating is that you are definately not hungry for
the midnight buffet..by the time we got out of dinner it was
around 10:30, just in time for the show at 10:45, and no way hungry for the midnight
buffet. If you have the early seating, 6:30, then you would probably
be ready for the midnight buffet..this is the advantage of the main seating, especially if
you have kids, but the only problem is that it is a bit of a rush to
make it there in time..it's a personal preference, but for us, we would rather dine later
and take our time, and forego the midnight gluttony!! Our cabin
was fine..we did not see our cabin steward much, but then they say that you should not be
seeing them too much. He always had the cabin clean, but we
did not find him to be overly friendly, as many of the others seemed to be. Guidelines on
tipping are given to you in a book placed in your cabin, and also
touched upon by Ken Rush, the cruise director..you do what you feel comfortable in doing,
some deserve way less or way more than suggested, do what
you are comfortable doing. The shops onboard had some good prices, especially on
liquours..you are allowed one bottle per person and One extra
bottle per person,if purchased in the port where it is made..check the ship store first
for prices, as we found that the liquor was sometimes cheaper there
than in the ports. In Cayman, make sure that you go to the Tortuga store for the rum
cakes, try the samples they have for you, the chocolate is to die for!
There are many imitations, but only buy the Tortuga rum cakes. The only problem with the
cruise is knowing that at the end of the week, you are heading
back to Miami..there is an air of sadness onboard, as all passengers are feeling the same
way..once in the port of Miami, we had to be out of our cabins
by 8:30 am..luggage is to be outside of cabin doors the night before..the ship needs to be
set up once again for a sailing later that day, so you need to
be out of the cabins..only slight delay was in waiting in the lounges, on the decks, etc.
for them to call you for debarkation..they call by colors, your
luggage is color coded for easier identification on the pier when you get off. Once they
start debarkation, it did run rather smoothly, and once on the pier,
it was not that hard at all to locate your bags..you just go to the right color and start
looking, there are porters all over to help you get your bags where
they need to be. Getting thru customs was absolutely nothing, we filled out our customs
declaration form, walked by the custom's officer, handed it to him,
and that was that. Once the bags were found, we made our way to the bus that would take us
to the airport, being on the air/sea program, you do not
handle your bags at all, they are taken and transported directly to the airport. The ride
to the airport was painless, and once there, it's simply a matter of
waiting for your flight. All in all, this review being a bit wordy, but after all, I am an
English teacher and this was our first cruise, we had a wonderful time
and would definately travel RCCL again and would highly recommend it , and The Enchantment
to anyone wanting a terrific vacation and wanting to be
pampered and catered to!! I have tried to touch on all areas, but I could have sat here
and written so much more...do not hesitate on booking with RCCL,
and any further questions, feel free to email me.....have a wonderful time!!!
Name: Kelly Faysash
Email: kelly@kidd.com
Age: 23
Occupation: Public Relations
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 8/16/98
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 97
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 88
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 99
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 96
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 96
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 97
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 31 Aug 1998
Time: 16:02:44
Remote Name: 199.44.22.24
Remote User:
Comments
Enchantment of the Seas is a luxury vacation! We were first ime cruisers and honeymooners
and could not recommend this cruise enough. Embarktion is
a breeze. At 1:30 p.m., we only waited 30 minutes before we were on board and in our
cabin. RCI has a great system for everything and staff is very
friendly.
Cabin was nice (basic outside cabin). We thought there was plenty of space and really
enjoyed having a room steward twice daily (though he did not
always obey the Do not disturb sign!)
Ports of Call:
Key West: Missed due to engine problems but received $100 shipboard credit and a 2 hour
free coctail party by the captain.
Cozumel: Awesome! Go to Chakanaab for snorkeling and the beach. A $7 taxi ride to
paradise. Taste the margaritas--the best and strongest you'll ever
have.
Jamaica: Beautiful from a distance but a very poor country. Dunn's River Falls is
great--get there! The shopping was ridiculous though. Basically a
mini-mall. Not where I wanted to be so we took a cab ride around the city and learned more
about Jamaica than anyone else on the cruise.
Cayman: Gorgeous beaches and the cleanest city I've ever seen! Go to Stingray city--what
an experience!
The food is wonderful and you will eat around the clock so next time I will lose a few
pounds before cruising and make up for it on board (gained 6
pounds!)
It is impossible to not have a good time on this cruise. We were so relaxed when we
disembarked that we thought we had been gone for at least a
month!
Happy cruising and Bon Voyage!
Name: Lory Beth Henky
Email: lbnrd@juno.com
Age: 30
Occupation: Regional Account Executive- Sales
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: September 6, 1998
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 50
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 Sep 1998
Time: 08:20:15
Remote Name: 209.214.68.51
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise. My husband and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary and
felt that a cruise would be that special touch! We
booked our cruise in March to sail over the Labor Day weekend so that we wouldn’t
have to use 5 days of vacation. We only used 4 so we can
save an additional day later on in the year.
We made our own plane reservations so we could spend the weekend with our family before we
left on Sunday the 6th of September. We arrived
at the Port of Miami, beautiful drive up to the Port. Once we arrived, we checked our
luggage at the check in. They told us that the bags would be
delivered to our door in a little while.
A handy secret for you to remember: Put ribbons on your luggage so that you can identify
them easy. Many people tended to have the same
pieces of luggage! The line to check in was not very long because they only allow a
certain amount of people up at a time.
Once we made it to the counter, we were told that our cards were not at that pier
location. We were told that they would be ready in about 10
minutes. It took about 5-10 minutes so we were happy. Get ready because they take a
picture of you before you board the ship. We entered on
deck 4, which was truly elegant. They ask to see your cards upon entrance and direct you
to your room on the ship. We chose to have an inside
cabin with out a view. The room had everything you could need for your stay. Watch out for
phone, it is about $ 15.50 per minute. Wait until St.
Thomas so the prices on the island are about $ .15.
We immediately went over to activate the SuperCharge so we did not have to wait in a long
line. They have drinks by the charge area so remember
that they are not free. They will ask you for your SuperCharge so it can be billed to your
card. All the drinks must be paid at time of purchase. The
alcohol, bottled water, and soft drinks are not free, however, iced tea is complementary.
RCCL has a wine program where you can buy a few
bottles to save money. The stores on the ship have an excellent assortment of liquor. We
bought some liquor on the ship once they opened after
embarkation. The only soda program they offer is for children.
The ship had a children’s program. There were about 100 children on the cruise but
they were kept so busy that you never really saw them.
You must provide them with a credit card to activate your Super Charge. It is important to
remember how much you are spending so if you have a
limit, you don't want them to cut you off during your trip. So have an idea of your
spending. We saved all our receipts so we kept a record to match
them against our bill. The bill is slipped under your door the day of your departure.
Shore Excursions, drinks, shopping on board & casino chips
can get billed to your card so be aware.
We then unpacked so we could get ready to have some fun. We pushed the beds together to
make a queen size. The cabin attendant, Marvin,
was wonderful. He was always there to ensure that our needs were met. He cleans the rooms
in the morning and prepares your turn down
service. If you leave a nightgown on your bed, they will decorate it. Its was a nice
touch!!
Our dinner was at the early seating, which, we were at first skeptical about the time
because we had heard that late seating was most preferred.
We were actually pleased with the early seating because we did not want to eat at 9:00 pm
every evening. Our time was at 6:00pm. It was perfect.
The first evening shows began at 9:00 pm which gave us plenty of time to settle down after
dinner and prepare for the evening activities.
The wait staff was incredible. They were always prompt and courteous. You will have three
people to service your table. Head Waiter, Waiter &
Assistant Waiter. You are very well taken care of. They have a woman who walks from table
to table introducing you to the wine selections. She is
knowledgeable on the choices and suggests as well. Remember that you will be charged for
the wine. The meals were fantastic. They have 5
courses. You can always ask for more if you particularly enjoy a dish. We had many times!
The desserts were as pretty as they were delicious! The
wait staff about 5 nights have different themes. They dance and sing around the dining
room! One evening they danced with flames on their
heads!! Great atmosphere!!
The shows were exciting! They had a comedian who writes for David Letterman who simply
stole the show. He was funny and enjoyable. The dance
groups kept us mesmerized by their talent. After the shows we enjoyed taking walks on the
deck and looking out into the ocean. The ocean was
quite beautiful! As you leave Miami on the way to St. Maarten, the ocean changes colors!
Its from a brown to deep blue, purple & turquoise! It is
constantly changing!
The onboard activities while your at sea was exciting! The have a program called
ShipShape! You can earn shipshape dollars if you participate in
the fitness programs. One of them imparticular was enjoyable. At 9:15 am they have you
meet at a Muster Station, lifeboat & evacuation drill area.
The activity is to walk around the ship on deck 5 four times to equal a mile. They give
you a pass word and once you reach the 4th time they ask
you what the pass word is. If you can tell them then you receive a shipshape dollar. Save
these because you are able to redeem them for hats,
T-shirts and a few other things. Your daily 'Cruise Compass', your daily guide to
activities and programs, will have the activity listedwith a $ sign.
This sign tells you how many dollars you can earn by participating.
The excursions were detailed nicely. You do not have to wait in any line to order the
excursions, because they have an order form that you can
register with and a drop box. The tickets will be issued and placed at your door by
Tuesday. Sign up early so you can be assured to get the
excursions of choice. Also, they have an orientation for excursions on the first or second
day in case you want to get more information. The
television in your room always shows the broadcasts of the orientations in case you miss
them. During these orientations, they give away prizes if
you pay special attention. They will ask you questions on the information they just gave
you and if anyone stands up and yells the answer they can
win.
They have an interesting orientation on shopping. Shane was the specialist and is
knowledgeable on all the shopping tips and special locations. He
has his own orientation and if you are there to buy jewelry, gems or linens definitely
make this a must see. You get coupons and special
instructions on places to go to avoid ‘rip offs’.
Cuban cigars in St. Maarten is a treat to any cigar smoker. You are able to buy them there
but are not able to bring them back to the USA. Liquor
is cheaper than the States, but you are only able to bring back 4 litters. Shane will
review the customs and all the pertinent information during his
show. He talks fast!!!
After two days at sea, land was a great site! We passed Cuba, Dominican Republic on our
way to St. Maarten. The Captain will announce the
islands. We decided to see the island. It was our first trip to the Eastern Caribbean so
we wanted to see the island because they said that the
shopping in ST. Thomas was better than St. Maarten. With the only exception that you are
able to buy Cuban cigars in St. Maarten not in St.
Thomas.
We took the island tour. This tour took us through the Dutch and French sides and saw some
beautiful views. They also took you to two shopping
sites and let you shop for about 45 minutes. We took the early tour so we could walk
around the shops after it was over before we left. We docked
about 9:00am and left at 5:15pm. The island was not as pretty as I thought but the
hurricanes damaged the islands tearing the trees and leaving
scars on the construction of the island. The views were spectacular though.
Next we were on our way to St. Thomas. Because we had an early seating, after we took the
tender back to the ship, we had to quickly get ready
for dinner. That was not a problem. Do not forget to bring an iron!! The ship has a
pressing department that will press your clothes for a fee. It can
get expensive having to do that for all your dress clothes. The dining room will not allow
you in shorts so you need to bring some pants and a
dress shirt or sport shirt for dinner attire. The iron was a great saver!!
The next morning we docked in St. Thomas. We decided that this was the time to snorkel! We
chose to take the Buck Island tour because this was
more personalized attention. Only 6 to a boat. The owner was our boat driver. He was nice
and cordial. He and his partner sailed to the protected
location and was professional and enjoyable. The partner jumped in and gave us a
snorkeling tour of the reef. He actually fed the fish pretzels and
quickly became the most popular human in the water! The pictures came out excellent!I
highly recommend this tour so you can get in and out and
not feel crowded. We loved it!! Do not forget to bring an underwater camera for this one.
We took a taxi into town and walked around the shops. It quickly became tiring because all
the shops had mostly the same items. We did like the
shops. We purchased some souvenirs and gifts for family.
The next day we were at sea again sailing to CocoCay, Bahamas. This was a nice relaxing
sea day. We took the Tour of the Bridge! This was great.
You could register to see the bridge and how the ship actually runs! The ship is
controlled by computer. Fascinating! The steering wheel is smaller
than a cars! This is really splendid if you register for it. You must register at the
pursers desk. They only offer this when its sea days.
The two formal nights were wonderful. They have pictures and portraits for you to take
each formal night! Many men were in suits, I did not see
many tuxedo's however, they were worn by a few. Once you get your tickets in the mail for
the cruise, you can order them from the brochure that
is provided. A couple that we met did buy the tuxedo option and said that it was about $
105.00 for both days. This included everything. The
women wore a mixture. Some beaded gowns other had less formal dresses and suits. Don't go
to overboard, funny pun!!!, because they did not
get too overly black tie.
The midnight buffets were a treat! Twice, they had them in the dining room. The one
evening they have a gala buffet. It is the second formal
evening where they invite you to view the buffet before midnight. They have caviar to
truffles. Outstanding!
The meals in the Windjammer cafe was pretty good. We read some awful write ups here about
the Windjammer but found that the buffets were
easy and simple. The whole ship practically had breakfast here each morning as opposed to
the dining room. Lunch as well. Make it a point to
have lunch in the dining room a few times. It did not get any better!! We did eat at the
Solarium cafe once. They have pizza, hot dogs etc. It was
very good.
WhhaWhoo is the bingo lingo! This was fun. The jackpot grows and grows each time no one
wins the jackpot hand! It can get expensive because
they offer this twice a day. People started to get more into it after there was over $
6,000 to give away the last day! I did not win but did win the
raffle! That was great. WhhaWhoo!!
The casino was a treat. The craps table was our frequent stop. Some quests won big on some
slots! They have a few tournaments which proved to
be a hit.
Coco Cay was an adventure! We decided to snorkel there so we could see the airplane and
shipwreck. Make sure to get a tender pass early from
the pursers desk. If not you could be a while waiting for the people with passes first.
They give you the mask & fins at the diveshop. You then take
a small orientation and then start to snorkel in the ocean. There was an unbelievable
amount of jelly fish in the water that made the snorkeling
impossible. They were every two feet from you. They tried to tell you that the jelly fish
did not sting but many people started to complain of stinging
sensations so a lot of reimbursements were given that day. Not to worry because we went on
the banana boat instead! That was great but tooooo
fast!! It was only a 6 minute ride for $8.00. They have Blackbeards tomb stone and grave
there. Legend has it that there is buried treasure on the
island! Pretty great island! Take a walk and enjoy the island!
Well, almost through! They had you pack and place your luggage outside you cabin before
midnight so they can take all you luggage to the special
place so they can unload it early on Sunday. Make sure not to pack your documents because
you wont see them until you get off the ship. This
could pose a problem if you have all your immigration documents etc. in there.
They make you fill out a form that tells them when your flights leave. They color code
your luggage. The early flights are the first to exit the ship.
Problems here big time!! The color codes are great, but remember to look at your
disembarkation yellow form that you fill out and give to your
room attendant. The white and red tags are to meet in the theatre early for
disembarkation. We did not read this so we were wondering why some
people were leaving first! We quickly joined them and were able to exit the ship quickly.
Except for an hour delay because some people did not
report to the certain immigration areas and pursers desk. It is important to understand
that unless everyone who is called reports, you will not be
allowed to leave the ship until everyone who needs to report to their applicable location
is seen. Our ship was delayed for an hour because one
woman neglected to report to the immigration section. It was our understanding that many
people missed flights from this. Make sure that your
flights are not before noon just in case!!!
Once you are able to get off, your luggage is scattered in the luggage area. If you have
the ribbons as I mentioned earlier, you would spot it right
away and waste no time!! I recommend a big white bow. The larger the better!!!!!!!
We were feeling like our equilibrium was off for about a day or two after the cruise but
we shed our sea legs and often reflect on an adventurous
voyage! In conclusion, the cruise was an outstanding vacation. You meet friends from all
over the world. The experience and new memories will
last a life-time.
Thank you for reading this review and hope that your cruise adventure will be as rewarding
and memorable as ours! Please feel free to contact me
if you have any questions. I would love to take the time to answer them for you. Happy
sailing!
P.S. Make a check list or use this one for the extras!
Sunscreen Underwater camera Film- At least 4 roles Magazines for the wait Calling card-
St. Thomas just in case. Cash for tipping- At least $
150.00- in $ 10 & $ 20 increments. Cash for island excursion shopping- Small bills.
Iron and starch - If needed- Low heel shoes! Sandals!
Name: Kristen & Randy Klenosky
Email: 2psnpod@gte.net
Age: 26 & 25
Occupation: clerical
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: August 30, 1998
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 94
CruiseStaff: 94
CabinAmenities: 93
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 92
GoodForHoneymoon: 97
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 92
LoungeService: 92
TenderService: 93
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 93
OverallPortsofCall: 94
BeautySalon: 94
EntertainmentPoolside: 96
CruiseActivities: 97
Casino: 94
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 94
DeckSpace: 92
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 94
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Sep 1998
Time: 21:44:29
Remote Name: 208.251.164.239
Remote User:
Comments
This being our first cruise, we came away from our vacation extremely impressed in every
possible way!! From the moment we boarded the ship,
we were treated as if we were the only passengers. Every member of the staff treated us in
a very polite, friendly and respectful manner. We can't
say enough about the variety of food, activities, and shore excursions that were
available. We definitely recommend Royal Caribbean to
honeymooners and all other vacationers. If we had to say something negative about our
experience, it would be that we would have waited until
school was in session, because there were approximately 250 children among the 2,300
passengers. However, we rarely came into contact with
them, because there were plenty of activities and areas that were designed specifically
for children. Also, the disembarkment procedure was less
than ideal, because you had to check out of your cabin, and wait elsewhere, until it was
your turn to leave the ship. This left alot of people milling
around the various areas with nothing to do. In closing we would like to say that it was
the best vacation we've been on thus far, and cannot wait
to be able to do it again!!! It made for a very memorable honeymoon! p.s.- if you choose
this cruise, request Satish & Fares as your dining room
attendants and you'll be sure to be treated to a delightful and entertaining dining
experience!! They were the best service we've had : Land or
Sea !!!!! Good Luck on your cruise!!
Name: Steve Bland
Email: wildcat@3kx.infi.net
Age: 48
Occupation: Circuit Judge
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: Oct. 11-18, 1998
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 88
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 96
WheelchairAccess: 96
ExerciseFacilities: 99
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 93
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 96
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 96
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Nov 1998
Time: 18:56:17
Remote Name: 206.27.113.69
Remote User:
Comments
This was our 5th cruise with Royal Caribbean, and the Enchantment of the Seas was an
absolute
delight for us! It was the first cruise for our 7 year old son, Kelly, and he had a great
time as
well. The children's program was great, and Kelly had many fun hours at Club Ocean.
Our dining room service and food was tremendous. Although I have never had bad food from
RCCL, the menu and preparation aboard the Enchantment was the best we have had. As well,
we
enjoyed the very casual pizza and hamburgers at the Solarium grill in the afternoon, as
well as
breakfast in the Windjammer cafe. The Enchantment has very good food.
The ship itself is beautiful, and feels very spacious, even though we knew there were a
lot of
passengers on board somewhere. I particularly enjoyed the library and those comfortable
leather
reading chairs.
My only real complaint was that the on-ship pools were not open as much as I would have
liked,
and I found the exercise room locked one morning (admittedly very early) when I wanted to
do
some time on a treadmill (it was too windy to run outside).
All in all, I highly recommend the Enchantment of the Seas and RCCL.
--Steve Bland--
Name: Rita Pinkham
Email: rpinkham@mix-net.net
Age: 39
Occupation: Cashier
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: Oct-25-Nov-1
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities:
FoodLidoDeck: 99
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Nov 1998
Time: 10:55:18
Remote Name: 207.51.81.199
Remote User:
Comments
When we arrived we wasn't sure what we we're going to be doing because of hurricane Mitch.
We were going to the westrern carrib. but was changed to the Eastern. Fine by all of us.
The
ship was absolutly beautiful. we were upgraded to a balcony room which made all the
difference
in our stay.It was so beautiful to open up your doors and have the sea breeze every moment
you
wanted it. Coffee outside, drinks, room service, what ever...Beautiful.Only way to go for
now
on.The food was so terrific, we sometimes had a hard time deciding what we wanted.Everyone
dressed to there own liking, some in sequened dresses some in pant suits so its all in how
you
want to go. The Captains Gala night was very dressy and should be. It looked so nice to
see
everyone dressed up and in a festive mood.Our air/sea program was great. Didn't have to
worry
about our luggage at all, and everything for us went very smoothly.We weren't even home
yet
when the four of us started planning our next vacation. Can't wait, if all works out it
will be a 11
night stay this time...7 wasn't enough. Have a great cruise and enjoy every moment...it
goes to
fast.
Name: Kevin and Robin Keller
Email: Shammer257@aol.com
Age: 25
Occupation: State Employee
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 08/30/98
Itinerary: 7 Day Western
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 94
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 96
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 99
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 93
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff: 98
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess: 99
ExerciseFacilities: 96
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 94
BeautySalon: 98
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 93
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 97
DeckSpace: 94
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 93
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Nov 1998
Time: 14:19:21
Remote Name: 152.163.207.204
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I thoroughtly enjoyed our first cruise, as it was also for our honeymoon. We
were
both very delighted with all of the wonderful service which we received while on board the
ship.
We have already begun to plan our next cruise. It was so relaxing to be waited on hand and
foot,
and there seemed to be no worries at all while on our cruise. We enjoy great service, and
also
expect it with the money that we put out for the cruise. The only complaint that we have
is with
the debarkment from the ship. The process seemed slow and tiring. Something could possibly
be
done to make this process a little bit easier. Overall, we had a wonderful time and we are
looking
foward to our next cruise with Royal Carribbean.
Name: Kurt Sangmeister
Email: stones902@aol.com
Age: 36
Occupation: Court Administrator
NumberOfCruises: 7
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 11/8/98
Itinerary: Western
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 70
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 93
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 99
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff: 99
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 97
GoodForSeniors: 94
BeautySalonStaff: 97
EntertainmentLounges: 83
WheelchairAccess: 97
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 93
OverallPortsofCall: 94
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 97
CruiseActivities: 91
Casino: 97
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 92
DeckSpace: 97
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 97
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Nov 1998
Time: 19:45:45
Remote Name: 152.163.201.213
Remote User:
Comments
Review of the Enchantment of the Seas 11/8/98 - 11/15/98
Embarkation
Upon arrival in Miami at 12:35 an RCL Representative at the American Terminal met us. This
was our 7th cruise (5th on RCL) and each time we have
booked our vacation using RCL's Air/Sea package. I believe a savvy traveler can probably
book a less expensive airfare to Miami but for us the
convenience of booking everything through Royal Caribbean is worth the extra expense. We
had a slight problem at the airport prior to boarding. The
American Airlines Flight Attendant insisted that we check our carry on luggage because
they were too large for the overhead bins. This unexpected
development sent me into a slight panic because we did not have enough colored cruise tags
to use for RCL to recognize our luggage at the airport.
We advised the RCL rep at the Miami Airport of our problem immediately upon arrival and
she escorted us down to the luggage carousel. Fortunately,
we were able to retrieve our carry ons and not even miss the RCL bus!
After a 20-minute ride to the cruise terminal, we were dropped off at the RCL passenger
area. There was a line of approximately 200 people so we
settled in for a long wait. The line actually moved pretty fast as RCL had around 20
stations to check in. After the obligatory photo, we boarded the ship
and were directed to our cabin.
The Cabins
We were assigned inside cabin #3027. Since we have been on several cruises prior to this
one, I can only describe the cabin as average in size for a
cruise (small if you are used to hotel rooms). We found the cabin to be very efficient for
storage space with ample drawers and shelves. The cabin
even contained a small 2-person sofa. Our last cruise had been on the Dawn Princess and if
I may be critical in comparison of cabins on the Princess
and RCL lines I would give edge in this area to Princess. Although we stayed in the same
category room on both ships, our cabin on the Dawn
Princess contained a refrigerator and blow dryer. We also liked the key system on the
Princess better in that your cruise card doubles as your room
key and the safe in a digital combination type. I found myself carrying 3 cards everywhere
I went on the RCL (a key, my cruise card, and my credit card
that locked the safe) which was a real hassle.
The Ship
The Enchantment is a beautiful ship. The Windjammer informally serves breakfast and lunch
(buffet style). I would rate the food here as only average. I
was disappointed with the booth seating as there were many food stains on the seat cover
material. To be clear, I do not blame the Windjammer staff
for this problem, it is apparent that whoever selected those seatcovers could have done
more homework. The My Fair Lady Dining Room was as
beautiful as any ship we have been on. It is a 2 level dining room with a large staircase
in the center of the room. The Viking Crown lounge serves as
the disco at night had a great sound system and many intimate areas. I thought it was
interesting that the elevators to the Viking Crown opened directly
on the dance floor. The ship also contained a library and card room on deck 7, a casino
with a sports bar, the Schooner bar, and the carousel lounge.
There was also a large room called the Fascinating Rhythms lounge that was only sparing
used. All of the shows were held in the Orphem Theatre that
boasted 2 levels and 2 large video screens. Although there were some pillars on each side
that could obstruct a few seats, we never had a bad seat
for any show we wished to view.
The pool deck contained a main outdoor pool with 4 Jacuzzis that was crowded on sea days
and a solarium with 2 Jacuzzis with a sliding roof (much
less crowded). The solarium also had a small grill area that served hot dogs, hamburgers
and pizza during parts of the day (a nice touch). The sun
deck contained an area for golf (putting) and ping-pong tables. I was disappointed that
the ship did not have a basketball court.
The spa and exercise areas were excellent. I had a massage the 2nd day of our cruise and
the room had a glass wall which overlooked the sea. The
workout room had an aerobics area that opened to the fantail of the ship. There were
several machines that were used quite a bit on our cruise.
Shortly after boarding, we met our America on Line friend, Lpowmac, who I had been
communicating with since March. We had exchanged
photographs so we knew what each other looked like and I spotted her immediately.
Throughout the cruise, we saw her and her family (they had a
great time). Later in the cruise we also met Debco123 and her husband who I had been
conversing with since last summer. I knew what their cabin #
was and we arranged to meet in one of the many lounges on board. We immediately became
good friends and it was interesting to compare notes
with them on their thoughts about the cruise. ). It was great actually getting to meet
nice people that you were friends with from the Internet but had
never met in person! We hope to keep in touch with Lpowmac and Debco123 and maybe we can
all cruise together again!
The Food and Service
Although the Windjammer food was average, we found the food in the My Fair Lady to be
excellent. Each night there were an abundance of dishes
(seafood, pasta and steak) to choose from and everything we tasted was as good as any
restaurant that I have been in. Our Waiter (Miguel),
Assistant Waiter (Ajay) provided the finest in service. We also enjoyed our HeadWaiter
(Massimo) who visited our table every night and actually
assisted the other wait staff in their chores.
On the Dawn Princess I was particularly disappointed with the service around the pool and
lounges. On the Enchantment, the bar waiters were ample
and fast. If you wanted a drink it was there within 5 minutes. We experienced similar
excellent service in the bars and lounges throughout the ship.
This is one area that RCL easily tops the Princess line in my opinion.
Entertainment
Ken Rush was our cruise director. I am not one who puts a lot of stock in the person who
opens the shows and supervises the staff so I will reserve
comment in that area. Our entertainers were Tyler Linkin (Comedy Juggler) was good but not
great, Rich Ceicler (Comedian) was very good, El Gaucho
(Comedian) was excellent and the best on the cruise, Kelly Monteith (Comedian) was good
and Fred Travelina (Singer/Comedian) who should have
retired years ago. I cannot comment on any of the floorshows because we did not see them
although most people seemed to really enjoy them.
Day 1 - Key West
Our first day was a visit to Key West. Our ship was required to anchor offshore and tender
the passengers to the pier. Key West contained many bars
including Sloppy Joe's, the Hogs Breath Saloon, Hooters and the Hard Rock Café. There
were several shops, most of which sold the usual trinkets and
T-shirts. We did find several good cigar shops and made a purchase at the Keno Sandal
Factory (most sandals for less than $10.00!) Although there
were a few decent jewelry shops I would not put Key West in the same class as the Cayman
Islands, St. Thomas or St. Maarten. Cruisers know that
drinks on board ship can become very expensive so I was determined to purchase beer in Key
West and carry it on board. Even $30.00 for a case of
Miller Lite was a bargain, as the same brand would cost approximately 2x as much on the
Enchantment! I had no problem bringing the beer on board
and several other passengers had the same idea as I did.
Day 2 - Cozumel
The ship docks directly at the pier at Cozumel, which is a decent shopping port for .925
silver jewelry and gemstones. After a $3.00 cab ride into town
my wife found a fantastic deal on vanilla which was much cheaper than stateside. After a
couple hours of shopping we dropped our things back at the
ship and took a cab to Chanknaab Park for snorkeling. The cab ride ran about $7.00 and the
cost to enter the park was about $7.00 per person.
Chanknaab is a wonderful botanical park with a beach area and a large area for snorkeling.
There is also a restaurant on the premises and an area
where you can view some ancient Indian monuments. You can rent snorkel gear from one of
several vendors on the beach.
Day 3 - At Sea
There seems to be a mixed opinion about cruising days at sea. We tend to enjoy them for
what they are - a day to relax around the pool and get a
suntan. The cruise staff organized several activities including a bellyflop competition,
putting contests, and pool games. The steel band also played
most of the day around the pool. I would recommend anyone who wishes a prime seat to be on
deck by 8:30 AM to stake his or her claim. Seats could
be had in the Solarium and any time during the day.
Day 4 - Jamaica
Jamaica is not one of my favorite ports. For those who have never visited it is a 3rd
world country which survives mainly on tourism. As a result, you will
find the vendors to be extremely pushy wherever you go. Also, cab drivers routinely offer
to take passengers on tours of the island. Make sure that if
you do take a cab that you agree on a price beforehand and wait to pay until the round
trip has concluded.
We took a cab to Dunn's River on our own and climbed the falls. The cab ran us $22.00
round trip even though the ride only took about 5 minutes.
After paying $6.00pp we joined a group of about 70 people or so and held hands on our
climb. I am 36 years old in reasonable shape and found the
climb to be very easy. I personally think the climb is overrated but there is not much
else to do in Jamaica. There is not much other than 2 shopping
areas in Jamaica
Day 5 - Cayman Islands
The Cayman's were easily the best and most popular stop on this cruise. For those who have
never had the pleasure, the Cayman Islands are actually
the tops of huge underwater mountains. Cruise ships must tender their passengers ashore
here. One interesting point is that the ships can only
anchor at the bow of the ship where the depth is about 100 feet deep. The stern of the
ship actually sits in over 1000 feet of water!
The Cayman Islands are also famous for some of the finest snorkeling in the world. We
skipped the ship tour and made arrangements with a dive outfit
called Captain Marvin's. They offered a 3-hour, 3 stop snorkeling tour including 2 coral
reefs and Stingray City for $30/pp. After paying we were taken
to a boat for the approximate ˝ hour ride to the first coral reef location. Without going
into great detail about Stingray City, we found the tour to be
fantastic and much better and less expensive than what was offered by the cruise ship. We
were able to see the more sites and have more input as to
the time spent at each and get a more personalized tour. Additionally, we returned to town
by 1PM, which afforded plenty of time for shopping.
One of the reasons we enjoy the Caymans so much is their wonderful shopping. While not in
a class with St. Thomas or maybe even St. Maarten they
still have most of the stores one finds throughout the Caribbean such as Colombian
Emeralds and Diamonds International. Another item popular with
the cruisers is Rum Cake that can be purchased in several shops in Georgetown.
Day 6 - At Sea
Sea days are all pretty much alike so I will not recap here. See day 3 for details.
Day 7 - Return to Miami
The return day is always the worst day of the cruise. Not only is your vacation over but
the cattle call over luggage begins along with the fight to get a
seat on the bus. Back to reality!
Random Thoughts….
Cruise lines must do a better job with debarkation on the last day of the cruise. The
cattle call system of claiming one's luggage could be better
organized. I will give high marks for U.S. customs clearance. They now come on the boat
and collect those little forms and duty and that did seem to
speed up the process a little.
There is not much difference between food on Princess or RCL (both are terrific). I would
give the edge in service to RCL (especially in the pool area
and lounges). Princess had more amenities in their rooms (better safes and keying system)
plus they include refrigerators. I like the shows on RCL
because they have more comedians as opposed to the older, artistic dance shows on
Princess. Also, RCL seems to attract more of a mixed age group
than the older crowd on the Princess line.
Bring a collapsible cooler to have with you in your room and around the pool. Your room
steward will keep it filled with ice and it is easy to pack in your
luggage. You can purchase sodas, beer, etc in port and bring to your room. Definitely a
money saver in the end!
First time cruisers might wish to book their excursions through the cruise line but
persons comfortable in the ports can do better booking their own.
Before leaving, find the tourism website for the ports that you will be visiting and look
for some attractions. We had arranged our own before we even
sailed.
I still prefer main seating to 2nd seating. You are in a much better position to reload at
the midnight buffet!
The disco could have been used more at night. Maybe the DJ could mix in a little more 70's
and 80's music that is more familiar with the passengers?
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