rccl-enchantment9

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Lisa & marty Sullivan
Email: Gambler458@aol.com
Age: 31 & 46
Occupation: retail management
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: May 30, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 93
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 93
CabinSteward: 88
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 89
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 93
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 82
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino: 93
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 93
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 07 Jun 1999
Time: 22:05:10
Remote Name: spider-wn084.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

I'll start out by saying that this was our first 7 day cruise and our first on RCI. We also planned our wedding
for onboard the ship before we were to sail from Miami. Overall wedding and cruise: Great!

Since we did have the wedding planned for 1pm and we were expecting 30 non sailing guests RCI left us
board at 11:15 am. Everything was very smooth. The escorted us along with a few of our guests onboard
and to our cabin. The wedding coordinator did a great job planning out everything. An excellent and fun
wedding that everyone enjoyed. By the time the wedding ended and we got to our room to change clothes
we had our luggage, by 4:30pm.

We had cabin #7140 Cat 'D' on deck 7. Wonderful cabin! This is the first time we had ever sailed with a
balcony and it was unbelivable. We used this feature a lot during our cruise. The room size worked for the
2 of us as did the bathroom. We thought the rooms were layed out great. The room was always clean and
neat thanks to our cabin stewart. we were in the rear of the ship and didn't feel any vibration in our cabin,
except when the engines shut down when we arrived at a port and then it was only for about 20
seconds..nothing to earth shattering for us!

The Dining Room was very nice. We thought the food was very good and even though some of the
portions were small we could order as many dishes as we would like. It was all good, esp. the lobster tails.
We had requested a table for two and ended up getting it. We were totally surprised we did because I read
so many reviews that mentioned there was such a small amount of table for 2's, even our travel agent told
me that she didn't think we would have our own table. well, we did and loved it. We ordered a bottle of wine
every night with dinner. Excellent wine stewart, very helpful. Our waiters were also excellent. I think we
received the best sevice of the cruise in the main dining room.

The windjammer cafe served breakfast, lunch and dinner. we never made it there for dinner but we did
have breakfast and kunch there often. We thought the food was fine. Several different dishes were seved
each day for lunch and breakfast was the normal eggs, bacon, french toast and many other items along
with an omlett station and a fried egg station. They also served coffee and juices in the moring and coffee,
lemonade, ice tea in the afternoon. At 4-5pm they had a snack hour, serving small sandwiches and a lot of
different cakes and cookies and an ice cream bar..yum! We thought the service of the busboy/attentants
were great. Attire: anything goes in here for breakfast and lunch, even though it's not supposed to they
didn't stop anyone with no shirts or shoes. (they should have but didn't)

Room service was so-so. The service was good but the food was just ok. Each night we ordered coffee
and juice to be delieved the next moring at a certain time (that was our wake up call) and it was always
right on schedule. We even wrote down a bucket of ice on our room service menu and it also arrived right
on time. The service all around was great.

The Entertainment in the theater was just so-so..nothing to write home about. We went to 5 different
shows. That's all I'll say on this one. But the theater is very nice and well designed so everyone can see
the stage and each chair and couch has cup holders, no shortage of drink waiters were we sat each night.

The onboard activites were fun. We were never bored. We chose what we wanted to do and when we
wanted to do it. Don't miss the Not-So-Newlywed game..lots of laughs! Out by the main pool were several
different contests like the belly flop, Mr. sexy Legs and the horse races. We were there for all of them and
enjoyed them. Lots of people turned out for these activites. The band by the pool 'heatwave' was great.
They are going to The Voyager of the Seas in Nov. Excellent band! We also attended a wine and cheese
tasting one afternoon for a $5 dollar charge per person. This ws well worth the price. i would say about
200 people turned out for this. We were taught all about different wines and given a lot of smaples. I had
to turn down a few because I already needed a nap!

The ports of call: First was St. Martin we rented a car for the day figuring we would travel the island and
visit different beaches. well at the first beach it started to rain so I locked our camcorder in the trunk of the
car and about 45 minutes later went to get it and it was gone. Someone broke into the trunk and stole it.
After this incident we didn't want to spend anymore of our money on this island so we headed back to the
ship. The tender process went very smoothly.

St. Thomas we took a taxi to Sapphire Beach and rented lounge chairs and rafts. We also brought along
our own sorkel gear. We had a very nice time here and it was not crowded at all. The resort area has a
beach bar and restrooms and a beautiful beach with a great view of St. John. After lunch back on the ship
we headed out to the shops by the pier. Lots of great deals on everything.

Coco Cay was great. We also rented rafts here and didn't have a problem getting beach chairs. We also
snorkeled and saw sting rays and a lot of fish, we even saw a baby (2 feet long) shark. Once we got tired
of the crowds we headed off in the 'lands end' direction to find a quieter spot and we did. This place was
beautiful! A long way to drag your rafts but well worth it to us. We walked all the way down the beach and
even had to walk in the water to get around some rocks unitl there was beach again and no one was over
here..kind of like our own private island in the caribbean.... Wish we were there right now!

Disembarkment went pretty smoothly. I just wish that cruiselines would figure out a different way to claim
your luggage once you get off the ship..so many people and so many suitcases. If your in a rush, forget it,
that is way too stressful. Thank god we weren't in a rush so we didn't care, we stood back and watched all
the passengers wondering around in a panic looking for their bags. Some day they'll figure some other
system to better serve us. Hopefully!

All-in-all our honeymoon and wedding was a great experience. We would do it again tomorrow if someone
wants to buy us a cruise. LOL!!

Name: Morrica Chambers
Email: morrica@csolutions.net
Age: 32
Occupation: Accountant
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: May 23, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 70
DiningRoomService: 89
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 93
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 97
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 97
CruiseActivities: 97
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Jun 1999
Time: 22:26:39
Remote Name: dialup-55.csolutions.net
Remote User:

Comments

We sailed on Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas western itinerary on May 23, 1999. This was
our third cruise and our second with Royal Caribbean. The first was on the Grandeur, so the ships were
pretty much identical. There were 7 people in our group who included myself (32), my husband (35), my
father (62), my mother (51), my niece (9) and my husbands Aunt (53) and Uncle (57).

Day Prior We purchased the air/sea program with the air deviation so we were able to choose which flights
we wanted and had more control over arrival and departure times. The $35 per person you spend for the
air deviation is well worth the additional cost in my opinion. We arrived in Miami around 4:30 PM where a
Royal Caribbean representative was waiting and took us directly to a bus and then to the hotel. We stayed
in the Miami Airport Hilton, which was a big improvement over the hotel they put us in last year, the
Wyndham. We arrived fairly late so we didn’t have much of an opportunity to look around that evening but
the next morning we did and I loved the hotel's grounds. The hotel itself was very beautiful and had a very
nice pool area. The hotel was also surrounded by a lake where we were able to see baby alligators and a
few turtles swimming around. After taking a short look around we then checked in for our cruise and
activated our SuperCharge cards. Last year we had to activate them onboard the ship, which took more
time, so this was another nice improvement over last year. Next was breakfast in the Coral Café and for a
buffet style breakfast it was great. After breakfast we sat by the pool until 11:00 when it was time to board
the bus and be taken to the pier. After arriving at the pier we were able to walk right on ship and get
settled into our cabins.

Cabins There were 7 people in our group so we booked 3 category C cabins for all of us. When we
checked in for the cruise one couple in our group had been upgraded to a category B. I loved our cabin
but after seeing their cabin we booked our next cruise with a category B. The category B cabins have
more amenities than what is describe in the brochure and by reading the brochure the only difference
seems to be in the size of the room but it's much more than that. For one thing there is much larger sitting
area, there's a small bar area, a lot more storage space with full length mirrors on all four closest, a much
larger TV with a VCR (not so important), a stereo system, cushioned lounge chairs on the deck, two sinks
in the bathroom, storage drawers in the bathroom and a very large tub. I'm sure there's more I can't
remember all of them. Our cabin number was 8042 and as before we enjoyed the balcony immensely and
were glad we were able to have one. I spent every evening just sitting on the balcony enjoying a few
moments alone and listening to the sound of the waves. The storage space in our cabin was more than
the two of us could use and the bathroom was larger than the Category D we had on the Grandeur last.
The cabin in general was bigger than the category D so we were very satisfied with the amount of room we
had. The only item I would like to see them add would be a hair dryer.

Our cabin assistant, Rosalinda, was outstanding and did a great job with my 9-year-old niece, Rachelle.
She gave her a pile of mints every night and even gave her an entire box to take home to her classmates.
Rachelle enjoyed her company so much she went our of her way every time we were anywhere near the
cabin to say hello to Rosalinda and even stayed to help her clean the room on a few occasions, something
we can't get her to do at home. She attended to our every need and never missed a thing, the best I have
ever had.

After settling into our rooms we took a moment to look around the ship, take a look at the surroundings
and check out the kids center. Of course the atrium is beautiful and gives the ship a more open feeling.
The lounge chairs available on each deck surrounding the atrium make for a nice area to sit quietly and
enjoy a drink. The schooner bar has a calming atmosphere and is nice in the evening, especially if you
enjoy piano music and never seemed overly crowded. We then went to the Windjammer for lunch but
there wasn't a single thing that looked good and I was very disappointed, especially when compared to the
Grandeur last year. By the time the Muster Drill was over our bags had arrived so we unpacked and got
ready for dinner. We missed the Bon Voyage because the ship was late sailing and by the time we were
sailing away we were in the dinning room having dinner. When we first arrived at the dinning room we
discovered two people in our group weren't seated with the rest of us but we immediately spoke with the
Maitre`D and he put us at a different table to fit our entire group. We had the main seating for dinner and
after having both I've decided the late seating is best for me. With the main seating we always felt rushed
to get to dinner on time but considering we had a child with us it was probably best for this trip. Our waiter,
Sylvian from Romania, was not that great at first but he did improve as the week went on. We loved our
assistant waiter, Lincoln from Jamaica, and for the first time we had an outstanding headwaiter, Downtown
Brown from Jamaica. On previous cruises we never saw much of the headwaiter except for the last
evening when he came around to collect his tips. This is why I never tipped the headwaiter before but this
guy was great and well deserving of a tip if just for his friendliness. He came to our table every night and
spent a few minutes talking and actually listening to us. He seemed to take an active role in making sure
everything was to our liking. I would tip the headwaiter every time if they were more like this guy. We
missed the entertainment for this evening, so I'm not sure how it was.

Day Two - Key West We were up early for breakfast in the Windjammer, which was adequate but nothing
special. We didn't have any excursions planned for this day so we were able to take our time getting
ready. Just a few of us got off the ship and went into Key West for a look around. The ship provided free
transportation into the center part of Key West by way of the conch trains. They ran about every 20
minutes and you could catch a ride back from the same location you were dropped off. After an hour or so
of wondering around we returned to the ship and went to the Viking Crown Lounge for the ultimate view as
were pulling away. I was surprised to see how empty this room was during the day considering it's great
view, especially when pulling away from a port. This became our routine look out point whenever we left
port. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner again. A few people in our group were feeling adventurous
and tried the escargot. They said it actually tasted good unlike their previous experiences when it was
gritty and tasted terrible. I think that's part of what makes cruising so much fun is being a little more
adventurous in you food selections and even my father loosened up and tried a few new things. He even
liked most everything he tried. The entertainment this evening was a comedian Norm Crosby. We all
enjoyed his humor and had a great time. Tonight was also the Galley Buffet at midnight and according to
my father was some of the best food he had eaten on the cruise.

Day Three - Cozumel My parents were up very early this morning (like every morning) and were able to
see a whale off in the distance. It was about 5:00 AM and although it wasn't very close they were still able
to make it out as did a few other people who were out that early. I was very disappointed I didn't see the
whale but we were able to see dolpins on two other occasions on this cruise. First we went on the Ocean
View excursion, which was very nice and even informative. My family had never seen anything like this
before so they were quite amazed by it. My father was a little uneasy at one point when you could no
longer see the ocean floor beneath us but he was OK and thought it was one of the highlights of our trip.
Next we were off to Chancanaab Park for the Dolphin Discovery swim with the dolphins. We had reserved
this event over the Internet well in advance of our tip so we wouldn't miss out. It was an experience of a
lifetime and I would recommend it to anyone who loves dolphins. After that we did some snorkeling in the
park and then back on the ship. A couple in our group did the Cozumel Scuba Tour, which took them to
Palancar Reef and they were very impressed. They said the diving was the best they had ever seen and
the guides were extremely helpful and courteous (unlike the dive they did in Key West the previous day).
They said there was a variety of fish and some of the largest Angel fish they had ever seen. We boarded
the ship at 7:00, too late for dinner so it was up to the Windjammer and what a disappointment that was.
The food was once again terrible, so we opted for room service instead. On the Grandeur last year I
remembered the Windjammer food being very good so it surprised me when I couldn't find anything I liked.
The entertainment for tonight was a comedian, Dave Heenan, and a comedian/juggler, Dan Bennett. My
niece was with us at this show and she was laughing with the rest of us, especially when the juggler came
on. On our previous cruises we didn't go to any shows so I was determined to see at least a couple of
shows and I must say I really enjoyed them and will plan to see more on our next cruise.

Day Four - At Sea A much-needed day at sea was both relaxing and enjoyable. We were able to sleep in
just a bit, stroll around the ship, look at our pictures and then have lunch in the dinning room. I must say
the dinning room was far superior to the food in the Windjammer. Next it was off to the pool for a little
lounging. By the time we arrived at the pool (around 2:00) most of the chairs were being used but we were
finally able to find 3 chairs together so we took a seat and listened to the calypso music (a very nice
touch). Of course there were the usual activities by the pool like the belly flop contest and horse racing but
aside from these activities the pool itself wasn't too crowded. After baking in the sun we were off to the
showers and then dinner. Tonight I had the Stir Fried Shrimp and Crisp Oriental Vegetables with Fried
Rice, which was very tasty and another favorite of mine. Most everyone else had the prime rib and since
this is one of my father's favorite dishes I was happy to hear from him that it tasted great and was done to
perfection. The entertainment for this evening was the Sweet Dreams performance. I really enjoyed this
performance but I think it would have been much better had we been sitting further from the stage,
especially for the illusion portion of the show. In fact I would suggest sitting in the balcony for the best
results.

Day Five - Jamaica Today we decided to explore Jamaica on our own since we had been there before. I
know a lot of people don't like Jamaica but we have enjoyed it both times and have never felt frightened or
unsafe. We hired a taxi for the day at $20 per person and our first stop was the Prospect Plantation. The
driver of the jitney at the plantation and the tour guide were fabulous and very friendly and the scenery
was spectacular. Since Royal Caribbean has cancelled all plantation excursions until their investigation is
over the only way to see this is on your own and I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy scenic
tours. I'm sure it's not the best available but the tour guides really made it enjoyable. After the plantation
we were off to Dunn's River Falls for a refreshing climb up the falls. We all enjoyed the falls but going
through the maze of street vendors to get out of the park was an uncomfortable event for me (I don't like
to barter). The people were very pushy and quite rude when I wouldn't buy anything. I later discovered
that several people in our group went back through the entrance to get out of the park rather than the
marked exit and were able to avoid this area and is highly recommended to those who don't like this type
of shopping. My husband on the other hand loves to barter so I always go back to the ship and let him do
the shopping. Tonight was Caribbean Night for dinner so most everyone had the lobster and loved it. I
chose the Beef Tenderloin, another favorite. We missed the entertainment this evening but our friends
caught the show and said they didn't really care for it. It was the magic act of LaRaf and according to our
friends they only did 4 tricks during the entire show and spent most of the time strutting around the stage
and showing off their bodies.

Day Six - Grand Cayman My husband and I chose to do the Research Submarine excursion which goes
down to a depth of 1,000 feet. This was one of the highlights of our trip since this is the only place in the
world where the public has the opportunity to go to these depths. There wasn't much to see at 1,000 feet
but as you got closer to the surface (about 400 feet) we saw some very beautiful coral and a few fish. You
should also know that the submarine only fits two passengers and a guide with little or no room to move.
You sit on the floor crossed legged with the guide directly behind you. In other words if you are the least
bit claustrophobic DO NOT go on this excursion but otherwise it is highly recommended. Next we went to
Sting Ray City (sandbar). My niece was really excited about being able to swim with stingrays but once in
the water and seeing how large they were she became hysterical and screamed until we took her back to
the boat. After she watched my mother and me touching them and getting our pictures taken with them
and she could see she wasn't going to get hurt she suddenly decided she was tuff and wanted back in the
water. We never got brave enough to actually feed them but enjoyed the experience just the same. A word
of waning, if you want to feed the sting rays don't wait until you feel more comfortable being in the water
with them because the food will probably be gone by then. There were a few people who were upset
because by the time they decided to try and feed the sting rays, the food was gone, so watch for the guy
who brings out the bucket of squid because they don't announce it. I was a little surprised by the
aggressiveness of the stingrays even though we were warned about it before getting into the water. It was
a little startling when you look around and you are surrounded by stingrays and then you feel them
brushing up against you. Tonight was the Captain's Gala menu and most of us had the Filet Mignon and
thought it was superb. The entertainment was a singer/impressionist, Martin Dube, which I missed but
others in our group caught and absolutely loved it. In fact, they felt it was the best show of the entire trip, a
must see according to them!

Day Seven - At Sea Today was another day at sea and unfortunately the last day of the cruise. Today we
decided to try the dinning room for breakfast and we really enjoyed it. The menu has the regular choices
you might find in a restaurant. The food was great and much better than in the Windjammer. This time we
decided to get to the pool early so we could find chairs but to my surprise most of the chairs were already
being saved with a book, shoes, shirts, etc. and this was at 9:00 am. We couldn't find two chairs together
so we had to move some chairs around in order to be next to each other. My father was up early this
morning and said most of the chairs were already saved when he was up at 7:00 am. We spent the
remainder of the day roaming the ship and relaxing on our balconies. For lunch we ate in the Solarium
(which was where we ate most of our lunches) we had pizza, hot dogs and fries. I am a fry lover and these
were some of the best fries I have had. For dinner this evening I had the pasta and although I wasn't very
hungry it was very good. Some also had the duck and thought it was very good and others had the prime
rib again. The entertainment was Flashback and although I missed it others in our group really enjoyed it
and felt it was a must see.

I also want to mention the kids program. Rachelle attended the program every day and had a great time.
The kids seemed to be well entertained and watched pretty close. On one of the evenings Rachelle chose
to stay for the 10:00 pm to 1:00 am program and at $4 per hour it wasn't a bad deal. We checked on her
about every hour because we figured she would get tired and want to go to bed but to our surprise she
stayed up and had a blast. She did however crash as soon as we got back to the cabin and fell asleep in
her clothes. There seemed to be a lot of activities for the kids and the supervisors were great. Rachelle
made a few friends and was really excited to meet a girl from England. Before the cruise ended they
exchanged addresses and plan to write to each other. According to Rachelle she had the best time of her
life on this cruise and can't wait to go on another one. So if you're not sure if your child would enjoy a
cruise rest assured they would have a great time and it would be a great experience for them.

Disembark Always the saddest part of the trip but it all went very smooth. Before we knew it our fantasy
week had ended and we were back to reality eating airline food. Everyone in our group had a great time
and couldn't wait to book the next cruise. My parents were told by another couple who had been on a
cruise that they would get bored but it was actually just the opposite for us. We felt like we were always
rushing and doing something every minute but we still didn't get to do everything we wanted to do. The
next cruise for me will have more days at sea and I will do fewer excursions on the islands.

In short we had a great cruise. The food in the dinning room was great, the Windjammer for breakfast was
good but any other time pretty poor and the pizza, hot dogs and fries in the solarium were very tasty
(especially the fries). The evening shows I saw were great, and most of the staff was very pleasant. The
islands were beautiful and the activities we chose at each island were perfect. The ship in general looked
very clean to me but I didn't go looking for flaws either. A great experience overall for everyone in our
group and something we will be talking about for years to come.

Name: Don Zingale
Email: zingale@sfsu.edu
Age: 52
Occupation: University Dean
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 6/6/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 65
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 65
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 Jun 1999
Time: 18:02:42
Remote Name: dhcp235-170.sfsu.edu
Remote User:

Comments

We sailed on RCI's Enchantment of the Seas (Western Caribbean route) for 7 days beginning June 6,
1999. There were three in our party: My wife, our 9 year old daughter and me. Because I travel often and
have certain airline/hotel preferences, we did our own air travel arrangements and found it to be
considerably less expensive (even including one pre-cruise night with meals at the Airport Hilton) and
more flexible than the RCI air/sea cruise package. We did both online and phone research before
negotiating prices with a reputable local travel agent who specializes in cruises. I am confident that we got
the 'best deal' possible at the time we booked.

We also declined all offers of insurance coverage. However, I suggest that you check your health (and
other) insurance coverage for comprehensiveness of coverage before passing on that opportunity.

Before going on, I must point out that the comments above and below are my opinion. Again, I travel often.
I've lived in major cities my entire life. And my lifestyle is such that what I consider excellent food,
accommodations, etc. may be very different than the next person. That said, on with the review.

The Enchantment of the Seas is one big ship. We live on San Francisco Bay and regularly see tankers,
cargo ships and, occasionally, an Alaska or Hawaii bound cruise ship. Still, we were amazed at her size
when we arrived at the pier. Even more amazing was how good she looked inside and out despite almost
100 back-to-back sailings in her brief 2 years at sea. If you looked carefully, you could find carpet stains
and the like. But, all-in-all, she was tastefully decorated and well-maintained. If I had to cite a negative in
this area, it would be the occasional whiff of what appeared to be mildew from the ventilation system. While
we're not veteran cruisers, we are sailors and I can imagine the awesome task of fighting moisture on a
ship that size, especially in a tropical environment. Then there's all that 'vibration' talk. Hey, it's a ship!!! Of
course, it's going to move a bit just like the plane you flew on to Miami.

We had a cabin with veranda on deck 7 just aft of amidship on the starboard side. The cabin was big
enough and adequately appointed for a family of three (my 9 year old slept on the convertible sofa). We
were over the 'Schooner Bar' and another of my negative comments is that occasionally you could hear
the amplified piano music into the wee hours. RCI could easily correct this problem by turning down the
volume just a wee bit.

I looked at some of the other accommodations including inside cabins (which my wife and I did on our first
cruise many years ago with NCL). My advice is: If you can afford it, book an outside stateroom with
balcony. Then have at least several breakfasts out there.

One significantly negative comment about the accommodations regards our particular cabin steward.
Though friendly and attentive to some things, like the chocolate treats on the pillows, he was not that good
when it came to cleaning. Our veranda door glass and outdoor furniture, as well as the shower floor tile
(mildew stains), were not clean when we arrived nor were they ever cleaned during the entire week. I
mentioned these concerns once (on arrival) to the steward and even complained (midweek) to the
pursar's desk but never got a response other than 'it'll be taken care of'.

By contrast, the dining room waiter was as skilled and attentive as any in San Francisco's best
restaurants. We had the early seating and Ricardo was most attentive to everyone in my family as well as
to the family of seven we joined for meals at a well sized table near a large port window on the main floor
of the dining room. He regularly cut my kid's meat for her and even prepared a 'to go' dish one evening
when my wife was running late.

Food is a very personal matter. There were plenty of choices and you could order more than one of
everything (do get two lobster tails). Some items were quite good (many of the soups and a few of the
chef's 'selections'). But, if you're used to the likes of Rose Pistola, Moose's or Fior d'Italia in San
Francisco, you won't be remembering much of what you ate on an RCI ship (or a Hilton hotel for that
matter). Yet, I could see that some folks in the dining room found the whole RCI dining experience to be
the best they've ever had. Given where we live, we found the wine selection to be mediocre. However, we
brought some wine with us and our wine steward didn't have a problem on those nights when we wanted to
drink our wine at dinner rather than his.

The entertainment was quite good except for the magic act: 'La Raf'. The poolside Reggae type combo
was pretty good too. Casinos are casinos. Learn to play craps and, if you exercise some self-controI, your
losses will be worth the evening's entertainment. I can't comment on the late night entertainment because
we were there mostly to R&R and we don't enjoy second hand smoke (RCI could learn something from
Carnival's 'smoke free' Paradise).

The on-board 'duty-free' shops and the art auctions are what you'd expect: a few bargains lost amongst a
sea of overpriced merchandise. For example, you could save a few bucks on Bacardi Rum and then turn
around and pay $19.00 for a cheap California Merlot that costs $7.99 in your local Safeway supermarket.

Bar service was O.K. Drinks were not as expensive as in a hotel. Because of the research I had done, we
did not buy our daughter a 'Coke sticker'. It was actually cheaper in the long run to buy cans of soda from
the bar or get free lemonade in the Windjammer Café when it was open. Contrary to what I had heard, I
did not find the bar service folks to be very pushy. And, other than catering to your own unique tastes
(certain diet drinks or wines, etc.), I don't see the value of bringing your own drinks on board. Is the hassle
really worth the few bucks you'll save?

The photographers were a pain in the rear end. They blocked walkways, interfered with dinner
conversations, etc. I know that folks have got to make a buck but, 'tone it down' RCI! Nonetheless, we
purchased our fair share of momentos.

The pools and deck areas were well maintained. Again, contrary to what I had researched, we never had a
problem finding deck chairs particularly if you didn't have your heart set on the 'prime'(?) spots located
with a southern exposure equidistant between the pool and the bar.

We didn't use the fitness or beauty salon services.

The kids' club was worth the decision to do the whole 'floating hotel' thing. My daughter quickly made
friends, enjoyed her freedom from parents and commented very positively about the variety of activities
and kindness of the counselors. Good job, RCI!!!

The excursions were plentiful and varied. But, be aware that the great ones (e.g., Sting Ray City Snorkel
in Grand Cayman and Beach Horseback Riding in Ocho Rios) sell out very quickly. As soon as you get on
board, talk with the excursion staff and use the 'early bird' form (handed in Sunday afternoon) to assure
your spots. We did encounter one problem where they didn't issue our Sting Ray City tickets because of a
mistake they (the Excursion Staff) made. We were then told that they couldn't honor our request. Once
they were made to realize that I would not allow myself to suffer the consequences of their error, the
tickets magically appeared. And, like the drinks, you can probably do better price-wise on your own. But,
the safety and security assured by sticking with the cruise line's approved tours is worth the few extra
dollars.

Speaking of money, shopping had it's ups and downs. Like the aforementioned duty-free wine, some
'retail' or 'comparison' prices in port were quite inflated. Yet, there were bargains to be had, especially if
you knew what you were doing. The best jewelry buys appeared to be in Jamaica. Because of the
guarantees, stick with the 'RCI 'approved' shops. If you want to do one stop shopping and walk away with
something good in diamonds, try the Royal Shop in Ocho Rios. Starting prices on a number of items we
looked at were about the same as in Grand Cayman (or better stateside jewelry stores before the holiday
'sales'). But, the Jamaicans will bargain far beyond what the shops in Grand Cayman set as their limit.
Also, remember your customs limit.

We will probably do another cruise. We are thinking about moving 'up' a notch to Celebrity. But, itinerary,
value and kids' programming will still be major factors in our consideration. Even then, I keep reminding
myself that, for less money, I could go to the Hyatt Regency in Kauai and still have everything from the
kids' club to the excursions.

Name: Dave Bastos
Email: dbastos@ameritech.net
Age: 51
Occupation: Controller
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 6/20/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Jun 1999
Time: 17:15:25
Remote Name: smtp.aeromotive.com
Remote User:

Comments

Other than the check-in at the airport in Miami, this cruise was the best that we've experienced. Our prior cruises have been
on Costa, Celebrity and RCCL. This time our experience, from the time we boarded until the moment we disembarked,
ranged from acceptable to excellent. Let me start with the negative. Upon arrival, we were met at the gate by pleasant
hostesses who had us fill out the obligatory forms before escorting us to the check-in area in the airport. That's where it all
fell apart. Absolute chaos reigned. We were a group of 6 with 3 cabins that and were meeting 5 additional members coming
in from other locations at different times. Cabins and last names were combined with all the groups. We knew we were
going to be complex and tried our best to explain, but it didn't help. Our group was herded, split and scolded by everyone at
the check-in. The lines were a mess and people were shoving and unfriendly. The desk clerk ended up telling us that it
would have gone much better if we didn't keep changing places. There really must be a better way to start this whole
experience. We were exhausted and the first time cruisers we had with us were not at all impressed. Unfortunately, this is
part of the whole experience and the first impression of the cruise. The cruise line that manages to solve this and provides a
total solution will be miles ahead. From that point on, the cruise was great. The bus ride over was pleasant and
embarkation was uneventful. There was a short line to get our room keys and charge cards but that was the last noticeable
line I can remember for the week even though we were at capacity. The high points for the week included; 1) Dining room
service with Russ (Australia) and Larry (Philippines). Larry was on his first week as an assistant waiter and was absolutely
wonderful. We had eleven in total and got the table arranged so that we were all together and comfortable, 2) Entertainment
was really good. The comedian on the second night was too long but okay. All the other shows we went to were excellent.
The Wave Review group was great. 3) The food was better than I remembered on RCCL. Our last cruise was Celebrity and I
think the food on RCCL was comparable and I really loved the food on both. The biggest improvement I saw was the lunch
at both the dining room and Windjammer. Breakfast was sort of boring but okay.

In the really good category were the ports. As usual, Jamaica was great for Dunns River Falls but underwhelming otherwise.
We made the mistake of going to the Taj Mahal shopping in off-season and were driven nuts by vendors and taxi drivers.
We couldn’t wait to get out. Grand Cayman was wonderful, as usual, Key West was hot but entertaining, and Cozumel was
nice at the beach.

Bar service was good but we were overcharged for the special drinks twice, so make sure you check prices. The prices
were okay for the drinks (usually $3.95 for beer or mixed drinks) and really good for the special of the day.

Overall, this was the best cruise we’ve experienced so far. Service was consistent and good. RCCL managed to satisfy all
11 in our party ranging from 18 to 51, married and single, attached and not. We all found plenty to occupy us and managed
to stay apart when we wanted to and together when it was appropriate. No complaints here and I would certainly go back to
RCCL and recommend it highly.

Name: Thomas Milano
Email: tmilano@n-jcenter.com
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired Restauranteur
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: May 02, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: I 2584
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 75
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 85
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: n/a
MedicalFacilities: n/a
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Jul 1999
Time: 14:45:34
Remote Name: nspm1c-25.n-jcenter.com
Remote User:

Comments

We were overwhelmed with the beauty and the elegance of this ship. Whoever designed this ship should be given
an award. Everything was done in such good taste with many innovations we have not seen on any other ships,
such as the daily changing of the carpeting in the elevators, reminding what day it is. Many little things like this
that are to numerous to mention.

CABIN: The cabin was done in excellent taste, right down to the choice of
material for the drapes and love seat. All the side cabinet doors by the desk area were mirrored on both sides of
the doors as were the cabinet doors in the bathroom. It allows the women [and men[ to fully view the back of their
heads. The workmanship of the cabinets and closet doors was superb. The cabin door was made of the heaviest
material I have seen on any ship. You could of had a brass band playing in the hallway and you wouldn't hear
them. The only fault we found with the cabin is that the shower was quite small and their wasn't a hair dryer. But
there was so many nice features that we soon overlooked this fact and made ourselves at home. I would be remiss
if I didn't mention the cabin boy Paul was also exceptional. He did everything that was required, then went out of
his way to see if there was anything else he could do.

FOOD & SERVICE: The food was much better than we
anticipated. In fact it was excellent. [I am a retired and the former owner of an award winning restaurant on L.I.,
New York, which was noted for service.] Our waiter and bus-girl, wine steward and bar man, were everything
dining room personnel should be. They were friendly & attentive to our every need without becoming overbearing.
We couldn't be served any better in any top notch restaurant in the states. They did a superb job. The after
dinner presentations by the dining room staff were received very well, a nice friendly touch. I must mention the

WINDJAMMER LUCH AREA; It is by far the most beautiful and most tastefully appointed lunch area we have seen.
It is unfortunate that the management personnel have not gotten their act together. As you enter the dining room,
they have a hot table with five items of the day. On three different occasions, early and late, they were out of three
of the items. They weren't refilling as quickly as they should which resulted in long lines of upset passengers. But
this is easily corrected and I am sure they will in the near future.

ENTERTAINMENT: Ken Rush, the cruise director
was outstanding, as was his staff. He won over the guests on the first night and had then in his corner for the rest
of the cruise. His participation in many of the ship-board activities was the difference of them being totally
delightful rather than boring. The entertainment in general was good except for the production show, which we
thought was terrible. But we met many people that liked it. I guess its all a matter of perspective. It was a very
modern upbeat production of today's music, which Mary & I can't stand. We are more of the old tradition that likes
the big band days and that type music, so we don't fault them, it just wasn't our type music.

THE POOL AREAS:
They have two pool areas. The large pool, surrounded by four Jacuzzi and the Solarium, with two Jacuzzi. We
enjoyed the quiet reserved atmosphere of the Solarium area. It was very peaceful and relaxing.

COCO CAY: If we
knew what we were in for, we would never have tendered to Coco Cay. By the time we arrived at Coco Cay and
walked to the beach area, all we could see in the water was hundreds of people floating on mats. The beach area
was over-crowded and not very appealing. There was kelp all over the bottom of the water by the beach. If we had
to do it again, we would stay on board and enjoy the pool area.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP: I never expected to
be writing about the captain, but it is a must. He was dynamic. Instead of the cruise director being the host of the
Captains party, the Captain was the host of his own party. In a very personable way he told a short history of
Royal Caribbean and then told us about the new addition to their fleet, The Voyager of the Sea. It is not so much
what he said as it was the way he said it that was so appealing. He said it with so much warmth and sincerity. He
made a promise that he would personally see to it that we had a memorable cruise. He then went about the usual
business of introducing the staff. But then at the end of the cruise he once again did something I had never seen
done before. At the beginning of the farewell stage production he walked from the audience onto the stage and
addressed the audience. Again in a most personable way, he thanked us for selecting Royal Caribbean and then
summarized some of the things he had said at the opening party about the Voyager of the Seas, and other things
he thought might interest us. The Royal Caribbean line not only has an outstanding Captain but also a person
who is very well spoken, and is an articulate sales representative for Royal Caribbean. I am sure Royal Caribbean
will have many new regular cruisers because of the of the way the captain conducted himself. [Im sorry, I can't
recall his Swedish name.]

IN CLOSING: I didn't expect to say this much, but I did want to try and give you a good
idea of what we experienced. We had a wonderful cruise. We have made a number of cruises with the Celebrity
Cruise Line and have sailed on all their ships. Until this cruise we have always rated Celebrity as the best by far.
Although we still think they are excellent, we think Royal Caribbean is even better. They show their guests in so
many ways and by the little things they do, that the number one thought in their mind is to make your cruise the
absolute best that is possible, and that they do, which is going to afford them well for the future. We highly
recommend the Enchantment of the Seas. We had a wonderful time.

Name: Tracy Prefontaine
Email: tracy.prefontaine@gov.edmonton.ab.ca
Age: 29
Occupation: Systems Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Enchantment
SailingDate: 05/03/98
Itinerary: Caribbean
Cabin: 125/G
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 97
CruiseStaff: 96
CabinAmenities: 89
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 97
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 98
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 97
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 96
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark:
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace:
Stabilization: 97
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 96
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Aug 1999
Time: 12:59:05
Remote Name: hi.gov.edmonton.ab.ca
Remote User:

Comments

I was shocked to read the other review about this particular cruise. Staff rude? Bad food? I had an incredible time
with no problems. A common complaint I hear is that people expect to be bumped up in cabin assignments. Don't
count on it. I booked my second cruise a year and a half before sail date and I did not get bumped up. If it is
popular cruise and the ship is full, you get the cabin you booked.

Since this was a Caribbean cruise, there was lots of sunshine and I spent a fair time in the ships two pools. Be
forwarned, the water is from the ocean, do not just jump into the salt water or you will come up coughing your
lungs out like I did.

I took the optional snorkling at Pinel Island. This was the highlight of my trip. I never snorkled before and enjoyed it
thoroughly. Tip -> wear the life vest they offer you. I didn't and wasted a lot of energy just keeping afloat. I spent
the entire time in the water snorkling and was surprised that I was tired getting out of the water, so pace yourself.

We did not stop at the private island, and this was a huge dissapointment to me. There was a fire on the island
and there was no power to provide us with cool drinks or food while on the island. I was planning to do more
snorkling there, very upset.

I've heard over and over, expect to gain weight on the cruise. Not true! I lost 7 pounds. I loved the morning stretch
program and the morning walk around the ship. They have a healthy soup, dinner and dessert choice on the
menu everyday.

Back to RCCL Enchantment