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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: HARRY HUTH
Email: DISNEYCRUI@CS.COM
Age: 41
Occupation: UPPER MANAGEMENT
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 04-24-99
Itinerary: EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Cabin: 7072-D
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland: 75
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Jul 1999
Time: 14:31:22
Remote Name: spider-wn042.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was my 10th and my wifes 9th cruise (3rd on RCI ships) as always the service and
value were 1st rate! We
found San Jaun to be ALOT dirtier than our last visit in 96 and it was just not that
appealing to us! St Thomas was
superb in shopping (as always) but the lack of aquatic life in the submarine tour was a
bummer! (we had a much
better time in the submarine tour in Cozumel in 98) The shore excursions were great (you
do have to research
them prior to sailing though!)The shows in the Palladium lounge were not typical RCI
quality! This was the
sentiment of quite a few people we met on our many journeys around the ship. The ship was
beautiful. Labadee
Hatti (our 2nd visit) was the best private island we have visited in our cruises! The only
downside to Labadee is
the straw market, everything was the same from vendor to vendor and most were not directed
at the civilized but
the obnoxious tourist! Coco Cay was however rocky and hard to navigate as well as lacking
in the scenic views
boasted bt Labadee. The days at sea were great! even getting out on deck at noon we had no
problem finding
chairs to sun from. The spa was first rate without having pushy sales people to peddle the
other products they
sold! Overall the only negatives were the shows in the Palladium theatre and San Juan. We
have already booked
for the Voyager in Feb 2000 and Carnivals Destiny in June 2000
Name: Ron Davidson
Email: rondondoo@home.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Sales Management
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 7/10/99
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 7560/D
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 60
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Jul 1999
Time: 13:37:35
Remote Name: c27797-a.alntn1.tx.home.com
Remote User:
Comments
First let me say that this is our 4th cruise with RCCL and the Grandeur would not rate as
our best cruise with
RCCL. It was not bad but not our best. We traveled with another couple who used the
air/cruise package who had
never traveled with RCCL before. Their experience was good with the exception of being met
at the airport and
the handling of their bags to and from the airport, bag handling did not happen and their
transportation to the ship
did not happen.
Now for our cruise.
We did not use the air/cruise package as I used frequent flier miles to travel to Miami.
We also used miles to stay
at the Marriott on the Friday night prior to the criuse. RCCL should make available some
of the perks of the
air/cruise program for those of us that use miles for their hotel and air travel.
Particularly for those of us that have
traveled on RCCL before.
Embarkation - Best we have ever had (only took about 20 minutes). There was supposed to be
early check-in at
the hotel but there was no such service at the hotel.
Disembarkation - A nightmare. We were supposed to have transfers to the airport and
handling of our bags at the
pier. That did not happen and we had to handle the transportation of our own bags to the
airport. We did all of this
in the rain.
Cruise Staff - Our Cabin Steward, Brian, was great. He did the little things that makes a
cruise enjoyable. Our
waiter and assistant waiter were great, always extremely plesant and eager to please
everyone at the table. The
coctail and wine steward always remembered what we liked to drink and had our beverages at
the table almost
immediately after we sat down. As a matter of fact, our coctail steward served us at the
casino as well. Even
remembered whether it was my turn to buy or my companions turn. All of the other staff
members were very
friendly and eager to serve.
Food - In the main dining room, the presentation was excellent but the food itself was
fairly bland. There was a
bigger selection of different types of food and this may have been the reason. In the
Windjammer, the food was
plentiful but the taste was average at best, some of the food was cold, and the
cleanliness of the facility was below
average. We did not use room service since the wait was too long.
Entertainment - The Mary Wilson show was excellent. Bowser was fair and the Cruise Review
was sub-par in
comparison to the entertainment on other cruises with RCCL. The lounge acts were all good.
The Ship - The Grandeur is a beautiful ship although she is showing some wear and tear on
carpets for such a
young ship. It was impossible to get a deck chair just about anytime during the entire
cruise, particularly on 'at sea'
days. Cabins were larger than remembered and we did not have any problems storing our
clothing or our
personal items.
The Itinerary - This is a shopping cruise. Even though there were several ports of call,
the venue was shopping.
We did take advantage of the shopping and the values in San Juan and St. Thomas were
excellent. Most of the
week we either had rain or overcast conditions so some of the shore excersions that we
took could have been
better if there had been good weather.
Other - Since we are not first time cruisers, we remember the 'little things' that make
some cruises better than
others. On this cruise, the 'little things' were missing, things like video recap of the
days activities on-board shown
on the TV, special recognition from the staff that we were return cruisers on RCCL, notes
from the staff at our
door asking how the cruise was going, etc. It would have also been nice if the door key
and the cruise card were
one in the same as on other cruise lines.
Overall - A good cruise. We will be back next year for probably either a Panama Canal
cruise or the Southern
Caribbean cruise. Cruising is still the best way to spend your vacation and we think RCCL
is still the best.
Name: Martha Thode
Email: MThode1961@aol.com
Age: 37
Occupation: Admin Assistant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 06/19/99
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 7116 C
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 98
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 98
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 97
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon: 98
EntertainmentPoolside: 99
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 97
DiscoNightclubs: 98
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Jul 1999
Time: 23:13:37
Remote Name: spider-wj044.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
My husband and I took our two teenage daughters on this cruise. Since this was our first
cruise, we purchased the
air/sea package. This turned out to be a pretty good decision. We stayed at the Hyatt. We
were able to get our
boarding passes at the hotel in the morning on the day we sailed. At aprox 12:30pm we
boarded buses to the
ship. Walked off the bus and straight onto the ship. All I can say is WOW. Went to the 7th
floor and picked up our
room keys and proceeded to our cabin. We had a catagory C outside cabin. There were four
of us in this room
but we had plenty of room and storage space. Having a balcony is great. The only time we
felt crowded was at
night when the sofa bed was out. After checking out the cabin we proceeded to the
Windjammer cafe for some
lunch. Food was pretty good. Went to the beauty salon to make appointments for my
daughters to have their hair
done on formal nights. Muster drill took place in the afternoon. I can't believe how many
people don't take this
seriously.
Had late seating. Our table mates were a nice family from the Miami area. They also have 2
daughters so we had
a lot in common. Food was very good. After only one meal in the dining room I told my self
I could get use to this .
We ate every dinner in the main dining room. We had breakfast in the Windjammer cafe
except for one morning
we ordered room service. The only complaint I have about the room service was sometimes it
took a long time to
get our food and one time they forgot half the order. The snacks in the Solarium were very
good. The fries are the
best.
Our first stop was Labadee. After you get off the tender don't stop at the first beach
area. Keep going and you will
find less crowded beaches. Lunch was provided by the cruise line and it was good. The
locals can be pushy, but if
you don't want to be bothered by them, just don't go over to were they are selling. Got
some neat things for very
little money. Second stop was San Juan. Took the Bacardi Rum tour then walked around old
San Juan and walked
to El Moro (sp?). Found out the hard way the fort closes at 5pm. We only got to see the
outside. Third stop was St
Thomas. Did a little shopping then lunch at Hard Rock, my daughters got their hair braided
then took a taxi to
Megan's Bay were we played in the water for a couple hours then went back to the ship.
Last stop was Coco Cay. I
think this was my favorite stop. Husband and daughters snorkeled. I tried but just
couldn't get the hang of it. Don't
forget your under water camera. Make sure you purchase them at home. I paid $7-8 at
Wal-Mart and they wanted
$15.95. Lunch is provided by the cruise line. There is a little shopping on Coco Cay.
Mostly t-shirts.
The last night of the cruise you will put your luggage outside your cabin. It helps to
attached something to your
luggage that will help you identify it when you go to get it. We put red ribbons on ours.
You don't know how many
other people have black canvas suitcases until you get off the ship and try and find your
suitcase in the
warehouse. Had no problems finding ours. Plenty of people there to help you with your
suitcases. Since we have
air/sea package we just had them take ours to the truck the airline provided and they were
checked in right there
then we got on the bus and went to the airport. It was nice to never have to lug all those
suitcases (8 in all,
remember I have teenage daughters) around.
We brought one carry one suitecase that had nothing but bottled water and pop in it. When
we packed to leave
we now had an empty suitcase to put our souvenirs in.
I can't say enough good things about the wonderful time we had. I can't wait to do it
again. You read opinions were
people complain about the littlest things. I think no matter how the ship looked or how
the food tasted, they will
never be happy. Some people actually complained the carpet was a little worn. I would be a
little worn too if I had
2000 + people walking on me everyday of the week. Go in with a good attitude,and you too
will have just as much
fun as we did.
E-mail me if you have any questions. I would love to share our cruise experience with you.
MThode1961@aol.com
Name: Joel Versh
Email: Joelnlisa@aol.com
Age: 31
Occupation: Real Estate
NumberOfCruises: 11
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: July 24,1999
Itinerary: Eastern Carib.
Cabin: 7566 Cat D
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 70
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Aug 1999
Time: 00:37:21
Remote Name: spider-to024.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
My family and I were looking forward to this trip for over six months. The trip was well
worth the wait. Myself and my
wife along with my 13 yr old son had the time of our lives.... Embarkation.. We flew from
SoCal so we were part of
the Air-sea program let me tell you if you can take advantage of this do it. We flew out
the day before and were
met at the gate by a rep. from Royal who loaded us onto buses and took us to our hotel
(the Hilton) very nice
hotel. The best part was in the morning reps. from Royal were at the hotel to check us in
and activate our sign and
sail cards. Then promptly at 12 noon buses showed up and took us to the pier we walked
right past the lines and
onto the ship.
We had checked our luggage at the airport in Calif and it arrived on the ship shortly
after we did. In
fact by 3pm we were unpacked, relaxed, full from the buffet and already sipping on our
first set of frozen drinks.
Ship.. Was beautiful clean, comfortable and roomy. We were in a Cat d room that included
two twin beds that can
be turned into a queen and a sofa that converted into a bed for my son. with a balcony
that had three chairs and
a small table, The room also had a small refrig. The room had plenty of room for the 3 of
us. The only complaint
that I had was when the beds were put together there was only a small amount of room to
walk by the beds.
Nothing to worry about though. Also the A/c was cranked to the max constantly and still
not real cool. Except when
going to bed then it seemed to be freezing but all you have to do is open the door to the
balcony and it will be
warm in a hurry.
Ports... The private islands were perfect fun in the sun and sea. We rented floats and
brought
snorkle equipment and floated all morning. Then they prepared a BBQ lunch. After lunch we
took a banana boat
ride it was $8 per person for about 10 minutes great fun. San Juan... We just got off of
the ship and took one of
the tours that the taxi drivers were pushing $10 per person for 2.5-3 hours and you get to
see most of the same
stuff from the tours on the ship. We got to see old San Juan, new San Juan both Forts and
then he dropped us off
by the crown and anchor club. Nice trip for the price.
St Thomas.. Was beautiful... We did the Mountain Top and
Coral World excursion from the ship. Bring your camera's views for miles very very nice
would love to go back to
there. Service.. We have been on 10 or so cruises before and this was the best service by
far.. our waiter (muslu
table 84) learned all of our names the first night and addressed us by them the entire
trip we were at a table for 10
and there were 4 kids and not one child had to cut their own food, the lobster tails kept
coming and our needs or
wishes were answered before we even knew we wanted something. Example my wife wanted
chocolate covered
strawberries for dessert one night and asked him about them. He informed us they are
making them for the gala
buffet but would go under cover and steal some for her.
The next night after dessert he called her over to the side
and handed her a plate of 6 or 8 of them and said that he had to hide them cause he stole
them from the buffet
and if the he gave them to her at the table somebody else might want some and he couldn't
get any more. the
cabin steward was good but did not do anything out of the ordinary and the head waiter was
only around to collect
his tip on the last night. we tipped the waiter way above the recommended amount and he
personalyy thanked us
then next morning. Debarkation... Went smoother than ever we had a 1pm flight we were off
the ship by 9:30 and
at the pier reps from the airlines were their to check you bags and off to the airport
were their by 10:45 am. if you
have any questions e-mail me.
Name: Pamela Reilly
Email: PamLFloyd@aol.com
Age: 29
Occupation: teacher
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: July 19, 1999
Itinerary: Puerto Rico, Labadee, St. Thomas, and Cococay
Cabin: 7105
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 88
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 88
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 88
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 88
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 88
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 92
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 88
DiscoNightclubs: 75
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 88
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Aug 1999
Time: 17:11:03
Remote Name: spider-wl074.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
We bought the travel package from the airport to the ship. After we paid for it and
received our tickets did we
realize that we would not be leaving the airport until 12:30. The problem was we arrived
at the airport at 10:00.
The we decided, oh well, we will go and pre-check in at the airport and not have to wait
in line at the ship. No! We
were told we were on the wrong side of the airport and we would have to wait for the bus
to fill, then wait in line
again at the ship. We decided to go ahead and take a taxi and get in line at the ship
before the bus. Boy are we
glad we did! When we got there the computers were down. So we had an extra long wait. But
we probably got on
the ship an hour or so before everyone waiting on the bus.
Got there and went to the Windjammer for lunch. It hit the spot. We were delighted to be
on the seventh floor. It
was a great location. Two floors from dinner and two floors from the pool. We had an
interior room and it was fine.
Although we were quite jealous of the rooms across the hall. They had balconies. Next time
we will splurge for
those rooms!
The mustering went smoothly. We got some great pictures of us in the life jackets.
Unfortunately, we had the six o' clock dinner and we were late leaving. So we missed
leaving port.
Saturday we spent most of the time waiting in lines. Lines for massages, lines to change
our dinner, lines for
everything!
Luckily, we were first in line to change dinner. We were put along the wall by the
entrances. It was basically the pit
but we did not care because we were changed to the 8:30 dinner.
We signed up the Crowning Touches package and it was definitely worth it. Will do it
again.
Sunday - first formal night. Went to the captain's cocktail party and received free
drinks. Hint: if you don't care
about which captain you take your picture with, enter through the Singin in the Rain
lounge. There was a huge line
in the Schooner's lounge. So we went and shoke hands with the other captain. Got right in
and found a great seat.
We went to the Battle of the Sexes in the South Pacific. Fun! Then went to the Disco
Dancing in the Viking bar.
More fun!
Monday -- Labadee. Do take tips for the guys to carry your floats and arrange for chairs.
INSIST they take you to
the beach by the eating area. Yes it is furthur but it is worth it. Besides you will walk
over there for lunch. I had
read all the other comments and people said to go further. The guy we had said no, no,
this is better. Then we
realized we were taken because here we sat with hundreds of others and we could have been
over by the
volleyball and food. My husband and friend took out a sailboat. They got half way out and
realized the boat was
sinking! Just check out the boats before you set sail. Also, we were waiting for the guys
to get back that we almost
missed lunch. It is over at 1:30.
Tuesday - San Juan Rain, rain, and more rain. Thought this was a wasted port of call. Went
to the casino and
thougt we would have some free drinks. One beer costs four dollars. Besides, the casino on
the boat had much
better rules. We did find a grocery store and bought tonic water. We bought vodka on the
boat. I had brought Solo
cups and limes. We just made a big drink and it saved us about fifteen to twenty dollars
in drinks a night. You must
go to the Not So Newly Wed Game. Get there early. It fills up.
Wednesday -- St. Thomas More rain. Went on the Escape to Maegan's Bay excursion. Did not
realize the boat's
name is Wild Thing. It lived up to its name. But still an ejoyable trip and would consider
doing it again. Once we
arrived the the beach they provided snorkel equipment. Too bad there was not much to see.
So we hung out on
the beach and boat and drank free rum punch. After, we ran on the boat and showered and
went shopping. We
had a great tip to go to the samller jewelry shops to find the good deals. Good call --
got some great topaz
earrings to match a ring I already had. Definelty go see the Quest. Be prepared and bring
the following: two bras,
pantyhose, a comb, a man's slacks. and lipstick. Trust me.
Thursday - Second formal night. Do get to the pool early. It fills fast. Had a great time
having drinks before dinner
in the Champagne Bar. After dinner we went to the Schooner Bar for the piano bar. Sat at
the piano bar and all
sang off key. It was a blast. Midnight Gala was that night. Just ate shrimp.
Friday -- Cococay. Soemthing went wrong and did not start unloading until eleven. Wish
they would have
increased the time on the island to compensate. Found a great spot on the island that was
not too crowded.
Enjoyed snorkeling on the island.
Back to reality on Sat. Enjoyed a nice breakfast in the dining room.
Once we got back we realized what great prices the ship had on wine and champagne.
I scored the cruise director so high because my husband smokes cigars. The only place he
could smoke in air
conditioning was from nine to twelve in the library. He met the cruise director there and
asked if it could be
extended earlier so he could enjoy a smoke before dinner. The next day it was changed!
So, if you smoke cigars, be prepared to smoke outside.
Let me know if you have any questions. I'll help as much as possible.
Name: Charlie
Email: cruzeluvr@aol.com
Age: 48
Occupation: CPA
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 7/17/99
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 3064/H
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 88
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Aug 1999
Time: 18:39:46
Remote Name: spider-te054.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
Review of Grandeur of the Seas cruise, July 17, 1999 Eastern Caribbean Itinerary
First, about us - we are in our late 40's with a 17-year-old son. This was our fifth
cruise, third with Royal
Caribbean.
We booked the 1 night pre-cruise package and air through Royal Caribbean. Our flight to
Miami was early AM, so
we had the entire afternoon and evening in Miami the day before the cruise. We placed the
ship tags on our
luggage and checked it at the airport before departure. RCCL handled it from there. We
didn't see it again until it
was delivered to our cabin. A representative from Royal Caribbean met us at the gate when
we got off the plane
and put us on a bus to the Hyatt Regency in downtown Miami, a very nice hotel. Upon
check-in, I requested a
nonsmoking room, high up, with a view of the water so we could see the ships come in the
next morning. They
were very accommodating and gave us a very nice room on the 16th floor, with a small
balcony, facing the water.
Friday night, we went to Bayside Marketplace and had dinner (and a few creamsicles) at
Lombardi's, an excellent
Italian restaurant. If you're looking for a place to eat in Miami, I recommend this
restaurant. On Saturday morning
we were able to check-in for the ship right in the lobby of the hotel, and received our
boarding passes right there.
No lines, no waiting, no fuss. At approximately 12:30 a bus took us to the pier and we
boarded immediately.
We had a category H stateroom on 'A' deck. The cabin was on the small side, but that's
what we expected. We
also booked the 'Crowning Touches' package, so there was a bottle of Dom Perignon on ice
waiting for us in the
cabin. A quick word about the Crowning Touches package - at a cost of $400 per couple, it
is an excellent value.
For each couple it includes 2 RCCL robes (to keep), a bottle of Dom Perignon, a facial or
full massage in the spa
for each of you, an 8x10 formal portrait in a silver frame, pre-dinner canapés and
post-dinner petit fours delivered
to your cabin each night, a champagne (Moet White Star) breakfast in bed, and an
invitation to the bridge. After
the standard life boat drill, departure was delayed for about an hour due to some delayed
airline flights. We set
sail shortly after 6:00 PM.
The ship Our first afternoon on board was spent exploring the ship, and what a ship it
is!! The first thing we
noticed upon boarding was the Centrum which is just beautiful. It starts at deck 4 and
goes to deck 9. All the on
board shops, as well as the purser's desk and shore excursion desk are located off the
Centrum. The dining room
has 2 levels on decks 4 and 5, and there are 2 pools on deck 9, one of which is in the
enclosed solarium. There
are also 4 hot tubs by the main pool and 2 more by the solarium pool. You could always get
into one. The
shipshape center and spa is adjacent to the solarium. The layout of the ship is great, and
it is easy to get around.
The main show each night is in the 2 level Palladium Theater. The Windjammer is spacious,
and never seemed
crowded despite the number of people eating there. The casino is a decent size, although I
would have preferred
another blackjack table instead of all the slot machines. There are also plenty of lounges
for other activities or to
find a place to relax with some music, and there are plenty of bar waiters around if you
want a drink. Deck space is
plentiful and deck chairs by the pools and on the sun deck were always available, despite
the few inconsiderate
folks who 'reserved' them. We also enjoyed lounging in the chairs on the sides of the
promenade deck. It was nice
and quiet there, and not the least bit crowded. For the stargazers, there is an
observatory platform complete with
star charts rising above deck 10. And of course there is the RCCL signature Viking Crown
lounge at the top of the
ship. The Viking Crown is the site of the disco each night.
Food Throughout the week, we had breakfast (and an occasional lunch) in the Windjammer and
never had
difficulty finding a table. The food was excellent, varied, and plentiful.
We ate dinner in the dining room each night. The food was varied and just superb, and the
service was better
than excellent, maybe the best we've ever had. Our waitress and assistant waitress were
just incredible, almost as
though they could read our minds. And they gave new meaning to the word quick. When salads
were served, the
assistant was no more than 10 seconds behind with the dressings. If a main course or
dessert called for a sauce,
she was right there again. I never had to request a second helping of anything; they were
right there to offer it, as
though they knew I wanted more. They even brought me a third lobster tail without me
asking.
There are late afternoon snacks and ice cream served in the Windjammer, and hot dogs,
fries and pizza is
available most of the day and into the wee hours in the solarium.
There are no more daily midnight buffets. One night there is a buffet by the pool and on
the second formal night
they have the Captain's Gala Buffet in the dining room. On the other nights, the waiters
walk around the ship with
trays of hors d'ouvres and canapés. Personally, I don't miss the midnight buffets and
actually like this
arrangement better.
Service As stated above our waitress, Rita from Hungary, and assistant waitress, Annie
from Romania were
fabulous. The head waiter, Markus from Austria, came over to our table at least two or
three times each night to
make sure everything was to our liking, and to discuss how we spent our day and what we
were planning for the
next day. The wine steward was very nice, and arranged for the champagne that came with
our Crowning Touches
package champagne breakfast in bed, to be served at dinner instead. We shared it with our
dining companions, a
lovely couple from Ireland and their 18-year-old daughter.
Our cabin steward, David from Barbados, was excellent - very friendly, accommodating and
efficient. We would
see him in the hallway every morning and every evening, and he always asked if we had
everything we needed,
and inquired about how we were enjoying the cruise.
The bar waiters are never very far away if you want a drink. They make their presence
known, but are not pushy.
Activities and entertainment There is so much to choose from, you can't do it all. We
decided to skip the
shipshape activities this time around since we already have plenty of shipshape
paraphernalia. We also skipped
the daily bingo because we never win, and skipped the art auctions because we have no room
to hang anything
else.
There was the usual assortment of pool games and one of my favorite activities -
horseracing. This year I was
finally a successful bidder in buying a horse. The bidding was very light, almost
nonexistent, so my son also
bought a horse, and a friend bought another. We had a lot of fun dressing up, showing off,
and naming our
horses (Nag of the Seas, Teen Rebel, and Lady Grandeur), but alas, we all lost in the
owners' derby. The belly
flop competition was held just prior to the horseracing; so I opted to skip that, but I
coulda been a contender.
The nightly entertainment was pretty good, but with so many other things to do and so many
other lounges with
music on board, the Palladium Theater was never crowded. Bowser (of Sha Na Na) had a very
good show and
brought back some good memories.
The band by the pool was High Seas. They were pretty good, but by the end of the week some
of their repertoire
got a little old.
The kids and teens each have their own lounges on deck 10. The youth programs on RCCL are
really great. They
kept the kids so occupied, that it was hard to believe there were a few hundred kids and
teens on board.
The casino is open when the ship is not in port. There are plenty of slot machines and a
couple of tables for each
of the traditional casino games.
Itinerary Labadee, Haiti - a very nice private peninsula. Nice beaches with warm, calm
water for swimming, but not
much in the way of snorkeling. There is a local crafts market where the Haitians sell
their wares. There is some
very nice stuff, and some real junk. The people are very pushy and can be annoying. It
reminded me of walking
through a straw market in Jamaica. Every price is very negotiable, and they expect to
negotiate. If you show some
interest but start to walk away, they will come down dramatically. We purchased some hand
carved items at a
fraction of the original asking price. One suggestion, don't take out your wallet. Put
some cash in a pocket or in
one of those water wallets and you can always claim you have very little or no cash. If
they see a wallet with cash
they won't leave you alone.
San Juan - We hired a taxi and took a tour of old and new San Juan for a few hours. Most
of the sightseeing tours
offered by the ship can be done considerably cheaper if you do it on your own. My son went
off on his own with a
shore excursion to go horseback riding. It was his first time on a horse, and he really
enjoyed it. After our tour, we
did a little shopping in old San Juan and then stopped off at the Crown & Anchor Club
for a cold drink and a little
relaxation before heading back to the ship. The club is a really nice setup and I must
commend RCCL for the idea.
St. Thomas - So much to do and see, and so little time. We took a taxi to Coki beach for
some sun and snorkeling.
It is a nice small beach, with very good snorkeling. There is also restrooms, snacks and
bar service. Afterwards,
we stopped downtown for some shopping. A trip to St. Thomas wouldn't be complete without
some shopping.
Without going into detail, just let me say that prices on jewelry, perfume and cosmetics
are fabulous.
Cococay - RCCL's private island in the Bahamas (a.k.a. Little Stirrup Cay). Cococay is
much nicer than I expected.
While my son went parasailing, we explored the island and stumbled upon Blackbeard's
grave. After a barbecue
lunch, we walked along the shore and found a nice shady spot on the second (or third)
beach. Snorkeling here
was really good, but not really necessary. Just wading out into the water, waist deep, we
could see a lot of fish.
While I was ashore, a rather large stingray swam right by my wife, inches away. She called
out to us, and we could
see it from the shore. We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach sipping coco
locos.
Debarkation The chaos I expected never happened. We retrieved our luggage with no
problems, and since we
had booked our air through RCCL, we were able to check our luggage with Continental
Airlines right there at the
pier. We then boarded a bus with only our carry on bags for a quick ride to the airport.
Conclusion We had a fantastic time, and heartily recommend the Grandeur and the eastern
Caribbean itinerary.
Name: David Nicholson
Email: ctymgr@henderson.lib.nc.us
Age: 46
Occupation: Local Government Employee
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: July 24, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 3560 - H
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 50
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Aug 1999
Time: 16:47:56
Remote Name: 204.211.132.175
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise. We chose it because we wanted to do soemthing special for our
25th Anniversary. As you
will see from this review, we had a wonderful trip aboard the Grandeur of the Seas.
We had the Air/Sea Package - no problems. Based on our experience, I would suggest it. We
were met at the Miami
gate by a Rep from RCI and taken downstairs to check-in. We were pleased that we did not
have to stand in a long
line at the terminal. We were loaded unto a bus for the ride to the pier.
Following the first of many pictures, we boarded on Deck 4 at the Centrum - WOW. The ship
was as nice as the
reviews that we had read said. Our cabin was on Deck 3, so we went downstairs to get the
famous Supercharge
Card - which is also your room key. We found our room. It was small but it had a lot of
storage areas. Speaking of
small - wait to you see the shower. The only thing that we expected in the room and did
not have was a refrigerator.
We had brought along some bottled water and soft drinks. We decided to use the bathroom
trash can to store the
drinks and ice in.
We had lunch in the Windjammer. This was the only time that we felt crowded on the ship
all week. It seemed that
every passenger was trying to find a table for lunch. Following lunch and a quick tour of
the ship, we attended fairly
short the muster drill.
We chose and would recommend the early seating for dinner. Yes, 6:00 is early for dinner
but we had all evening to
go to the shows, shop, play at the casino, go dancing in the South Pacific Lounge or do
another one of the many
activities.
Our wait staff was excellant all week. Abbus (waiter), Meng (asst waiter and 'Heady' (head
waiter) did a great job for
us. We had dinner there every evening except the day we spent in San Juan. We had
breakfast most of the time in
the Windjammer. But, we also ordered a room service breakfast twice.
Monday was a day at sea. We got started late but we got the last two chairs next to the
pool. We went to the
Captain's Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party. While waiting to have a picture made with the
Captain, the Ship's Hostess,
Ellen-Claire asked our names. We told her that this was our first cruise and that the next
day was our 25th
Anniversary. We did not know why at the time, but she asked our table number.
The show that evening was Jay Johnson, a ventriloquist. He and his friends were very
funny. After the show, we went
to the South Seas Lounge for a short time. It was 70s night at the Viking Crown Lounge. We
enjoyed the DJ and our
type of music - Disco. We danced in our Anniversary. When we got back to the room, we had
a invitation to have
dinner with the Captain the next day.
Monday, we were at Labadee their private resort. We enjoyed the scenery - mountains and
ocean together. We did
not stay too long - we had to get back to dress for dinner.
We enjoyed meeting and having dinner with Captain James MacDonald and the other invited
guests. Of course, we
were treated and served very well.
The show that evening was by the RCI's Wave Revue. It was called 'The Beat Go's On'. A
look at music from the 50s
to the present. We enjoyed the show.
Tuesday was the day at San Juan. We were not to dock until 12:30. So, we went to the art
auction. We bought a
print and two Disney cels. Then we shopped and walked to various historical sites in San
Juan. Dinner that evening
in the Windjammer, Big Band music, Dancing under the Stars and the Caribbean Buffet kept
us busy that evening.
Wednesday, we were in St. Thomas. We rented a jeep and drove around the island for the
first part of the day. We
would suggest this - we had a great time seeing the sites and driving on the left side of
the road. We shopped and
bought jewelry, cosmetics and table linens.
We had dinner in the dining room and then went to the show with a comedian and a magical
transformation show. It
was the 50s Sock Hop in the South Pacific Lounge that night. The Castaways band were very
good each night. But
tonight, they were great as Chuck Roast and the Mashed Potatoes. We were doing the twist
and were handed a key
chain by a member of the Crusie Staff. We got to be in the twist contest - and WE WON.
They gave us two T-shirts
and ball caps.
Thursday we were again at sea. We did nothing but rest most of the day. This is one thing
that we learned about
crusing, you can do as many activities as you want or just rest. Following another formal
dress dinner, we got the
dreaded 'Did I serve you well this week' speech from Abbus our waiter. They do this to get
a good rating on the
comment card and a tip. We did not have to hear the speech - we would have given him both
an excellant rating and
a larger tip then was suggested.
It was raining on Friday. Instead of going to cloudy CocoCay, we went to another art
auction. It would have been
much cheeper to get wet at Cococay. But, we will enjoy the additonal art work that we
purchased. We also went to
the last session of Bingo. Two persons split $8,900.
At dinner, we said our good-byes to the friends that we had met during the week. The show
was great that evening.
Their group did a show called Starstruck. We closed down the Castaways in the South Seas.
It was sad to look out our window on Saturday morning and realize that our wonderful trip
was over - we were back at
the pier in Miami. Embarkation went well - except the Customs Agent wanted to see the
loose diamond that we had
purchased in St. Thomas. But, this did not take too long.
I guess that you can tell from this review that we had a wonderful week aboard the
Grandeur. We look forward to
another cruise. I appreciate this website. Being first time cruisers, we did not know what
to expect. I bet we read
nearly every review on the Grandeur. If anyone has a question, please E-Mail me. I enjoy
telling people about out
week on the Grandeur of the Seas!
Name: Libby Child
Email: lchild@steelcase.com
Age: 51
Occupation: Personnel Manager
NumberOfCruises: 13
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: July 3, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 3065
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Aug 1999
Time: 06:07:08
Remote Name: steelcase-bh.steelcase.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our 13th cruise and 5th on the RCI Line. It was a great experience from start to
finish. I'm not sure if RCI is
using the embarkation process on all occasions now, but we had all of our documents
processed at the airport, got
our supercard, table assignment, etc. so when the bus deposited us at the port, we were
able to walk right on the
ship. The whole process from landing at the airport and being on the ship in Miami took
less than an hour.
We were pleasantly surprised with the size of our cabin (and the fact our luggage was
there about ˝ hour after we
arrived. The larger the RCI ship, the larger the cabins seem to be. We had plenty of space
despite the fact I still take
too many clothes . Our cabin steward, Lloyd, was personable and very accommodating in
meeting and exceeding
our expectations of service.
We chose this itinerary because it was not port intensive very relaxing. A day at sea,
Labadee, San Juan, St.
Thomas, a day at sea and then CocoCay. We enjoyed it all. San Juan isn't a port I'd rush
back to but it's an
interesting stop to do occasionally. I enjoy the shopping in St. Thomas so was able to get
my gold jewelry 'fix'.
Labadee wasn't anything particularly special, but I took the time to parasail and
thoroughly enjoyed that. CocoCay
was enjoyable, excellent ribs for lunch and a nice way to imagine you're truly away from
civilization on 'Paradise
Island'.
We found the ship to be in excellent condition, the entertainment good, and the staff and
service way above
average. My only disappointment was the food which wasn't a major problem just not as good
as on Celebrity or
HAL. But as my husband chose to point out better than the tuna and hamburger helper we
often have at home. Our
wait staff, from head waiter Andreas, to our waiter Bela and assistant waiter Caesar are
probably the best trio we've
ever had.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Captain James MacDonald. Very personable, and he made a
point of being visible
throughout the cruise, meeting and talking to many guests. To me that 's a special touch
that more cruise lines
should adopt. Also hostess Ellen Claire was always available to answer questions and offer
advice. Those special
touches made this cruise special.
We're scheduled to go on the Legend of the Seas in September, and are looking forward to
another great RCCL
cruise.
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