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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Miles Hoelzel
Email: mhoelzel@worldnet.att.net
Age: 48
Occupation: Sr. Business Application Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 12/18/1999
Itinerary: Key West and the Bahamas
Cabin: 4558/F
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Dec 1999
Time: 05:47:29
Remote Name: slip-32-100-59-40.tx.us.prserv.net
Remote User:
Comments
We decided to take the special 5 day pre-Christmas sailing of the Grandeur of the Seas as
a combination
Christmas present and anniversary present for us, Kathie and me, and our youngest son
Kevin, 23. This
itinerary afforded us the opportunity to go to Key West, one of our favorite stops and to
the Bahamas,
where we've never sailed. It also gave us a chance to compare the Grandeur to two of its
sister ships, the
Rhapsody and the Enchantment, our first and second cruises, respectively.
To start, we were pleased that we had a non-stop flight from DFW to MIA arranged through
Royal
Caribbean. The flight, transportation, and embarkation were all relatively smooth. The
only glitch were
those passengers who either failed to pay attention to the RCCL reps when they told the
passengers about
filling out the cruise documentation or failed to read the documentation where it says to
fill out the
documentation before you get to the pier.
We found our way to our cabin on deck 4 easily. It was laid out exactly just like the one
we had on the
Rhapsody but on the starboard side this time. Yes, the showers are small but they are
adequate. The
water pressure and all fixtures worked as designed. The bed was not very comfortable,
though. Our cabin
attendant, Victor, was the man on the spot with making sure our room was made up when we
left in the
morning and after we left for dinner in the evening.
Early dining was our choice and RCCL had assigned us to a table for 10 at a window with a
beautiful ocean
view. We chose to eat in the main dining room for each evening meal. Our waiter, Jo from
Portugal, had
only been on the ship for two weeks and seemed to be still getting acclimated to the ship
and service was a
little slower than we expected with some dishes arriving at our table a little on the cold
side. However, he
was most accommodating at bringing whatever extra entrees and deserts we requested. Ozzie,
our
assistant waiter from Columbia, had our beverage desires memorized after the first night.
The food
selections were awesome. Since it was so difficult to choose any one item from the menu, I
picked two or
three entrees or deserts. I had done this on the Enchantment and asked our waiter,
Mustafa, if I could just
have small portions of the extra entrees and he was most accommodating. Jo, on the other
hand, insisted
upon bringing out each one as an entire meal. I'm a big eater but not that big. Rarely did
we come across a
selection that we didn't like. One that stands out as a do not get is the ribeye steak. It
was very thin and
tasteless. We get far better cuts of meat from our local Sam's Club. However, the filet
mignons was to die
for. If you are a beef lover, it is a must have selection. The lobster was not what we
expected and not all
that good.
Our table mates were all wonderful people. One couple was on their 33rd cruise. Just
awesome. There was
never a lack of conversation.
For entertainment, we had two comedians who were both very funny. Both used audience
participation
quite well.
Key West was as quaint as we remembered. We opted for the bicycle tour. Our guide was just
hilarious. He
took us to some little out of the way places you just can't get to from the trolley or
conch train tours. This
excursion is not at all strenuous.
Coco Cay, RCCL's private island, has to be the high light of our trip. The snorkeling
there was the best
we've experienced so far. The variety of fish and areas to explore were better than those
of previous
excursions run by tour operators. All of the snorkeling sites are accessible right from
the beach. There
appeared to be plenty of beach lounge chairs for everyone but a limited number of
hammocks. The lunch
on the beach prepared and served by the ship's crew was fabulous. We were among the first
to take a
tender over to the island and among the last to leave. If this island is on your
itinerary, please do take an
underwater camera and lots of film.
Nassau was a little like we expected but not as bad as we had thought. Traffic was
definitely chaotic and we
were very glad that we decided to just do shopping around town. The honeymoon couple in
the cabin next
to us related a bad experience they had with a cab driver that wanted to take them places
where they had
no desire to go. Finally a friendly waitress at a seafood restaurant chased him away and
they were able to
get back to the ship ok.. The port city was crowded with five ships in port at once,
Sovereign, Magic,
Fantasy, Grandeur, and the Big Red Boat, but not unmanageable. Shopping was surely
plentiful. For just
plain trinket and T-shirt type stuff, head right for the straw market for the best deals.
Always haggle with the
vendors and do not believe them when they tell you that the regular price for such and
such is this but they
will sell it to you for that. The price is always lower right around the corner. Don't be
afraid to deal with the
vendors.
We had a full day at sea before arriving back in Miami. It was a great time to relax and
just chill out. I made
use of the fitness center a couple of times to at least appear like I was trying to stay
in shape.
Another highlight of our trip was meeting and getting to know a couple from the Phoenix
area. The Duartes
were delightful folks and we always had great times together. They were first time
cruisers on their
anniversary and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Comparing the Grandeur to its sister ships is fairly easy. The Rhapsody is still our hands
down favorite
ship of the three. It's ship wide appointments are much more appealing than the other two.
Dining room
service was the best on the Enchantment but this is highly subjective and depends mostly
upon your
particular wait staff not the ship. Overall, we had a great cruise and are looking forward
to going again.
Name: Susan Conner
Email: golfasap@elkgrove.net
Age: 48
Occupation: teacher
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: November 27, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 3581 inside
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 69
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Jan 2000
Time: 13:19:54
Remote Name: ppp168.elkgrove.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was my first time to Miami. The airport is quite spread out. I cruised with my
mother. We met at
the Comfort Inn-airport motel. The motel van picked us up at the airport. My mother's
flight arrived
6 hours before mine, so the motel was a good meeting place. For $7.50 per person the motel
van
took us to the port. The new terminal is beautiful. RCCL has emensely improved
embarkation.
There were plenty of staff checking people in and you can sign up for Super Charge right
at
check-in instead of doing it onboard and waiting in a long line. You only need one card
which is
your room key, charge card onboard, and your boarding pass. Very convenient! We found our
own room with no problem. I had been on the Rhapsody of the Sea and the Grandeur has a
similar
arrangement. The RCCL Vision class ships are beautiful.
When you enter the ship, you are in the
Centrium. This is grand beginning for your cruise. The Centrium is also an excellent
meeting place
if you are travelling in a group. As its name implies, it is central to everything. The
elevators and
stairs are adjacent to it, so getting anywhere on the ship is easy. I use the stairs most
of the time,
even if I am going from the third floor to the tenth floor. The art work on each landing
between
floors is fantastic.
If you are able to do the stairs, I reccommend taking them just to see these
paintings. Going down would be an easy way to do it or going up, you can catch your breath
and
enjoy the paintings at each landing. I used the stairs on the Rhapsody also and I don't
recall the
artwork, so this is special on the Grandeur. In my opinion, I didn't care for the decor of
the dining
room on the Grandeur. It seemed so dark compared to the dining room on the Rhapsody. In
March, I"ll be on the Vision of the Seas, from the brochure its dining room looks
more appealing.
The inside room worked out well for us. On the Rhapsody my husband and I had a category H
outside room. It was just slightly bigger and the bathrooms were the same size. The
showers are
small, but in the locker rooms are excellent showers with fantastic water massage heads,
so after
swimming, or using the steamroom or suana it is a great place to shower. There are plenty
of
towels, soap, and shampoo. On the Rhapsody the whirlpools and pools closed at 7 or 8 PM.
I'm
glad on the Grandeur they stayed open until 10PM. Sometimes after dinner, I like to relax
in the
whirpool. So the extended hours are great. I hope on the Vision in March the hours are
longer
also, because we always eat during the first seating.
I enjoyed St. Thomas, I am glad to be going
back in March. It is such a pretty harbor. The cab ride from the dock to town was only
$2.50 per
person. The cabs were vans which were next to the gangway. They filled up the van and took
us
immediately the the downtown shopping area. On the way back to the ship from town, there
are
plenty of empty cabs. They don't wait to fill them up, our driver took my mother and I
right back to
the ship. There were five ships in port so it was quite crowded downtown. Most people like
to shop
in St Thomas. Be sure to go to the shopping port lecture. They give away prizes and $10.00
gift
certificates, if you answer trivia questions correctly. Sit close to the front and shout
clear and loud
so the shopping lecture will notice you. We had to tender to Labadee. The dock was new and
larger to accomadate the Voyager of the Seas. It was their first time using the dock and
the
captain of the tender had alot of troubel docking. While on the private penninsula it
started to rain
heavily and the wind came up. Most people ran for the loading dock, but we couldn't load
because
the seas were too rough. After the storm passed and the sea calmed down, we still had to
wait on
the tender because they were having trouble with the anchors and we couldn't get on the
ship. I'm
glad my mother left before the storm hit. She didn't have any trouble returning to the
ship. The
tenders hold lots of people and I am sure they have the kinks worked out by now. So going
to
Labadee will be a good experience for you.
I participated in the walk-a-thon on Labadee. The
activity staff explained the layout of the penninsula as we walked along. That was
helpful. There
are also shuttle carts that take you places on the penninsula which is free of charge.
There are
plenty of lounge chairs, restrooms, showers, little shops, and places to eat on Labadee.
The
shops have souviners and handcrafts. The food is served buffet style and there are lots of
picnic
tables. My mother and I took the Old and New City Tour in San Juan. Old San Juan is where
the
cruise ship docks, and is by far the best part of the tour if you are able to walk do the
tour on your
own and be sure to go to the forts. Walk all around, while at the fort. The tunnels are
fascinating,
and the views from the top are beautiful. There is a small museum and a map which explains
the
history of this remarkable fort.
As I said before, I had never been to Miami. So at the end of the
cruise we took the Miami City Tour. Our guide was excellent and so was the driver. I
enjoyed
seeing this overview of Miami. The bus took us and our luggage right to the airport at the
conclusion of the tour. Claiming our suitcases was simple, they were on conveyor belts
like at the
airport baggage claim and the carosel areas were color coded to match the color of the
tags you
are given to put on your bags the last night of the cruise. Be sure to check that you are
given the
right color. While on the Rhapsody, I was given the wrong color of tags. If I hadn't
checked we
would have missed our bus from Vancouver to Seattle. Then again on the Grandeur I was
given
the wrong color and again our bags would not have been with us on the tour or at the
airport with
us, if I had not confirmed our color with the pursers desk myself. I will be double
checking on the
Vision also. All in all, RCCL provides an excellent cruise for a great price. I enjoy the
day and
evening games they provide on ship. I have a collection of mementos from winning games on
the
Rhapsody, Song of America, and now the Grandeur. I hope to participate again on the Vision
and I
know I'll have fun even if I don't win. The activities for shipshape dollars are also fun
and I'll be
earning dollars to redeem for a beachbag on the Vision. They have several items to choose
from,
not just T-shirts. Have a good time.
Name: Jacki
Email: kochy@athesurf.net
Age: 39
Occupation: homemaker/waitress
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: Jan 29-Feb 5 00
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
Cabin: 7018 D
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 96
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 89
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 79
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Feb 2000
Time: 10:48:59
Remote Name: 209.176.212.199
Remote User:
Comments
After reading so many other reviews I have the opportunity to add my own. Let me start off saying,
that by having a proficient travel agent you can truly have a vacation of a life time. When booking
our cruise a year and a half ahead of time, our agent suggested waiting on booking the airfare
through the cruise line, and that she would watch the independent airline fares for us. She thought
we could probably get by cheaper that way. When airfares went down she contacted us and we
booked our air separately at a substantial savings. Also when booking we let her know that we
wanted a cabin with a view. She suggested that we book a category I cabin (view) with a guarantee,
and maybe because of us booking so early we would be upgraded. As it happened we were
upgraded to category D with balcony.
Also on one of the evenings at dinner she had a bottle of fine
Champagne sent to our table, which we shared with our table mates. Thanks again Cindy. My
husband and I are in our VERY early 40’s, and are Harley Davidson enthusiasts. This was our first
cruise. We booked this cruise to celebrate our 20th anniversary and to also collect Harley Davidson
memorabilia for our collection. We live up in the Great Lakes Area where it gets pretty cold in winter.
Neither of us had ever been in plane or even in a taxi for that matter, so we were genuinely looking
forward to this vacation. We purchased the day prior package and RCCL put us up at the Hyatt in
Miami. The hotel is right off the bay so we had a wonderful view. Off to our first Harley shop! After
we did some shopping at Bayside and had dinner at Lombardi’s. We had read many positive reviews
for that resturant, and they were right. Early to bed that night. We wanted to be up at 5:30 am to
watch the cruise ships come into dock.
The morning of the cruise we went to the main lobby around
8:30 to register and receive our cruise card. The cruise card served as our cabin key and payment
for all our shipboard accounts (it was automatically put onto our credit card). After registering we put
the Grandeur tags on our luggage and called the Bellhop to pick them up . Next time we saw our
luggage it was on the ship. That morning we found a grocery store and filled up one carryon with
soda, wine, beer and some bottled water, to take on the ship with us. Around 11:30 we boarded the
bus to take us to the ship. When we got to the ship it was hard to get a good idea of what she
actually looks like. The terminal blocks most of her from view. As soon as we walked into the
Centrum on the ship we knew that we would be taking many happy memories home. The whole ship
is richly decorated, from the beautiful brass and artwork to the glass enclosed elevators. No where
on the ship did we feel crowded or have to wait in any long lines. There were plenty of quiet places
around the ship for relaxing and curling up with a good book or your significant other.
We decided
early on, that we would take the stairs as much as possible to combat against all the overeating and
discovered the ship has wonderful art work on each landing in between decks. After boarding we
were told to go to the 9th deck for lunch as our rooms would not be ready till 1:00. On to the first of
many meals! Lunch was buffet style in the Windjammer cafe. The selection of items were plentiful
and quite good. Lemonade, ice tea, and coffee are available. I bought a strawberry daiquiri (yummy)
from one of the always visible but not pushy bar servers. They also made it clear that I could
purchase my drink with or without the souvenir glass. A .15 gratuity is added to all cocktails and
wines. Appropriately enough during lunch and through out the afternoon the Calypso band played
Caribbean music on the pool deck. After lunch we found our room 7018. To say the least we were
quite pleased with our upgrade. The room was tastefully decorated and very romantic. We had two
double beds which were later pulled together, refrigerator, TV. , sofa, vanity and best of all the
balcony. We spent a lot of time utilizing our balcony. For our next cruise I would be disappointed if I
didn’t have a balcony. I don’t know why other people complain about the size of the D rooms, after
all how much room do two people need? Even the bathroom (omitting the shower of course) was not
as small as some people led me to believe. All of our luggage piece by piece arrived by 4:00. The
same went for my husbands tux that we had rented. Our cabin steward introduced himself to us later
in the afternoon.
We can’t remember his name probably because he made no real effort to make
conversation with us, but he was always pleasant. So we didn’t have the opportunity to get to know
him very well. Although he made sure that our cabin was in good order, but I guess we missed some
of the little extras that we heard that our table companions received from their cabin stewards. That
afternoon we also filled out our shore excursion form and dropped it off at the shore excursion desk
on deck 5. I made a hair appointment ($35 + gratuity for long hair to be put up) for Thursday in the
Salon on deck 9. I received the time I wanted and there was no line to make my appointment.
HINT...Save your most glamorous attire for Thursday evening. That was the night most people liked
to shine. After unpacking and the ships departure, it was time for our 6:00 dinner seating. I do need
to make a note that during the day we found a note from the Maitre`d on our cabin door that our
table had been changed from 67 to 61. Our new table ended up to be on the upper dinning room in
a back corner closest to the kitchen and just off to the side of the path where the wait staff came out
of the kitchen.
Twice during the week we had observed 2 different waiters reprimanded by the Head
waiter outside the kitchen door within sight and earshot of all at our table. We all thought that this
was very inappropriate of the Head waiter and felt embarrassment for the waiter(s). This should
have been done in the private and not in the view of guests. We know we could have all asked for a
different table but after our first dinner together, we and our table companions agreed that we did
not want to chance being split up. Roberto from the Philippines was our waiter and his assistant was
Catalin from Romania. The food and the service was exemplary. I ordered a bottle of wine and we
were unable to finish it that evening, the wine steward recorked the bottle and stored it for us. The
next evening she had wine glasses at our places before we sat, and served us the rest of our bottle
of wine.
After dinner we went to the Welcome Aboard Show in the Palladium Theater and had a
taste of what was to come. Then it was time to be rocked to sleep in our turned down bed with the
tasty mints set upon our pillows. Our 2nd day was a sea day we just relaxed and enjoyed the ship. I
am a avid workout-aholic, and this was the only day I had the time or energy to workout in the fitness
center. No one should ever say that there is not enough to do on this ship. This evening was the
Captains formal dinner evening. You can have a formal picture taken in Centrum or with the Captain
at the Welcome aboard Party. Both can be purchased for $20 each in the photo gallery. After dinner
while exploring more of the ship we located on the 8th deck, computer terminals. For .50 min. you
can use the internet and send E-mails to family and friends. We used this every evening to keep in
contact with our kids. You must have a E-mail account set up with Yahoo or AOL in order to use this
service. The show that evening in the Palladium was Bowzer (from Sha Na Na ) and the Stingrays.
The show was very good. After the show we caught up with some of our new found friends and went
dancing in the Viking Crown Lounge. It was disco night. The lounge really hops on that night. Then
off to my pillow. Day 3, Labadee Haiti. We watched it come into view from our balcony. Quick
breakfast in the Windjammer again (buffet style). We had to take a tender (much smaller boat) to
the shore since the water is to shallow for the ship to dock. My husband picked up tender tickets
earlier that morning at the pursers desk. You only need tender tickets if you wish to get on the
island early. The tenders run back and forth all day. I always have marveled at pictures of tropical
places. Most of them must have been taken here. Post card perfect! This is beach day, not much to
do here except laze in the sun and take in the beauty. Just what vacation is for! For a mere dollar
someone will even deliver a chair to any spot you choose! Lunch is served BBQ style and is very
good even for having to transfer all that food from the ship. Dinner this evening was semi formal and
the show tonight was Starstruck. Played TV tune trivia in the South Pacific Lounge, came in third.
We can’t miss anything, so we don’t get to bed until around 2 am again. Day 4, San Juan. Had
Breakfast in the dining room for a change. Open seating and same great service as for dinner. Took
the Old Saun Juan Walking Tour.
I strongly recommend this tour. After the tour we found our 2nd
Harley shop thus far. Later in the evening in the Palladium the Not So Newly Wed Game takes place.
This is a show not to be missed. If need be take a nap after dinner. There is also a midnight buffet
with a Caribbean theme on the pool deck. Another late night to bed, I am wearing down! Day 5, St.
Thomas, Watched this island paradise come into view from our balcony also. After researching this
island, I rented a vehicle on-line for touring on our own. Good thing I did, for there where no other
rentals available for people standing in line. We stopped at the Mountain Top for a view of Megan’s
Bay and famous banana daiquiri. Also drove up to Paradise Point for a breathtaking view of the
ships in port. Alas! We found another Harley Shop. After that we wired the family to send more
money! Just kidding. There is just not enough time to spend in St. Thomas. Day 6, At sea, Had
breakfast in the dining room again. Actually found time to slip a nap in during the day. Evening was
the other formal night and they were taking formal pictures again before dinner. This was the
evening many of the women wore beautiful evening gowns and quite a few of the men donned tuxes.
Everyone looked so nice.
This was also the evening of the Gala Buffet. Even though you may not be
hungry it is worth seeing the food made up as art. Picture taking is from 11:30 - 12:15, then at 12:30
for consumption. The main show this evening was in 2 parts. Sammy King and his pet parrot were
just hilarious. The general consensus was that Gary Mule Deer’s comedy act ran stale. Most of his
lines I have heard before or read on-line. Another late night, I can’t take much more of this relaxing!
:o) Day 7, CoCo Cay. Another tender island. This is not a very scenic island, but the water sports
are fantastic here. Aquatic life is in abundance here. We went snorkeling and the sea life really gets
up close and personal. Another delicious BBQ lunch transferred from the ship. Our final dinner in
the dining room. This was the evening that we personally and generously showed our waiter,
assistant waiter, head waiter, room steward or anyone else that had performed any personal service
our appreciation. Envelopes where provided in our cabin the day before. It was also the evening to
pack our things and tag them with the labels that were given to us the day before, and set them
outside our door. By this time I could hardly keep my eyes open any longer. I had succumbed to
exhaustion! At 5:30 am. we watched as we pulled into Miami, you guessed it, from our balcony! Had
breakfast up in the Windjammer and met up with some of our new friends to say our good byes.
Around 8:00 embarkment starts. They start calling off the color of the tags you were given to be put
on your luggage the night before. Our color was called first. Picked up our luggage in the terminal
and then off to the airport for our flight home. Luckily we had a day to relax after our vacation before
returning to work. This was the most fascinating and romantic vacation that we have ever taken. We
were very happy with the Grandeur, her crew and itinerary and strongly recomend this ship to
anyone. We now have the task of researching for our next cruise. We have been bitten by the
cruise bug! If you have any questions about the Grandeur feel free to contact us. Jacki and Ed Koch
Name: G. Van Vliet
Email: gvanvielt@home.com
Age: 50
Occupation: Banker
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: February 12/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: A 8502
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 97
LoungeService: 92
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 92
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 97
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Feb 2000
Time: 23:22:22
Remote Name: cgowave-76-156.cgocable.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was our fourth cruise with Royal Caribbean and our second on the Grandeur of the Seas. In our view
Royal Caribbean gets better every time we sail with them. And Grandeur is truly a beautiful and extremely
well managed ship.
We booked our cruise with Encore Cruises here in Toronto and the package included air transportation.
These were the most convenient flights we’ve ever had. Flight from Toronto left at 7:00 AM and went
directly to Miami. We were met at the Miami airport by a very professional Encore Representative who
escorted us to a waiting bus. (They took care of retrieving our bags.) We were at the ship by 11:15AM.
Because we were early, embarkation went very quickly (although on past RCCL cruises we’ve always
found embarkation to be very good regardless of when we arrived at the ship). Ship was ready for us
before noon and so we had the full afternoon on board. By the way, their new terminal building is very
functional.
Cabin was absolutely fantastic. No other words to describe it. Plenty of room for three people. Well layed
out. Veranda was very spacious as well.
Overall, we found the ship to be very clean and just as beautiful as when we sailed on her in 1997.
I have to mention the staff. We were so very impressed with the friendliness of all staff members on the
Grandeur. There seems to be a real positive spirit throughout the ship’s crew. I would specifically like to
mention Nilo, our room attendant; Gurhan, our waiter; Kinga, Asst. Waiter, Llans, wine steward, Hedi, our
maitre’d and, last but not least, Gregory Maxwell the cruise director. Gregory is a real pro who not only
seems to be able to hire great people for his team but also is as good as any stand up comic I have seen
on any ship. I could list many more people who made this cruise a real pleasure but let’s just say the whole
crew really impressed us.
I love the main dining room on the Grandeur. It’s tastefully decorated and the high ceiling with the
mezzanine make it much quieter than other ships we’ve been on. Meals were generally very good with the
exception of Italian night when we felt the variety here was not up to par. But overall, on all the other
nights, the variety and quality were great as was the service. Entertainment in the main dining room was
also good. Piano player for first part of the meal and then three musicians walking around doing requests.
We ate breakfasts and lunches in the Windjammer Cafe. These were buffet style. We particularly liked the
Omelet bar at breakfast. As with dinner, we found both the breakfasts and lunches had fantastic variety
and good quality.
Shows in the Palladium theatre were good. Frankly, we found the Royal Caribbean Wave Review singers
and dancers were better than the guest entertainers. But on balance we found all the shows very
enjoyable. Gregory, the cruise director did a short routine before each show and we got a real kick out of
his humor.
Other comments: Ship stayed on time for the whole seven days. Captain kept us well informed with his
reports from the bridge. Lounge entertainers were good and the cruise staff put on some great games
during the evenings in the lounges. A real blast. The all teak promenade deck is a great place to walk any
time of day or evening. It’s also a nice place just to sit and contemplate life while listening to the ocean
passing by. Disembarkation was a breeze. The new terminal again proved to be very functional. We were
at the Miami airport by 9:30AM.
Overall, I continue to be extremely impressed with Royal Caribbean. So much so that I have recommended
them to a number of friends and so far all of them have had the same positive experiences we have had.
Starting later this year I believe that the Grandeur will be sailing the Southern Caribbean and we’ve
already started planning another FANTASTIC cruise on her next February.
If you’re looking for great value in a cruise line, try Royal Caribbean. I'm sure you won’t be disappointed.
Name: John Deppen
Email: jdeppen@snet.net
Age: 51
Occupation: teacher
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: February 19, 2000
Itinerary: Labadee, San Juan, St. Thomas, Coco Cay
Cabin: 7566/superior ocan view stateroom
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 92
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 88
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 88
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 88
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 88
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Feb 2000
Time: 21:21:22
Remote Name: nwhn-sh23-port156.snet.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was our sixth cruise, but first with Royal Caribbean. Previous trips with Cunard, Celebrity, Costa, and
American Hawaiian. Overall, The Grandeur measured up quite nicely, with strengths and weaknesses I'll
attempt to detail.
Departure day was marred by bad weather in the northeast (we barely got out of Hartford) and the ship
kindly delayed sail time from 5:00 to 9:30 to accomodate several late arrivers. We were on board by 3:00
and were very pleased with the embarkation process. No lines, cordial people at check-in. Our room was
nice, but narrow. Very little room to navigate around the foot of the bed. Small bathroom, with tiny but
effective shower. Plenty of drawer and closet space, luggage fit snugly under the bed (two singles
combined into a large queen, firm mattress, okay pillows). Best feature was the balcony, which we loved.
Large enough for the two of us to sit comfortably, often left slider open for the wonderful sea air and
sound. Relatively private, although a glass divider on one end did not completely obscure neighboring
balcony. Room very quiet: never heard a sound from either adjoining room. Our cabin steward was
superb, nice young man who did his job efficiently.
Since my wife and I were looking for relaxation above all, the itinerary fit us well. Labadee, a small, private
peninsula on the north coast of Haiti, was very nice for sitting on the beach and swimming/floating. We had
a perfect weather day and found plenty of room to spread out, away from hoards of fellow guests. Not a
place for snorkeling: nothing to see. In Puerto Rico, we walked from the ship into Old San Juan, and
leisurely shopped. We like the area, having been there before. Some beautiful building facades and small
chapels and shrines to visit. Leaving in the evening was gorgeous, as we sailed past the huge fort
guarding the harbor's mouth (blighted as the view was by an aground Russian tanker!). Our stop in St.
Thomas was adversely affected by a morning storm (a doozy: black skies, thunder and lightening, flooded
streets)which ruined several folks' excursions. We took a taxi into Charlotte Amalie, water run-off turned a
10 minute ride into 55. Eventually shopped in crowded, jewelry-dominated town. We were one of 6 ships in
port, so the streets were really packed. Departure was gorgeous, really one of the Caribbean's prettiest
harbors. Coco Cay, another private venue, was our last stop. The day was partly cloudy and very windy,
so we decided not to snorkel as planned. Most who did seemed disappointed by the experience, not too
many colorful fish to be seen. The beaches near the snorkeling area were very crowded and chairs were
hard to find. We ended up walking to a much quieter beach on the far side of the island (easy 10 minute
walk) and loved it. Long stretch for walking along the shore and knee-deep water out at least 300 yards.
Perfectly beautiful colors. Like Labadee,the tender service was excellent. Previous reviewers stressed the
need to get tickets quickly. Not so. After the first few were called, seating was readily available by
mid-morning. In summing up, we liked the itinerary, including the two restful days at sea (Sunday and
Thursday), but again, we weren't looking for a lot of activity. We've done excursions on past trips and
generally have found them to be overpriced and less than spectacular.
Now, about the ship. The Grandeur is really quite beautiful. Its central atrium is spectacular with its chrome
and mirrors. The two-level dining room is spacious and seemed to provide comfortable seating. We were
at a table for ten (with traveling friends) and had plenty of elbow room. Around the ship, it was possible to
find quiet places, our favorite spot being along the side of the solarium pool. Excellent lounge chairs there,
although in short supply. The main pool area, however, was extremely crowded. People staked out their
chairs early each day and the side by side proximity made it quite difficult to walk around. Two walking
decks exist, on decks 5 and 10 (no jogging on 5: rooms directly below). Plenty of bars and clubs, all
appealing. Enjoyed an excellent musical trio in the Centrum, singer possessed a wonderful voice and
charming manner. Good library on level 7, comfortable chairs and nice selection of books to borrow.
Food on The Grandeur was good, not great. We had all of our breakfasts and lunches in the Windjammer
Cafe, served buffet style. Nice location, high on the ship, with great views. Very efficiently run, no lines to
speak of. Typical cruise buffets, nothing exceptionally good or bad. Our dinners in the Great Gatsby
dining room featured some very good appetizers and salads, decent main courses,and good desserts.
The fact that I'm writing this the day after our return and have difficulty remembering what my main
courses were should indicate something about their quality. Again, not bad, but certainly not memorable.
The waiter staff was very good, making suggestions and remembering our tastes and prior selections.
Prompt and outgoing in all cases, including the wine stewardess and drinks specialist. We also got into the
habit of 4:00 p.m. snacks, served in the Windjammer. Cookies, sweets, sandwiches, and ice cream. Quite
nice.
Entertainment in the Palladium Theater was okay. The Osmond Brothers appeared on Thursday night and
put on a good tight act (as it should be after 42 years together!). The other nights were not terribly
impressive, although the ship's orchestra was very good. Maybe I was spoiled by the quality of the acts on
other ships, but this seemed a step down.
The biggest problem we encountered was beyond the control of Royal Caribbean, unless they want to
radically change their policies. I speak of the hordes of children on board, mostly totally unattended by
their parents. They were everywhere (it was school vacation week in most areas):running, blocking
staircases, filling hot tubs and pools. By Tuesday, the teenagers looked bored beyond belief and the
smaller ones were staying up past midnight, levaing one to wonder exactly why their parents brought them.
Although The Grandeur offered programs for children and teenagers, they seemed to be ineffective on
many levels. It left me longing for the day when we'll be able to avoid these school vacation weeks and not
be subjected to such disruptions. Parents: please - consider your own happiness, the happiness of others,
and the money you'll save: leave them home!
Leaving the ship went very well. Lines moved smoothly, luggage areas were well organized, and major
airlines checked baggage through to destination cities right at the dock. We were on a bus to the airport in
quick order.
Overall, we did enjoy our week. Neat room, efficiently run ship, decent food, and nice ports of call. Above
all, the gorgeous Caribbean in February does give one's spirits a boost. I'd recommend Royal Caribbean,
almost on a par with Celebrity.
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