 |
 |
|
Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Cheri
Email: cforza@aol.com
Age: 40
Occupation: homemaker
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 03/11/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 8018/AA
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 70
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 75
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 75
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 60
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 60
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Mar 2000
Time: 15:20:05
Remote Name: 216.3.245.200
Remote User:
Comments
My mother, two sons ages 7 and 10 and I cruised on the Disney Magic last year and had such a great
time that I decided to bring my husband this year for spring vacation. I was a bit skeptical that the
experience on the Granduer would not live up to the Disney cruise, but am pleased to say that it
surpassed my expectations. My husband is not a 'cruise person' and was less than enthusiastic about
taking a cruise, but even he had to admit that it was a great family vacation. While the two of us would
never consider a cruise for a vacation without the children, I would definetly take another one with my
children and would definitely sail with Royal Caribbean again.
We left for the cruise a day early and stayed at the Downtown Miami Hyatt. This was arranged by Royal
Caribbean and I would not recommend doing this. The hotel was o.k. but I would have rather stayed
right on Miami Beach. Instead we had to take a cab to South Beach and back for dinner. I highly
recommend checking out South Beach if you are in Miami. It is quite a scene! Lario's restaurant on the
Beach has great Cuban food at very reasonable prices too.
Embarkation was easy, and the ship is beautiful. We had a major problem with our original room and the
staff was very accomodating and upgraded us to the Family suite which was beautiful. It really made a
difference in the enjoyment factor of our vacation.
I found the childrens programs to be excellent. Contrary to a previous review I read, I would NEVER
consider a leaving my children home! They are the reason we chose this type of a vacation and they
had the time of their lives! They actually cried when we had to get off the ship. The programs were very
well run by an excellent and entertaining staff. Every night when we picked up our children they begged
us to let them stay. The children's only complaint was that the pool had salt water instead of fresh as the
Disney Magic had. They disliked that so much that they didn't even use the pools. It really didn't matter
though because they were kept so busy with the Adventure ocean club that they didn't miss swimming
(and my kids LOVE to swim!) The Children's menu's were excellent and they looked forward to their
frozen yogurt and cookies every afternoon as well. I think that a cruise is the best family vacation you
can take. While my husband would never take another cruise (He objected to the crowds and to having
too much time on the ship), he could be convinced to try it again for the kids sake.
I was also surprised at how good the food was in the Dining room. After reading other reviews I expected
the quality to be mediocre, but I found if you followed the waiters suggestions that the meals were quite
delicious. Particular favorites were the lamb chops, red snapper and prime rib. The desserts were
excellent as well. The breakfasts were excellent but lunches in the Windjammer were another story. It
was just as well as I decided to skip lunch and actually managed to lose two pounds on the cruise! This
is no reflection on the food though. My husband eats at some of the best restaurants in New York City
every week and even he was very satisfied with the food in the Dining room. We had a table for four as
we requested and were very happy with it. Our waiters Kersi and Bishop could not have been nicer or
more accomodating. They were truly wonderful and and made each meal enjoyable and memorable.
The private Islands were great once you walked beyond the crowds and found a remote spot which was
possible on both Islands. I can't understand why people want to be piled on top of one another. Oh well
to each his own!
Old San Juan was also a great spot. I loved walking around and enjoying the beautiful architecture and
the children were fascinated with El Morro, the Old Fort.
In St. Thomas our friends were staying at the Ritz Carlton so we took a cab out there and had a great
time with them there. It's a beautiful Resort. We didn't take one shore excursion and didn't miss them at
all!
The Wave Revue shows were excellent. We never stayed up past 10:30 so we can't comment on any of
the other entertainment.
The biggest negative were the crowds and noise around the pool, which we completely avoided. The
Gym and Spa were great activities but the Spa was overpriced, as expected.
Overall, a wonderful FAMILY VACATION. I'm working on my husband for next year to Bermuda, after all,
you get all that time in Port. Kudo's to Royal Caribbean for an excellent job!
Name: Diane and Craig
Email: playback@webtv.net
Age: 37
Occupation: government
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: april 8, 2000
Itinerary: Labadee, San Juan, St Thomas, Coco Cay
Cabin: 7098/d deck
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Apr 2000
Time: 11:26:18
Remote Name: proxy-646.public.rwc.webtv.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was our 2nd cruise with Royal Carribean and it was excellent! We booked a night at a hotel of their
choice for the ease of baggage handling and already being registered...this made it a breeze just to walk right
on board the ship and get our picture made!!! We received all of our luggage after lunch, usually one bag at a
time, made it easy to unpack! The weather was rainy but blew over quick and we enjoyed our complimentary
champaigne (Thanks Express Travel!!!) during our private sail away party on the balcony! The next day at
sea was terrific and even better after winning $1060 at the progessive dueces wild poker machine!!! I put $10
in it while waiting for my husband to come eat lunch and built up 100 credits and then WHAM! Hit the Royal
Flush no wild card and the whole cruise just got even better!!!! Susan Anton was the act that night and her
show was terrific!!!
Formal night tonight, go get your pictures taken at all of the areas for the best selection!
We even won "Name That Tune" game show with the help of some incredibly smart people we met! Next
day,Labadee is paradise on earth, just stay away from the market! We went to Amiga Island for snorkeling and
saw a baby octopus!!! Take a waterproof camera, I got some great pictures of him!!! Back on the main land
go to the bell tower, it's the best spot for pictures on a rock with the ship behind you!! These are my favorite
pictures of all!!!! That night was a Starstruck revue that was a lot of fun and TV Tune Trivia was great fun to
win too! San Juan, we took the Bacardi Tour as a last minute thought that morning and really enjoyed the ride
and tour through San Juan, Old San Juan was my favorite place on this cruise! I enjoyed wandering up and
down the cobblestone streets and the archieture was wonderful. Stop in the Crown and Anchor club if you get
tired! I found the best local grocery stores and a small department store (not sovenior shops) where you can
find the real flavor of the country and find some international goodies! There are also outlet stores of Hilfinger,
etc...with real good prices.
And hotel casinos within walking distance of the pier. St Thomas, wonderful
amazing views!! We hopped a taxi who dropped everyone off in the shopping district but I had read about
MountainTop and really wanted to go there. He said sure, and took us on our own private tour and history of
the island and his life etc.... We stopped at an overlook for pictures of Magens Bay, which is beautiful beyond
words! Onto the top and he waited for us while we cruised the shops and marveled at the view of the bay! On
the way back down, the cruise ship side of the island is in full view with the most amazing vistas!! By now there
are 5 ships in port and the pictures are wonderful from up there!!! He dropped us off in the shopping district
and the other passengers had begun to show up in full force, we made it through several shops and stopped
for the local ale down a side street fern covered cool place to sit and relax!! More shopping and we headed
back to the ship for a quick lunch and a snorkeling tour to St John. The seas were quite rough by afternoon
but it was a fantastic ride out there!!! Unfortunately, the seas made the visibility zero at times but we enjoyed
the surf and sun on the beach and the ride back was proof we were all sea-worthy!!!!
That night we played
the Quest and had a ton of fun!! We even made the final cut for the Cruise Video which I watch over and
over!!! Seas were kicking up a bit but I liked it! Day at Sea, placed in the final round of the slot tournament!
This was the best $20 I have ever spent in a casino! Just to have a slot machine keyed to hit every high
jackpot and get like 5800 credits was thrilling!! I recommend trying the tournament and they give you a free
T-shirt!!! Bingo has built up the jackpot so it is worthwhile to play on the last 2 days.....unless you LOVE
Bingo, it's best to wait until the last couple days when the jackpot is up to 3-4 thousand!! Someone you know
might win it!! I stopped by the Library to pick up a copy of the fax New York Times and the Daily Trivia
Questions and the Cigar Club (no one was there but the hostess) was on and she graciously told us to help
ourselves to all the treats prepared (chocolate-dipped strawberries, petite-fours,etc....) who could resist?
Coco Cay, rough seas but we went jet-skiiing anyhow and it was a blast!!! Then we went snorkeling and here's
the place to see schools of fish and sunken airplanes, etc....The fish are so plentiful they bump into you!!!
Remember that camera!!! Last day, just don't want to leave but had a great 5 course breakfast and was off
the ship by 8:30 am and on the road home to Georgia! Of course, we were planning our next-Vacation of a
Lifetime- all the way home! Bon Voyage!!!!
Name: Chris Orgel
Email: orgelville@hotmail.com
Age: 30
Occupation: Computer Specialist
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 04/15/00
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
Cabin: 3457
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Apr 2000
Time: 14:33:42
Remote Name: gate.progressive.com
Remote User:
Comments
Overall we were very please with this cruise. This was our first one and was for our 10 year anniversary. First
the negatives: There were really only two or three things that we found wrong. We missed our first flight to
Miami. We spoke to a Royal Carribean representative on the phone. She explained that missing the flight was
ok. She would have someone meet us at the plane and make sure we made it to the ship okay. This is the
MEET AND GREET section. When we arrived at Miami, there was no one there to greet us. We have to look
all around the terminal and baggage claim area to find someone who could direct us to the Royal Carribean
charter bus. Finally, we did find someone to help us. It was just inconvenient. Second we ordered room service
one time on the ship. It took almost 2 hours and was cold when it arrived. We didn't do that again. It took less
time to walk up and get the food from wherever it was being served. The only other problem we found was with
the pool side accomodations in regard to seating. The lounge chairs were being saved left and right. By 8:00
am all of them were taken up. We did hear some talk about the policy Royal Carribean has on saving seats.
However, it did not seem to be enforced. As well as any adult only area's, such as the adult only hot tubs were
not monitored either. There were children all over the adult only area's.
Now the Positives: We had an awsome overall time and definitly will do it again. The major plus on this cruise
was the Cruise Director and his staff. Jeffrey is the Cruise Director's name and he came from the Madjesty. He
was incredible. He did an outstanding job of making everyone comfortable and keeping the entertainment
lively. The Entertainment on ship was awsome as well. My wife and I both had a great time on ship. The food
was outstanding. We ate and ate and ate. We were told by several friends that we would have to pay for some
softdrinks etc. However, there was always food being served and there was really no need to have to pay for
anything other than alcohol. Speaking of that, there was several different tropical creations. I recommend the
Hummingbird.
The excursions were good but they were overpriced. The private island was the best, CoCo Cay was clean
and tropical. Old Puerto Rico was the worst excursion, it was dirty and slum-like. We went horseback riding on
the beach. But the beach was full of garbage, an old fridge and a large farm tractor tire. There was supposed
to be swimming and refreshments on the beach, but it didn't happen.
The only other information to pass along is that the ship does move quite a bit. We were told both by friends
and the travel agent that because the ship is so big that you can't feel movement. We had extremely calm
sea's and there was alot of shifting movement side to side. Also, one night the sea's were a bit rough and
there was alot of end to end movement. It felt like riding an elevator approx. 10 floors up and down all night.
Although we didn't get sick from this, I could not imagine taking a cruise on any rougher sea.
I will stop there, if you have any questions or want recommendations base on what we did, feel free to email
me. orgelville@hotmail.com
Name: Marquita Segui
Email: msshortdog@cs.com
Age: 36
Occupation: Credit Assistant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: May 13-20 2000
Itinerary: Labadee,San Juan, St Thomas, Coco Cay
Cabin: 8020
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 94
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 60
CabinSteward: 97
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 96
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 99
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 94
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 99
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 89
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 86
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 May 2000
Time: 09:35:19
Remote Name: spider-wa021.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
Hey folks,
My husband and I took this cruise for our 15th wedding anniversary. We booked this in May of 99. This was
our first cruise, and really didn't know what to expect.What a surprise we were in for.
The ship is beautiful.It was always very clean and tidy. The staff members were all very friendly with the
exeption of the shopping guide, Bob. He seemed like he didn't have time to answer any questions about good
deals and where were the best stores. He was very arrogant.
Labadee was very nice and clean, and the food they served reminded me of the camp grounds we used to
go to in the summer as children. My husband went swimming while we were there, and loved it.
San Juan was a experience!! For the first time in my life I took a cab ride, and I was terrified. They really don't
know how to drive.The shopping was great. We really got some good deals on clothes for my husband. The
Hard Rock Cafe was a great place to eat.
St. Thomas was the most wonderful place I have ever been to in my life.The people are very friendly, and the
whole town is very clean. Ladies, if you have diamonds in mind, this is the place to buy them.
Coco Cay was the best place for snorkeling. We saw hundreds of fish and sea life. The underwater life is
beautiful. This is something you don't want to miss.The island is very clean with alot of little island shops to
pick up last minute gifts.
The Grandeur of the Seas was a wonderful ship.The food was always great, and the service is wonderful.I
think we had the most wonderful waiter of all. His name was Vincenzo.He is great!
We had a wonderful time and met alot of new friends. In fact we are already planning a cruise with a couple
we met on the ship.Believe me you make friends for a lifetime.
If you have any questions, please e/mail me at msshortdog@cs.com
Thanks, Marquita Segui
Name: Ruth Herman
Email: flyerfan22@bigfoot.com
Age: 29
Occupation: Government Contracting
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 05/06/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 2054/Outside cabin
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 79
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 70
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 79
EntertShowLounge: 65
OverallPortsofCall: 70
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 70
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 70
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 60
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 06 Jun 2000
Time: 10:57:59
Remote Name: client-151-197-93-28.bellatlantic.net
Remote User:
Comments
Trip Report – Grandeur of the Seas, May 6-13, 2000 as told from the perspective of a 29-yr old couple
traveling with extended family (mom, 59, sisters 38, 37, their husbands, and our nephew, 9 and nieces 8, 6,
5).
Itinerary: Labadee, San Juan, St. Thomas, Coco Cay
We booked the total air/sea package with Royal Caribbean. Though our flight out of Philadelphia was way
too early (7:00 am), everything went very smoothly. We checked our bags at the Phila. airport, and didn’t
see them again till that evening on the ship. (TIP: Bring sandals and shorts in your carry-on bag, as we
didn’t get our bags till about 4-5 o’clock.) We landed in Miami around 10:30, where a RCCL representative
met us at the gate, and brought us to an area for a 30-minute wait until transportation arrived to the ship.
The bus ride to the ship was about 15 minutes. We completed some paperwork, freshened up, and were
checked in and boarding the ship by noon. Note to first time cruisers – they take a ‘welcome aboard’ photo
as you board the ship.
Instead of a day-by-day breakdown of our trip, here is an overview of the major points of our trip. Also, some
comparisons will be made between this cruise, and our first cruise in Dec. 1997 on NCL’s Dreamward (just
the two of us on that cruise).
Food
The Great Gatsby main dining room food was very good (better than the food on the Dreamward). Service
in the dining room was also excellent. We can’t say enough nice things about our waiter, Nelson, and
assistant waiter, Lino. It’s three weeks after our trip, and we still miss the service, especially when dining out.
The food was always cooked as specified, and it was never a problem to get more of anything. I thought we
would feel awkward ordering 2 entrées or 2 desserts, but the truth is, we never did. Nelson and Lino made
us feel extremely comfortable and it was never a problem to get something else. The kids (and their
mothers) especially miss the service, since their food was always cut for them. Although the main dining
room had set times for dinner (6:00 main seating, 8:30 late seating) – breakfast and lunch was open
seating.
Alternate dining was available buffet style at the Windjammer café. The food here was not as good as in the
Gatsby. It was a lot faster, since it was buffet style, but the food tended to be cold and bland. It just wasn’t as
good as when it was brought out hot on a plate as ordered. We only ate here a few times for breakfast and
for lunch when we were pressed for time. Note: there is a coffee, tea (hot and iced) and water station set-up
outside the Windjammer, which is available 24 hours a day. If you want to relax over a cup of tea at 2am,
this is the place to be.
Another dining option is at the casual grill solarium café. Here they served pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and
french fries during the afternoon and late evening. We only ate there once – the fries were good, the pizza
was bland. It was a good spot to catch a quick bite to eat while hanging out at the pool. Everyone seemed to
rave about the fries – make sure you try them at least once.
Lastly, there was room service. We used the cards in the room to have breakfast in our room on a few
mornings. Service was again, excellent. The food arrived at the time we specified (within a half-hour window)
and was as ordered. NOTE: Though room service is included in the cruise price, tipping is not.
For those of you looking for midnight buffets every night – forget it. The Grandeur had only 2 midnight
buffets – one on Caribbean night (a small buffet set-up by the pool) and a Gala buffet in the main dining
room on the 2nd formal night. Being used to a midnight buffet every night (as experienced on the
Dreamward), I was a bit disappointed. Everyone else was perfectly happy with the two buffets – enough so
they could experience them, but realistically who needs more food at midnight? They did have waiters
wandering around in the various lounges with appetizer-type foods every evening, but it wasn’t the same.
On the Dreamward, I thought that the midnight buffet was usually better than the regular dining room food,
and I really missed the Chocoholic buffet!
Entertainment
Here is the one area on the Grandeur that could really use some improvement. Entertainment included the
Platters, a few broadway-type reviews (reminded me of the shows you see at a Six Flags amusement parks),
and a comedian/singer that did impressions. The entertainment really seemed geared towards an older
crowd and was amateurish. Though my in-laws might disagree, I was really disappointed. It just didn’t
compare to the mini-broadway show, ventriloquist and acrobats on the Dreamward. The jokes were lame (Is
that your final answer? <groan>) and the singing and dancing weren’t much better.
Fitness Center
Being regular gym rats, we spent a good deal of time here. After eating all that food, we had to do
something to keep in shape! There are 4-5 treadmills, 5-6 bikes, and 2-3 stair climbers. The weights
included a nice set of Cybex machines and free weights. There was also a small aerobics floor where they
held a few classes. I tried to take a kickboxing class, but had to leave after a few minutes since it was so
crowded. They must’ve had 50 people crammed onto this small floor, and after a few near kicks in the head,
I quit.
Hours of the fitness center were approximately 7 am – 8 pm. The treadmills were almost always in use, and
there was always a crowd at the weight machines. Personally, I feel the fitness center should be open
24-hours a day. There didn’t seem to be any instructor/trainers in there most of the time – so I don’t see why
it closed for the evening. Also, I think there should be a reasonable limit to the # of people allowed in class.
If you need to workout, I recommend getting there early to get your workout in without a crowd.
They also have some planned events around the ship such as walking (around deck 5), beanbag toss, and
aqua-sizing in the pool. For participating in these activities, you earn ‘shipshape dollars’, redeemable at the
end of the week for T-shirts, water bottles, etc. We earned enough to get a nice beach bag for our next
vacation. Still, we would have liked a few more activities, especially on the days at sea.
Ports of call
Labadee, Haiti
RCCL rents out a private beach area on Labadee, Haiti . As we read in other reviews, it wasn’t easy to get a
group of chairs together. Eventually, with the help of native Haitians, we managed to get 11 chairs together
in some shade (they are not part of the RCCL crew, and again, tips are appreciated).
Exploring the island early in the day, we saw lots of lizards. We tried to show the kids later, but in the heat,
they had all taken shelter under the rocks. Don’t miss a stop at Dragon’s Rock - you really can hear the
dragon’s breath!
There is no snorkeling here (the locals have eaten all the fish), so it is basically a hang out on the beach
day. We did go parasailing. You’re only in the air for 4-5 minutes, but it was a lot of fun. It’s a bit expensive,
but we felt it was worth it. Don’t forget to tip the guides – we gave them $10 for 2 people on a tandem ride.
TIP: As you exit the tender onto the beach, follow the signs to the right for the parasailing/watersports beach
(all the tours leave from this part of the beach). This beach was relatively empty with plenty of empty chairs
in the shade – despite being close to a restroom, bar, and lunch station.
San Juan
We didn’t do too much at this port of call. We have a relative that lives in San Juan, and we met up with him
to get a personalized tour of the city. We visited El Morro, a San Juan fort (entrance fee - $2). It was fun to
explore – the kids especially enjoyed the cannons. Views from the top of the fort are a beautiful way to see
the colorful building of the city. Otherwise, old San Juan was small and crowded, and not very impressive.
St. Thomas
Although St. Thomas is synonymous with shopping, we chose to do the Captain Nautica snorkeling
excursion in the morning. It is a one-hour boat ride to a reef where we spent 45 minutes snorkeling –
highlights included a sea turtle, and many colorful fish. At the second stop, we snorkeled off a secluded
beach for about 30 minutes. Here we found a puffer fish, and many reef squid. After a 45-minute ride back
to the pier, we were back in plenty of time to shop in St. Thomas. As for shopping, our family found great
bargains on gold jewelry – buying necklace, earrings and bracelets to match.
TIP: If you are touring with children – it is well worth the $4/hour per child to send them to camp while you
shop. The kids get bored going in and out of stores (as we discovered in San Juan), and they absolutely
loved the camp on the ship. You get to spend the day shopping, while they get to spend the day playing with
their new friends on the ship – everyone is happier for it.
Coco Cay, Bahamas
This was our 2nd stop at a private island, and our last stop before returning to Miami. It was the perfect way
to end our week. If you enjoy snorkeling, try to get out on the first tender to the island. We did that, and the
water was clear with plenty of visibility. Later in the day, with everyone kicking up sand and so many people
in the water, it became more difficult to see the fish. Also, venture out past the large rocks to see the bigger
fish. In our first run in the morning, we saw a moray eel, a barracuda, and another puffer fish, as well as the
typical Caribbean trigger, parrot, and snapper fish. Later in the day, we found the sunken airplane.
This was a much nicer island stop than Labadee, with plenty of snorkeling and beach games going on all
day (water balloon toss, crazy relay race, etc.) We thoroughly enjoyed the good weather and good times on
this island. Since we were off on the first tender, we had no problems getting a bunch of chairs together in
the shade.
Kids Program Our nieces and nephew absolutely loved the kids program on the ship. ‘Camp’ was held every
evening from 7-10. On days at sea, they also had programs in the morning (9-12) and afternoon (2-5).
When in port, there was no camp, so be prepared to spend time with your family.
Overall experience
We had a wonderful family vacation on the Grandeur of the Seas. It was a good mix of days at sea, beach
days, and days at port. Cruising is one of the best family vacations we’ve ever experienced. With so much to
do day and night, no one was ever bored. We didn’t spend every minute together, but we did spend some
quality time together, and would highly recommend it for any family get-togethers.
Recommendation: One site we found particularly useful for this cruise was Morrica’s Cruising page at
http://www.csolutions.net/~morrica. She has the entire Grandeur itinerary, as well as shore excursions and
menus. It was a great help.
Name: Jay Snyder
Email: jsnyder3@tampabay.rr.com
Age: 49
Occupation: Systems Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 5/27/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 2638/I
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 88
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 91
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 88
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 07 Jun 2000
Time: 11:36:50
Remote Name: host2.wmfinance.com
Remote User:
Comments
We just got back from our first cruise on Saturday (6/3/00).
Here is our review of our cruise to the eastern Caribbean on RCCL's 'Grandeur of the Seas' that we (myself,
my wife, and our 18 year old son) went on.
I'll try not to be too wordy, but, as this was our first cruise, there is so much I'd like to say.
Packing: Many thanks to Calgon (www.cruise2.com) for his check lists. For the three of us, we had five
suitcases to check in, and four carry-ons.
Cabin: We had an outside cabin on deck 2 at back of the ship. At first glance, it looked small, but it was
more than sufficient, with plenty of storage. The pull-down third bed was also decent. Our cabin steward,
Leah, was exceptional, efficient, and very pleasant, always speaking to us whenever we saw her. We didn't
feel any rocking. The only real annoyance was when the propellers were put in reverse to help the ship
steer, we could here and feel the vibration. This only happened arriving and leaving ports, so it was not
excessive.
Food: After reading some comments from other cruisers saying RCCL's food was just average, we didn't
know what to expect. Since this was our first cruise, we had nothing to compare it to, but in our opinion (and
that of our tablemates, who were repeat cruisers), the food was not just good, but excellent. Each night had
a different theme (Italian, Caribbean, French, etc), and the menu selections were extensive. Our waiter,
Mark Ryan, was very accomodating. Anything and everything you wanted on the menu, you got. The head
waiter, Jerry, also made himself very visible and was very charming, greeting us whenever we encountered
him around the ship.
We basically ate (overate?) at the three 'scheduled' meals, although we could have eaten from 6 am until 3
am the next day.
Weather: With the exception of Thursday (which was overcast with some light rain), the weather was perfect
(mid-80's to low 90's). Some choppy seas, but we only developed a mild case of motion sickness (the purser
supplied Bonine free of charge, which helped greatly)
================================== ====== Day by Day ================
==================================
Saturday: We drove to Miami the day before, and arrived at the port around noon Saturday. Check-in went
smoothly, and we were on board and in our cabin by 12:30. There was a 'welcome aboard' buffet lunch in
the Windjammer cafe. We spent the remainder of the afternoon exploring the ship. Dinner was casual, and
we were in the main seating. We were seated at a table for 6 with three women, and, while our tablemates
were very nice, we felt that we didn't have a lot in common with them (especially our son), and after dinner
requested a change in tables and were accomodated with no problems. The show that evening was
comedian Tommy Blaze. He started out slow, but got better as he went on.
Also, there was a great deal of useful info on their TV channels dedicated to shore excursions, jewelry
shopping, etc.
Sunday: At sea. I was worried that I was going to be bored on a cruise, but nothing could be further from the
truth. There were more activities than you could shake a stick at, starting at 6 am and going until 3 am the
next day. We signed up for the various shore excursions that we had planned to do, then spent time at the
casino and by the pool (salt water, by the way). Dinner was formal, and our new tablemates were much more
compatible with our interests. The entertainment that evening was Ben Vereen, who put on an excellent
show.
Monday: Labadee (RCL's private beach on Haiti). No advance tickets were available for the tender, so it was
first-come, first-served. Very nice beach, but snorkeling was very poor. We rented the floating mats, whcih
was very relaxing. My son and I also went parasailing, which was a blast. Dinner was 'smart casual'.
Tuesday: San Juan. Took 'El Yunque' rain forest tour. It took about an hour to get to the rain forest. Our
driver, Ramon, was very congenial and knowledgeable. The rain forest was beautiful, with some great views
from the 4,000 foot elevation. Dinner was casual.
Wednesday: St. Thomas. Ship arrived about 7 am, but shops didn't open until 9 am. Took taxi into town
($2.50/person). Went shopping in the morning. Do your homework before shopping. We got three different
prices for the same gold chain from three different outlets of the SAME store (Diamonds International). My
wife also bought a stunning black coral with diamond ring at 'Bernard K. Passman gallery'. In the afternoon,
we took the 'Escape to Magens Bay' excurion on the 'Wild Thing' power boat which circles the island, with a
2 hour stop at beautiful Magens Bay for swimming, snorkeling, etc. Great fun, with PLENTY of rum punch
and loud music on the ride back, and, as my son put it, 'a bunch of 40 year-olds trying to dance'.
Note on shopping: If you plan on shopping in St. Thomas, be sure to attend or watch on TV the various
shopping talks the cruise line gives. RCCL has some preferred shops they recommend, and they stand
behind them should any problems arise.
Thursday: At sea. Overcast most of the day, with some light rain in the afternoon. Didn't do much except sit
by the pool (someone's got to do it) and watch the belly-flop contest. Dinner was formal, and the
entertainment was comedian Wayne Cotter, who was hilarious.
Friday: CocoCay (RCL's private island in the Bahamas). Tickets for first tender were available at 8:30, and
we arrived on the island around 10:00 am. This is a beautiful island! The snorkeling was outstanding, but
low tide was around 2:30, exposing lots of rocks which meant walking nearly 50 yards over rocks to get to
water deep enough for swimming or snorkeling. Also, be careful of the jellyfish and 'fire coral'...I received a
nasty sting from one of the two. Dinner was casual. After dinner, we said our goodbyes to our tablemates,
attended the 'farewell show', then it was time to pack, as our bags had to be outside of our cabin door by
midnight.
Saturday: Miami. Disembarking went smoothly, and were on our way (sadly) by 10:30 am, arriving home by
1 pm.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Comments:
Positives: Just about everything!!!
Negatives: If there were any negatives at all, it would be the teen activities. They grouped 13-17 year-olds
together, which is a pretty wide range. The typical 16+ year old didn't seem to have much in common with
the 13-15 year olds. Fortunately, our son met some other teens and spent a great deal of time with them.
Also, the 'Introduction to Scuba' excursion, which the pre-cruise literature said would be in CocoCay, had
been changed to St. Thomas. This conflicted with other excursions we also wanted to do, so we never got
the chance to try Scuba.
In summary, our first cruising experience was GREAT, and beyond our expectations! We've even started
talking (dreaming?)about taking another cruise, and we would use Royal Caribbean again in a heartbeat.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact us.
jsnyder3@tampabay.rr.com
Want to book your cruise at a great rate?
Click here.
Questions or comments? Mail to webmaster@cruiseopinion.com.
Copyright ©1996-2001 CruiseOpinion.com. Last modified: July 03, 2000.