 |
 |
|
Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Mitch Loftus
Email: mitchloft@aol.com
Age: 49
Occupation: It Manager
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 03/03/01
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
Cabin: 3653
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 75
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 100
ShipCleanliness: 65
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Mar 2001
Time: 14:58:22
Remote Name: node-d8e9aa5a.powerinter.net
Remote User:
Comments
Our third cruise - we must like something about them... Our previous cruises were on the Norwegian Sky
and the Carnival Paradise. I will make a few comparisons as I go for those who may be looking for some
contrasts between the different cruise lines. Much as we were when we elected to cruise three different
lines in 12 months.
We did not use air travel arrangements from RCCL -- didn't trust them to find the best deal. We got a
pretty good fare on ATA (Which, we discovered, really stands for A Terrible Airline) and, although the
flight left late, we had plenty of time to make the ship as departure from San Juan isn't until 10 PM. Here's
a brief description of ATA for those who may be interested: They seem to be the busline of airlines. Lousy
gate service at the airport, NO meal served, even on a 4 hour plus flight, surly attendants, and leg room
that will only be comfortable if your legs were manufactured by Victorinox (you know - the manufacturers of
the Swiss Army knife). I guess if you apply the 'get what you pay for' axiom, it's understandable. My advice
is to pack a sandwich lunch for yourself. We got Subways to eat coming back and it worked out much
better.
Embarcation: Really the best part of this or any cruise -- the nasty air travel is behind you, and the full
expanse of the week long adventure is just ahead of you at the end of the gangplank. An entire ship to
discover, new people to meet, new places to see, new things to do. The anticipation is almost palpable.
Anyone who complains about the embarcation process just doesn't have their head on straight. Actually, I
would ALMOST prefer that it took a little longer...
Although we didn't make air arrangements through RCCL, we did buy transfers from the airport. They sent
out some 'special' luggage tags with our tickets. After we finally got to San Juan, we were met at the airport
by RCCL people and advised that we didn't even have to LOOK at our luggage - it would be picked up at
baggage claim and delivered to our cabin. Now that's service! And, no porters standing around with their
hands out. We were loaded aboard a waiting bus and taken to the dock. Check in took only a few minutes
and we were aboard. One little hiccup here: we asked about possible cabin upgrades and were told that
we needed to see the purser on board. But, once we got on board, the purser said that as long as we
were in port, we needed to see the on-shore supervisor. Since we got back off the ship to wander around
town a little prior to departure, we checked back on-shore again. Apparently there was nothing available
since we never heard back from our wait-list, so I guess it didn't really matter that they were a little
confused as to procedures.
The ship itself is very nicely designed and appointed. We were put in mind of the Norweigian Sky we had
been on about a year before. It is definately a BIG improvement over the Paradise. Well laid out, nice
open, airy feel, well coordinated colors and materials, etc. The only bad thing about the ship is its slightly
run-down condition. We didn't notice quite so many people going around constantly cleaning and
polishing as we did aboard the Norwegian and Carnival ships. And it shows. In some areas the carpets are
stained and seams are stretched or broken. A LOT of the fabric upholstery is soiled and stained. Some of
the wooden surfaces needed to be resurfaced. It's still a very nice ship -- just needs a little re-do here and
there.
Our cabin was (of course) small, but well designed and comfortable. Lots of built-in cabinets and places to
put things. It included a small couch, desk/dresser with chair, and a small round table. No hair dryer. But --
two outlets where there is usually only one. I had taken along a 4 outlet strip anyway - be prepared folks,
you will probably need one. We forgot to take a night light (inside cabin), but found that leaving the
bathroom light on let enough light leak out around the door to navigate by in the dark. Kids - don't try this
at home! Your parents will undoubtedly beat you for leaving a light on all night. The twin beds had already
been shoved together and made up as a queen before we got there. NOT as two twins shoved together
like on the Paradise. Much better. In-room safe worked fine. No refrigerator, but a selection of pop and
bottled water was provided. Not necessarily gratis, but readily available. Our cabin steward made an effort
to introduce himself, and always addressed us by name when we passed him in the hallway. VERY
impressive. Big tip. He took very good care of our cabin. Instead of towel animals, he made creative pillow
arrangements each day. Rather elegant, don't you know dahling.
We elected late seating for dinner. Our waiter was very good, as was his assistant. The food was very
good to excellent most times. Soda pop is INCLUDED on the menu at meals. No extra charge; very nice.
The last night aboard it seemed to slip though -- my turkey dinner wasn't too good, and my wife's prime rib
looked sort of grey/green and was inedible. I don't know if the regular cook jumped ship in St. Thomas or
what...but all the other meals were fine. And they DO have fall-back items on the menu if you don't care
for the fancy stuff. Just like Norwegian did, but Carnival did not. We ate in the dining room every night
except one (wife not feeling well).
The lunch buffet on the pool deck was pretty good. Hot dogs, hamburgers, fries available most of the time
in the solarium cafe. Now there's an area for improvement. The fries were often left too long in the warmer,
the buns were stale, the dogs weren't really hot, and the burgers could easily have been used for hocky
pucks. I didn't try the pizza. I can't successfully digest pepperoni and they never (to my knowledge) had
sausage pizza available. They did have plain cheese and some fancy concoction, but I didn't ever have a
need to eat any of it. PLENTY of other food to keep eating, and eating and...
The breakfast buffet was good, but somewhat boring. I guess there isn't too much you can do about it.
They switched potatoes every day and alternated between french toast and pancakes. It all tasted good
though.
The on-board entertainment was a big improvement over what was presented on the Carnival Paradise,
and on par with the Norwegian Sky. Very professional, well executed. The cruise director was OK, but
didn't seem to be quite as ... I don't know, just something about him seemed a little odd. Looked like he
should be working as a Santa, not a cruise director. Did a fine job though. The theater was pretty good,
although the chairs could have been redesigned. I had a tendency to slide out of them.
The ports of call were very nice. First stop, I guess, would be San Juan. It was the port of departure, but
we didn't leave until 10PM so there was time to get back off the ship and wander around some. We did
that -- but found the local stores mostly closed up about 6PM, so we made it back to the ship in plenty of
time for the 'welcome aboard' presentation and dinner.
After a day at sea, we had a full day at Aruba. Into port in the morning, and didn't leave until about 100AM
the next morning. This allowed time for some nightclubbing ashore for those so imclined. I went on a
morning dive tour (very nice) and my wife dawdled around the ship. After lunch, we went to see a bit of the
town and made a couple of small donations to the local economy.
Later on in the afternoon, my wife started to feel poorly. By evening, it had turned pretty nasty. I
suggested she visit the ships infirmiry, but it had already closed. We went down the next morning after
breakfast. The waiting room was a little crowded, and the nurse (male) allowed as how it was the busiest it
had been in quite a while. Just our luck. But, after an hour or so, my wife was consulting with the doctor.
They actually ran blood tests right there in the infirmiry. Determinded she had a sinus infection, NOT just a
cold; prescribed AND delivered up some antibiotics and nasal spray on the spot. We were quite impressed
with the competence of both the physician and the medical equipment that was aboard. We would like to
change our HMO primary care physician to the Grandeur, but it turns out they are not on our plan. Sort of
a bad commute anyway. I will warn however that this first class medical treatment comes with a first class
price tag. In excess of $200 for this excursion, which our HMO will probably NOT reimburse since it wasn't
quite a life-threatening emergency. (Let's all take a moment and bow our heads to pray for the eternal
damnation of the person who thought up HMOs)
Tuesday we hit Curacao. We took an excusion to an Ostrich farm. Very nice. Sounded a little odd, but it
was informative and interesting. Also a little privately held herb garden. Somewhat interesting, but I could
have skipped it I think. Later we checked out the local shops. Plenty of opportunity to buy the local liquer
of the same name, but we didn't -- not real big drinkers.
Thursday was St. Martin. We went to a butterfly farm. Again, sort of odd but informative and interesting.
We also went to the French side of the island for a little look see around the French Capitol. Lots of native
market stalls, some other shops, sort of typical caribbean island -- very picturesque. After lunch, we visited
the shopping district on the Dutch side of the island. We heard from our dinner companions that the
'clothing optional' beach wasn't exactly the thrill-of-a-lifetime you may be thinking it would be. Some 'older'
citizens apparently make use of the facility -- when clearly God intended that they should stop doing so
years earlier.
Friday in St. Thomas. There was a lot of wind and a lot of wave action that day - several of the morning
snorkel tours were cancelled and ferry service to St. John was suspended. Some of the beaches were
closed. Our snorkel tour to Turtle Cove in the afternoon was NOT cancelled however. About a three mile
sail on a catamaran to the little offshore island, about an hour to look at all the pretty fishies, sail back
powered by complementary rum punch. Very enjoyable. Of course, the rows of stores just off the pier are
happy to relieve you of your excess travelers checks.
Debarcation: What could be worse? Everthing that is going to happen, has happened; everyone you are
going to meet, has been met; everything you are going to do, has been done; all the remarkable new
experiences have now been committed to an imperfect memory, and it's time to return to the ordinary.
Saturday and debarking in San Juan: As usual, we put colored tags on our luggage and set it in the
hallway the night before. We had a quick bite of breakfast and waited around for about and hour and a
half until our AIRLINE FLIGHT was called -- NOT our color. A goofy way of doing things. I suppose it makes
sense to get the people with early flights off first, but on other trips that was handled by assigning those
people a COLOR that was going to debark first. I suppose that since RCCL did such a nice job of handling
baggage between the ship and the airport that maybe this was how they were best able to keep it all
straight. Dunno. Anyway, RCCL has a -- I don't quite know what to call it -- a clubhouse, I guess, that they
maintain a couple blocks off the pier for the use of their passengers. They took our baggage to the
airport, and we went to the 'clubhouse' to drop off our carryons and cruise old San Juan for a few hours.
Very convenient. Very nice amenity. Particularly since we had 6 or 7 hours until our flight.
In summary, we have decided that of the three lines we have cruised, we prefer Norwegian. Royal
Carribbean runs a VERY close second, and Carnival a distant third. I would have tied RCCL and NCL,
except NCL had popcorn aboard ship and RCCL (nor Carnival) did not. On this cruise, one of our dinner
table companions was so desperate for some popcorn that she went to K-mart in St. Thomas and bought
some. I damn near did that myself. Amazing that a cruise line would fail to have the MOST prefered snack
food aboard ship! Also, if memory serves me, NCL was just a bit less expensive. Anyway, we were overall
quite happy with RCCL and the Grandeur and would not hesitate to sail them again.
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: April 01, 2001.