Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Ingrid Stram
Email: ing@sunline.net
Age: 28
Occupation: nurse
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 5-29-99
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 94
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 93
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 91
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 93
LoungeService: 93
TenderService: 92
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 97
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 93
CruiseActivities: 93
Casino: 92
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 94
DiscoNightclubs: 97
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 97
ShopsOnBoard: 93
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 06 Jun 1999
Time: 22:32:25
Remote Name: ip176.sarasota5.fl.pub-ip.psi.net
Remote User:

Comments

I just returned from my first cruise yesterday and today I'm missing being on the Grandeur of the Seas.
Before booking our cruise, my boyfriend and I had researched very carefully our choices, read review
after review, and finally decided that the Grandeur had just the right itinerary and crowd for us. I know now
that we couldn't have made a better choice and I'm excited to have the chance to add my own review to
the previous ones.

We live in Florida so it was not necessary for us to deal with flights to Miami. For those
of you living in Florida, RCCL provides a bus, the Cruise Connection, to transport you to the terminal at no
charge, but you have to remember to have your travel agent arrange this in advance. When the bus
arrives you have to be on the list or you will not be allowed on. The bus was great because it saved us the
hassle of trying to figure out what to do about parking, and there were even movies which made the time
between pickup and arrival at the terminal pass quickly. When we arrived at the terminal I was completely
overwhelmed by the immense size of the ship, and how beautiful she looked against the backdrop of the
Miami skyline. Our bus arrived early so we were there just as the doors were being opened and this
allowed us to avoid a long line.

The embarkation process went smoothly, we boarded the ship and the first
thing we saw was the beautiful centrum, the centerpiece of the rest of the ship. The staircases are elegant
with shiny brass and wood handrails. The centrum stretches from the 4th to the 10th deck of the ship and
is really a sight to behold. We next went to our cabin which was located on deck 4 and was an outside
larger stateroom with a picture window so big that it became one of our favorite spots to sit. There was
plenty of space for storage and I thought the bathroom was well designed for the space available. Another
thing I might mention is that originally we were to be in an inside cabin on deck 8 but were upgraded to a
room with a window on deck 4. We were at first disappointed to be moved to a lower deck, and then a bit
alarmed about being located at the very end of the ship.

We were in cabin 4002 which is located at the
bow of the ship on the port side and thought that we might feel an extra amount of movement but we were
happy to discover this was not true. The stabilizers that we were told about must have really worked
because we had no problems with the ship sway and ended up absolutely loving our room, the window,
and its convenient location on deck 4. The rest of the ship proved to be beautiful as well. The dining room
is large but still somehow intimate. The South Pacific lounge was great for the various cocktail parties and
evening entertainment as it has many seats, a dance floor, bandstand and a great view from the windows
that adorned an entire wall of the room. The Schooner Bar was nice to relax in and the piano player was
lots of fun and had a great repertoire of songs to sing along with. Also of note was the layout of the
Windjammer Cafe. We had a few meals in there and were usually always able to find a seat by the
windows.

We found the food to be excellent and had dinner in the Great Gatsby dining room every night
except one. We were seated at table 166 which was in a little room on the side of the first floor. We loved
this arrangement because it was only fitted with three tables and we were away from alot of the commotion
in the main room. We were at a table that seated six and I cannot tell you how thrilled we were with our
meal companions. I don't know how they decide who sits with who, but we were matched with 2 other
couple right around our ages, and all in similar situations and interests as ours. We ended up all hanging
out several evenings and exchanged email addresses and pictures when we had to say goodbye at the
end of the cruise.

Also Erkin, our waiter from Turkey, and Ana Maria, our assistant waiter from Portugal
made the meals fun and Erkin was always right on about which entrees to try. Mario the head waiter was
visible and came to chat with us every night and made the most incredible Cherries Jubilee. The buffets in
the Windjammer Cafe were very good as well, but I must say that we were a little disappointed with the
absence of nightly midnight buffets. They have now been reduced to only three buffets during the week
and been replaced with Midnight Delights, which we never actually saw. Instead we were limited to the
hotdogs and pizza that were served nonstop in the Solarium. Of course I say this as though we would have
actually been hungry for the buffets when in truth we could barely think of food when mealtimes came
because we were still full from the last meal.

And yes, I did gain the extra ten pounds everyone talks about.
The shows were amazing, we loved them all, and the games such as the Not So Newlywed Game and The
Quest were very funny. A piece of advice, try not to miss the Quest and bring a camera. I was very
disappointed that I didn't have mine with me. We were also very happy with the excursions offered and
very satisfied with what we chose. Labadee is beautiful and great for swimming, exploring, and a little
relaxing on the beach. It's also good for shopping but watch out for the locals. I was overwhelmed and had
to be rescued by my boyfriend because it can be stressful trying to get away from them. Just be prepared
that they are very aggressive and you should do alright, and don't be afraid to say no and walk away.
While we were in Labadee we were also planning to do some jetskiing but the weather didn't cooperate.
We did have fun talking to the dive crew while we were waiting to board the tender, we got some great
stories from them.

Another piece of advice, just as other reviewers have said, get the tickets for the first
tenders as soon as they are available at the shore excursion desk. Otherwise you'll be stuck waiting for
your tender to be called. We were glad we took this advice because it gave us a little more flexibility on
when we went ashore. Next stop was San Juan and it was very pretty from what we saw. We chose the
Carabali horseback riding tour and it was my favorite part of the week. It takes about an hour to get out to
the ranch and this also allowed us to see more of Puerto Rico than most got to see. I've never been on a
horse so it was thrilling for me to spend 2 hours riding through the jungle. The only bad thing was the rain,
it poured like cats and dogs at the beginning of the ride, but I didn't care and neither did the rest of the
group. It was so much fun even with the rain that I'd recommend it to anyone. Next we were in St Thomas
which was very pretty, but not even comparable to the beauty of St John, a must see. We took the ferry
over to St John and then hired a taxi driver to give us a tour of the island. The taxi driver was very
knowledgable but did tend to be a bit long winded.

We were a little nervous when we missed the 2:15 ferry
back to St Thomas but we caught the 3:00 and made it back to the boat with plenty of time to spare. The
last stop for the week was Cococay and the snorkeling here was great. We saw a lot of big fish and the
weather was beautiful. There is plenty of stuff to do here as far as water sports and beachy type stuff. We
did the all day snorkeling and then found a nice hammock where we slept for an hour and a half. When we
woke up we went shopping, the locals are very nice and not aggressive like the ones in Haiti, and then I
even got my hair braided. By the time we left Cococay we were beginning to be sad about having to depart
the next day. The days spent on the ship were filled with various activities by the pool and in the various
lounges. The ship's gym is well equipped and was nice to help ease the guilt of all of the eating. I'd
suggest getting up early to grab deck chairs if you have your heart set on sitting by the pool. The
disembarkation process went fairly smooth but took much longer than embarking because the ship has to
be cleared by customs. We were the last group to be called to leave the ship because we didn't have any
flights to catch, and it was difficult to walk down the gangway for the last time and say goodbye to our week
long home. All told we really had no complaints and are so anxious to book another cruise we can barely
stand the thought of waiting. The next cruise will be the Voyager and we'll definitely stay with the Royal
Carribean line of ships. If you have any questions or comments I'd welcome them. Cruising has recently
become our favorite topic of conversation so feel free to email.

Name: Peter Poggi
Email: poggipj@yahoo.com
Age: 45
Occupation: Software Marketing Professional
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: May 28, 1999
Itinerary: Labadee, San Juan, St. Thomas CocoCay
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 10
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 70
GoodForSeniors: 10
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 65
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Jun 1999
Time: 23:30:37
Remote Name: slip-32-101-209-143.dc.us.ibm.net
Remote User:

Comments

Our cruise left from Miami for the Eastern Caribbean on May 28th, 1999. At the time of this writing, the
Grandeur is a little more than 3 years old.

Dining room food was always fresh, flavorful and very nicely presented. Breakfasts and lunch were always
open seating. The dinner menu offered a variety of appetizers, soups and a salad, as well as a choice of
meat, poultry, seafood, or a dieter's dish. Each evening followed a particular nationality theme. American,
French, Italian, International, Caribbean, etc. On two of the evenings, Italian and Caribbean, the waiters
entertained the room with songs and dances. Different themes were presented. The Windjammer Café
offered the typical buffet style food, but even this was presented very well and always promptly refilled. We
only visited the midnight buffet on the first evening. It offered a variety of fresh sandwiches, and a carving
station with a choice of prime rib or turkey. A wide assortment of fresh pastries was available for dessert.
We missed the Gala Buffet but heard that it was excellent.

This was our second RCCL cruise, and as before the dining room staff was excellent. We did not see as
much of our headwaiter as on our prior cruise, but he was available and actively supported the waiters
and their assistants. Our waiter was very attentive, always served the ladies first, always offered dining
suggestions and advised what meal selections to avoid. We never once had to ask for a water or iced-tea
refill. The assistant waiter was very entertaining, offering puzzles and tricks during the meal. On the
Grandeur as well as our prior RCCL cruise, we found our dining room very personable and enjoyed
looking forward to our dinners.

There were two formal dinners. Formal evenings found approximately 20-30% of the men in tuxedos. The
large majority wore dark business suits. Women wore anything from gowns to Sunday church dresses and
business attire.

I would suggest this particular ship for families, but definitely NOT for a Honeymoon couple or seniors.
Even though the ship offers a supervised youth facility and program, many young children ran,
unsupervised, throughout the ship (including the Casino), and jumping in and out of the hot tubs
designated as Adults Only. Underage children were usually present in the lounges where one would not
expect to find them.

The decks were very crowded, and deck chairs tightly arranged, armrest to armrest. If you could find an
available one, it required stepping over someone or doing an unnatural act to become seated. Once you
did, cigarettes would appear one or two chairs upwind, requiring non-smoking passengers to find another
spot. While on the subject, the non-smoking passenger would tend to feel fairly restricted due to the
overcrowding and lack of enforcement of designated non-smoking areas. During inclement weather
inconsiderate smokers ignoring the signs would invade the designated non-smoking Solarium.

Entertainment included at least three standup comedians. There was a comedic juggler (very good), and
several musical variety shows that would appeal to anyone between the ages of 30 to 55 or so.
Unfortunately adult drunks, talking over the performers and being belligerent with other passengers
disrupted two of the late seating shows. Surprisingly, on one occasion the Cruise Director was seated
directly in front of the disruptive party yet never said a word, even when it became apparent that a fight
was imminent.

Young children were not generally present in the late seating entertainment. The ship also offered an art
auction, daily bingo with a running jackpot, full service Casino including Craps, several horse races, a
belly-flop contest, and passenger fashion show.

The steam room and sauna were nicely fitted and rarely occupied. The work out area included at least 3
stair machines, 4 treadmills, 3 or 4 exercise bikes, free weights, and a wide variety of Nautilus style
exercise stations. A staffed, spacious aerobics studio with scheduled sessions for beginner, intermediate
and advanced participants were also available.

Wheelchair Access: I did see one wheelchair and one walker bound passenger. Travel companions
assisted both, but it appeared that there was plenty of maneuvering room and buffet items seemed to be
within reach. I cannot speak for cabin wheelchair access.

Overall Ports of Call included Old San Juan, St. Thomas, CocoCay island and Labadee (Haiti). The
CocoCay and Labadee beaches were crowded, but clean. Snorkeling on CocoCay was well organized,
instructed and there was an abundance of marine life available to see. The snorkeling excursion fee of
about $25.00 per person included instruction, fins, vest and mask. Nicely prepared lunches of fresh fruit,
chicken, hamburgers, ribs and salads were available within a short walk. I do have to say, however, that
the hamburgers were less desirable than what I would expect at home. The island merchants did not
annoy or approach anyone who did not venture into their market area. Other shore excursions were
priced higher than what it would cost to arrange the activity on your own, however the markup was not
obscene. Tender service was organized and prompt, although they could have attempted to appear more
responsive on the two days where the skies opened up and it rained on the beach late in the day.

According to the young adults in our party, high school seniors mostly populated the Viking Crown
disco/nightclubs. Usually very smoky and not well ventilated. Different music themes were offered each
evening.

The Beauty Salon staff was pleasant, but one of the gals came off a little snippy when quoting the 50%
cancellation fee. Even though one can't be too creative with a traditional man's haircut, I was actually very
satisfied with the value of my $25.00 cut. It actually did look better than the typical $15.00 cut to which I
have become accustomed.

Cabin: Even our 2nd level, Category I outside cabin toward the bow was very spacious with a comfortable
queen size bed and very quiet. We found it to have plenty of drawer, cabinet and closet space. We
peeked into the cabins up to deck 4 and saw no reason to spend additional money to be up higher. We
never heard the anchor drop and there was no engine vibration at all. Three stairways and two elevators
cores were always within a short walk.

Overall value is a very subjective and personal assessment, depending upon what one is looking for from
their vacation. For me, despite the excellent dining and service I would say it was NOT worth the combined
$6,000 in travel, fares, and tips for our party of 6 people (2 parents, our 19 year son, 21 year old
daughter, and their two college friend guests). I was looking for a quiet, relaxing trip and found it to be
overcrowded, loud and smoky with kids running out of control. My wife loved the dining and service, and
didn't seem to be bothered by the crowds. My children (who were only responsible for their own personal
spending), and their guests (who were responsible for their incremental passage fees of about $300 and
personal expenses) had a terrific time and thought it was an excellent value for their money. We agreed
that when we cruise again, it will be aboard one of the non-smoking ships now offered by Renaissance
and Carnival and we will book earlier in the year to reduce the number of younger children which will
hopefully alleviate the overcrowding.

I would be glad to answer any specific questions directed to poggipj@yahoo.com

Name: Jo Lewis
Email: jalewis929@aol.com
Age: 41
Occupation: educator
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: June 5, 1999
Itinerary: eastern carribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 93
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Jun 1999
Time: 11:22:43
Remote Name: spider-tk063.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

Hi! My family and I just returned from our first cruise and we are ready to sail again. We were aboard
RCCL's Grandeur of the Seas and it surpassed our expections. My family consists of me, my husband, our
daughter (15) and our son (12). My husband has never wanted to go on a cruise, but I convinced him that
since there were so many activities for the kids it would be a good vacation. He loved it and is ready to go
again. We booked and air/sea package through RCCL and were very happy we did. It was so nice to have
someone meet us at the gate, show us what to tear out of our booklets (which was mindboggling), take
care of our baggage, check us in at the airport, and then take us directly to the ship.

We were especially
happy that we didn't have to wait in the very long check- in line at the pier. We simply walked past the line
and onto the ship. It was wonderful. Our baggage was delivered to the room in a couple of hours and we
were off. Our dinner table assignment was a table for four and we had requested a table for eight in the
hope that we would be with a family. The next night we asked for a change and were placed with a family
with a boy and a girl. Our children quickly became friends so it was a wise decision. We loved our waiters.
Our main waiter was Ben from Tunisia and he was wonderful. He really gave the children special attention.
Our food was very good and most nights it was excellent. Take cameras so you can film the singing and
dancing waiters.

Our first day at sea was relaxing. If you want a lounge chair around the pool, get there
early. This was the only area on the ship where I felt crowded at all. We had the early seating for dinner
which worked out great for the shows. It was a little hairy getting ready so early but I'm glad we did it. Our
son usually left dinner at 7:00 so he could get to his special activities. Sometimes he met us at 8:45 for the
show. Our daughter went to all of them with us and we loved the shows. All of them were outstanding
except the Celebrity night show. Our celebrity was Charo. I have never been a fan and I don't believe her
act has changed in 20 years. Some people we talked to had the late seating and were too tired to enjoy
the show at 10;45. Also the teen activities start at 10:30 so if your teenager eats at the late seating,
he/she will have to choose between the show or the activities.

Our daughter loved the shows then she
went to the teen center and had a blast. So the early seating worked well for us. Labadee-- Absolutely
gorgeous! We rented mats and just floated. Perfect cove for floating. I had read that the snorkelling wasn't
very good here so we didn't bother and while there we heard others say they were disappointed. Our
children were disappointed that they could not parasail. The minimum age is 16 at Labadee and Coco
Cay. San Juan-- The port area is pretty ugly here. We had signed up for the trail ride to the rain forest so
we got on a bus for the one hour ride to the stables. The trip was not very pretty. The trail ride was great!
We had great horses (we are very experienced riders)and the staff was a lot of fun We did get wet, but it is
a rain forest. We had a blast! Some people were not so impressed.

St Thomas-- The port scene is
beautiful here. We went on a snorkel cruise to St John this day. It was overcast so we didn't worry about
getting burned. It was fun and the snorkelling was good. After we got back, we quickly changed and went
shopping for a couple of hours. We didn't spend much but certainly could have. This night was carribbean
night in the dining room and the waiters danced. They also had a pool party at about 11:00p.m. which was
fun. The band played and everybody danced. At sea-- Another day to relax by the pool. Our children had
fun doing their age group activites. They loved the freedom of having no curfew. Every day our daughter
made a new friend or two so that by the end of the week she had a group of about ten kids hanging out
together.

Coco Cay-- Again, a very pretty place but different from the others. I was surprised at how flat
the island was. The snorkelling here was really good but the floating wasn't. There was too much current
to float. The food was good and the island buildings were nice. RCCL has put alot of money into making it
welcoming. Disembarkation-- This went very smoothly. We did have to be out of our room early so
everyone was waiting to be called but it wasn't a problem. The only glitch in the whole episode was that
Northwest Airline did not have anyone at the port to check our bags, which they were supposed to have.
We had to get our bags on the bus and check them at the airport ourlselves. That was a pain. Otherwise it
was a wonderful trip. We will definately do another cruise and I highly reccomend RCClL.

Name: Teresa Hall
Email: thall@mtaonline.net
Age: 39
Occupation: elected public official
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 6/5/99-6/12/99
Itinerary: eastern caribean
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 70
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 70
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 100
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff: 100
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 100
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Jun 1999
Time: 22:14:48
Remote Name: dialups-32.healy.mtaonline.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was the second cruise for me and 2 of my travel partners and the first one for the fourth in our party.
This was the first on Royal Carribean for all of us.Since we all live in different states, we all meet in Miami
the night before our cruise and stayed in a quaint little Hotel on South Beach.Let the fun begin!!! Getting
on ship was relatively easy, although I would have put the lines nearer to the esclator that leads to the
ship. The lines are all one one side of a huge room and the entrance to the ship is one the other side.
every one who had finished their things at the desk had to go back through the lines to get to the
esclators. But other then that the embarkation was very smooth.

Once you get on board the ship you will
need to find the desks that are situated near the main elevators and they will have your room keys that
also serve as your supercharge card through out the cruise. Never leave with out it!Dinner the first night is
very casual as sometimes the luggage has not made it to your room in time for you to change into your
clothes for dinner. The food on the cruise is more then enough! There was only one thing that I had a
problem with and that was a dry porkchop at lunch and I was the only one who had a dry one, no one else
at my lunch table had one and we all had the pork. In fact on the first night they had steak served with
Bearnaise sauce. Now I really love Bearnaise on any cut of beef and I asked for lots and even asked for it
one the night they had prime rib. No problem! Another day at lunch , they had cheese blinz's with
blueberry sauce.

That night I wanted it for dessert.Although there was not any left for me to eat that night
the head waiter for our table made sure I got them on a future night and even sent some for all of my table
mates (we were at a table of 6). The dining room staff went above and beyond the call of duty for our
table, with 6 women together we were haveing more fun then should be allowed by law! However, the low
scores I gave to room service and the midnight buffet deserves to be explained. Room service is not for
any one in a hurry. Do not expect anything to arrive in less then about 45 minutes. Once, we did not even
get every thing that we had ordered. Another time the food was cold. The other low score as far as food is
concerned is for the midnight buffet. This is the one time the food was not plentyful. By the time we got to
the food the shrimp and much of the fresh melon was already gone and I never did see them replenish
these items.

While I am talking about the negitives here let me warn you about the shore excursions.
When you get into your room , there will be a shore excursion list and you must fill it out and take it to the
shore excursion desk as soon as you can if you want the more popular ones such as horse back riding in
San Juan and the Submarine rides in St Thomas. I can tell you one shore excursion NOT to choose. In san
Juan, do not waste your time and $$$ on the Feista Dance show. 3 words to describe this...Tacky Tacky
Tacky.enough said about that. I would recomend that in St Thomas you do the Mountian Top/Coral World
excursion. This is a great way to see the island and you will still have plenty of time to shop! I know I found
a great deal on a diamond and emerald ring there!!! Shopping in St Thomas is a must. The best deals
there are jewelry and electronics.Looking for a new camera? Go to St Thomas. The private islands I can
not talk about as I am the only one of the 4 of us who did not go to either one. I took this time to be by the
pool. The only time I got even near it the whole cruise was on the days everyone else was on the private
islands. If you are like me and do not much care for sand, this is the best time to relax and have the pool
all most all to your self! But alas...all good things must come to an end and so it is the end of our cruise.
Would we do it all again? You bet!!! Would we cruise again with royal carribean? When do we leave?!!!

Name: Diane Dohner
Email: dmd@nbn.net
Age: 48
Occupation: Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: June 19, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean, 7-day
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 96
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 94
CruiseStaff: 94
CabinAmenities: 93
FoodLidoDeck: 94
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 93
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 97
ShoreExcVariety: 94
FoodVariety: 94
DeckService: 92
ShoreExcValue: 92
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 96
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 93
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 92
EntertainmentLounges: 91
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 93
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 94
EntertainmentPoolside: 96
CruiseActivities: 94
Casino: 89
AirSeaProgram: 96
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark: 93
DiscoNightclubs: 93
DeckSpace: 92
Stabilization: 94
ShopsOnBoard: 93
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 Jul 1999
Time: 12:43:18
Remote Name: dial3-46.nbn.net
Remote User:

Comments

I want to go again! Now! Today! If you enjoy being pampered and attended to, take a cruise on Grandeur of the Seas. This
was my first cruise but certainly not my last. My niece, sister and I took to the seas to commemorate my niecešs college
graduation and found it a perfect way to celebrate this important rite of passage.

Air/Sea Package: Taking advantage of the air/sea package, we flew from Phila. to Miami, where we were met immediately
upon our arrival by a cruise representative who led us to a bus which took us to the pier. Our baggage had been checked in
Phila., and we didnšt see it again until it was delivered to our stateroom.

Embarkation: Arriving at the terminal, I was a bit overwhelmed at the lines awaiting embarkation procedures, but I neednšt
have worried, for the lines moved quite quickly. (In fact, once I was on board, I waited in a longer line to schedule a
massage appointment.)

Accommodations: On board, we had immediate access to our stateroom. And what a pleasant surprise our stateroom was.
It was very clean and well-appointed. More importantly, it was more spacious than we had imagined it would be. We had
anticipated living out of our suitcases for lack of closet and drawer space, but that was not a problem. There was ample
space for our belongings, and once we nested our luggage, most of it fit under the beds. (Note: As there were three of us
and we booked early, we were given a handicapped accessible stateroom, which was a larger room than others we saw on
our ŗA˛ deck.) The beds were comfortable, including the third bed, a Pullman which recessed into the ceiling when not in
use. Getting into the Pullman was a bit awkward and tricky, however. One had to climb a narrow ladder and then kind of
launch oneself from the top rung onto the bed. (My sister snapped a rather unbecoming photo of my middle-aged behind as
I attempted this maneuver.)

Cabin Steward: Our cabin steward, Dario, was a gem. This was his maiden voyage as well as ours, and he won our hearts.
Though never intrusive, he accommodated us promptly if we needed anything. (More times than not, he anticipated our
needs.) Our towels and washcloths were changed three times daily. Clean glasses were always available. Ice bucket was
always replenished. While we always left our room orderly, one time I left my robe on the bed, only to return to find it
artistically arranged in the shape of a sea turtle. Cracked me up!

Food/Food Service: I knew food was a main attraction on a cruise, but I had no idea...

Meals that I didnšt have to prepare myself...that in itself was a treat. I enjoyed every meal I ate. Though the menus werenšt
excessively extensive, there was certainly enough variety to appeal to most palates, and the dinner menu changed every
evening. We dined in the beautiful Great Gatsby dining room every evening except one. That night we were too tired to rush,
too tired to dress, so we ate in the Windjammer. Of course, it lacked the ambiance of the dining room, but the food and
service were fine.

Our dinner waiters were marvelous. Bela, from Rumania, and Mega, from Indonesia, made our dining experiences
wonderful. Attentive but not hovering. Offering their suggestions for the best menu selections. Giving us tips for things to
see and do on board and in the various ports. Mario, our head waiter, looked just like Nathan Lane and had a wonderful
sense of humor.

An early riser, I went to the dining room each morning for breakfast, usually as soon as it opened. That early, there were far
more servers present than guests. Talk about being attended to! One person served pastries while another served coffee,
while another brought juice, while yet another took your order. What a riot! Breakfast was open seating, so I got to meet a
variety of people. Very enjoyable.

I canšt attest to lunch on board because I never ate it, but I can rave about the midnight buffets. Some people were
disappointed that midnight buffets were limited to two nights. Not me. I enjoyed the first one, served pool side. The second,
the Gala Buffet, I could only gawk at. A more lavish and sumptuous spread Išve never seen, and I truly enjoyed being a
spectator, but I was too full from dinner to actually eat any of it. However, I know those who did eat enjoyed!

Ports and Excursions: Labadee was paradise! Crystal clear water; beautiful, clean beaches. We had signed up for
snorkeling but heard snorkeling on Labadee wasnšt so hot, so we forgot about it. Instead we rented floating mats and
basically just Œdid the beach.š Hated the shopping on Labadee; in-your-face native shopkeepers selling tacky
souvenir-type trinkets.

San Juan: Beautiful from afar (from the shipšs deck as we approached port). Dirty and disappointing up close and personal.
My sister and I took the bus tour of Old and New San Juan (we couldnšt really tell the difference). Shopping was
disappointing, too. We didnšt really see or hear the bargains/bargaining we had anticipated. My niece made the wiser
choice, the Caraballi Horseback Riding excursion. She had much more fun than we did.

St. Thomas: We thoroughly enjoyed the Coral World and Mountain Top tours. Then we had a blast shopping downtown
Charlotte Amalie. In some shops, bargaining is welcome; in others, the prices are set. In the shops that entertain
bargaining, my advice is bargain shamelessly! Youšll never see those people again!

CocoCay: Another beach bumšs paradise! Another day to veg on our floating mats. Snorkeling here was much better than
at Labadee. Lots of marine life to see whether you stayed in waist-deep water or ventured our farther. Had to run for cover
during a nasty thunderstorm, but used that time to sample the luncheon buffet, which was very good. Sun returned
forthwith, and a good time was had by all sun worshipers!

On Board Entertainment and Activities: Go to everything; do everything there is to do. Itšs all fun and worthwhile.

Complaints: We had two. First, we waited in line for at least 30 minutes our first afternoon on board to make appointments
for our massages. (Phone appointments were not being accepted, and we were warned that the best times would be filled
immediately.) The massage was wonderful (I almost moaned audibly), but I resented the inconvenience of the half-hour
queue to make the appointment. Secondly, as part of our embarkation procedures, my niece and my sister each had
opened a separate Supercharge account, each using her own credit card. But when the Supercharge statements were
distributed at the end of the cruise, my niece and sister discovered that both of their Supercharge accounts had been
combined on one statement, and that both accounts had been charged to only one credit card, my niecešs. When
contacted, the purser would not separate the accounts and would not put my sisteršs charges on her own credit card. This
was an unfortunate end to an otherwise heavenly vacation.

Name: Jack W. Courtney
Email: captain.jack@bigfoot.com
Age: 53
Occupation: Maritime Trade Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: 03/14/99
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean 7 day Cruise
FoodDiningRoom: 91
CruiseDirector: 87
CabinComfort: 81
FoodRoomService: 82
CruiseStaff: 89
CabinAmenities: 81
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 96
CabinQuietness: 86
FoodMidnightBuffets: 87
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 82
ShoreExcValue: 82
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 91
LoungeService: 86
TenderService: 87
GoodForSeniors: 91
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 89
WheelchairAccess: 87
ExerciseFacilities: -
EntertShowLounge: 88
OverallPortsofCall: 82
BeautySalon: 85
EntertainmentPoolside: 91
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino: 79
AirSeaProgram: 72
MedicalFacilities: -
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 81
DiscoNightclubs: 87
DeckSpace: 92
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 89
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Jul 1999
Time: 12:01:46
Remote Name: 152.119.124.87
Remote User:

Comments

This was the first cruise my wife and I took. It will not be the last. Finding everything was very easy, the shipboard staff was
friendly, proficient and very helpful. We enjoyed the cabin and wait staff, great entertainment, fantastic food, good selection
of ports to visit, great advice on what to buy in each port, and the cruise over all. We will cruise with Royal Carribean again,
but will come to the port one day earlier with our luggage! What we did not care for was the following: 1.) no ATM service
(kept being told it would be fixed - never was), 2.) had to re-establish our credit line three times (they had problems with
debit cards), 3.) resolved credit issue by giving them $1,000 in cash (which created other account problems), 4.) port visits
seemed so very short (had to rush to get 2 activities done in San Juan and St. Thomas), liked the art auction (but received
the wrong pictures - to our benefit), and finally, 5.) 14 passengers from Baltimore lost luggage, missed planes, had poor trip
support (from the cruise line, (one couple got married in rented wedding clothing because their bags never showed up). The
cruise could have skipped the Hatian company island for more time in San Juan or St. Thomas.

Name: Mike & Tammy Bumgarner
Email: bumgarner@bitwise.com
Age: 23
Occupation: Computer Programmer / Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Grandeur
SailingDate: June 26
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess: 100
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Jul 1999
Time: 15:07:20
Remote Name: ppp141-021.bitwisesystems.com
Remote User:

Comments

Let me start off by saying that we were thrilled with the experience we had on the Granduer of the Seas! This was our first
cruise, and honeymoon, and we couldn't be happier with our trip. We purchased the air/sea package from our travel agent.
We will never do this again. Don't confuse buying the air/sea package with buying the cruise care protection! We thought
that by purchasing the air/sea pakage it was Royal Carribean's responsibility to get us to the boat as quickly as possible, if
by chance we were to miss the boat. We were wrong! That is only if you purchase the Cruise Care insurance policy.
Luckily we didn't need it ! But we almost did.

Our flight was due to arrive in Miami at 12:30, but due to thunderstorms Miami
airport was closed. After landing in Fort Myers we called the 1-800 number to ask RCCL what to do. They told us to saty
with the plane, not to rent a car and that the boat would probably be delayed due to the airport closing. We finally arrived in
Miami at 5:30, the boat was supposed to debark at 5:00! We were greeted by RCCL people when we got off the boat and
they informed us the boat was not going to sail until 7:00 due to the weather. Getting on the boat was painless for us
because everyone else was already on! Once on the boat we found our cabin and listened to instead of attending the
lifeboat drill that was already in progress.

Our cabin was much bigger than we expected. We had an interior romm with no
window, but we did not mind. We just put the TV on the channel that showed the front of the boat and that was our window!
We didn't have much time to do anything the first time except unpack and go to dinner. We chose late seating because we
didn't want to be rushed for time, but we now realize that you aren't really rushed and having late seating takes your entire
evening away from doing other things. Next time we will definitely choose main seating at 6:00 instead of late at 8:30. We
ate dinner every evening in the Great Gatsby Dining Room.

This was definitely one of the best parts of the trip. The food
was great, lots to choose from and the service was outstanding! our waitor was a guy named Tolga from Turkey! We fell
madly in love with him and I actually cried when I said goodbye to him. He brought my husband, who loves to eat, 2-3 main
entrees every night and he brought me 2-3 deserts every night. He was amazing and I miss him !! We at breakfast and
lunch everyday in the Windjammer Cafe. The food was good, not great. It was quick though and that was what we wanted.
On the last morning we went to breakfast in the dining room to see Tolga one last time and the food was so much better,
we really regretted not eating breakfast there every morning! Sunday - at sea day We sat ny the pool all day. We got chairs
on the top level rather easily, chairs next to the pool were impossible to get until after lunch. we both got burned. You don't
realize how hot it is with the wind blowing so much!

Monday - Labadee We rented floating mats and did just that most of
the day - floated. Do Not Snorkel here! There is NOTHING to see. We had read that before and were so glad we didn't
waste our money! After lunch we went to the straw markets. If you don't like to be bothered, don't go here. We loved it
because we like to bargain with people. It is rather sad though how poor the Haitains are. We ended up getiing a wooden
tray , cups, and a bowl, all for $20.00. His starting price was 75.00! Tuesday -= San Juan We paid to take the Old San
Juan walking tour. If you like history and want to learn a lot this is a great choice. If you just want to see the sights and not
learn about them , then just walk around by yourself, don't waste your money on the tour. The tour was over by 2:30 so we
went and ate at Hard Rock Cafe and then headed back to the boat. Not a very exciting day.

Wednesday - ST. Thomas
Definitely the highlight of our trip. Absolutely beautiful. We paid $50 each to take the WILD THING excursion to Magens
Bay! Smart choice. It was Awsome! You take a speedboat around the island and then stop at Magen's Bay for two hours.
Magen's Bay was voted one of the mnost beautiful beaches in the world and it was! The boat docks about half a mile off
shore and you can jump off of it, snorkel, sun bathe, anf drink lots of free Rum Punch! That's right free! Its the only time
you'll get a free drink on this trip so we definitely took advantage of that! Were so glad we took that excursion. It was worth
the $100! Thursday - At Sea We stayed by the pool all day again. Try to get in a nap sometime today because it is the
night for the Midnight Gala Buffet and it is amazing! Friday - Coco Cay We woke up to rain and it styed gloomy until 2:00.
But we went to the island anyway. We snorkeled here. It was pretty good. Lots of fish and sting rays. Definitely wait to
snorkel here and not at Labadee. Nice beach. There were a few shops to buy T-Shirts. Nice shade too if you've had too
much sun already. Saturday - Maimi Our flight left early so we were the first people to get off the boat. It was very easy!!

All in all we really enjoyed our trip. We hope to take another cruise soon , but we would never go on this itenary again.
Once you've visited these stops you won't want to go back, except for St. Thomas. We would go back though, just to see
our waitor Tolga!

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