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Name: Barb Czarny
Email: Czarnys@cadvision.com
Age: 36
Occupation: Retail Manager
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Monarch
SailingDate: January 18, 98
Itinerary: South Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 97
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 70
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Jan 1998
Time: 09:59:15
Remote Name: 207.228.70.185
Remote User:
Comments
Since this was our first cruise, we had only our research to guide us. our first
disappointing event came with our air tickets.
We arrived on the last plane into San Juan at 8:00 PM. which got us to the ship at 9:15
PM. since the traffic at the pier was
backed up. I would definitely make my own air travel plans next time. The ship is
overwhelming when you first board, but
there was someone to guide us to our cabin which was on deck 3. We had a standard inside
cabin with no window. This
proved to be no problem for us as we were only in the room after dark. The cabin was small
but efficeint. There was plenty
of closet room and dresser drawers. This bathroom only had a shower but it was excellent.
I did find it strange that when
we arrived our room was not made up, but I think it was because we were so late, so we
never saw the room without the
bed pushed together. Our luggage arrive within the hour. Due to our late arrival we missed
the orienatation talks as well as
dinner so we went straight to the pool deck and ordered a drink. This was a misstake
because a minute later we had to go
back to our cabin for the lifeboat drills. The drills are mandatory and lasted over 45
minutes, not a great way to start our
trip. The midnight buffet was great, the selection of food was enough to please everyone
and the quality was excellent, I
would reccomend going early to avoid the long lines. We enjoyed all of the ports with St.
Maarten and Antigua being our
favorites and Martinque being our least favorite. I do suggest you go in to Martinque even
if only for pictures as it is very
pretty, but very dirty. We chose 3 shore excursions during the week, which we booked on
Sunday immediately upon
boarding. This turned out to be not needed though. You are able to change your mind later
which we did for one of them. I
never heard anyone say that they couldn't get the choice they wanted. In St. Thomas we
went snorkeling to Buck Is. and we
think this was the best tour all week. The snorkeling was amazing, we saw sea turtles,
sting rays, flouders, jelly fish and
many other tropical fish. Remember to bring small bills with you to tip the tour guide
when you return. In Barbados we went
to Harrisons Cave and this was an incredible place for pictures. The actual cave tour is
only 20 minutes long, but then the
bus takes on a tour of the island with a stop at an old church. This is a good tour for
sightseeing. In St. Maarten we took the
Golden Eagle Catamaran out to a desert island to snorkel. It was very windy that day and
the island was a bust, it took over
a half a hour to get off the catamaran and the snorkeling never happened, but ride out was
incredible with waves over 10
feet high. This excursion also had a open bar for the duration of the tour. In Antigua we
decided to take our own taxi out to
a quieter beach. We went to Darkwood beach. It was $20 one way but well worth it. There
was only 10 othe people at the
beach. There was a restaurant and a souvenier shop. The water was great and the view was
spectacular. Back on the ship.
The dining room meals were excellent, the food selection was different every night and the
waiters were very accomedating,
I did have problems with getting what I ordered though and had to keep having them correct
it. Our table partners were
probably not the best match. All were a bit older than us so it took a while to get
comfortable. We had the late sitting and I
have mixed ideas on whether this was good. It meant we didn't eat until 8:30 PM. and
therefore were never hungary for the
late buffet and almost always missed one of the activities. But with the early sitting at
6:00 PM. we would of had to get back
to the ship early to change and miss all of the sunsets, but would have gotten to all of
the evening activities and been
hungary for the late buffet. Poolside was the hot place on the ship, always something
happening. If you get there too late in
the afternoon the selection of seats is not great and they run out of towels. 3 days I
could not get a clean towel. Overall we
really enjoyed the cruise. I would go RCCL the next time but would now be experienced
enough to correct the areas we had
trouble with. I loved the mega liner because of the selection of things to do but I did
get a little tired of always having
someone around me. My suggestion to any first timers is get up early, 6:00 AM., and hit
the deck, there are no crowds and
the you can get some quiet time alone, and search out the area of the ship that isn't used
as much for that romantic time
the 2 of you are looking for. For us it was deck 8 stern end.
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