rccl-splendour6

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Dave Grant
Email: davegrant@telus.net
Age: 43
Occupation: Mechanic
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 12/10/1999
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
Cabin: 8050C
FoodDiningRoom: 89
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 87
DiningRoomService: 93
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 83
DeckService: 88
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 88
EntertShowLounge: 94
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 89
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 65
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 93
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 82
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Feb 2000
Time: 22:32:10
Remote Name: a3g414f8y28wa.bc.hsia.telus.net
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I had some excellent service, as well as some terrible service on our honeymoon cruise
aboard the Splendour of the Seas sailing from December 10th through 20th, 1999. As this was the
first cruise for both of us, we were fortunate enough to have many friends and family enlighten us on
what to expect. We traveled from Orlando via cruise connection tour bus to the Miami pier. All went
smoothly through Customs and security. Within a short time of boarding we met our cabin steward,
Moses. He introduced himself and assured us that our cabin would be kept clean and tidy, and if we
needed anything to simply let him know. Throughout the entire cruise his service was exceptional.
Our ice bucket was always full, the bed made complete with cushions arranged differently daily, and
always fresh towels in the wash room. During the cruise we were surprised to learn that the ship had
not been fully booked. Apparently RCCL sold the remainder of the ship to retirement homes in the
immediate area.

This would explain the high number of elderly passengers, and consequently the
number of falls, accidents, complaints, and bickering. One gentleman across the hall from us said
he was planning to give a bad report on our cabin steward as when he was cleaning this
gentleman’s room he tuned the TV to the music channel. Needless to say with attitudes as this from
this type of clientele the staff in general was on pins and needles the entire trip. We understand it
would not be good business sense to sail with anything but a full ship, however selling off to seniors
who paid very little for their accommodation, constantly complain, slow down most activities, and
refuse to tip is a real slap in the face to those of us traveling thousands of miles and paying top
dollar for our cruise.

Our dining experience was truly wonderful for the most part. Our waiter
Antonio, and assistant waiter Atilla were fantastic. Both were very attentive and helpful each and
every time we dined at our table. It made each evenings dinner something we looked forward to with
anticipation. We never did find out the name of our Head Waiter. Never once did he greet us in the
dining room, and the two times he did approach our table we happened to be in the middle of our
main course. It seems he was spending all of his time at the table of one of the RCCL entertainers.
This again was quite an insult to us. General seating for breakfast was also a big disappointment.
On one occasion after the night before staff party, we could not get any service at all. Our assistant
waiter was asked to pour water. He poured one glass instead of eight. When we joked with him
about the party he replied that he was entitled to his private time. He went on to say that this is a
multimillion dollar corporation and they can’t even keep food on the ship. We left the dining room
without any breakfast as the waiter left his station 4 times as our food sat getting cold. There was
also an incident after the rescue of 11 crew members from a sunken freighter.

As we were going to
be some 7 hours late arriving in Aruba our shore excursions were missed. We decided to change
our snorkeling tour to Curacao from Aruba. This apparently was not to be as the shore excursion
desk did not open up to accommodate changes. Upon inquiring at the Pursers desk we were told
the Excursion desk would open up at 5:00 PM and not before as the crew was too upset over the
rescue to change their schedules. It would seem to me that the customers schedules should have
been of some importance. All in all our honeymoon cruise was enjoyable despite some of the
setbacks. The cruise director staff were terrific. Hector, Scott, Chris, and Allie were always smiling
and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. They indeed made the cruise worthwhile. Elma in
the Schooner bar was also a terrific person, and a credit to the ship. We will no doubt go on cruises
in the future, as will friends and relatives, but at this point I would recommend to them to look at a
different cruise line. When someone pays the amount of money we spent, they should be able to
expect nothing but the best, and we certainly did not with RCCL.

Name: Rod Hoots
Email: rhoots@erols.com
Age: 71
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 31
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 7 Feb 00 (11 days)
Itinerary: Miami-Western Carib-Miami
Cabin: 8550/C
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 70
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 70
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Feb 2000
Time: 18:24:20
Remote Name: cache-1.spg.va.webcache.rcn.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was the 9th cruise on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) for my wife and me. We drove to
Miami. RCCL did not furnish any information for those driving to the port and when I called (at my
expense) was given incorrect directions. After arrival at the ship we dropped off our luggage and
went to the parking area and were told by the attendant that we had to pay $10 per day in advance
($110) by cash or Traveller's Checks - no credit cards. It would have been very helpful if RCCL had
told us this in advance. The boarding procedure was OK but we were not escorted to our stateroom.
The cabin, C Category, was very spacious and comfortable. In general, we were pleased with the
cruise but there were several minor shortcomings - there were no "live" movies - the in-room TV did
not report time or position even though there was a channel for that - there was not a clergyman on
board (in our case a priest) - snacks were not served with drinks in the bars. This may sound
snobbish but we did not appreciate having crew members drinking in the same bar with the
passengers - this will eventually lead to unpleasant incidents. One major complaint is that on a
formal dinner night a passenger came to the dining room wearing a scruffy looking T-shirt and
slacks - the dining room supervisors did absolutely nothing, even after we brought it to their
attention. We agree with a previous comment on this site that the ship needs refurbishing - it didn't
detract from our enjoyment of the cruise but the furniture and carpeting in the staterooms were
somewhat shabby. On the positive side, the Cruise Director and his staff were the best. The Director
was personally involved in everything and his enthusiasm and sense of humor spread to the rest. All
of the activities that we participated in were well run and fun. The entertainment was also excellent -
the best we've seen on a cruise for quite a while - oldies but goodies types such as the Coasters.
There were plenty of opportunities for dancing, with excellent combos in the lounges. The food and
food service was also above average with the food well prepared and of good variety. Room service
was excellent. The head chef is Austrian and the food is generally continental style. We took two
tours (Grand Cayman Highlights and Turtle Farm and Curacao Highlights) that were well run and
interesting. Those who participated in snorkeling and scuba tours seemed to be satisfied. There
was a good mix of passengers, age and experience-wise and everyone seemed to be enjoying
themselves. All in all, a good cruising experience.

Name: Charlie & Johnnie Brocato
Email: charlie_b@sprynet.com
Age: 60's
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: May 17, 2000
Itinerary: Mediterranean, Spain, France, Italy
Cabin: 8082/C
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 10
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Jun 2000
Time: 11:37:26
Remote Name: 209.138.186.65
Remote User:

Comments

Provided own air transportation as we found it to be less expensive than offered by RCI. However took
advantage of Royal Connections Transfers and they worked great. Found luggage in stateroom shortly after
arrival. Air travel was from Washington D.C. via Paris to Barcelonia with Air France. Tempo class was
adequate and the food, etc was very good. Wine and Scotch free and plentiful. All flights were on time.

The Splendor is a great ship. All facilities were clean and food was in abundance day and night. The ships
crew was professional and quite helpful. Our Room Steward was the best we ever had. Entertainment was
first class with one night's exception, But one out of ten was not bad. All ports visited were quite exciting, but it
would have been nice for the Cruise Line to enclude transportation from pier to city as a part of their charge.
Some ports were not readily accessable to the towns and shuttle service was at a cost.Tours taken were very
good and their costs were generally fair.

Rented Tux from RCI provider and found it in the stateroom closet shortly after arriving on board. There were
three formal nights, but I wore a suit one night just for a break. Our dinner table partners did not wear tux's,
and one would not dine in the dining room on the formal nights since he didn,t have one. The other men wore
suits or sport coats and this was fine. There was a good mixture of apparel. We checked our table
assignment as soon as we boarded and were not too pleased, so we immediately requested reassignment to
a window table. They were quite accomadating to our wishes and we had very compatable table companions.

The Windjammer Lounge buffets were quite satisfactory for those times we opted not to go to the dining
room, but if you wanted good eggs for breakfast it was necessary to go to the dining room. The scrambled
eggs on the buffet were not very good and if you wanted an ommlet there was a wait. Dining room breakfast
offered a much better variety. The best ports visited from our view Were Venice and Villefranche. There were
no bad ports. Excursions to Pisa, Pompeii, and Taramina were good and Rome On Our Own was fine.

On the down side. the $1.76 for sodas and the $2.88 for bottle water seemed over priced, and experience
with the Ships Doctor was less than satisfactory. Otherwise, there was not anything to complain about.

One thing we found, to our delight, was that E-Mail facilities were available, and while the cost was $.50 cents
per minute. It was much less expensive than phone calls and took care of the difference in time. It worked via
satallite and was available at all times. We used it every night to keep in touch with family. One bit of advice.
Since you can't delete any of your messages. you must download all messages at your server. In our case
this built to 76 by cruise end, and at 50 cents per minute cost a bit. Stop any daily or controlable
corospondance before you leave home. News letters, etc.

As you can infer. we throughly enjoyed this experience and would not hesitate to travel on the Splendor
again.

Name: Steve J. Garrod
Email: stevegarrod@msn.com
Age: 23
Occupation: Travel Industry
NumberOfCruises: 18
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: May 17, 2000
Itinerary: Mediterranean
Cabin: 6568
FoodDiningRoom: 75
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 98
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 98
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Jun 2000
Time: 23:58:44
Remote Name: 1cust175.tnt12.chi5.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

Cruise In Review – Splendour of the Seas May 17th through May 29th, 2000

As there are many reviews available of the Splendour of the Seas herself, I have kept a review of the ship
itself to a minimum and accentuated other aspects of the journey. In preface, I spent one week in Berlin,
Germany prior to the cruise and flew into Barcelona one night before the voyage to enjoy some of the city. I
highly recommend at least one overnight stay in beautiful Barcelona to see the city as well as reduce jet lag.
This will allow you to begin enjoying the ship and her activities right from the start. For my review, I’ll detail
the journey day-by-day including shore excursions and port information therein. Barcelona itself is a
fantastic city to explore on one’s own or to participate in an organized tour. There is so much to see that a
couple of days barely does justice. I stayed at the Hotel Majestic on the Passeig de Gràcia, being very near
to the shopping mecca of las Ramblas. I chose to walk from my hotel as far away and toward the water as I
could go and then to take the Metro back to my hotel at the end of the day. Being able to speak Spanish
helped me in this process but is not necessary to figure out the subway system. When I arrived at the water
where cruise ships dock (Port Vell/Port Olypmic), I noticed that the Radisson Diamond was occupying the
pier. Upon returning to the Hotel Majestic and having a quick nap, I headed out to a street café to enjoy the
evening air and watch the passers by. Before heading back to the hotel for the evening, I grabbed a coffee
from McDonald’s.

As funny as it sounds, it still proved to be more of a stronger, typically European coffee
blend. Nearly any coffee one orders in Europe is much stronger than in the United States and some prefer
to use cream just for that reason. By about 10:00 p.m. I returned to the lobby of the Hotel Majestic. This is a
very beautiful hotel with a clean marble décor and a bright atmosphere. If you plan to book here in the
future, be aware that you must insert your room key into a slot near the room door in order for the lights to
remain on! If not, they power off after about one minute. For about 1,300 pesetas, there is a delightful
European-style buffet available in the morning for breakfast. By this, you won’t find much along the lines of
French toast or omelettes, but rather a selection of cereals, deli meats, rolls, fruit, and juices. The attentive
personnel come around to pour coffee as well. Shortly after breakfast I prepared myself to check out and
head to the Splendour of the Seas. I could already see guests entering the lobby who had just disembarked
the ship. By approximately 11:00 a.m., I was in a taxi on the way to the port facilities. Day 1 – Barcelona,
Spain – Embarkation As of this publication, the port facilities are under heavy renovation and there is a lot
of industry around the pier.

After driving through most of this, the beautiful Splendour of the Seas came into
view. As I walked into the terminal building, I was about the 20th person in line before embarkation had even
begun. Check-in was very smooth as identification cards are distributed right at the counter and they serve
as both your onboard credit card and your stateroom key. Embarkation took place on the deck one
gangway so I took the lift up to my stateroom, 6568, just off of the Centrum. The stateroom was very well
maintained and very clean. This category offers two lower beds, a vanity/desk, sofa, and table. I requested
for the two beds to combine into a larger bed since I was traveling solo. My stateroom attendant, Roger, was
one of the best I have experienced in my years of cruising! For the rest of the embarkation afternoon, I
enjoyed the “Welcome Aboard” buffet in the Windjammer Café, explored the ship, and met up with staff
whom I had immediately recognized around the ship. In exploring the Splendour of the Seas, I decided that
this is by far one of the most beautiful ships that I have been on. I have always loved the Rhapsody, Vision,
and Enchantment of the Seas but the Splendour pars up – if not exceeds – the others in design. Splendour,
like her sister Legend, offers and alternate layout on the entertainment decks than the other Vision-class
ships do. Some do not prefer this layout but I took an immediate liking to it and enjoyed it throughout the
voyage. After thoroughly exploring the ship, I took a small nap until the mandatory lifeboat mustering. We
discovered that we would be sailing late at 7:00 p.m. due to flight delays.

I decided to skip dinner in the King
and I Dining Room and watch us sail away from Barcelona. Instead, I took part in the casual dining offered in
the Windjammer Café. Here, there is either an abbreviated dining room menu or a buffet-style meal. We
sailed out at exactly 7:00 p.m., directly following Thompson Cruises’ Topaz. There was a single-seating
show in the 42nd St. Theatre. This was offered because there were many guests not attending due to
having just flown in that day. During the show we met cruise director Parker Cristan and witnessed the talent
of the “Gentleman Juggler” Kriztian Kristoff. After the show I headed up to the Top Hat Lounge and enjoyed
my usual white wine with some guests at the bar whom I would socialize with throughout the voyage,
including bar server Stefan. The show band, Atlantis, performed there in the evenings between organized
cruise staff activities. Even later was an “Anchors Aweigh” party in the Viking Crown Lounge and “Dancing
through the Years” with d.j. Ricco.

Overall, the ship’s atmosphere remained quiet from all of the early
sleepers this evening. Day 2 – Marseilles, France No time was to be wasted to get out and see the beautiful
country of France! I woke up to see us pulling alongside the port with a beautiful sunny day ahead of us.
Marseilles is a beautiful port city and also the second largest city in France after Paris. This day I took part
in the shore excursion «Les Baux». On this tour, there is so much to see in terms of the beautiful provincial
countryside and quaint villages. Our first stop was St. Remy en Provence to view the beautiful stone figures
named “Les Antiques”. We proceeded in our coach for a beautiful photo stop at the wine caves of Sarragon.
Marie, our guide, encouraged us to not go into the caves as we’d never be able to return back on our own
two feet! After this stop it was time to proceed to the focus of the excursion. We arrived at Les Baux and
then had plenty of time to explore this beautiful, quaint village on our own. There are many small shops,
cafés, and breath taking views to indulge in. I chose to go to a small restaurant and have an authentic
French specialty, a Croque Monsieur. After having this time to wander and explore, the bus awaited to bring
us back to the ship in Marseilles, about 45 minutes in length. That evening was my first appearance in the
King and I Dining Room and I met our waiter Ismail and assistant waiter Stefan.

I also met the five others who
shared the table and made the dining experience so interesting, yet wonderful! In contrary to what the
typical 7-night cruises offer in terms of theme nights, the King and I provided a variety of European
continental selections changing each evening. The two-level, glass-walled dining room also provides
spectacular views of sailing from port. I was fortunate enough to have a table directly next to the window on
the main level. This evening’s entertainment was Shirley Harmer and Beni Mason. The cruise staff activity in
the Top Hat Lounge was Bim Bam Boom – a team activity which pays off if you “think like your fellow
passengers”. There was some ship’s movement this evening in the seas but the rest of the voyage was like
sailing on glass! Day 3 – Livorno, Italy On this morning we docked bright and early in the port and industrial
area of Livorno, the gateway for the city that most guests elected to see – Florence! I took part in the
«Taste of Florence» excursion. The tour started with an hour-plus ride into Florence with a stop at an
AutoGrill for a restroom break. The AutoGrills are multi-purpose oases that offer shops, restaurants, fuel,
and another amenities.

When we reached Florence, our bus tour guide turned the show over to Paola who
would take us through Florence itself. Paola was one of the very best tour guides that I’ve experienced this
trip. She was friendly, personable, and had a true zest for the material she spoke of. We had about two
hours of guided information throughout the city. We were fully explained the history and culture of such
places as the Santa Maria Novella Church, Piazza di San Giovanni, Piazza della Repubblica, and the Piazza
della Signorina where we could get photos of the copy statues of David and Neptune. We proceeded on to
one of the most important sites in Florence – the Piazza di Santa Croce. The Church of Santa Croce houses
the tomb of Michelangelo and is representative of Gothic styles of the 16th century reformation and
counter-reformation periods. We then had several hours to proceed off on our own. I walked along the Arno
River to find a nice local restaurant to have lunch. It is located just before the Ponte Vecchio and is called
La Minga. It was a wonderful opportunity to use my Italian and have a local plate of salad, vegetables, and
prosciutto. The rest of my time was spent back-tracking the tour information and indulging in a local gelati.
One word of caution in any city in Europe, do not assume that restrooms are readily available! In fact, I
found Florence to be one of the most difficult. When one does find one, there may be a fee of at least 1,000
Lire.

After our free time, we met back at the Piazza di Santa Croce and proceeded to our coach. Like with
many of the tours, this ride back gave us the time for a well-deserved nap! For all of my tours, I either
arrived back with just enough time to shower and dress for dinner or decide to eat in the Windjammer Café.
That night in the 42nd St. Theatre was singer/entertainer Domenick Allen with his multitude of musical
abilities. The activity in the Top Hat Lounge was t.v./movie trivia which I found interesting but only knew a
couple of answers to! I truly enjoyed the Top Hat Lounge and believe that she is the most beautiful of the
alternative lounges in the fleet. Where this lounge is normally an “aft lounge” on other RCI ships, the Top
Hat is located forward just above the theatre. The same is true only for Legend of the Seas as well with the
Anchors Aweigh Lounge above the That’s Entertainment! Theatre. Day 4 – Naples, Italy We arrived early
into Naples and I went up to the Windjammer Café for an early breakfast. The Windjammer consistently
delivered a great variety of items for an American style breakfast. It doesn’t take long to discover that many
products are brought aboard from Europe instead of the U.S.A. For instance, I noticed the majority of guests
trying to figure out which of the milk cartons were non-fat, etc.

This is obviously a more sensible approach
for the company versus “importing” from the U.S.A. This day, the tour for me was «The Gulf of Campania –
with Three Sites». We met our guide, Giuseppe, and headed to our first attraction/washroom stop – a
Cameo factory. Some did find some nice goods to purchase but others just stretched their legs. We
proceeded to the excavations of Pompeii to explore the fascinating and ingenious city that was once buried
beneath thirty feet of ash. Two-thirds of it is complete but the rest is still being excavated. We explored and
learned all about such sites as the Forum, food market, shops, and homes. Perhaps one of the most
fascinating sites was the originally preserved bodies on display from when they were originally buried in ash.
There was no time to explore on our own but the opportunities to buy souvenirs abounded. We boarded our
coach and headed for the breathtaking Amalfi Drive overlooking beautiful beaches and villages. The M/S
Saga Rose was at anchor in the harbour, tendering into Sorrento. Our stop at Sorrento began with a full,
authentic lunch at La Lanterna. This was a wonderful meal giving us the taste of authentic southern Italian
cuisine. We had only 45 minutes to explore downtown Sorrento before walking to our hydrofoil water craft to
the beautiful island of Capri. This walk down involved nearly 500 steps and sloping grades. The hydrofoil
ride to Capri lasted nearly 45 minutes.

Upon arriving to the island, we took a trolley transport to A Capri at
the top of a mountain for some of the most breathtaking views yet to come! Giuseppe gave us the choice to
either stay in town or join him for a 25-minute walk to a lookout site. Most of us joined him and we had
absolutely no regret! An interesting fact is that absolutely no fuel-powered vehicles are allowed in the
streets of the small town. After capturing some fantastic photos, we had the chance to walk back on our own
and shop. We then took the trolley back to the hydrofoil and the hydrofoil to the Splendour of the Seas in
Naples. To say the least, I opted to casually prepare for dinner and eat in the Windjammer Café where I saw
two of my other tablemates. After eating I witnessed a fantastic sailaway from deck ten. Locals watched us in
awe from the pier and we saluted them back with the resonating ship’s whistle. It was a great experience and
definitely sent chills all over! After sailaway I got my close-up seat for the Wave Revue Production of “The
Beat Goes On” in the 42nd St. Theatre. This was a very energetic production guiding us through different
styles of music and entertainment and the cast did a fantastic job, to say the least! That night in the Top Hat
Lounge was the Country & Western ho-down including the legendary “Western Quest” adult scavenger hunt
hosted by cruise director Parker Cristan.

Day Five – At Sea After having had several tour-intensive days,
this day at sea was much anticipated! It was a great chance to sleep in, enjoy the sea, write postcards, and
have plenty of time to read and write in my journal. This day brought the first formal night with the captain’s
cocktail party. Since the first few days are busy with ports of call, the cocktail party is done on the first sea
day and I found this to be a wonderful idea! I met up with some friends from around the ship to see the
captain introduce his staff. The show for the evening was Brooks Aehron, a concert pianist. It was truly a
fantastic show and he also performed an encore on the next sea day as a matinée. Photo opportunities
abounded this evening for all who were interested in formal portraits – including myself! The entertainment
in the Top Hat Lounge that evening was “Name That Tune”. As with the other evenings, the fun continued in
the Viking Crown Lounge where I saw a much larger crowd than I had imagined for a Europe cruise! Day Six
– Venice, Italy (I) On this day, the Splendour of the Seas docked at 10:00 a.m. but some of the best scenery
was actually viewed before we docked! When arriving into Venice, it is very important to be on the top deck
(or even the Promenade deck for that matter) at least an hour ahead of time.

As the ship enters the Grand
Canal, there is nothing but spectacular scenery to take in! One is able to look into the center of town and
down the tiny water ways that make Venice so well-known. During our transit down the canal, the port
specialist Graham McCrorie spoke over the public address system to inform everyone of what we were
viewing on the outer decks. Shortly after docking, tours began to head off as well as the shuttle service for
independent guests into the city. I caught a shuttle at approximately 11:00 a.m. and made it a day off on my
own. This is one of the most incredible cities to go off and “get lost” in. The journey begins at the Piazza San
Marco and from there the water canals and bridge take you all over the city if you let them! All of the images
that one has of Venice came alive such as gondolas, beautiful music, and museums. I decided to walk as far
as I could until I spotted no other tourists and then have lunch there! This journey took me well past the
Rialto Bridge into some tiny residential ways until I found a café called Jazz Club Novecento. The Rialto
Bridge is a beautiful creation housing a multitude of shops and is located nearby to an open air vegetable,
fruit, and fish market.

At the café that I found, I had a vegetarian pizza that was the best I have ever tasted!
It appeared gigantic but its thin crust made up for the overwhelming diameter. This quaint back street was
wonderful to sit outside and dine while watching native passers by. I managed to find my way back to tourism
quite easily and found a small Internet café along the way. There are many photo opportunities everywhere
you look and the Piazza San Marco is no exception with Doge’s Palace and the San Marco Basilica. Many
locals and visitors camp out here to dine and people watch even though pigeons flock the area demand
most of the attention! Other sites to explore which require extra traveling include the islands of Murano,
Burano, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and the Santa Maria Della Salute. Toward the end of the day I
proceeded back to the tender dispatch area and lined up for the shuttle back to the Splendour of the Seas.
This was a busy time (approximately 4:30 p.m.) as many guests were heading back to catch dinner. Dinner
and shipboard life were very relaxed in that the ship remained docked overnight and many chose to come
and go as they pleased. After dinner at 8:30 p.m. I headed down to the pier to catch my first organized
excursion for Venice, the «Evening Gondola Serenade».

What trip to Venice is complete without a gondola
ride, right? This was a wonderful trip and I joined a family of three as we glided through the canals, enjoyed
a singer with accordion, and spoke with our gondolier. After the gondola ride, one had the choice of
catching the express shuttle to Splendour of the Seas or enjoying the nightlife that Venice has to offer. I
stayed in town for about thirty minutes to see the city by night and then elected to head back to the ship.
The entertainment onboard the ship was limited on this evening as there were not many guests on board
but the movie “Galaxy Quest” ran in the 42nd St. Theatre for those who preferred. I met up with staff on the
tender ride back and elected to join them in an organized crew party and catch up with some great friends!
Day Seven – Venice, Italy (II) Having had no morning excursions, I chose to wake up later on this day and
casually have breakfast in the Windjammer Café and linger over coffee. My only shore excursion for the day
was «The Masterpieces of Venice», meeting at 1:30 PM in the Top Hat Lounge. I was highly anticipating this
tour in order to get an alternate view of Italy – through the artwork and pieces of work that create the
culture. All shore excursions are highly efficient and punctual.

All tours meet in one of three locations: the
Top Hat Lounge, 42nd St. Theatre, or on the pier shoreside. It is very difficult to not know exactly where and
when your tour meets but it does happen and tours are missed! For «The Masterpieces of Venice», we
were lead to the pier and then into our coach for a walking tour of two sites. Our first site was the Scuola
San Marco and is one of the most important in terms of Renaissance art. Our tour guide Antonella did a
fantastic job pointing out points such as how man is in the center of the piece and two diagonal lines draw all
action around the subject. Most of the focus in the Scuola San Marco is on the ceiling, especially the work of
Tintoretto who incorporated humanity and believed that life is drama, not an epic. After our first site we
proceeded through a quaint village on to the Basilica dei Frari, a gothic cathedral. We learned of many
great artists such as Giovanni Bellini and the details that created religious art such as the use of the
precious colours gold and blue. We had the opportunity to ask Antonella any questions that we had outside
of the church before we caught our shuttle boats back to the ship. We were able to enjoy a beautiful ride
down the Grand Canal and see locals in the windows of their residences before we passed the Peggy
Guggenheim Museum. Just as we had entered Venice with grand style, so would we leave! At approximately
6:00 PM the Splendour of the Seas glided astern and proceeded for the Grand Canal.

I secured a spot on
the port side aft section of deck 10 with a friend of mine from the staff and had my camera in hand. We
commanded the attention of all of the locals as the Splendour of the Seas was definitely the largest and
most breathtaking site to see sailing down the channel for some time. I took some of the same photos exiting
Venice as I had done just a day before entering but the difference in sunlight created a more unique
perspective. By 6:45 PM I headed to dinner to enjoy the rest of sailaway in the comfort of my dining table. I
made sure to get to the 42nd St. Theatre very early tonight for the performance of “Starstruck” . I have seen
“Starstruck” before on Grandeur of the Seas but that was in 1997 and I was eager to see it again. I recalled
the main theme but seeing my friends performing it again was a nice treat. After the show I headed up to the
Top Hat Lounge where Stefan had my white wine ready without hesitation! The cruise staff activity in the
lounge this evening was “Battle of the Sexes”.

Day Eight – At Sea Once again I thoroughly enjoyed a day at sea giving me the opportunity to stay out later
the night before, relax, write in my journal, and view the shipboard events. As I sat in the Windjammer Café
and imagined in my mind where we were sailing in terms of “the boot”, I noticed that we were sailing quite
slowly! Captain Grønhaug made an announcement shortly thereafter stating that we would halt for a couple
of hours for a medical disembarkation. At around noon, we coasted off of an industrial area of Italy to lower
a tender boat and bring a guest ashore. It is always unfortunate to see a medical disembarkation but it is
good to know that safety is usually never too far away. The rest of the day was very pleasant even though
the Boutiques of Centrum and Casino closed due to our proximity to the shoreline. Pianist Brooks Aehron
performed an encore “Classics for your Pleasure” in the 42nd St. Theatre at noon for guests who wanted to
see him perform again. This evening was the second formal night and, once again, there were many
opportunities for great photo taking and enjoying everyone in their formal wear – well, most everyone! I do
enjoy casual evenings but I never miss the opportunity to dress up and enjoy the formal atmosphere that a
ship has to offer. Just before dinner this evening at 6:00 PM we passed the active volcanic island of
Stromboli. Many of us were gathered on deck to catch a glimpse of it and take some photos. We could see
the smoke pouring from the top and also quite a bit of housing along the side. The entertainment for this
evening was Ms. Judy Kolba, a singer/comedienne. She was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed the show,
hoping that she would have an encore! The scheduled activity in the Top Hat Lounge was “Call My Bluff”,
otherwise known as “The Liar’s Club” on some other ships. The action continued in the Viking Crown
Lounge with “Disco Inferno” including the cruise director and staff performing as the Village People.

Day Nine – Messina, Sicily On this day we arrived alongside at Messina at approximately 8:00 a.m. Today I
planned to meet up with several staff members and we organized a bus ride to Taormina. Before I had left
for my trip, I was told that Taormina was definitely to be seen so I did not want to miss out. There was a crew
and staff lifeboat drill at 10:00 a.m. so I had breakfast and coffee through that before we were to meet at
11:00 a.m. on the pier. We boarded our bus and the ride took approximately an hour through the scenic
hills and roads into Taormina. We all decided to eat lunch at a street side café right in the center of town,
which was delightful. At that point we all had different intentions of what we wanted to get out of Taormina so
we set a time to meet back. Some people, like myself, wanted to get out and see some of the culture where
others wanted to experience the Italian shoe culture! From the center of town I proceeded to find the Greek
Theatre that Taormina is famous for. There is a small fee to enter on one’s own but it is completely worth it.
It is very easy to walk around on your own and take some wonderful photos. On the day that I was there, it
was a bit difficult to experience the sight of Mt. Etna but I understand that it is much easier on other days.
After walking throughout the theatre, I walked through the small streets of Taormina itself to see what local
goods I could find. I was interested in purchasing some local magazines for the practice in Italian but the
stores began to close quickly for the traditional lunch break.

So, unfortunately, all that I could find was a
bottled water before we needed to congregate to catch the bus back to the Splendour of the Seas. I took
some photos of the ship before walking back aboard ship as I realized that this could be one of the last days
to get easily-accessible views of the ship. We departed relatively early today from Messina (4:00 PM) and it
was quite windy and warm up on deck ten. Tonight’s suggest attire was smart casual so many either
dressed more formally or just casual. The show for tonight in the 42nd St. Theater was “the physical
comedy” of Yacov Noy, who was only moderately funny. A wonderful accent for the evening took place in the
Top Hat Lounge afterward with the Splendour Orchestra and their “Big Band Swing Party”. It was a
refreshing change-of-pace and really struck a chord with many guests on board. It wasn’t too much of a late
night out in the anticipation of a big day in Rome the following day. Day Ten – Civitavecchia, Italy Our arrival
into Civitavecchia was quite early and many tours left before 8:00 a.m.. My scheduled tour was to depart at
7:30 a.m. so I elected to have breakfast in the King and I Dining Room along with many others due to the
early departure of the most popular excursions. My tour for today was «Imperial Rome» and was slated to
last ten-and-a-half hours. We met our guide Giovanni on the bus and he was very humourous and
personable, especially for the early hour! We made the obligatory restroom stop at the AutoGrill and then
re-boarded the coach for the journey to Rome. Upon reaching Rome we could already see many crowds
and tell that it would be a warm day.

There is a long stretch of walking to get between all of the sites in
Rome and some couples elected to sit out at a café and meet up later. The first stop was the St. Peter in
Chains Basilica where the underlying meaning comes from the pope healing an upset woman by touching
her with the chains of St. Peter. There is beautiful artwork in the interior to depict this scene along with the
Moses statue, an original piece by Michelangelo. After leaving the church we walked about twenty minutes
to the Forum for a narration of the political parties that once dominated this area and ironically, that day,
there was a strike of some sort going on nearby and the voices resonated throughout. There were many
beautiful opportunities for photo taking, including the Triumphal Arch of Titus. A short walk further brought
us to the Colosseum at Piazzale del Colosseo – the famous structure best known as the arena of games
and gladiators. We received a brief narration about the Colosseum and then we had free-time to explore
and take photos. After all of our adventures thus far, it was time to head to lunch! We dined at Tanagra
Caffé Concerto, a lovely restaurant overlooking the Tiber River. We enjoyed authentic Italian cuisine,
wonderful espresso, and a fantastic dessert that I’ll never forget! After being satisfied with lunch, we
re-boarded our coach to head to the Vatican City. I was quite excited to approach this area as I have
learned so much about this area but have never seen it.

We were dropped off just adjacent to St. Peter’s
Basilica and then were given about two hours of free time. I elected to head right over to the Vatican
Museum which houses eight museums, five galleries, and the Sistene Chapel. After a nominal fee, one has
open access to browse through all of the areas even though photography is prohibited in many. I proceeded
through the Vatican Museum and approached the Sistene Chapel, which was beautiful and a unique
experience. As you enter, the sheer size and beauty take your breath away and guards cover the area to
ensure silence. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to completely cover both the Vatican Museum and
St. Peter’s Basilica, so many chose one or the other to make part of their day. We were supposed to meet
Giovanni at 4:30 PM and were held up for about a half-hour from one couple in particular. We proceeded to
our coach and were informed that they were on their way via taxi, so we waited another thirty minutes. Being
over an hour late, we started to drive back and the cab met up with us and dropped the couple off. We
didn’t arrive back to Splendour of the Seas until about 6:45 PM which made our tour nearly twelve hours! To
say the least, I opted to dine casually in the Windjammer Café after showering and dressing for tonight’s
casual theme. The “Spotlight Showtime” in the 42nd St. Theatre featured Gary Lovini, and international
violinist. This was a truly spectacular show and I had the honour to meet up and have drinks with him the
next evening, as well! In the Top Hat Lounge that evening was the “Not So Newlywed” game show with the
cruise director and staff. After the show was a late night cabaret show with the cruise director and the
Splendour big band.

Day Eleven – Villefranche, France At approximately 7:00 a.m., the Splendour of the
Seas dropped anchor off of the coast of Villefranche and there were partly cloudy skies. That cleared up
very quickly, though, and the rest of the day proved to be beautiful. Shore excursion guests had priority, of
course, to disembark the ship and independent guests could leave the ship by means of tender tickets.
After having a casual breakfast I met up with my tour group for the day, «Nice and Eze». We departed the
Top Hat Lounge and proceeded to our tender where the ride over was smooth and easy. At the pier we met
our tour guide and boarded the coach. Villefranche itself is a small, coastal town in the heart of the French
Riviera but is the gateway to spectacular cities such as Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, and Monaco. To get
there, one travels along breathtaking routes called the Lower, Middle, or Grand Corniche. These are
narrow, winding roads that never lack for incredible scenery. Our first stop was at a beautiful church of a
Russian theme. We really only had a few minutes to catch a photo of the church and walk up and read
about it. We boarded our coach to proceed to Nice.

We stepped off of the coach in the center of the city of
Nice and walked through a fresh flower, fruit, and vegetable market. We had approximately an hour to
explore so I walked the length of the main street and looked for some French reading material. I eventually
found my favourite, Paris Match! I truly love collecting foreign magazines in the languages I know and it is
particularly exciting to pour through them all in the native countries. We made several photo opportunity
stops along the way out and spotted the homes of Tina Turner and Elton John high in the mountains. The
drive from Nice to Eze was definitely one of the most beautiful that I’ve experienced – next to the Amalfi
Drive. The coach dropped us off just outside of the entrance to Eze and we walked up the sloping streets to
explore the town. There are many beautiful shops and cafés to explore and purchase local treasures from.
There is also an enticing spice stand outside which you’ll pass and smell its wonderful aroma. One is able to
walk to the very highest point of Eze but we really didn’t have the time so I took as many photos as I could
throughout the town. The streets are so steep that we witnessed a BMW driving up into town and its engine
nearly blew out with smoke pouring everywhere! We felt bad as we could not picture where the driver would
get her car from that point to be repaired! Shortly thereafter we met up with our coach to head back into
Villefranche where we could stay in town or catch a tender back to the Splendour of the Seas. This evening
was our last formal evening and provided many beautiful photo opportunities both indoors and outside on
deck.

From the dining room, there appeared to be a beautiful sunset outside so I decided to stroll on deck
ten with my camera. I was so happy that I did as it was a gorgeous evening with very little wind and many
beautiful seascape views. The Splendour of the Seas did not set sail until 10:00 PM giving guests extra
opportunity to spend time in beautiful Villefranche. The entertainment for the evening was “the golden voice”
of Hal Frazier whom I have seen on many occasions on the ships in the fleet. In the Top Hat Lounge was the
“Name That Tune” championship that was quite popular among the guests. Also very popular was the dance
music that followed featuring the Centrum Trio and members of the Splendour Big Band. Day Twelve – At
Sea It was wonderful to have a sea day just before disembarkation day for a number of reasons. I enjoyed
the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful days that we had throughout the voyage and, most importantly,
pack throughout the day. I certainly did not want to waste my final evening aboard packing so I had that
done well before dinner so that my evening was free for enjoying time with some good friends. During the
day were some of the typical final sea day activities such as the final art auction, the guest talent show, and
the “Splendour Derby” horse racing poolside.

It was wonderful to review all of the excursions throughout the
voyage with friends at dinner and exchange some personal information to stay in touch. The highlight for the
evening was certainly the Wave Revue production of “Welcome to Our World” in the 42nd St. Theatre. It
was a fantastic mélange of culture and music from various countries. Captain Grønhaug also made a
farewell address just before the show, which was very nice. In the Top Hat Lounge, the show band “Atlantis”
performed one last time even though the ship began to clear very quickly with guests bringing their luggage
out into the cabin corridors. This is always the sure sign that the voyage is just about at its end. I made the
most of my time with friends on board and stayed up nearly all night long. I figured that I could just sleep
extra in my over night in Barcelona, right?

Day Thirteen – Disembarkation Day / Barcelona / Conclusion I
woke up this morning quite early and really didn’t feel as if I slept much, as I hadn’t! I caught the last few
moments of breakfast in the Windjammer Café and then had a bit of rest in the Solarium as I waited for my
luggage tag colour to be called. The disembarkation process was very smooth and it went much better than
the processes I have seen closer to home! A friend of mine from the staff and I decided to spend the day in
Barcelona together so we walked off at nearly the same time and proceeded to find transportation into the
city. I highly recommend having pre-arranged transportation as I thought that I would “easily” find a taxi into
the city but there was an enormous line and it took us well over an hour to get one. Once we did get a taxi, it
took about twenty minutes to get where I was staying – at the Hilton Barcelona. I didn’t do quite as much in
this day as I had done before the cruise. After I dropped my friend back off to the Splendour of the Seas at
3:30 PM I shopped a bit at El Corte Inglés, took a small nap, and enjoyed dinner in the hotel. My flight was at
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning so I was up early the next day to get some breakfast and assure myself
plenty of time go get to the airport.

The flight home was a long nine-and-a-half hours due to the direction
and the jet stream. Overall, seeing the Mediterranean for the first time on board the Splendour of the Seas
was the best way possible and I truly enjoyed this cruise almost more than any other to date. Given the time
constraints, I would have surely stayed aboard for the repositioning and/or Baltic/Scandinavia voyages. The
Mediterranean itself is breathtaking and seeing it aboard the Splendour of the Seas was fantastic, indeed.
Having been on nearly all of the other ships in the Royal Caribbean family, I rate the Splendour as one of
the best for sure. Her interior design and colour scheme are very pleasing to the eye and I truly took a liking
to her deck layout and public room design. The entertainment lineup was some of the best that I have seen
and from speaking to other guests, many agreed. It was great to meet staff whom I am friends with as well as
make new friends on board … that always adds to the rich experience of sailing by ship. What better way is
there to see the world on a beautiful, sleek ship and enjoying time with good friends and company?

Name: Andrea C
Email: bocanda@hotmail.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Underwriter
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: May 29, 2000
Itinerary: Best of Europe
Cabin: 8555 M
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 78
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 89
ShoreExcVariety: 89
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 81
GoodForHoneymoon: 89
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 80
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 8
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Jun 2000
Time: 19:57:26
Remote Name: dsl27.argotech.net
Remote User:

Comments

Our cruise left from Barcelona, Spain, which I think is an unfortunate choice to begin the trip. A significant
number of passengers were pickpocket victims before we even got on the ship. I had a young man try to
tear off my fanny pack while I was out sightseeing at 7:30 in the morning. Luckily, the pack held and after
much hollering, kicking and fighting back a local man came to my aid. I had to board the ship bruised and
quite shaken. I spoke to many people on the ship that had less violent experiences but still were quite upset
about their experience. One man had his wallet taken out of his front pocket and lost $1800. These
incidents happened various times of the day by a variety of thieves including old ladies working in pairs.

The actual cruise was a more positive experience. At the dock, prior to getting on board we had to fill out
many forms. It would help if we had those ahead of time so we weren't so rushed. They took our plane ticket
for flying home which left me uncomfortable since I was not aware this was going to happen. This ended up
being a wonderful benefit thought since upon our disembarkation, they had our plane boarding passes
waiting for us at the airport.

The ship's design is magnificent. The Centrum is a very functional, dramatic, multistoried atrium. On the few
hot days we had, the decks were marvelous for sightseeing and sunbathing. The Solarium was the best
since it gave us the feel of being outdoors without having to withstand the cold biting wind. Viewing the fjord
after leaving Oslo was outstanding from the Viking Crown Lounge at the very top. The lounge also has
balconies so you can step out and take pictures without window glare. Views from the Windjammer Cafe'
were also excellent. I wish the Cafe' had been open longer hours even if there were no services since the
view from there sometimes was the best.

We had late seating for dinner which I don't think I will ever do again. Almost everyday I had to get up early
either for a tour excursion or some other on board ship activity. This limited my late night activies since I had
to go to bed right after eating to get enough rest. It was nice that some of the shows were prior to dinner for
those that had second seating so we didn't have to stay up to the wee hours of the morning.

All of our tour excursions were excellent. The guides were superb. I should mention that we didn't book our
trips prior to boarding. Once on board, many of the trips we wanted showed as sold out but I asked to be put
on the waiting list. We ended up getting every trip we wanted. They were very good about changing trips if
you changed your mind. Our only negative experience was the excursion person directed us to the wrong
bus so that we ended up going on a tour different then we had requested. They charged us for this more
expensive tour though it was their mistake. I made a suggestion at the end of the cruise that the tour buses
include the tour description along side the bus number. We didn't know we were on the wrong tour till the
bus had pulled away from the ship.

In Gibraltar, we took the Rock of Gibraltar tour. We were in a taxi van with 4 other people. Our taxi driver
was a real kick. She was a native therefore able to give a lot of insight and history.

In Portugal, we took the Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais tour. They should have staggered when the busses went to
each location (such as going to Sintra 1st then to Cascais). We were at Cascais too early in the morning to
enjoy the beaches and none of the shops were open. The shops at Sintra were overwhelmed by the larger
number of people from all of the buses. We didn't have enough time to stop at all the sites in Lisbon. I would
have preferred a tour that emphasized visits to the palaces & museum in Sintra but none was offered.

The ship had engine trouble on our way to La Havre so our trip to Paris became rushed. We did the 'Paris
on Your Own' tour. We only had 3 hours in Paris so did not get to see everything I had planned. The escort
on the bus was good. She handed out current Paris maps and answered our questions about getting
around. They ended up lowering the price charged for this excursion due to the shortened time.

At our next port, we did the Hamburg, Lubeck, and Brewery tour. The brewery was the oldest one in Lubeck.
Our walking tour through Lubeck was good but the area we were taken for shopping didn't have many
tourist oriented stores. Lunch was a smorgasbord located in a place that had formerly been a Catholic
Church's Hospital for children, women and the elderly. Much of the Hamburg tour was driving around the
expense homes located along the lake there. The guide put a real human face as to how the other side had
to cope during and after World War II, when she explained the struggles her family went through to survive
and stay together.

It was in Oslo where we were directed to the wrong tour. We had signed up for 'Artistic Oslo' but got 'Oslo
Highlights'. Our tour guide was a 10th year English teacher from a local school. His descriptions of the
murals in City Hall and sculptures in Vigeland Park were invaluable. It was raining while at Holmenkollen Ski
Jump so it was difficult to get a good feel for the area.

For Copenhagen, we went on the Castles of North Zealand tour. The stories our guide told us about Danish
Royal Life were priceless. Lunch was a Danish Smorgasbord which means lots of fish and soft cheeses. We
were able to leave the tour in downtown Copenhagen to go shopping. We took the ship shuttle ($4) back.
Most ports had shuttles to a central part of town arranged by the ship if you didn't want to figure out how to
get there on your own.

The food was good to excellent. I had a wonderful prime rib one night. The lobster dinner came with a butter
substitute and the lobster was rubbery so wasn't that great. The Baked Alaska was really good but the
presentation (the staff parading around the room with it on fire) wasn't as good as previous I've seen. They
didn't always have enough of each item for everyone that ordered such as running out of cinnamon ice
cream one night. Their frozen margaritas were some of the best I've ever had.

If you like Italian singers, you would have liked the on board entertainment. The ship's entertainment staff
put on their own shows too which were excellent. The steel drum band that played by the outside pool (even
in the very cold weather) were also very good.

We were told the crew were from 65 different countries. The passengers came from 50 different countries.

On our last night, those that were flying British Airlines were given plastic bags in which we sealed up our
suitcases. These were delivered straight from the ship to the airline for us. Leaving was very orderly and
organized.

I would go on another Royal Caribbean cruise though I would have slightly lower expectations for quality of
food, entertainment and service than if I went on another cruise line.

Back to RCCL Splendour