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Name: Don Hoeman
Email: dhoeman@stlnet.com
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 13
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 11/01/96
Itinerary: Barcelona - Miami
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 93
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 98
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 88
FoodVariety: 84
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 92
LoungeService: 93
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 92
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 88
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 96
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 97
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Nov 1996
Time: 22:59:08
Remote Name: 206.52.7.178
Remote User:
Comments
This is a large ship; but, the facilities are arranged so that I found everything
convenient. This ship is beautiful and exceptially well maintained. The Windjammer
(informal dining room) is exceptionally good - enclosed with a good view. The food was not
up to my recollections of previous RCCL cruises. The captain was the most personable
master I have sail with. Because the ship is new the cabins are spotless. The library is
the best I have seen on a ship. The informal lounges are great (Explores's, Crown &
Anchor, Card Room). The shows were OK, but only average. The deck space is exceptional.
Name: Nikki Kim
Email: nikki@caere.com
Age: 32
Occupation: software developer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 12/7/96
Itinerary: S. Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities: 88
FoodLidoDeck: 79
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 88
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 94
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 87
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 91
DeckSpace: 89
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 91
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Dec 1996
Time: 21:46:19
Remote Name: 206.184.167.18
Remote User:
Comments
This was my first cruise, and my husband's as well; we had a blast! I would definitely
recommend this cruise to first-timers. On this itinerary, Splendour spends a full day each
at Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten/St. Martin, and St. Thomas. We were worried that a cruise
would be too confining or regimented for us, but we always found plenty to do on this
cruise.
The ship itself is brand new and beautiful, with artwork on the walls and window views of
the ocean from almost any place in the ship; the crew keeps it spotlessly clean. We never
felt too crowded on this ship, and we never had trouble getting a good seat for the shows.
There is plenty of deck space, but the deck chairs on the pool deck are pretty much taken
by 10am on the at-sea days.
Our room was spacious and kept spotlessly clean, but the shower is very small, and some of
the outside rooms on deck B have portholes rather than picture windows; be warned!
The service was great, and we especially enjoyed the dancing, tray- twirling waiters on
the pool deck. The celebrity shows held in the 42nd Street Theater were all very good, but
the singing/dancing review was only fair. Overall, the passengers on the ship were much
younger than I expected, and the disco was always packed. Our favorite dance area was by
the pool at night with the Calypso band.
The food was very good in the main dining room. In particular, we had good luck with the
breads, desserts, appetizers, and soups; the entrees varied widely, the vegetables tended
to be overcooked, and the salads weren't too fresh. The food in the Windjammer was only
so-so, but both dining areas offered a beautiful window view. The gala buffet was
incredible.
Our favorite short excursion was the Explorer cruise to beautiful Marigot, followed by the
Curacao snorkeling tour which gives you a short tour of Curacao's coastline. Our best
shopping experience was in St. Maarten rather than in St. Thomas, since Splendour was the
only ship docked in St. Maarten that day.
Overall, the only advice I would give to someone taking this cruise is to get to the ship
as early as possible, even if you have to book your own flight. We used RCCL's air/sea
package and they put us on a flight that arrives in Puerto Rico at 7:30 PM, only 2 1/2
hours before the ship sails; we felt rushed and harried getting to the ship, and didn't
get to enjoy the first day on board.
Name: John Pawlak
Email: jpawlak@ustrotting.com
Age: 48
Occupation: Publicity/Public Relations
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 12/14/96
Itinerary: San Juan-Aruba-Curacao-St. Maarten-St. Thomas-San
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 93
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 92
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 98
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 92
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 97
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 97
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Jan 1997
Time: 13:55:29
Remote Name: 206.139.193.83
Remote User:
Comments
Introduction
Put my wife and I in the category of “firsters,” making our first, but certainly
not our last, cruise. We were fortunate enough to travel with nine others -- family and
friends -- and were able to enjoy plenty of group and individual activities.
The Ship and its Accommodations
New and gorgeous. Well engineered for human navigation. Spaces -- including stateroom (we
had category “H” - Outside Double) -- were generous in size. The bathroom
accommodations will be spartan and cramped for those such as I -- 6'3" and 286 -- but
truly not as bad as I was told or imagined prior to sailing. We would strongly consider
upgrading to a space with a veranda, if nothing else but to have a door to open to the
outside. Elsewhere, there were plenty of spaces in which to spend a quite moment, and the
ship never seemed crowded. Appointments to the dining rooms, buffets, pool area, barrooms,
and other public spaces are luxurious and ample.
The Crew
While we never got a chance to meet the captain, all his subordinates we had occasion to
meet were certainly outstanding. Our cabin steward was a delightful, young Jamaican woman
who was prompt and thorough in performing her duties, and displayed a bright, outgoing
attitude. The wait staff -- including the maître ’d -- was exemplary in every way. I
must praise the attitude of the balance of the ship’s staff. The casino staff was
also quite good, as well; they were certainly a more positively extroverted group than any
I had ever met in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
The Food
Although our more experienced travelling companions rated it as “average” to
“slightly above average,” I found our dining room meals to be excellent and
varied, with more than enough choices to please. The Windjammer buffets were vary good,
and offered variety as well. We did not attend one Midnight buffet, nor did we have
breakfast in the dining room (opting for the Windjammer), and only had lunch one day in
the dining room -- which was very good.
Tip: when they fire-up the pizza oven in the Solarium on deck 9 run -- do not walk -- to
get one (or more).
The Activities
Many and varied, and apparently rather enjoyable to those who took part. The theater shows
were -- among those I saw -- pretty good. The Domenick Allen show was outstanding; Steven
Bishop sucked; but the passenger talent show was an absolute hoot. Lounge entertainment
was awfully good, and worth stopping to give a listen. Won a few bucks betting the
“ponies” on deck, and actually came out a bit ahead in the casino, but opted out
of most of the activities by choice. In retrospect, I should have found a way to take the
tour of the bridge, but that’s a reason to return!
Shore Excursions
Generally pretty good. We did not book one in Aruba; found the tour on Curacao to be quite
interesting and well guided; and found the St. Maarten tour to be long, void of
highlights, and at the hands of a less than loquacious bus driver. At St. Thomas we did
the “Paradise Point and Shopping” thing, and found it excellent.
Tip: Make use of the Crown and Anchor Club in St. Thomas; we checked our bags, had a
drink, used the clean rest rooms, and it made for a more pleasant day.
Bumps Along the Way
Some items sent to the ship’s laundry was not returned and never found. The cabin
steward and chief steward did all they could to find the items -- although they never did.
Past the suggestion that we hadn’t sent them to the laundry (which we did), we filed
a report at the purser’s desk, followed up via an “800" number with Royal
Caribbean in Miami, and have been promised a check to cover the replacement cost of the
items.
Miscellaneous Tips:
If you like to avoid the music and sound of kids, frequent the Solarium pool and
whirlpools (the bartender, when he saw youngsters in the pool, discreetly switched on the
pool fountain and sent the kids scurrying); in any event, the Solarium’s ambiance is
much more serene than the outdoor pool -- and it’s where the pizza is!
If you want to sunbathe near the outdoor pool, get there early as prime chaises are spoken
for quickly.
Book your shore excursions early; by day two there were already some choices sold out.
Don’t even consider a post-cruise say in Puerto Rico -- just go ahead and book it.
Our choice was four nights at the Caribe Hilton and we had an absolute blast at this great
hotel, located in a warm and wonderful city. Plus, we didn’t have to fight
disembarkation hassle and the crowds at the airport on the day the ship docked.
Wait until the last night out to ship in the boutiques on board, since they have only a
limited time to hook you they make the prices slightly more attractive. (In any event,
they don’t seem to gouge. After all, they have to compete with duty-free shopping all
along the way).
Conclusion
Sorry for being so verbose, but there was just so much to see and do on the Splendour of
the Seas and in the ports she visited, as well as so many delightful sights, sounds, and
tastes to sample. I believe that this ship and its southern Caribbean itinerary would be
an excellent choice for you and your family.
Feel free to E-mail any other questions.
Name: Daniel P. Noonan
Email: daniel.p.noonan@snet.net
Age: 29
Occupation: Education Coordinator
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 1/25/97
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 88
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 92
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 93
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Feb 1997
Time: 21:03:55
Remote Name: 204.60.30.167
Remote User:
Comments
The Splendour is a very large ship that has an excellent crew to serve the guests. The
food is very good and the
food service staff is excellent. The main dining room is very nice. The Windjammer Cafe is
an excellent spot for
breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. (During afternoon tea RUN do not walk to have some of
the rice pudding. It is the
best you will ever have. Also, in the Solarium, pizza, burgers and chicken sandwiches are
served 23 hours a day.
The facilities aboard ship are excellent. The pools and hot tubs were drained and cleaned
nightly. The minature golf
course is very nice as well. The 42nd street theater is extreamly nice and the
entertainment was above average.
From musicals to the comedy of Wilde and Haines, there was always a good show to see.
The Cruise Director and his staff could have been more visible during sea days, however,
this did not alter the fun
had aboard.
The ports of call and the excursions were very good as well.
I highly recommend SPLENDOUR OF THE SEAS.
Name: Aaron Coldiron
Email: Aaron_Coldiron@bubbs.biola.edu
Age: 22
Occupation: Client Services Manager
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: February 22. 1997
Itinerary: Southern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 97
CruiseStaff: 91
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 93
DiningRoomService: 89
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 91
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 84
GoodForHoneymoon: 97
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 88
LoungeService: 91
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 89
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 94
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 94
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 94
Casino: 87
AirSeaProgram: 89
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark: 96
DiscoNightclubs: 89
DeckSpace: 94
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 94
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Mar 1997
Time: 00:43:25
Remote Name: 207.115.1.105
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I took the Splendour of the Seas for our honeymoon, and we had a wonderful
time. We found the ship to be beautiful and the staff excellent. We were fortunate enough
to get a room with a veranda, and it added a lot to our experience. Here are a few of our
highlights and the one lowlight.
Highlights:
Our room was marvelous and our cabin steward attentive and unseen. Our cabin steward
somehow managed to clean our room twice daily, yet we only saw him once and that was when
I had to run down to the room during dinner. Each room on this ship was provided with a
safe which made storing valuables very easy and efficient. Additionally, we had a
refridgerator in our room; one recommendation - either bring cokes with you or buy them at
your first port of call. We did the later and saved a bundle; cokes are $1.50 per can on
board!
The entertainment was excellent as expected, although I did find the Wave Review Dancers
to be a bit cheesy; I never did go for that Vegas stuff anyway. The comedian was hilarous,
and the singer was dynamic.
The shore excursions were good, but if you are pinching pennies you may want to buy a good
cruise tour book and make arrangements for your own excursions. I heard RCCL adds atleast
25% to their cost. Mountain Biking at Curacao was fun. Skip snorkeling at Pinel Island at
St. Maarten; instead, save any snorkeling for St. John.
We had breakfast in our cabins four times during the week. The food was good, although the
breakfast menu was limited compared to the exotic dishes you might try in the dining room.
It was wonderful to enjoy breakfast on our verandah.
Lowlight:
Whatever you do, where ever you go - DO NOT fly TWA. We got stuck on this airline (?)
because of the pending strike, and we regretted it there and back. They cancelled our
flight out and TWA ended up having to put us on American. Go figure. As a result, we had a
four + layover in Dallas and didn't get to the ship until 8pm that night.
Enjoy this wonderul ship. Email me if you have any questions.
Aaron_Coldiron@bubbs.biola.edu
Name: Theresa Shupp
Email: Tshupp@sunlink.net
Age: 37
Occupation: AAA Auto Travel Counselor
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: March 15 1997
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 97
FoodRoomService: 92
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 96
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 96
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 96
FoodVariety: 89
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 98
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 96
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 97
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 96
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Apr 1997
Time: 00:06:00
Remote Name: 204.170.184.50
Remote User:
Comments
I had a wonderful time on the splendour of the seas it is a beautiful ship and everything
was well maintained. The food in
the dining room both presentaion wise and taste wise was exceptional although I feel the
food in the windjammer and
that includes the midnight buffets that were served there were not. There were not as many
choices as there had been
when we were on the monarch but I would say the quality of what they did have was as good.
The buffets served in the
dining room were better in they had a better selection.
Also we had a excellent waiter and assistant waiter. table 45 up
stairs overlooking the dining room below was an excellent table also We had a wonderful
cabin steward who made little
animals out of our towels we had a swan and a rabbit and a monkey by the end of the cruise
we had a small zoo. I had
taken a cooler along and our cabin steward kept it filled, and also had always given us
the extra towels we had asked
for. we never really saw him after the first days but or room was always done when we
returned from either dinner or
breakfast, he was very efficient.
We did most of excursions on our own but we did do one through the ship's excursions
and although a good time was had by all I beleive that you can get better deals on your
own. and that is true of all lines
not just this one. The ship was kept spotless and everyone was friendly and helpful. I
only wish it could have lasted
longer.
Do not hesitate to sail the splendour she is a lovely ship. And although I loved the
monarch when we were on her
the cabins on the splendour are definatly bigger not by a whole lot but you will notice
the difference. Although the
bathrooms are the same. But I must admit there was plenty of room for all toiletries and
the was also plenty of room for
all the luggage and clothes in the room it was nicely laid our and had plenty of storage
space. The only small complaint I
have is that during the debarktation talk they should have lets us know about the taxi
strike in San Juan, and what our
options where if we were cruise only. They really could have handeled that alot I better I
thought. Anyway the splendour
is a great ship and a great value overall. If anyone has any questions do not hesitate to
E-mail me.
Name: Randy Shandle
Email: cahf54b@prod.com
Age: 51
Occupation: banker
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 9/29/96
Itinerary: Best of Europe
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 May 1997
Time: 11:04:00
Remote Name: 198.83.19.106
Remote User:
Comments
This was a wonderfule cruise on a brand new ship. We chose a Cat D with verandah and I now
am hooked on the
verandah concept. Nothing like sipping your morning coffee on the balcony without getting
all dressed for breakfast. We
spent 2 nights precruise in London through RCI pre cruise offering at the St.Ermins...a
wonderful and delightful hotel
across from Scotland Yard. RCI is well organized and profecient in their arrangements to
getting you to the dock ( an
hour or more bus ride to Harwich) The ship is gorgeous and all the amenities are in place.
The room (Cat D) was a
pleasant surprise in size, after hearing how small the RCI rooms are. The ship was
spotless, the activities well planned .
The food was a disappointment in that for twelve nights we had the same vegetable side
dish!!!! The food grade would be
a C. The casino was great and the personnel very friendly. All in all I rate the Splendour
a B+
Shore excursions ran like clockwork and were very good. The only negative was the air/sea
arrangements. They were
fine going over but coming back they booked us on the last flight of the day on Delta to
our home base and only allowed
us one hour to go through customs etc....We missed our plane and the resulting hassle
lugging bags to various terminals
at JFK to find a plane put a serious damper on the trip..
All in all a wonderful trip, wonderful crew, great itenarary and we loved it so much we
are taking the Splendour to the
Med in Oct.
Name: Robert Magill
Email: ibonobos@aol.com
Age: 65
Occupation: writer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 5/26/97
Itinerary: Europe
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 9999
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 89
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 89
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Jun 1997
Time: 09:01:50
Remote Name: 152.163.207.36
Remote User:
Comments
I felt the cruise director was inciped and insincere. As a result the productions were
universally 'pushed',i.e. enjoy this or
perish. Everything was hyped, even when of superior quality (this guy must think his
audience to be so dense we needed
to know how great the show was. Several of the shore excursions were weak, to say the
least. Tangiers was not
prepared to handle an influx of such great numbers. The Berlin trip was too expensive by
half and consisted of a bus ride,
trip to a department store!! and the worst meal any of us had had in ages.
Name: Joe Lyndon
Email: LuvRCCL@aol.com
Age: 49
Occupation: computer specialist
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: March 8, 1997
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 98
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 93
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 98
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Jun 1997
Time: 13:27:47
Remote Name: 158.111.86.49
Remote User:
Comments
A group of 8 from North Carolina spent a wonderful week aboard the beautiful Splendour of
the Seas. While the exterior
profile is not as graceful as the Sovereign class, the interior is absolutely spectacular
with carefully chosen colors, materials,
and art. Our meals in the King and I Dining Room were the highlight of the day because of
the excellant service and
converation provided by our waiter and assistant. The Solarium pool area was a great
location for a quick snack followed by
a nice nap. About the only negative on the ship was the location of the massage room.
Because they are located directly under
the jogging track, it was difficult to achieve total relaxation with the sound of
approaching runners. For an overall wonderful
vacation, the Splendour truly lived up to her name. We're already booked on the
Enchantment for next year.
Name: Jerry Rachman
Email: jerry@realtyagent.com
Age: 51
Occupation: Realtor
NumberOfCruises: 14
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: September 11, 1997
Itinerary: Best of Europe
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 65
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 88
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 96
CabinQuietness: 88
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 94
LoungeService: 98
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 68
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 82
Casino: 98
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Nov 1997
Time: 00:25:43
Remote Name: 205.139.56.232
Remote User:
Comments
I am a veteran cruiser and this was my first to Europe. The itinerary was very good. I
wanted one of the
pre-cruise packages in London,but it was booked up 6 months in advance. The ship was very
clean and our
outside room on the lowest deck was very adequate. I was on the sister ship, the Legend of
the Seas before.
Our female cabin steward, Andrea, was superb. Our dining room table was upstairs and we
could n not here
the dinner music. The waiter and assistant waiter were good. The head waiter was only on
the ship for one
purpose--to get a tip. He was useless. The cruise director was a stiff. The captain had
more personality. The
entertainment was either real good or real bad. The knife thrower was an insult to the
audience. The ports
and shore excursions were better than most trips. Prices for the excursions were fair.
Name: Mr. & Mrs. John L. Greenberg
Email: j.greenberg@intertnetmci.com
Age: 62
Occupation: Attorney
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: October 17, 1997
Itinerary: Mediterranean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 93
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 65
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 79
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Nov 1997
Time: 15:28:10
Remote Name: 166.55.52.91
Remote User:
Comments
We recently disembarked from your Mediterranean cruise of October 17, 1997, aboard the
Splendour Of The
Seas. It was a most magnificent cruise and we enjoyed our vacation very much.
We were particularly impressed with the grandeur and beauty of the ship's decor,
cleanliness and comfort of the
cabin.
The food service and preparation was exceptional and we were amazed at what a magnificent
presentation could
be made with eighteen hundred passengers aboard. Our waiter John, his assistant Fetty, and
the wine
stewardess, under the direction of our headwaiter, Joao; were most professional and
responded very positively to
all of our requests. They should be commended for their excellence!
We were however most disappointed in the shore excursions and with the port lecturer. As
to the shore
excursions, we wish to point out that they were more expensive then going on our own
individually and did not
cover the major attractions, ie: while in Florence, we were not able to see the statue of
DAVID, due to poor
planning and timing. Similarly, in Rome, the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel were
not accessible.
Conversely, there was absolutely no information and/or assistance for the independent
traveler. For instance, we
were given incorrect train schedules, shuttles did not go to railroad stations, and staff
was absolutely not
interested in helping the independent sightseer. There were no rental car arrangements
and/or telephone
communications between ship and shore while in dock.
Regarding the port lecturer, he was not knowledgeable about current events, locations,
restaurants, and
attractions. It would have been beneficial to have an information officer to answer to our
needs.
All of the above notwithstanding, we are anxiously looking forward to our next cruise with
Royal Caribbean. (This
was our 2nd cruise with RCCL)
Name: Theodore Ouellette
Email: touellet@students.uwf.edu
Age: 67
Occupation: re
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: nov 12
Itinerary: 75
FoodDiningRoom: 20
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 65
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 20
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 10
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 20
BeautySalonStaff: 65
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 74
ExerciseFacilities: 75
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 60
EntertainmentPoolside: 70
CruiseActivities: 50
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities: 85
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Dec 1997
Time: 09:17:36
Remote Name: 143.88.9.39
Remote User:
Comments
Dear sir,We went on splendour of the sea from nov.12 to the 22.And i would like to tell
you about are cruise.The
ship is beautiful we love it ,the service was great ,but what is the most important thing
about a cruise,THE
FOOD,and the buffets . I have been on many cruises and this was the worst meals i have
ever had. .The service
was very good but the food was not.We had 3 meals out of 10 days that we could eat.We went
to the solarium to
get hamburgers and hot dogs ,were we waited in line with 100 other people to get
them.There were only 2
people serving all those people.I just dont believe such a beautiful ship could serve such
lousy meals.Every one
onboard said the same thing that i talk to. I would never refer this ship to any of are
friends. I would rather go on
a old ship with good food then then a new ship with louse food. We feel like we are
missing something ,you owe
something. Yours truly Theodore Ouellette.And Glorida .
Thank you for your help Ted.
Name: Tim Lewis
Email: tim.lewis@gecapital.com
Age: 36
Occupation: Administrative Assistant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 11/22/97
Itinerary: 11 Day Circle the Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 94
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 92
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 88
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 92
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Dec 1997
Time: 12:23:12
Remote Name: 205.173.93.34
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise, and absolutely the best vacation ever! We had spoken to several
friends who have
cruised before, and so had a good idea of what to expect. Overall, the Splendour met our
expectations, but there
were a few disappointments. I'll try to cover it all.
The cabin steward was excellent! She kept our cabin spotless and even folded or hung our
clothes if we left them
on the beds or the floor. Our toilet stopped up once and she was there immediately when we
called and stayed
until a crew member showed up to remedy the problem. That evening we found a tray of sweet
treats on the
night stand! We were prepared for a shoebox-sized cabin, but were pleasantly surprised to
find plenty of room,
drawers, closet space, and even plenty of space for toiletries. Here is our only complaint
about the cabin--on two
different mornings starting about 7:30am (we normally got up around 9:00) there was loud
banging noises going
on right above our cabin on the Promenade deck. The first time this happened we complained
to the Purser's
desk and it stopped shortly thereafter, but we wondered why it happened again on another
morning. Maybe it
was a different crew member....who knows?
The dining room service was superb! Our waitress was Lithuanian and had taught herself
English, so there was a
bit of a language problem, but she was determined to meet our every need and request, as
was the assistant
waiter. Our head waiter arranged for a cake brought to our table for the 50th anniversary
of our table mates, but
beyond that was mostly just a chatterbox. Although I'm far from a connoisseur, I found the
menu to offer sufficient
variety and the desserts were especially tasty.
We must have had a different Cruise Director than the other reviewers of this ship,
because I found him to be witty
and entertaining. The cruise staff was energetic, but not always able to point you in the
right direction after a
question or inquiry.
The celebrity entertainers and special guests were superb, but the Wave Review (ship's
dancers/singers) shows
were somewhat boring. I think the dancers/singers themselves were excellent, but the
programming left much to
be desired....ho-hum. The one downfall of ship entertainment was the 'lounge lizard' act
in the Centrum (lobby)
area. My ears were assaulted every evening by the tired, monotonous sounds of the Tami
Novak Trio. Where do
they find these people?! Consider this a call to all decently talented singers/performers
who would like to work on
a cruise ship--they need you!
The ship overall was mostly beautiful and clean (lots of glass and expansive views, as the
brochure promised),
but there were often dirty tables in the Windjammer and Solarium cafes. The Windjammer had
the same selection
on the breakfast buffet EVERY morning--scrambled eggs, greasy bacon, sausage links, and
hash browns. There
were also fruits and pastries, but the same assortment every day. They did have a chef's
counter that offered the
option of having your breakfast prepared to order, but I didn't want to wait in
line--after all, I was on vacation!
Unfortunately, you had to be an early riser on sea days to get a deck chair. I suppose
veteran cruisers are aware
of this problem, but is it a common practice to get up early and 'save' a deck chair, then
leave to eat breakfast,
play bingo, eat lunch, play pool games, eat again....etc. Come on people, could we be a
little more considerate!
Our ports and variety of shore excursions were fabulous! We canoed and snorkeled in
Curacao--it was beautiful
and relaxing. We did the off-road jeep adventure in Aruba--be ready for a bumpy ride and
LOTS of sun and
sunburn for this one, but you can cool off at DePalm Island at the end. I wouldn't go back
to Jamaica again--the
incessant hassling by the native Jamaicans ruined a beautiful island, but Dunn's River
Falls is a FUN and wet
adventure! Stingray city snorkeling on Grand Cayman is an experience of a lifetime--once
you get past being
nervous it's very enjoyable to touch and pet the friendly, silky creatures. The catamaran
snorkeling cruise in
Cozumel was a blast!!--for those who drink, the margaritas taste harmless but have a
powerful kick!
I definitely will cruise again, and again, and again.... Several people we met on the ship
said Princess had better
ships (the new Dawn and Sun), but still gave the Splendour an above-average rating. I will
likely try another cruise
line for comparison, but even if they don't get much better than this, this is close
enough to paradise for me!
Name: Noel Orraca
Email: 72731,2357@compuserve.com
Age: 34
Occupation: Asst. Controller
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 12-13-97
Itinerary: 11-day Grand Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 78
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 78
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets: 72
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 94
FoodVariety: 87
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 83
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 88
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 88
TenderService: 78
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 72
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 91
EntertShowLounge: 83
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 50
CruiseActivities: 78
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 60
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 83
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 86
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 31 Dec 1997
Time: 13:04:23
Remote Name: 199.174.235.143
Remote User:
Comments
This is a rather opinionated review of our cruise on the Splendour of the Seas. It
represents our experience on this particular cruise, and no
one should assume that their experience, past or future, was/will be the same on this ship
or others.
Background Our party consisted of five family members. My wife (32), myself (34), and her
youngest sister (20) were on cabin 8086 (cat c).
My wife's other sister (30) and her husband (30) were on cabin 7132 (cat d).
My wife and I went on the Monarch of the Seas on Sep'96 (a lot of our comments are based
in comparison to this earlier cruise). For the rest
of the group, this was their first cruise.
Overall Impression The cruise was very good, but not great. Overall, I think we had more
fun on the Monarch last year. Our major complaint
had to do with the huge amount of elderly people on this cruise. I estimate that at least
75% of the passengers were at least 60 years old
(my wife thinks this percentage was higher), with most a lot older than that. This huge
number of senior citizens created a weird atmosphere
on board, somewhat like a retirement home. Furthermore, several of the elderly aboard were
in bad shape - we saw many walkers, wheel
chairs, and portable oxygen tanks on board. I just could not help feel sorry for some of
these folks. As a matter of fact, the ship made an
emergency stop in Guantanamo, Cuba to drop to 2 people that had strokes during the first
two days of the cruise.
We expected to see more senior citizens on this cruise than on the Monarch (because of a
longer itinerary and supposedly higher price), but
not this many. We learned during the cruise that RCI had done a ‘fire' sale for this
cruise in the state of Florida to fill up the ship, which
resulted in the large number of elderly. There were at least 3 large groups from
retirement communities on board. We have concluded that
too many people from any age group (from kids to seniors) is not a good thing in a cruise
(only if you do not belong to that age group).
My wife and I felt that the entertainment on the Splendour was not up to par with the
Monarch, and its was definitively skewed towards the
elderly ( a lot of classical music, exercise for the elderly and even a recital by a
tenor). On the other hand, calypso music on the pool deck
was minimal. The duo would play 2 or 3 tunes, and then stop for almost an hour. Another
example of this senior' effect was noticed during
the karaoke contest. On the Monarch, most the people that sung were terrible which was
fun. On the other hand, in the Splendour, 95% of
the people that participated were seniors that sung Doris Day' songs very well (no fun).
We are not party animals, but we are not library
worms, either.
My wife's youngest sister had a hard time finding people her age. I think there were only
about 6 people her age on the ship. It took about 3
days for them to find each other. She ended hanging out with some of the entertainment
crew on the disco each night.
The Ship The ship was incredible. The was a lot of space per passenger, so that the ship
never seemed crowded. I liked the design and
decorations very much. However, I can not understand why the keep air conditioner blasting
in the Solarium area all day long. It was too cold
for us, so we spent little time there.
Our cabin was outstanding!! Plenty of space for 3 people, and I appreciated the tub in the
bathroom. (Warning: the mattress on the sofa bed
is terrible. It's very thin, and you can feel the middle rod ramming your back). The best
part of our cabin by far was the balcony. It was huge
(12ft x 12ft). We spent many hours just relaxing there, looking at the wake created by the
propellers or looking at the stars at night.
Movement at the rear of the ship was not bad at all!! I did notice strong vibrations in
the middle of the ship (near cabins 8042 and 8542) as
we walked by them.
The Food My wife and I have simple food tastes, so we found the food to be very good.
However, many other people aboard (including my
wife's sister and husband) were somewhat disappointed with the quality of the food served.
I did find the food served at the midnight buffets
rather bland and uninspired. I must say the our waitress (Rebecca from England) was
excellent. Her service and warm personality were a
highlight of the trip. Our assistant waiter (Serkan from Turkey) was very good.
Entertainment The nighttime entertainment on board was uneven (same as the Monarch). The
comedians were very good, and the singers
and music reviews were from mediocre to bad. The music on the centrum and the lounges was
not to my liking, but the seniors seemed to
enjoy it ok.
The Trip DAY 1: We got to Miami the day before, and stayed at the Marriott (a good hotel
to stay before the cruise because of its location).
We arrived at the port at 10:50am and were tenth in line to get on board. Embarkation
began at 11:30am. Note: If you belong to the Crown
& Anchor Society, you will be asked how many times you have cruise with RCI before. I
found out that several passengers had ‘inflated' their
number of prior cruises, in order to get a bigger discount on the ship stores. There's no
way for RCI reps to verify what you tell them, when
embarking. As soon as we boarded the ship it starter to pour rain for the remainder of the
day. We spent the rest of the day exploring the
ship. At dinner we found out the location of our table, which was terrible (in middle of
the room to next to the kitchen. We got assigned a
table of six, and found out that the sixth person was an elderly woman traveling by
herself. She was very pleasant and had many anecdotes to
tell. Our waiter was sick that night and the waiter from the captain's table got stuck
with us. He did not seemed very happy about this!!
DAY 2: The weather was bad, and the captain informed us that we would not be docking at
Key West as scheduled, but would spend the day
at sea. I did not like this at all because that meant 3 consecutive days at sea. I thought
that the cruise staff did a poor job in scheduling
activities for the day, and our group was struggling to keep entertained. At dinner, we
met our supposedly regular waiter. He was a friendly
chap.
DAY 3: Our second day at sea. I had a hydro bath and massage at the spa. They were great,
but expensive. The skies are still gray. Did a few
of the scheduled activities, nothing great. At dinner time, the captain announced that we
were stopping in Cuba to drop the ill passengers. An
American tug boat got along the ship and picked the passengers. On the distance, you could
see the lights of the military base. I guess this
will be the closest I will ever get to Cuba.
DAY 4: The skies finally started clearing mid-afternoon. We were all getting a little
restless about being on board. We could not wait to get to
Curacao and hit the excursions. The ladies on the group went to the spa and enjoyed
massages and skin treatments. At dinner, a new
waitress, Rebecca, informed us that she would taking care of our table for the remainder
of the cruise, as the previous waiter has been
reassigned to another table. (3 waiters in 4 days - I guess we were a demanding table??).
Rebecca and Serkan did stay for the duration of
the cruise, and we were grateful for it.
DAY 5: I had been to Curacao and Aruba 17 years earlier as a teenager. I remembered
Curacao to be a shopping mecca and Aruba to be a
rock in the middle of the sea. Well, Curacao is no longer a shopping mecca and Aruba is
still a rock. We took the Canoe safari excursion. I
found the excursion unremarkable, but the paddling under the sun felt good. I was
surprised about the lack of warmth in sea water this far
south (this is relative to you place of origin, the Canadians found it just fine). We stay
until 6:00pm in Curacao, one hour more than
scheduled as RCI tried to make up for the missed port.
DAY 6: In Aruba we took the Off Road Jeep Excursion. This one was a lot of fun. Note: this
is a very bumpy ride and people with physical
limitation should stay away from it. By the end of the day we were tired and throughly
dusty, but with a smile on our faces. This tour included
snorkeling, but we found the waters too cold and choppy for snorkeling, and opted for the
beach chairs, instead. Again, the ship delayed the
departure until 1am, as a substitute for Key West. However, Aruba is a water sport island
and options at night are limited, unless you like
Carlos n' Charlie (which just opened next to the pier in Aruba).
DAY 7: We spent the day a sea. It was warm and sunny, so spent most the day near the pool.
DAY 8: I had reservations about Jamaica due to many several negative reviews I had read in
the Internet. However, it turned out to be a
pleasant experience. We took the beach horseback riding excursion. It was a blast. You
ride for an hour to the beach, then the horses are
unsaddled and you ride them in the water. The horses go into the water neck deep, so bring
a swim suit. Then, it was an hour ride back to the
stables. In the afternoon, we went shopping into town. You can walk to both shopping mall
in Ocho Rios. You will be hounded by taxi drivers at
the entrance of the pier, but after that we only got solicited occasionally. A pretty
country, very similar in flora to Puerto Rico (where I grew
up), but very poor.
DAY 9: In Grand Cayman, we snorkeled at Stingray City. This was a once in a lifetime
experience. My only complaint is that the RCI excursion
uses a huge boat that takes more than 150 passengers on board. If I were to do this
excursion again, I would contact some local operators
and go on a smaller ship. Since you are tendered to shore on this excursion, we decided to
safe time by eating lunch in town. This was not a
good idea because food is very expensive in Grand Cayman. Furthermore, most stores were
closed because it was Sunday. Only the ones with
contract with the ship were open. Prices here were not very good either. As a matter of
fact, after this cruise I'm totally convinced that you
can get most items that are sold in the Caribbean in the U.S. for similar or better
prices. If you are interested in purchasing big ticket items,
such as cameras, watches, jewelry, etc., please check the price of the items in the U.S.
before leaving on your cruise.
DAY 10: We arrived at Cozumel about 10:15am after dropping some passengers going to Tulum
in Playa del Carmen. We took the Beach
Catamaran excursion. It turn out to be a very good excursion for 2 reasons: one, during
the snorkeling portion of the trip, a large school of
grey fish swam with us for about 15 minutes, and two, the beach portion of the trip is
held in an isolated strip of white sand away from reach
of the vendors. At the beach, you can used floaters, canoes, beach volleyball free of any
additional charge. Warning: the catamaran used for
this excursion holds up 150 people. We were only 47 on this day which made the experience
that much better.
DAY 11: At sea. We relaxed in our balcony for most of the day, as the day turned gray in
the afternoon. The bingo jackpot rolled until today,
when 1 elderly woman won it by herself. She took home $10,100 (tax free).
DAY 12: We stayed in Miami for 4 more days after the end of the cruise, so we got stuck
disembarking with the Floridians (about 60% of the
ship). It took us half an hour to find our luggage.
Conclusion My wife and enjoyed the cruise, but not to the extend that we had hoped. In the
future, my wife and I will look for port intensive
schedules, as 3 consecutive days at sea was a bit much for our taste. Also, I think we
will go back to the younger crowds of 7 day cruises. For
anyone with questions about the ship, ports, or excursions please send me (Noel Orraca) an
e-mail at 72731,2357@compuserve.com.
Name: Charles Kaufman
Email: ckaufman@nais.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Financial Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: 12/24/97
Itinerary: 10 day caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Jan 1998
Time: 11:05:36
Remote Name: 204.253.79.183
Remote User:
Comments
Embarkation could have been better organized as there was one long line for US citizens
going back into the waiting area and a better
organized roped maze-type area for non-US citizens. Debarkation was via announcements
grouped by color coded luggage tags and was very
well organized and quick. Our cabin, Category C on the Bridge Deck, was large enough for
our family of 4 and closet and draw space was more
then addequate. The veranda was large and comforatable and provided a nice area to view
the different ports or just to relax. The sign-up for
Supercharge and the kids soda program was quick and efficient. The soda cards are an
excellent value and gave the kids, especially our 6
year old, a feeling of independence. My wife said that the lines for beauty appointments
were long and they only had one person making the
appointments with a non-computer system. She and friends we were traveling with were not
very happy with the massages and hair styling.
They said they had better on previous cruises. The food although predictable was good and
the service in the dinning room was excellent.
Room service was very slow and dinner could only be delivered after 7PM. The kids, age 6
and 12 loved the children's program. They would
rather have dinner in the room or at the Windjammer, we had second seating, so as not to
miss any of the evening program. Additional
children programs were available between 10PM and 1AM for $4 an hour. Our kids also
enjoyed this as they played games, watched movies,
etc. The shore excurisions offered were varied although in most cases you could arrange to
see the same things on your own at a cheaper
price. The Cruise Director and staff were more involved and visible then on previous RCI
cruises we were on. The entertainment was nothing
that would make you say 'I have to see that show' and there were no 'name' entertainers. I
have been on cruises were they had much better
poolside music. The ship was very clean. RCI no longer serves strawberry drinks as the
stains do not come out of the carpet. Also the carpet
in the elevators has the day of the week on it and changed every midnight. The ship was
very crowded as this was a holiday cruise. The only
place these crowds were evident was in the casino. On some nights it was impossible to get
near a blackjack table, let alone sit at one. On
January 1st the seas were very ruff. This and post-new year's eve side effects left many
passengers not feeling well. However, the ship did not
roll excessively and although there was some vibration in the cabin it was not unbearable.
The Viking Crown bar was used as a dance
club/disco at night and because of security at the door enforcing the over 18 age limit
and the location of the bar it was a nice place to end
the night with music a drink and dancing to go along with a great view. On past cruises
RCI provided a robe for use in the room and a Lladro
as a Christmas gift. This year there was no robe, a card instead of a gift and a calender
to commorate the new year. These little touches are
missed and take away for the class of the cruise line. Also the Crown & Anchor Society
that RCI makes such a big deal about, provide no
tangible benefits other then a meaningless sticker on your cruise ID card. Overall all our
entire family had a great time, enjoyed the ship, its
services and the ports. Keeping in mind that different people give more weight to the good
and the bad of any vacation and if you travel
during a school holiday period there will be alot more kids then usual and crowds, we
would highly recommend this cruise to anyone.
Name: M. SYLVAIN FOREST
Email: FOREST@PAPRICAN.CA
Age: 42
Occupation: PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: DEC. 13, 1997
Itinerary: SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Jan 1998
Time: 10:36:13
Remote Name: 198.103.183.3
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I (ages 47 and 42) sailed the Splendour of the Seas with our friends (ages 39
and 40). We all had a great time
and enjoyed the cruise tremendously.
First, the positive. The ship looks great inside and outside. You are bound to find
someone, somewhere, cleaning something
at any time of the day. Many times we noticed, for example, a handprint on the glass of
the glassed-in elevators. You
walked by an hour or two later and it was gone. I would personally like to know how much
brass polish and window cleaner
R.C.I. goes through in a year. Tables poolside in the solarium area were always cleaned
promptly. Our room was kept
spotless by a very discrete, efficient and almost invisible room attendant. This is the
cleanest ship I have had the pleasure
of experiencing.
The staff is friendly and constantly smiling. I even asked one beverage waitress if R.C.I.
sent them to smiling school. You
may expect to be saluted at least 50 or 60 times a day, especially in the morning. The
staff works long hours and it doesn't
affect their performance or mood, unlike another cruise line I shan't name.
Food was excellent, although predictable. Quality was consistently high but I had one
disgruntling experience one evening
with a pasta dish. It appeared the plate had been left under warming lights for a long
time as the sauce had been
completely absorbed by the pasta and the whole thing had turned into a solid mass. How our
waiter missed noticing that, I
will never know. However, the plate was cheerfully returned to the kitchen and a fresh
plate returned promptly. We
particularily enjoyed the ShipShape menu once in a while. We do enjoy fine food, but we
needed a break once in a while
and the ShipShape alternatives did the trick.
SHOWS: We did not attend most of the shows, but the ones we went to were definitely very
entertaining. When considering
these shows, one must remember he/she is on a ship, not on a Broadway stage or in a huge
Las Vegas casino. Taking this
into consideration, the shows were very good and did exactly what they aimed to do, i.e.
entertain us. During one comic's
act, I laughed so hard my chest hurt after the show.
NEGATIVES: We were assigned table 79, in a corner of the dining room, wedged between a
computer console, a service
door, a huge and ugly Thai painting. The only way we could have been assigned a worse
table is if there had been a
bathroom nearby and we sat by its door. We asked to be assigned another table and were
told the ship was booked solid
and such changes could not be made.
We couldn't get into Key West on account of the weather. I just read in another cruise
review that the very same thing
happened on another cruise. If Key West is such a difficult destination to get in and out
of, why doesn't R.C.I. remove it
alltogether from its itinerary and replace it with a day at Labadee or something like
that? We did not mind being on board
3 days in a row and we left Curacao and Aruba later than planned to ''make up'' for not
stopping in Key West. On the whole,
no big problem!
This being an 11-day cruise (read more expensive), we expected to see may older people.
Indeed, we saw many seniors
but we were there to relax and the situation in now way prevented to unwind. I find the
elderly are generally very good
conversationnalists and often have good stories to tell. Being booked on the second
sitting at dinner, we didn't see them
too much as it seems they preferred the first sitting. We therefore basically weren't
keeping the same schedule.
Thendering was fast and efficient in Grand Cayman. We used one of the ship's shuttles. It
was clean, almost brand-new and
was as manoeuvrable as a skateboard. We found the experience very enjoyable. Different
situation, however, in Cozumel. We
used local tenders there and for the Mexicans, a tender is just another opportunity to
shlep their wares onto you while you
are trapped in the boat, waiting to land. This was very annoying on the way to Cozumel and
even more dastardly on the
way back, as it seemed they wanted to unload their merchandise even more quickly before we
got onto the ship and we
were out of their reach. That part, we truly hated and we didn't mind telling them, in the
end. I must vouch, however, for
these people's tenacity.
On the whole, when we returned home and settled back into our routine, we asked ourselves
the question WOULD I DO IT
AGAIN?. As the positives largely outweigh the negatives, We definitely would, and in a
very near future.
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