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Name: Jerry Hirsch
Email: dadofdave@home.com
Age: 52
Occupation: consultant
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Splendour
SailingDate: March 28, 1998
Itinerary: circle the Caribbean/ 11 night
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Apr 1998
Time: 00:57:05
Remote Name: 24.0.3.35
Remote User:
Comments
At embarcation in Miami we arrived around 1pm and found a very long line at check-in,
which moved very fast, and we were processed to board within 20
minutes. The ship is as awe inspiring as the broshures advertise, with a centrum area that
is reminiscent of a Hyatt Regency hotel lobby. We located our
cabin and then headed to the Windjammer cafe for a buffet lunch.
On a cruise that was overall wonderful, I have to be picky to find something to be
critical
about, so here is a start. As you go down the buffet line, att all the buffets, the first
food you come to is the hot food, and the last thing is the salad. Human
nature is to start in the beginning, so that by the time you've worked your way down the
buffet line to the end, your hot food will have gotten cold! As for
the diningroom, called the King and I, it is on 2 levels. There is a string ochestra
serenading you as you dine, on the 1st floor (deck 4), and if your table is
on the upper level, you can hardly hear the music. Also, the air conditioning for the
dining room is pumped down from the ceiling above the upper deck,
which made everyone at our table on the upper deck feel cold at dinner time, after the sun
set!
The biggest complaint about the whole cruise that our
whole group had was the little kids (3 to 6 year olds) running around the pool areas
unsupervised! You could rarely get into one of the jacuzzi spas
because they were usually full with 4 or 5 little kids snorkeling in them, and as far as
peace and quiet in the solarium, forget it. The pool there was 'Marco
Polo' headquarters! As for the much publicized golf course, when you pay over $2,000 for
an all inclusive vacation, is it necessary to charge $5 for a
round of miniature golf? If this catches on, will cruise lines start charging rental fees
for the lounge chairs around the pool, or fees for using the shuffle
board equipment? Overall, the ship was absolutely beautiful. The showroom seats were all
comfortable, with unobstructed views from any seat.
One more
negative comment (have to dig hard to find these) is that you had to walk through a
gauntlet of second hand smoke to get from the dining room to the
showroom. (You have to walk through a smoke filled casino!) I didn't go into detail about
the ports of call because the Splendour is about to change
itineraries for the summer, so if anyone is about to sail on her in the next 6 months,
you'll be going to other places. Another thing we noticed that was
unusual, and felt out of balance to us was that except for the cruise director, and the
D.J., the entire cruise staff was female. On all the previous cruises
that we were on there was an equal distribution of the sexes, and it is nice for the
ladies to have a male host to meet and greet them, or share in activities.
We were disappointed with the 'Caribbean Band' that played at poolside during the cruise.
The 'band' was a duo, one who played an electric keyboard,
and the other an electric guitar. Not quite the sound we are used to in the Caribbean!
Well, Could go on for pages, but due to space limitations will end
here. Any specific questions will be answered by E-mail upon receipt.
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