rci-voyager7

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Phillip & Jennifer Galofaro
Email: PhilJen2000@aol.com
Age: mid 20's
Occupation: manager, accountant
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Voyager
SailingDate: May 28, 2000
Itinerary: Western Carribean
Cabin: 2578
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 07 Jun 2000
Time: 15:22:22
Remote Name: spider-we042.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

We agree with most of the other comments in this section but have a few to add.

We sailed on the Voyager on May 28, 2000 for our honeymoon. We purchased a night at the Miami Hilton
through RCCI for the Saturday night before the cruise and it was well worth it. A representative from RCCI
met us at the airport, walked us to the baggage pick-up, helped us tag our bags correctly and took us to our
airport shuttle. The next morning we completed all of the boarding procedures in the hotel and it took about
5 minutes. A bus took us to the ship and we pretty much just walked right on. Our luggage, which had been
sent from the airport the night before, was in our room within an hour. Very impressive.

I will agree that the food was a little lackluster and the service in Johnny Rockets was horrible. I don't mind
waiting for a table, but we waited for 15 minutes for a table and then sat at the table for another 15 minutes
before anyone came over. It is not a big place; it just seems as if the servers really don't care and they take
their sweet time with everything. I had almost finished my meal by the time my husband got his rootbeer!
The food was free but you had to pay for shakes, malts, pops, etc..

As far as entertainment goes, we really didn't go to that many shows. My husband was very disappointed in
the late-night comedians. We were under the impression that if these were adult shows that the comedians
would be a bit more adult in the material. It seemed that the adult shows were the same as any other show.

We did like the music by the pool and we went to the Vault one night. The casino was fun and most of the
dealers were very friendly (for example, the blackjack dealers count your cards out to you, very helpful) and
I actually won about $100 from the slots.

Our waiter was nice and friendly and the dinners were fine. We only went to the dining room 3 times for
dinner.

The excursions were okay. We layed on the beach in Labadee and climbed the Falls in Jamaica. We had
the most fun in Cozumel where we ate at Pancho's Backyard and then went to Fat Tuesday's to have a few
afternoon margaritas. Very nice and relaxing.

One of the highlights of our cruise was the bar service staff. They were always helpful, and fast. At the pool
one afternoon, my husband signaled one of the servers for a drink, and he came over right away and took
our order, even though he was off duty for the day.

The best part of our trip would probably be the Schooner Bar. We spent almost every night there, listening
to Steve play the piano and sing requests. The bar itself was very nice and comfortable with dark wood and
tan leather chairs. Our waiter in the Schooner Bar, Mihai Fodor, was excellent. After the fist night, he knew
our names, what we liked to drink and would greet us as soon as we sat down. He made a point of inquiring
of our day and offering suggestions as to waht to do the next. Really a nice guy and a lot of fun! If anyone
sees him, tell him we say 'hi! Phil & Jen Galofaro

Name: Carleen Hallstead
Email: challstead@glovia.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Manager, Computer Software Industry
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Voyager
SailingDate: June 18, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 8224
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 70
CruiseStaff: 75
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 60
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 69
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff: 70
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 75
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 50
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 65
OverallPortsofCall: 25
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 50
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 70
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 65
OverallCruiseValue: 50
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Jul 2000
Time: 16:29:06
Remote Name: 206.175.177.143
Remote User:

Comments

Wow, where to begin! I read every review on this ship before I cruised. I was not prepared for the
overwhelming disappointment when we actually sailed. My sole reason for writing this review is to
perhaps warn other travelers who may be similar minded from wasting their time and their money. I
am not saying that this cruise is wrong for everyone, it all depends on your expectations.

Based on what I had heard and read about Royal Caribbean, I was expecting a cruise experience
very similar to Princess. That was mistake number 1. For me, it turned out to be a huge one. For any
of you out there that enjoy Princess’s Grand Class of Cruising, this is definitely NOT the ship for you.
This particular cruise experience had the look and feel of Carnival. That was not what I expected.
While I have cruised on Carnival previously, Carnival is at least a better value for your money and
you know what to expect. I suspect that Royal Caribbean is trying to capture a portion of Carnival’s
market at ‘upscale prices.’

First and foremost, I believe this is finally an example of TOO BIG! I have cruised on many large
ships before, most recently the Grand Princess in the Mediterranean last summer. Voyager can not
handle the crowds. The Royal Promenade is designed to be a focal point of the ship. This football
field plus size area is however not designed to handle 3500 plus passengers trying to see a parade
or maneuver from one end to another. On the evenings where this was the focus of activities, i.e.,
formal night and parade, the crowds are crushing. What is worse though, is at these times, all
dressed up in your formal, air conditioning can not handle all those people in one area that is also 4
story’s tall. Needless to say you stand there and melt before you ever have your formal portrait
taken.

The entry process leaves much to be desired. The line to get on the ship looked like an airport
terminal at the peak of Christmas. Royal Caribbean needs to take a look at how Princess boards
ships. It is much more efficient. The debarkation process was much smoother though. You waited
until they called your ‘color’ and basically just walked off the ship and waited a short time to retrieve
your luggage.

One of the bigger issues for me was their smoking policy. I don’t ever recall being annoyed by
cigarette smoking on any cruise before this one. Royal Caribbean allows smoking basically
everywhere but the main dining rooms and show rooms. I could not sit down at any little bar area and
have a drink without smelling smoke. I also could not even play bingo without smelling smoke. You
literally could not breath in the casino for the amount of smoke. This truly ruined a good portion of
the cruise for me. I am an ex-smoker so I try to be understanding, but frankly, I don’t want to breath it
anymore. So, be warned.

The food in the main dining room was basically good. The service was superior however and we truly
looked forward to our evening meals. We had a wonderful waiter, wait person and wine steward. Our
table also had an ocean view which I enjoyed immensely. The food in the upstairs buffet area (I can’t
remember the name) was awful to my tastes. They even wrecked scrambled eggs. I could not get a
cup of tea except in the dining room that didn’t taste like either coffee or cardboard. I think they’re
just trying to cook for too many people. We could not get near the little Italian restaurant on the 11th
floor. It was booked solid the entire week. Also couldn’t get into Johnny Rockets, too crowded.

I only played bingo once, which I really do enjoy on cruises. This was another example of Royal
Caribbean not handling crowds correctly. You go in and sit down, then they form only 2 lines to
purchase your cards. When you come back to your seat (if you're alone), you no longer have a seat
because someone else and/or kids are now in it. I was forced to go to the back of the room with the
cigarette smokers. This was the first and last time I played. It wasn’t worth the aggravation. They
should have multiple card sellers on the way into the room. This worked exceptionally well on other
cruise lines this way.

I had read rave review’s regarding the ice show. The show is over 2 consecutive nights to
supposedly handle the crowds. What a joke. I waited 55 minutes in line on my assigned night and
wound up in the back of the room behind a pole. The show was definitely not worth the wait. Maybe
I’m spoiled, but if you’ve seen ice shows before, this was just OK. Definitely not worth waiting that
long for. I guess if this is your first ice show, it might seem impressive. The showroom for this (ice
rink) is very small for the amount of passengers on this cruise ship. I would guess that it holds maybe
600-700 people. I suspect Royal Caribbean didn’t realize that this would get as much attention as it
does.

The entertainment in the other lounges was very disappointing. Not one show was memorable. In
fact, I actually left one early. This was really a first for me as I am basically easy to amuse. Also, the
other forms of entertainment/games left much to be desired. I am not a prude, but I certainly did not
expect to see a game show where the male contestants strip down to their jockey underwear and the
women in the audience remove their brassieres. (They needed 5 to win) Also, at the pool, my son
said one of the games was for the males to switch bathing suits with their female partner. This is all
well and good if you book a Carnival Cruise. I thought Royal Caribbean was more upscale than this.

My son never got to try the rock climbing wall the entire week. Sold out. Again this represented a big
problem with this cruise. We paid top prices to sail on the ship with the 4 story Promenade, rock
climbing wall, ice skating rink, romantic restaurant, etc., and could NOT get near any of them. SOLD
OUT.

The gym was small but nice with a great view. This is the first time on vacation that I have ever used
the gym. That should tell you how bored I was.

The cabin itself turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The room was well laid out with ample storage.
The bathroom was actually nice with a decent size shower. The balcony was private and of a good
size. I spent more time in my cabin on this cruise that I have ever before, and appreciated the
amenities of the cabin.

The ports are definitely nothing to write about, which I’m sure you’ve already read about. In fact on
this cruise, our first port was cancelled due to political unrest. My son scuba dived in Cozumel, but
was disappointed. Hardly any fish. He did get badly stung by jelly fish though. Different stings than we
get on the west coast. They left small hemorrhages under the skin for a good two weeks. (No other
side effects though.) If you ever been to Hunamma (sp) Bay on Oahu, nothing can compare for
scuba/fish watching. The Western Caribbean is basically a bust. I would definitely not recommend the
ports to anyone. The Southern and Eastern Caribbean are much nicer if you’ve never been.

The other problem area for me was the sale of alcohol to my minor aged son. He is 18 years old and
looks it. He was sold hundreds of $$$$ worth of alcohol on my room account. There is no doubt in my
mind that they knew how old he was but were just interested in the automatic 15% tip. So if you have
teens, beware. Mine will be working all summer to pay me back. What he did was wrong and not to be
excused, but I believe they could have done a better job. There is a box on your blue card that you
use on board ship for everything that indicates if a child/teen is a minor. They put a M1 if you’re
under 18 and a M2 if you’re 18 – 20. They know that the kids scratch off the M1/M2. Their policy
states that they will check ID if they are suspicious. Well, they didn’t. They could have also warned
parents that this could go on. Once I became aware they said that they could ‘flag’ our account and
put a hole in his card. Why didn’t they do that to begin with????

All in all, this was definitely not a cruise for me. Unless you’re a real sun bunny all day, want to disco
all night and don’t give a hoot about the ports, take my word this is not your cruise. If that’s your
thing, you’ll be very happy.

Name: Sean Ryan
Email: Au48@aol.com
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
NumberOfCruises: 9
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Voyager
SailingDate: June 04, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 9230/ D9
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 91
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 93
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 94
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 94
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 93
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 99
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 93
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 94
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 100
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 97
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Jul 2000
Time: 03:25:17
Remote Name: spider-wg064.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

This is my review of my recent Western Caribbean cruise on board Royal Caribbean International's
Voyager of the Seas from June 4, 2000 to June 11, 2000.

PREVIOUS CRUISES This cruise was my eighth overall. It was my first with Royal Caribbean. My
previous cruises include Premier's Big Red Boat Oceanic to the Bahamas; Celebrity's Zenith to the
Western Caribbean; Majesty Cruise Line's Royal Majesty (currently NCL's Norwegian Majesty) to
Bermuda; Holland America's Veendam to the Eastern Caribbean; Holland America's Westerdam to
the Eastern Caribbean; Princess' Crown Princess to Alaska; and the Carnival Destiny to the Western
Caribbean. Prior to my cruise on the Voyager, I had heard mixed reviews, but overall, everyone had
agreed that she is a spectacular ship.

THE VOYAGER Allright, when I look back and think of the actual ship, certain words come to mind.
Words like 'unbelievable', 'amazing', 'awesome', and 'incredible' are just a few. This ship is truly a
sight to behold, and I was in awe of this ship from the minute I pulled up to the pier in Miami until I got
off the following Sunday. I really feel that words cannot describe this ship, but I am going to try my
best! There are so many public rooms on the Voyager; really too many to name. The heart of the
ship was the Royal Promenade. This space is unlike anything ever put on a cruise ship before, and I
feel that it serves its purpose beautifully. There are several bars, a small casino, a cafe, several
shops, and the Purser's Desk on the Royal Promenade. On either end of this enormous space is a
centrum. The forward Centrum rises from Deck 2 all the way up to Deck 12. The Midship Centrum
goes from Deck 2 up to Deck 14. Each Centrum is capped by a large glass wall which allows natural
daylight to pour down during the day. The Voyager is designed so that virtually every public space is
easily accessible from either Centrum, or the Royal Promenade. The three main dining rooms,
Carmen, La Boheme, and Magic Flute are just aft of the midship Centrum, as are the buffet
restaurants Windjammer and the Island Grille. Major entertainment areas such as the La Scala
Theater, Casino Royale, and Studio B Center Ice are also right off the two Centrums. After an initial
walkthrough of the ship, I found it to be very easy to navigate. One of my favorite features of Voyager
of the Seas is the wrap around Promenade Deck on Deck 4. You can walk completely around the
Voyager, from the very bow to stern. I just found this to be very enjoyable. Up top, on deck 11, is the
Solarium Pool. This pool is decorated with a Greek theme, complete with columns and statues of
Greek Gods (I think that's what they were.) This area was very nice and quiet, and it had an
oversized hot tub which holds up to 16 people. Also on this deck are the two main pools, along with
several hot tubs. This main pool area is quite large. There are two pools, side by side, with four hot
tubs. Two are quite large, while the other two are normal sized. In between the two pools is a skylight
which goes all the way down to Royal Promenade 6 decks below. This pool area did get crowded
later in the afternoon, but it was very rarely a problem to find a chair. Further aft on this deck is
Portofino's, Windjammer, and the Island Grille. Up a deck, on Deck 12 is the Adventure Ocean Kid
and Teen area. This area featured a huge arcade, complete with air hockey and dozens of video
games. Adjacent to the arcade is Johnny Rocket's. Forward on this deck is the Shipshape Gym. Up a
deck, on Deck 13, is where most of the sports activities are located. Here, there is the rock climbing
wall, a full sized basketball court, an inline skating track, a nine hole putt-putt golf course, and
several gold simulators. Up on Deck 14, there is the Viking Crown Lounge. On the Voyager, this
space is divided up into five areas. The Seven Hearts Card Room, the Cloud Nine Lounge, High
Notes Jazz Club, the Crow's Nest Observation Lounge, and the 19th Hole Bar. Finally, up on Deck 15
is the Skylight Wedding Chapel. This ship is so superbly designed, that one never feels the crowds at
all. On our sailing, we had 3,605 passengers, and 1,225 crew. Never during the entire cruise did I
feel crowded, or wait in a line. This was very impressive to me, but not suprising since there are just
so many things to do on Voyager of the Seas.

CABINS We were in cabin number 9230, a category D9 balcony stateroom on the starboard side of
Deck 9 forward. The room was incredibly spacious. There is a full sized sofa with a coffee table, as
well as two single beds which convert to a queen. A sliding glass door led to a very good sized
balcony. The balconies on Voyager of the Seas are incredibly private. There are two chairs and a
small table out on the balcony, and there was plenty of room for four people out there. The bathroom
was very nice since there is a sliding glass door on the shower instead of an annoying curtain. Inside
the cabin, there is a 19 inch TV, electronic safe, a stocked mini bar, and plenty of drawer space for
two. We actually had four people in our cabin, so we were a little cramped for drawer and closet
space, but we managed to survive. The television is fully interactive. On this TV, you can book shore
excursions, order room service, order movies, and even fill out on board surveys. I was quite
impressed with this cabin, and I did not find it to be very small like many have said of typical RCI
cabins.

SERVICE All I can say, is that the Voyager boasts one of the finest crews afloat. Each and every one
of them should be commended for the work they have done. Every crew member I encountered
during the week greeted me with a smile. A cruise line cannot control the attitudes of their
employees, so I found it amazing how nice and cordial everyone was on the Voyager. This staff is
definitely the friendliest, and most personable group of people that I have ever encountered on a
cruise. The service in all areas was excellent. My room steward, Earl was awesome. He always kept
the room clean, kept drinks on ice, and greeted us every morning with a smile and a 'hello'. Our
waiter, Pramode was excellent. He did everything we asked of him, and more. He had no problem
taking special orders, and he took them with a smile. Our assistant waiter, Koray quietly did an
excellent job. He knew what everyone wanted to drink by the second night. Our bar waiter, Phyllis
was one of the friendliest people I have ever met. His cheerful smile and laughter always put a smile
on our faces. Everyone on this ship did everything in his or her power to make this cruise special.
The service was more than I could have ever asked for on any ship. Not to mention that this is the
largest ship in the world, and at the time it was the second most crowded cruise ever on a cruise
ship. These two little minor details made the service seem even more unbelievable. Overall, I'd have
to rate the service on this ship as the best I have encountered on any ship. Service was just as good,
if not better than Holland America's. I just can't say enough about the crew on this incredible ship.

FOOD Before this cruise, I had heard many negative comments about the food on the Voyager. I
can't say that I was really worried about this prior to the cruise, but those negative reviews the food
had gathered certainly did linger in the back of my mind. However, throughout the week, I received
one excellent meal after another, and at the conclusion of the cruise, it was obvious to me that the
food I had that week on the Voyager was the best food I have encountered on any cruise. There
were several options for each meal on the Voyager of the Seas. For breakfast, one could eat at the
Windjammer Buffet, Island Grill, Carmen Dining Room, or Cafe Promenade. The Windjammer and
Island Grill featured similar buffet lines. I opted for the Island Grill because I liked the view off the
back of the ship better. The buffet lines featured a huge selection of breakfast foods. It was basically
a standard cruise buffet, but I did notice that the selection was much broader than on other cruise
ships. The only negative I can think of was that occasionally, the eggs here were lukewarm. I ate
breakfast twice in the main dining room. Breakfast in here was nothing short of excellent. The eggs
benedict I ordered was the best I have ever had on a cruise, and the portions were huge. I once
asked for double eggs benedict (meaning two eggs), and the waiter brought me four! The service in
the main dining room was also excellent unlike several other ships I have cruised on. If you are in a
hurry, and need a quick breakfast one morning in port, Cafe Promenade is a perfect place. Every
morning the Cafe boasts a continental breakfast, complete with bagels, toast, danishes, and coffee.
For Lunch on Voyager of the Seas, one could eat at Wind Jammer, Island Grill, Carmen Dining
Room, Johnny Rockets, or Cafe Promenade. The Windjammer Buffet was nothing spectacular, but it
did have good food. Back in the Island Grill, hamburgers and hot dogs were served alongside a very
large salad bar. The burgers in the Island Grill were thick and juicy. They had all the fixings like
cheese, bacon, and grilled onions available to add to your burger. One thing I wish the Voyager had
was a poolside Grill for burgers, because as it is, if you are by the pool, you have to venture back to
the Island Grill for a burger. I also ate lunch one day in Johnny Rockets. This was a completely
unique experience for a cruise ship. The diner featured a 50's decor complete with mini juke boxes at
each table. The food here was free except for sodas and milkshakes. The burgers were really good,
but did not stand out as much since the burgers in Island Grill were just as good. Several afternoons,
there were huge lines to get into Johnny Rockets, but when we went we waited no longer than three
minutes. One of the last days, I ate lunch in the Carmen Dining Room. Again, the food in here was
excellent as was the service. Also available for lunch in Cafe Promenade was fresh pizza, little
sandwiches, and desserts. The pizza was available virtually around the clock, and it was quite good.
It was not as good as Carnival's pizza, but since they made so much of it, some was always available.
This was one of my favorite places to eat lunch. I enjoyed sitting and watching people stroll down the
Royal Promenade while enjoying my pizza! Right next to Cafe Promenade are two self serve ice
cream machines complete with a topping bar. These machines got a lot of use during the week.
Dinner on the Voyager was truly my favorite. Dinners were excellent all around. The portions were
huge, and the waiter had no problem with special requests such as ordering multiple entrees. In a
matter fact, I ordered two entrees pretty much every night. A few things which I enjoyed at dinner
were that Caesar Salad was available every night, and sodas were free of charge during dinner. A
couple of things that stood out at dinner were the lobster, filet mignon, prime rib, and the excellent
service. Desserts were very imaginative and tasty. As I stated earlier, the food I encountered on
Voyager of the Seas was the best I have had on any cruise!

GYM Unfortunately I did not get to use the Gym facilities as much as I would have liked to on the
Voyager. However, I did get to peek in. There are dozens of Reebok machines in the gym (66 to be
exact). There is also a free weights area, along with several treadmills and stairmasters. There is a
huge hot tub in the middle of the gym adjacent to locker room facilities, steam room, and sauna. This
is a complete gymnasium and aerobics center, and it is the largest at sea. There is a track which
encircles the pool areas. Five laps around this 350 yard course is the equivalent to a mile. One thing
that would have annoyed me if I ran was the fact that deck chairs sometimes obstructed the jogging
course. Personally, I prefer the jogging tracks on Carnival's Fantasy and Destiny class ships since
they are pretty much isolated, and padded with a true track surface instead of just paint on aluminum
deck. Anyway, the gym area is yet another impressive feature on Voyager of the Seas.

ACTIVITIES There is no question that Voyager of the Seas has more activities than any other cruise
ship ever made. First of all, there are the traditional cruise ship activities such as bingo, art auctions,
horse racing, pool games, and many others. But unlike other ships, on Voyager there is a full sized
basketball court with organized games; a nine-hole mini putt-putt golf course which is fully
landscaped with greens, fairways, and sand traps; an inline skating track with padded walls; a rock
climbing wall for the adventurous; an ice skating rink where you can skate in the Caribbean;
Challenger's Arcade, the largest arcade afloat complete with air hockey and several huge arcade
games; and even a golf simulator where you can play some of the legendary golf courses like Pebble
Beach. The best part about all of this is that it is all free of charge with exception of the golf simulator.
In addition to all this, there are several ping pong tables and shuffleboard courts. There are 16
Internet terminals in the beautiful, two-story Jay Pritzker Library. These computers are modern
looking flat screen computers which cost $.50 per minute for Internet access, and $4.50 to send a
digital postcard. With the Internet, you can access your web based e-mail very easily with the swipe
of your Supercharge card. I felt this $.50 per minute was really quite reasonable, especially after
hearing the prices of Internet on other ships. Movies were also played on the Voyager at various
times in La Scala, or down in the screening room, a small theater on Deck 2. Overall, the amount of
activities on Voyager of the Seas is unparalleled. There is truly always something happening on this
ship.

ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment throughout the week was consistently good. Most of the
entertainment was presented by the Cruise Director, Ken Rush. He was a very personable and
friendly person. The Assistant Cruise Director Richie was absolutely hilarious. He was always making
everyone laugh! The Cruise Staff was incredibly friendly; most notably Valerie Sprenger from
Switzerland, who joined us for dinner on a couple of occasions. The production shows on the
Voyager featured stunning acrobatic routines. There were also two comedians who were pretty good,
but nothing spectacular. The Motown Singer was a great impressionist, and I even volunteered up on
stage and helped him sing 'My Girl' in front of a packed house at La Scala. Ice Jammin', the Ice Show
was spectacular. If there was one show you should not miss, this is it. It is unlike anything on any
other ship. This show takes place five different times during the week so that everyone has a chance
to see it. Midnight parades which take place along the Royal Promenade were a very festive and
unique experience. There was a Welcome Aboard Parade the first night and a Mardi Gras Parade
Wednesday night. Also, during the day, the Krooz Komics entertained guests along Royal
Promenade with their whacky acts. Overall, I'd would have to say that the entertainment was very
good, but it could be made better.

NIGHTLIFE If nightlife is your thing, then the Voyager of the Seas is your ship! This ship comes alive
at night with music in all the lounges. Up top, in the Viking Crown Lounge, there is the High Notes
Jazz Club which basically serves as a nightclub for older adults. Music is played till the morning hours
at Pig and Whistle, the Schooner Bar, the Champagne Bar, and several other places. The
Scoreboard Sports Bar is open late, showing different sporting events. On our cruise, we saw the
NHL Finals, the NBA Finals, and the College World Series. Casino Royale and Spinners is open as
always if you like to gamble. The focal point of the nightlife on the Voyager is down on Decks 3 and 4
in the Vault Nightclub. You can enter this club from Deck 4 with a fake hand scanner which opens a
door. You then walk on a bridge over the dance floor, and down the stairs to the bar area. This place
was packed every night, and usually did not shut down until 3 or 4 am. I loved this nightclub's design,
and it is my favorite on any ship! Oh yeah, if you get hungry, Cafe Promenade is always open
serving pizza and sandwiches! Overall, the nightlife on this ship is amazing; a person used to
Carnival's nightlife would feel right at home on the Voyager!

WHO GOES? Everyone! On our cruise, there hundreds of kids and teenagers. There were many
families, single people, younger couples, honeymooners, and older couples. There were even about
55 honeymooners on our cruise! The wide age range on this ship created a very fun atmosphere. I'd
say that the average age was 35-40.

EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION The embarkation procedure was very organized, very high tech,
and very quick. We arrived to the Port at around 1:15 and waited in a fast moving line for no longer
than ten minutes. While we were in line, the Krooz Komics entertained us to pass the time. When we
got up to the counter, I was amazed that absolutely every step of the check-in process was done on
a computer. I was just really impressed with how high tech everything was on this cruise; even the
embarkation process. I have to say RCI had the Embarkation down perfectly. Disembarkation was
even better. We woke up at around 7:00, went to go eat in the Carmen Dining Room, and as we were
eating, our color was called. We were one of the last colors, and we were off the ship at 8:15. We
painlessly got off the ship and got our bags off of the baggage carousel. I just felt that this was very
impressive, especially since there were 3,605 passengers on board. Royal Caribbean has the
embarkation and disembarkation process on the Voyager down to a science. I was very impressed.

WESTERN CARIBBEAN ITINERARY SUNDAY, JUNE 04, 2000 -- Miami, Florida Today, as we drove
down MacArthur Causeway, we saw Carnival's Paradise, followed by the massive Voyager of the
Seas. The first sight of this ship is truly a sight to behold because its sheer size is just breathtaking.
After boarding the ship, we got a bite to eat at Cafe Promenade, toured the ship a little, and went to
muster. We then went to dinner when we set sail around 6:15. After dinner, we explored some more
and eventually ended up in the Vault. Dinner: Casual

MONDAY, JUNE 05, 2000 -- At Sea Today, we got comfortable with our new home, the Voyager. I
played putt putt golf, and did several other activities. It was a very relaxing day. I did notice that the
pool area does not get nearly as crowded on this ship as it does on other ships. You could pretty
much always get a chair. Tonight we went to the Captain's Cocktail Party on Royal Promenade, and
then went to dinner. That night I was all over the place, and ended up in the Vault again. Dinner:
Formal

TUESDAY, JUNE 06, 2000 -- Labadee, Haiti Today we anchored off Royal Caribbean's private
peninsula of Haiti. We tendered in, and went to one of five beaches where we spent the day. This
area was beautiful. The first beaches you get too get quite crowded, but if you are willing to walk for
10 minutes, the beach on the north side of Labadee is virtually empty. A bar-be-que lunch is
prepared on the island. There is a Haitian market you can go to if you choose. The natives are quite
pushy at the market, but it is your choice to go there, because the vendors do not leave the market
area. This was a very relaxing day. We left Labadee at around 4:00, and I went to dinner. Tonight I
enjoyed the Voyager's night scene in the Vault Disco. Dinner: Casual.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 07, 2000 -- Ocho Rios, Jamaica This morning, we woke up to see the beautiful
port of Ocho Rios. After breakfast, we went down and did some shopping. The extent of our shopping
was pretty much the three shops on the pier, but that was plenty for me! By the way, Royal
Caribbean does allow you to bring bottles of alcohol back on the ship. We then went back to the ship
and had lunch at Johnny Rockets. Later that afternoon, we took a cab for $22 roundtrip to Dunn's
River Falls. This was a great experience. It is beautiful here. We climbed the falls very quickly, so we
had plenty of time in the Jamaican market while we waited for our taxi. Entrance fees for the park
were $5 per person I believe. We then went back to the ship and watched us depart during dinner at
around 6:00. After the show, I am sure that I ended up in the Vault. Dinner: Smart Casual

THURSDAY, JUNE 08, 2000 -- At Sea Today we enjoyed another at sea day. I played basketball this
morning, and realized that I am very bad at it. Other than that, I just took it easy and participated in
an occasional activity or two. Tonight was another formal night, a stunning acrobatic show, and no
doubt, The Vault. Dinner: Formal

FRIDAY, JUNE 09, 2000 -- Cozumel, Mexico This morning we woke up, and watched Carnival's
Celebration dock on the next pier over. The Voyager towered above the Celebration. It was a very
impressive sight to see both of them. Well, we then went down and shopped in the shops in the
cruise terminal. That is plenty shopping for me! We returned to Voyager for lunch, and then headed
downtown to Carlos'n Charlies. Cab fare is $5.00 each way. This is a wild and crazy bar and
restaurant. If you have been there, you know what goes on, and if you haven't been there, you
probably still have a pretty good idea of what goes on. We then made our way back to the ship in
time for dinner and the show. Tonight, I made my stage debut in the La Scala with the Motown singer.
Later on I was in, you guessed it, The Vault. Dinner: Casual

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2000 -- At Sea This morning we woke up and had an excellent breakfast in the
Carmen Dining Room. After that, I went ice skating in Studio B. This was an experience I will never
forget! Ice Skating in the Caribbean; that doesn't happen everyday! Well, after my exertions on the
Ice Rink, we went back to have an excellent lunch in the Carmen Dining Room. I then took a video
tour of the Voyager for friends and family back home. This took some work. It took me about 2 1/2
hours to video the whole ship! Then it was off to the last dinner. We said our good-byes to our
tablemates, and then headed off to the Farewell Show. Tonight, I said good-bye to The Vault as well
as the many friends I had met during the week. Dinner: casual

SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2000 -- Miami, Florida When I woke up, we were already docked. We headed
down to the Carmen Dining Room for a sit-down breakfast when our disembarkation color was called.
We then got off the ship and got our bags off the carousel. Then started the long, 20 hour drive back
to Houston =(

ODDS & ENDS - The pool area did get crowded at times, but you could always find a chair. People
over 18 years old could use the Solarium Pool which remained uncrowded all week. There was, as
always, the saving of deck chairs on the pool deck. -The pool didn't seem as crowded as it has on
other cruises. This may be since there is so much else to do on the Voyager besides laying by the
pool. -The Voyager is an incredibly stable ship. The whole week, I never once knew we were on a
ship. She is the most stable ship at sea. We very rarely felt any rolling or anything else. -This ship
has a great design to it. It is amazing that I never encountered one line the whole time on this cruise
despite the 3,605 passengers. -We never ate in Portofino's, but from those who did, I heard it was
excellent. Also, if I could pick a night to eat there, I would do it Friday night. I would definitely eat in
the Main Dining Room on Monday and Thursday night since these were the best meals in my
opinion. -Thursday night is lobster night, Monday is Filet Mignon. -The La Scala Theater badly needs
some sort of stairs to connect the decks. If you are on the main floor, it takes forever to get out
through the two aisles when the show is over. Stairs on both sides of the stage up to the next level
would help the room clear out much faster.

IN CONCLUSION... I have to say that this week on board the Voyager of the Seas was my best cruise
to date. The ship and the cruise surpassed my greatest expectations in every category. I would do
this cruise again in a heartbeat. We are already looking into her sister ship, the Explorer of the Seas
for next June. I highly recommend this ship to anyone; first time cruisers, or veteran cruisers. If you
want the feeling of being at sea, you may not like the Voyager. There are not that many public places
on the lower decks from which you can see the sea. This ship is one of a kind, and she is completely
impressive in every aspect. All in all, this was virtually a perfect cruise. We will definitely sail on Royal
Caribbean, and a Voyager-class ship again in the near future.

Name: Susan Bonesso
Email: susanb-abb@msn.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Purchasing Manager/Travel Agent
NumberOfCruises: 8
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Voyager
SailingDate: 5/7/00
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 7253
FoodDiningRoom: 87
CruiseDirector: 82
CabinComfort: 88
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 89
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 96
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService: 84
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 96
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 70
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 87
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 88
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 70
CruiseActivities: 78
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 77
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 88
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 06 Aug 2000
Time: 20:34:50
Remote Name: 1cust231.tnt9.farmingdale.ny.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

Voyager of the Seas, 5/7/00 Sailing

I am a part time travel agent. This was my 3rd cruise with RCCL. I only learned that I was going on
this cruise a few weeks prior as part of a FAM (familiarization tour) and an RCCL Seminar at Sea. I
was not allowed to bring a guest and was told I would be assigned a cabinmate for the cruise.
Coming from Long Island, NY, I was able to book an inexpensive flight out of Islip with Delta Express
to Ft. Lauderdale. Once in Ft. Lauderdale, I found the RCCL representative and their bus took me to
the ship (no I didn’t purchase transfers). Although there was a long line, check-in was fairly smooth
and only took about 20 minutes to reach the counter. Now remember, I have no tickets, and I’m
dragging all my luggage around because I have no cabin assignment just word from my RCCL rep
that I’m on this sailing. I get up to the counter and they actually do have my reservation, but then they
casually mention that I’m in the cabin with James!!! I politely tell them that I understood I would have
to share a cabin but that I expected it to be with a female agent. I’m then sent to another line to try
and clear this up only to be told that the ship is completely full and they can’t change my cabin and
that now I have to talk to the coordinator of the seminar at the information counter up on deck 5. I
arrive up there to find an enormous line, which I finally decided I’m not going to wait on. I proceed to
deck 7, cabin #7253 and figure I’ll just claim squatter’s rights and let James go stand in line for
another cabin! Imagine my chagrin when I finally find out James is my cabinmate’s LAST NAME! We
had similar interests and schedules and would get along great the whole week.

The Cabin Our cabin is one of the new inside cabins overlooking the promenade. It’s adequate for 2
people, but I wouldn’t want to put in any more. The cabin could have been laid out differently, the
beds always seemed to be in the way, in fact you had to squeeze around them all the time. The
sitting area was great however with 2 loveseats and a hugh vanity and chair with some shallow
storage behind each side of the mirror, a hair dryer in the drawer (we used our own) multiple outlets,
and a very expensive mini-bar with no extra room to put anything else in. The closet storage was OK,
but the drawer space was really pitiful. The bathroom was decent with a corner medicine chest and a
storage shelf underneath. The unique round shower was nicely designed. Soap, shampoo and
conditioner were supplied daily. No robes were supplied. A safe in the closet was handy. We met our
room steward, Maria later in the evening. She was a very pleasant efficient lady from Bali, Indonesia.
Our room was always ready when we returned. She left us some very charming towel animals that my
roommate kept saving all around the room. The TV in our cabin was tucked into a corner and had
many channels available throughout the cruise. They also had an interactive system where you could
view and purchase shore excursions also.

The Ship As numerous others have already written in their reviews, I would just like to agree that this
is the most beautiful, tastefully decorated, well laid out ship I have ever seen! The evidence of
original artworks are everywhere. Fresh flowers and plants are in every atrium lobby. The royal
promenade has to be seen to be believed! The dining room is the most elegant room imaginable.
Cleopatra’s Needle showroom could have very easily come off as tacky but it has much class and it is
extremely tasteful. La Scala theater is very refined looking and we never had trouble finding a seat,
however there are some bad sightlines due to the large columns. The shows were very good for
revue type shows with some good special effects. The ice stating show is not to be missed! I know
others have written about it, but it is tremendous! We kept hearing how crowded the show got, but
the performance we attended (which also happened to be the last of the week) was only half full.
Speaking of crowds, I was worried that the ship would be too large, however, there was never a line
or a crowd for ANYTHING all week. I was amazed at that and the smooth operation of all events. The
casino was nice but could have used more table games, there were however sufficient slot machines
on board. I didn’t try the rock climbing but lots of people looked to be having a great time. I did try
in-line skating one morning and it was only me and one other person in that session. As you probably
have read, all extra fees for these activities were dropped during this cruise and have since been
dropped altogether. I definitely think that is the right way to go since people don’t want to be nickel
and dimed to death once on board.

The Pool Areas The main pool area was not to my liking, although I thought the pools design was
good with the overflow area which many people took advantage of. It was just too noisy and stadium
like with kids everywhere. There were also 4 hot tubs, 2 in the sun and 2 covered. However, I
absolutely loved the Solarium pool area, thick chair cushions, very quiet and relaxing, no kids allowed
(which was enforced), classic roman design. This pool area was just gorgeous! Columns and tile
floor, marble statues and stairs descending into the pool. The pool, although at first glance looked
small had ample room with an overflow design and seating the whole way around on the raised wall.
All that was missing was someone to feed you grapes while you lounged! We did enjoy many Pina
Coladas from the waiters of the Solarium Bar though.

The Dining room At first we were assigned to the La Boheme for main seating. We shared a table
near a window with 2 fellow travel agents from New Jersey. These guys were a riot! We had many
laughs (and wine) together all week long. We all preferred the late seating but were told that there
were 247 requests for late seating already. So we never even bothered to request it. Imagine our
surprise the next day when we returned to our cabin during the day to find a note that “our request
for late seating” has been approved! It turns out the Seminar coordinator was the one who put in our
request. However, we were now assigned to a separate back room off the Carmen dining room. Our
waiters called it the VIP room and it was much quieter and we didn’t have to partake of the singing
and dancing in the main area which I don’t care for anyway. Our waiter and busboy were very
efficient although it took a few days for our Hungarian waiter to loosen up a bit.

The Food I have to say I was somewhat disappointed in the food. They list 5 main entrees daily, but 1
is always a pasta and another is always a vegetarian entree. Of the remaining, 1 is always Beef and
another is Seafood, that only leaves 1 rotating entree for all other categories. I am somewhat of a
gourmet diner who dines out at fine restaurants frequently at home. The only entree I had all week
that was terrific was the Rack of Lamb. The other nights I had grilled chicken and sirloin steak (due to
lack of better choices) I don’t usually like to order beef because I like it extremely rare and sure
enough, twice it came out medium or worse which I ended up eating anyway. The Osso Bucco was
fatty and not very good, the Veal Cordon Bleu was dry and unexciting. On the plus side however, the
appetizers, soups and desserts were mostly very good to excellent. In particular, the escargot, the
smoked fish, salmon duo, pepperpot soup, oxtail soup were excellent. In the dessert category, the
Key Lime pie was to die for! I also had coconut creme brulee, tirami-su, and a napoleon that were
also very, very good! I was very surprised that cappuccino was not included free in the dining room.
Our coordinator was also able to obtain a reservation for Portofino’s on the last night for the main
seating only. Make your reservation the moment you get on board, this restaurant was terrific! I had
the carpaccio and the antipasto (only time all week I ordered two of anything) skipped the soup and
the salad and had the medallions of veal in an apricot sauce and then had the fresh berries with
zabaglione for dessert with cappuccino. You can definitely see the difference in cooking for 120 vs.
1500. Do not miss dining here!

Windjammer/Island Grill With the exception of 1 morning we ate here every day. I can’t believe
previous posts said that there weren’t many choices, because I want to know where they eat every
day. At breakfast there were among others; fruit, cereals, eggs many ways (not fried however),
potatoes, Danish and buns, bacon, sausage, hash, ham, French toast, pancakes, bagels, toast,
smoked fish, etc. Coffee however was horrible, it was like mud, not the case in the dining room where
we ate 1 morning and had the eggs Benedict which weren’t very good, but we did meet some lovely
people from Spain. If fact there were many Europeans on this sailing which made for an interesting
clientele. We also ate lunch in there everyday and the choices were just as astounding; multiple hot
foods, salads, sandwiches, tacos, burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, different carving station daily,
pizza, pastas, Chinese food, etc. in addition to a dessert table. Ice tea and lemonade in addition to
coffee and tea were available free. I’ll also note for soda people (which I’m not), that soda was free in
the dining room at dinner. We never did get to eat at Johnny Rockets. Twice we tried but didn’t want
to stand in line.

Cruise Director/Ships Activities Our cruise director was Jeff Martin. First time I’ve ever seen a cruise
director from the USA. I still think I prefer British. He was OK, not extremely funny. We didn’t really
participate in many of the on board activities, since 2 mornings we attended training seminars. We
went to most of the shows which were enjoyable, and like I stated earlier, seating was not a problem.
Among my favorites were the Knudsen Brothers which was unbelievable! The comic Sal Richards
was very good also. We won some money on horse racing and lost a bunch in the casino. The bar I
frequented the most was the Sports Bar on the Promenade. We attended the Captain’s Cocktail
party which was very nice, however not until it was almost over did we find out you could order any
cocktail and not just champagne which I don’t really care for. We did meet Captain Pettersen who
was most gratious and well spoken; this was his last cruise for awhile until he returns from vacation to
captain the Adventurer of the Seas, Voyagers loss is Adventurer’s gain. During the week we also
attended the past cruisers party which did offer choice of cocktail plus the same yummy appetizers.
We went to the disco a few nights, but didn’t really care for it. It’s completely black inside. We also
frequented the Royal Viking Lounge for pre-dinner drinks and for late night jazz. The golf bar next
door was also a favorite spot. We liked these bars because you could actually see the water,
something missing from most of the Promenade bars. We watched the first nights parade from our
cabin but attended the Mardi Gras parade in person. These were great, not to be missed.

Shore Excursions I didn’t take any of the ship sponsored excursions all week.

Labadee I was very apprehensive about this island. I had heard so many differing views. Well this
turned out to be my favorite stop. The beach is absolutely gorgeous! The whole area is pretty well
laid out. We walked over to the other side of the island, where it was quieter. Found 2 lounge chairs
and enjoyed the day. Waiters from the ship roamed the beach all day long. We eventually went to get
something to eat and drink back by the main beach. We then went to the shopping area that is set
up. The long building with the locals is a horror! If the people only just gave you time to look at their
wares, I probably would have bought a ton of stuff, but with people all over you and shoving things in
your face I just threw my hands up in the air and RAN from the building. The only consolation is that
there is a government run store right next door with most of the same items at set prices (still pretty
low) where we did buy a few items because we were able to browse without anyone bothering us. We
caught the last tender back to the ship. The tender service was extremely quick and efficient both
ways, almost no waiting.

Ocho Rios I had day passes to visit both Sandals Ocho Rios and Sandals Dunns River. Stayed the
day at the latter and enjoyed it very much.

Cozumel We took a taxi and went shopping all day in town. Bargained and bought a few pieces of
silver jewelry and onyx statues throughout the day. We had fun bargaining with the Mexican
shopkeepers, and unlike the Haitians, they at least let you shop mostly in peace. Also stopped at
Carlos and Charlie’s for some drinks and a snack. It was a fun and happening place.

Debarkation We completed our debarkation survey through the interactive TV for early departure.
On the last day we were given white tags for early debarkation. We put our luggage out the night
before as instructed. The next morning we went for breakfast in the Windjammer and by the time we
returned to our cabin we were already cleared for debarkation. At 8:30 we approached the gangway
and walked right off! No lines! We then proceeded to baggage carousel #3. Unfortunately, we then
waited over 2 1/2 hours before any of our bags were finally found (missing their tags). Due to their
screw-up, I ended up missing my flight at 11:40am and had to wait until 7:05pm for the next flight
(standby no less). Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. I have written to RCCL and have not
yet received a response (and I’m a travel agent remember). Bad ending to a good week.

Overview I still have to say the ship itself was stunning (I just also returned from Carnival’s Destiny of
which I thought the decor was totally tacky and there were lines for everything, however the cabins
are hugh and the food was surprisingly excellent). Everything for the most part was well organized,
with no lines which was really a plus on such a large ship, but the dining was a real disappointment.
As much as I love the ship itself, they will have to work on the food selections before I consider sailing
with them again.

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