The Fun Researcher

We're renting a couple of vehicles from Hertz and making our own day tour with snorkel stops, salt pans, slave huts, beach breaks, etc...

This will be our first time renting a vehicle on our own on a cruise, but from everything we have read, it's easy to get around Bonaire.

Dan

Why isn't bringing HWC onboard an option for you?  (I don't mean that in a snarky tone)

If you can find a place to stop on your way to the ship, pick some up and put it in your room's mini fridge.  I've done the same for lime and lemon juice.

Dan

Ah, first world problems.

Unless you are camping in your room all week, I suspect you would be just fine in a lowly Jr. suite.  😉

Dan

29 minutes ago, Jasonmom said:

Hoping someone on the next cruise will update us  .

I'll try to, but probably not until we hit Bonaire, March 19th

Dan

3 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Bookmark this when people tell you it's safe to take a cruise right out of drydock.  3 weeks post dry dock, 1 cancelled cruise, and they still won't have everything working. 

 

No cruises 1 month before dry dock 

No cruises 1 month after dry dock 

No cruises on any new ship at least 6 month 

Yeah, I don't disagree if that's an option. 

Don't get me wrong though.  Even if these two venues aren't operational, I'm still incredibly excited about our cruise.  As a whole, I'll take the current situation rather than being on a tired ship in need of a refurb.

We had one week available for our cruise this spring, and this is still BY FAR the best option.  9 night Southern on an amazing newly refurbed ship?  Yes please.  :)

Dan

9 hours ago, SakeDad said:

All I can say about this is the Navigator was such a pain in the ass in dry dock it was stated more than once she will be the ONLY ship to have that slide in the fleet. We'll see if they stick with that or not.

Interesting.  What source did these comments come from?  That's the first I've heard that. 

The slide still isn't operating (as far as we know as of today, 3-13-19), but that isn't the first time on a RCCL ship (Tidal Wave on the LOS).  

Dan

3 hours ago, CazV said:

 

Hi Dan... I've seen very little come out online from the current cruise. It's an Adult Only Charter Cruise, so maybe they're all too busy paryting?

 

I did see one person say in a FB group that she'd been on both slides yesterday though! It may have been more testing rather than it being properly open though. I know they tested it last week with a few passengers then closed it again.

 

Haven't seen anything about the gym.

Forgot that this was an all adult cruise.  Interesting about the "both slides" FB comment.

2 hours ago, ctbrown24 said:

I got this reply on their FB page. We're on the 3/15 sailing.

 

We don't have any updates on this. Unfortunately, we don't believe these two areas will be fixed by the beginning of your sailing. We apologize for any disappointment. -Gabbie

The mystery continues....

If we knew more about why the fitness center isn't open yet, we'd probably have a better guess whether or not it will be open on the March 15th cruise.  That commercial grade gym equipment is very heavy, and who knows if its  even been loaded on the ship.  I'll do my investigations when we board Friday.  Worst case I can run on the Deck 4 outer track.  My daughters have both started their high school track season and were planning on using the treadmills during the cruise to train.  However, the upper track deck or Deck 4 will have to do.  Not the end of the world.

The water slide is a major downer.  RCCL talks about "the longest water slide at sea!", and then don't even have it working.    Hopefully they can certify it as operational on Friday while it's back in Miami.

Dan

 Bumping, in case someone currently on this cruise sees this post. 

Dan

Yes.  Confirmed.  Two in the Promenade, and two in the Windjammer.

Dan

Later one night the summer of 2017 we were having fun on the Equinox at one of the bars and decided to go outside, top deck, to the to the Sunset bar.  As we opened the door to go outside, we see lighting everywhere, downpour, and strong wind!  Didn't have a clue.  You couldn't tell whatsoever inside the ship.  

Dan

1 hour ago, Flow Bro Ty said:

I Was Viewing A Video On You Tube That Show Them Working On The Water Slides. 

LIVE Royal Caribbean NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS

Thank you.  Interesting.  She says that's why they are delayed getting out of port, to get both water slides working.  Whether that's accurate or not, or if they got them fixed before leaving, is unknown.

We get on the Navigator Friday, which is why I'm asking.  :)

Dan

Just wondering if anyone on the March 10th 2019 sailing can confirm or deny if both water slides are operational, and if the fitness center is open yet?  

Thanks,
Dan

I’m seeing about $19 for lunch and $40 for dinner 

Dan

14 minutes ago, jonbgd said:

did it replace Sabor?

Yup, that's the venue that it's in.

Dan

47 minutes ago, purplegrapefruit said:

I hope on the new Navigator with the pool bar area having much more bar seating, this will encourage late evening pool bar parties.  I agree, watching movies at night isn't exactly exciting. Hopefully they roll out this design fleetwide. It looks like a lot of fun and should encourage socializing. 

It was reported that at least two late night pool parties were held on the 9 night Navigator cruise last week.

Dan

This must have been a ton of work for you, so thank you so much! 

I can tell you that I personally looked at this thread multiple times a day in preparation for the 9 night itinerary on the Navigator starting this Friday!  Super excited now, in no small part thanks to your thread, and Twangsters...

Dan

Glad the revamped Indy is even better than before!  If I HAD to pick one favorite cruise (adult friends only) of them all, it was on the Indy back in 2014 with the great 8 night itinerary that RCI runs (Labadee, St. Maartin, St. Kitts, San Juan).

Great to hear about Playmakers.  The new food options are very exciting to me, and I look forward to the beer selections now that you mention them.  I'm excited to try it later this week on the Amped Navigator.  

Glad you hear that you had a great vacay!

Dan

Dang Twangster, these are probably the best collection of ship photos I've seen in any thread on Cruise Critic!

Amazing.

Thank you.

Dan

31 minutes ago, EmilyJay said:

Today staff have been going round taking towels off beds!!! Horrah. There are also notices coming up on the big screen at the pool saying you are not allowed to reserve them. 

Shame it’s taken until the last day but hopefully it’s better from now on for the next cruises. 

 There is justice in this world! But like you said it’s a shame it took until the last day of a nine night  cruise for them to finally enforce some order.   I hope it continues .

Dan

3 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

If somehow it reduces the amount of kids on board by even a little bit, then... 👍

Understand.  I get it.    Kinda hard to do when they are trying to lure in families though.  “ Can’t have your pie and eat it too. “   You can have an adult only cruise but you have to pay for it 

Dan

1 hour ago, EmilyJay said:

The cruise planner states the sun loungers are on a first come, first serve basis which I think is why they all go so early. 

By 10.30-11am most the loungers had people in, but I had my eye on 2 right by the pool and nobody used them between 9am-2pm. 

 

There are enough loungers around the ship, it’s just the ones near the pool which is the problem. 

We were on a full capacity Harmony sailing 18 months ago and it was alot easier to get a lounger by the pool than it has been on sea days this week. 

 

I have noticed there is a large group on this sailing and 2 members will obviously come out early and reserve 12 or more chairs which don’t all get used, but they will make out someone is using them. If this was nipped in the bud and they were told no you can’t reserve that many I think things would slightly better. 

 

I appreciate the additional info, and everything else you've done this week to help us all.  Thank you!

Dan

4 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

That has been my understanding too, the rcldining email is primarily for requests for those assigned to traditional dining.

Yeah, it's been hit or miss for us.  We've always done My Time Dining, but roughly 1/3 of the time we've received a reply back with detailed info.  My kind of request, with My Time Dining,  is probably best handled on the ship to be honest.  If I like our table and wait staff the first night I'll ask to repeat.  🙂
 

Dan

 I just got my reply from Royal Caribbean about our cruise next week on the Navigator .   I guess this is how they are handling it.  Looks like I’ll be checking in with the maître d’ when I arrive on the ship. 

“Good day:

All table assignments for My Time Dining are done onboard the ship. Our onboard staff will be delighted to assist with your table request. Enjoy your sailing!”

Dan

41 minutes ago, Paulette3028 said:

The pool lounger situation and 'chair hogs' has been a problem for years.  I have solved it on my own....if all you have there is a towel.....then it is subject to removal by me.  IF you show up and belly ache.....my answer is 'nothing was on the chair when I came by'.  

I aware of that. ...and I like you're approach by they way. 🙂  The difference with the Navigator right now is zero enforcement of a 30 minute rule, which some ships will do.  Leave something unattended on a lounger/chair for more than 30 minutes and it's subject to removal (which is more than fair IMO)

Dan

10 minutes ago, EmilyJay said:

Day 9: Sea Day. 

This morning on our walk to breakfast at 8.05am, every single sun lounger was gone on the pool deck. Not one was to be had, which is insane as it was 8am!! What time are these people getting up for every chair to be gone?!? 

Breakfast was at the Windjammer again, and then we went in search of a lounger. Another look of deck 11 and all the loungers were covered in personal belongings, yet 0 people in the pool and about 10-15 people actually on the deck. 

We went up to deck 12 and found some loungers and even up here it was beginning to get full. 

I really don't know how they are going to keep this up without passengers throwing a major fit.  Is there someone you can speak with?  There has to be many others like you that are very upset that folks can "claim" a lounger for an indefinite amount of time while others are wanting to use it.
 

Dan