ckmommy

Thanks for doing this review. We were in Australia in September. Now, planning a NZ cruise. Not sure when, but hopefully in the next few years. Can't wait to see the photos of the NZ leg of your trip!

We were looking for El Fuerte--which is close to Pez Quadro

Sorry fo the delay--we asked to taxi to take us really far down the beach. We had been at a resort we liked many years ago when it was the third stop--this is when they had a tram type thing that took you to the beach. We were looking for that same resort--which I found when we were leaving--it was on the next block. The beach place was called Kraken. Stay away!

We got the cigars from a beach vendor--we should have known better...I think when we got home my husband looked on the LCDH website and realized he did not buy real Cuban Cigars. It will be a funny story to tell one day.

We went to the beach -- using a $4 per person Taxi. As soon as we got out a guy was asking us to come to his beach area for $15 per person. He showed us a menu and we agreed to stay. Beer was $4. Until we got the bill--they ended up charging us $6 a beer. They kept bringing the buckets of beer even though it was not being drank. Somehow we got charged for 5 buckets of 6 beers (30 beers drank by 2 people--in 2 hours--I don't think so). Plus, 4 shots were billed to us--the shots were drank by the people---(while we watched) that served us as a thank you! Those shot were $40. I was not drinking--but I did get a massage. While I was getting a massage, the bill was given to the others in my party. When I got out of the massage, I took a photo of the bill, a second before the server took the cask and bill away. I did not look at the bill till we were on the ship--$300 was the total. For sure, we were very overcharged--but those paying the bill were not paying attention to the total at all. Also, my husband bought Cuban Cigars for our boys and him to enjoy when we are all together at Christmas. 6 Cubans for $50. When we got home my husband looked up the Cigars and they are NOT cuban--just some junk cigar. If you are planning to drink in Costa Maya--find a beach club that offers an all inclusive drinking deal. And, don't buy anything from the vendors that are constantly asking you to buy from them--unless yo are okay with the price and you know that the stuff you are buying may not be what it is supposed to be.

You can get Pizza and Sandwiches in the Park Cafe in the Promenade. I do not think the MD was open for Lunch on Embarkation day. I could be wrong.

IMG_0680.mov IMG_0757.mov

Other Thoughts: Good: -ship was full so that is good for RCCL--most places the ship did not feel full -the music was good in the bars--Pig and Whistle had an older guy playing the guitar and he was taking requests. Fun but older crowd. -wide range of ages on the cruise -easy to get off and on the ship in ports -I slept like a baby due to rocking of the ship--pretty high seas this trip -The quest was fun but lightly attended -ice show was good as always -the Diamond Lounge was small but good--nice appetizers at night. The breakfast was very basic, but if you just wanted a danish-they had you covered. I loved to go there at night. Bad: -Only 2 outlet in the room. USB on phone did not charge my Apple Watch. So, we had to plug and unplug our stuff all the time--I know--first world problems -my husband likes bourbon-so he was drinking bourbon old fashions-the consistency between bars and even bartenders at the same bar was terrible. Even the Pina Colada and Mai Tai's were inconsistent. -Internet was not working--we were going to use our free days, but Maddie in the Diamond lounge said that there were some problems -the free texting through the app was nice, but it did not work immediately--it could take 20-60 mins before the person you sent the text to got it. Not very helpful -Time of the Quest show was at 10:15 the last night of the cruise. There were only a handful of people that came to the show. It was a really rocky night onboard, but the last night when people are packing to go home, I would have picked a different night -This is not for this cruise only--but I sure wish that RCCL went to more than just Mexico, Belize and Roatan out of Galveston. What happened to Grand Cayman and Jamaica. We had a really bad experience in Costa Maya this time and will never go back there. We are probably not going to br cruising out of Galveston anymore--Mexico does not do it for us anymore Ugly: The very first night of the cruise, after dinner I went to the Perfume shop. I was looking at the bottles and I heard someone come running into the shop. I turned to see what was wrong--a young lady had her hand over her mouthed vomit spewing out--she took her hand away and projectile vomited over everything!! The store clerk looked at her mortified. That was it for me for the night!! Overall a great cruise. The ship is in good condition. There needs to be more crew onboard. We will be on the Symphony of the Seas for Christmas with our 5 kids--3 in college, 1 just graduated from college and our youngest, who is in the Army. Can't wait to be all together on a ship again!!

Casino Good: -lots of machines to choose from -there were people winning pretty big (the lady across from us won $1800) and the people sitting nest to us at dinner won $5000--both on slots -we spent $60 and on our last pull won $45--so only lost $15 -everyone seemed happy Bad: -the smoke!! Not a smoker and hate the smell -the smoke smell was not contained well in the casino--you could smell it as far as the Main dining room

Service: Good: -Maddie in the Diamond (Crown) Lounge--she was attentive, knew our names and asked what we liked about the ship and what we did not like--she seemed interested -Washy washy lady Bad: -This is a broad opinion, but it seemed like the crew was just done. Very few workers seemed very happy. They seemed overworked and unable to to their jobs well--they were so busy. -DISHES IN THE HALLWAYS!! There were so many dishes and cups. There were plates of uneaten breakfast food in the hallways when we returned from dinner. I was shocked. I have never seen so many dishes being left in the hallways for such long periods. Again--I think it has to do with the staff cutbacks and this being a sold out cruise. -Bar service was slow everywhere was awful. Lines of 3-20 people long. There was an obvious issue with the cash registers reading the room cards. Your best bet is to get a drink from the bar server that walks around by the pools. There are way fewer of them around and they do not seem to be on deck until after noon. Ugly: None

Dining Good: -Specialty Dining food was good--not great but good--we went to Chops and Giovanni's -MDR--My Time--I was happy with the food, it was much better than I expected. We have been on lots of RCCL cruises, and the food seemed pretty similar to the what we had on our January cruise -Windjammer--Washy Washy lady was by the hand washing stations for breakfast every day--she was a joy to see. -Pizza was RCCL pizza--they had 3 different choices in toppings--they were just fine for us -You could get a whole pizza to take away if you wanted--you had to wait for it though Bad: -Service in Chops was bad. It started out really good, then our server got overwhelmed and it ended up being a 3 hour dinner with more that 45 mins between the main course and dessert -Not enough staff in the Windjammer -No Pumpkin seed rolls on white rolls in MDR after the first day (which we were not at due to dinner at Giovanni's) -Pushing additional specialty options after eating in Giovanni's -Ice cream line only had one person making the cones--the line had to be 30-40 long Ugly: So many dishes being not bussed--in the MDR, Specialty restaurants, and Windjammer--its a really bad look and fairly gross

Rooms: Good: -Room was ready at 1:30 -room keys on the door -Met our room attendant--he would be cleaning our room in the mornings -plenty of storage for our clothing and room under the bed for luggage storage -nice reading light over bed -there was an offer for pressing of clothing (up to 10 items that fit in a provided bag) for $17.49--But it stated to allow up to 48 to get the clothing back. Our stateroom attendant assured us they would be back in 24 hours (and they were--we gave him 2 mens dress shirts and to pairs of pants) -we got towel animals 2 of the 5 days--that was fine for us The Bad: -the shower head did not have a diffuser (?) on it--so it was just one strong stream of water--we did not ask for maintenance to come and fix it. I wished we had after getting a sunburn the 2nd day. But that was our fault for not asking for it to be fixed. -No paper Cruise Compass--I did see some on people's doors, but I did not see our stateroom attendant after the first day to ask for one. I really did miss the paper copy -Some one stole some of my door decorations. -We only had 2 in our room- but have cruised with 3 in the room before. With Cabin service only in the AM OR PM, the couch that makes into a bed would have to be left open all the time. That would be an issue. -For some reason the cabin attendant only left 1 towel on the 2nd day of the cruise. So we had to share that wet towel. I guess I could have gotten a pool towel, but we did not realize this till too late. And, there were not cabin stewards around to ask for more towels The Ugly: -there was a lady across the hallway from us that was loudly complaining about crazy things the first few days--why are my sheets not being changed everyday?, where is my ice? Can you push the beds together to make more room during the day and then take them apart at night? I felt bad for the Attendant

Port Arrival: Good-- Port of Galveston parking is close and convenient. New Terminal is efficient, clean, comfortable On board by 11:00am Bad-- Got Scissors confiscated--my fault Ugly-- None Ship Embarkation: Good-- -Safety Briefing on Mobile App--better than good--Love this -Muster Station Check in--easy--hope they do not change this -Low lines at Guest Services -Elevators with no lines--we try not to use elevators, but we had friends with us that do need the elevators. They are Carnival cruisers--this was their 1st Royal--they could not believe that there were no line for the elevators. -Found a table in the Windjammer for 4 on Embarkation Day! -Food is fine in the WJ--nothing to write home about be just fine for us. Bad-- -Long Lines at the Main Dining room to get a My time reservation -the constant badgering for buying the Speciality Dining -lack of staff anywhere (bars, My time reservations, Windjammer, Park Cafe) -Windjammer service--no drinks being brought out, plates piled up on tables not being taken off, tables not being wiped off -Bar service. We went to the Solarium to get a "Are on a Cruise" drink. The line was about 6 people long. So we went to the Pool bar--only 2 people in Line. BUT--only 1 bartender. It took 20 mins to get the drink. The "cash" registers were not working properly and it was taking a ton of time for the card to process. That was annoying and was a problem the whole trip. Ugly-- -saw so many couples arguing/fighting --it was embarrassing to witness -

Just got home from a 5 day trip on Voyager of the Seas leaving from Galveston. Our port stops were Costa Maya and Cozumel. When we booked we did not realize that this week was a school holiday for several school districts in the USA and did not plan for high seas. We live in Houston--so I know it is still hurricane season. That said, by October we are usually clear. Well, this ended up being the highest seas we have experienced on our cruise vacations. We were fine and had no issue with the rocking and rolling, but many did not have this same experience. Let me get my thoughts together and I will post a review in a bit. Hit me with any questions--I'll do my best to answer. IMG_0668.HEIC

I did not know this. I thought that kids under 16 (now under 18) were not allowed into the Solarium at all--that would include the Solarium Bistro on the ships that have that venue. I have been on several Oasis class ships that have the Bistro--only the last cruise in January we saw (lots of) kids in the Solarium Bistro. I was a little taken aback by that. But, now I know and will not be seeking this food space for a kids free space.