Adventure 4 night Sailing from Barcelona 20th May 2010 Review

[peteukmcr]

Well folks we're home back in Manchester after a great 4 day sailing on Adventure of the Seas out of Barcelona.

 

Here's my review, sorry it's long, but if you have any questions I'll do my best to answer.

 

There's a link to the photos at the bottom of the review.

 

We travelled ‘overland’ from Manchester, UK to Barcelona on 18th / 19th May to ensure the volcanic ash cloud did not disrupt our flight from the UK or to Spain. That trip is a completely different story! Stayed overnight at the Villa Emilia hotel www.hotelvillaemilia.com

 

Thursday, 20th May

 

Caught a taxi from the hotel to the port ‘Moll D’Adossat’ at around 11:00, cost approximately €20 as the Barcelona taxis have a fixed charge, cost per KM and then extras for baggage etc.

 

Arrived at Terminal B and joined a short line for security scan and check in. We took our bags on board with us as we just had ‘carry on’ size bags for the 4 night sailing.

 

Entered the terminal and completed a health questionnaire to make sure we didn’t have swine flu. Used the Diamond/Suite Guests check in line and it was completed in minutes.

 

Passed by a stand selling the soda passes and then through the duty free shops of the terminal. Up the escalators (deftly avoiding the ‘Welcome Aboard’ photo opportunity) and proceeded along the covered walk way onto the ship on deck 4. Provided our SeaPass cards and passports for the photograph to be imprinted onto the cards and we were onboard. Reckon the whole process took less than 15 minutes!

 

Proceeded up to the Windjammer for lunch. Staterooms would be available at 1 pm. Stopped by Portofino to book a table for 9 pm on Friday, 21st.

 

Before entering the Windjammer, ordered a 5 bottle Gold ‘Wine & Dine’ package. Total cost $164.70 ($135 + $9.45 Spanish VAT + $20.25 15% gratuity).

 

Took a seat in the Island Grill and had lunch, very quiet at this time. Once lunch eaten we sat on Deck 11 and at 1 pm proceeded to stateroom 7318, a centre hump, starboard side category E2 cabin.

 

Complimentary Ice Show tickets in the cabin for any performance.

 

Unpacked and went exploring.

 

Had a drink in the Blue Moon Jazz Club in the Viking Crown on deck 14. Jack Daniels & Coke ($5.50 + 15%), Bombay Sapphire & tonic ($5.75 + 15%).

 

Attended the Diamond event for pre-dinner drinks, held each night from 5 pm – 8:30 pm in the ‘19th Hole’ on deck 14. Similar location to the Diamond lounge found on the Freedom class ships, so nice sea views, especially as sunset wasn’t until around 9 pm. Free wine, champagne and fountain sodas available, 20% discount on cocktails and beer. Very quite most nights but we were well looked after by Bryan.

 

We had pre-booked 8:30 pm for My Time dining. This was on deck 5 in the Mozart dining room. Got a table for 2 as requested which was on the balcony area of the dining room overlooking decks 3 & 4. Food was good, and the waiter and assistant waiter excellent.

 

Attended the Ice show in Studio B ‘Cool Art Hot Ice’ and it was enjoyable.

Visited Jesters night club, we’ve never seen a club onboard so busy, the bar staff couldn’t cope, so many people wanting drinks. Went up to Blue Moon on deck 14, again absolutely packed, no space on the dance floor and again the bar staff struggling to cope with demand. The theme was Latin, Salsa, Merengue catering for the very large Spanish contingent onboard.

 

Same in the 19th Hole, very busy with people wanting serving.

 

Friday, 21st May

 

Arrived in ‘Toulon’ at 7 am. Actually docked at La Seyne-sur-Mer which is 6 miles from Toulon and to get there you had to purchase a shuttle ticket costing $6 per person each way, so $24 for a two person round trip from Explorations on deck 5 next to Guest Relations.

 

We were invited to have daily full service breakfast with speciality coffees in the ‘La Notte’ dining room on deck 3 as Diamond members. It was very quiet but enjoyable.

 

The shuttle organisation was chaotic with people who had not purchased tickets allowed to pay on the dock and then push in the lines with those who had paid waiting to board a bus. The trip took approximately 35 – 45 minutes due to the appalling traffic. We were dropped off at the ferry terminal and told buses returned to the ship every 30 minutes.

 

Toulon was interesting to see, especially the market, but that’s about it. Went to catch a shuttle back, no driver to be seen. Finally boarded the 3 bus that had dropped people off, again total chaos. Return trip seemed to take even longer due to the volume of traffic.

 

Went back onboard to have lunch at Johnny Rockets. Good as usual.

 

Departed from La Seyne Sur-Mer at 6 pm.

 

Complimentary petit fours delivered to the cabin, I presume for Diamond members and up (no reason provided) on formal night.

 

Dined at Portofino at 9 pm, dress suggestion was smart casual even though it was Formal Night. Excellent, ate too much as usual. Staff very attentive.

 

Saturday, 22nd May

 

Went for breakfast to the Windjammer today and found they served ‘English’ back bacon and sausages, fantastic!

 

Basically a sea day until arrival in Ibiza at 4:30 pm. As a result it was very busy again on the pool decks, but we found a nice spot in the Solarium near the pool.

 

Once again a shuttle was needed to get from the dock which looked fairly new and was located near the Botafoch Marina. The port of Ibiza was very busy with ferries from other parts of Spain as well as regular services to the neighbouring island of Formentera.

 

Left the ship to catch the shuttle to the Formentera ferry terminal which is just outside the old town. Trip only took a few minutes.

 

Spent an hour or so exploring the ‘D’Alt Vila’ of Ibiza, the old walled town that is approached by an imposing archway up a ramp.

 

Returned to the ship for pre-dinner drinks and dinner. Had the Cops Grille steak available on the MDR menu, excellent ($14.95 which includes 15% gratuity + 7% Spanish VAT). Then we headed back out to Ibiza town via the shuttle for a few drinks.

 

Sunday, 23rd May

 

Breakfasted again in the Windjammer and found a table easily. Went for a walk from the dock to the marina and then to Talamanca which is the resort in the next bay from where the ship docks.

 

Headed back to try and find a spot on the pool deck, this proved really difficult and again the chair hogs out in force.

 

Went to Windjammer for lunch at 1:30 pm and gave up trying to find a table, it was so busy as the MDR was closed whilst we were in port.

 

Returned at around 2 pm and eventually grabbed a table for 2 as two people got up to leave. I requested a bottle of wine from our ‘Wine & Dine’ package but my first request was denied as the MDR was closed even though there is a bar in the Island Grill. I approached a senior dining room attendant and asked again. She initially said it was not possible as the MDR was closed, but I insisted as it was a ‘Wine & Dine’ package and I was dining. She consulted with someone else and he said it was possible. She got the wine from Portofino next door.

 

Registered my $10 internet credit with Guest Relations, set up a username and password in the internet café and then tried to use the Wi-Fi hotspot in Cloud 9 on deck 14. This was not working; the ship is not fully equipped with Wi-Fi so it is not possible to connect from your stateroom. The only locations are Cloud 9 (deck 14), Conference Centre (deck 2), Royal Promenade (Café Promenade, deck 5) & Solarium (deck 11).

 

We set sail from Ibiza at 3 pm towards Barcelona. We went to watch the Farewell Show in the Lyric theatre and then to our final dinner in the MDR.

 

Monday, 24th May

 

We docked in Barcelona in the early morning and although as Diamond Members we had been given one of the first coloured tags for early disembarkation, we stayed onboard and had breakfast in the Windjammer as we were taking our own luggage off.

 

We could have waited in the Mozart dining room reserved for Diamond members, but we stayed in the cabin until about 8:30 am.

 

Checked out our formal ‘informal’ photographs from the previous evening, but didn’t purchase any as they are not worth the $19.95 + VAT IMHO.

 

We strolled around the pool deck and saw MSC Splendida dock behind us, Nautilus in front and Oceana beyond that. It was a busy day in the port of Barcelona.

 

We left the ship around 8:45 am, no lines for exiting the ship, strolled through the terminal and out to get a taxi to our post cruise hotel and waited all of 5 minutes before being on our way.

 

Highlights

 

Adventure of the Seas is a great ship, and in good condition.

Unobtrusive stateroom attendant, but thorough and the cabin was spotless.

Good food in the MDR, excellent in Portofino.

A large variety of food available in the Windjammer.

Strong alcoholic drinks (now into Lava Flows!)

Attentive staff

Great service, especially in Portofino

Very easy to check in and board and also when disembarking.

Great snacks at the Café Promenade (Brownies to die for!).

 

Lowlights

 

Chair hogging.

Chaotic shuttle organisation.

Shuttle from La Seyne Sur-Mer (cost and length of time taken to get to Toulon)

Lack of choice of shore excursions in Ibiza.

General Store does not sell duty free liquor or cigarettes due to Spanish law and is now the ‘$10 store’

Spanish VAT of 16% on shop purchases, 7% on all bar sales and cover charges for Johnny Rockets and Portofino.

 

Key Staff

 

Captain Ole-Johan Gronhaug

Mercedes LaFuente – Cruise Director

Melissa Broome – Loyalty Ambassador

 

Sample Prices

 

Chops Grille Steak $13.00 ($14.95 on the menu, includes 15% gratuity)

Mojito $6.00

20oz Draft Beer $5.95

Seattle’s Best Latte $2.75

Budweiser (bottle) $4.25

House Brandy $4.75

Portofino cover charge $20.00 ($21.40 per person due to Spanish VAT at 7%)

Jack Daniels & Coke $5.50

Bombay Sapphire & Tonic $5.75

8” x 6” photo $9.95 each, plus $1.59 Spanish VAT (16%)

Cosmopolitan $9.25

Mango Lava Flow $6.75

Lava Flow $7.00

Glass of wine $7.00 and up

 

All the above except where stated attract an additional 7% Spanish VAT, plus 15% Gratuity.

 

Here's the link to the photo's

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4560602...28300904/show/

[jenrie]

Welcome home Pete and Patrick, it was lovely meeting up with you both on the ship, we arrived home about 5.30pm would have been home earlier but got held up in traffic will look at you photos tomorrow.

Jewel & Vic

[uksimonusa]

Sounds like a good cruise, we may be doing the Voyager in October, from barcelona. Glad to see they have back bacon and sausages, nothing like full english breakfast.

 

We were on Freedom in march and they had back bacon then, but only for the first couple of hours, once it was gone it was gone. Some evenings they had English bangers on the buffet, but for some reason never had bangers and back bacon together for breakfast!!:confused:

[jjb415]

Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough review. Glad you had a great time !! :)