Mariner last week...some observations

[39august]

I have never before seen posted in the Compass, the time the MDR doors would be closed after each dinner seating. It was 45 minutes after the seating time that doors would be closed. Whether they actually were, I couldn't say as we don't do the MDR anymore. However, this should be implemented on all ships IMHO. Too much hassle for the wait staff when folks just show up whenever they want. Also, I have never seen the WJ open at 6 PM for dinner. It has been 6:30 on all other ships that I can remember. Dinner seating was: MTD, 5:15PM to 9:00 PM; main dining at 5:30 PM and late at 8:00 PM. Shows were at 6 and 8 PM. Never have seen those times either. I asked two differnt staff why everything was so early and was told that the demographic requests it. There were a lot of older people (me too) and a lot of pax with wheelchairs and walkers. There were very, very few children and I never saw a teenager. The guest performers were great! "Home Free" is an acapella men's group that also produces instrument sounds. Fascinating! Then there were the "Platters". The lead singer sounded exactly like the original Platters. Amazing. There was a magician/comedian who was very, very entertaining. And the comedian was actually funny. Of course the ice show was outstanding. There was only one production show with the RCI singers and dancers. I left after about 15 minutes. They were just OK...then they started trying to sing Beatles songs. Sorry, that just doesn't work! Mariner still looks great. I did overhear a conversation in Vintages with the drinks manager discussing the changes to be made there during the dry dock in April. There will be fewer tables and more couches and charis, and the wine machines will be added.

[BecciBoo]

Hey there....how did the weather treat you guys. So wish I could've been with you. How was Belize???:D

[Puffinater]

Mariner still looks great. I did overhear a conversation in Vintages with the drinks manager discussing the changes to be made there during the dry dock in April. There will be fewer tables and more couches and charis, and the wine machines will be added.

 

Any chance the manager was a young lady by the name of Almae?

[Sequim88]

discussing the changes to be made there during the dry dock in April.

 

Any other dry dock scuttlebut? Enough rumors from enough different sources starts to add up to maybe something to it.

[T_Bone2012]

There were a lot of older people (me too) and a lot of pax with wheelchairs and walkers. There were very, very few children and I never saw a teenager.

 

My wife and I noticed the same thing on our 1/15 cruise. School had already started in TX, so there were either young couples with infants or no kids, or older couples with no kids - mostly older (70+) with no kids! I swear it felt as if we were on a Seniors cruise ( and I'm almost 50)! The positive side of this is that we never had any problems finding a lounge up on the 12th deck. The clubs were almost empty by 10PM! I think I would rather have it that way Vs. fighting 900 kids for a lounge by the pool over a school break.

[DonnaK]

I remember the old days when the MDR door was closed 10 or 15 minutes after seating time. Glad to read that they are bringing that back, even with an extended timeframe. Hope it's going to be a fleetwide policy, as it disrupts MDR service. Those who wish to come late should not sign up for traditional dining, and free spots on the waiting list for those who intend to dine there on time most nights.

[39august]

Becci, the weather was mostly very good. First day at sea started hazy, but cleared off and was in the low 70's. Second day was perfect. It rained for the first hour or so in Roatan, but quickly cleared and was hot. Perfect weather in Belize. Our "kids" took the Bannister island beach break and loved it. Nice weather in Coz. Last sea day clouded up around 3 and weather went downhill from that. Very rough seas, cool and cloudy that night. But we woke to clear sunny skies for Galveston departure. Didn't see any woman staff at all in Vintages.

[ranchingal]

Did you go to Chops or Portifino? What was your opinion of the food in the dining room?

 

If you noticed, where was the evening Diamond event?

[39august]

The Diamond Event was held in the Dragon's Lair, the disco club on deck 3. Portofino's was excellent in every way. Didn't eat in the MDR, but we had very good food for the most part in the WJ for dinner.

[tropicalsun]

We were on board as well. It was a great for our group of 8. As mentioned, the ship was full with very elderly folks. The walkers and wheel chairs made navigating around the ship a bit slow:). We're all late 40's and enjoyed all the shows except the "Platters." However, by the reaction of the crowd it was obvious that we were in the minority!

[SeaCBear]

Maybe a silly question, but just wondering what dinner was like in the Windjammer. Did they, for example, have tablecloths on the tables? I've heard in the past that sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Thanks.

 

 

The Diamond Event was held in the Dragon's Lair, the disco club on deck 3. Portofino's was excellent in every way. Didn't eat in the MDR, but we had very good food for the most part in the WJ for dinner.

[Topo Gigio]

Maybe a silly question, but just wondering what dinner was like in the Windjammer. Did they, for example, have tablecloths on the tables? I've heard in the past that sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Thanks.

 

I din't remember exactly, but I think in Jade they wile have tablecloth.

[isujim]

Thanks for posting..........we have the Mariner booked, same itinerary in February of next year. This will help, especially the times you posted. Did you carry off your own luggage? Last time we did that out of Galveston, we actually beat off the ship some of those carrying their own luggage because there were so many of them.

 

Again, thanks........this really helps.

[39august]

No table cloths this cruise, tho' there were in Jade in December. We did not carry off our luggage. We did that in Dec and it was utter chaos! This time we took advantage of the suite guest departure from Chops with Luca, our concierge, leading us out at 8:15 and using his special elevator card to call up elevators to take us down to deck 4. He also radioed personnel on deck 4 that suite pax were on our way down. Those folks made sure that only suite pax were debarking at that time. It was a breeze. We were thru' immigration and out the terminal by 8:35! And we did not use a porter. Some folks say that is faster, but we saw no need at all.

[isujim]

No table cloths this cruise, tho' there were in Jade in December. We did not carry off our luggage. We did that in Dec and it was utter chaos! This time we took advantage of the suite guest departure from Chops with Luca, our concierge, leading us out at 8:15 and using his special elevator card to call up elevators to take us down to deck 4. He also radioed personnel on deck 4 that suite pax were on our way down. Those folks made sure that only suite pax were debarking at that time. It was a breeze. We were thru' immigration and out the terminal by 8:35! And we did not use a porter. Some folks say that is faster, but we saw no need at all.

 

 

thanks!!!!!!jr. suites probably don't count, nor Diamond Plus........but it's good to know for future reference. Thank you so much

[BecciBoo]

The Diamond Event was held in the Dragon's Lair, the disco club on deck 3. Portofino's was excellent in every way. Didn't eat in the MDR, but we had very good food for the most part in the WJ for dinner.

 

Wonder why they changed that. I hate it when its in there! Loved it in Cloud Nine.

[ARCruisinNana]

It depends on how many Diamonds are on board. On cruises with a very large number it's been in the Lotus Lounge.

[critterchick]

Wonder why they changed that. I hate it when its in there! Loved it in Cloud Nine.

 

It was always there when she was in LA. I hate it, too.

[T_Bone2012]

How was Belize???:D

 

Becci - We enjoyed Belize so much that we are going to stay in San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) for a week over Thanksgiving to celebrate my 50th Birthday. We are excited to be able to go cave tubing, snorkeling, scuba diving all on one trip. By the time our cruise comes around in January, we might just take a water taxi back to San Pedro to say hi to our new friends!

[klingoncruiser]

Thanks for the update. We sail this Sunday. :D

[cruizinmimi]

No table cloths this cruise, tho' there were in Jade in December. We did not carry off our luggage. We did that in Dec and it was utter chaos! This time we took advantage of the suite guest departure from Chops with Luca, our concierge, leading us out at 8:15 and using his special elevator card to call up elevators to take us down to deck 4. He also radioed personnel on deck 4 that suite pax were on our way down. Those folks made sure that only suite pax were debarking at that time. It was a breeze. We were thru' immigration and out the terminal by 8:35! And we did not use a porter. Some folks say that is faster, but we saw no need at all.

 

Hi Kay - it sounds like you were impressed with Luca. This is good to know. I like the way Luca escorted you guys off.

[BecciBoo]

Becci - We enjoyed Belize so much that we are going to stay in San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) for a week over Thanksgiving to celebrate my 50th Birthday. We are excited to be able to go cave tubing, snorkeling, scuba diving all on one trip. By the time our cruise comes around in January, we might just take a water taxi back to San Pedro to say hi to our new friends!

 

Oh boy I can tell you that Todd has wanted to dive the "Hole" for years now...we were scheduled to do a dive trip several years ago but had to cancel that and weren't able to go. Since then we've been trying to cruise there and then the horrid weather of our Dec. cruise was such a disappointment. Sounds like you are going to have a great trip. Please come back and at least tell us about it even if it's on the Port threads. My dream was to get to Goff's Cay. Not as interested in the blue hole as Todd is. I've heard you have to go below rec diving to get to the good stuff and the rest is pretty much dull. I'd sure like to hear how it went. We've been thinking of doing a land trip to Xel Ha or Akumal. We would cruise but the last time we brought all our dive equipment it just was too much of a drag. And I am never using rental stuff again. It never functions as well as our own regs.

[39august]

Linda, I was impressed with Luca. I had read some negative comments about him a few months ago. But I found him to be very attentive and friendly. The first day of the cruise, the specialty coffee machine was not working when I went to the lounge about 10 AM. He said he was waiting for someone to repair it. I was quite dubious that it would be fixed any time soon, as it was broken the whole 7 days on our Dec. 6 cruise. But, he had gotten it taken care of by 2 PM that day. Very efficient. I thought of Buddy Holly every time I met Luca, as he wears those big, black-framed glasses! He's a very personable young man.

[Cindy]

This time we took advantage of the suite guest departure from Chops with Luca, our concierge, leading us out at 8:15 and using his special elevator card to call up elevators to take us down to deck 4. He also radioed personnel on deck 4 that suite pax were on our way down. Those folks made sure that only suite pax were debarking at that time. It was a breeze. We were thru' immigration and out the terminal by 8:35! And we did not use a porter. Some folks say that is faster, but we saw no need at all.

 

Linda, I was impressed with Luca. I had read some negative comments about him a few months ago. But I found him to be very attentive and friendly. The first day of the cruise, the specialty coffee machine was not working when I went to the lounge about 10 AM. He said he was waiting for someone to repair it. I was quite dubious that it would be fixed any time soon, as it was broken the whole 7 days on our Dec. 6 cruise. But, he had gotten it taken care of by 2 PM that day. Very efficient. I thought of Buddy Holly every time I met Luca, as he wears those big, black-framed glasses! He's a very personable young man.

 

I'm so happy to read your positive comments about Luca. I had also read some negative things, but your comments make me even more excited to meet Luca...in 5 days!!!!!:D

I really like the idea of an escorted disembarkation. The first time we were on the Voyager from Galveston it took us 3.5 hours to get off the ship and through customs!:mad: What a joke that was!