My 30th Cruise! A Monarch of the Seas Pictorial Review (that I made on my cellphone)

[DarthGrady]

Foreword:

This review and all of the pictures in it were created entirely on my cell phone while I was on the cruise. My wife and I wanted to travel light so we could use only one suitcase. As such, we left any non-essentials at home. That included our camera since both of us have smartphones. So if there are any mistakes, please keep in mind that I typed this on a four inch screen using Swype.

Pre-cruise:

My thirtieth birthday lumbers ever closer by the minute, much closer than I would like it to. We had originally conceived a plan to take my thirtieth cruise when I hit the big three-oh. Well, I just couldn't wait for September. So my wife and I booked another short cruise on Monarch for a nice relaxing weekend away. Aside from being my thirtieth cruise overall, it was also my eleventh with Royal Caribbean.

We left the house around noon on embarkation day, and arrived at the Radisson hotel around two o'clock. Their cruise parking is much cheaper than the port's (5 bucks a day), and the short shuttle ride over to the terminal is worth the savings. VIP embarkation took very little time and we were on the ship by about 2:45.

Apparently they've added a priority line for Gold C&A members? I wish they would have had it when I was Gold.

The Main Lobby, your first view upon boarding the ship

[DarthGrady]

Our cabin:

After a price drop we got an upgrade to an ocean view room on deck two. It was very nearly a below-the-ocean view. I don't think we've ever had a room so close to the water line. It featured a small (singular) porthole, queen size bed, decent closet space and small vanity. Like all cabins on Monarch, its bathroom was almost comically small. One step up from something one would expect in an RV.

Our hallway

 

 

They originally set our room up with the beds apart

 

Our room steward fixed it later that day

 

Our view

 

[DarthGrady]

Cabin continued

 

 

Day one:

After embarkation we relaxed in the room for awhile. We suffered the indignity of the cattle call (muster drill) and then went to the Viking Crown Lounge to watch sail away. We stayed in the VCL and enjoyed the Diamond event, then went back to the room to prepare for dinner.

 

A Disney ship was in port with us on embarkation day

 

Viking Crown Lounge

 

 

[critterchick]

There, there. I think 30 was my worst birthday (it might have been 29). They've all been great since then. Keep those pictures coming!

[DarthGrady]

We signed up for My Time Dining and showed up to the dining room at around 7:30. We were told that since we didn't make reservations we would have to wait about twenty minutes for a two seater, or fifteen if we shared a table with others. Apparently it should actually be called "Sometime Dining". Doesn't having to schedule a time kinda negate the whole point of a freestyle dining concept? Well, at least the food and service (thanks Roy!) were good once we got seated.

After dinner we worked out in the ship's gym and relaxed in the room. The seas were rough and the waves crashing against the hull were soothing. Nature washed our porthole for us on a few occasions which was interesting to watch.

The dining room

The gym and spa

[DarthGrady]

There, there. I think 30 was my worst birthday (it might have been 29). They've all been great since then. Keep those pictures coming!

 

Thats what I'm thinking, 30 wll be painful only because my 20s are over. I've really enjoyed my 20s!:D

[DarthGrady]

Thats all for tonight, I'll be back on tomorrow with Day 2. :)

[OhioCruiserDude]

We are planning on doing the final cruise on this beauty she was my first cruise way back in 2002

[erbunny]

I'm jealous.....I know hundreds, if not thousands, of us fell in love with cruising with a first cruise on Monarch. I'll always be grateful to her for that, and wish her well in Spain.

[erbunny]

PS--the cell phone pictures are great !

[KristinTravels]

My first cruise was also on the Monarch of the Seas. It wasn't the best ship I have been on but RCI definitely showed their service! It made us fall in love with RCI and cruising!

[lanikeekee]

Fantastic photos...great start to your review...will be watching:D:eek:

And a big congrats on your Birthday:D:p I loved my 30th:cool:

[will773]

Love your reviews! And wow!!!! That's a tiny cabin! :eek:

[dfgf]

Love your reviews! And wow!!!! That's a tiny cabin! :eek:

 

Haha - yes they are! The smallest of any of the major lines, I believe. 120 square feet. I've been on that ship twice with 3 other adults in my room with me. My last trip was a solo voyage in January. 120 square feet is a lot larger when there's only one person using it!

[LBumb]

nice job

[MonaCK]

Thanks for this. I will be on the Monarch on Friday, so I am really enjoying your review. Also agree: great pictures! :)

 

Mona

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[foxesden1]

Wahoo! Thanks, hope there is more!

[DarthGrady]

Thanks for this. I will be on the Monarch on Friday, so I am really enjoying your review. Also agree: great pictures! :)

 

Mona

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

No problem! :)

 

Leave her in one piece for me, I will be getting back on Monarch on Monday for a bachelor party cruise. :D;)

[dfgf]

No problem! :)

 

Leave her in one piece for me, I will be getting back on Monarch on Monday for a bachelor party cruise. :D;)

 

Leave her in one piece for ME - I'll be on her 2 months from now for my wedding cruise!

[DarthGrady]

Day two:

Upon waking my wife called to make dinner reservations, so to avoid the frustration of the previous night. She asked for a table for two at 6:45. She got a table for two at 7:30. "Whenever We Can Get You In Dining" apparently.

We had a good breakfast in the Windjammer, then went to the past guest party in the Circuit Lounge. The Crown And Anchor event on Monarch is very well done. They allow all past guests to attend. They also have a nice selection of beverages, appetizers and sushi. After the part we went out onto the promenade to watch the ship's arrival in Nassau.

 

Crown and Anchor party in the Circuit Lounge

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

After leaving the ship, we walked about a mile down the waterfront to the fish fry area. The number 10 city bus also goes there. The food was good, but the prices were way too high. Expect to pay around 20 bucks per person for a lunch.

Carnival Valor before arriving in Nassau

 

CCL Imagination, CCL Fascination and Maasdam already at their berths.

 

 

The Valor arrives

 

 

[DarthGrady]

In Nassau

 

Junkanoo Beach (public)

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

The Fish Fry

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

Our fine ship

 

 

After making our way back to the ship, we got cleaned up and went to the Diamond event. Desmond kept my glass of wine constantly full, so I left feeling not a bit of pain.

Since we made reservations we were able to walk right into the dining for the Captains Gala Dinner. Like our cruise last month on Jewel, the escargots were not on the menu. Replaced by some cheap bay scallops in a butter/parmesan sauce. Royal really needs to bring back the escargots, they were my favorite dish. The rest of the dinner went excellently, I love the filet of beef. Our server was Roy did an excellent job, even remembering our names the second time.

After dinner we again worked out in the ships gym. For being an older ship, the Monarch has a nice gym and spa area. We tried our luck at the free slot pull, but came away empty handed as usual. I watched sail away and then stopped by the midnight buffet/deck party. The party was busy as usual, but the buffet isn't as good as it used to be. I miss how they used to cook over an open grill on the pool deck. The meats and fajitas they made back then were awesome.

The Casino

 

Our Towel Dog

 

Deck Party

 

Leaving Nassau

[DarthGrady]

Day three:

The first stop on our last day was at the Loyalty Ambassador's desk. We booked the final (Royal Caribbean) sailing of the Monarch in March of next year. It will be nice to see the old girl off since she was our first RCI ship.

After that I had planned to go swimming, but they had run out of pool towels on the lido deck. So I walked around for awhile as my wife got some sun. After a good lunch in Jade, I finally got some some time in the hot tubs.

The Lido Area

 

 

The Windjammer

 

 

The Jade

 

We had one last evening in the Diamond lounge, lots of wine and great company. A shout out to Bev and Tim, George and June, Ed, Joan, and Lord Timothy! Hope to see you all next year on the Farewell Cruise!

After making a valiant effort to drink all the wine in the Diamond lounge, we had one last dinner in the dining room. Since we got there late we walked right in. We had Roy as our waiter all three nights and couldn't have been happier with him. After dinner we went back to the room and packed, then turned in for the night.