Recent Grandeur cruisers please share your experience with us

[heyabbott]

After following this forum for the past few months i decided to sign up and share my feelings on cruising from my aspect with a young family.

 

I've been on 4 cruises all over the carribean. 2 with carnival and 2 with royal carribean.

 

I just got off the Grandeur of the Seas yesterday (July 18, 2014). Here are my honest opinions.

 

We drove 8hrs from outside of Toronto to save on flying costs usually associated with our florida cruises on the past. I would definitely drive to Baltimore or New York in the future! This is with 2 kids below 7!

 

Getting on and off the ship was the quickest and best by far. 10/10.

 

The food was below what i received on my last Royal Caribbean cruise (Freedom). I actually had better food on my Carnival cruise. Surprising i know!. 6/10.

 

Entertainment. Worst cruise I've ever been on. Im sorry if this offends anyone but i found the entertainment geared for people in their 40+. Us being in our late 20s found it bad. 1/10.

 

Kids clubs. Here was the bright light for us, our kids never wanted to leave. 10/10.

 

Staff were awsome. The 2 cruise directors (paul and other guy from Canada) were funny and i found myself watching the morning show 2-3 times in a row. lol. All staff were very friendly and helpful. 10/10.

 

I hope this review helps someone else in our same category.

 

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We are taking this cruise in 3 weeks. Even though we're in our early 50's, the only entertainment on a cruise ship thats ever been worth seeing has been the comedians geared for adults only. Not interested in a Broadway review or elevator music rock.

 

Which were the worst 2 days for dinner in the MDR?

 

How was the competition for pool chairs? Did you have to get up early to claim decent seats? Was the a time during the day when it seemed to clear out a bit?

 

We choose the cruise based on the Port of Baltimore's convenience. Maybe thats not the right way to go

[CruisinCanadaFamily]

I found the 1st and last night were the worst for selection in the main dining room.

 

We always tanned on the 11th deck on the front of the ship. Always quiet with chairs always around. you have to go to the 10th deck and walk around to the front where you'll see a small deck on another level.

 

we choose this as a last minute getaway and got a great deal with kids sail free.

 

Carnival Glory 2007

RC Freedom of the Seas 2013

Carnival Breeze 2014

RC Grandeur of the Seas 2014

RC Oasis of the Seas ..... coming 2014

[pisces1]

We just cruised on Grandeur of the Seas two weeks ago to Bermuda. We have sailed on Celebrity, Norwegian, Cunard, Holland America and RCCL. This was the smallest ship we have ever been on, but surprisingly it didn't matter one bit.

 

Everything was clean, updated, and as others said the staff was excellent - professional, jovial, helpful, and very committed to making our cruise an enjoyable experience. We were having our family reunion on this trip, so we decided to book the "Royal Suite" so that we could have a place where our family could gather in private. Of all the more higher end staterooms we have traveled in, this was our favorite. All the furnishings were understated and attractive (not garish) and the lay-out of the suite just made sense. We laughed at the "baby grand piano" that seemed to be a bit over the top, but when my sister-in-law sat down to play, we were overjoyed with our private concerts at sea. In the end it was a joy to have it in our room!

 

The concierge went far and beyond to make sure our family's trip was memorable and hassle free. Even though, many of the other staterooms we purchased were inside, or ocean view, he treated everyone as a VIP even allowing all of us to depart the ship together despite our varying disembarkation times.

 

The spa experience was excellent. The pools as good as the other ships. The outdoor movie screen was fun, and it helped to have it during the many competitions poolside, that were difficult to see because of the crowds. The aerial performances in the grand center of the ship were unique and interesting. The trivia games were fun, and many of our family members made it a point to get to every game.

 

One of my favorite activities was just sitting on the balcony and enjoying the endless shades of blue, looking out for whales and other sea life. We had terrific weather (only the first night/day) we rocked due to the remnants of Arthur. Even with it's small size, we never felt cramped, and ALL of the fellow passengers seemed to be having as good a time as we were.

 

Only slight negatives were the casino (new slot machines desperately needed) and the food which ranged from being a big hit or a serious miss. My sister-in-law received a baked potato in the dining room the first night that was rock solid. They graciously replaced it, but that one was rotten in the middle. Third time wasn't a charm either, as the spud was cold and hard. The staff was exceptional, the kitchen not so much. Many of the desserts were a one bite experience. The appetizers always seemed to taste so much better than the entrees. Their salads were excellent, the soups like Lobster Bisque a failure. Nevertheless, if one chose wisely, you could have a good dining experience.

 

All in all, we would not hesitate to sail on her again.

[callolin]

Going on grandeur of the seas in 133 days.

[seeshore]

Thanks so much for all of the recent comments. Our cruise doesn't sail until Jan. so reading about the ship is always fun beforehand.

 

Has anyone used the spa?

[DragonOfTheSeas]

 

Only slight negatives were the casino (new slot machines desperately needed) I totally agree. It is a small casino and now very smoky. It has become a defacto smoking lounge.

 

The appetizers always seemed to taste so much better than the entrees. Their salads were excellent, the soups like Lobster Bisque a failure. Nevertheless, if one chose wisely, you could have a good dining experience.

 

All in all, we would not hesitate to sail on her again.

 

I agree about the appetizers. But, food is so subjective. i.e. I love the soups on the Grandeur. I often had 2 each night. :o My favorite are the cold fruit soups.

Edited July 20, 2014 by DragonOfTheSeas

[WahooFan]

I am going in October and will be my first RCCL cruise, I have previously done multiple Disney cruises and one Carnival.

 

We are in a Junior Suite. Has anyone recently stayed in one, are there any perks? What products do they have in the bathroom? I dont want to bring stuff if they provide a good product.

 

Also has anyone brought water or soda on board? I know they say no but I have been reading on here that some are bringing it on. I figure we should try, whats the worst that can happen, they throw it away!

[Clarea]

I am going in October and will be my first RCCL cruise, I have previously done multiple Disney cruises and one Carnival.

 

We are in a Junior Suite. Has anyone recently stayed in one, are there any perks? What products do they have in the bathroom? I dont want to bring stuff if they provide a good product.

 

Also has anyone brought water or soda on board? I know they say no but I have been reading on here that some are bringing it on. I figure we should try, whats the worst that can happen, they throw it away!

Perks in a JS:

 

Bathtub, walk-in closet (all but Majesty and Vision class), priority check-in and boarding, tea kettle, coffee maker, bathroom amenities, robes, double C&A points, and a silver Seapass card.

 

The bathroom amenities include small containers of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash.

Edited July 21, 2014 by clarea

[heyabbott]

Does the Park Cafe replace the Solarium Cafe? Is it better, more and better options?

 

 

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[Clarea]

Does the Park Cafe replace the Solarium Cafe? Is it better, more and better options?

Yes, the Park Cafe replaces the Solarium Cafe on Vision / Radiance class ships. More options, but no crepes that were on Radiance class.

[WahooFan]

Thanks Clarea for the quick response.

[schlimazel_traveler]

I am going in October and will be my first RCCL cruise, I have previously done multiple Disney cruises and one Carnival....

 

Also has anyone brought water or soda on board? I know they say no but I have been reading on here that some are bringing it on. I figure we should try, whats the worst that can happen, they throw it away!

 

We brought water onboard the Enchantment when it sailed from Baltimore. Just brought a shrink-wrapped case of sport bottles, put a luggage tag on it, and dropped it off with the porters with the rest of the suitcases.

 

I wouldn't bother bringing soda unless I had very, very specific preferences! The Freestyle machines have a million choices and the soda-only package is not very costly.

[laneyliz]

We just sailed on the Grandeur and absolutely loved it. She is a beautiful ship and the crew is amazing. We had previously sailed on the Explorer and I liked the layout of the Grandeur just as well. Here are a few things that stood out to me about the ship:

 

First and foremost, the crew. Everyone was wonderful, from the stateroom attendant to the dining room waiters to the guest services crew. The crew on this ship is truly special, and were absolutely the most important reason that the cruise was so great.

 

One thing that I noticed right away and really appreciated was the focus on cleanliness. The ship overall looked very clean, and we regularly saw crew disinfecting things like elevator buttons, drink holders in the theater, etc. Little things that could easily get overlooked, but we saw them being cleaned and sanitized daily. Hand sanitizer was also everywhere, of course.

 

We sailed in an inside stateroom (had a balcony on the Explorer) and we thought the size was fine. There were many mirrors around the room and it made the room seem bigger, I think. I was actually surprised at the number of hangers (more than I thought) and there was ample storage space given. Our room was in a good location (3903)--close to the stairs and elevators, and we didn't hear any noise. Our stateroom attendant was very good, the room was kept spotlessly clean, and of course we got some very cute towel animals. :-)

 

We ate dinner in the MDR every night. We loved our waiters--very friendly and attentive, they made good suggestions and encouraged us to try different things. We thought the food was very good. There were a lot of choices each night, and there always seemed to be something vegetarian or gluten-free available for those who have dietary concerns. We didn't eat in any of the specialty restaurants.

 

We were lucky enough to have Ricky Matthews as our cruise director and Darryl as the Activities Manager. I thought they were fantastic. They were both fun, full of personality and they really played off each other well. In fact, the entire activities staff did a great job. Lots of activities around the ship and I thought there was a good mix of fun, high-energy activities as well as some lower-key things. The 70s dance party was definitely one of the highlights!! We went to most of the shows and enjoyed them. There was a Bon Jovi tribute band that was fun...people were dancing in the aisles by the end of the show.

 

The Centrum was one of my favorite places on the ship--we usually watched the shows/activities here from deck 5 or 6. Less crowded than deck 4 but still a great view. We really liked the aerial show. The Centrum is also a good place to sit, relax, read and enjoy a drink when there isn't a show going on.

 

We are not early birds, but never had a problem finding a chair on the upper pool decks, although I would suggest going out early if you want to find a chair on the lower pool deck. I liked the movie screen by the pool, it was easy to see the activities that were going on even if you weren't front and center. We also went to a movie under the stars one night.

 

Overall, we loved the Grandeur "Lady G" and would not hesitate to sail on her again. We are in our early 30s and found plenty to do around this beautiful ship.

[myhouseofmouse]

We just sailed on the Grandeur and absolutely loved it. She is a beautiful ship and the crew is amazing. We had previously sailed on the Explorer and I liked the layout of the Grandeur just as well. Here are a few things that stood out to me about the ship:

 

First and foremost, the crew. Everyone was wonderful, from the stateroom attendant to the dining room waiters to the guest services crew. The crew on this ship is truly special, and were absolutely the most important reason that the cruise was so great.

 

One thing that I noticed right away and really appreciated was the focus on cleanliness. The ship overall looked very clean, and we regularly saw crew disinfecting things like elevator buttons, drink holders in the theater, etc. Little things that could easily get overlooked, but we saw them being cleaned and sanitized daily. Hand sanitizer was also everywhere, of course.

 

We sailed in an inside stateroom (had a balcony on the Explorer) and we thought the size was fine. There were many mirrors around the room and it made the room seem bigger, I think. I was actually surprised at the number of hangers (more than I thought) and there was ample storage space given. Our room was in a good location (3903)--close to the stairs and elevators, and we didn't hear any noise. Our stateroom attendant was very good, the room was kept spotlessly clean, and of course we got some very cute towel animals. :-)

 

We ate dinner in the MDR every night. We loved our waiters--very friendly and attentive, they made good suggestions and encouraged us to try different things. We thought the food was very good. There were a lot of choices each night, and there always seemed to be something vegetarian or gluten-free available for those who have dietary concerns. We didn't eat in any of the specialty restaurants.

 

We were lucky enough to have Ricky Matthews as our cruise director and Darryl as the Activities Manager. I thought they were fantastic. They were both fun, full of personality and they really played off each other well. In fact, the entire activities staff did a great job. Lots of activities around the ship and I thought there was a good mix of fun, high-energy activities as well as some lower-key things. The 70s dance party was definitely one of the highlights!! We went to most of the shows and enjoyed them. There was a Bon Jovi tribute band that was fun...people were dancing in the aisles by the end of the show.

 

The Centrum was one of my favorite places on the ship--we usually watched the shows/activities here from deck 5 or 6. Less crowded than deck 4 but still a great view. We really liked the aerial show. The Centrum is also a good place to sit, relax, read and enjoy a drink when there isn't a show going on.

 

We are not early birds, but never had a problem finding a chair on the upper pool decks, although I would suggest going out early if you want to find a chair on the lower pool deck. I liked the movie screen by the pool, it was easy to see the activities that were going on even if you weren't front and center. We also went to a movie under the stars one night.

 

Overall, we loved the Grandeur "Lady G" and would not hesitate to sail on her again. We are in our early 30s and found plenty to do around this beautiful ship.

 

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to share and provide so much information. We on Grandeur in 25 days for our first cruise. Glad to hear all the wonderful comments.

[heyabbott]

We leave on the GOTS in less than 2 weeks. Glad to hear you can get a pool chair albeit in the top pool deck. What movies were playing on the big screen? Are they played continuously thru the night?

 

 

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[HappyRev]

Here she is near Annapolis, MD

 

[laneyliz]

They played Frozen, Captain America, and Veronica Mars. Usually there was a movie around 830 and then another one around 10 or 11. They played each of the movies a couple of times throughout the sailing. They also played Pitch Perfect one afternoon in the theater but we didn't go.

[luv2cruiserccl]

They played Frozen, Captain America, and Veronica Mars. Usually there was a movie around 830 and then another one around 10 or 11. They played each of the movies a couple of times throughout the sailing. They also played Pitch Perfect one afternoon in the theater but we didn't go.

 

Omg my daughter loves frozen she would freak!

 

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[myhouseofmouse]

Omg my daughter loves frozen she would freak!

 

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Me too!!!!

[GiannaD]

Here she is near Annapolis, MD

 

Love the photos! Thanks

[luv2cruiserccl]

Me too!!!!

 

See ya there!

 

sent from my galaxy s4 please excuse any error's thanks

[rclibertygirl5]

Can someone who has cruised recently comment on the approximate times that the ship will pass under the 2 bridges?

 

thanks!

[seeshore]

Thanks for the pics HappyRev!

 

I'd love to see some pics onboard Grandeur. Would anyone like to share?

[dixieva]

The first bridge (Key Bridge) will be around 45 minutes after leaving the port. The second bridge (Chesapeake Bay Bridge, double span) will be around 2 hours from the port. So if you sail at 4 pm the Key Bridge will be around 4:45 and the other one around 6 pm.

 

It is a real experience going under the Key Bridge so don't miss it! Be out on deck if you can.

[rclibertygirl5]

The first bridge (Key Bridge) will be around 45 minutes after leaving the port. The second bridge (Chesapeake Bay Bridge, double span) will be around 2 hours from the port. So if you sail at 4 pm the Key Bridge will be around 4:45 and the other one around 6 pm.

 

It is a real experience going under the Key Bridge so don't miss it! Be out on deck if you can.

 

 

Thanks so much!!! We can't wait!