"LIVE" from the Navigator of the Seas - November 9, 2014

[aprilcruisers]

We had two chairs and a very small table. Too small to use to eat our breakfast. We asked our steward, Stephanie, for a lounger, and she brought it, but my husband went and got the ottoman. None of the neighbors had loungers.

 

When we were parked in Cozumel next to the Allure, they had bigger tables on their balcony! We were a little jealous!😛

 

Love your review nicksmom!

[Saintsfan007]

"

- there are no free pours in the bars on this ship. I thought perhaps this was something unique to Navigator due to Texas liquor laws, and expected things to change when we hit international waters. Nope. All drink pours are now measured in the hour glass shaped thingamajig. My piña colada was so weak, I ordered another shot of dark rum to pour on top of it, which priced out my one beverage at $14.00. The drink package is starting to look more appealing if this becomes a fleet wide trend. I am still trying to get confirmation on what is included--have been to 2 bars already, all they can tell me is how much it costs. For the poster looking to find out if the Champagne is included, I'll keep looking"

 

I had the best pina colada - ever - in the Viking Crown Lounge on the NOS in April! Could depend on the bartender tho :D

Really enjoying your posts, thank you!

 

I do agree with you, I was on the same sailing, and called that hour glasse thing a THIMBLE, because the drinks were so weak. I asked one of the bartenders about this, and he said that management has mandated it. It made me think about the unlimited package for my next cruise. That was fine, I just spend a little more time in the diamond lounge.

 

Kudos to Niksmom630, thank you so much for taking the time to post all the pictures and providing the commentary. I did enjoy the extra bet on the 3 card poker table, I had a bit of luck at it. I also met a great couple from Chicago that kept telling me how they were on a B2B, and I know they're having a blast right now. Meanwhile, it's back to work for me. It was nice, and I'm looking forward to my next one.

[packedandready]

Was on this cruise and had a great time. We usually don't do specialty restaurants but did try Sabor and LOVED it. We have the Navigator booked for 2 more times before she leaves. If I had anything to gripe about it would be about the snarky women in charge of the self-debarking area. Thanks for the pictures.

[niksmom630]

Was on this cruise and had a great time. We usually don't do specialty restaurants but did try Sabor and LOVED it. We have the Navigator booked for 2 more times before she leaves. If I had anything to gripe about it would be about the snarky women in charge of the self-debarking area. Thanks for the pictures.

 

 

Yes! I also had a run in with snarky woman!

 

When I asked if we could get a porter to get us through the lines through customs, I was told " you can't get a porter, you chose self debarkation, which means you get to carry your own luggage, keep moving or get out of the way! "

 

I came home to no internet! I have a few more photos to upload some time today, once our repair man shows up!

 

 

 

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[niksmom630]

I always thought they had two chairs, a small table and a lounger. There are three of us. :(

 

 

We also had three of us. Not sure why the lounger was removed the last night, but our friends in the jr. Suite next door also had it removed. When we boarded, We had two chairs, a small table, a lounger and ottoman. Our friends next door also had the same, but no ottoman with their lounger 😄

 

 

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[niksmom630]

Sorry you are hitting the cold front the last day. Thanks SO MUCH for the 3 card info. I have sent it along to the husband! Surely they still have Ultimate Tx Hold Em onboard - that is HIS game. Although I might get him to play some 3 card with me now.

 

Galveston sailings for the last few years do 5:30 and 8 pm seatings. We love it but then we do the late seating. I agree - 5:30 is way too early.

 

Enjoy your next few days and thanks for bringing all of us along.

 

 

Yes, they do still have the Tx Hold Em on board! The three card poker table was almost always full in the smoking section, and it was often hard to get a seat at that table. However, we spoke to the casino manager on a few occasions and they opened up the three card table in the non smoking section for us.

 

 

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[Susie51]

Hope your internet is working well for you. Your live review has helped make the waiting for my cruise more tolerable! Thank you for taking the time and money to do this for us.

[Ladysilver]

We also had three of us. Not sure why the lounger was removed the last night, but our friends in the jr. Suite next door also had it removed. When we boarded, We had two chairs, a small table, a lounger and ottoman. Our friends next door also had the same, but no ottoman with their lounger

 

 

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Thanks....I guess if we don't have enough seating on the balcony, we'll just "take care of it." :cool:

[niksmom630]

Some additional random photos...

 

The welcome aboard gift "basket"! For all those that complained, your wish has been granted! It's no longer a basket, and the dried fruit is gone! Just some mini shortbread butter cookies. Which reminds me, I shall have to check my gift preferences online once my points post from this cruise..

 

This came with one bottle of water.

 

 

The room service cheese plate. I wonder what happened to the walnuts? They've been replaced with dried fruit, probably from the stock that used to go in the gift basket....

 

FYI, if you remove the cover from the room service plate, it will fit on the top shelf of the refrigerator.

 

 

The windjammer bar area

 

 

Royal Caribbean On-Line center doubles as a storage location for art auction items

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited November 17, 2014 by niksmom630

[niksmom630]

Metropolis theatre entrance

 

 

Looking up towards the Star Lounge

 

 

Final sea day photos...

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[niksmom630]

Some centrum area photos that I liked....

 

 

 

One shot of the fitness center. It is really quite a bit larger than this photo would suggest, but I got a few irritated looks from the dedicated exercise buffs who did not appreciate being photographed, so I high tailed it out of there

 

 

 

The cruise director, Jeff...maybe????

 

 

 

A few final Cozumel shots...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[niksmom630]

Final thoughts, tidbits, and info.....

 

- ALOT of people do self assist walk-off in Galveston. If you have an early flight, I would recommend it. Just realize you'll be schlepping your luggage quite a distance. This was the first time I have ever done self assist--and the verdict was we liked it. It's nice not having to get luggage out by a certain time, shuffle toiletries into checked bags in the morning, and wandering through the sea of luggage to find your bags.

 

- Diamond members were invited to a behind the scenes Theatre tour. We did not go, but our traveling companions did. I believe it was held on the last sea day, Saturday.

 

- DD got an invite to a teen only (age 12-17) Bridge access tour, also on Saturday. (Invite was placed in the cabin) She went on a bridge tour with us on Liberty a few years ago--so she wasn't interested in attending again.

 

- There was no sign out of pool towels for use on the ship--only for excursions, and you would be assessed the $25 charge for not returning them

 

- The mixed drinks and frozen drinks are now incredibly weak now that they are using the "thimble" (as someone so eloquently pointed out) to measure alcohol when preparing drinks. Score one for the drink package. One of the servers mentioned the new policy was a result of people overdrinking who purchased the drink package. I fail to see the logic there. I think I would just order a drink and a shot on the side to make it a "real" drink....same alcohol amounts used either way.

 

- There were always chairs available on the pool deck and in the Solarium. minimal chair hogs on this sailing.

 

- Service in all the bars was top notch on this cruise. Bar service in the MDR was non-existent. We never saw him after Day 1 again. We just got in the habit of grabbing our beverages at Bolero's prior to making our way into the MDR.

 

- Two towel animals in 7 days. While this was not at all bothersome to me, DD was a bit disappointed, as she enjoys them...

 

- Overall, I was pleased with the experience traveling in and out of Galveston. However, the transportation costs for our group of 3 totaled $500. (including trips back and forth to O'Hare). While the prices on this sailing were great, by the time you factor in transportation costs, you will probably find yourself on par from a cost perspective to sailings out of Ft. Lauderdale (with the exception of Oasis or Allure).

 

- We absolutely loved Sabor. In fact, we will definitely book it again on Oasis in February. I'll be interested to see if there are any variations across ships for this venue.

 

- The chairs on Deck 4 are wet in the morning because the crew hoses everything down. I got in the habit of bringing a washcloth to dry off the chair.

Deck 4 is closed on Embarkation and Debarkation day. It will reopen once the ship sails. Until then, the only outdoor smoking area is on Deck 10 (about one third of the length of pool deck) and part of Deck 12.

 

- I saw a woman smoking an e-cigarette in Balero's. When a fellow passenger complained, she got very indignant. Apparently, she did not read the smoking "rules" that were posted plainly on a separate sheet of paper, laying on top of the bed on boarding day.

 

- The Windjammer, while crowded at times, was the most civilized of any RCI sailing I have been on.

 

- The weather was not as warm as I would have liked on the first and last sea day. For this reason, and this reason alone, I would re think the timing of a cruise out of Galveston. When you're from Chicago, the last thing you want to be wearing on vacation is a sweatshirt. Hence, why an Alaskan cruise will remain on my bucket list for a time when I retire in a balmy climate.

 

Hope you all enjoyed (most) of the photos! Some of them are absolutely horrendous in quality on the big "screen". :eek: They all look great on my iPhone....:D

 

A final thanks to those who have followed along, and for all the comments and encouragement! These "live" reviews are always fun for me to look back on, and relive my vacation all over again!

 

I'll get compasses up in the next day or so!

 

Chris, aka "Niksmom630)

[SA Traveler]

Great Review! I always love reading about my favorite ship.

 

I hope you are not disappointed in Sabor on the Oasis. Not the same at all. Food is good but the ambiance is missing. Lots of the same items on the menu and you can order the full meal at a fixed price - it was $20 at lunch. Or - you can order a la carte. That part I did like.

[awhfy]

Chris, thanks so much for your in depth review. We're on NOS on 30 Nov for our first Royal cruise (but we're Diamond from Celebrity). Really appreciate the photos, now we're more excited (especially as the weather here has been horrifically cold for a week), even if I have to wear a hoodie on deck. I really like the looks of the Diamond Lounge

 

 

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[niksmom630]

Great Review! I always love reading about my favorite ship.

 

 

 

I hope you are not disappointed in Sabor on the Oasis. Not the same at all. Food is good but the ambiance is missing. Lots of the same items on the menu and you can order the full meal at a fixed price - it was $20 at lunch. Or - you can order a la carte. That part I did like.

 

 

Interesting about the ambience. I really did love the surroundings, the lighting, the decor in Sabor on navigator. But, if they can replicate that margarita for me, I'll be willing to put ambiance aside! 😊

 

 

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[niksmom630]

Chris, thanks so much for your in depth review. We're on NOS on 30 Nov for our first Royal cruise (but we're Diamond from Celebrity). Really appreciate the photos, now we're more excited (especially as the weather here has been horrifically cold for a week), even if I have to wear a hoodie on deck. I really like the looks of the Diamond Lounge

 

 

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Enjoy your cruise! Suddenly the hoodie doesn't seem like such an inconvenience anymore, since I'm having to pair it with a coat, gloves and hat to go along with the 19 degree temps we are enjoying in Chicago right now...

 

 

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[awhfy]

Enjoy your cruise! Suddenly the hoodie doesn't seem like such an inconvenience anymore, since I'm having to pair it with a coat, gloves and hat to go along with the 19 degree temps we are enjoying in Chicago right now...

 

 

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-11 here hat, coat, scarf, boots & hoodie ;)

 

 

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[bighairtexan]

I've waited until you got home to post. Thanks for doing this. I love the Navigator and will be on her in less than 2 weeks. Until then we need to get our "Fixes" vicariously and your review filled the bill!

[ifihadaboat]

Wonderful review and very useful information! In regards to the self-assist, perhaps it should have been explained to passengers more thoroughly. We are early risers, so we like it, because it is very uncomplicated (other than managing your luggage) and we don't have to wait around for our section to be called. Sorry about the "snarky" women. Let's hope that improves soon!

[niksmom630]

Day #1 Compass

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Day 2

 

 

 

 

[Ladysilver]

Thanks for posting the Cruise Compasses! Are you going to post the rest of them? :)

[niksmom630]

Thanks for posting the Cruise Compasses! Are you going to post the rest of them? :)

 

Yes, I am working on it. It takes awhile to get them scanned and uploaded to photobucket!

[niksmom630]

Day 3

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Day 4