Splendour of the Seas

[mgrapner]

Our friends and us are looking to go on a short, but sweet cruise. This would be our friends first, our 6th. The most interesting one looks like the Splendour out of Galveston...Has anyone been on it recently...what's the buzz on this ship? Recently on Caribbean Princess and Carnival Victory within the last year-and-a-half. We know it won't really compare to those, or maybe it will. Need some advice. Time is a factor as is time away from our 2 year old so 6-7 day cruises are out of the question right now. Thanks for any suggestions.

[kendy]

Husband and I just returned from Splendour today. A 4 night quickie. We had a 6th floor inside close to the centrum. We got an unbelievable cheap price about a month ago on this cruise. It was our 7th cruise.

 

It was heaven on earth. Weather was not the greatest but we didn't care. We were wined and dined and spent time away from the reality of the real world. Wish we could do it every month. I read 3 books.

 

The ship was GREAT. Very clean, Food was better than I remember. Easy on and off. Great drinks!

 

I highly reccomend it!!

[veridian6]

We too just got back... I had to work Friday night a 12 hour graveyard at BP... but managed to get home by 10am to get some sleep. I am at work as I write. The ship is clean, the food is great... getting off in Cozumel could have been better... thats the only thing we wrote down on the comment card was to fix that problem. To elaborate, people with shore excusions should obviously have priority, but only people with shore excursions to the Mainland were escorted down to the tender past the massive crowds. So we were all late to start our tour that we booked thru RCCL. That said... we enjoyed what was the shortest cruise we have ever taken... and at $466 including tax for a cat F for 2 of us... it was the price that lured us to the ship. The tour we booked was Passion Island Escape, which was also fantastic. A bit windy, but food and drink was great. We had been on this ship back in 2003 for a Panama cruise... which was also a great experience.

 

Cheers,

 

Lex

[Alphawave]

I went on the Splendour two years ago, short cruise, with a fellow nurse who was "celebrating" a divorce. We had a blast. The 4 nights were just right for accompanying a friend. The Splendour is a beautiful ship, and the food was perfect (as far as we were concerned). My only problem was the "chair hogs" were running rampant. There were lots of people on a "company" cruise, something they were given as a stipend for sales, or something. Those folks were rude and obnoxious, (from New Jersey and didn't like Texans) and felt they owned the chairs. In talking to a purser, she said lots of the 4 day cruises had "company" sail-aways, (as she called them). So, relax, enjoy and hopefully your cruise will have lots of families aboard!

[CRUZFOOLS]

Kendy: this is the first time that I see someone who lives close by. We are going on that same ship Feb 4 for a 5 night. What type of clothes did you bring? I keep going from shorts to long pants and really don't want to bring all of this stuff but I don't want to get caught with shorts in 60 degree weather.:rolleyes:

[springtxbill]

Was on it just before Christmas and have to agree the food was better than my other cruises have been as far as we remember over the past 2 or 3 years anyway.

[kendy]

cruzfool:

 

I waited till the week before the cruise and checked the weather for Galveston and Cozumel. I brought slacks and 2 capris. For tops I layered and brought 1 long sleeve t shirt and the rest short with 2 long sleeve overtops which I could roll the sleeves up on. I really thought I packed very light, but still came home with unworn clothes. The formal night was not well dressed. Not many people really dressed up, mostly only so-so. Husband only brought his suit not even his tux. A lot of used the beach towels for covers when the sun wasn't out on deck. We had a great time and would go back in a minute. As a matter of fact we are going back on 4/15 with our 2 teenagers. Have fun!!!

[helen77388]

I guess here is one of those times where opinions are going to differ. I too just returned from Splendor of the Seas 4 night cruise (1/16 - 1/20). A lot of people were sick from the rocking of the boat. Not the cruise lines fault, the weather. The food left a lot to be desired, both in the dining room and the Windjammer. The best thing I had was the chocolate soft serve ice cream. My cabin creaked so much I thought it would fall apart. The wind howled through the sliding door on the balcony. The staff I dealt with, other than my room stewart and dining room waiter, were very indifferent. This was my 3rd cruise. Second with Royal Caribbean. I sailed on the Rhaposy of the Seas in October. I will not sail on Splendor again. If this had been my first cruise I would have been totally turned off. Thank goodness the first two were terrific.

[terri23]

so many different perspectives!! I was just on Splendour (over the holidays) and the staff/crew were the friendliest I have encountered of my three cruises (and one was on Rhapsody, the so-called "friendliest ship in the fleet"). Always a smile and greeting. I was impressed.

[Lewdog]

Not bad, one negative comment out of all these. That's good to know as we leave on the Splendour next week!

[mrstay]

I am in the process of posting a long review of my thoughts of this cruise. I too returned this past Friday from the Splendour. In short, and not to be a bummer or rain on anyone's parade, this was the second worst cruise I have ever been on. The top worst cruise was on the Celebration, which I had no high expectations of. The weather was horrible on this cruise, which of course was not the fault of the cruiseline. But, where they failed was, since there were so many outdoor activities planned for Tuesday, Drew the cruise director should have done his job and rescheduled new activities for indoors. The friendliness of this crew was not top notch. This is my 4th with RCCL, but the worst. We got an incredible deal on the cruise and that is why we went. Had I had to pay regular prices for this cruise I would have been much more dissappointed.

 

I had an interesting conversation with the Crown and Anchor lady, when trying to book another cruise. I told her that I wished that they would bring a Radiance class ship to Galveston. She said because of the size dock space they have that they can't. But that there is a cruise terminal in process in Texas City that RCCL will eventually be moving to and it will accommodate the larger class ships. Can't wait for a change.

[crusingici]

For those of you you've returned on Splendour in Galveston -- I've never cruised before - some friends and I are going in late February - we are driving so no need to hurry off the ship...... how does debarkation work if you are not rushing to catch a flight?

 

We wondered if we can leave as the last group -- have time to enjoy breakfast first? I know there is a deadline of leaving so they can clean up everything for the next group coming on that afternoon.

 

Thanks for the tips you all have provided!

_G

[MurfAtHome]

For those of you you've returned on Splendour in Galveston -- I've never cruised before - some friends and I are going in late February - we are driving so no need to hurry off the ship...... how does debarkation work if you are not rushing to catch a flight?

 

We wondered if we can leave as the last group -- have time to enjoy breakfast first? I know there is a deadline of leaving so they can clean up everything for the next group coming on that afternoon.

 

Thanks for the tips you all have provided!

_G

 

they aren't too bad about making you rush off. You just need to get out of your stateroom so they can clean it. You can enjoy breakfast...so don't worry about that.

[mrstay]

For those of you you've returned on Splendour in Galveston -- I've never cruised before - some friends and I are going in late February - we are driving so no need to hurry off the ship...... how does debarkation work if you are not rushing to catch a flight?

 

We wondered if we can leave as the last group -- have time to enjoy breakfast first? I know there is a deadline of leaving so they can clean up everything for the next group coming on that afternoon.

 

Thanks for the tips you all have provided!

_G

 

 

On Friday we had to get out of our stateroom by 7:00 PM. What time you get off the ship is determined by what floor your cabin is on. We left our cabin at 7:00 AM - went and had breakfast in the dining room until about 8:00 and sat in the centrum until 10:20 when we were allowed to leave. We were on deck 2 so we left last. Let me know the deck and I will look on the list and tell you the appx. time you can get off.

[crusingici]

Thanks for the info -- I figured they let the ones rushing to the airport leave first and drivers hang out till last - you know, by that time we may be so stuffed we won't even CARE about breakfast!!!!:p

 

My room is on 7th deck -- we are the only ones with a room # - the others in my group decided to take "guarantee" so won't know till they board what they get.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

We can't wait!

_G

[CRUZFOOLS]

Thanks for the info -- I figured they let the ones rushing to the airport leave first and drivers hang out till last - you know, by that time we may be so stuffed we won't even CARE about breakfast!!!!:p

 

My room is on 7th deck -- we are the only ones with a room # - the others in my group decided to take "guarantee" so won't know till they board what they get.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

We can't wait!

_G

 

We booked guarantee and when we received our docs the room number was on them. We cruise Feb 4 and received our docs last week. We are also on the 7th deck which means we were upgraded.

[mrstay]

Thanks for the info -- I figured they let the ones rushing to the airport leave first and drivers hang out till last - you know, by that time we may be so stuffed we won't even CARE about breakfast!!!!:p

 

My room is on 7th deck -- we are the only ones with a room # - the others in my group decided to take "guarantee" so won't know till they board what they get.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

We can't wait!

_G

 

 

According to our sheet, eck 7 has two different departures from the ship - 8:30 and 8:40.

[CRUZFOOLS]

Thanks for the info -- I figured they let the ones rushing to the airport leave first and drivers hang out till last - you know, by that time we may be so stuffed we won't even CARE about breakfast!!!!:p

 

My room is on 7th deck -- we are the only ones with a room # - the others in my group decided to take "guarantee" so won't know till they board what they get.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

We can't wait!

_G

 

We booked guarantee and our room number was posted on our docs. We were upgraded to the 7th deck. Received docs last week for the cruise on Feb. 4 on Splendor of the Seas.

[EagerToCruise]

Would any of you recent Splendour cruisers have a Cruise Compass for a day at sea? I'd love to see what kind of activities they offer on sea days. Our group of 26 will be sailing her on Feb. 27. Thanks!

[mrstay]

I saved all of my compasses and other papers to help you guys out. I will be posting a review soon and a link to all my pictures. I will try and scan them and include them in the pictures.

[EagerToCruise]

Fabulous!!!!! I look forward to seeing your review and pictures, along with the Compass!

[CRUZFOOLS]

Any chance that it will be before Feb 4th?

[BellinghamBoaters]

My wife and I got back1/12/06 from a 10 day cruise on the Splendor and it was bliss. This was our first cruise experience but we are hooked. The ship is beautiful and is constantly being maintained while asea. Our waiter, assistant waiter and even the headwaiter were great!!!!!. Our cabin steward was the same. Food in the King and I was excellent to very good. The Windjammer buffet area was disappointing as the food was luke warm to cold. Ended up eating lunch in the solarium with very good sub sandwiches as well as pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers.

The ship itself was just the right size in that it was large but small enough to get to know.

I would cruise on this ship again and again as would my wife. Our memories of our first cruise will give us a lasting impression of the Splendor.

[bemrik3]

What is Guarantee?

[MurfAtHome]

What is Guarantee?

Guarantee is when you pay for a particular level of stateroom like interior deck 2. You are not assigned a stateroom at that point. When your documents arrive you will see what room you were assigned. They "guarantee" that you will get at least an interior deck 2, but you may be upgraded to any type of room on any deck. People have good luck getting upgraded and think it is worth it not to know your room number with the possibility of being upgraded.