live on the monarch

[wl2cruise]

Hey just wondering what the prices are for the wi-fi, what the speed is and where are these "hot spots" on the ships? Hope you are having a great time....our cruise is almost here...can't wait...first cruise! :D

I got a package for 50.00 dollars for 150 minutes it works out to be like 33 cents a minute sorry did not see any oranments. moe is the cd

[ElvisandTracey]

Oh great. That's where I am! No rooms available to upgrade either!:eek:

 

Well, I was on deck 2 back in May 2004-maybe she smells better now, after dry dock and all...I am sure you'll be fine.

 

To be totally honest, the smell on deck 2 was more in the hallways outside of the cabin door, not actually in the cabin itself. So it hit you in the face when you'd open the cabin door to leave your cabin, then you'd get used to it after you were out for a few minutes-it wasn't that bad inside the room!!

 

Good luck, and maybe you can get a pier upgrade??

[Bennett'sCruise]

Just got home as well. HEY, Wl2cruise, why didn't you make yourself know before we sailed last Monday ... on CCritic? It was fun getting to know new people.

 

SMELL: we were on Deck 10 and everything was great ... didn't notice anything as we walked around in other areas.

 

Our Captain (age 38) died of a sudden heart attack early Monday morning. RCI found a replacement and we sailed on time. KUDOS to the entire staff ... particularly the Senior Staff ... for holding it together these past 4 days and giving us a cruise to remember. It was soooo sad, tho, to realize how they were hurting just behind the smiles and the jokes. I head that Mo was particularly hard hit. It did seem we didn't see as much of him as the usual CD.

 

We were impressed with the food and fabulous service!

 

~dianne

[zuscruiserz]

Thx Bennett's for the update on your cruise! Glad to hear the the "infamous" smell is no longer so obvious. Can't wait to try the fabulous food, am trying to make DD's 16th b-day cruise one to remember, and it sounds good so far. 3 weeks, 3 days to go!!!

[Bennett'sCruise]

3 weeks, 3 days to go!!!

 

I'm jealous!

 

~d

[Joyfredsblondecruiser]

We were on the New Years Eve cruise and I have to say we did not have any odor at all. This was before the dry dock in San Francisco. I know it is an older ship but I still feel it is a pretty ship. I thought the food was excellent and the crew was lovely. They are going to have a 5 night for next New Year`s Eve and I am thinking of booking it again. I would not hesitate to take the Monarch again. Happy Sailing, Joy

[JCSM-Mom]

Well, I was on deck 2 back in May 2004-maybe she smells better now, after dry dock and all...I am sure you'll be fine.

 

To be totally honest, the smell on deck 2 was more in the hallways outside of the cabin door, not actually in the cabin itself. So it hit you in the face when you'd open the cabin door to leave your cabin, then you'd get used to it after you were out for a few minutes-it wasn't that bad inside the room!!

 

Good luck, and maybe you can get a pier upgrade??

 

As long as it's not in the cabin, I'll be fine!:D Thanks!

[sashanicole]

I have 2 questions for anyone who's cruised on monarch....how do the tv's work...like will we be able to get our "primetime" shows? AND we're on deck 5 with an ocean view....will we be lookin' out at life boats? I was looking at the deck plans and can't tell if the life boats are on deck 5....can't wait....10 days left! :D

[Merion_Mom]

According to RC's website, it is the Deck 8 cabins that have their view obstructed by lifeboats.

 

You do NOT get standard broadcast channels while onboard.

[ladylawyer]

Zuscruiserz, I was looking at your "Location," on your profile. LOL! You must be from Sacramento, because that's what we always say during the summer.

 

Dianne, Thanks, also, for your review. I was on the 10th Deck, in December, and I didn't notice the smell either. (However, one of my friends, who were in an inside on the 5th Deck, said they noticed the smell outside the cabin.)

 

We heard that a pool pipe burst and flooded some of the cabins on 10. I assume that you weren't affected, but do you know which cabins were flooded (or the general area)?

 

So sad about the Captain. He was our Captain on the December cruise, but I didn't meet him. I'm sure it was hard on the staff.

 

Thanks again. Please let us know if there was anything you did or saw that was particularly good. I really enjoyed Dueling Pianos ... were they on your cruise? ~ Lorna

[sashanicole]

According to RC's website, it is the Deck 8 cabins that have their view obstructed by lifeboats.

 

You do NOT get standard broadcast channels while onboard.

 

Thanks for info, I looked on rc's site and couldn't find it...and I guess my dvr will be full when I come back...lol

[Bennett'sCruise]

TV: only thing you'll get "live" is CNN. We missed the start of the new Survivor last night!:eek: Will be playing catch-up now.

 

Dueling Pianos: yep, they still have them. DH saw them, I didn't.

 

We really enjoyed the "Monarch Expo" in the Centrum on Deck 5 from 1:30-3 the first day on the ship (Monday). You go around and get answers from the different vendors on the ship (in the Centrum area) and then put your answer sheet in the barrel. They draw names for some great prizes. It's a great way to begin the trip.:)

 

We also enjoyed the Trivia games. It's such a short week with every day a port day so it's hard to get too involved.

[Cruise_More_Often]

I don't think anyone has mentioned that the Casino has new carpet and furniture. Those are the only "new" things we saw. It looks like she has a new exterior coat of paint.

 

Great food (especially in the Buffet) and great service. We were down the hall from Dianne on Deck 10. No smells at all anywhere we went on the ship. There is actually too much to do on this ship. Guess we'll have to go back so we can do some more! :D

 

Adele

[rubrrick]

In addition to the new carpet in the casino and other public areas, they were going to change Jade Sushi into a J Rockets. I believe many factors led to the decision to hold off on the change temporarily. I do believe that one of the main concerns was totally addressed in drydock..........that being the waste management system has been totally overhauled, and the smell should be gone.

 

Rick

[beachdude395]

Please, can someone tell me more about the "vibration" of the ship. Will there be big waves in april? Will there be storms in april?

[HERZMEL]

HI ALL,

 

My Children and I are sailing on the Monarch on April 3rd. I keep reading about this sewage smell. Im getting nervous because we sailed on the Diamond Princess 2 years ago and it was absolutely gorgeous and pretty much brand-new. Anyway...we decided to take a shorter cruise this time and I read so many great reviews about the Monarch. We have a Jr Suite on Deck 10 and everyone is saying that they dont smell it on Deck 10. Has anyone heard if the sewage problem has been solved and if the smell is gone.????????

 

:rolleyes: any feedback will be great...thanks

Melissa

 

 

DIAMOND PRINCESS 4/17/04

[ladylawyer]

Melissa,

 

I was on Deck 10 in December and smelled nothing. I just read a post from Cruise More Often, who just got off the Monarch. She was also on Deck 10 and neither she nor her friends, also on 10, smelled anything. The only reports of smelling something seems to be from the lower decks.

 

You'll have a good time. I was on her in December and am going back in May, with my DH and Parents. I've been on the Radiance, which is a gorgeous ship, and had no problem with the transition. The Monarch is smaller and older, but nice and cozy, too. Plus, there's a Ben and Jerry's AND Seattle's Best Coffee. What more could you want :rolleyes:

[beachdude395]

Arg, i am on a lower deck, this doesnt sound good. Its too late to cancel :(

[ladylawyer]

Dude, the word was that the smells were hit or miss, and only in the halls; not inside the cabins. Honestly, I'm thinking that someone who calls himself "Dude" anything is not going be spending a bunch of time in his cabin, anyway. You'll be upstairs, having a tubular time - right? ;)

[beachdude395]

I guess so :).... As for the motion on the boat, can I have a little more detail on how the waves will be in Mid April.

 

 

The Dude

[ladylawyer]

Sorry, I missed your first name ("The") ;)

 

I imagine that December is worse than April, and we were fine until the last night back (from Ensenada). I could feel some motion but nothing to cause any problems. I'm prone to motion sickness, but in all honesty, I've never gotten sick on board a ship - and I've been in much worse seas.

 

Remember, most of the trip is just sailing up and down the Southern CA coastline. The weather never gets very bad there. I grew up in Newport Beach (ya, I'm a BeachChick) and we'd lay out at the beach on Christmas Day. I've not sailed there in April, but I'm sure that you'll find the seas pretty smooth. If you're concerned about motion sickness, there'll be bonine at the Guest Relations Desk or ask your doc to prescribe some Transcope patches. This is such an easy cruise that I picked it for my Mom's first. If anyone will be hanging over the edge, it'll be her. And, because of the short distances, I expect her to be fine. (If she's not, you won't been hearing from me again because she will have killed me.)

 

Have a wonderful time. You only have 64 days to wait. I'm still in the 80s :(

[rubrrick]

I guess so :).... As for the motion on the boat, can I have a little more detail on how the waves will be in Mid April.

 

 

The Dude

 

One must ask a higher power for April wave conditions. Where the Monarch sails, you should have no problem. I had 4 first timers with us on the Monarch at the end of August, and 3 of the 4 started taking Bonine pills before boarding the ship. After the 2nd day they stopped taking pills as they found out that the ship was extremly smooth.

Calm seas and happy cruising Dude!

 

Rick

[HERZMEL]

We Sailed In April 2 Years Ago And It Was Very Smooth. The Only Day That Was A Little Bumpy Was The Last Day Coming Home From Cabo. It probably will depend on how the weather is. I Guess Travelling Back Up...you Feel Some Movement. . I Felt A Little Queasy But After Being On The Ship For 6 Days...i Was Used To Being At Sea. I Used The Sea Bands The Whole Time. My Kids And I Were Fine. For Me Thats A Miracle..i Usually Get Seasick Just Looking At The Ocean. Hahahah I Was Very Worried About Motion Sickness But After My Experience On The Diamond...i Love Cruising...its The Best.!!!!

[beachdude395]

Thats good to hear, thanks for the info. I also plan to use bonine, and the sea bands.

[Cruise_More_Often]

There was very little motion last week--just enough to make sleeping wonderful. There has been so little motion on the two we've been on that it was hard to tell we were cruising.