A ROYAL November: LIVE from Mariner/Liberty/Indy/Mariner OTS

[jam19872016]

World mug is on again.

 

USA VS. England. 

 

I'm hearing a lot of cheering. I went down to see the score and it is indeed a very riveting match. 

 

Current score, 0-0. Go sports!

[jam19872016]

There is a dinosaur loose on the pool deck!!

 

 

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, tampadee said:

What time were you in line?

 

6:46 for a 6:45 reservation. I'm going to try and show up earlier tonight and see if that helps.

 

It shouldn't be as bad, the Thanksgiving menu probably drew in extra crowds plus specialty dining carried a $100 surcharge.

 

They seem to have taken a system that was working, changed it and now it doesn't work and they seem to have no idea why.

 

You can't start mtd at 645 and expect it to not be a mess. It just doesn't work well that way. Meanwhile early dining is under booked and under attended.

 

[jam19872016]

Rewinding a little bit back when I was on Liberty. I took some photos of the spots of the ship that were unique compared to her sisters and Voyager cousins.

 

This is not a full ship tour, just some photos of the areas that made her stand out a little.

 

Starting on Deck 3 where the photo gallery is usually located is On Air.

 

 

I stopped in here one night. There was nobody participating in karaoke but the crew were playing songs for some reason and the volume was far too loud. Like ears ringing, I have to leave right away loud. This space was also used during the day to play movies since the big screen is broken.

 

Rembrandt Dining Room deck 3 AFT.

 

 

This is not really a unique venue but it is still branded with a name and a theme which I don't think is the case on the other ships unless I just didn't notice.

 

Michelangelo Dining Room, Deck 4 AFT

 

 

 

 

There is a nice seating area located on the opposite side of Boleros. This is located on Indy and I think Freedom but on Mariner this spot has been converted into a Starbucks.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2022 by jam19872016

[jam19872016]

Continuing on 4 where Playmakers is located on her sisters is the Focus Photo Gallery. This picture did not come out but I am including it because I find it ironic that a photo of Focus came out unfocused.

 

 

 

 

Staircase leading up to the promenade that is just an oddly placed hole in the ceiling on her sisters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jam19872016]

Part of the space that becomes Playmaker's is an extension of the casino. This space is still casino on Indy but slots against the walls and part of the Playmaker's area.

 

 

I hope these murals on the wall stay if they do ever put a Playmaker's in, they were very pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jam19872016]

The theater still has the old branding instead of just Royal Theater.

 

 

Sabor where Izumi is. I loved this spot, just too expensive at full price.

 

 

Up on 5 where the library usually is located is a Pinnacle Lounge. No keycard access required to enter.

 

 

 

I spoke to a pinnacle on day 3, she had no idea this space even existed. She had been using the suite lounge the whole cruise.

 

Staircase carpeting felt like it needed a refresh.

 

 

The stairs from 5 that lead down into the photo gallery.

 

 

[#1packerfan]

1 hour ago, jam19872016 said:

6:46 for a 6:45 reservation. I'm going to try and show up earlier tonight and see if that helps.

 

It shouldn't be as bad, the Thanksgiving menu probably drew in extra crowds plus specialty dining carried a $100 surcharge.

 

They seem to have taken a system that was working, changed it and now it doesn't work and they seem to have no idea why.

 

You can't start mtd at 645 and expect it to not be a mess. It just doesn't work well that way. Meanwhile early dining is under booked and under attended.

 

So agree!!  When they had MTD on it's own floor of the DR and started at 5 or 5:30 it was WAY better.  I wish they would go back to that.  I hate having to do a reservation, that totally defeats the purpose of MTD.  We like to go around 7:30 or 8 so hopefully the lines won't be so bad by that time.

[jam19872016]

Cupcake cuboard is a concept I've never seen before. Takes the place of Sugar Beach on Indy.

 

 

 

Cute guard dog.

 

 

Botticelli, the top level of the MDR.

 

 

[jam19872016]

An explanation of the art around the ship.

 

 

CC review that got framed and hung on the ship!

 

 

Is BecciBoo still around?

 

Looking towards the Promenade.

 

 

Royal Caribbean Online, located Deck 8 AFT. Would make a great spot for a relocated library.

 

 

Card room Deck 10 Aft, located in a private closed off room, would make a perfect spot for a relocated library.

 

 

The Library, Deck 9 AFT. Terrible location for a library.

 

 

[jam19872016]

I liked this statue of a man standing on top of a turtle in the gym entrance.

 

 

 

Wide open floor space that is usually closed in and hosts seminars and exercise classes.

 

 

Please don't remove this ever!! Missing from Freedom but thankfully still on Mariner and Indy....for now. I believe they both have dry docks coming up soon.

 

 

Nice swing bench in the Solarium that I don't recall seeing before.

 

 

Never saw this buffet being used, but could be used as a Park Cafe like I saw on Brilliance's solarium. 

 

 

Big screen over the pool is covered because it does not work.

 

 

[jam19872016]

Ice cream station is placed in the middle of the walkway for some odd reason creating bottlenecks trying to walk through.

 

 

 

Dive shop located where Sprinkles usually is located.

 

 

Liberty's name plate.

 

 

Another pool bar where Freedom has El Loco Fresh and Mariner has Boardwalk Doghouse. Indy wastes this space with the upcharge Fish and Ships.

 

 

 

[jam19872016]

The theming in the Windjammer is definitely the spot Liberty feels a little in need of a refresh. The colors and fonts just feel very 90's and the ship wasn't even around in the 90's 😄.

 

 

No handwashing station. Instead you get a squirt of sanitizer. Works great and not creating a line to get in.

 

 

 

I was excited for Jade but there is nothing here. It is just another buffet station. Looks like maybe it used to be a Chinese buffet? Yes please.

 

 

[jam19872016]

That font though.

 

 

Those colors.

 

 

 

[jam19872016]

I didn't make it to the top decks. I'm not a sportsy person so doubt I could even spot the differences anyway.

 

Its a lovely ship with a few quirks. It is in need of some refreshing for sure, but it is definitely not a dirty ship or falling apart in anyway.

 

Most noticeable issues were an out of order elevator that was down the entire week.

Broken big screen (that you wouldn't even notice if you weren't expecting it to be there)

No coke freestyle machines.

 

I would not hesitate to book this ship again. I have completed the Freedom class, first class I can say that about 😁

[jam19872016]

32 minutes ago, #1packerfan said:

So agree!!  When they had MTD on it's own floor of the DR and started at 5 or 5:30 it was WAY better.  I wish they would go back to that.  I hate having to do a reservation, that totally defeats the purpose of MTD.  We like to go around 7:30 or 8 so hopefully the lines won't be so bad by that time.

In my experience, when it gets that backed up early on, it doesn't really recover until near closing time because the crowds that would usually be cleared out by 8, are still in line waiting to be seated. When I left dinner yesterday about ten to 8, the line was still backed up though probably only half as long. 

 

It has been getting better the last few cruises, I think just because people are giving up on MTD. Yesterday was I think a combination of Thanksgiving, and no dining packages being sold to ease the burden on the dining room.

 

I'll report back on my experience tonight.

[jam19872016]

I showed up at 638 for my 645 reservation. Took me 10 minutes to make it through the line.

 

The group in front of me had 730 reservations but wanted to get checked in now so they would not need to wait in line just walk right in.

 

Of course they didn't do that but they did go ahead and seat them.

 

The couple behind me also had 730 reservations and were flabbergasted that they went straight to "their" table and someone else was sitting there amd they now had to line up.

 

Champagne set up at the entrance. Only offered to certain parties and I was not deemed worthy.

 

 

 

[Luckynana]

3 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

An explanation of the art around the ship.

 

 

CC review that got framed and hung on the ship!

 

 

Is BecciBoo still around?

 

Yes.  BecciBoo is still on the boards.

[Coralc]

4 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

 

CC review that got framed and hung on the ship!

 

 

Is BecciBoo still around?

 

 

Yes! She should be tagged @BecciBoo That is quite an honor. ☺️ 😃

Edited November 26, 2022 by Coralc

[jam19872016]

Even though it is past my last night bed time I'm doing something I've never done in all my cruises - Quest.

 

There was nobody at the door monitoring the age of those entering.

[jam19872016]

1 hour ago, Luckynana said:

Yes.  BecciBoo is still on the boards.

 

44 minutes ago, Coralc said:

 

Yes! She should be tagged @BecciBoo That is quite an honor. ☺️ 😃

Nice! If she reads this your review was quite clever and well written. I could feel your excitement and anticipation in every word.

[jam19872016]

I enjoyed my first quest experience.

 

I'm back in the room now all packed for turnaround day in the morning.

 

Good night.

Edited November 26, 2022 by jam19872016

[perfect match]

So many B2B’s and S2S’s I’m losing track of what ship we’re on! Maybe if I were doing a better job of keeping up with my reading I’d know where we were…….😂🙃🤷‍♀️

Edited November 26, 2022 by perfect match

[SummerBeee]

Congrats on reaching 340 points. The Cheers with an Officer is only on sailings of 7+ nights.

Any future cruises, have your TA run a price check with DP340 code. I had several that went down a few hundred, one or two that dropped about $20.

 

Yay for checking off all the Freedom class ships. I’m missing both Voyager and Freedom, aggravating. Have Freedom booked for next Halloween.

 

Thanks for all the photos, always enjoy your posts

[jam19872016]

Good morning from port canaveral. They next time I arrive at this port ot will be time to go back home.

 

Gonna get up and make my way towards the star lounge for b2b turnaround.