Live from the Mariner

[vikeqn]

Hello all from day 3 on the Mariner. We are heading into San Juan for our 4 pm arrival.

This ship is just as nice as her sisters. This is our 12 RCCL cruise and our first on the Mariner. Although we have been on all of her sisters. We are in JS 9584.

Embarkation was painless. We were at the terminal at 11:00 and on the ship by 11:30. First night dinner was good. I had shrimp raviolo (SP) and DH had Prime Rib and DS (16) had Salmon. All was really good. Second night we had the filet of beef and it was incredible. Johnny Rockets was good - ate there yesterday. Kind of a ghost town. People don't wantto pay the fee.

I have cyber cabin so feel free to ask questions but remember I am on vacation. So I am not glued to this thing. Please don't ask me to find your favorite waiter Clyde and tell him Billy Bob says hi.

I will check back soon withmore info on first 2 days but now the DH wantsto go lay by pool.

Patty

[Havana Daydreamin]

Patty,

 

My father & mother-in-law are on that ship also. Thanks for posting updates.

If you see any late 60 year olds from Kansas acting silly, please tell them to behave!!!! ;)

 

Randy

[HB Cruiser]

Patty

 

Did your original itinerary include San Juan or CocoCay? Just wondering as we are going eastern caribbean May28th and CocoCay is on ours.

 

PLEASE, enjoy your cruise!!!!!

 

Thanks

 

Tim & Crystal

[vikeqn]

Greetings from St. Thomas.

This cruise was originally scheduled for Coco Cay and was changed. This is he only cruise changed. San Juan was a useless stop. We got off paid 30 for round trip to Old San Juan. Had a drink at Sr. Frogs and came back. It was really crowded with both Explorer and Mariner in port along with 2 other huge ships.

Dinner last night was aweful. Guys had lamb t-bones - fatty tuff and little meat. I had a pasta thing that was just ok. Choices were not the best. Our dinner room waiters are slow and we are always the last table served. We had main dining room breakfast yesterday and it was REALLY slow. Breakfast shouldn't take 1 1/2 hours. Service on this ship has been slow compared to others. This is our 12 RCCL cruise. Going to Chops tonight and really looking forward to it.

After being on all of her sisters the Mariner is abit not as exciting in her appearance. It is nice but not as nice as her sisters. Nothing in particular but just doesn't have the flare.

The weather is good and our stateroom attendant is grand. Conceige lounge is nice but last night too crowded with no chairs available. The extra lounge up on deck 14 was not open.

If you have never cruised her sisters you will love this ship. It is very nice. I don't mean to seem critical of her just it is hard not to compare ships.

We are off to take a taxi to magans Beach. Check in later.

[ortiz34]

I couldn't agree with you more. I was on the Mariner last week and the staff was not very impressive. No rude encounters, just not that outgoing RCCL touch that I was use to in the past. These Voyager class are becoming too "commercialized" living on a rock wall, and ice skating rink to boost there ego. I might try Freedom sometime, but for now I'm taking it down a notch to the Radiance class. The other thing RCCL seems to be focusing waaaaay to much on "get out here" example: Rockwall, boogie boarding, ice rink, in line skating etc, etc all in their commercials. What about the actual CRUISE, ya know? The food, the service, things that probably 90% of people go on a cruise for.

[BuilderMan]

OK, now you are making me nervous! We're sailing in May on the Mariner after previous sailings on the Explorer (twice) and the Navigator. However, our dining room service was the slowest on the Navigator with both Explorer cruises being rather good.

 

Have fun in St. Thomas! I love that place.

[beverland]

I have to agree about the service on the Mariner. Our dining room staff didn't even stop by the table during the last few minutes of dinner on the last night. We were not "compelled" to tell them goodbye and just left the envelopes on the table. No extra $$'s like we usually do - just the recommended amount. There were four of us at the table and none of us ever "connected" with the team.

 

That being said, the best service we received was in Boleros. We went there almost every night after dinner and had the same waitress. At the end of the cruise, we were hugging each other goodbye.

 

We also loved Yuri (I think that was her name) in the Concierge lounge. She was wonderful and remembered us from our first sailing on the Mariner. Was employee of the Year - I guess that's why she was in the concierge lounge. Of course, she was also tipped at the end of the week.

 

I think the Mariner is a beautiful ship, but I was underwhelmed with the staff. Not terrible, but hard to put my finger on it........just not great!

 

I'm sure anyone who goes will have a great time, it's just not as intimate as some of the other ships. Have had wonderful service on Nordic Empress and many of the other (what are now considered) smaller ships. I just think you have a better opportunity to connect with the staff when the passenger ratio to staff is lower.

 

Don't miss the Ice Show - the week we were on, they had guest performers from Russia - the show was different from the first one we had seen and was ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVEABLE!!

[dshebert]

Hi Lynn.

 

You know what I say.....we are still going to have a blast!! It sounds like we have a great M&M group and nothing is going to stop us from having the time of our lives:)

 

Dale

[HB Cruiser]

Hi Lynn and Dale!!

 

This thread really has me concerned. Crystal really did not want to go on the Mariner again as our first experience was not the best and the ship is not as "breathtaking" as others but we both wanted to go eastern and this was the only RCL ship going that way our week. It is her least favorite ship we have been on, we have been on Sovereign (pre and post refurb), Enchantment (pre-stretch), Voyager, and Explorer. Prior to our booking, most of the reviews had been very favorable, food, service, and the like. Now, just 11+ weeks from ours, Patti is giving us this somewhat negative review.

 

Patti, THANK YOU for taking the time from your cruise to post this information. PLEASE continue whether it is positive or negative. Inquiring minds (Lynn, Dale, and Tim, LOL) want to know.

 

Tim

[ortiz34]

People ,please do not get discouraged by these comments about the staff on the Mariner. Like I and alot of others have said, we all had a blast. Just the white glove service we are accustomed to was not there. The employees really did not look happy, some did, but the majority didn't JMHO. Also, like I said I never encounter any employees that were rude. I can't imagine once the newness of the Freedom wears off what the staff will be like with that amount of passengers. I know most of the time that you don't feel overcrowded on the Voyager class but there were many times me and my GF felt like cattle, and that the fact that the Western stops are 3 out of 4 tenders it can get unpleasant.

 

I was with my GF who had never cruised before and she loved it and said she would love to cruise again.

[ciship]

I still want to know everything.......please keep it coming!

[cheropita]

Hi,

 

A group of 27 of us sailed The Mariner in October. We all had a blast. We had no complaints about the staff in anyway. We found all the staff to be friendly and professional.

 

We are off on The Radiance this Sunday so we will see how we like it.

 

Happy Sailing!

 

Vanessa

[jphc318]

my wife,myself and 3 daughters went on mariner this summer.Great service made kids feel really special and everyone was eager to please!We are returning on her in Dec.and we are going on Navigator in July.

[OliverTheCat]

Well the good news is dont these staff members change every 6 months? So the ones giving bad service NOW wont be there in months to come. Now the problem will come if the staff is just CONTINUALLY bad, but I dont think that is the case since many people have raved about Mariner staff in past, and others have not.

 

I am sailing her next March. We are opting to skip the slow slow slow dining room experience and eat at Windjammer each night and are doing speciality resturants on Formal nights so we can dress up pretty :)

 

I am going into the cruise with an open mind. If I am having an issue with stateroom attendant, I will address it on cruise so service will be improved.

[raerae]

Hi,

 

A group of 27 of us sailed The Mariner in October. We all had a blast. We had no complaints about the staff in anyway. We found all the staff to be friendly and professional.

 

We are off on The Radiance this Sunday so we will see how we like it.

 

Happy Sailing!

 

Vanessa

 

Vanessa~~

We were on the Mariner in Dec. and had a wonderful experience. So wonderful in fact we are booked on her again in October. We also were on the Radiance in January and absolutely loved it!!! We will probably book that ship again after our Oct. cruise. I look forward to hearing how well you like the Radiance. Please post afterwards and let me know. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

Enjoy!!!!!!

Cindy ;)

[mark290]

We were on the Mariner last December and had a great. We even booked Mariner for this December while on board.

 

Like I said we were having a great time and then they kicked us of the ship for no reason. Sure they said something about us only paying for one cruise and they needed the cabin for the next paying passengers but we still we thought it was terribly unfair to kick us off when we were having such a good time.

[heavenlysea]

Patty-

Thanks for the updates. I hope your cruise remains smooth and wonderful! You're making those of us on land envious!

 

If possible, my DD would appreciate seeing a cruise compass for teens. (Maybe you could scan one or 2 on your return) She's 17 and is wondering what there is for her. My 7 yr old son is easy to please so we're not worried about him.

 

Thanks for any info!

 

 

Mariner 7.9.06 (Eastern)

NCL 1987

[vikeqn]

Hey gang I am not saying it is bad- just not as good as others before. EXCEPT- the Windjammer is the best one I have ever experienced in 12 cruises!! The service food and staff have been incredible. They help you find a table , bring you drinks and a guy was just delivering cookies to each table during the afternoon snack time. They clear stuff away pronto and I have been very happy with the service there.

St. Thomas today we did on our own. We took a taxi to magens bay. $8 per person each way. $3to get in each and for 3 of us 3 beach chairs and 2 blue floaty mats were $57 up front and we got 35 back in a deposit. I did not catch the break down on how much was what sorry. DH paid.

Tonight is the repeater party, Chops and Love and Marriage show.

Oh by the way I am a bit sunburned. HEEHEE

I am sorry if I have seemed negative you will have a great trip. I just compare things and this ship doesn't compare to our experience on the Explorer twice, Adventure, Navigator and Voyager.

It is the little things I notice. For example no golf ball plunkey thing in the 9th hole. Solarium is not a bit as pretty as the Adventure. DH said "there are no cool statues" Nothing major just little things. Don't fret about not having fun. Any day of cruising is an incredible day.

Gotta run I got sand in places you guys don't want to know about. Need to shower.

Patty

[rose102798]

Greetings from St. Thomas.

Conceige lounge is nice but last night too crowded with no chairs available.

 

I was under the impression, from reading posts on these boards, that the concierge lounge was not available for JS cabins. Is this not true? We will be in JS 9580 in June.

 

ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!!!

[HB Cruiser]

Again Patty, THANKS FOR YOUR POSTS!!!

 

Also thanks for not telling us about the sand. LOL

 

We appreciate you clearing up the service situation and your comparisons between ships.

 

Tim

[vikeqn]

No JS do not get the conceirge lounge. I am a diamond member. Diamond memeber gain access. You become a diamond member after 10 cruises. This is my 12th RCCL cruise.

Sands gone. Rain just blew in. Good thing we did the beach early.

Forgot to tell you - last night as we pulled into San Juan we sailed right past the Explorer. Within like 20 feet all the way down it. Soo cool - most of crew was up taking pictues it was so neat.

Ok I am off to party with Captain Johnny.

Most of the crew I talk to is off to the Freedom. Perhaps they are just coasting to get out of here?

Ptty

[HB Cruiser]

Patty

 

Can you find out if Capt Johnny will be on the ship May 28th?

 

Tim

[Dotsie]

I just got off the Mariner on the last Eastern run, 2/19. I was in cabin 9594. Is Stephen your cabin steward? Tell him the Freddo's say Hi and that we will be in the same cabin this August.

 

Dotsie

[wardy]

Hi Patty, We will be staying in cabin 7692 in Sept. for our honeymoon it's a JS in the aft. Can you please tell me anything about this cabin are the balconies bigger in the back of the ship? And enjoy the rest of your cruise. Thank You.

[Aleciajoyful1]

I was on Mariner for the Feb 12th sailing, and I loved her. We found all of the staff to be exceptional, except for in the casino. Our cabin attendant, waitstaff and the bar staff were awesome! Our favorite hangouts were the Wig and Gavel and the Champagne Bar.

 

The one thing I missed from the Radiance class ships was the outdoor tables at the Windjammer. But, the Royal Promenade made up for it! THe one thing I preferred from the Radiance class ships was the Solarium was not covered. You could actually get some sun and fresh air!

 

The entertainment on our sailing was so so. We walked out on a couple of the shows. But that is a personal preference.