How I Spent 2/26 Week Sailing the Mariner

[dbarry]

Excellent review Coka and Darlene. I will be doing a b2b cruise at Easter time on the Mariner. I will not be as brave as both of you and do the kip line in Jamaica. Since I already have problems with both shoulders (had one operated on), I think I will skip this one.

 

How could you stay up so late at night after a full day of activities? By 12 pm, I cannot keep my eyes opened.

 

 

Gisele

 

I don't remember using my shoulders for anything! Of course I was full of adrenaline! You kind of just "sit on the straps of your harness" and keep your hands on the straps in front. Maybe someone else who has done this can comment. By all means, be cautious of the chance of injuring yourself. Once while in the Bahamas my DH and I rented a jet-ski, I had never rode on one before. All I remember is holding on for dear life. The next day I could barely walk as the muscles in my legs felt paralyzed! After zip-lining I had no aches or pains. Honestly the hardest thing to do on this excursion was to walk down the carved out of the ground steps (I have worn out knees) oh and yeah, stepping off of a 25' high platform just because someone tells you too! What ever you plan on doing enjoy your cruise. I am so envious, a Back2back! Someday!

 

Try clicking here for a picture.

 

 

Darlene

[dbarry]

This is absolutely the BEST reveiw EVER!!!! I had to re-group after reading about the Zip Line tour. I needed tissue to wipe away the tears from all the laughing you caused! I was actually ROFLMAO!!! I felt like I was there with both of you!! Can I book with you on your next cruise???

I have been to Jamaica before and SWORE I would not go back, BUT you just changed my mind!!!

Cheers! I feel like I just had a vacation! Thanks I needed that!

Melinda

 

We really did have a great time. If you enjoyed reading about the zip-line tour you should have been there! I absolutely love Jamaica, I really think that you just really need to be aware of everything around you. The only negative thing that I can say about Ocho Rios (the only place in Jamaica that I've been to) is that the vendors at Dunn's River Falls where quite insistent that I buy something. I really feel uncomfortable haggling over price anywhere, but there I was a bit intimidated. Other places in Ocho Rios like the Island Village shopping area and Margaritaville I was quite comfortable shopping in. (Which I have walked to from the ship). This time we didn't encounter any pressure to buy anything as we went directly from the ship to our zip-in tour and back to the ship. The parts of Jamaica that I have been to are simply beautiful and I would have really missed out had I stayed on the ship (as some have advised). Sounds like you may have had a bad experience. Some friends that we made aboard the ship this time were taken of of the beaten path and found themselves in trouble, almost being mugged. It was their first time to Jamaica.

 

Darlene

[hygienist]

Sounds like you 2 would be a blast to hang with for 7 glorious days on a cruise! OR MORE!!:) What age are you and your friend? You look to be around 40, which is my age. We are not planning a cruise this year.....we are doing 7 days at Disney World in October with our soon to be 5 yr old daughter. Next cruise will be sometime in the fall of 2007 if all goes as planned! We never vacation in the spring OR week of 4th of July, due to cost and school kids. I would rather take mine out of school for a week rather than hang out with 50,000 other kids! I learned my lesson in Panama City 10 yrs ago! LONG story!!!

Hello, my name is Melinda and I have OCD and I am proud of it! I am a compulsive planner for our vacations. I work hard for the year and I plan/work harder on how I will re-coup from those stressful days at work!!! If only I could figure out how to get paid for all that hard work and research that goes into our vacations!! :D LOL!! Any tips on that ?

Like reading CC is hard work! PLEASE!!!

 

I agree with you about being aware of surroundings in Jamaica. That is part of the reason I hated that port. The vendors are RELENTLESS!!!!! I almost screamed at one of them to leave me alone so I COULD buy something. I really wanted to buy some things in Jamaica, but due to the hassel from the vendors I just walked away!! Their loss!

 

Go on another cruise SOON so I can pretend I am on vecation with you!:D

 

Waiting to read your next review!

Take care! Melinda

[dbarry]

Melinda, Nice to meet you and thank you for the compliment! I try to cruise every February for my birthday (kinda takes the sting out of being another year older) and the day I stepped onto the Mariner's gangway I turned 52. I can't believe that I'm that number! I certainly do not feel like it. Coka is much younger, I'll let her respond if she wants to devulge! I over plan every cruise vacation, or for that matter everything! I'm okay with that though since I don't panic when things don't go as planned once aboard the ship. I figure how bad can it be ... I'm on a cruise ship heading to somewhere beautiful! I have a cruise planned for August 10th, won't quite be the same as crusing with Coka. It will still be an awesome trip as I will be with my sister and my nephew, celebrating his high school graduation. We will be on what I considered to be my favorite ship, the Enchantment of the Seas. I'm not sure if it is my favorite anymore, the Mariner was everything I believe a great cruise ship should be, but then again the Enchantment was just in for some "fixin up" last year when they added 75' to the middle of her. I guess I will have to wait and see who wins the top spot!

 

Disney is great. We live about 90 minutes away, so we go frequently. Your daughter will love it. Do you take her on cruises with you? I have two grandchildren who talk about going with me on my next cruise (I actually have 7 grandchildren) but I think that they may be too young. They are almost 6 and almost 4. I would love to share this experience with them, but only if it were going to be a completely positive experience. I noticed alot of families cruising with children (young ones) on the Mariner. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Which ship are you looking at in 2007?

 

Darlene

[hygienist]

I must say you do not LOOK 52! We have not taken our youngest daughter on a cruise YET!!! But we are planning to take her on the next one we go on! She would not let us go on another one without her , so I guess SHE is the one doing the PLANNING!!!!:D We have been looking at the Radiance of the Seas. I think she is a beautiful ship from looking at pics. I actually try to pick the itenerary and then decide if that ship will work for us. I may try western again, even though eastern is my favorite so far!

 

I have a 17 yr old daughter also from a previous marriage and she has been on a cruise with me when she was 8 yrs old. She LOVED it!!!

[coka]

Hygienist, come on the Star Princess 4/23/06 sailing with us! I am going with my sister-in-law, my New York friend (met on a cruise 11/04), and my guy pal and his partner (met on a cruise 12/03) and my cousin and her husband. Although I drank a lot of water on this one, I am sure my bar tab will be higher on this next one. Dbarry was an excellent influence on me! From our experience, cruising can be cheaper when you leave your immediate family at home...!

 

Off to finish my review. Let's see if I can finish it tonight.

 

Coka

[maps]

Fantastic review! I feel like I'm there already.

 

I would recommend taking your grandkids on the cruise. My kids went on their first when they were 3 and 4 yrs old and they kept asking to go on another. They went on their second at 5 and 6 and will be going on their third when they are 6 and 7. (spoiled, I know)

 

They are so excited!!! That's all they talk about. They chose the cruise over Disney if that tells you anything. I guess they get their champagne taste from me! ;)

[coka]

The cab ride back to the ship from Paradise Beach was 12 dollars or 6 dollars per person. The price inflated since we arrived four hours ago. It was only two of us and neither of us wanted to get soaking wet as a major dark cloud was coming and it was starting to rain. On the way back to ship it was a downpour. We felt bad for the off-road dune buggies and for the scooters we witnessed along the way. "Bill and Ted" had an excellent adventure on their scooters as they later told us one of them wiped out after leaving Carlos and Charlies...

 

Back on ship we were going to nap but decided to "detox" ourselves for free by taking a steam shower. Never rule out the steam room or sauna room because they are totally free of charge on cruiseships. The best part is that not very many passengers take advantage of them. The showers in the sauna/steam area are also HUGE. I should have brought my leg razor up there! We also found a scale in there and discovered that neither of us gained a pound. It was a miracle!

 

Naturally we were starving by the time we finished. Dinner was not until 2.5 hours away and it was lobster night in the dining room. We decided to go to the Windjammer for a little bowl of soup to tide us over. Now here is one of the best surprises for us all week...The Windjammer restaurant is totally different at night time! Where was the silverware? Oh, it was set up on the tables! Take the plates to the tables ourselves? Not! Waiters were standing by to bring them for us. Closed curtains (like the dining room) at night? Not! The setting sun along the horizen was absolutely beautiful. I felt like we were in one of those revolving rooftop restaurants that you pay 100 dollars to dine at. Waiters came around and asked if we would like some wine. Waiters came around and asked if we would like some water. Waiters came around and offered us green tea. Waiters stopped and chatted with us. Wowsa, this was such a surprise! No wonder our tablemates never made it to the dining room!

 

My little bowl soup came from the Jade buffet area. It was yummy. I traded in the empty bowl for a plate of fresh sushi...about eight of them. It was yummy too. The guy playing a guitar for background music certainly added to the ambiance. When I was almost done my sushi a guy walked by with a giant piece of medium rare prime rib. Dbarry (who was "tiding over" with a cookie) and I looked at each other. "You want to stay here?" she asked. I replied yes emphatically. We could eat here and then head down to the Dining Room and order the lobster when we were done. The prime rib, chicken, baked potato, vegetables, salad and roll were just as good as the dining room! We ate everything.

 

As we dined, we continued to marvel at the fresh flowers on the table. We continued to marvel at the high level of service and sincere happiness of the crew to be working there. We drank more green tea. Then I spotted shrimp on someone's plate. Where did they get that? They pointed out the location, I filled my plate and it was yummy. About 8:45pm a waiter came over with 8 choices of desserts on a large platter. Would we like some?

 

We decided dessert and more green tea would be a perfect appetizer for our lobster which we running late for. I was so intoxicated with caloric intake I do not remember what I selected although it had something to do with chocolate... We rolled ourselves out of the Windjammer by 9pm. Good thing I was wearing a long shirt over my capris. Nobody could tell I unbuttoned the button and unzipped the zipper of my pants. I thought, "Yeah, what about that scale now??!!" Needless to say, we could not have cared one iota about lobster tail and we never made it to the dining room.

 

On a side note, another surprise is the bathroom just outside the Windjammer restaurant. Without giving it away, stop in there and look around. You will exclaim, "Oh My Gosh, this is so cool!" Never saw a bathroom like that on any ship and Kudos to the designer. I suspect the guys bathroom has the same thing if it is located on the other side. Check it out...

 

We went to the Headliner Show with Greg Bonham who arrived on the ship in Cozumel. He told us he had about 1.5 hours to practice with the showband. This guy was fantastic. He played a mean trumpet, sang very well and handled the disappearance of a "wild and crazy female passenger" extremely well. He plays in Las Vegas and I think he thought his show was a bomb. He sure was in for a surprise when the audience gave him a standing ovation! He was better than he thought and I could not agree more.

 

After showtime we were figuring out just what was left to do on this grand ship. Boleros! Yes, Boleros, the Latin Dance Music bar with the live Latino band we walked by every previous night. We went there. Nobody was dancing. Never let an empty dance floor scare you. Dbarry got things started by doing some cha cha and salsa. Suddenly she had a partner and a few other couples joined them. We stayed there until the band finished by about 1:00am. I watched in awe.

 

Guess where we ended the evening, er, early morning? One clue: In the dwelling a wild flame-breathing animal...

 

Coka

[coka]

I packed while Dbarry went to Explorer Academy: Learn To Swing Dance. After the night before, I think she could have taught it! Dbarry is my new hero! By 1:30 we attended the poolside activities: Men's International Sexy Legs Contest and the Mariner Derby Owner's Cup Horse Racing. I must have missed the auction earlier in the week since I love to purchase a horse! One of my best cruise memories includes owning a horse with my niece on the Grand Princess...

 

We had reservations at the specialty restaurant for 6:30pm. I wanted to compare cruise lines. After our dining room experience and surprising evening Windjammer experience, we were not sure what to expect. We selected Portofinos since we "chopped" enough beef throughout the entire week to give us enough protein until July. The decor of both restaurants was blah in comparison to the rest of the ship. The atmosphere was not considered in the original plan. The flowers on the table were fake and the tables were small. It seemed RCCL decided to throw in the special dining concept in order to compete. I think they missed! Even so, the food and the presentation was good. The service was formal and appropriate. Overall thought: best to save your money. If you want specialty dining on a cruise ship, then sign on to Norwegian (they nailed that market)!

 

Regarding comparisons, I forgot which day the Crown and Anchor party took place. An invitation only party for repeat RCCL customers, the Captain and other staff members talk to the crowd. You sip free cocktails and nibble on hor's d'ouevres. Members ask questions and they are answered. Whoever had the most cruises received a bottle of champagne. I wondered what wass up with RCCL (and with Carnival who does the same thing). Two giant companies who give one bottle of champagne. Norwegian has the best customer appreciation parties. On NCL, your invitation is drawn from a box and every department gives something. Examples include a spa treatment, a piece of art, casino tokens, dinner for four at specialty restaurant, a piece of jewelry, and so on. Just thought I would let you know! Something they all (Carnival, Princess, RCCL and NCL) do similar is give out coupon books. I used the RCCL photo coupon and placed the remaining booklet in the safe for the next week's passengers.

 

I enjoyed the Farewell Variety Show. Surprisingly, it lasted longer than other cruise lines and I loved the "week in review" video. I was happy to avoid the big camera all week! NCL has better surprise endings that are more impressive though. I do not want to give it away, but multiply by 20 what RCCL does on stage at the end. Picture no spare room on stage or stairs/aisles. Even so, I was still impressed with RCCL's preformance.

 

We went to Ellington's afterwards to see the Jazz Cabaret Show featuring musicians from the Mariner of the Seas Orchestra and Royal Caribbean Singers. Relaxing way to end the week. I was impressed too with RCCL's variety of activity taking place on the last night. On some cruises, I have wondered where all the people and entertainment had gone. Not on this one! Everyone seemed to be out and about. This includes the Dragon's Lair. We danced our last dance and I collected my CD's from the DJ. We said our goodbyes to our friends and called it a morning! Yup, it was about 4:30 in the morning by the time we were done! Finished up by Grabbing some snacks at the Cafe Promenade to hold us over until breakfast.

 

Woke up 2.5 hours later and ate a fabulous breakfast just as we did on the first day. The service was just good as the first day! The staff morale was just as good as the first day! Now that is how one can tell the overall quality of a cruise ship. The standard is the same on the last day as it was on the first. The only noticeable difference was the passengers' faces...You know what I mean! At 8:10am our color was called over the intercom. By 8:40am we had our luggage, cleared customs and were waiting outside for our rental pick-up van.

 

What a fabulous week!

 

Epilogue:

I want to thank Dbarry so much for everything! If not for her, the week would not have been as it was. We certainly did it all! We left the rock wall out on purpose so that we could go again! How fortunate for me that our paths crossed on the Sovereign and that we stayed committed to cruising together! As stated, she is my hero! In ten years I hope to be exactly where she is today. She is smart, happy, humane, giving and loves life. She can also make me laugh my you-know-what off! Dbarry and her hubbie's hospitality in New Smyrna Beach during pre and post cruise made me feel like a family member. They do not know it yet, but I am moving in!

 

Ciao Ciao,

Coka

[kstrege]

I was also on the 2/26 sailing of the Mariner. Coka, I was most likely sitting next to you in the Wig and Gavel as I spent a lot of time there.

 

We only made it to the main dining room on three nights. We tried Johnny Rockets because the kids wanted to. We thought the food in the main dining room was OK but we didn't care for some of the choices and the kids had a hard time picking out something they thought they would like. Portofino's was outstanding! Well worth the $20 fee. We also found the food in the Windjammer and Jade to be very good.

 

I highly recommend the Hot Stone Therapy Massage at the Day Spa. OMG!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Wait for them to offer a special then take the plunge! Ask for Katia, a very talented young lady from Brazil. Tell her Kyle from the 2/26 sailing recommended her.

 

We did different excursions than Coka (except for the refunded beach mat thing). We were the ones Coka watching from the helicopter at stingray city. My daughter freaked out when the stingrays arrived. She jumped back on the boat and wouldn't get off. In Jamiaca we did a little shopping and hair braiding then spent the rest of the day relaxing at Jimmy Buffet's Margarittaville. It' a fun little place with live music, a pool with a swim-up bar, good food and a nice beach. It's a very short 5-10 minute walk from the ship and about a 20 minute crawl back to the ship after a few margarittas. There is a rumor that some big Jamaican guy wearing a grass skirt and cocunut bra was seen pouring tequila shots down my throat but I don't seem to remember that part.

 

In mexico we spent the afternoon swimming with the dolphins. It was an outstanding adventure.

 

The Mariner is a beautifull ship. The ship was very clean and service was very good. I noticed right away that anyone who took my seapass card from me took the time to read my name and then called me by it when they handed it back to me. The dealers in the casino asked me my name when I sat down and even remembered it the next night when I sat back down at their table. That is a little thing that made a big impression with me.

 

If you are booked on the Mariner of the Seas then you should be getting excited about your trip as you are in for a very nice vacation!

[coka]

Kstrege, it is good to hear what others did on the ship! I am glad that you had a great time too! Swimming with the stingrays is also one of my favorite tours! I usually get my haircut on cruises but I was a good girl...never did anything to have to change my appearance!

 

It is too late to edit my above post, but I forgot to write that we went back to dining room after Portofinos to tip our waiters. We did the pre-paid tipping and the certificates are delivered to your stateroom on the last day. We also said goodbye to the passengers and waiters at nearby tables for they were very good to us too.

 

I would definitely sail the Mariner again for the sole reason of how we were treated!

 

Coka

[dbarry]

Well, it looks like our review is finished! Oh pooh! I was hoping that we could stretch it out for at least another week. Now I really have to get back to real life, and the taxes! I have to start watching what I eat and get my butt in gear and back to the gym. I don't have a Dragon's Lair in my spare room, and those calories seem to gather in places I don't want them in. I only worked out in the shipshape center one time the whole cruise. I participated in a step aerobics class that we only did abs because the ship was rocking so much. I had good intentions when I started, I even packed three work out outfits. But with Coka's help I decided to do my workouts in the Dragon's Lair every night. There just wasn't enough time to do everything. I've been trying to think of something that could be improved on the Mariner. I'm really at a loss. Every other ship that I've been on, I've been able to come up with something (although mostly minor stuff) but not so with the Mariner. I can't even complain about the slow elevators! Not because the ones on the Mariner aren't slow, Coka made me take the stairs! The Mariner is an awesome ship. I loved the crew members that we came in contact with each day. The food was great. I think perhaps the best of any cruiseline that I've experienced. Food has never been a draw for me to cruise. This time I looked forward to each meal. I don't remember Coka mentioning the menus. Each night we received a different menu. Not just the regular leather jacket with a different menu in it each night but a simply designed "paper" menu that was different each night.

 

Also not mentioned was our muster drill. This time our muster station was not on the open deck with three people standing behind us and four people standing in front of us. Our station was in the diningroom. It was relatively painless. As far as the cruise goes I can't seem to think of anything thing else to add.

 

As far as cruising with Coka, I'm definitely hoping that this will only be the beginning and we will have many cruises ahead. I'm interested in trying NCL as well as Celebrity. I think that I would really like to visit her this fall at her "lake house"! I do not want to experience ice fishing though! I had a great time Coka. No one has ever been able to keep up with me. I always ended up sitting by myself while everyone else was sleeping! Not so with Coka! And Coka - ten years from now I hope to be were I am today! Thanks for all of the kind words. You are family, and welcomed to drop in anytime! We will keep your room just like you left it!

 

Darlene

[hygienist]

I wish I could join you in April, but unfortunately, we only allow ourselves ONE BIG vacation per year. I know my daughter would be thrilled to get a cruise AND Disney World in the SAME year!!! WOW!!! Maybe fate will have our paths cross one day like you and Darlene did. It is a small world you know!:D

[Chill&Will]

Coka -

I have to compliment you on your wonderful review. I would also agree with bambam that you are a superb writer. This has really brightened our day! We are looking to our first cruise in September! Barring another busy hurricane season. This thread has definitely been a delight to read and prepare us for what to expect. Would you write a book about all of your travels, as I am sure that you would have no problem promoting them due to your fantastic style. Thank you again!

 

Chill&Will

[Barklee]

Coka and Darlene,

 

Thank you for sharing your experiences on the Mariner OTS. I'm taking my wife and kids on a Mariner Western Caribbean cruise departing on August 13th and you gave us some great ideas on what to do. We're booked in a D1 hump cabin and the price just dropped $1100 ($4400 to $3300)for the four of us. I called RCI on Tuesday and they adjusted the price over the phone. With the big cost savings we won't skimp on the on-shore excursions. Now all I have to do is convince the rest of my family to go zip-lining and and helicopter flying. Thanx again, for the great review!

[coka]

The Mariner sure will not disappoint! You are going to have a great time! Be on the lookout for the night-time parades on the royal promenade. We only attended one and missed the others. A joy for all ages! Another neat thing is to try and guess what the napkin shapes are in the dining room every night. Did not figure it out until mid-week that the napkins resting on the plates compliment the nightly theme.

 

Thank you for the compliments on my writing style. Makes me want to send your comments to my former college professors and exclaim, "See! What do you think about that NOW?!" hehehe

 

Coka