Monarch Review 1/14-1/17 Ensenada

[capnlars]

Just off Monarch of the Seas from Los Angeles to Ensenada 3 day cruise. This was our fourth time on Monarch, and we once again had a great cruise. This was our first time cruising as Diamond C&A.

 

We arrived at San Pedro around 12:15. Were on the ship by 12:40. They opened a separate area for checking for Suites and Platinum/Diamond people. Unfortunately there were only 2 people doing the checking in there, and it probably would have been quicker to go to the main lines. They said this was a new thing. We were first in line at X-Ray so there was no wait there either. Dropped our things in the room, met our room steward (Eric), who we had on one of our prior cruises. Went up to the Windjammer for lunch. It was raining pretty hard - so everyone was staying indoors. We noticed an overall improvement in food, both in the Windjammer and in the Dining Room. Some of the dishes were prepared slightly differently than before; don't know if it was just a fluke or what. We saw Onika, our waitress from our 2nd Monarch trip, up in the Windjammer. She had been promoted to supervisor since we saw her last; but she remembered us and ran to give Nancy a hug when she saw we were there. At 1pm our rooms were ready, so we went back there.

 

We had RS 1010. Nice room. This was our second cruise in this cabin. The first cruise we had this cabin, the Karaoke noise was quite loud - and went until 1 a.m. This time we heard almost no noise at all from the Karaoke. We saw that the draperies and bedsheets were new - probably changed out during the January drydock. Furniture was same. There was a bottle of champagne sent by someone on the staff - there was no card with it. Our steward was great, as usual.

 

We invited the CC folks we had been chatting with to do sailaway from our balcony. Weather cooperated with showers ending about an hour before we left. We were delayed about 20 minutes leaving and had to cut the party short so we could make main seating dinner. If any of our group read this - hello (Nathan and Mom, LaVonna, Celia, Dave, etc). One of the CC group had room service send cheese and crackers; and we got a plate of sushi deliverd complimentary from the Hotel Manager.

 

Had main seating at dinner, table 157 - table for 2. The tables for 2 on the Monarch (I think there's 3 per dining room) are squished between 2 tables for 4. Not as intimate a setting, but still nice to have. Our wait staff was fantastic, once again as always.

 

Even though it was Easter weekend, and I'm sure the ship was full - it didn't seem crowded at all. There were plenty of kids, but we did not see a SINGLE instance of bad behavior.

 

After dinner we did some shopping, lost some money in the casino and headed back to the cabin.

 

The weather in Ensenada was pretty good. About 67 degrees and mostly sunny. If you've already been on the tours, there's not a whole lot to do there. Very little had changed since we were there last.....noticed a lot more police and military on the main street than we had before. We were also told that now only tourists are allowed in the bars; and that you WILL be arrested if you drink on the street - they were being very strict about that. The shuttle dropped us off almost at the far end of the main drag. There's a fantastic store about 5 doors towards the main street from the shuttle stop - we got a 6' metal sculpture of a crane. Lots of fun carrying that around, not to mention Xray security and US Customs scrutiny. We were back on the ship by 12:30p. There were a lot more people aboard while we at port than we expected. In the afternoon, the Food Manager sent up some chocolate covered strawberries, and the Housekeeping Manager sent up some cheese and crackers.

 

Sunday was a sea day - most of which we spent on the balcony. I met with the Loyalty Ambassador and requested a tour of the bridge. To my surprise, on Sunday afternoon we were told to be at our cabin at 5p to get escorted to the bridge. The Guest Relations Manager (Trudy) knocked on the door at 5, and there were 4 other people who were joining us. The bridge door is right next to our cabin door, so it wasn't far to go. We had already talked to the Captain and crew a few times from our balcony, which is next to the starboard bridge extension. Captain Lundkrin (I probably spelled that wrong) was most hospitable and personally gave us a tour of the bridge. He was very pleasant and soft-spoken, and we really enjoyed our time there. At the time of our visit, all propulsion was shut down and we were drifting; so there wasn't a lot of activity. In the afternoon, they sent up Petifors and chocolates.

 

The other people on the bridge tour didn't have Crown and Anchor status, nor were not staying on deck 10 - so from what I can tell, if you just ask (and maybe are persistant about it) you can get a bridge tour. Also the other 4 had been on an engine room tour just before we met them. I assumed that was a pre 9/11 thing only and didn't even bother to ask. When we're on Mariner this summer, I'll ask for both.

 

Sunday night was farewell dinner. I don't think I'm going to eat for the next several days. We couldn't even eat dessert. Went back to pack and then hit the casino again. This evening went much better, and I was able to win a couple hundred dollars on the 10 dollar blackjack table.

 

Leaving the ship was the best so far of any other cruise we've been on. They called our tag color at 7:40am. Instead of the pandemonium that is usual on deck 4 at this time - they were keeping the area clear, and were only letting you into the centrum if you had the colors that had been called. The staff had everyone lined up very orderly to leave the ship. No line at immigration, but we had to wait for some folks to get put in front of us as. Just before we got off, they were walking off a dog that alerted on these people's luggage as it passed by. It really was a coincidence, as they were not screening people - just leaving the ship with the dog. Didn't see what finally happened, as they were shuttled off in the other direction by people putting on gloves after immigration. I'm sure they did not have a good day either way. From our color being called to being in the car was less than 20 minutes.

 

Overall, the ship is in great shape. There weren't any really a lot of obvious changes since last time we were on, even though there was a drydock in January. We did notice the slots are new, and now multi-denomination. You could play on machine as either a 25 cent, 50 cent or $1 machine by pressing buttons on the front. We had read some posts about sewage smells, but we really didn't notice anything except maybe once or twice in passing somewhere. The ship was very clean. The staff was great as always.

 

Monarch is a wonderful 3 day escape - even though the cellphone works for much of the trip, I keep it off until we get back Monday. I'm sure we'll be back.

[lauraapp]

Glad to hear you had a nice time! We enjoyed her a few weeks ago and even though she is an older ship it has a lot of nice features. We enjoyed sitting in the area by Ben and Jerry's and people watching.:o

[karessamom]

Great Review--We're sailing on her 9/4!! can't wait.

[Merion_Mom]

How was the entertainment?

 

And that must have been such a relief for you not to have noise from Karaoke this time!

 

(Captain is Hakan Lindergren)

[capnlars]

Carol,

 

Thanks for the correction on Captain Lindergren's name.

 

We didn't make a single show on this cruise, so I can't really tell you. Nathan (SakeDad), who we met on this cruise, I know will be writing a detailed review - and they went to every show. He's a professional Stage Manager, so he should have some interesting insight to the entertainment.

[ADeputy4U]

Great post Larry & Nancy. Glad you folks had a great time and experience on Monarch. I'll be seeing her in a few days and I'm hopeful my review will be as good as yours.

[capnlars]

Tony,

 

We seem to follow each other on the ships here. First Vision and now Monarch! Same cabin as us again? If you remember, we both had 8000 on vision.

 

Have a great time.

[MissKise]

We live in southern California, and have enjoyed the Monarch and the great crew several times. She is a grand ship, and a wonderful get away. I may have to see about a tour of the bridge next time...........

[MomeeToEm]

Thank you for posting your review! I assume your title should have read 4/14-4/17 since you mentioned Easter? I love reading all the Monarch reviews (yes, the good and the bad). :D Keep 'em coming everyone. I have to live vicariously through you because it seems like our cruise will never get here! :p

[ADeputy4U]

Tony,

 

We seem to follow each other on the ships here. First Vision and now Monarch! Same cabin as us again? If you remember, we both had 8000 on vision.

 

Have a great time.

Nope, we always stay in GS 1032 on Monarch. We'll be back in OS 8000 on Vision in December though.

 

I was thinking I may surprise the wife in 2007 and get the RS on Monarch for our 10 year anniversary. Or surprise my folks by putting them into the RS for their 50th anniversary in 2007.