All Things Navigator of the Seas!!!

[krmlaw]

Im a bit worried because we'll be travelling during spring break - I can handle a bunch of kids, but not drunk college students. Anyone have any experience during this time?

 

We've also never been to Ochos Rios, and Im hearing some people just stay on the ship and skip the port.

[4everafter]

We just sailed spring break! it seemed like about 20-30 college students hung out around the pool bar and I watched them checking each other out - thats about it. some guys from my gym (12 of them ) went on Grandeur and 2 of them got in a fight the first night- they were escorted off the ship the next morning 8am - no questions asked, - I wouldn't worry about it RC is strict about people getting out of hand. There were 600 children on board but they tend to stay in kid places.

[Dpeeps]

We have traveled the last 2 years during spring break....this year on the Navigator and last year on the Enchantment. Both years traveled with quite a few kids in our own group ranging from ages 10-17...and we all had a blast!!!! Did not have any problems with drunk college students on the ship at all!!! There were a few at senor frogs in cozumel but then again....who isn't half drunk at senor frogs??? :) The kids met sooo many new friends on the ship each year....and can't wait till next!

[Dpeeps]

Hi Marcia.....I know just the "college" group you are talking about!!! :) Was just wondering...how do you know about that "dry dock" thing? So do you think we will be able to tell any differences when we sail next march from when we sailed this year??? Was just wondering.... Also was wondering if u have ever heard of a ship being sold out of balcony and inside 3 and 4 person cabins this far ahead. We are sailing next march. Didn't have this trouble getting cabins last year. Dawn

[JenniferRenee]

Just returned from the Navigator on a Med cruise out of Barcelona. This was my first RCI cruise and I was impressed. I thought the ship was in fantastic shape and our Balcony cabin 8656 aft deck 8 did not show signs of wear and tear. I have heard not to take an aft cabin but on this ship the restaurants (windjammer, portofino and chops), Adventure ocean, mini golf, Johnny rockets, ice skating etc.. are all located towards the back. I only went to the front for the Spa and if I happened to walk down the promenade. If possible to not go farther back than the cabin where I stayed , great location.

 

As for the stabilizer problem, you would never know. We had very little movement it was a very smooth sail in the med. I had read this boat is due for drydock January/09, but someone may correct me on that.

[peanut11]

Love the Navigator. Great ship! Great service. My favorite cruise by far!

[Dpeeps]

How long do ships stay in dry dock and exactly what is it????

[shellito1012]

I'm doing the b2b 1/22/09 as well....have only been on Royal's Serenade so am looking so forward to being on the Navigator! Keep the information coming.

[FL_Cruiser64]

November 24th

 

Us too. You missed a great roll call. :(

We are still chatting:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=494402

 

And we are now planing for a re-union cruise on Jan 30/Feb 4, 2010.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=766874

 

Never to late to join us.

:D

[4everafter]

Hi Marcia.....I know just the "college" group you are talking about!!! :) Was just wondering...how do you know about that "dry dock" thing? -we asked while we were on Disney, below- So do you think we will be able to tell any differences when we sail next march from when we sailed this year???possibly? they won't make major changes in decor but the carpets and stuff could be new Was just wondering.... Also was wondering if u have ever heard of a ship being sold out of balcony and inside 3 and 4 person cabins this far ahead. just keep checking, could be a price adjustment :( We are sailing next march. Didn't have this trouble getting cabins last year. Dawn

 

I could be wrong about the particulars but I think each ship is required to dry dock once in 5 years (every 2.5 years?????) for mandatory mechanical inspections from maritime officials and they take advantage of it with a deep cleaning, some major repairs, and the replacement of certain furnishings, carpet, TV's - what ever they see fit. the crew stays on and some wait on the repair(men), some clean, and some work.

 

We were on Disney Wonder right before it went to dry dock and when we got to port at 7 am there were crains loading the decks with atleast 20 freight storage boxes new stuff and repair men were boarding instead of new cruisers! its very cool. you might be able to catch one of the cruise lines own little "reality" show that runs on the closed circuit tv while on board that features a remodel of one of the ships. we were sad that there wasn't one in April, just a show about the making of the Beverage Menu??:mad:

 

Dawn, I just posted our photos - we were at Senior Frogs! We love going there! click on my screen name. we take silly photos of us that aren't pertinent to general readers:D Did I already tell you that we are going on Grandeur next spring break?

[raina*faith]

Been on the Navigator 2x and had a wonderful time! I'm sure we wouldn't mind going on her again!

[hoop4321]

Im a bit worried because we'll be travelling during spring break - I can handle a bunch of kids, but not drunk college students. Anyone have any experience during this time?

 

We've also never been to Ochos Rios, and Im hearing some people just stay on the ship and skip the port.

 

We did the spring break cruise. There were very few partiers, nothing that would be considered MTV spring break as the few partiers looked to be over 50! We also read the reports about Ocho Rios and Jamaica. Was a little frightened to get off the ship, from some reports. We had the BEST time in Ochi. We did the river tubing and it was breath taking. The guides were wonderful. No one pressed us for tips. At the end of the trip, there was a small speach that simply said if you enjoyed the trip and would like to tip, tips are accepted. We tipped more than we thought we would, because the guides were so great. We have booked Freedom exeactly one year from when we left on Navigator. We want to go back to Ochi and we are looking forward to Labadee. The only people that I have really read not have a good time in Ochi are the ones who want to shop. If you have an excursion planned, see the country and meet the people when you come back you will be saying the same thing we say...Jamaica is awesome! Hope your trip will be as great as ours was:D

[vortigern]

We've been on Navigator six times now and she is still our favourite ship. After four Caribbean trips (two eastern, two western) we were overjoyed when she came to the UK for Mediterranean cruises last year. No long haul flight, just a short drive and there she is. Not showing her age at all, her crew really is the friendliest - it was great to spend 14 nights on board but where did the time go? We didn't manage to do half of what we'd planned, just chilled out. Then in December we couldn't resist another fix - five nights out of Fort Lauderdale in an Owner's Suite (by now we figure we own at least part of the ship!).

 

Sad she's not doing the same itineraries this year but it gives us an excuse to go on Independence - less than three weeks to go! We'll be back on NV as soon as we can - she's a great ship, you'll love her.

[krmlaw]

Great news about the lack of springbreak-like partiers. I would have hated that.

 

I believe we are sailing her a few weeks/months after dry dock. Will she be like new?

[fishinglady]

Can anyone tell me who's in the piano bar on the Navigator? When we were on the Jewel, "Tommy" was in the piano bar, and he was fabulous. I thought someone said he was now on the Navigator (which we'll be on in August), but I haven't seen anyone talk about him. If isn't on NOS, does anyone know who is? - We love the piano bars if you have someone who's a great singer and piano player...

[suamom]

Hi~

 

My DH and I were on NOS in February and I believe Dan Davies was in the piano bar all nights but one. He is wonderful! (I actually just saw that he will be on the Mariner in Juy when were are sailing.) I would have to say that sitting with a glass of wine and listening to him play and sing each night before bed was one of our favorites times.

 

Good Luck:)

[FloridaPalms]

We did the same itinerary (Ocho Rios & Grand Cayman) on Navigator in November of 2007. It was amazing. We're going on Navigator again in Europe in less than 2 weeks.

 

Here are some awesome pictures of the ship:

http://navigatoroftheseas.googlepages.com

 

 

Great pictures! Did you take them? I was wondering what the occasion was on Day 4 with all the ice sculptures, adorable fruit sculptures, fancy breads and delicious looking desserts in the main dining room? I was on Navigator for a 4 night cruise last month and didn't see anything like this. (Although with all there WAs to do, and the sheer joy of often doing nothing at all, I did miss a lot).

[RoyalCruiser2007]

Great pictures! Did you take them? I was wondering what the occasion was on Day 4 with all the ice sculptures, adorable fruit sculptures, fancy breads and delicious looking desserts in the main dining room? I was on Navigator for a 4 night cruise last month and didn't see anything like this. (Although with all there WAs to do, and the sheer joy of often doing nothing at all, I did miss a lot).

I took those pictures. :-) The pictures showing those awesome ice sculptures and delicious cakes were from the now-extinct midnight buffet. We only went for the viewing, not the tasting. We were still too full from dinner to eat again.

[FloridaPalms]

I took those pictures. :-) The pictures showing those awesome ice sculptures and delicious cakes were from the now-extinct midnight buffet. We only went for the viewing, not the tasting. We were still too full from dinner to eat again.

 

:( Too bad....

 

I have fond memories of the wonderful midnight buffets back on our very first cruise (The Mayflower - oops! I mean The Oceanic, which later became The Big Red Boat - Disney's first entry into cruising, I believe).

 

Of course it helped having the early main seating for dinner (not to mention being 30 something years younger :rolleyes: ).

 

Judy

[deedon]

I was looking through the RCI website and noticed the Navigator has a 5 night cruise on the 30 june and next one i find leaves 13th july which leaves a week inbetween. Is it due for dry dock then and possible stabilizer repair? or where is it going

[dfishner]

The NOS is our favorite ship, loved the RP and there is so much to do on her. The ship is in pristine condition when we sailed her in Novemeber. There is so much to do and see that I do not know where to start. In the very begining we were leery of a ship this size but decided to try it and now we are big fans of the Voyager class. We would take another cruise on her in a heartbeat, we had such a good time.

[nellydean]

so glad to hear all these positive reports, as we are sailing her on May 24th from Barcelona, visiting Marseilles, Cagliari and Palermo - just a 5-nighter, so with three stops I don;t know how we will get round to seeing a lot of the ship (especially as we are in a cabin right at the front!)

[hallieannsmom]

Which sailing are you taking in August? We are booked for the 3rd.