Mariner REVIEW 3-28/4-04

[disco dolly]

Loved the Mariner. Had 5 18 year old boys and their parents between our table and the next and we couldn't have met a nicer bunch of guys, so well mannered and fun to be with.

We ate at Portofinos on our wedding anniversary and the food was fantastic. The food, the service and the setting was stunning. We had dinner as we sailed from San Juan with the lights twinkling in the background. Come to think about it that was the best part of San Juan..leaving it!!

 

St Thomas was great especially the shopping 'cos it was my birthday cruise and we shopped for my birthday present there. Visited Magens Bay really early when it was empty and that was beautiful and peaceful.

Loved the parades along the Royal Promenade and the Ice Show was well worth a visit.

The best tip I had from these boards about Mariner and I can't remember who posted it but thanks to whoever it was, enter the Lotus Lounge, take a right and go through the door onto the deck and take a left. That takes you to the helipad and you're right at the bow of the ship with fantastic views of the sunrise as you enter port. Not to be missed.

 

Fabrizio our cabin steward was first class. We arranged a party before dinner and decorated the cabin with balloons and streamers and we'd nibbles and drinks for 20 people. As you can imagine the cabin and the balcony were a disaster area when we left for dinner and we made the point of telling Fabrizio that we'd tidy our own mess later. Came back to the cabin and it was spotless, he'd cleaned and tidied the lot. Now that's service.

So envious of all of you who are booked to go. You'll have a wonderful time.

[skyking]

We never made it to the helipad Please SIGN the guestbook if you can

 

Tim

 

Tropicale 10-7-00

Sovereign Of The Seas 5-6-01

Triumph 9-1-01

Explorer Of The Seas 8-31-2002

Carnival Pride 4-12-2003

Mariner Of The Seas 11-16-2003 (Innagural Cruise)

Carnival Fantasy 1-29-2004

Mariner Of The Seas 3-28-2004

 

community.webshots.com/user/skyking518

[cher45]

Hi Tim,

I am going to Nassau and Coco Cay again on the Majesty May 21.

I am interested in taking a cab to Atlantis. What can you actually do there? Is there a beach or things to see. I will have Shane and his friend with me. They will be 18 and graduating from high school 2 days before the cruise.

Sherry

 

"Mother Ocean -I have heard you call"

 

Paradise -"99"

Triumph -"01"

Majesty of Seas -"02"

Majesty of Seas -"02"

[skyking]

Cher- Not much to do at Atlantis but to walk around and check out the cool resort. Thats about it!

 

Tim

 

Tropicale 10-7-00

Sovereign Of The Seas 5-6-01

Triumph 9-1-01

Explorer Of The Seas 8-31-2002

Carnival Pride 4-12-2003

Mariner Of The Seas 11-16-2003 (Innagural Cruise)

Carnival Fantasy 1-29-2004

Mariner Of The Seas 3-28-2004

 

community.webshots.com/user/skyking518

[jhspb]

disco dolly

 

Is your spouse the Scot in the sexy legs contest?

 

Happy anniversary.

 

Joe

[lawson2002]

Just got off the mariner on 4/4...Can someone explain to me how that customs process worked for St. Thomas. I stood in line...they checked my passport...then put a checkmark on my sea pass card. When i got off the boat no one looked to see that I had a check on my sea pass card. Then when i got back on the boat no one looked. I could have put a check on my card easily. Also, we didn’t have to go back through customs in Orlando if we already went through customs in St. Thomas. #1 No one checked my sea pass card for the "checkmark" #2 we stopped in Puerto Rico and it to me someone could have snuck on the boat at the Puerto Rico Port. On top of that there was only one dog at Port Canaveral and no one looked at any carry on and I know my luggage wasn't scanned either. Did I miss something or does it seem like there wasn't good controls around that process.

[disco dolly]

Joe

The one and only..yes my husband is the infamous "Robert from Scotland"!!

Sheena

[WeirdEyes]

Tim,

Great review and wonderful pictures. You and Candice are a great-looking couple. I bet you guys had tons of fun!

 

<font color="#0000CC" face="Lydian Csv BT" size="4">~~Shelia~~</font></p>

Sailing the Mariner in.......

<font color="#003399" face="Benguiat Bk BT">Carnival Destiny 2002</font>

 

[m&m1]

Hi - Thanks for your review. I would like to know if you can tell anything about "theme nights" for the dinners? I have heard there are theme nights in the main dinig room and event hat some people dress according to theme. Is this correct?

 

Also, do you have any of the daily news sheets Compass maybe? that you could look on and post some of the activities for 14 to 17 yr. olds? We have a large group of families with kids going and would love some details.

 

Thanks so much!

 

Cruise addict in the making

[the_psycho]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lawson2002:

Just got off the mariner on 4/4...Can someone explain to me how that customs process worked for St. Thomas. I stood in line...they checked my passport...then put a checkmark on my sea pass card. When i got off the boat no one looked to see that I had a check on my sea pass card. Then when i got back on the boat no one looked. I could have put a check on my card easily. Also, we didn’t have to go back through customs in Orlando if we already went through customs in St. Thomas. #1 No one checked my sea pass card for the "checkmark" #2 we stopped in Puerto Rico and it to me someone could have snuck on the boat at the Puerto Rico Port. On top of that there was only one dog at Port Canaveral and no one looked at any carry on and I know my luggage wasn't scanned either. Did I miss something or does it seem like there wasn't good controls around that process.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Welcome to dealing with the United States government. Here's the deal with customs:

 

1. They should have checked your seapass for the checkmark when you got off the ship. In all actuality, they probably did, and were just so discrete that you didn't notice. The security crews are pretty good about that kind of stuff.

 

2. Puerto Rico is part of the United States, just like St. Thomas. Once you've gone through customs, you don't have to do it again.

 

3. You only SAW one dog at Port Canaveral, you know that no one searched your carry on, and you THINK that your luggage wasn't scanned. Just becuase you don't see it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. And people's carry ons get searched, they just don't do it in public. They ask them to go to a back room, and do it in there.

 

<color=#8b0000>until Serenade of the Seas Spring Break 2004!!

 

[lawson2002]

I agree with everything you said but the one thing that doesnt make sense is that anyone with a black sharpie marker could put a check on their sea pass card.

[skyking]

Lawson- Remember in St Thomas when they put that check mark on your card they also scanned the bar code. This tells them that you went through the process. They would have known if you tried to get off the ship and they card was not scanned, it would not have let you off.

 

Tim

 

Tropicale 10-7-00

Sovereign Of The Seas 5-6-01

Triumph 9-1-01

Explorer Of The Seas 8-31-2002

Carnival Pride 4-12-2003

Mariner Of The Seas 11-16-2003 (Innagural Cruise)

Carnival Fantasy 1-29-2004

Mariner Of The Seas 3-28-2004

 

community.webshots.com/user/skyking518

[lawson2002]

Ok that is the part I was missing...It was early in the morning and I was a little hung over from the night before.

[Mac]

WE WERE ALSO THERE 3/28, HAD A GREAT TIME, NOW I'M DEPRESSED, BACK TO WORK AND IN THE REAL WORLD. GREAT PICTURES, JUST GOT MINE BACK TODAY.

[skyking]

Lawson- You were NOT the only one with a hangover that morning, we were torn up then had to go get on a sail boat.

 

Mac- Tell me about it....I am having a hard time adjusting back to life ashore.

 

Tim

 

Tropicale 10-7-00

Sovereign Of The Seas 5-6-01

Triumph 9-1-01

Explorer Of The Seas 8-31-2002

Carnival Pride 4-12-2003

Mariner Of The Seas 11-16-2003 (Innagural Cruise)

Carnival Fantasy 1-29-2004

Mariner Of The Seas 3-28-2004

 

community.webshots.com/user/skyking518

[cruzingduo]

SkyKing,
can you tell me what time you were off the ship in St Thomas after going through customs? We have an early appointment in STT and I know we have to stand in line to do customs before you can get off the ship. (Had to do the same thing last year on the DAWN). We need to be in town at the dock by 9 am. (Not Redhook) Do you think that's possible?
Joanne

[skyking]

Joanne- We were off the ship in St Thomas at 8am. We had to be on the dock for an excursion, it only took us about 15min to wait in the line that went across the promenade.

Tim

Tropicale 10-7-00
Sovereign Of The Seas 5-6-01
Triumph 9-1-01
Explorer Of The Seas 8-31-2002
Carnival Pride 4-12-2003
Mariner Of The Seas 11-16-2003 (Innagural Cruise)
Carnival Fantasy 1-29-2004
Mariner Of The Seas 3-28-2004

community.webshots.com/user/skyking518

[cruzingduo]

SkyKing,
great thanks, puts our minds at ease!

joanne

[skyking]

Your welcome!

Tim

Tropicale 10-7-00
Sovereign Of The Seas 5-6-01
Triumph 9-1-01
Explorer Of The Seas 8-31-2002
Carnival Pride 4-12-2003
Mariner Of The Seas 11-16-2003 (Innagural Cruise)
Carnival Fantasy 1-29-2004
Mariner Of The Seas 3-28-2004

community.webshots.com/user/skyking518

[Unkle Fred]

SkyKing -- Thanks for the terrific review. My wife and I are looking at an RCCI cruise to celebrate her 50th.

I see your cruise had 3 days at sea (2 consecutive) and 3 ports. Most itineraries have 2 sea days and 4 ports. Any thoughts on the advantages or disadvantages of 1 less port or 1 more day at sea?

Hope to be cruzin soon.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2005;7;3;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Until The Wife's Golden Birthday Cruise



NCL Dawn 5/2003
NCL Sun 1/2004

[img]http://www.animationlibrary.com/Animation11/Nature/Sun/Sun_in_glasses.gif[/img]

[cruzingduo]

Unkle Fred were you on the May 3rd Dawn repositioning cruise?

joanne

[disco dolly]

Uncle Fred
The only problem with 3 days at sea is that it costs a FORTUNE. The shops are open, the casino's open, the bingo's on and you just need to have another cocktail as you lie beside the pool with your new friends.
Sheena

[skyking]

Fred- I enjoy the sea days, it gives me a chance to relax and just sit by the pool and drink some cocktails. I take my own alcohol so I just head back to the room for a fill up. This is why I always try to get cabin mid ship close to the stairs[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Tim

Tropicale 10-7-00
Sovereign Of The Seas 5-6-01
Triumph 9-1-01
Explorer Of The Seas 8-31-2002
Carnival Pride 4-12-2003
Mariner Of The Seas 11-16-2003 (Innagural Cruise)
Carnival Fantasy 1-29-2004
Mariner Of The Seas 3-28-2004

community.webshots.com/user/skyking518

[Unkle Fred]

Thanks for your input Skyking and Dolly. J&F....we were on the 5/25/2003 cruise.

Hope to be cruzin soon.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2005;7;3;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Until The Wife's Golden Birthday Cruise



NCL Dawn 5/2003
NCL Sun 1/2004

[img]http://www.animationlibrary.com/Animation11/Nature/Sun/Sun_in_glasses.gif[/img]