11May08 Mariner ( I know I know im late )

[thrltr]

I am very tardy with this so I will just touch on a few points. I am 39, first cruise and an twice a year visitor to Vegas. GF turned 37 on the ship and was making her 5th cruise. GF and I flew from Ohare and took the shuttle over to Port C. Weather when we left for the aiport was 39. Touchdown in Orlando and it was already 80. I love vacations. Got onto the ship with no problem. Thanks to the board I knew to go to the door on the other side rahter than where the bus dropped us off. Promenada cabin.....very small...wont get it again would rather have a balcony. Food overall was ok. Didnt knock my socks off but it was decent. I really didnt care for Windjammer other than breakfast. We had breakfast in the dining room which was ok. Dinner server (Yogit) and his assistant (Jesus) were awesome. We had the table to ourselves for the first few days untill a

Royal Carribean employee and his GF joined us for a few days. He was the young man on the pool deck getting the party starteda and he also did the battle of the sexes. He was a great guy to have at the table we learned alot from him.

Port- St. Thomas. Took the ferry to St. John. Awesome...We went to Cinnamon Bay. It was so out of the way I think there were less than 20 people at Cinnamon Bay but my GF couldnt snorkel. Shes new to it and the waves were a bit rough for her. I snorkeled at Hanamah Bay on Oahu and didnt have as much trouble as I did at Cinnamon. Also very few fish where we were at Cinnamon.

Oh by the way....rough seas delayed the tenders to CoCo Cay....so we stayed on the ship...the line was way to long to go for an hour or so.

St. Martin...Bernards tour awesome...the island...so-so. Disgusting bathroom at Orient Beach that my GF had to pay a buck to use. Now the most important thing. The coconut slushie on the pier at St. Martin is not to be missed. It is hands down the best non-alcholic drink I have ever had and I dont like coconut.

Overall it was a good time. The staff was awesome except one b$%^@h who was a server but didnt want to be. However the bar server in the dining room would find us on the pool deck and hook us up. Played hoops once...went to the arcade....up $700 on the casino first night...gave back $500 of it. Awesome Mojito at Bolleros and the best live music. Island band on pool deck got very tired after a few days. I was leary of a cruise at first(I am a Vegas expert so I was hesitant to change) but I had an awesome time and I cant wait to go on another, after we take kids to Disney. I have all of the compass if anyone needs them. Dont forget to get the coconut slushie...right across form the ST. Martin sign on the dock. They have free samples if you like. Alchool was cheaper on the ship than at the pots.....gotta love ruby red absolute at half price.

[meggie711]

Thanks for the review! September will be my first time at these ports of call (except Coco Cay), and first time on the Mariner. Thanks for making the time go by a little easier! :)

[thrltr]

Trust me I know how you feel. Up untill the cruise i spent several hours per day on this site and learned alot. In addition to my time spent on my fav. Vegas site.....travel2vegas.com

[wantacruise]

Coconut slushie sounds great--I'll try it next week. :)

Thanks for the review.

[cb at sea]

If you're a Vegas lover, try LVOL.com (Las Vegas Online) It's a GREAT site!

[KMBB]

thrltr--- we are from Illinios also, close to St. Louis, Mo., we were on this cruise also. The windjammer was just ok, but we made do.

We did get get off at Coco Cay and had a good beach day, didn't do much but hang around and my family slept.

 

St. Thomas we rented a sail boat and went sailing and snokling for the day. My family and I had never been sailing before and it was nice. They took you out away from the crowds and we had lunch on board, it was just the 4 of us and the Captain.

 

St Maarteen, we went to Orient Beach for the day. We stayed at Pirate Beach and had lunch there. My son had to pay for the bathroom there also. Lunch was good and reasonable. We did see a few nude people over at the very far side of the beach, but you had to walk over there to see them. It was no big deal to me, but my boys wanted nothing to do with it. Nice beach day.

 

The sea days were just lazy ones, by the pool, taking pictures, and enjoying the view, and watching the games being played. We went to the comedy shows, Quest and the Love and Marriage show. We also played in the Casino and lost all of our money, it wasn't much but we were not winners.

 

We would love to cruise again, but it will be awhile before we can save up our money again.

 

Any questions from anyone, feel free to ask. kmbb

[sugcarol]

Is it possible for you to scan the cruise compasses?-would love to be able to see them. Many thanks.

[Gregg20]

I was on the same cruise with a group of 12. It was a great week...can't believe its been over a month already. I miss the Mariner!

[thrltr]

Im sorry I almost forgot. Chops was awesome...however the steak at Portofinos was even better. Being in Chicago I have access to some of the greatest steak houses around and that portofino steak was right up there. The one at Chops was very good as well....almost as good as Delmonico in Vegas

[truffles2]

Thanks to the board I knew to go to the door on the other side rahter than where the bus dropped us off.

 

We have been on Mariner several times and I'm not sure exactly what you are talking about here. Could you elaborate?

[stephandjim1070]

St. Thomas we rented a sail boat and went sailing and snokling for the day. My family and I had never been sailing before and it was nice. They took you out away from the crowds and we had lunch on board, it was just the 4 of us and the Captain.

 

who did you book this through..

 

thanks

 

steph

[cruisinsince99]

...Got onto the ship with no problem. Thanks to the board I knew to go to the door on the other side rahter than where the bus dropped us off...

:confused:

So... care to take the turn of being teacher?

:)

What exactly are you talking about?

 

We are headed out on her in Sept and I hadn't heard anything about this.

 

Thanks so much.

 

Good write up by the way, thanks!

[thrltr]

Sure I can do that. When the bus dropped us off it was at a small circle drive...along with almost everyone else who was getting on the ship. Instead of staying in that line we walked across the front of the terminal and entered without standing in line. I think it is the side of the building where people would enter if they drove and parked in the parking garage. I literally walked right into the terminal at noon.

[thrltr]

OOOOOHHHHH and where the hell was the midnight buffet that I have been hearing about for so long. I must say I really didnt over eat like I wanted to. I dont think I put any pounds on at all. I really wanted to eat late but I got tired of the sandwiches at the promenade cafe and room service selection was very limited. I guess Im spoiled by Vegas.

[Yvonne]

OOOOOHHHHH and where the hell was the midnight buffet that I have been hearing about for so long. I must say I really didnt over eat like I wanted to. I dont think I put any pounds on at all. I really wanted to eat late but I got tired of the sandwiches at the promenade cafe and room service selection was very limited. I guess Im spoiled by Vegas.

 

I was told the gala midnight buffet was stopped at the first of the year, due to people mostly just looking/taking pictures and not eating so it was too much of a waste. :(

 

We enjoyed the gala buffet on our Mariner cruise a year ago and I'm so glad I have lots of pictures of it. We weren't very hungry, but we did each fill a plate and took it back to our room to pick at.

[truffles2]

Sure I can do that. When the bus dropped us off it was at a small circle drive...along with almost everyone else who was getting on the ship. Instead of staying in that line we walked across the front of the terminal and entered without standing in line. I think it is the side of the building where people would enter if they drove and parked in the parking garage. I literally walked right into the terminal at noon.

 

OK, that is the door we always go in anyway. Guess I thought I was missing something. Thanks.

[kruznmike]

:confused:

So... care to take the turn of being teacher?

:)

What exactly are you talking about?

 

We are headed out on her in Sept and I hadn't heard anything about this.

 

Thanks so much.

 

Good write up by the way, thanks!

 

 

 

I think she's talking about embarkation at Pt. Canaveral.

[cruisinsince99]

Sure I can do that. When the bus dropped us off it was at a small circle drive...along with almost everyone else who was getting on the ship. Instead of staying in that line we walked across the front of the terminal and entered without standing in line. I think it is the side of the building where people would enter if they drove and parked in the parking garage. I literally walked right into the terminal at noon.

 

Thanks. I don't like standing in lines - much less line at the wrong place! :eek:

 

Typically the "midnight buffet" is the formal night with the lobster. ;)

If they had it on one of the other nights... it might have more people eating off of it. :)

[jules815]

Coconut slushie sounds great--I'll try it next week. :)

Thanks for the review.

 

Yes, thanks for the review! I just read the part about the coconut slushie out loud to my husband, and we'll definitely be looking for those next week. :D

[cruisegal58]

sailed the mariner in may, no midnight buffet, the same sandwiches in the cafe...boring bland food in the mdr and no ice for your drinks. when the windjammer buffet is open u can get watered down ice tea and sour lemonade already poured and sitting on trays that r all wet and sloppy, ice is melted. no place to get ice, u can ask for a cup but cannot go up and fill a glass and put liquid in it..except water in the cafe pr... thats it besides coffee, hot water for tea/cocoa..water is in a cooler thing with water spilled all over the tray under it so your glass gets all wet with who knows what when u try to fill it. not much for the for food/drink situation on this line...

[Gregg20]

sailed the mariner in may, no midnight buffet, the same sandwiches in the cafe...boring bland food in the mdr and no ice for your drinks. when the windjammer buffet is open u can get watered down ice tea and sour lemonade already poured and sitting on trays that r all wet and sloppy, ice is melted. no place to get ice, u can ask for a cup but cannot go up and fill a glass and put liquid in it..except water in the cafe pr... thats it besides coffee, hot water for tea/cocoa..water is in a cooler thing with water spilled all over the tray under it so your glass gets all wet with who knows what when u try to fill it. not much for the for food/drink situation on this line...

 

I was on the Mariner last month...first RCI cruise. I didn't care for the drink setup in the windjammer. I'd rather have self-serve drink stations like on the other cruiselines. They only had orange juise which was disappointing. We felt the food was good not great.

[truffles2]

They only had orange juise which was disappointing. .

 

They used to have a wonderful (IMHO) low acid juice called passion fruit juice and I haven't been able to get it on the last two cruises:(:(:(!

[kidless]

We were on the May 11th sailing as well and had a blast. Bolero's bartender Kevin was great :) ......and his mojito's were excellent. :D However we did horrible in the Casino lost, lost and lost:( ......tightest machines we have ever played!!!!! But we had an absolute blast just a couple weeks till my next cruise..............Royal Caribbean take me away!!!! :D

[cheaptravel]

To the OP,

I wouldn't mind having an updated copy of the Eastern Mariner compass also.

For the Friday formal dining, did they have Lobster or something different?

Thanks !

[cruisegal58]

hi gregg, we didnt eat breakfast so i cannot comment on the jucie, i can imagine though! the ship was very nice, but i just emailed carnival to let them know i cant wait to return to their line! the adult areas always made me so mad b/c the kids were everywhere, rccl has the solarium which is wonderful! but no place to get a drink!!! if i would have known, i would have brought a pitcher and kool-aid!! we were not impressed at all. the food was terrible too. but there were many thing we did like better than carnival but the the rpice i would rather have great food and go up and get something to drink while at the pool..with ice!! and the deli!! fish/chips..cindy