Glory Review 10/30-11/06

[TakeMeAway1001]

Hi everyone~ This was my third cruise and my new husbands second. We last sailed the Pride in 2002. We were honeymooning with two other couples.

We flew into Florida on 10/28 for a 2 day pre-stay at the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort. We rented a convertible Mustang from Avis at the airport for 28th-30th for 95.00 with tax, not a bad deal at all. The counter was pretty busy and they told us they may be out of convertibles but managed to come up with one. Hell I would have driven a bicycle at that point, I was on VACATION :)The drive was not bad at all, a straight shot.

We booked two nights at Ron Jon's Cape Caribe, I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw we were right in the middle of the port area, kinda dreary. My fears were eased once I saw the sign to the resort. It was gorgeous! They were participating with the local school and had over 400 pumpkins carved by the students displayed from the entrance all the way to the front door, it was neat. These were lit up at night, COOL~~The whole resort was very clean and the people were helpful. We had heard there is heavy sales pressure but didnt experience it. When we checked in 130 (check in is normally 4) we were given all sorts of area info, maps etc and a card to claim our VIP gift which was definately tied to the sales pitch section. We opted not to "claim it" and went to our room. It was studio, perfect for two. The first area is your bed, two night stands, bureau and a tv and a large window overlooking the well manicured putt putt course. The next part of our room was the sitting area, a couch, coffee table, chair and another tv. The kitchen area had all the necessities if one were staying the week supply wise. The bathroom was NICE, a shower, fully lit sink/mirror area and a jacuzzi tub that was to die for. We rec'd one voice message about coming down for our gift but that was it along those lines. We went off to explore, we were in the main building which was the best location for easy access to all areas. Inside they have a small Ron Jon Store with snacks, gifts etc. A full serve restaurant inside, a pavillion bar outside that serves all the same food from the restaurant. A large pool,hot tubs, lazy river, plenty of chairs for everyone. We ate in and outside, use the lazy river, hot tubs and had wonderful time. Great deal for 99 per night~

Locally we went to the Cocoa Beach Pier, it was ok but nothing special. We stayed for a drink at the bar at the very end of the pier. We also visited a great local Irish Pub and had some laughs listening to the locals. We had dinner one night at the LongHorn Steakhouse, that was also good.

On Friday Jay headed back to MCO to pick up our friends who were flying in that day. We all hung out that night and got up early so Jay and Rob could return the car to Avis while Erin and I got a small snack in the store to hold us over. The only downside I could find to Ron Jons is no breakfast is offered, not even continental and that check out time is 10am and is not negotiable.

We all met back in the lobby of the hotel and took the shuttle the hotel has to the pier around 1130. It cost us 20 for the 4 of us, not bad and the driver was very knowledgable on the Glory.

We were let off and headed upstairs, once there we were directed to the fun pass line which is where it appeared everyone was going. There didnt seem to be an option. The line was long but moved well, we rec'd a paper that recongnized our early arrival and stated we could head on board but couldn't go to our rooms till 1pm. I have no complaints on the decor, the way I see it is that its better than my cubicle at work. We headed upstairs and had lunch and drinks. I had the Oriental and loved it, Jay had a burger as the pizza wasn't ready (his fav) yet.

Once we were done it was after 1 so we headed to our cabin, #7367. It was a great location, mid ship pretty much. Close to the elevators and laundry room. Our room steward was Derek, he was very friendly. We gave him an extra 20.00 tip right off the bat and he was extremely accomodating. He stayed for a few and chatted with us. After that we went to see our friends room 7220 , they were a bit nervous being 4 cabins from the front but said it never bothered them at all. After seeing their cabin we went to see if our other friends were onboard yet, cabin 8259 for them. Sure enough they were there as well.

We reserved a table for 8, one other couple wasnt able to come at the last minute due to a family emergency. We were booked in the Golden Dining Room table #120 at 6:15. This was the perfect time for us and it worked out so well. The only night we skipped was in St Thomas. We met an older couple who took the place of our friends who couldn't make the trip. The looked very uncomfortable at first but we quickly loosened them up. It was fun hearing thier stories and sharing ours. Our waiters were Dante (headwaiter) and Miguel (asst). What a happy, fun team~ something Jay and I definately didn't have the last time. Dante always encouraged us to try as much as we wanted, this made the guys happy. We were very pleased with them both and really felt sad when it was time to leave.

Jay and Rob are both in the Marines and wore their dress blues to the first formal, that was a huge hit. We met many, many people who came over to introduce themselves and strike up converstation. It was nice to see how grateful people were for their service. The first formal was moved from Sunday to Monday so that the guest could celebrate Halloween. This was a great experience and we saw lots of creative costumes. The girls booked with the salon for updoo's that night. Two of us had appt's together at 5, I enjoyed talking with Natascha from S. Africa while she styled my hair. However it truly wasn't even comparable to my friends hair style. It was in my opinion not worth the 45.00, my style was more appropriate for a teenager but I didnt' let it damper my spirits. We had a great time that night.

We did as many shows as possible, and had no complaints other than the few occasions where we sat in front of someone rude who yelled when it wasn't callled for. Usually these people got the hint when they were told by other guest to be quiet. I had John Heald back in 2001 and love his spirit however much of his presentation was the same as back then. Thiswas kind of a bummer as I knew the outcome of many of his stints. I didnt spill the beans though and let my friends get caught up in it, he is a nice guy and very funny. For those who say he is departing, that is not the impression we got at all. Hopefully he will stick around for awhile as he makes people happy.

We loved the Karaoke Bar, it was fun and one of our favorite spots. I dont participate however it was still my fav. Didnt spend too much time in the other bars.

We never experienced any real issues with the ships layout. I am proud to say I actually could find my way around and rarely got lost, YAY~

We visited the Casino for an occasional slot machine fix, didn't make any $ and didn't lose much at all. One of the other couples were big into the Casino and we didnt see them much.

Our excursions~ In Nassau we chose to do the Pearl Island Snorkel and Treasure Hunt. The cost was 99 per person and this was a horrible trip!!

I am not a big fan of Nassau to begin with and now know I will stay on the ship next time to take advantage of the spa deals. We were very delayed in getting off the ship but finally made our way to Pearl Island. The description was pretty deceiving. We got the instructional talk and were guided into the area where we were to snorkel for "conch shells to keep as well as oysters with potential pearls. We soon found out that the shells we were searching for were ones that had previously been found and cracked. The oysters were bound together by elastics. These were the only "treasures" we could obtain and we could have one or the other. Somehow the thought of finding treasures someone else planted wasn't my idea of fun. The water was not that nice and very rough. I never did find anything and when I went to get our included lunch I never saw the unlimited salads and fruit. We had a choice of a burger or hotdog. The free punch was ok but my belly disagreed. This excursion was a huge waste of money :(

Oops I had to shorten this so I will post Pt 2 immediately following this ~

Kristen

[TakeMeAway1001]

In St Thomas we booked Godfreys Tour after all the reviews on this board. This was by far the best $20 spent. He is wonderfu and very smart when it comes to the history of the island. We left promptly, we were the only ones he picked up from the Glory. After that we went to pick up other passengers from different ships. Unfortunately it rained that day but we still had a ball, the view from the highest point in St Thomas was beautiful, too bad for me that my camera wasn't working right. We had the obligatory banana daiquiri and it was delish. We skipped the shopping part and got dropped off at Coki beach. Little did Jay and I know it was same beach we did an excursion on two years prior. Godfrey spoke with a man at the beach who set us up with a locker, chairs and snorkel gear for a small fee and we snorkled on our own for almost 3 hours. It was just what we wanted. Most of the excursions limit you to such a short amount of time in the water it just isnt worth it. Godfrey was back to pick us up on time and we would have to say this was such a successful tour we would recommend it highly. In St Maartin we skipped the excursions again and took the unlimited ride water taxi for 5.00 to the shopping area. We shopped for about 2 hours, had our yummy Guava Berry Colada and Jay and Rob took our stuff back to the ship while Erin and I got some chairs. This is by far my favorite beach. Its very clean and we could see our ship just across the way the whole time. We each got two chairs, table and an umbrella for 10. a piece. We had lunch at the restaurant we rented the chairs from and it was a perfect day. Lots of great shells and nice calm warm water. Well I will be back to finish up on this review but one thing to remember and I wish more people would is that a vacations is what YOU make of it. If your complaining about the small stuff you are ruining it for yourself. I resent the many passengers we sat near, took the elevator with, etc that griped about everything possible from the type of towel animal they rec'd to the lines, food, etc. These people dont realize how foolish they sound whining. Dont get me wrong I am sure that there are legit gripes to be had but I certainly didnt hear any. Pt 3 coming soon :)

Kristen

[myangel]

Kristen,

 

What a a great read! We sailed on the Glory in September, and absolutely LOVED her! I had to comment on your "whining" comment. I totally agree with you. Stay home if your going to complain about towel animals, bad weather, etc!!! We did Godfrey also and we too, think it was the best $20 spent!! GLad you had a wonderful cruise and congrats on your marriage!!

[TakeMeAway1001]

Other things we saw, did or experienced~

One thing I forgot to mention was how bad the St Maarten streets were in the shopping area. I felt horribly for the people who were in wheelchairs or with strollers. The streets are full, and I mean full of sand from the storms. It was very difficult for someone walking to maneuver. Be careful~

On board again~

Shopping was ok, not a huge variety but good none the less. I bought some booze, and some knick-knack stuff, the required supply of rum cake for my co-workers. I am sure hubby was happy that I didnt find too much.

Pool area, we got up early and only found one day when we werent able to get 6 chairs together. I am an early riser and did witness that chair saving was in full effect and not just one or two chairs people were saving full rows and not coming back for hours. I guess one never gets it until they are the one searching for a chair. One Friday it was bad, this is the day they do the disembark talk and request that everyone attend it at 11. Skip the talk and enjoy your day at sea. Watch it on the tv before dinner. We found people reserving chairs early, going to the talk and then lunch and not coming to the pool till after 1.

Spa, one word of advice, WAIT~ Jay and I booked the couples massage on Thursday for $242 I think and no sooner were we walking back to our cabin did the announce by one get one free in the spa. We were also sent a flyer saying Thursday was the last day to Spa but that wasn't the case. By Friday prices were slashed drastically. It was a first massage for both Jay and I and it was a great peaceful set up. Jay fell asleep and I was amazed that the tiny girl doing mine was soooooo strong. She was killing me, I can still feel it but we had a ball. Be cautious what you fill out on the Intro Form, the few ailments Jay and I revealed allowed the Spa Team to develop a "plan" just for us with over $500 worth of "necessary" products. We politely declined but our friend Erin wasn't so lucky. She did the seaweed wrap and not only did she lose 3" she lost $400 when she bought into their sales pitch :(

Hmm, what else...... The Grand Gala buffet was a bit different then the one on our last cruise. It was on the lido deck and we unfortunately missed the picture taking part. The food was good though.

One day they had a huge setup with a chocolate fountain that was neat and the desserts were plentiful.

The internet cafe was a great way to keep in touch with the kids back home, it was always very quiet and the connections were good.

Creams Cafe was a huge hit with us, loved the hot mocha and we shared a piece of carrot cake one day. YUM~

The repeat guests party was different this time, no invites anymore. It was on Thursday in all the aft bars and was open to all on board. Never tried the appetizers and managed to get a few drinks that were good. We rec'd our $300 coupon book that wasn't great, did use the 4 free wallets with purchase of an 8X10. The past guest gift bag came in handy, two key chains, two towels, two shirts. Definately worth it...FREE :) Oops I forgot to mention that I did purchase the honeymoon decorations for both our room to surprise Jay and our friends room, very nice. I will post pics soon.

Other things we noticed... the two ATM's were not working for most of the trip. They were showing the money taken out of the persons account but now giving the cash. The only recourse was a 1-800 number given by the pursers desk. Make sure you bring plenty of cash/travellers checks. If your paying off your account with cash, go early. I paid ours down on Friday late morning and was very happy I did. The lines were huge on late day Friday.

We also chose to take our luggage off the ship. The start calling this option at 730 am and we were off the boat by 8 and on the bus heading to MCO by 830. It was painless and a great improvement from the other method.

We had a wonderful time and I am sure we will think of something to add but for now I hope you enjoyed our experiences and will make the most of your upcoming cruise.

Kristen

[TakeMeAway1001]

Thanks~ We laughed at most of the whiners. I was just remembering on the Godfrey tour it began to rain in his open air bus was getting a mist. The other passengers were complaining so he had to pull over and close down all the sides. We were laughing, same thing when we experienced an occasional downpour on board, people freaked. We just laid in our chairs craking up as people got all panicky and ran.

We had a ball and are missing it badly right now. It is sunny here in Boston but I would take a downpour on the lido deck right now if I could.

Take care~ Kristen

[torybruno]

Thanks Kristin....what a great review. We are actually sailing on the Valor next month, but I enjoyed reading your review. Were going to the exact islands....and I was considering the Treasure Hunt in Nassau for my son and I, but not anymore! I had read a few negative reviews on the port of call board, but this just confirmed it for me.

 

 

Kristin....were crab legs ever on the menu in the main dining room?

[TakeMeAway1001]

Hi~ The only night I cannot speak for in the dining room was Tuesday. I know there wasn't crab legs on the other nights though :(

Jay's favorite night was the lobster tail and prime rib, he had three lobster tails and two prime ribs. He definately got his fill~

~Just another tidbit on that Nassau excursion was the stingray one, it was also a dissapointment. I saw two stingrays and there was little interaction. We were spoiled when we did this excursion on our own with a private company in the Caymans. This port had the few rays caged in and they didnt seem the least bit interested in people. For the price they charge for these Carnival ones I would expect a bit more for your $

:)

Kristen

[CountriCruiser]

Great review! I am taking my first cruise ever in April on the Glory. I can hardly wait, I really enjoyed reading what you had to say. Would love to see some pictures. Thanks for sharing =)

[campdaan]

Great review. What time did you get off the ship in St. Thomas ? We have Godfrey booked for our March 5 Glory trip. Daan

 

 

 

Legend 11/03

Glory 3/05

[TakeMeAway1001]

I am working on the pictures as we speak. As for Godfrey he met us at 11am ship time. We were off really early, by 10 so we had a bit of a wait and didn't want to venture to the pier malls for fear of missing him. He was great~

[SoccerMom#3]

Thanks for the review. You are so right about those who whine about every little thing. It gets old! I like your attitude of roll with the punches!

 

Elise

[basketballmom]

We are sailing the Glory, 7/05. Thanks for the tips on what not to do in Nassau and what to do in St. Thomas. I have been to St. Maarten and thanks for brining back the memories of the guava berry coladas!

 

If people put as much effort into their vacation as they do into their whining and complaining, imagine what a great trip they would have!

[spowell]

We are sailing the Glory, 7/05. Thanks for the tips on what not to do in Nassau and what to do in St. Thomas. I have been to St. Maarten and thanks for brining back the memories of the guava berry coladas!

 

If people put as much effort into their vacation as they do into their whining and complaining, imagine what a great trip they would have!

 

We are going on the Glory in July 05 also, what dates are you guys going, then maybe my husband and I can join you guys for some great fun.