Hi gmc and welcome to HT!

We have one review of this ship HERE If anyone has sailed on this ship we would be delighted to receive their review.

luci

We did exactly the same cruise 2 years ago but on the sister ship Voyager and it is the best holiday we have had in our life, we have been all over the world before. We have just booked the same back to back on the Mariner for Jan 2006.
If I were to give anyone advice then make sure you get a good Balcony cabin.

Hi,
We have done 2 cruises with royal caribbean and we are doing one jan 2006 on explorer of the seas, (voyager class) We have sailed on the Legend and the brilliance too. We had the time of our lives we are so looking forward to this one! You will have a fab time!

Deanne

Sailed on Voyager of the Seas in 2001 in Caribbean but cannot recall the exact itinerary. Sailed on Adventure Of the Seas in 2003, again in Caribb. In 2002 we tried SS Norway (was the SS France). We've sailed with other companies in med. and in Caribb in the past.

I must say, the Voyager Class is fantastic. Our first time (2001) we had cabin 9224 which is starboard side, very near the front and on deck 9. This had a private balcony and my hope was to sleep on the balcony one night.

In reality, the balcony affords less of a view than the main public decks whilst at sea and when in port you're likely to spend little time in the cabin itself. When getting ready for dinner you need a cool room and hence opening the balcony sliding door is not ideal. We really spent little time in the room.

So, when we sailed on Adventure of the Seas we booked an inside cabin to reduce costs. There was a distinct difference between the cabins admittedly, but the inside one was perfectly adequate - again spending so little time in it.

The ships are enormous. Being fairly new (The SS Norway wasn't and it was evident) there's no tacky wall coverings or carpets frayed. The facilities are well described in the brochures so there's no point in repeating here.

My wife and I enjoy good food and wine and on the first cruise (2001) RoyalC. had a promotion whereby for $89 pre-paid a bottle of wine was included each night at dinner (7 nights in all). $20 also pre-paid for our daughter's soft-drinks all-day, every-day. We took up both offers.

On the second cruise (2003) I don't believe this offer was available but when boarding at Puerto Rico there was a kind of "duty free" sales area and they were trying to sell us a case of wines to take on board. The RoyalC. staff indicated that alcohol brought on board would be stored securely and returned at the end of the cruise.

With these mixed messages we didn't buy what was a reasonable offer of wine. Later, I found out that you can indeed bring your own wines to the dinner table but a corkage fee is charged. We did bring a champagne to dinner one night to celebrate the wedding that day of a couple sharing our large, 12 seat dinner table. I know, you're thinking I'm tight. One bottle - 12 people. Only 4 of us drank wine every night (us and two Canadiens). But guess what, the Americans all developed a taste for champagne all of a sudden - someone else bought another bottle. A good night

It might be worth checking the policy with RoyalC in this matter if you like decent wines at reasonable prices - the wine list is so-so on board and quite pricey.

Food was good quality, certainly plentiful but not as good a choice and not as exciting as the SS Norway.

There are two sittings; we choose the later one as you are not as rushed as the first seating and there's usually less younger children. There was an Italian style restaurant on the Voyager that charged a modest fee for dining (about $10 each I think). This needs to be booked early in the cruise as it's popular. My wife and I enjoyed it.

We've never had a back-to-back cruise of 14 nights, 7 being enough both from a cost point of view and variety. Over the years we've visited many of the Caribbean Islands. Some stick out in my mind very pleasantly.

Jamaica. Dunn's River Falls is unbelievable. I walked up the falls from the bottom to top, along with a couple of hundred other folks. It's safe enough but you need a steady pair of trainers. Flip-flops are not a good idea. The journey by boat from the port to the Falls takes about 30 minutes.

Bahamas. Swimming with a snorkel and seeing the wide variety of fish. The colours were terrific. A young girl advised me (next time) to take a piece of bread with you. She had it tucked-in her costume and it attracted the fish. Take your own mask and snorkel or hire from tour - it's cheaper to take own.

Martinique. Arrived on Bastille Day so everything closed. Lovely place, very clean and neat but felt uneasy (as did many other fellow cruisers) about personal safety. Our fear was confirmed by an English speaking lady from St. Lucia (next door) visiting her sister.

St Lucia. I think it was here we toured the Island and took in a sulphur spring. Avoid this if you're sensitive to smells. My wife's asthmatic and it caused her some discomfort.

Cayman Islands. Very elegant, very smart, very expensive, very British.

St. Thomas/St. John. The ship docks first at one place, drops off passengers then moves on to next place. These islands are approx. 5-10 miles apart and I recall the short journey between them was very rough. I'm a good sailor but many people were green. Check this out if your sea-sick. St. Thomas is very American and pleasant.

My advice with the tours generally is to decide and book on the very first day on board. The popular ones sell out fast. If you are inclined to take an Island Tour, consider teaming-up with friends/dinner acquaintances and 'hire' a 4-12 seater taxi/minibus. As you leave the port terminus you'll be touted by chaps selling you such tours. Arrange the price before you get in. Try and get an English speaking driver. The tout will almost certainly not be the driver. A tour could last between 2 and 4 hours. If you stop for lunch or a drink buy the driver at least a drink. If you want to visit a beach for a short while (30-60 mins) tell him, he'll probably agree and get his lunch at the same time. On St-Martin/St. Maarten there's a nudist beach (Dutch side) - the chap and his lady playing ball brought tears to my eyes every time he whacked that ball back to her. My wife was impressed with his ball control though.

Finally, as it sounds like you've no children, yet, GMC, relax in the Roman Spa area (or equivalent) on deck 11 - it's kids free. The cocktails are great, they even serve Bass bitter (maybe still do).

Enjoy, you lucky so and so's.

Sorry if I rattled on a bit but I wish I knew years back what's cost me time effort and money to learn. So I hope this helps.

[/b]

Hi Mike,

Enjoyed reading your RCI review, I am mulling over the Celebrity and Princess line cruises, has anyone out there any opinions on these?

Thanks - Margarita

I was on the Mariner in march i am not going into a lengthy review i am a slow typist. suffice to say it was every bit good as my last two, on Royal Carribean's Explorer and Splendour. (i have not found a word to describe it) this was for my wifes 40th and what a time we had, R.C cant do enough for you and although the ship was full 3624 guests it did not seem busy due to the size of the ship (the second largest in the world) this ship is AWSOME this was my 3rd cruse (to celebrate my wifes 40th) and has been by far the best holiday in my life, the organisation by R.C I was great, they managed our flights and arranged for us to fly out a week early to stay in tampa we still used the pre cruise hotel it was just okay but thats another story. the ship itself is just ove a year old, the 2nd largest in the world and was full, 3624 passengers, from 34 different nationalities i think that what the very informative captain said and we were among the 400 foreigners (that is the name given to the non Americans). i was told before going that a cruise is like a floating hotel, well this is like a floating town it has everything on it 3 tier dinning room 2 tier theatre, ice rink (the ice show is simply out of this world), minature golf, basketball, rock climbing, many bars and restaurants. The service was fantastic, treated like royalty rooms cleaned twice daily, several places to choose from to eat or free room service,
they have a full programme of entertainment in the 'compass' published daily and you need to carry that around as there so much going on day or night, evenings you can choose from an international production show in the theatre (which in my opinion was not as good as we had on previous cruises exept the comedian on the last night he was great) or simple piano bar or the casino. and not forgetting the small part of the ports of call, we went eastern carribean which included Charlotte Amalie(St. Thomas), Philipsburg, (St. Maarten) and Nassau, Bahamas, we were on the western last year.
I am not a good writer of reviews and would take too long to type a lengthy review which i would end up missing parts anyway, suffice to say this was a fantastic holiday and if i find out how i will post some photos, but please any questions on this beautifull ship please post. we booked while on board to go back on the Explorer next Jan doing a back to back.

Hi
We went on the Mariner October 2004. It was fantastic. The ice show was amazing. I just think that RCI have got everything just right. Ive been on the Splendour and just recently the Jewel and next year on the Brilliance. We also went on Celebrities Galaxy and there is just no comparison - in fact their ship was a rust bucket compared with RCI's.

Sheila

thanks for all the information folks.. we are really looking forward to this now, just a shame we still have over a year to wait

was wondering what the costs of drinks were on board?

According to a review we have on RCI Legend of the Seas, drinks prices were from £10 for a bottle of wine, £2.20 Spirits and mixer, £2.00 Cocktail of the Day and £2.00 Stella.

HTH

luci

Hi

My husband and I are going on a weeks cruise around the Carribean which includes Labadee (Haiti), Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

We were wondering about vaccinations. We are up to date with our Hepatitis A and going to renew our Typhoid, but was wondering whether we need to take Malaria tablets, particularly because it is widespread in Haiti.

Thanks for your help.

Sue

Hi Sue

Perhaps your practice nurse or GP would be best to advise you. Seeing as you won't be in any location for an extended period you may not need any more than you have already planned.

You may find some information in the topic regarding vaccinations in our Caribbean forum HERE

I used to have a link to which vaccinations were require for which country, but the DOH have changed their website and the link no longer works. Here is a link to the DOH's Health Advice for Travellers You may have more success finding the information on that site than I have.

luci

we just got back from the explorer of the seas again and i can just repeat my previous opinions again i wont post another review as it would read the same as previous suffice to say that there service seems to get better each time we go, we booked our next two while on board so have to start saving

Hi

Just to let people know, we have been to the Vaccination Clinic at our Doctors and they told us that we should renew out Thyoid vaccination but do not need any malaria tablets.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Sue

Thought you might like to know that Royal Caribbean has just announced a new ship of 220,000grt, way bigger that the current record holder the QM2 which is 151,000grts.

Here's a link to the announcement:
http://www.akerfinnyards.com/press.cfm?ID=260

And to the picture:
http://www.akerfinnyards.com/image.cfm?i=175&s=m

Is bigger really better? Does size count? At over four times the size of the MSC Opera, I personally am undecided.

HEY!

So who else has heard the Royal Caribbean cruise line news? Anyone as excited as me? I received an email last week saying they launch two new ships, to add to the freedom class of ships. One of which "independence of the sea's" will be launching from our very own Southampton in May 2008. May seem a little far away to be making plans now but cabins can be booked from the 14th of this month! Just imagine a brand new cruise ship, with ice rink, rock climbing, boxing ring, inline skating and onboard surfing! I can hardly wait! Hopefully see some of you on board the independence of the sea soon! Woohoo!

Here have a look at the release for yourself at royalcaribbeandotcom latest news section.

Enjoy!

Jess

Do you work for Royal Caribbean Messjess? as your isp shows you share it with a couple of other members who also promote Royal Caribbean in their posts.

you are certainly advertising...john-doe

Independence will be sailing out of Southampton. I read on the web site that RCI and X intend to have 20%+ based in Europe next year. The cruise market in increasing by leaps and bounds and not least with UK passengers.
People also want to travel further afield and rather than US passengers being happy to cruise the Caribbean they too want to see Europe and the rest of the world.
Princess X RCI HA Carnival and I hear talk of even Disney next year.
The far East and Australia etc etc. are all now destinations with all of these Cruise Lines.
I think that competition is good and it means they have to try harder to get those bottoms on beds. Price is also driven by supply and demand. The worst deal of all remains the single or solo traveller. A lot charging a 100% supplement. Others are 80% and only occassionally there are some deals out there.

Sue

Re 20% based in Europe I meant 20% of their fleet!
All this has to be good for we who love to cruise as there is more and more competition to put bottoms on beds!
Yes there may be some things that the Cruise Company will cut back on but value for the £ is tremendous in comparison to a land based holiday. Unfortunately the only thing that is not changing is the dreaded single supplement! I know that there are deals from time to time but not necessarily with the Cruise Companies I want to cruise with. I have to pay the price to cruise on a premium line but it won't stop me cruising.
I cruises with my husband and children in the 80's and it is less expensive today and the standard of the ships and the facilities they offer are far superior. Also there is the availibility to eat 24 hours a day if you want to!
Prices for some things have gone up ie drinks etc. I don't think other than the odd glass of wine so it makes no impact on my budget. Tours have always been expensive and I think nowadays people are creating their own tours and feel confident in doing so.
Lets see what next year does for prices.

Sue