Carnival Cruiser Sails Royal Caribbean ~ Navigator to Italy, France, Spain ~ 10/28/12

[gapearl]

Our room was ready at 1 pm. I had originally booked us a basic inside cabin. We got a couple of good price drops before final payment, and then 3 days after final payment, the price dropped another $100. Because of this, we were able to upgrade to an inside room with a promenade view. I absolutely LOVED this room! The location was perfect. We were able to see all the parades and promenade activities from the comfort of our cabin, as you’ll see later.

 

Our sitting area.

 

 

Our beds were put together as a king when we arrived. Our cabin steward separated them when we went to dinner.

 

 

Bathroom.

 

 

Shower.

 

 

A man must have designed this room because there was only 1 closet. We made it work though.

 

 

From the outside looking in.

 

[gapearl]

 

 

 

 

 

[gapearl]

I took a nap until 3 pm, which is when our bags arrived. Jackie wasn’t in the room, so I set out with my camera to get some pictures of the ship and learn my way around.

 

No problem if you get lost! These are everywhere.

 

 

Studio B, where you can go ice skating, see the ice skating show, and also where Quest was held.

 

 

The Casino Royale. I love the New Orleans theme.

 

 

 

Floor at the entrance.

 

 

[gapearl]

Metropolis Theatre.

 

 

 

 

Ixtapa Lounge.

 

 

 

[Aquahound]

I'm really enjoying your review and loving your great attitude toward trying something new. Keep it coming! I'm reliving my 2008 NOS cruise through you. ;)

[swsf99a]

GaPearl....you should be a travel writer, great pictures and stories. We had an outstanding family cruise on the Navigator a few years ago and your photos have many memories for us. We had a family Med cruise this past July on the Liberty of the Seas and enjoyed all the Rome photos. My kids joke with me on our Collesium picture...I was pointing out "my seat" in the Collesium when I was a kid! Great review!!

[gapearl]

Ah! Thanks!! I'm definately going to check this out - we plan on 2 nights in Barcelona pre-cruise!:)

 

Cool! If you don't stay there, make sure you have La Sagrada Familia on you must see list!

 

I'm really enjoying your review and loving your great attitude toward trying something new. Keep it coming! I'm reliving my 2008 NOS cruise through you. ;)

 

Thanks so much! I'm having fun reliving my trip all over again!

 

GaPearl....you should be a travel writer, great pictures and stories. We had an outstanding family cruise on the Navigator a few years ago and your photos have many memories for us. We had a family Med cruise this past July on the Liberty of the Seas and enjoyed all the Rome photos. My kids joke with me on our Collesium picture...I was pointing out "my seat" in the Collesium when I was a kid! Great review!!

 

Thanks for the nice words! I'm glad you're enjoying. I'd love to be a travel writer. Someone should pay me for this. ;) It was hot our first 2 days in Rome in October. I can't imagine the heat you dealt with in July!

[gapearl]

Back to the review! Here are some more pictures of the ship.

 

The Dungeon (nightclub). I spent lots of time in here!

 

 

 

 

 

Looking down at the dance floor from up top. I love the fact that The Dungeon was two levels.

 

 

[gapearl]

The photo gallery, empty for now.

 

 

The art gallery.

 

 

The hallways were really PINK.

 

 

Not much of view of the port.

 

[gapearl]

The gym. I only used it once. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

Aerobics room.

 

 

Hot tub right outside of the gym.

 

[gapearl]

I eventually caught up with Jackie on the promenade. Tons of tables lined the halls. It almost looked like a vendor fair. There was a table set up with crown and anchor information, Johnny Rockets was giving out milkshake samples, etc. It was my first Royal Caribbean cruise, so I had to stop by each one and check everything out. At one of the tables was this really tall, slender man who introduced himself as Dragon. He asked if I would be at The Dungeon later on. You know it! I told Jackie our bags had arrived, and we headed back to the room until the muster drill.

 

 

Great view for people watching from our sitting area.

 

 

Perfect spot for catching up. Any other Charlie Tango fans?

 

 

The muster drill was quick and easy. It was cold and windy out there!

 

 

After the muster drill we had the sail away party on the promenade. It was too cold to have it outside by the pool. We did the typical line dances- Cha Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle, and The Wobble. They also had a couple of their own dances to Danza Kuduro and Che Che Re Re Che. I didn’t know either of the dances but I love both songs, so I just danced in place on my own.

 

 

The band Latin Express played immediately after and I listened to them until about 6 pm. I love, love, love Latin music. Listening to it has helped me in my journey of learning Spanish. They were really good and I was looking forward to going to hear them play again later that evening.

 

[jobell]

dang. all caught up again. :p

[gapearl]

We had the late 8:30 pm dinner seating in the Coppella dining room. We were at a 9 top by the window with two middle aged couples from Germany, as well as a mother with her college aged daughter and her friend. They were from California, but the two college girls were studying in Paris for a year. Our waiter was Elias from India. He had such a nice smile and was very pleasant.

 

You'll see the journey of our flowers blooming in the next two dinner posts.

 

 

 

 

 

[Darkwolfe]

dang. all caught up again. :p

 

I had the same thought!

[gapearl]

I ordered the strawberry, kiwi, and pineapple medley, as well as the Vidalia onion tart for my starters.

 

 

 

We both ordered off the alternative selections menu. I had the grilled chicken breast with a side of mashed potatoes, and she had the linguini with pomodoro sauce.

 

 

 

For dessert, I had the sugar free chocolate pot de creme with a side of vanilla ice cream. Jackie had the savarin.

 

 

[gapearl]

After dinner, we headed back to the room. The sail away parade was at 10:30, and we had front window seats!

 

The parade was some sort of tribute to different nations.

 

 

 

 

 

I was fascinated with this thing. It would expand, then get small again, change color, and repeat.

 

 

[gapearl]

Jackie was really tired and wanted to unpack, so I left her and went out in search of some more fun. There was a singles meet and mingle listed for 11 pm down in The Dungeon. I went down to check it out, and they were still playing 80’s music for the hour. Eh, I think I’ll come back. I then headed to Bolero’s for a mango mojito and some more good music from Latin Express. I headed back to The Dungeon a little after midnight. The tall, slender man I met earlier that asked if I'd be in The Dungeon turned out to be the DJ! I grew to really love DJ Drag@n over the cruise. It was a small crowd the first night. I met Matt, aka PARTYinTHEhotTUB, from the roll call. We danced a few minutes and talked at the bar for a while. He stayed on the ship for the trans-Atlantic crossing to New Orleans. After he left I continued chatting and getting to know a newlywed couple from Oklahoma and a group of guys from Bahrain. I’d become good friends with them over the week. I don’t remember what time I went to bed, probably around 2ish. Yep, I’m every bit of a night owl.

 

That's it for tonight folks!

 

Up next- A riddle, The Village People, and The Leaning Tower of Pisa! :D

 

Thanks for following along and keep the comments coming. I love the feedback! :)

Edited November 9, 2012 by gapearl

[gapearl]

dang. all caught up again. :p

 

I had the same thought!

 

Golly these things take a long time to write!

[Darkwolfe]

Golly these things take a long time to write!

 

Oh I know. I've done a couple in the past. Planning to do one for our Vision cruise in February. The bar has been raised a good bit since the last time I wrote one too. I expect I'm going to try and do an onboard journal so I don't have to write as much when I get home. Hah! We'll see if I get past day 3 before I start short-cutting it.

[jobell]

Golly these things take a long time to write!

 

You mean you don't have little elves to write for you!!? Lol...

 

I am loving it and truly can't wait for more. :D

[scgamecock]

Love your detailed trip reviews, Kim! I too, have always only cruised Carnival and you know I'm pretty much a Carnival cheerleader. Very interested in hearing the differences. I have Allure booked for next year.

[navybaby1113]

Thanks for letting me know you were doing a review! I rarely wander over to the RC boards, so I would have never seen it.

 

The ship looks absolutely gorgeous! Would love to try out Royal Caribbean one day. Loving your review so far and can't wait to see more!

[Sinppu]

Congrats to you too! I had this genius idea to try for a full marathon next year, and then leave on a cruise the next day. I don't think that will be happening any time soon, but a cruise would be the perfect way to celebrate AND recuperate!

 

Yikes :eek:

It took me four days after the half to be able to walk properly... so if you book a cruise after a full marathon, be sure it starts with many sea days... a TransAtlantic maybe? :D

[wnycruisefam66]

We think alike - love B&B's too! We're doing a 12 night out of Barcelona (my longest cruise ever!!) - so we'll go to 3 Italy ports (Livorno, Civitavecchia & Naples), Cannes France, Athens and Santorini Greece and Kusadasi Turkey!

 

Your photos are great - I'm going to pop over to your other reviews now!

 

Loving this review! I'm planning a Eur. Cruise for 2014 & reading all the reviews & advice I can.

 

Mrs. Fecura: we're looking at the same itin. as you. Please tell me you're going to write a review too!

 

Tina

[BillOh]

Yikes :eek:

It took me four days after the half to be able to walk properly... so if you book a cruise after a full marathon, be sure it starts with many sea days... a TransAtlantic maybe? :D

 

That's another reason I cruise in the spring the fall is Marathon season. Glad she finally made it to the ship, enjoying seeing Navigator again.