Not So Enchanting

[lovelife]

Following is my review of a recent Enchantment sailing.

 

ABOUT US

 

DH and I are a mature Diamond member couple. This cruise we were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary with our 30th cruise (20th with RCCL). This cruise followed a week on Freedom of the Seas (review already submitted). We decided last minute since we would be in Port Canaveral we would book the second one.

 

I did not take my good Nikon so apologize in advance for the pretty poor photos I snapped with my point and shoot.

 

On our first Enchantment sailing a few years ago we found the ship to be quite disproportionate in passenger number to public spaces. When they did the stretch and inserted additional cabins, I guess they weren't concerned there would not be enough room in the public spaces for the additional pax. Most noticeable were the Windjammer and theater. Nothing has changed in that regard.

 

I do not relish writing anything unfavorable but must be honest about my particular experience. However......we were on a cruise and determined to celebrate and have a good time.

 

PRE-CRUISE

 

Upon debarkation from Freedom we grabbed a taxi to the Country Inn where we had reservations for the night. RCI no longer provides accommodations for back-to-back cruises with a day in between but the Country Inn was very reasonable. The taxi driver quoted between $10 and $12 to take us the .53 mile to the hotel. I'm not sure what route she took but she charged us $14.55!

 

It was only 9 am so we asked the hotel clerk if we could store our luggage there until check in. Surprisingly, and to our delight, they let us check into our room right then. The hotel is nothing special but it is clean and served the purpose.

 

 

Separate Living Area

 

 

We first laundered our clothes from the first cruise in the facilities provided on each floor of the hotel. We swam in the lovely pool and used the hot tub which we had all to ourselves. How wonderful that was after the crowded pools on Freedom.

 

 

At dinner time we took the hotel clerk's advice and ate just down the street at Kelsey's. It was really good. Later we must have walked four miles but it certainly did us good after a week of stuffing ourselves on Freedom.

 

 

We watched a Disney ship sail out from our hotel entrance

 

 

We signed up for the first hotel shuttle the following morning at 10:30. It was $5 per person and a good service. They had overbooked, however, and two children had to sit on their parents' laps. Before long we were back at the cruise terminal for our second cruise.

 

First sight of Enchantment

 

[lovelife]

Port Canaveral

 

 

We were directed to a line for suites and checked in within a few minutes. After about a 15 minute wait we headed to the ship.

 

Since sailing on Enchantment a few years ago out of Baltimore we were looking forward to the recent refurbishment. What I noticed:

 

An absolutely gorgeous new Centrum

 

 

 

Just gorgeous

 

 

Beautiful Boleros

 

 

Nice, shiny railings

 

[MrBanana1240]

I myself didn't find her too enchanting. I went during Hurricane sandy. I did not like the food and I thought they were very stupid with our itinerary (passed CocoCay on Tuesday morning, 9am,Monarch Is tendering in, arrived at Nassau at 1pm, got to CocoCay on Wednesday, got cancelled). We may try Royal again, but you know. She got refurbished after I got back, so the new renovations look great! Enjoying the review.

[lovelife]

CABIN

 

We also had a junior suite on this cruise and we had a pole room! I had read about these but had never seen one. Of course I immediately grabbed it and began to gyrate around it until DH reminded me of the number of people who must have been all over that pole. Ewwwwwwwwww.

 

 

The Diamond welcome basket and drinks of choice were waiting in our cabin. The large bottle of Evian has been reduced to a small one. Coupons books were still used on this ship and we had match play coupons - yay.

 

 

Small balcony for a junior suite

 

 

 

Unfortunately, those stupid, useless sinks have been installed on Enchantment. WHY??????????

 

 

[lovelife]

This junior suite was not nearly as nice or as large as those on the Freedom or Voyager classes. This cabin was rather scruffy looking. The wood looked and felt like it had been sanded and left unfinished. There was no walk-in closet although there was plenty of storage. The bed was so hard I asked our excellent cabin attendant, Jeo, for a foam topper and he supplied it after approval from his supervisor. We tipped Jeo extra for the splendid job he did.

 

 

 

Nasty looking wood

 

 

This device was on the counter but there was no information on its use so we asked the cabin attendant. He knew nothing about it. Later I asked Guest Services but they had no information on its use. Odd.

 

 

Guest accounts cannot be accessed on the cabin TV and you must go to Guest Services and get a printout.

 

We had two towel animals during this four-night cruise.

 

 

 

A WARNING ABOUT THIS JUNIOR SUITE 8138: It is located below the Solarium. At all hours of the day and night carts were rolled across the floor and sounded like a herd of horses. I would never consider booking a cabin in this area again.

[lovelife]

PUBLIC AREAS

 

I do like the layout of the shops on this class of ship.

 

 

 

 

 

Shirt Sale!

 

 

Photo Gallery

 

 

 

 

Pic

[lovelife]

AROUND THE SHIP

 

Artwork

 

 

Chops Grille - did not eat there

 

 

Solarium

 

 

 

Park Cafe - Just didn't seem as good as on Oasis class ships

 

 

We checked out the small but nice Diamond Club which was above the Crown & Anchor Lounge. It felt hot up there to me. We talked to some folks -- one was Diamond and his two friends were on their first and second cruises. I guess he used his card and let them in without question from anyone. I don't know if he did this the entire cruise as I only went back for a few lattes late morning. I'm just not a wine/champagne drinker.

 

Diamond Club

 

[oneputt18]

 

 

This device was on the counter but there was no information on its use so we asked the cabin attendant. He knew nothing about it. Later I asked Guest Services but they had no information on its use. Odd.

 

.

 

The "device you are wondering about is an IPad .

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Wildcatfish]

Enjoying your Enchantment photo review! Looking forward to more.

 

Were IPads in all rooms?

[Sherlock43031]

We also had a junior suite on this cruise and we had a pole room! I had read about these but had never seen one. Of course I immediately grabbed it and began to gyrate around it until DH reminded me of the number of people who must have been all over that pole. Ewwwwwwwwww.

 

really.. just like you were doing. Ewwwwwwwwww.

 

I'll even bet the last folks in that room had sex in the bed. Among other places.

[lovelife]

The "device you are wondering about is an IPad .

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Yep. Just thought it strange that no one knew anything about it.

 

 

 

Enjoying your Enchantment photo review! Looking forward to more.

 

Were IPads in all rooms?

 

Don't know if they were in all cabins or not.

[reallyitsmema]

Yep. Just thought it strange that no one knew anything about it.

 

 

 

 

 

Don't know if they were in all cabins or not.

Could it have been left by the prior occupant? Did you try to use it and check out what was on it?

[Cruising89143]

The "device you are wondering about is an IPad .

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

And it can be used to check your SeaPass balance.

[Cruising89143]

Could it have been left by the prior occupant? Did you try to use it and check out what was on it?

 

They are in the suites of the refurbished Vision class ships. We had one on the Splendour.

[reallyitsmema]

They are in the suites of the refurbished Vision class ships. We had one on the Splendour.

Ah, thanks, haven't sailed that class yet. Just seemed strange that no one could give the OP any information about it so thought it may have been left behind.

[Merion_Mom]

This junior suite was not nearly as nice or as large as those on the Freedom or Voyager classes. This cabin was rather scruffy looking. The wood looked and felt like it had been sanded and left unfinished. There was no walk-in closet although there was plenty of storage. The bed was so hard I asked our excellent cabin attendant, Jeo, for a foam topper and he supplied it after approval from his supervisor. We tipped Jeo extra for the splendid job he did.

 

 

 

 

The Enchantment was built with lighter-finished wood than Freedom.

[kruzerci]

They are in the suites of the refurbished Vision class ships. We had one on the Splendour.

 

We had one in the RFS on Enchantment in May.

 

OP- You can order room service, use the RC website for free, check your account balance, reserve excursions, surf the internet and check email (for a charge).

 

It more than makes up for not having interactive TV..

[kruzerci]

the "device you are wondering about is an ipad .

 

 

Sent from my ipad using tapatalk

 

"Like" :D

[dreadpirate3]

We just disembarked from Enchantment today and my feelings are the opposite.

 

iPads are in all suites, not in the other stateroom categories.

[hellsop]

We also had a junior suite on this cruise and we had a pole room! I had read about these but had never seen one. Of course I immediately grabbed it and began to gyrate around it until DH reminded me of the number of people who must have been all over that pole. Ewwwwwwwwww.

 

really.. just like you were doing. Ewwwwwwwwww.

 

I'll even bet the last folks in that room had sex in the bed. Among other places.

 

Maybe not on the new sink, though. They're way less comfortable than the old ones...

[irishgal432]

We had one in the RFS on Enchantment in May.

 

OP- You can order room service, use the RC website for free, check your account balance, reserve excursions, surf the internet and check email (for a charge).

 

It more than makes up for not having interactive TV..

 

Since you were in a suite, did the iPad have the MDR menu for ordering or the normal room service menu?

[KarinaGW]

Last I heard RCCL was planning on ultimately having an iPad in every cabin. The first time I encountered this was also on Enchantment in a Junior. This made me sad because I think Apple is Satan's representative in the computer world and I immediately fell in love with the stupid thing. sigh.

 

I'm waiting to hear what made this 4 day cruise so awful for you. So far, it sounds like you just don't like the smaller ships. I loved the Park Cafe on Enchantment. (Decent & I'm from Brooklyn) Bagel & cream cheese many mornings for breakfast and the ridiculously wonderful roast beef sandwich too many times.

[kruzerci]

Since you were in a suite, did the iPad have the MDR menu for ordering or the normal room service menu?

 

Unfortunately not. Only the regular room service menu. You have to call to order the breakfast and dinner from the MDR.

[JosieCat-MN]

Yes, my suite on the Enchantment had an iPad as well, however mine was currently set to Hebrew - so was basically worthless to me. I did spent a bit of time trying to figure out out to change the language settings, but as it was in Hebrew - I didn't have much luck. I had my own iPad with, so I didn't spend too much time on it.

 

Yes, I was in JS 8066 - and would never stay under the pool deck again. Not a very good cabin in you actually want to sleep.

 

Thanks for the review.

[Yillup]

Subscribing to this, mostly for curiosity...

 

So far I've seen a ship with gorgeous public areas, great staff, but slightly worn rooms. Just waiting for the "not so" part...

 

:D

 

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