OCD Planner's NAVIGATOR Post Dry Dock Pictorial Review

[BecciBoo]

Sorry I can't answer that since I didn't swim. I'm sure someone on here will chime in with an answer soon.

 

It was most definitely NOT! But I made it all the way in.:cool:

[SULROSS]

Last week I was looking for a cruise - we only cruise out of Texas and I have been on the Magic 2 or 3 times (I don't even remember!). I read something about the virtual balconies and then found your OCD thread and then I became obsessed. I booked us on Navigator in May and we are super excited. It has been awhile since I actually became excited about a cruise - but I am now! After cruising on Carnival these past few years, I forgot all about RCI and how pretty the ships are. To us, the ports don't matter that much, as we have been just about everywhere the Texas boats go. This upcoming cruise we just plan on relaxing and enjoying the ship. Your pictures are amazing and made us decide to get the Ultimate Drink package so that we can spend lots of time in all those amazing bars.

 

Some questions about Navigator- if you please. What is Izumi? Are there specialty restaurants on board and if so, what kind and how much. I looked on RCI website and it doesn't look like Navigator has any. Is there an ice skating rink? Is the Sapphire one of the main dining rooms? The Sapphire is so gorgeous - before the cruise can you request assignment to a particular dining room? If so, how would I do that?

 

General questions about RCI - can you prepay your tips? Does RCI have personal vacation planners like Carnival? On the drink package, does that start as soon as you get on the boat - or do you have to wait until the boat is in open water? When I order the drink package, can I prepay? I like to prepay for as many things possible - no surprises at the end of the cruise!

 

Thanks again for a great report. I am really excited about our next cruise.

 

I do not drink so do not care about the packages, but you can go to any bar as soon as you get on and get your drinks. You can prepay your tips. The Navigator has 4 specialty restaurants. Izumi which is a new Japanese restaurant on deck 14, Chops Steak House on deck 11 near the Windjammer, Giovanni' Table on deck 11 near Windjammer and Sabers Mexican on deck 4 outside casino. They are in the $20 to $35 range. The Sapphire Dinning room is the main dinning room and is the same name for all three levels. Before the dry dock they all had a different name, but name it includes all three decks.

Edited February 10, 2014 by SULROSS

[BlondieB]

I don't intend to be rude by correcting the previous poster as there are many options with similar names and it is easy to get confused. The Premium package is $55.00 per day. The Ultimate is $65.00 per day. I didn't want you and your friend to accidentally order the wrong package.

 

Previous poster, no disrespect intended!

 

Ack! You're correct. I had ultimate package on the brain as it was being discussed in emails with my group sailing in November. Thanks for catching that! :o

 

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[BlondieB]

Thank you for the correction. So you know if the 55 a day includes White Russians or lava flows? Thank you

 

 

Jamie

 

Both the premium and ultimate include lava flow and White Russian. I had the premium package at $55 a day..... My friend also had the same package and I think she had seven one day by the pool lol

 

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[aggiedad2016]

Did they offer an unlimited internet package on the Navigator last week?

 

 

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[houstoncruisers2001]

Nope. If I'd gotten beta tester pricing, I'd have expected beta tester conditions. Regular pricing. Sub par conditions.

 

It's not like they twisted your arm to go. Everyone knows that the first week out of dry dock has a lot of kinks.

[golfpccc]

Hi, We were in 7688 on this sailing. When we got in the cabin there was only 2 sit up chairs and a small table on the balcony. We asked out cabin steward if we would be able to get a couple of lounge chairs and he said he would see what he could do, we gave him a nice tip in advance, and he was back within the hour with 2 nice lounge chairs! I took a peak in 7388 on the last day and they only had the two sit up chairs.

 

We joked that we paid for all the folks after us to enjoy these, I doubt he is taking them away. The cabin steward was Adrian from Jamaica and he was really great!

 

Thanks, appreciate the fact that you got the cabin steward to bring in the loungers!! We have this cabin on 3 upcoming cruises. Thanks

[slvrbllt]

Phil Anderson is in the Schooner Bar playing his piano. He was on the four day cruise just completed

 

Yay! Not that I thought he wouldn't be, but so glad to know Phil is there! The guy we had on Nav out of NO was horrible.

 

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[mrBit]

Last week I was looking for a cruise - we only cruise out of Texas and I have been on the Magic 2 or 3 times (I don't even remember!). I read something about the virtual balconies and then found your OCD thread and then I became obsessed. I booked us on Navigator in May and we are super excited. It has been awhile since I actually became excited about a cruise - but I am now! After cruising on Carnival these past few years, I forgot all about RCI and how pretty the ships are. To us, the ports don't matter that much, as we have been just about everywhere the Texas boats go. This upcoming cruise we just plan on relaxing and enjoying the ship. Your pictures are amazing and made us decide to get the Ultimate Drink package so that we can spend lots of time in all those amazing bars.

 

Some questions about Navigator- if you please. What is Izumi? Are there specialty restaurants on board and if so, what kind and how much. I looked on RCI website and it doesn't look like Navigator has any. Is there an ice skating rink? Is the Sapphire one of the main dining rooms? The Sapphire is so gorgeous - before the cruise can you request assignment to a particular dining room? If so, how would I do that?

 

General questions about RCI - can you prepay your tips? Does RCI have personal vacation planners like Carnival? On the drink package, does that start as soon as you get on the boat - or do you have to wait until the boat is in open water? When I order the drink package, can I prepay? I like to prepay for as many things possible - no surprises at the end of the cruise!

 

Thanks again for a great report. I am really excited about our next cruise.

 

I have a thread on the Virtual Balcony on my review just posted as to not spam the info.

 

Next you asked about Izumi, I plan on posting all about it later tonight.

 

There are 5 speciality restaurants that i know of onboard Sabor (Modern Mexican) don't know the cost Chops (steak house) $30 per Izumi (Japanese) works just like an actual restaurant with each item priced Giovanni's Table (Italian) don't know price maybe $20 and Johnny Rockets (50's burger and shake diner)

 

yes there is an ice skating rink and the show is top notch out of this world. There is also time to skate yourself.

 

Sapphire is the only main dining room which has 3 floors, the top floor was used for my time dining which allows you to make reservations as to when you want to eat usually before you cruise through your travel agent or RCI. However many were able to make reservation plans onboard. Call RCI and they can usually put you where you want. Heck onboard RCI allowed our friends we made onboard to eat with us and moved the existing couple whom never came to eat to another table if they ever showed up.

 

Yes you can prepay tips, yes RCI has vacation planners.

 

As for drinks you can prepay the drink package or purchase one on day 1 onboard. As for when it starts, you can drink right away, the only thing is that some bars are closed. Texas charges a license/tax which is pricey so the alcohol is bonded with what is served in Texas waters. This info came from a bartender when i asked the same thing.

[Alyrica]

The Monday before the cruise it was $199.00 for an inside. I booked the Saturday before and we had a promenade cabin for $279.00. Both prices were less than you normally see.

 

I saw that and was jealous! I had already booked and as it was after final payment I didn't get that benefit. I did get a no cost upgrade to a Jr. Suite which I fear has spoiled me. I seriously need to win the Lotto!

[slvrbllt]

Not that it matters since I don't cruise until August... But how do they let you know which floor of the dining room you're on since they're all Sapphire now?

 

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[Alyrica]

Thank you for the correction. So you know if the 55 a day includes White Russians or lava flows? Thank you

 

 

Jamie

 

Absolutely! My hubby and I had many White Russians and I tried most of the various Lava Flow flavors....Yummm.... Casino bartender Alex makes the White Russians with vanilla vodka. Added an interesting flavor.

[Alyrica]

Ack! You're correct. I had ultimate package on the brain as it was being discussed in emails with my group sailing in November. Thanks for catching that! :o

 

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So many drink packages! I love the variety. :)

[ace1zoe2]

Not that it matters since I don't cruise until August... But how do they let you know which floor of the dining room you're on since they're all Sapphire now?

 

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On your Sea Pass card it shows

 

Dining Room: Sapphire - Deck 4 (or whichever floor you have)

[ace1zoe2]

I saw that and was jealous! I had already booked and as it was after final payment I didn't get that benefit. I did get a no cost upgrade to a Jr. Suite which I fear has spoiled me. I seriously need to win the Lotto!

 

Lucky you! We were in a J/S in Alaska & now hubby is spoiled. We did this cruise for free on RCI Visa reward points and paid up to a balcony but didn't want to spend even more for a J/S since we have one booked for 8 night Rome to Barcelona in the fall.

 

It's definitely hard to go back once you've had the larger room.

[slvrbllt]

On your Sea Pass card it shows

 

Dining Room: Sapphire - Deck 4 (or whichever floor you have)

 

Thanks... I hoped it was like that as opposed to different table numbers on different floors. My parents cruise at the end of March so I want to give them as much "prep" about stuff that's changed before they get there.

 

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[golfpccc]

Did they offer an unlimited internet package on the Navigator last week?

 

 

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Welcome to CC and congrats on your first post!! Now, how are you going to cruise with us on the Brilliance repo if you booked the Quantum for 11/2/14?

[Shekim]

Thanks... I hoped it was like that as opposed to different table numbers on different floors. My parents cruise at the end of March so I want to give them as much "prep" about stuff that's changed before they get there.

 

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Are your parents on the 3/30 cruise? If so are they active CC users?

[aggiedad2016]

...

Edited February 11, 2014 by aggiedad2016

[BecciBoo]

Welcome to CC and congrats on your first post!! Now, how are you going to cruise with us on the Brilliance repo if you booked the Quantum for 11/2/14?

 

Carla, you are a hoot!:p

[Cindy]

Nope. If I'd gotten beta tester pricing, I'd have expected beta tester conditions. Regular pricing. Sub par conditions.

 

Austinrob, I think you probably hit a "perfect storm"...ship coming out of a very major overhaul, doing a short cruise instead of a 7-night, with lots of new staff, etc. Don't write off RCI based on this one experience. Try it again when things are more "normal". I can almost guarantee you they will keep tweaking and working until they correct the problems.

 

FWIW, I don't think it should matter what you paid. You should expect and receive the same service for $99 that you receive for $999.

[Alyrica]

Lucky you! We were in a J/S in Alaska & now hubby is spoiled. We did this cruise for free on RCI Visa reward points and paid up to a balcony but didn't want to spend even more for a J/S since we have one booked for 8 night Rome to Barcelona in the fall.

 

It's definitely hard to go back once you've had the larger room.

 

Lucky you! I think I would be willing to stay in the lowest category stateroom for a couple of years just to experience a Mediterranean cruise. I take it from previous posts you do a trip review on all of your cruises so we have a review to look forward to from you in the fall? No pressure of course...lol

[OTownNick]

Freedom from our balcony..Friday leaving Cozumel.

 

 

 

That's a beautiful pic of the Freedom

[Aquahound]

Thank you very much for all the great photos. I love that they went with the Radiance Class blue in the staterooms instead of those old, dreaded pink and pale green colors.

[ace1zoe2]

Lucky you! I think I would be willing to stay in the lowest category stateroom for a couple of years just to experience a Mediterranean cruise. I take it from previous posts you do a trip review on all of your cruises so we have a review to look forward to from you in the fall? No pressure of course...lol

 

I have done trip reviews for my last few cruises. I enjoy doing it almost as much as planning for the actual cruise itself. I try to pass along some tips and tricks along the way that I have learned. I also tend to plan all private tours after exhaustive research trying to find the best deal with the highest ratings on either Cruise Critic Port Boards or Trip Advisor.

 

I'm a visual person so I love photos and try to post as many as possible too. Folks that like just to read can skip the picks and still get lots of info & those who hate to read can skip the typed word & just look as pics.

 

So, yes. I am planning a very long detailed report on our Mediterranean cruise which will include 2 days in Tuscany/Pisa/Florence & 2 days in Rome pre-cruise as well as 2 days afterwards in Barcelona.

 

I hope that you will follow along :)