Recent Grandeur cruisers please share your experience with us

[schlimazel_traveler]

If you've sailed on the Enchantment, the Grandeur will feel very familiar. What will be strikingly different is the size of the Centrum and the stretches of decks that overlook it. Things like the office for the Next Cruise bookings just don't exist on the Grandeur--they are kind of squished into corners of deck 4 and 5 which is just open seating area on Enchantment. There's a bar between the casino and the Centrum on the Enchantment, if I recall corrrectly, that is also "missing" from the Grandeur. The pool deck, too, seems small.

 

BUT the good thing is that all the other spaces are the same size as on Enchantment, but there are fewer people. The Windjammer, the theater, the main dining room, the Solarium, etc., are exactly as on the Grandeur.

 

I think, overall, we liked it better than the Enchantment because it seemed less crowded.

[seeshore]

Hi Seeshore!

 

The D2 Accessible Staterooms are very well located near the midship stairs and elevators. They are huge with loads of storage and space to maneuver.

 

Cabin 7602 is over the entrance to the Schooner Bar and we did not have any noise from the bar. In the evening we could hear music when we were on the balcony but it was not at all annoying. There are cabins above the D2 accessible cabins. If you click your stateroom number in your reservation you can see a photo of the cabin. It is a great cabin.

 

I'm sure you are aware that it will be cold sailing out of Baltimore in winter but it will warm up the second or third day.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

 

Thanks for the info on the cabin. I was surprised about the size compared to other RC accessible staterooms we've had. I think Grandeur is somewhere around 350 square ft.

 

We've sailed out of Baltimore on 3 different occasions. #1 was Enchantment during after a Dec. East Coast storm and there was ice on the pool deck.#2 was on Pride on a balmy Dec. day.:)#3 was on the Pride cruise to nowhere after Hurricane Sandy-$99.00 plus fees. I love sailing out of Baltimore better than Bayonne since Cruise Maryland is so close to I-95.

[seeshore]

On our cruise in March, the aerial shows were performed in the evening. They practiced in the afternoon, but the performances were in the evening and it was very hard to find a seat unless you were there an hour or more earlier than the show. I never did get to see it.:(

 

Gwen :)

 

Thanks for the heads-up regarding the aerial show. Maybe I'll have hubby park me on Deck 7 way ahead of the scheduled showtime.

[seeshore]

If you've sailed on the Enchantment, the Grandeur will feel very familiar. What will be strikingly different is the size of the Centrum and the stretches of decks that overlook it. Things like the office for the Next Cruise bookings just don't exist on the Grandeur--they are kind of squished into corners of deck 4 and 5 which is just open seating area on Enchantment. There's a bar between the casino and the Centrum on the Enchantment, if I recall corrrectly, that is also "missing" from the Grandeur. The pool deck, too, seems small.

 

BUT the good thing is that all the other spaces are the same size as on Enchantment, but there are fewer people. The Windjammer, the theater, the main dining room, the Solarium, etc., are exactly as on the Grandeur.

 

I think, overall, we liked it better than the Enchantment because it seemed less crowded.

 

Thanks for the info! It will be kind of odd sailing on the smaller version of Enchantment. We've also sailed on Majesty (our first Royal cruise) and absolutely loved it. That's why I keep coming back. The lounge between the Centrum and casino is Boleros on Enchantment and was terribly smoky like the casino. On Majesty it was a huge lounge with a large dance floor.

[heyabbott]

Is there a show in the main theater after the 8:30 seating in the MDR?

 

 

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[cruzinlady1947]

Is there a show in the main theater after the 8:30 seating in the MDR?

 

 

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The show for late sitting is usually before dinner. After dinner for early seating.

 

Gwen :)

[GiannaD]

Attached is a thumbnail of a D2 Accessible room. We are sailing the Grandeur for our 50th Anniversary and looking forward to a great time. We are in 7102 which should be a wonderful location.

 

We enjoy the marvelous crew on Lady G and are happy that Rick and Daryl will be on board for our sailing.

 

Looking forward to meeting all of you. Can someone arrange a sailaway gathering or Meet n Mingle since Royal does not do and official meeting for six day cruises.

[seeshore]

Attached is a thumbnail of a D2 Accessible room. We are sailing the Grandeur for our 50th Anniversary and looking forward to a great time. We are in 7102 which should be a wonderful location.

 

We enjoy the marvelous crew on Lady G and are happy that Rick and Daryl will be on board for our sailing.

 

Looking forward to meeting all of you. Can someone arrange a sailaway gathering or Meet n Mingle since Royal does not do and official meeting for six day cruises.

 

Thanks for posting the pic. I might have to print it for my upcoming vacation file. We're in 7606 and this cruise will be in celebration of my husband's retirement.

 

We've done an unofficial Meet and Mingle on a couple of our Royal cruises. Just try and think of a public space that won't be too crowded and wear beads or some other identification. Have you joined your roll call?

[gamblinmon]

I hate to say it but if I were you I would change rooms if you can. That one is going to get noise from the Park Café. It sounds like there is a bowling alley right above you. We found it to be very annoying. Several times a day we would here the noise above us, from early in the morning all through the day.

 

I would move further forward or move to the other side of the ship.

Thanks for the info...would JS 8524 be better option? Unfortunately we only have a choice of a JS on deck 8...

Thanks again

[Clarea]

Thanks for the info...would JS 8524 be better option? Unfortunately we only have a choice of a JS on deck 8...

Thanks again

I would not like 8524 because it's a connecting stateroom.

[gamblinmon]

I see many post that people do not like connecting cabins, is this due to potentially loud neighbors?

[Clarea]

I see many post that people do not like connecting cabins, is this due to potentially loud neighbors?

Yes, the connecting door tends to pass sound more easily. You also can lose some furniture due to the door's placement.

[gamblinmon]

I would not like 8524 because it's a connecting stateroom.

My choices are 8066,8076,8068,0870,8078,8524,8576 &8570

Advice? We are night owls and really do not spend that much time in the cabin.

[guxu]

There is also the Park Cafe, which is also a no charge venue with limited breakfast, lunch, dinner hour, and late night offerings that are a combination of hot and cold selections, sandwiches, salads, and deserts.

 

 

We were on it last week. The only issue I had was the Park Cafe ran out of most food every night. After 10:30pm-ish, the only thing left there were flour chips and hot dogs (or pizza).

[Clarea]

My choices are 8066,8076,8068,0870,8078,8524,8576 &8570

Advice? We are night owls and really do not spend that much time in the cabin.

All of those are not staterooms I'd normally choose, but given those choices, I'd go with 8524. It's not under Park Cafe, which is a plus. It's still under the pool deck, so hopefully they are not throwing deck chairs at 4am.

[gamblinmon]

Thanks so much, that was my original choice but TA thought 8066 would be better. I am requesting the change...My husband prefers to be more in the middle of the ship....

[dwdwnurse]

My daughter and I just returned last week from a wonderful two weeks on Lady G.

 

The ship, staff and crew are just wonderful. Darryl (Activities Manager) is absolutely the best and hate to see him leave in September. Paul Rutter was the CD - nice, low key and Darryl fed off of him very well :) Last year we did a triple back to back on this ship and were so happy to see many of the same staff and crew back this time and they all remembered us! There is just something about sailing on a smaller ship :)

 

We didn't go to a lot of the "Headliner" shows (the dancers from RC), but we did see Voice Play (acapella group) that were excellent! There were a couple of really good comedians and a Motown group. I enjoyed my evenings in the Diamond Lounge looking at the beautiful aft wake :) Ruth is the concierge in the Diamond Lounge and is just the sweetest and best person ever in that lounge!

 

Captain Espen Been (from Norway) was wonderful - he was very visible during both weeks and would stop to speak to passengers. He also wore Bermuda shorts during Bermuda week :) (I don't think Captain Trond would have done that haha).

 

We dined in Chops and Giovanni's Table. Chops was excellent, as always, but Giovanni's wasn't as good this year as last and we only dined there once. They did something to the lasagna that just wasn't very good. The MDR was really good and we were fortunate to get our table for two and had great servers (Angie, Shelley, John and Christian). We were delighted to receive an invitation to join the Chief Engineer for a dinner at the Captain's Table (nice fillet, wine and special desert). Overall, the food was good (so happy to see the escargot back - I'm pretty sure we put a serious dent in the snail population).

 

We had one really good storm (my daughter and I love it when the ship rocks!). We were off the coast of Virginia returning from the Bahamas itinerary when we encountered a serious squall. The ship was listing so far to starboard that you had to brace yourself to be able to stand. There was lightening and thunder everywhere around the ship - we had a great view of the show from the Diamond Lounge. We were in the storm for around 20 minutes until we were able to sail around it. Other than that, we had really smooth sailing (daughter was highly disappointed, lol).

 

Embarkation was a breeze - we were literally on the ship within 10 minutes of arriving to the port, but disembarkation took a little longer (the lines were wrapped around the Centrum area). We found our luggage without problem and were out. Our turn around day went smoothly as well - we were the only 2 - we exited the ship with an officer, went through Customs and back on the ship within 10 minutes. It was really nice having the ship all to ourselves for over one hour :)

 

I have never been able to figure out how to upload a picture to CC, so if anyone can help I'll be happy to share my pics of Lady G. I am ready to sail again!!!

[emeraldcity]

All of those are not staterooms I'd normally choose, but given those choices, I'd go with 8524. It's not under Park Cafe, which is a plus. It's still under the pool deck, so hopefully they are not throwing deck chairs at 4am.

 

We were on the other side in 8022 last December and it was a great choice, so I suspect 8524 would work out just as well ... never an issue with noise overhead.

 

And if Darryl is still on board, that is HUGE! Without question, the best AD we've ever sailed with.

 

Link to my review below if you want the nitty-gritty.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1962469

[callolin]

Going on grandeur on November 29 for a ten day cruise.

[Karma5]

I was on the Grandeur this June. It's a lovely ship, however the food in the main dining room left a lot to be desired………..

[roth697]

My DH and I just got off the Grandeur today. We took our Aunt and Uncle on their first cruise. Sadly, we did not get to show off what we love about Royal. The cruise director, Paul was horrible. It was as if he is just biding his time until retirement. Thank goodness for Darryl, the activities manager-he was amazing! Our last two cruises were aboard the Seranade (voted most friendly ship multiple times for good reason)- comparing the Grandeur is no comparison. We have been on the enchantment and loved it! Sadly, we will never again cruise on the Grandeur but continue to love Royal!

[maureencruiser]

Darryl is a pistol. :D

 

He sure is! I would love to cruise with him again. :D

[Merion_Mom]

He sure is! I would love to cruise with him again. :D

 

Hurry up, then. His current contract expires in September.

 

After that, who knows? ;)

[rclibertygirl5]

For the recent Grandeur cruisers that dined in Chops, are they serving the new menu yet?

[roth697]

For the recent Grandeur cruisers that dined in Chops, are they serving the new menu yet?

 

They still had the yummy tuna appetizer but had changed the mud pie. It is now more of a pudding pie. It doesn't live up to its predecessor. Everything else was the same- Delicious!