Grandeur of the Seas March 13–31

[dixieva]

I know Emerald (and Diamond , Diamond Plus) get some free minutes. I think Diamond Plus, which I am, gets an hour of free internet worth $29.95. I was wondering if they would give me credit for that time towards the unlimited package. Did you get a flat 15% off the package and no credit for your free Emerald minutes?

 

Sorry to ask so many questions! You are very gracious in answering- thank you.

[rafinmd]

I rose at 5:45 and was up at the WJ for coffee about 6, just about sunrise with last night’s time change. There was a trace of sun through a pretty cloudy morning, and there was a stiff enough wind that I shelved my plans for an early morning walk, and headed downstairs for some work online. At the time we were off the coast of Morehead City NC.

 

Returning around 7, either the wind had diminished or I felt more like dealing with it, but I walked 7 laps on deck 10, stopped for skim milk, and returned for another 7 laps.

 

The weather never really cleared but it was still a vastly improved morning from what we had encountered 8 days earlier, when deck 10 was closed all day. I knew that Royal is weak on offering Sunday services (They played a Joel Osteen broadcast) and I had prepared with a couple of recordings of my congregation’s services, I listened to part of one to be resumed later. The Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle was held at 10 in a packed Viking Crown with ship presence from Group Manager Natalie and activities staff Dan, Andre, and Mike (leaving for the Anthem OTS startup team) assisting. After the M&M I walked another 7 laps which I think put me about a lap short of 5 miles

 

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In his noon update Captain Trond reported we were offshore from Cape Lookout NC. We have sailed 345 miles with 1073 to go. We have 13kt winds and a temperature of 66 (much colder in the morning), and things are forecast to improve for our 2 remaining sea days. On my just completed cruise I had an extremely good team in the dining room. After the update I was walking through the Windjammer, encountered Assistant Waiter Alroy, and put the finishing touches on a WOW card. I actually waited just a bit for lunch, going back to the Park Café for a roast beef sandwich and was very pleased. In fact I’ve been very pleased with the food this cruise. I’m a bit of a finicky eater and sometimes have trouble finding a dish that meets my fancy. The menu has 3 everyday “Classic” entrees I’ve been wanting to try, but have so far found something irresistible in the regular part of the menu every day.

 

The afternoon was pretty quiet. I’m a regular in a group of webcam sailaway enthusiasts on the HAL forum and used my new unlimited internet to watch part of a sailaway. Internet is unlimited in time but quite limited in bandwidth and the results were not good. The Rosario strings had an afternoon concert in the Centrum and I decided to switch things a bit and sit to the side on deck 6 rather than closeup on deck 4. While watching the performance one of the things I love about the Vision class ships really struck me, the huge glass walls around the Centrum giving a lovely view of the sea (even when it’s a bit foggy). After the show I went up to Park Café for coffee and had also hoped to walk that final lap but it was raining. Not a great end to the day but still much better than our previous trips through this area. An Elvis impersonator has been seen walking around the ship and passed through Centrum during the concert.

 

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We were all present again at table 327 and the service seemed much better than last night. It was the first formal night of the cruise and it looked like about 20% tuxes, 50% suits, and perhaps 30% shirt sleeves. During the meal Ajay, my last waiter came by and greeted me. This was also Captain Trond’s welcome reception with the introduction of the officers.

 

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The main entertainment was Bobby Avron from Happy Days. I saw the show last cruise and did not return. There was some motion on the ship in the evening.

 

Today’s parting shot is about how small the world is. Talking at the dinner table the daughter in the father-daughter combination talked about how she loved animals and volunteered at a local animal shelter. From her description I had an inkling of what it might be and threw out a name. She said yes, that’s the one. I mentioned that I worked with a Boy Scout troop and that several of my scouts had done Eagle Projects there. She then went on to describe one of the projects that I was aware of. Really is a small world.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

I know Emerald (and Diamond , Diamond Plus) get some free minutes. I think Diamond Plus, which I am, gets an hour of free internet worth $29.95. I was wondering if they would give me credit for that time towards the unlimited package. Did you get a flat 15% off the package and no credit for your free Emerald minutes?

 

Sorry to ask so many questions! You are very gracious in answering- thank you.

 

Unless I'm missing something, there's no free time for Emerald members. I didn't see it in either the list of benefits or in the coupon list:

 

http://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/emerald.pdf

 

Perhaps there was free internet once and it was dropped when unlimited plans became pervasive. It would be nice if there was free time for Diamond as this will be my only cruise as Emerald. When I board the Allure in October, any free internet would carry me through my 3 days from Rome to Barcelona.

 

I'm guessing for D+ it's an either-or deal with the discount on unlimited rich enough to offset any what you would get with the free minutes.

 

I have also posted the Platinum and Emerald coupons and the 8 and 10 day internet prices at

https://getawaysfrom21044.wordpress.com/extras/grandeurxtra/

 

BTW, I'm a bit puzzled about our route. My GPS shows us on a beeline to Cozumel. That sounds great but if we hold this course we will run aground near Ft. Lauderdale. I had wondered if we might be stopping for a medical emergency or something but in his update Captain Trond said we would pass by Miami close enough to see the lights so I assume this is just the most efficient course.

[rafinmd]

I rose at 5:30 and was up at WJ a little before 6. We were 147 miles almost due east of Port Canaveral. It was quite cloudy and very windy, with several chairs blown across the deck. My photo shows some sun, although it did not really look that way. I stated the morning with the intent of walking 5 miles in about equal thirds but after 4 laps found the wind about as much as I could handle, and returned to my room for some online activity.

 

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I returned to the WJ about 8 for skim milk and found the walking conditions somewhat better, completing 12 laps before stopping for french toast and another 6 laps for my desired total of 22. There was a cake decorating demonstration in the Centrum at 10:30. On my Enchantment cruises this was always billed as a “contest” featuring the Captain, Pastry Chef, and Executive Chef and was always funny. This one had the Chef, Andre, and apparently 1 guest. I arrived late and left early, but it did not seem as funny as the ones I remember from Enchantment.

 

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Loyalty manager Danney had a presentation in the Palladium Theater at 11. It turned out that there was not a lot I didn’t know from either Cruise Critic or the welcome back parties but hearing all at once how many ships were being deployed to Asia was a surprise.

 

In his noon update Captain Trond reported a temperature of 77 with 33kt winds across the deck. He said the weather is improving (turned out not in the afternoon) and we should see less wind Tuesday. We will pass Miami at a distance of 13 miles, close enough to see lights about 8:30.

 

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I chilled in the afternoon up to a 4:30 performance by the Rosario Strings. There were a number of vacancies in the dining room, including 2 from our table and we were finished with dinner about 6:45.

 

The main show was “Tango” which I saw last cruise and skipped tonight. There was a show called “60 seconds or less in the Great Pacific Lounge. I stopped by for the first few rounds (after spending a few minutes listening to Derek Conlon in the Schooner Bar), and the game was a lot of fun. I returned to my room about 10.

 

 

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As today’s parting shot the recent events in Tunisia were horrific, but I wonder about all the cruise cancellations there. Events like those are today a sad fact of life, and we didn’t stop visiting New York, Boston, Sydney, or even Oklahoma City after other atrocities. One of the goals of terrorists is to disrupt our lives, and if we give in to them in a big way they win.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

I rose at 5 and when I went up to the WJ about 5:20 we were just passing Key West. It was another windy morning; at times I had to struggle to make headway walking forward on the ship, but did complete 12 laps of deck 10 on my initial visit upstairs. While walking I could see another ship (I think Carnival Magic) approaching Key West. Sunrise was just before 6:30 and had now moved from the port side of the ship to aft. The clouds on the horizon were pretty thick but there seemed to be a bit of an opening that the sun peeked through.

 

After catching up on online events in my room I returned to decks 9 and 10 walking 5 laps before getting an omlet and 5 laps after to complete my 5-mile total about 9AM. By this time the sun seemed to have burned the clouds off (I don’t know if the sun can really burn off clouds but it felt that way).

 

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The Crown and Anchor Welcome Back party was held at 11 in the Palladium Theater. Lela and Porter from the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers sang a several songs and there were welcomes from Dan, Cruise Sales Manager Danney, Captain Trond, and Hotel Director Clunis addressed the group and the senior officers were introduced. There were 1315 C&A members on board this cruise, and awards were presented to top cruisers with 420-1262 points. Awards were also presented to some crew members. Danney announced that beginning with the next cruise the Loyalty Ambassador will be a dedicated position separate from the cruise sales staff.

 

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In his noon update Captain Trond reported a temperature of 79F and the winds had diminished to 13kt across the deck. The sun came out and it was one of the first days the deck 5 walk has been open around the bow. We have sailed 985 miles with 278 to go to Cozumel. After sailing off the coast of Cuba all morning, at 1PM we will have our nearest approach at 4 miles from the coast. When I looked at 1PM the mountains of Cuba were hazy but well defined.

 

Afternoon activities included a guest vs crew volleyball in the pool at 1, followed by the sexiest man competition at 1:30. It seemed a bit strange seeing officers in the pool with their shoulder stripes just above the water. There was a port talk on Cozumel at 2; it turned out to be all about shopping. My final activity of the afternoon ws a 3:30 Rosario Strings performance. As of 5PM (until about 8) we are still following the coast of Cuba but it is no longer visible from my window.

 

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Dinner service was very quick tonight and I was out in time for a perfect sunset.

 

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This evening’s entertainment was the physical comedy of Heath Hyche, an action packed mix of zany skits, followed late by the Love and Marriage Game Show. With an early morning tour (meeting at 7AM) I am wrapping up this post and heading to bed early for the night.

 

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Today’s parting shot comes (sort of) from the Welcome Back party. Captain Trond was discussing the various ships in the fleet and how the Grandeur is now one of the smallest ships in the fleet. He added (as he often does) “This ship has something that the bigger ships do not–personality.” With the direction the cruise industry is going I’m actually a bit surprised that he is allowed to say that. It certainly resonates with me–most of the ships I sail carry under 1500 passengers and my last transatlantic was the 150 passenger Wind Star, and it resonated with many of the people in the audience. Long live the ships with personality.

 

Roy

[pjlee3333]

quote

In his noon update Captain Trond reported we were offshore from Cape Lookout NC. We have sailed 345 miles with 1073 to go. We have 13kt winds and a temperature of 66 (much colder in the morning), and things are forecast to improve for our 2 remaining sea days. On my just completed cruise I had an extremely good team in the dining room. After the update I was walking through the Windjammer, encountered Assistant Waiter Alroy, and put the finishing touches on a WOW card. I actually waited just a bit for lunch, going back to the Park Café for a roast beef sandwich and was very pleased. In fact I’ve been very pleased with the food this cruise. I’m a bit of a finicky eater and sometimes have trouble finding a dish that meets my fancy. The menu has 3 everyday “Classic” entrees I’ve been wanting to try, but have so far found something irresistible in the regular part of the menu every day. quote

 

Thank you for your review. I'm another that thinks the Grandeur crew is the best in the fleet.

 

Good to hear that Alroy is back on Grandeur after his vacation. We met him in September and November and thought he was fantastic. Hopefully he will still be on May 8.

[rafinmd]

Thanks, pjlee3333

 

Cozumel is an island about 10 miles east of Playa del Carmen Mexico. The first known activity was as a Mayan pilgrimage site although most of the major archaeological sites are on the mainland. This is my 3rd visit to Cozumel after the Jewel OTS in 2012 and Crystal Symphony in 2012.

 

I was up at 5 and getting coffee in the WJ at 5:30, and walked 6 laps on deck 10. As we neared Cozumel the AIDAblu was already in port, we were next, followed by the Celebrity Equinox, Costa Luminosa, Carnival Ecstasy, and Vision OTS. We docked about 6:45 and were cleared 20 minutes later.

 

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My tour today was to the Chichen Itza archaeological site. Several tours met in the Palladium Theater at 7 and were sent off to a waiting ferry about 7:10. We had smooth seas for the 10-mile 30-minute crossing to Playa del Carmen followed by about a quarter mile walk to our waiting bus. We had 2 guides, Carlos and Gabriel. Carlos handled things on the bus, and explained that it would be a long and rushed day. It would be a 2-hour bus ride to the site and we would have just over an hour there. We were given a bag of snacks and would get a sandwich when we reboarded the bus after our time in Chichen Itza. The drive was over a hundred miles on interstate type highways with basically scrub vegetation along the road. Carlos spoke for about an hour about Mexico and the Mayan Culture and passed out headsets. Chichen Itza was built about 200-500AD, and was abandoned about 1300. At the end of the journey we passed through the village of Piste with a large concentration of Mayan descendants.

 

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We arrived at Chichen Itza about 10:45 and stayed until noon. Gabriel was our guide for the tour of the site while Carlos kept the group together. As we left the entry gate Gabriel pointed out the ruins of the wall which originally surrounded Chichen Itza. It is largely rebuilt but where stones have been lost they haven’t been replaced. It must have been quite a wall, as the complex is about 16 square kilometers.

 

It was a short walk to the highlight of the site, a pyramid with a temple on top. It is probably 100 yards square and perhaps 100 feet high. There appears to be a lot of symbolism in the design with each of the 4 faces having stairs with 91 steps (as id days in a season) to the top. It was called the pyramid of the snake, as the light falling on it on certain key dates resembles a snake, and it is generously decorated with snake heads. People could once climb the pyramid (and other structures in the site) but it was prohibited about 5 years ago.

 

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There were a number of small structures nearby, and a warrior’s temple with an array of columns representing warriors. A large flat structure stood nearby although I didn’t get the exact meaning. The final site we visited was a large stadium. I have seen similar structures in other Mayan sites but this one was much bigger and grander. The interior was about the size of a football field, with walls perhaps 15 feet high and stone circles jutting out from the walls on each side at mid-field. The game was played in teams of 7 and the object was to get a ball through the hole in the goal on the side wall. A small temple sat at the top of one of the walls. When 1 team succeeded in getting a goal they were the winner and the Captain of the winning team had the honor of being sacrificed to the gods. The Mayans apparently believed that such a sacrifice would put them eternally on the level of the gods.

 

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Our schedule had both advantages and disadvantages. Despite the long day’s tour, out time at the site was way too short. Given that, the heat was becoming oppressive, and while I would have enjoyed more time there, I would not have enjoyed starting my visit when we left, as buses from other ships were starting to do.

 

We were given ham and cheese subs from the bus cooler and set off towards Playa del Carmen. We passed back through Piste and had been on the highway for a mile or so when the driver pulled to the side of the road. Carlos reported a problem with the turbocharger which the driver thought he could fix, and we’d be on our way in 10 minutes. When we set off again the bus seemed labored and we pulled off again in about a quarter mile. After about 20 minutes we started moving, this time for half a mile. We were then told another bus would be sent. There was a third try to get going, this time for a mile, but we never got over 20mph. The bus couldn’t be fixed, and another one would be sent. As we were expecting the replacement bus we started moving a fourth time. We made it up to 60mph, about as good as we did on the way to Chichen Itza, but it only lasted for about a mile before we started slowing down and pulled off to the side again after just 2 miles. When the replacement bus arrived, about 70 minutes after the initial breakdown, we were only 5 minutes from Chichen Itza.

 

All aboard was 3:30, about the time we arrived in Playa del Carmen. Gabriel led us to the waiting ferry, which already had perhaps 150 people waiting from other tours. We arrived back in Cozumel about 4:25 and as I was walking past the bow of the ship the horn sounded. It seemed a bit superfluous, a line had already built up for the gangway and security. I stepped on board about 4:35, left my pack in my room, and headed up to Park Café for skim milk and coffee. As I walked across the pool deck I could see there were no lines off on our stern. We quickly backed away and headed south around the Island.

 

I’m not sure if it was the busy day or what, but I was the only one at table 327. The prime evening entertainment was ventriloquist Michael Harrison. He seemed pretty good although after a tiring day I found it hard to stay awake. Before the show Dan announced that our late departure should not affect our arrival in Grand Cayman.

 

As today’s parting shot the Maya are quite an enigma. They were advanced in many ways, and very astute in their observations of the solar system, but in other ways very barbaric in their penchant for blood and human sacrifice. Advancement is a good thing, but must be well channeled.

 

Roy

[rgome33]

Roy, I look forward to reading your posts each day as my husband and I will be on the Grandeur OTS on April 10. Keep them coming!

[rafinmd]

Roy, I look forward to reading your posts each day as my husband and I will be on the Grandeur OTS on April 10. Keep them coming!

 

The Bahamas and Key West. Very nice!

 

This is my second successful visit to Grand Cayman. I was here on the Crystal Symphony in 2012, and was due here 2 months ago on the Maasdam but sea conditions prevented tendering. The Cayman Islands were part of the colony of Jamaica until Jamaica became an independent Commonwealth country in 1962. Since then they have had a British Governor and a locally elected legislature. There are 3 islands in the group but less than 3,000 of the total 55,000 people live in the outlying islands.

 

I went up to the WJ for coffee about 5:15 and might have walked but found the wind just too strong. After some online work I returned after 6 and walked 5 laps on deck 10 while awaiting a very lovely sunrise. When I returned for breakfast about 8:30 and walked another 5 laps Grand Cayman was coming into focus on the horizon.

 

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We pulled up to our anchorage about 10 with the Norwegian Epic, Carnival Magic, and Eurodam in port ahead of us. This is a tender port with 3 distinct terminals where tenders dock; we shared one terminal with the Epic while the other 2 ships had their own terminals. Most, but not all, of the ships here use tenders provided by the port. They are very large (mine had a capacity of 340), and the tender ride was quite short.

 

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After my marathon tour in Cozumel I opted for easy tours the next 2 days. Today’s tour was “Trolley Roger”. It was not what I normally think of as a trolley, rather it was a long trailer pulled by a jeep through the streets of George Town. With 5 across the seating was quite cramped but the open sides provided a much appreciated breeze. We started out passing through the core of George Town with the Government buildings and Hero’s square, the main plaza. Many of the houses date back over 100 years and are quite colorful. The older houses as well as many of the new are quite small, but large mansions seem to be springing up quite widely. Our driver pointed out a number of cemeteries which are all near the coast due to the rock conditions. Many people are also buried in family plots next to their houses.

 

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The island’s power comes from diesel generators although solar panels are becoming quite popular. Water is all desalinated sea water. After the tour I took about an hour walk around the town, then got a late lunch (especially a large soda after the heat), and boarded a tender back to the ship, returning about 2.

 

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The last tender was at 5:30. On the way into the dining room today I saw one party being turned away for wearing shorts, it is definitely possible. Captain Trond came on the air with his sailaway message about 5:45, and we started swiveling for out departure about 10 minutes later. We have a relatively short run to Jamaica, and need only 18 knots to pick up our pilot at 6:15 tomorrow. He predicted generally good conditions although there might be a shower around sailaway from Jamaica. He also predicted a lovely sunset. My dining service was very quick tonight and I was out to see it a little after 6:30.

 

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With our late departure from port there were movies both in the Palladium Theater and on the MUTS screen on deck 9. I went up to the WJ for coffee and watched just a little bit of the deck 9 movie.

 

As today’s parting shot, planning an itinerary requires a lot of compromises. Our departure from Cozumel was much earlier than desired, making our stay in Chichen Itza far too short. That was necessary to allow us time to reach Grand Cayman at a reasonable hour. My last visit to Grand Cayman had to be cancelled due to poor tendering conditions, and there really is no substitute port within a day’s sail. That time we were able to arrive in Aruba several hours early but I don’t think on this cruise there could have been an alternative and I would have been one unhappy camper about missing time in Chichen Itza with no later benefit. Fortunately, this time it worked out right.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

When I went up to WJ for coffee about 6 the lights of Jamaica were clear on our starboard side. This is actually my first ever visit to Jamaica. While I walked 6 laps of deck 10 we had a beautiful sunrise and the pilot came on board. I returned briefly to my room but went out to deck 5 as we backed up alongside the dock.

 

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The cruise facility at Falmouth is a joint venture of Royal Caribbean and the Jamaica Ports Authority and serves primarily their ships although other ships do use it at times. It was designed to handle Oasis class ships. Today we were the only ship in town.

 

My tour today was Falmouth Heritage Walk. A guide and assistant met the group of about a dozen people for a 2 ½ hour 2-mile walk around the town. Falmouth was established in the 18th century as a port primarily for the surrounding plantations, and has many surviving examples of Georgian architecture. Our first stop was the Court Building, I’m not really into architecture but one of the striking features was white and colored squares around the edges of the building. Our guide was very careful to find shade for us finding today’s sun hot even for her. The assistant brought up the rear and helped with any people with concerns.

 

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Our next stop was Water Square. Falmouth was the first town in the Western Hemisphere to get public water in 1796, a year before New York. It was piped by a waterwheel from the Martha Brae River, about a half mile away to the point where people could obtain water. There is now a nice square and fountain in the square and it’s a popular meeting spot, with an open air market across the street.

 

Much of the rest of the tour involved Falmouth’s many churches. Our first stop was the William Knibb (Baptist) church. In the plantation era there were roughly 55,000 slaves in the area. Knibb was a leader in the emancipation movement (1830's) and on the eve of final emancipation buried a pair of shackles outside the church signifying the death of slavery. A monument now stands over the buried shackles, and Knibb’s grave is behind the church. Continuing further from the ship we passed the Methodist Church and continued on to the Anglican Church where we had a rest stop. Starting back we went past the United (Presbyterian and Congregational) church.

 

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Along the way we passed a number of traditional houses and our guide described how England’s Georgian architecture was adapted to Jamaica’s hot climate with thick walls, porticos, and boxes where outside air could be shaded on the way into the house. The yellow house has regularly won awards as the town’s best maintained, and the porticos on the red house provide a place of respite from the heat.

 

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Fort Balcares stood on the western side of town. Remnants of the fort including washing stations, latrine bases, the powder magazine, and a solitary cannon still are present. The barracks have been remodeled and are now one of the primary schools. Children attend here and take an exam after grade 6 for placement in a high school. If they do not pass they stay 3 more years and are retested. If they fail a second time they are diverted to a vocational school.

 

Our final stop was at a local home dating from the 178th century. It is largely as it was although early homes had separate kitchen buildings. That has been changed and some exterior stairways have been replaced by stairs inside. The owner, originally from San Francisco, raved about how cool the house was, I did not find it so. We returned to the port about 11:30.

 

After the tour I walked around the town on my own some and walked out to the Martha Brae River. I see there were tubing excursions in Martha Brae, it must be much nicer upstream than it was near town. I returned to the ship about 2.

 

The high in Falmouth was 86 degrees with light breezes most of the day. When sailaway time came around 4 the wind had become a strong wind. We were off promptly with our stern just clearing the end of the dock at 4. Later in the evening the wind caused some motion to the ship. In his sailaway update Captain Trond mentioned that we would be traveling pretty much full speed to be in Labadee on time.

 

This evening’s entertainment was the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers in All Access. I pretty much ran out of energy and dozed through much of the show, not perking up afterwards. We lose an hour overnight as we return to Eastern time, and I had planned to write in the hour between the end of the show and the new 10PM, but accomplished virtually nothing.

 

As today’s parting shot my first visit to Jamaica was quite interesting. I know the first week in August would be an interesting time, celebrating both Independence and Emancipation and would love to see it but I’m sure the heat in August would be just too much for me.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

I slept late this morning, going for coffee at 6 and returning about 6:45 to watch for sunrise (just a little slit through low hanging clouds). At that time we were cruising quite a narrow channel between the main island of Hispaniola to our starboard and the smaller Ile-de-la-tortue on our port. Labadee is a private Royal Caribbean enclave in Haiti that they have leased since about 1986. I believe it was originally a tender port but a dock was installed to handle the Oasis of the Seas. This is my third visit there after the Enchantment of the Seas in 2011 and 2013.

 

I took tours my first 2 visits, a historical walking tour the first time and a Cultural tour the second. The walk was excellent but not something I wanted to repeat and I was not that impressed with the cultural tour so I did not book anything this time. I normally do not use ship elevators and have a tradition on a new ship of riding each elevator down once. I was not feeling well when I boarded and used the elevators a lot in the first 3 days but have gotten more normal since then. I decided midway through the Bahamas segment to resume the once down tradition and starting the day out riding down the last 3 aft elevators. That, breakfast, and internet activities took up much of my morning but I headed ashore about 11.

 

Labadee is a big space, roughly a half mile long with a lot to do, both free and as paid activities. While the general outline of the complex hasn’t changed much it does seem to be evolving. I started out on some cobblestone paths through a wooded area with several good overlooks. One of the viewing points has a good view of the power sports area and the ship in the background.

 

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On the way to the far end Barefoot Beach is a private space for suite guests, I didn’t give it much attention. Continuing around is Nellie’s beach with a large Aqua park, a waterslide (new?), all associated with one of the beaches, Columbus Cove.

 

Adrenaline Beach stands roughly north of Columbus Cove and east of the dock. Between Columbus Cove and Adrenaline Beach there are markets where local craftsmen sell their wares and staff housing, something I don’t remember from past visits. Overlooking Adrenaline Beach is a tower for the beginning of the zipline and a roller coaster (new I think. I took a refreshing dip in Adrenaline Beach.

 

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Lunch in Labadee is a barbecue served by the ships crew. There were 2 stations opened, at Adrenaline Beach and near the dock. The line at Adrenaline Beach looked quite long and I continued my walk, headed back to the ship. An area is set up for Adventure Ocean along the route back from Adrenaline Beach. When I got to the second lunch spot (Dragons Café near the pier) the line was shorter but still longer than I wanted. I continued over to Dragons lookout point a little spot on the end of a long rock outcrop with a lovely view of the zipline. On the way back I stopped at the end of the zipline and watched a few people come in for a landing.

 

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When I returned (probably after about 20 minutes) the barbecue had closed with all the food packed up. I had not read the Compass carefully and missed the 1:30 closing time. As I returned to the ship (and lunch in the WJ) the crew was sprucing up one of the anchors and some local dancers were performing on the dock.

 

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All aboard was 4:30 and about that time the last few guests were approaching the gangway. Captain Trond came on the PA with his sailaway message about 4:35 and a few minutes later I could see big reels spinning down on the mooring deck. All lines in came about 4:45 and we were moving soon after that. I could see into the bridge wing and one of the junior officers was at the controls under the watchful guidance of Captain Trond and the Staff Captain. He backed the ship up past the end of the pier, hit the thrusters to get headed out to sea and we were off. On the way out we got a nice view of Dragons lookout as we went by.

 

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Dinner service has been quite rapid and I was out in time for another great sunset, just before the headline show came with singer Kenny James. Later in the evening I stopped by the Schooner Bar to enjoy a bit of Derek Conlon at the piano.

 

As today’s parting shot, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of news coverage on the Grandeur but I’m sad to see that the air crash in France seems to be an intentional act on the part of the copilot. I’m not sure if there is a way of preventing that sort of thing, a solution would be great but is it possible.

 

Roy

[kleo30]

Hi Roy. Thanks for sharing your review. I'm enjoying it. If you have an opportunity, could you check what time cafe lattitudes opens in the morning for coffee, please?

[rafinmd]

Hi Roy. Thanks for sharing your review. I'm enjoying it. If you have an opportunity, could you check what time cafe lattitudes opens in the morning for coffee, please?

 

I’ve looked at several of the compasses and it looks like Café Latitudes opens at 7 every day, be it a sea day, early arrival in port or late arrival in port. On embarkation day it opens at 11. I was expecting it to be closed for disembarkation, but the “As you depart” sheet I got tonight says it is open. It doesn’t five hours but I assume the usual 7AM.

 

Something I haven’t done yet but will try to do the last couple days is post a few more pictures of the ship itself. I’ve posted quite a few pictures most days (not all linked to Cruise Critic) but there will be fewer the last couple of sea days so I’ll have a bit more room.

 

I went up to the WJ about 5:15 and found the wind howling. We are making a bee line from Labadee to the Chesapeake Bay entrance and were about 200 miles west of Nassau. I had intended to walk on deck 10 but with the wind walked about a half hour on deck 5 instead.

 

“Sunrise” was 6:50AM. I went back to deck 5 about 6:40 and walked another half hour while waiting for an appearance of the sun but saw it only briefly in the afternoon. Deck 5 goes all the way around the ship but the bow area is closed in “inclement weather” meaning that if it’s too windy to walk on deck 10 you usually cannot go all the way around 5. It is still a lot less windblown than 10 and a nice long U-shaped walk. At the end of the walk I popped briefly into the casino which hadn’t yet opened. Smoking is allowed there so I usually avoid it.

 

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I went up to the WJ for breakfast at 8 and had planned to do some walking on 10 afterwards but the wind never diminished and I returned to 5 for a final half hour, and then spent some time in my room listening to a CD of one of my church’s services.

 

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The Walk for Wishes was held at 11:45. At 11 several of the officers sat at a table by the pool and autographed shirts for people who wanted them. After the last cruise I decided to walk a lap early so I could pull off and listen to Captain Trond’s update but still finish with the group. With the wind it was a VERY challenging walk but a hardy group of people persevered and raised $1944 for Make A Wish Foundation. The noon temperature was 63 but felt cooler in 38 knot winds across the deck. Seas are about 6-8 feet but will drop to 5-6 feet overnight We are continuing in a beeline for the Bay and making the appropriate progress. It will still be windy Monday but the direction will change to have less relative wind.

 

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After the walk there was a chili cook-off on the pool deck followed by the belly flop competition (I missed that). I spent some time packing and attended a Rosario Strings concert.

 

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This was the second formal night of the cruise and all 5 were present at Table 327. At the end of the meal we had the parade of chefs. I was out slightly before sunset but the brief afternoon flash os sun had again been replaced by thick clouds.

 

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Today’s primary entertainment was the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers in “Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme” The first show was concurrent with the Crown and Anchor Top Tier party in the South Pacific Lounge. The Rosario Strings performed,. I saw “Rhythm and Rhyme” on the first cruise and while I enjoyed it did not feel the need for a repeat with packing left to do.

 

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As today’s parting shot I almost missed the fact that today was Palm Sunday, the start of the most significant week in the Christian year. To the people who celebrate it I wish a special holy week, and Friday will be the start of Passover. Wishing the best as well for those who celebrate Passover.

 

Roy

[CaptainBrunch]

Thanks for all the info on your B2B. Looking forward to our June trip even more now!

[rafinmd]

Thanks for all the info on your B2B. Looking forward to our June trip even more now!

 

Enjoy your first cruise!

 

The day started out better than yesterday but went somewhat down hill. When I went up for coffee Deck 10 was closed but I walked about 100 minutes on deck 5 in 3 stints and when I walked it was pleasant. My first walk was right after getting coffee, again around sunrise which I first viewed through the dining room windows and reached perfection as I moved around the stern. I took a 3rd stroll between breakfast snacks in the 8 to 9 hour. For a brief time between 7 and 8 deck 5 was open all around the ship including the bow area.

 

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Packing started in earnest in the morning with a break for the Captains Corner, a Q&A with the Captain, Chief Engineer, and Hotel Director in the Palladium Theater, right in front of the shops.

 

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In his final noon update of the cruise Captain Trond reported a temperature of 61 and winds of 27 knots. We have traveled 901 miles since Labadee with 152 to go before the pilot station (9PM) and 155 more to the dock. We should pass the Bridge/Tunnel at 9:30. Bay Bridge at 4:30, and 6 Key Bridge. The morning low in Baltimore will be 37 rising to 50. During the morning we passed the Quantum of the Seas (as well as the Carnival Pride).

 

I went up to the Park Café in the Solarium for lunch and continued packing until the Rosario Strings performed in the Schooner Bar at 3:15. After their show I went back to the South Pacific Lounge for a quick photo.

 

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The waiters massed on the stairs after dinner for a song followed by our sad goodbyes.

 

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The final show was a combination of several things. The orchestra started things out, followed by a review of the week’s events, comedian Ron Josol, a number by the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers, and a farewell parade of flags.

 

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As today’s parting shot, welcome back to Baltimore to the Carnival Pride. I’ve sailed the Pride once, and found it actually a somewhat nicer ship than the Grandeur, but prefer the culture on the Grandeur somewhat better giving a slight shipboard edge to the Grandeur. What really sets them apart is itineraries. While the Pride’s itineraries are SLIGHTLY better than when she was here before, the difference is too little too late. In my 18 days on the Grandeur I have visited more destinations than the Pride will see in the next 6 months. To me, that is a massive advantage to the Grandeur, but competition almost always benefits the consumer.

 

Roy

[JamesEM]

Enjoying your review and photos, before retiring I lived in N VA and have sailed out of Baltimore several times on Celebrity ships doing 10 & 11 cruises. I liked the convince of sailing out of Baltimore but did not care for the cool/cold weather and high winds.

[Philly Steve]

Love that pool deck chili cook off! :D

[kleo30]

I’ve looked at several of the compasses and it looks like Café Latitudes opens at 7 every day, be it a sea day, early arrival in port or late arrival in port. On embarkation day it opens at 11. I was expecting it to be closed for disembarkation, but the “As you depart” sheet I got tonight says it is open. It doesn’t five hours but I assume the usual 7AM.

Thanks Roy.

[mustangjoe]

Thanks for your daily dose of the Grandeur. We have sailed on her 4 previous times and enjoyed each trip. Welcome home!

[rafinmd]

Thanks, all, I got home about 10:30 and will post more later when reality permits. I did walk by Cafe latitudes. The "As You Depart" said "open for coffee" but it seemed to be full service.

 

Roy

[dixieva]

Thanks for the nice live review!

 

What time did the ship dock this morning?

[rafinmd]

Thanks for the nice live review!

 

What time did the ship dock this morning?

 

First lines out at 6:45.

 

After I wrapped up my Monday post I noticed we were approaching the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. We actually passed over the tunnel about 9:40 and it was interesting looking at a bridge appearing on either side of the ship but it was too dark for a decent picture. I had been so excited about noticing the crossing’s arrival that I left the room without my seapass. Guest relations gave me an “Extra Key” in a scene that was vibrant with the revel party. The corridors back to my room were evidence of the impending change of passengers, unfortunately including me this time.

 

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Tuesday morning I was up at the WJ about 5:20; we were well past the Bay Bridge. I walked about a half hour on deck 10 and then went up to the Viking Crown Lounge and watched our passage under the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It was interesting to see the bridge emerging in the

darkness but far too dark for a picture. After passing the bridge I went back to my cabin until about 6:40 when we were very close to the port.

 

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The first lines went out at 6:45. A few minutes later we had a Caribbean quality sunrise over the stern of the ship near the rock wall. I moved back forward to check out the “observatory” at the front of the ship. It doesn’t seem like much to me, a couple of screens with some diagrams I didn’t understand. Heading back to the stairs, the brand new sun was perfectly framed by canopies on the ship.

 

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I got skim milk and later an omelet in the WJ, and made final preparations to vacate my room, leaving around 8. One of the nice things about the revitalization was the display boards around the ship which provide a running tally of the various departure groups, their expected departure times and current status.

 

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I was assigned to the Palladium Theater with a departure time of 9:20. Things started out on the schedule but then started running behind until the last 3 groups were called simultaneously at 9:30. There was quite a line of people leaving the ship but I was off at 9:40 and sitting in my waiting Airport Shuttle van at 9:55. I walked in my door at 10:30. Sadly, on the evening news I saw the Grandeur of the Seas headed out of the port without me.

 

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As today’s parting shot, CNN was on my TV as I was leaving my cabin and the story was the air crash in France. While there are many open questions, one thing is sure. The ability to go as far as Cozumel and other exotic ports with only a half hour of non-cruise travel is a real benefit.

 

Roy

[psupa]

 

Today’s parting shot comes (sort of) from the Welcome Back party. Captain Trond was discussing the various ships in the fleet and how the Grandeur is now one of the smallest ships in the fleet. He added (as he often does) “This ship has something that the bigger ships do not–personality.” With the direction the cruise industry is going I’m actually a bit surprised that he is allowed to say that. It certainly resonates with me–most of the ships I sail carry under 1500 passengers and my last transatlantic was the 150 passenger Wind Star, and it resonated with many of the people in the audience. Long live the ships with personality.

 

Roy

 

I was on the 3/21/15 cruise and attended the welcome back party. This was our first time on the Grandeur and absolutely loved the ship and the Centrum was always alive with music and dancing. I can't say enough about this beautiful ship. Thanks for helping me relive wonderful memories of a wonderful cruise.

 

Theresa

[runningtide]

Thanks Roy for all the comments...

 

Like you I just left Grandeur yesterday after a great 10 days. I noticed in an earlier post you mentioned the Aerial show was cancelled. When I boarded, I asked a representative at the desk about the show, and she said it was cancelled. When I pressed for more information, there was no real expansion on the initial status. They couldn't tell me why or when (or if) the show would begin again. I was disappointed not to be able to see it in person.

 

Didi you ever get any updates on why the show was cancelled, other than safety?Also...do you know what the story is about Ted (The guys dressed as Elvis every night). Dan Dan told me his name but didn't release any other info. For the first few days, I thought he was a member of the staff.

 

Again...Linda and I had a great time, and enjoyed your reports. Im doing a review in a few days after I settle in at home and the office.

[rafinmd]

Thanks Roy for all the comments...

 

Like you I just left Grandeur yesterday after a great 10 days. I noticed in an earlier post you mentioned the Aerial show was cancelled. When I boarded, I asked a representative at the desk about the show, and she said it was cancelled. When I pressed for more information, there was no real expansion on the initial status. They couldn't tell me why or when (or if) the show would begin again. I was disappointed not to be able to see it in person.

 

Didi you ever get any updates on why the show was cancelled, other than safety?Also...do you know what the story is about Ted (The guys dressed as Elvis every night). Dan Dan told me his name but didn't release any other info. For the first few days, I thought he was a member of the staff.

 

Again...Linda and I had a great time, and enjoyed your reports. Im doing a review in a few days after I settle in at home and the office.

 

Sorry, I don't know anything more about Ted/Elvis or the Aerial show.

 

I just want ot add a few closing comments. The cruise was pretty well what I expected with just a few deviations. The only one that could have been negative was the lack of any lecture program. I don't really expect that from Royal but we did have 1 or 2 on my last Enchantment cruise so I had my hopes up.

 

On the other hand I thought the Rosario Strings were a fabulous addition. I was also pleasantly surprised by the food. Lunch in the WJ was about what I expected but the Roast Beef Sandwiches in Park Cafe were very nice. I thought WJ breakfast in the WJ was far better than I remember. I found the pancakes and omelets excellent, the French toast very good, although the waffles were just passable.

 

I'm something of a picky eater and was surprised that in my 18 nights I had 15 different entrees, and the repeats were because it was something I really wanted, not because there was nothing else that looked good. The cold soups were always very good.

 

I have a very packed future cruise schedule and no specific plans to return to the Grandeur but I definitely plan to be back. For right now my only booked RCI cruise is he fall Allure Transatlantic but I have a future cruise deposit that I definitely plan to use.

 

Roy