Recently got off the Navigator & wanted to post some insight & answer questions

[Katbeatina]

Mom & I did the Navigator of the Seas May 3 - 10, she is 82. I chose this ship because it is not the booze cruise some of the others are known for. I chose right. This was the PERFECT ship for both mom & me!

 

My 1st suggestion is, if you need to travel far, get there a night earlier. We did not. We traveled 1 hour to the airport then 3 hours to Houston then supposedly it was 90 minutes to the pier but with a 4 car pile up, that turned into 3 hours. By the time we were to finally get on board we were rather tired & had a 2 hour time difference.

 

We had a balcony room on the 8th floor and actually keep the door opened all the nights we were on the ship. You just can't open the inside door at the same time or you think your in a time tunnel. Things fly everywhere.

 

Yes, I took wine on board. I was worried about it on the airline but with 2 layers of bubble wrap, 2 plastic bags - they arrived safe. After the shuttle took us to the pier, I opened our larger suitcases and moved them into our carry on. That way we could declare them and not go to the naughty room. I also had stored a 6 pack of water, I wish I had taken more water but I couldn't because of the weight flying with the airlines.

 

Check in was pretty fast. As was the checking of our bottles of wine (they did not ask anything about the water) and I saw many with cases of water carrying in.

 

Away we went to our room to check it out and got introduced to our stateroom attendant, Florian Pinzon Mitchell. If you happen to get this guy, you are in LUCK. (tell him Joan & Cindy said hello) What a asset to this ship! He made mom and I & felt cared for, taken care of and like a valued guest ! (yes I put that in Royals comment survey after we got home)

 

The 1st night was low key for us as we were pretty tired from all the other travels.

 

The 2nd day we did the meet & greet and it was fun to catch up with *friends* I met here and those who helped with our questions. (Mom won a bottle of wine so now we're at 3 bottles). There was also a bottle of champagne on our room when we got there but we thought it was one of the pay as you use items. Found out on the 5th night that it was ours to drink or take home. Not sure how we deserved it but it was a nice surprise. Speaking of room items, the frig isn't a frig at all, it's a place they store items you can purchase. Cokes, candies and waters. I asked why it wasn't cold because I wanted to put the bottle mom won in there to chill it and we were told it does not get cold. The stateroom attendant will chill anything and return it when we wanted it.

 

The 3rd day was Cozumel, I didn't book any excursions because mom does not really want to do water things and we have traveled to Mexico a lot in the past. We just got off the ship and shopped a little.

 

Our 4th day I booked the helicopter ride, which was $189 per person. We got notice placed in our room after dinner that the excursion was cancelled and the money will be placed on our ship board credit. I was rather upset because the other tour I wanted was now sold out (the trolley). The next morning I was glad. It was pouring rain in Grand Cayman & we just waited on ship for a hour or two and it stopped. I found our later the helicopter was a 15 minute ride !! I had done a similar ride / price in Alaska and it was a couple hours long and landed on a glacier. I would of felt ripped off if I had gone for just 15 minutes.

 

The 5th day was Jamaica and we did the 1700'S GREAT HOUSE & PLANTATION TOUR WITH LUNCH. Let's just say I wouldn't do this again. 100's of people going there to start their tour & stop at this plantation and it is PACKED !! The River Tubing, the zipline, the Good Hope Great House, Amazing race, to name a few. I would of preferred a tour of the town or some real culture.

 

 

More to come later, if there is a interest ~ getting tired of typing

 

I can't seen to be able to attach pictures? Can anyone help me ?

[hince57]

good to hear it went well

[gambler]

Great start, Thank-you. Yes! we want more. Sailing this Sunday. Did you use internet? Wondering how is is working. Last year it was not so good.

[spookwife]

 

We had a balcony room on the 8th floor and actually keep the door opened all the nights we were on the ship. You just can't open the inside door at the same time or you think your in a time tunnel. Things fly everywhere. not very smart overall as you taxed the system for more than just your cabin by making it work harder to offset the outside temp and humidity. the system covers several cabins.

 

I can't seen to be able to attach pictures? Can anyone help me ?

 

 

pictures have to be hosted on sites like Photobucket first, them you copy/paste the URL to your post.

[Markanddonna]

Did they offer dance lessons on the covered ice rink floor during the day? We had that on the Mariner and loved it!

[JimAOk1945]

Glad to hear you and your mom and a nice cruise. We were on the Navigator last month and had a great cruise as well. It's a fantastic ship, the crew is friendly and attentive, the food is good, entertainment is nice, and the ports of call are always a lot of fun.

 

Cruising is a great way to travel.

Edited May 15, 2015 by JimAOk1945

[kpgibbs]

I would love to hear more. Going on her in October.

[Katbeatina]

Great start, Thank-you. Yes! we want more. Sailing this Sunday. Did you use internet? Wondering how is is working. Last year it was not so good.

 

We chose not to pay for their WIFI - It would of been over $1000 for both of us for the week and I just wanted to unplug. On the ports I would power up for a quick hello - i'm fine call but then turned the phones off. It was amazing to watch people who did do the internet package, they were literally glued to the phones. I think you miss a big part of cruising and meeting people around you when all you see is your little screen of your phone, you miss so much but thats JMHO

 

One observation mom and I found is if you buy the water in your room it cost $4.95 BUT of you get some (same size and all) at the casino bar, it's $2.35.

 

Mom and I both wanted to *win a cruise* and paid to join the slot tournament for $25 a pop to try. We did have fun but out of the 100 people who joined in, remember there is only ONE winner and if they don't get enough people to pay to play there is no free cruise, it's a cash prize.

 

In Grand Caymon we found out the hard way that if you pay with US money they tack on a extra 25%, At least this was at Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville that we noticed this. Nachos on the menu was $18 but when the bill came it was $24, same with Red Stripe beer ??? Not sure of the other locations.

[Katbeatina]

Did they offer dance lessons on the covered ice rink floor during the day? We had that on the Mariner and loved it!

 

Not sure - we went to see the ice show but nothing else there. wasn't really impressed with the show - there were 6 slips and falls on the one we watched.

[Paulette3028]

Not sure - we went to see the ice show but nothing else there. wasn't really impressed with the show - there were 6 slips and falls on the one we watched.

 

At the time you were seeing the ice show was the ship a little turbulent. I have seen several ice shows on various ships and marvel at how few (sometimes none at all) falls happen. After all, if the ship is experiencing even slight turbulence, it will affect the skaters much more than anyone walking.

[CCC3]

Sailing on the Navigator in 15 days! How were the beds & pillows?

[DaNana]

Great start, Thank-you. Yes! we want more. Sailing this Sunday. Did you use internet? Wondering how is is working. Last year it was not so good.

 

We were on the last of November 2014-December 2014. I am in online university and bought the WIFI. We are diamond and got a discount. Cost was just over $200. It worked great. My husband had it for his phone and I had it for my notebook. I spent quite a bit of time on it, never got kicked out. There were some slow times but not bad. I would do it again.

Edited May 16, 2015 by DaNana

[Katbeatina]

We had a balcony room on the 8th floor and actually keep the door opened all the nights we were on the ship. You just can't open the inside door at the same time or you think your in a time tunnel. Things fly everywhere. not very smart overall as you taxed the system for more than just your cabin by making it work harder to offset the outside temp and humidity. the system covers several cabins.

 

We spoke with our room attendant and the maintenance supervisor about this (since we had him in the room to check out why our frig did not get cold).

They both stated the sliding door onto the patio has a switch, when the door is opened it turns off any heat or air in the room.

[Katbeatina]

Sailing on the Navigator in 15 days! How were the beds & pillows?

 

Wonderful ! We liked everything about the room. We had the beds separated into 2 twins and we both slept great ! TONS of storage places also in the rooms, more then we would expect.

[mareed]

In Grand Caymon we found out the hard way that if you pay with US money they tack on a extra 25%, At least this was at Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville that we noticed this. Nachos on the menu was $18 but when the bill came it was $24, same with Red Stripe beer ??? Not sure of the other locations.

 

I'm pretty sure the price difference is because the prices are listed in Cayman Dollars, and it's the conversion to US Dollars that you were seeing. I definitely found that purchasing anything in Grand Cayman was quite expensive when I bought a frozen drink on the beach and didn't get much change back from my $20 bill! Almost like on the ship now! :p

[Katbeatina]

We had wonderful people sitting at our dinner table, they really made the evening enjoyable. We met another couple that had gone on the ship because it was their anniversary. They had requested a table for two, wanting more romance & quiet time I guess, but I heard later they missed chatting & getting to know others.

 

I took door decorations to put up and was glad I did. It's hard to find your room when they all look the same. I had taken some paper signs and scotch tape but found later the doors are metal and I could of done the magnetic thingy. I had gone on Carnival before that took magnetic signs and they wouldn't stick. SO I guess you never know. I liked putting them outside on the balcony when we are in port (then take them right down) so I can take a picture from shore and see where our room was but both times we docked we were on the wrong side of the ship and in Grand Caymon, then tender you to shore.

 

I believe it was Wednesday night on the ship they have a $10 shopping night. Lots of watches, purses, scarves and souvenir stuff is just $10 with no tax. It got kind of crazy there but was fun. More cheap souvenir stuff later in the sailing. Discounts up to 75% off.

[Paulette3028]

Has anyone reading this thread been on the Navigator prior to its refurb and then again after the refurb, who can offer some comments about the changes?

 

We are sailing on her 11/22/15 sailing and we were on her back in Feb 2004, so curious to hear from a cruiser who has been on her before and after Navigators refurb.

 

Thanks!

[Sat1]

The Dungeon is replaced by the Mexican food restaurant Sabor. The disco is now in the Cosmopolitan room, deck 14. Flow Rider added. New TV's.

[Paulette3028]

The Dungeon is replaced by the Mexican food restaurant Sabor. The disco is now in the Cosmopolitan room, deck 14. Flow Rider added. New TV's.

 

I knew that the FlowRider was added, which I very much enjoy doing.....so I am very glad about that. We cruised on NOS in 2004 on our first cruise and barely remember much about the ship herself. What we knew was that we enjoyed the experience and now getting a chance to cruise on her again, with a much more 'seasoned' eye.

[LTCSZ]

Any chance you could post a copy of the MDR dinner menu? And, was the front (sorry, "bow"!) area open for sitting and later in the evenings for stargazing? Thanks for all of the good information.

Edited May 17, 2015 by LTCSZ

[Paulette3028]

Any chance you could post a copy of the MDR dinner menu? And, was the front (sorry, "bow"!) area open for sitting and later in the evenings for stargazing? Thanks for all of the good information.

 

Stargazing....fun from any outside area of a ship....looking forward to sailing on NOS in November.

[greeneyesviv]

Thank you for the review. I have one question. Do the cabins have alarm clocks? On previous ships they didn't hoping they put them in the rooms during the refurbish.

[cruisevv]

Thanks for the review. I'm curious...how do you know which are the booze cruises? Is the size of the ship, the itinerary (i.e. trans-anything is less likely to be boozy?), or something else. Thanks!

[Wilson]

Thank you for the review. I have one question. Do the cabins have alarm clocks? On previous ships they didn't hoping they put them in the rooms during the refurbish.

 

We were on the same cruise.

No alarm clocks were in our Junior Suite. We put the cell phone on airplane mode and used it's alarm. I understand you can program a wake-up call on your cabin phone.

[greeneyesviv]

We were on the same cruise.

No alarm clocks were in our Junior Suite. We put the cell phone on airplane mode and used it's alarm. I understand you can program a wake-up call on your cabin phone.

 

Thank you :)