Recent Grandeur of the Seas Cruisers

[shay1]

Hello,

 

Would appreciate any information you can give us on the Granduer. We have not sailed on this ship before. This is also our first time sailing over the Christmas Holidays. Any tips would be appreciated.

 

For those who just returned from a recent Western Cruise on the Granduer tell me what time they got off the ship in Costa Maya? By our docs it shows we are to be in port from 12:00 pm to 8:00pm.

 

Can you also tell me what time you got off the ship in Cozumel (tendered)? Our docs show arrival at Cozumel 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

 

How long did it take to tender in to Cozumel? Did you have to get tickets?

 

Did anyone try to snorkel off the beach while in Cozumel?

 

Merry Christmas to all!

[egdr22]

Hi! We just got off the Grandeur on Thursday. This was our second RCCL cruise, our first was on the Brilliance in the Med. this past summer. The ship is beautifully decorated for Christmas. I thought that the crew was friendlier and the food better than on the Brilliance. We had the 5 night Cozumel and Grand Cayman itinerary. The tenders in Cozumel are big and did not require tender tickets. We were in Cozumel by 8.

 

Just let me know if I can answer any other questions! :)

Merry Christmas~~Emilie

[DDnRD]

First off Merry Cristmas to All, We are booked on the Grandeur out of Tampa on 1/5, was just wondering on how the ship was, and how the weather was. We live in Florida, but it's been pretty cool down here. Will I be packing short & t-shirts? How cool does it get at night? I'll take any info you can give me.

Thanks in advance, may you all have happy & safe holiday...............

Debbie:D

[egdr22]

We had a great time. I'm sure you will too. As far as the weather is concerned. We are also from Florida...we live right outside of Tampa. I guess it all depends on your perspective. We had 2 days at sea, one at the begining and one at the end. On these days, I wore jeans around the ship. It was way too cool and windy for me to even think about putting on a bathing suit, but there were many who wore their suits and were swimming. On the 2 port days we were swimming and snorkeling and the weather was just great...around 85 degrees both days. I would have liked for the days at sea to be a bit warmer, but other than that the weather was fine.

 

Let me know if I can provide any other answers.

~Emilie

[DDnRD]

Emilie,

Thanks for the reply. I'm thinking of capri's with a light jacket on sea days. I will bring a pair of jeans to be on the safe side.

We are in Palm Harbor, just north of Clearwater.

 

Thanks again,

Debbie

[egdr22]

Debbie,

We live just south of Brandon. You should be fine with that. You'll definitely want that jacket for the evenings as well. Have fun....wish I was going again! :)

Emilie

[shay1]

Emilie,

 

Thank you for answering. Glad to know they have the ship all decorated.

 

How were the shows and the food?

 

Where did you snorkel at on Cozumel? How were the reefs? We have been to Cozumel a lot and were sad to hear all the damage to this beautiful island.

 

Did you book on or off the ship?

 

We live in Sarasota/Bradenton area and we are looking forward to some warm weather so we can get under the water in Cozumel.

 

Merry Christmas.

[egdr22]

How were the shows and the food?

I thought the food was very good, but I'm not too picky. There was always plenty to eat. I thought the shows were great too. IMO better than the shows that we saw on the Brilliance this past summer. There were two main production shows (My Romance and a broadway one). I really liked both, but had to leave half way through the broadway one as the theater was too warm and the boat rocking too much. My mom stayed and really enjoyed it. On the other hand, my husband, dad, and brother did not enjoy these...I guess it all depends on taste.

Besides the production shows there were also a comedian, a magician, and 2 comedian jugglers. I enjoyed these as well...especially the magician.

 

Where did you snorkel at on Cozumel? How were the reefs? We have been to Cozumel a lot and were sad to hear all the damage to this beautiful island.

In Cozumel, the hurricane damage is very evident...very sad. Our taxi driver showed us an area that he referred to as "the area the cruise ships won't take you". In Cozumel, we went on our own to Paradise Beach...you can tell they've done alot to try to fix it up. I didn't snorkel here; my mom and brother did, but didn't see much.

We went on a snorkeling tour in Grand Cayman. There were people on our tour who had done some reefs in Cozumel the day before and also reported that they didn't see too much, or at least not compared to GC.

 

Did you book on or off the ship?

We booked our GC snorkel tour on the ship.

 

We live in Sarasota/Bradenton area and we are looking forward to some warm weather so we can get under the water in Cozumel.

We were in Sarasota last night...my in-laws live there. We used to too, but moved up closer to Tampa about a year ago. DH still works in Sarasota though...not a fun commute everyday. Merry Christmas to you too! I'm happy to answer any other questions. :)

[Schasz]

We were just on the Dec. 17th Grandeur cruise and I would agree that the food was fine, and the shows I saw were also good. We enjoyed our cruise.

 

We did a catamaran snorkel excursion that we did enjoy even though you could easily see the havoc that Wilma wreaked on Cozumel. The people we spoke to on the catamaran proved to us that the people in Cozumel are a hearty bunch, and they will rebuild the island. By the way getting off on the tenders was a breeze IMHO. Enjoy your cruise on the Grandeur.

[con3]

Hi , We are doing the 5 night Granduer in April. My DH and kids are wondering if they are serving lobster? HOw were the shows? Thanks!

[Schasz]

On our recent 5 day cruise they did serve lobster. They had prime rib on the first night. The formal night was the second night when they had the Captain's party.

 

I thought the shows we saw were fine. As someone has said in a previous post they had a comedian, magician, production shows (singing and dancing) and a jugglers. We missed the comedian and the magic shows but the rest of the shows were fine. We did go to the late night show of the comedian and none of us thought he was funny...cannot even remmeber his name. We left before it was over.

[con3]

Thanks for the info! If they didn't serve lobster my DH and son would be heartbroken:D

[Schasz]

I believe we had the lobster on night four along with shrimp cocktail...I believe they served shrimp cocktail two nights. We really enjoyed our waiter (Elsie) and our Asst. Waiter Francisco. Elsie was very sweet and always wanting to please us. She was good about telling us what to expect the next day and asking how the food was...if someone in our group did not like something then she was quick to bring a different dish. Our group always tries to have fun at dinner too and it is great when the wait staff participates in the fun as Elsie and Francisco did. We also thought the food was good too. You shouldn't have any problems dining on the Grandeur.

[CruiseManiaK]

What time did you get to the port and how was embarkment? Also did anyone spend very much time in the casino? How was it and did you notice if there were any nickel slots?

[kenf333]

What time did you get to the port and how was embarkment? Also did anyone spend very much time in the casino? How was it and did you notice if there were any nickel slots?

 

Just got off 12/26 we arrived at the port at 12, and were on ship in 10 minutes. Spent way too much time in casino, and yes they have nickel slots, the casino is pretty big for the size of the ship, plenty of machines, and tables.

[CruiseManiaK]

Just got off 12/26 we arrived at the port at 12, and were on ship in 10 minutes. Spent way too much time in casino, and yes they have nickel slots, the casino is pretty big for the size of the ship, plenty of machines, and tables.

 

 

Thanks alot for answering those questions, I have been reading alot about the ship, but just havent found too many specifics like these. Do you happen to remember what time the casino opened on the first night? I have sailed out of Tampa on Carnival and I think that I remember it opening kind of late because it takes a while to get out into international waters. Also since you were on the ship at about 12 were you able to get into your room very early or did you have to wait till 2pm or so?

[kenf333]

Thanks alot for answering those questions, I have been reading alot about the ship, but just havent found too many specifics like these. Do you happen to remember what time the casino opened on the first night? I have sailed out of Tampa on Carnival and I think that I remember it opening kind of late because it takes a while to get out into international waters. Also since you were on the ship at about 12 were you able to get into your room very early or did you have to wait till 2pm or so?

 

It does take a while to get out of port, into international waters, if I remember right it opened at 7:30, but dont hold me to that. I know it was open at 9pm as that was the time I went down.Rooms will be ready by 1PM as the signs on the closed doors indicated. I did see many sneak through a different open coridor to get to there rooms with no trouble.

We arrived at the port at 11:58 and was on ship at windjamer by 1215.

Hope this helps.

[CruiseManiaK]

It does take a while to get out of port, into international waters, if I remember right it opened at 7:30, but dont hold me to that. I know it was open at 9pm as that was the time I went down.Rooms will be ready by 1PM as the signs on the closed doors indicated. I did see many sneak through a different open coridor to get to there rooms with no trouble.

We arrived at the port at 11:58 and was on ship at windjamer by 1215.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes it does help out alot, I do have alot of questions I would like to ask, but I think that I want most of them to be a surprise, since this will be my first cruise with RCCL. What type of room did you have if you dont mind me asking? I am in a junior suite and was wondering if they have refrigrators in the suites if you happen to know. Thanks again

[sbbquilter]

We were totally spoiled doing b2b 12/17-26..... back and work and already planning the next cruise.

 

It does take awhile to clear the last suspension bridge (a neat sight at night) and get into international waters - Joe seems to remember that it was around 9pm before the casino opened.

 

Food was quite good mostly and certainly plenty to choose from. We ate mostly in the dining room because I enjoy being pampered - did get fruit early in the Windjammer before we woke the boys up. Our dining room waiter was outstanding and the head waiter was very nice and visited regularly- even arranged for us to have Tomas as our waiter the second cruise.

 

For those of you who enjoy walking - get up by 7 am and walk on deck 5 to enjoy the sunrise without all the wind of deck 10!

 

In GC we had a blast on a "snorkle and stringray sandbar" trip through Soto's Cruise- made the reservation via e-mail.

 

Do allow for cooler weather the first and last day- I found that capris and a lightweight knit twin set was perfect. We enjoyed the solarium pool a great place those days.

 

Have a great time- wish we were going along.