Mariner review with photos

[drneal]

7 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

I have made reservations for 6:45 for all 4 nights. I f we decide to eat at a different time should I notify the maitre d'?  Is there any difficulty getting a table for 4? By the way, thank you for your gracious replies. You are very helpful☺

 

Table for 4 was never a problem.

When I changed my time I notified the head waiter so I could be in his section.

All the servers we had were good but I tipped the head waiter the second night.

I would tip our waiter individually every night.

It's fun re-visiting my trip.

[drneal]

7 hours ago, The Sunset Glow said:

Thanks for the great review!

 

We are going on the Mariner 5 night on January 30th. I went to start the check-in process and it said we had been selected for Expedited Arrival using the app on a smartphone. Did you use the app for anything - check-in prior to, expedited arrival at the terminal, or while on board? If so, I have some questions.

1) Do you need data or wifi to use the app at the terminal or on board? We are from Canada and turn our phones to airplane mode while out of the country. We don't plan on buying internet package and will just use our free days from C&A.

2) Can you message each other through the app while on board without an internet package?

 

Thanks!

 

The app is less than perfect.

I uploaded photos of the family and when I would look online before we went, the pictures were there.

When I got to the port there were no pictures.  Even so check-in took all of 10 min at noon.

You can use the wifi on the ship without paying for internet to use the app.  We kept our phones on airplane mode.

There is no messaging on the RCI app as there is on Norwegian. Basically the app is used as the cruise compass and keeps track of your onboard account.  It's worth using but it would be much better with messaging, which I think they are working on.

[The Sunset Glow]

1 hour ago, drneal said:

 

The app is less than perfect.

I uploaded photos of the family and when I would look online before we went, the pictures were there.

When I got to the port there were no pictures.  Even so check-in took all of 10 min at noon.

You can use the wifi on the ship without paying for internet to use the app.  We kept our phones on airplane mode.

There is no messaging on the RCI app as there is on Norwegian. Basically the app is used as the cruise compass and keeps track of your onboard account.  It's worth using but it would be much better with messaging, which I think they are working on.

 

Thank you for the info 🙂

[parothead]

thanks for all the great pics and info so looking forward to our Dec cruise

[afergvip]

When do reservations for the escape room and private lessons open up? Do you know? 

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, afergvip said:

When do reservations for the escape room and private lessons open up? Do you know? 

 

Unfortunately, no set time.  Keep checking.

[MANDMTRAVEL]

THANKS!!

[LBumb]

Great pics

[kelbell]

We also we will be on her Dec 2019. Your review and pics 

are fabulous, thats alot of work, thank you for doing it.

[jalee7]

Very great review. 

[grapau27]

On 1/4/2019 at 2:27 AM, drneal said:

Tour of the inside public spaces

 

Hallway by forward elevator.

 

Glass elevators at the front of the ship

 

 

They have these lucite ship maps throughout the ship.

 

The promenade on Deck 5 with shops, bars and food.

 

 

 

Late night pizza line

 

 

Pizza...they also have desserts, sandwiches, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

 

You can fill your unlimited soda cups throughout the ship.

 

 

I enjoyed listening to these guys.

 

The sports bar

 

 

 

The pub

 

 

Nate Goodlet

 

Before the cruise I was looking forward to trying the Bamboo Room, however, once I was on the ship I usually went where they had the live music.

 

 

 

 

Moving all the way forward on deck 5

 

The Star lounge

 

...it gets busy at Bingo so go early.

The bar in the star lounge
 

 

The library is just outside of the Star Lounge
 

 

moving down one deck to Deck 4

 

Forward 

 

 

the theater

 

Moving slightly aft but still forward....

 

 The Schooner bar with nightly live piano music

 

The casino separates the Schooner bar from Boleros.

 

Boleros, a latin themed bar with rum drinks and live latin music and salsa dancing.

 

Across from Boleros the ever present Starbucks.

 

Moving down to deck 3

 

The main dining room

 

The MDR spans decks 3,4,5

with 4 and 5 being for regular dining and deck 3 for My Time Dining.

 

Menus and dailies to follow.

 

Great pictures,very helpful review.

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Great pictures,very helpful review.

Please be kind to folks who need to scroll (and perhaps BW limited) and don't quote in full picture filled posts like that.

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

Please be kind to folks who need to scroll (and perhaps BW limited) and don't quote in full picture filled posts like that.

Sorry.

I automatically clicked on quote as the photos were excellent and I wanted to show my appreciation to the poster.

I didn't mean to offend and will take on board what you suggested.

Graham.

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I automatically clicked on quote as the photos were excellent and I wanted to show my appreciation to the poster.

The Like/Thanks button in the lower right corner of the post works well for that. 👌

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

The Like/Thanks button in the lower right corner of the post works well for that. 👌

Yes thanks.

I use the like button quite regularly now.

[Carolina Girl 99]

I'm about 95% sure were booking Mariner in Feb 2020 for my son's birthday. Caught me off guard that the prices are almost the same for this cruise as they are for some of the other 7 night sailings we've done on other ships. Doesn't matter- the timing works for us, Port Canaveral is closer to us than Miami and we're bringing a first time cruiser with us who was nervous about doing a 7 night for his first. Really appreciate the nice , detailed review and pics- pretty much sold on this trip now!

[SAmome]

Nice to see a picture of the gym, but the ghosts are scary. 😜

[pspercy]

Haven't been on Mariner for a few years, I hope the stairwell, hallway and elevator lobby art is still as good as it was, especially deck 6 🙂 I found it most enjoyable.