Mariner LIVE Review 4nt Bahamas Jan 6-10th

[kenevenpar]

I hope we get some of that weather this weekend!

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Great way to start the New Year. 

 

Thanks...yes it is!  🤩

 

We will be home 6 days, then off to PR for Vision B2B2B.  😉 

[island lady]

They just announced "Charlie Charlie Charlie"...which I have never heard before...(and hope it's a drill).  

 

It's means a security issue.  

[davekathy]

23 minutes ago, island lady said:

They just announced "Charlie Charlie Charlie"...which I have never heard before...(and hope it's a drill).  

 

It's means a security issue.  

Damn. They found out I'm a stowaway on your ship. 

[Ubiquitous Cruiser]

Tao was in the DL when we were there in Nov ... You are right! He is superb and balances the blend between attentiveness and solace.

 

Some in another thread are asking if the DL is still in use ... something about it closing in 2020 ... Have you seen some folks going in/out or perhaps using the overflow Viking Crown during happy hour?

[kruzerci]

17 minutes ago, Ubiquitous Cruiser said:

 

Some in another thread are asking if the DL is still in use ... something about it closing in 2020 ... 

That’s Majesty not Mariner. Majesty never had a DL, but the nightly diamond event is rumored to be discontinued. 

[Ubiquitous Cruiser]

15 minutes ago, kruzerci said:

That’s Majesty not Mariner. Majesty never had a DL, but the nightly diamond event is rumored to be discontinued. 

Doh! Thanks!

[island lady]

4 hours ago, davekathy said:

Damn. They found out I'm a stowaway on your ship. 

 

How are accommodations in the brig?  😄  

[island lady]

3 hours ago, Ubiquitous Cruiser said:

Tao was in the DL when we were there in Nov ... You are right! He is superb and balances the blend between attentiveness and solace.

 

Some in another thread are asking if the DL is still in use ... something about it closing in 2020 ... Have you seen some folks going in/out or perhaps using the overflow Viking Crown during happy hour?

 

The DL is alive and well, and very much used.  Though I miss seeing Tao in the DL, (agree he is fantabulous!) he has transferred to the SL,  ...but Leo is great as replacement!  

 

Overflow into the VCL, which we have used half the time, is very nice .....especially with that view.  We like sitting at the circle bar.  

Edited January 8, 2020 by island lady

[davekathy]

6 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

How are accommodations in the brig?  😄  

And I thought inside cabins were small. 😲

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, davekathy said:

And I thought inside cabins were small. 😲

 

LOL...I will try to smuggle you down some wine.  🍷  Can't have my DS friend go thirsty!!  😲

[johnstoc13]

4 hours ago, fishernrex said:

Great review so far!  Thanks for taking us along -  Do you know if Chops is open for lunch on the 3 day trip for embarkation?  

I don’t know for certain, but I would assume so. It was open for us, and included in the Unlimited Dining Package!

[davekathy]

11 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

LOL...I will try to smuggle you down some wine.  🍷  Can't have my DS friend go thirsty!!  😲

Once again a DS looking out for another DS. How about some cheese from my rat friend, Harley. Glad to read the DL is alive and well. 🍷🍻

[island lady]

7 minutes ago, johnstoc13 said:

I don’t know for certain, but I would assume so. It was open for us, and included in the Unlimited Dining Package!

 

Don't know either...but it is listed today for lunch from Noon to 1:30.  

Edited January 8, 2020 by island lady

[johnstoc13]

DAY #3 - Nassau, Bahamas

 

Woke up just in time for our Nassau arrival and docking. Always fun to watch, so I ran down to the promenade for an Americano and back up to the room to enjoy the views from our balcony.

 

 

Next we got ready and headed to Chops for breakfast...suite benefit. Breakfast was good as always. Here’s the menu.

 

Next off the ship to go explore Bay St and some quick souvenir shopping. We had about 90min to burn and this was plenty of time for a quick run. Found what we were looking for and then made our way back to the pier to meet for our shore excursion. More on this soon!

[island lady]

6 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Once again a DS looking out for another DS. How about some cheese from my rat friend, Harley. Glad to read the DL is alive and well. 🍷🍻

 

Oh...excellent idea, room service calling!  I also have "George" the bilge rat with me on all cruises...he is next to me checking out the cookies I brought down from the lounge for Bucky...will send him down with some of those also.  😄 

[schlimazel_traveler]

I agree that the South Beach beach bed setup was lovely. We are on the Grandeur and shared Coco Cay with you yesterday. My husband and one of our travel companions are visible in your photograph! Great location. 

[island lady]

Great pictures!  🙂  

 

Indeed was a beautiful morning coming into port.  Weather has been absolutely perfect here!  

[island lady]

1 minute ago, schlimazel_traveler said:

I agree that the South Beach beach bed setup was lovely. We are on the Grandeur and shared Coco Cay with you yesterday. My husband and one of our travel companions are visible in your photograph! Great location. 

 

Grandeur was looking good!  🙂  

[johnstoc13]

Excursion time! We visited Blue Lagoon Island and did the Beach Day as we’ve done several times in the past. It was much different than we have experienced in the past. We had a 10:45am meeting time and schedule to arrive at the lagoon at 11:45. We arrived about 20min late.

 

After we got off the tender, we were a bit shocked to see at least 3x as many loungers as before. It seems business is great and they have expanded greatly. They now have paved walkways, a couple new bars, and a huge restaurant.

 

 

 

 

Food was good as we remembered. Next we found our way to a couple empty loungers and did some relaxing and reading. Next a dip in the lagoon.

 

There were tenders leaving at 1:15, 2:15, & 4. Unfortunately, they now have a PA system and made continuous announcements at tender times. While certainly a good thing to help remind cruisers, we found it to be distracting and took much away from our usual experience there.

 

All in all, if this was my first experience to Blue Lagoon for a beach day we would have enjoyed it. However, I think we’d honestly stay on the ship next time in Nassau. Blue Lagoon is now overly crowded for us and not worth the trip. There used to be tons of open space, hammocks all over, and it was a hidden and quiet gem. Now it’s a tourist haven for dolphin encounters, sea lion kisses, and enough loungers for the 4 cruise ships in port today. We saw passengers from Carnival, Norwegian, and Disney all there. Sorry Blue Lagoon!! Just my humble opinion. 

[johnstoc13]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

Great pictures!  🙂  

 

Indeed was a beautiful morning coming into port.  Weather has been absolutely perfect here!  

Thank you!

[johnstoc13]

1 hour ago, schlimazel_traveler said:

I agree that the South Beach beach bed setup was lovely. We are on the Grandeur and shared Coco Cay with you yesterday. My husband and one of our travel companions are visible in your photograph! Great location. 

Oh how funny! Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did!

[johnstoc13]

A few more pics from today...

 

 

Disney Dream was looking good! Just saw Pluto up on the pool deck shaking hands and saying hello next to Mariner.

 

And the obligatory Atlantis photo...

 

Back on the ship now, all showered and ready to head out. Dinner tonight is at Jamie’s Italian so more on that later. I will post the compasses from the first 3 days next. Talk later everyone!

[johnstoc13]

Day 1 - Compass

 

 

 

 

[johnstoc13]

Day 2 - Compass