VOS review 1/28/06-2/4/06

[Laurie996]

Okay this is kind of short because my family and I didn't get home til midnight last night so here it goes.....

 

Saturday--Sea day

Do not believe what RCCL tells you about boarding time at 2pm. We were on the pool deck by 12:30 having lunch at the Windjammer buffett. Our staterooms were not available until 1pm but that was fine with us.

Our cruise director was Rico. My son who is 16 went to the sports deck and instantly made friends from England, Canada and Ohio. So needless to say that was a weight off my shoulders. Dinner was just okay. I can't remember what we ate but our waiter was Valent and our assistant waiter was May. The head waiter was Karl we sat at table 534 which is on deck 5 (the magic flute).

The show was a comedian he was just okay to me. They had a parade that evening which was okay as well. So far honestly after my 4th cruise I wasn't that impressed. We sailed NOS in 04 and had a better time.

 

Sunday---Sea day

Pool deck was croweded. We ate in the Windjammer again for breakfast and lunch. My suggestion to you is if you don't want to be in a heard of cattle eat in the dining room on deck 3 or 4. What a difference. No rushing, hot food, and personalized service.

We played bingo which by the way was a minuim of $35 just for the basic pack. If you get a chance volenteer (spelling) to check the callers balls to make sure the numbers are all there. Our friend ended up getting 2 drinks, a key chain and a bingo shirt. Not bad.

The weather was good but windy. The canceled the mens belly flop contest because it started to rain. I went to the casino and played slots and won $200 but of course gave it all back so RCCL could build more ships LOL.

We didn't see the show that evening so I can't help you out there.

 

Monday---Labadee

Wheather was hot, hot hot. We went to the market and if you liked to be bother to death than this place is for you. Everyone wants you to look in there shops and to be honest I didn't buy a thing. We watched our friend parasail and sat on the beach and had a good barbaque lunch that RCCL provided you with. We watched the dancers and looked at the beautiful waters.

We ate in the dining room that evening as well.

 

Tuesday---Ocho Rios

We went to Dunn River falls. Booked with Island Marketing and had a awesome time. We sailed on the Cool Jazz boat with Mark as our captain. We went snorkling and went to the falls. I could not climb because of a disability I have in my foot so we just stayed on the pier and watched people go up. We had a wonderful time and I would highly recomended them.

I was so tired from the sun that I stopped by the cafe on deck 5 when we returned and had a couple pieces of pizza and a couple cookies and didn't see daylight until the next morning.

 

Wed----Grand Cayman

We booked with Moby dick tours for stingray city. Another awesome time. We took a short bus ride to meet our tour boat the Eastern Skies. They had punch and water on board for us. They explained everything we needed to know about the stingrays and this also included snorkling so for those who didn't not know how they were very helpful with instructions.

If you go to Grand Cayman do not miss the stingrays. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!

We did not shop because there was 5 or 6 ships and plus I like to bargin shop and there was none of that in Grand Cayman. Friends that were with us said things were expensive.

 

Thursday---Cozumel

You needed a tender ticket to get off the ship so if you want to go early I suggest you go to deck 5 at 8am and get a number. If you had booked a shore excursion with the ship you did not need one. Friends and I waited until 11:30 or so and by then they just told us to go to deck 1 and get off. We had a nice lunch at a place overlooking the marketplace and we did some shopping. Everything is in peso's so I finally figured out that if they want 250 peso's it 25 american dollars. Consider me stupid but I had no clue. Do not give them what they as for make sure to make them an offer. Start to walk away and they will say okay. This is my favorite place for ports.

Make sure you participate in the adult game show (The Quest) you will laugh your butt off. It is a do not miss thing. I have never laughed so hard in my life.

Gala buffet was awesome. Go early to the preview and take lots of pictures. We stood in line for the picture taking and by the time we were done it was time to devour all the food. Wow what a feast.

 

Friday---Sea day

Everyone was trying to get some last minute sun so needless to say pool chairs we limited. Do not miss Portifinos. Pay the $20 dollars you will not be disapointed. The food is the best we had all week. The service is outstanding. The flourless chocolate cake is out of this world.

We had lunch a Johnny Rockets and our friends danced with the waiters. It is a lot of fun. Finally they had the mens sexiest legs contest and the mens belly flop conest. These were cute and fun. I packed and did my tips and it was good night for me.

 

Sat----Disemebarking

They started announcements at 6:30am. So needless to say I have a wake up call for 7am but that didn't work. We had pink colored tags which meant were the last off the ship. Hurry up and wait is what I say. Customs was a breeze. It was just the long longs and the crabby people getting off the ship. The taxi ride for the 2 of us was $24 to MIA. Our flight was leaving at 1:54pm but we decided to take a bump and didn't leave MIA until 6:30pm because of all the delays.

 

Okay in a nutshell.......

Portifinos---do not miss!!!

The Quest---do not miss!!!

Gala buffett---do not miss!!!

 

Moby Dick Tours for Grand Cayman was great!!!---Stingray City

Island Marketing for Ocho Rios---Dunn River falls!!!

 

People with teenagers beware. If your concerned with your teen underage drinking or being able to get alcohol it is readily available. I was shocked when my son brought home a bottle of Tequila from Cozumel and I was shocked when RCCL delivered it to our stateroom. Let the truth be known that if they teens want it they can get it.

 

If you have any questions that I can answer please feel free to ask.

I will tell you that I had a better time on the NOS compared to the VOS. I believe the service was better on NOS and the food was also better. All in all we did have a great time.

 

Laurie

 

PS---Sorry for all the misspelling it is not my strong point

[bookgirl]

Thanks for the review! I enjoyed reading it.

[teresapink]

Thanks for the review. We are going on VOS in April and were on NOS last April. I had a feeling it might be a bit of a disappointment. I'm going to look for the positives only and sail on the newer ships only from now on!

 

T

[newhampshiregirl]

Many thanks for your review. I really appreciated your feedback. We are on Voyager on 2/25 so we are interested in anything regarding the cruise. Also was interested in the information about teens and alcohol (our son is 15 1/2). Did you find this just in ports or also on the ship? I want to make sure he will not be given any alcohol o the ship.

Thanks

[BillfromWV]

for the reveiw, excellent job. Did you get to Grand Cayman on time and how was the tendering. The family is on the ship next week and we have a tour (not ship sponsored) that meets at 900. Will we be able to make it. You mentioned getting tendering tickets at Cozumel, did they have tickets available at Grand Cayman?

Thanks for your insights.

Bill

[san4u2]

Thanks for all the information I will be on VOS Saturday with 2 teenagers. I too would like to know if the alcohol was on ship or on the islands?:confused:

[kenandlaura06]

Thanks for the review.

[yogimax]

Not always so regarding boarding. We were on the January 7th cruise and arrived at the pier at 1:30PM. No one had boarded at that point. Boarding did begin a little before 2Pm, but the majority did not get onboard until after 2 due to the crowds.

[Laurie996]

Okay about the tendering the only time you needed a tender ticket was in Cozumel. As mentioned we got off the ship at 11:30am and did not need a tender ticket. We didn't have anything planned.

Alcohol with teens....well I will be honest with you my son who is 16 was able to purchase a whole bottle of tequila in Cozumel bring it back through security on the ship I'm sure knowing that he was under 18 and had it delivered to our room on Friday. Cozumel will serve anyone I guess and RCCL doesn't care either from what I can see.

As far as boarding as mentioned for us we were on by 12:30pm. This is all I can say :)

 

Laurie