LONG LONG review Voyager 6/27 great!

[torontoflo]

OK here it is....along with this I will answer any questions....

 

The cruise was fabulous. We flew in from TN the day before the cruise and stayed at the Best Western Airport West due to the shuttle. They offer a shuttle to the pier and back at $20 Per Room each way. We (my husband and I) went to the Liberty Science Museum and had a good time. They have an IMAX that is globe shaped. You can see the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty on the drive there and from the museum. My husband almost made me wreck our rent-a-car frantically trying to take a picture =).

 

We left for the cruise terminal at 1pm from the hotel. We left early because we were going on the NY harbor tour offered by RCCL. Took about 20 minutes to get there. The drop off spot was a little hectic due to people leaving and arriving at the same time....but smooth. We had eDocs so picked up our luggage tags from a little table right where we got out. Took 5 minutes. We then made our way into the terminal, which is an old warehouse, fixed up great. Through security and to check-in within moments. Some of the seasoned RCCL employees were training new hires at the check-in desk and this did not even slow the process down...smooth as I've ever seen. We got into the main waiting area, where there was lots of chairs and tables. A clown for the kids with toys (hula hoops, etc) and cookies, sandwiches, hotdogs, soda and water for FREE. We checked in for our excursion which was immediately to the left with no trouble. Our excursion was to leave at 3 but upon arrival were told we might leave earlier if everyone present. At abour 2:30 they started calling numbers to get on the boat....I was shocked. However, I bet this is variable depending on what time the previous cruise gets back and how quickly it is prepared so I still wouldn't get there too early b/c there might still be a wait.

 

We left for our excursion about 2:30, took a bus ride (about 45 minutes due to traffic) to the ferry boat, went across the Hudson river and boarded our tour boat. The sightseeing tour was 90 minutes and fantastic. It was beautiful weather and our tour guide was full of info. Went all over the harbor to all the sights. We got back to the ship at about 6:30.

 

Boarded the Voyager at the bottom and high tailed it up to the room (didn't want to miss dinner in the fancy room). We had a Junior Suite 9568. We had upgraded from a regular balcony to this room about a week before. My husband had broken his foot and I figured we could use the room. The room was huge with a walkin closet, a bathtub and a HUGE balcony. I almost think it was too much for the two of us but it was nice. Upon arrival, we also found that we had been moved to a table for two (which we had originally requested). Dinner was served in the dining room from 5:30 to ? with a mandatory muster drill at 8:15. It was open seating so we sat with another couple. The dinner was great. Muster drill at 8:15....met our room steward Eduardo (great!). Sailed from Bayonne at 10 with NYC skyline on the port side. We didn't go to the parade or any parties (too tired)

 

Day 2: Day at Sea

 

Lots to do on board. It was warm (low 70s) but not warm enough for me to be tanning like so many others. Had breakfast every morning in the Windjammer....they had a good selection of hot and cold foods. Nothing to complain about. Lost money in the casino all week =(

In the afternoon whales and dolphins were spotted. You could see them from there blow holes everywhere very cool. I explored the ship while my broken husband hung out in the room. I found the mini golf, basketball court, ice rink, screening room, etc without too much difficulty. The ship is enormous but once you get it down, piece of cake. This was formal night. Our waiter Teresa and asst Ashok were excellent. Teresa was almost scary in her ability to sense what was wrong or right etc....everything was always excellent.

 

Day 3: St John

 

Clear day (I was ready for this cool fog I had heard about). Nicest people on the planet. Greeted us at the dock with flowers, pins and flags. Free maps with instructions. There was a tent with gifts, they took Canadian and American money. We went on the St John Photography tour booked through the boat. It was great. The guide, Lance, gave all these great tips plus took us to all the sights. We are not photographers and just have a regular camera but it was great. He would help those who were photographers and give info about the sights too. We went to Monitcello, Reversing Falls, Loyalist graveyard, City Market. INFO on Bay of Fundy....you will not see the Bay with full water and then no water. It takes 6 hours for the tides to come in and out; however, you will see whirpools and lots of wildlife. It is neat how you can see the ocean pushing the river backwards. I only give this info b/c I heard people complaining who actually thought the water would rise and fall 50 feet while we stood there for 20 minutes. I heard the Bay of Fundy Up Close excursion and the Ride the Rapids were great. We got back to the boat around 1, shopped, and went to lunch in dining room. It was fine but I think I like the gluttony of the buffet for lunch =). Went to Vibeology show (a montage of rock and roll hits)...it was good. Lost more in the casino after we departed. This is where the freaky thing happened...(probably not that freaky don't get too excited)

 

I was in the casino playing until I was cross-eyed, knowing I was going to win millions of dollars (yeah right). In the casino you can not hear anything except the clanging of money. I finally left at about 11 ($40 richer, don't worry that was lost the next day within an hour), and I could have sworn I heard the horn. I knew we were still moving so I thought I obviously am losing it after all the time in the casino. So I made it back up to my husband who was asleep by now and was in the bathroom when I heard the horn again. I woke him up and asked him if he heard the horn too (he grumbled something and went back to sleep). Now for those of you who live somewhere it snows. You know what it's like when you do not know it has snowed and you open the door/window and everything is white. It's kind of weird. So I opened our balcony door to see what was up. There was a huge cloud on my balcony. The fog surprised me. It was cool. The horn was of course the fog horn so we didn't ram into anything. Get this people complained about the fog horn that you could barely hear (and I was in the front) b/c it went off every couple minutes during the night. The captain had to announce his apologies about this. I guess the complainers wanted us to ram into a cargo ship in the area =(

 

Day 4: Halifax

 

In the morning the fog lingered but it lifted by the time we were debarking. We went on the Peggy's Cove excursion offered by the ship at 9:30am (there was one at 1:45 too). The drive to the Cove is about an hour by bus. The guide, however, gives info the whole time and the drive is scenic. Peggy's Cove is a town of only 61 people with one gift shop and one restaurant. There were people from all over up there. The lighthouse was beautiful and plenty of rocks to climb all over. The tide was coming in so the waves were smashing into the rocks. It was foggy but looked great (actually I thought better). We got back to the boat around 1. There was a shopping area in the terminal. Ate lunch at the Windjammer, didn't go into town (it was about a 15 minute walk). Dinner was Italian night. Lost more money in Casino. The Platters were on board (didn't go).

 

Day 5: Day at Sea

 

The last day. Again lots to do on board. Lazed around. A little windy but people still crazy and in the pool (which were heated I heard). Jackpot Bingo was 7,600 dollars. Cards are $35 for a 6 pack of cards. I never played...lost money in casino instead. Had a Broadway type show and a comedian this night. Dinner was International night. Had the Tom Turkey, husband had the NY Strip. They have a wonderful array of cold soups that are fruity. My husband is a fruit nut and loved all of them.

 

Day 6: Debarkment

 

OK, this was fine. People complained like you would not imagine. Wait somewhere and just chill. Unless you are catching a flight at noon there is no need for the craziness. Because Voyager does not have a "official" terminal yet you must debark at deck 1 aft. Plus you do have to take a tram so the line moved in waves as people got on the trams (which hold a lot and are continuous). You must leave your cabin by 8. They said to wait in the Theater but anywhere in the Promenade, any of the bars, etc would be fine (just not in the Gangways on the way out). There was a bit of line getting off but I don't think people were waiting for there color. If I hadn't known the shuttle was waiting to take us to the airport I would have waited somewhere until the last moment.

 

Complainers: I heard numerous people say. "Such a good trip and they have to ruin it with this". 15 minutes of line waiting and these people's vacation was ruined. Insanity!! I do not know if I just have the patience of a saint but the people who complained about waiting in this line and other things was crazy. It may have been the crowd... I don't know. At dinner a woman proclaimed she did not like her soup. Her waiter said it would take a minute to get something else. The woman demanded new soup immediately. The waited said it would be a minute....continued, continued. Now I know cruises aren't the cheapest and people expect a lot, but I think everyone who cruises needs to take a step back and realize all the things these nice crew members do. You will never in ordinary circumstances receive the service, etc you get on a cruise ship. OK enough of my complaining.....

 

Thanks for reading my long review....I will answer any questions gladly

 

Megan

[Merion_Mom]

Megan, thank you, great write-up! Now I shall have to poll my children and ask them if we should leave earlier and hope to get on early but face the possibility of waiting for a couple/several hours just to get on board OR sleep late, leave later, and know that if we get there around 4, we are sure to get on board soon. Decisions, decisions. :)

 

I am sort of assuming that by the second week in August, it will be a lot warmer, even up in Canada. We aren't sunworshippers, but it's nice to lie outside on sea days.

 

Unless you left something out, you didn't do any Titanic stuff, did you?

 

Carol (I never heard anyone "complain" about the balcony being too large before! ;))

[westkid]

Hi Megan,

We were on that cruise with you and agree it was wonderful!

We enjoyed everything we did, no complaints about the food, the waiters and room stewards were fabulous.

 

But we may have been one of those complaining about the disembarking. It was not the waiting that bothered us at all, we patiently waited for our color to be called, the problem arose when leaving the Theater where they asked us to wait, no one could figure out how to get to deck one from there. The elevators and stairs did not go there, and no one was there to tell us that we had to go up to 5, then opposite side of the ship, then down to one, and then wait in line again. If they had someone telling people where to go, it would have gone smoother.

 

Next time I will not wait in the theater like they requested. Where were you waiting, and did you not have any trouble finding the right spot to disembark? As I mentioned in my review, this was my only complaint of the whole trip, and only about the organization, not the waiting. So if this was the worst thing that happened, I can live with it!! I cant wait to sail again!

[torontoflo]

MerionMom- No we didn't do any Titanic stuff and I never heard anyone talk about it. On our trip to Peggy's cove the guide pointed out the cemetary, but he didn't say anything else b/c people on this excursion were going on that excursion right after.

 

If you do go early, there is food (alot) and a band. There was no line either. The only problem would be if people were still getting off, but I think most the passengers were off and gone by the time we got there. They did start calling tram numbers at about 2-2:30, but again that could change.

 

Any other questions I'd be happy to answer.

 

Megan

[maharogie]

Thanks everyone for the information you have shared! Which elevetor on deck five should one use to get to deck 1 during disembakation? The ones at the front of the ship or those located at the rear? Also,knowing what you know now, where on the ship would you go to wait? Thanks again!:D

[cruisingrightalong]

We would love to travel to Canada on the East Coast at some point. However, you beat us to it! I am glad y'all had a great time! We knew you would!

 

Love,

Mom

[CaribbeanCruisesRock]

Sounds like you had fun.

[waterford3]

Thanks everyone for the information you have shared! Which elevetor on deck five should one use to get to deck 1 during disembakation? The ones at the front of the ship or those located at the rear? Also,knowing what you know now, where on the ship would you go to wait? Thanks again!:D

 

They use the aft elevators and stairs. We waited in Aquarium Bar near the Casino and it was very convenient. It did get crowded and all seats were gone by 8:30. As soon as first color was called more seats opened up. I liked that we could also walk out to the deck from there and check out what was going on.

I agree with previous postings. Service was great. Food was very good. We were one of those lounging at pool. If you found a sheltered lounge in sun it was beautiful. Hubby went in pool and I did hot tub

Have fun!

[Becky]

torontoflo,

What is cheaper in canada to purchase? Someone posted CDs are cheaper and with the exchange even better. Any other great buys? We are in our late 30s with 2 teenage boys.