May 20th Mariner review coming...any questions?

[jimmyatc]

Yes i know...it's been a while since the cruise, but I had a lot of work to catch up on at my job. I will be posting a day-by-day review of our best vacation ever (oops...spilled the beans already), but if anyone has any questions now, I would be happy to answer them. This was our very first cruise, and I know it helped me greatly to have my questions answered by the CC "veterans" before our cruise. Fire away......

[wkc]

My husband and I leave on August 20th for the EC cruise, and we are so excited. I've read that getting a chair near the pool each day is a challenge and wondered what you experienced? Do they allow folks to "save" their chair all day? Also, we are celebrating our two year wedding anniversary the first of September, so this trip is an early gift to one another. I would like to surprise him with reservations in one of the two restaurants... which would you recommend for a romantic atmosphere and also good food?

[QTMichele]

Yes i know...it's been a while since the cruise, but I had a lot of work to catch up on at my job. I will be posting a day-by-day review of our best vacation ever (oops...spilled the beans already), but if anyone has any questions now, I would be happy to answer them. This was our very first cruise, and I know it helped me greatly to have my questions answered by the CC "veterans" before our cruise. Fire away......

 

Just give me details about anything and everything and you'll make my day!!! The Mariner will be our first cruise too... Can't wait! :D

[lyndamarie6]

We are going on the Mariner in July with family we all booked deck 6 promenade rooms but we are curious whether it will be noisy as the club wig or something is opposite of our room, do you feel we should change rooms if you believe it is noisy? Also does everything pretty much close down at 2am (like it did last month for us on the Enchantment) and we love karoke, did you find people sang an assortment of music or was it old rock and country? We know things are different leaving from Pt. Canaveral than south Florida, would appreciate any advice you can give us, thank you.

[jimmyatc]

My husband and I leave on August 20th for the EC cruise, and we are so excited. I've read that getting a chair near the pool each day is a challenge and wondered what you experienced? Do they allow folks to "save" their chair all day? Also, we are celebrating our two year wedding anniversary the first of September, so this trip is an early gift to one another. I would like to surprise him with reservations in one of the two restaurants... which would you recommend for a romantic atmosphere and also good food?

 

I heard the same thing about chairs near the pool and how hard they are to get. Well...let me tell you this.

 

Our cruise was fully booked...3500 passengers. I expected to have many problems with seats near the pool. We NEVER experienced any issues with getting lounge chairs. In fact, at least half of the chairs were usually empty. And if you go to the adult pool area, that was usually empty. We wnt to the pool almost every day, and not even once did we have any issues with getting seats.

 

One thing I must tell you. Captain Pettersen ( he is a fantastic guy) said that our cruise only had 300 children on board. During the summer months, they average 1000-1200 children per cruise. That could possibly mean many more potential sunbathers during your August 20th cruise.

 

We only went to Chops restaurant. The food was absolutely fantastic!! and that might be an understatement. We also heard good things about Portofinos, but we didn't go there. I saw both, and I don't think you can go wrong with either one...food and/or decor wise. The decor in both was very similar, but they both come across as very romantic places to go.

[jimmyatc]

Just give me details about anything and everything and you'll make my day!!! The Mariner will be our first cruise too... Can't wait! :D

 

When are you going??

[jimmyatc]

We are going on the Mariner in July with family we all booked deck 6 promenade rooms but we are curious whether it will be noisy as the club wig or something is opposite of our room, do you feel we should change rooms if you believe it is noisy? Also does everything pretty much close down at 2am (like it did last month for us on the Enchantment) and we love karoke, did you find people sang an assortment of music or was it old rock and country? We know things are different leaving from Pt. Canaveral than south Florida, would appreciate any advice you can give us, thank you.

 

Funny you should ask about Karaoke.....I was selected as a judge for "Karaoke Idol". The variety of music was great.....they had 2 preliminary rounds and the finals on saturday. I don't think i am exxagerating by saying the winner could be in the finals of the real american idol. She received many, many standing ovations. She is absolutely the best I have ever heard doing karaoke...period. The only reason she is not on the real american idol is her age (about 35). By the way...I was more like Randy jackson than Simon...i was a nice judge!!!

 

You will have no problems with noise on deck 6. No room change is needed. The Wig & Gavel bar is actually very quiet compared to many others on the ship. The rooms on the Mariner are very quiet. All the bars/discos on the promenade were open until 3 or 4AM, but most were quiet by 1 or 2 AM. The exception was Boleros, a latin bar. it was hopping every night at least until 4. The music there was awesome. Still, you will hear nothing from your rooms.

 

I suggest you arrive at Port Canaveral around 11AM. You will have absolutely no lines and be on the ship in less than 45 minutes. I was given that advice by some experienced Mariner cruisers, and it was the best advice we received. By 1PM, lines became much longer. The Windjammer Buffet is open, and you can then go to your rooms at 1PM.

[lyndamarie6]

Jimmyatc: Glad to hear karoke is good with a variety of songs, we took another cruise line last year out of Pt. Canaveral it was alot of oldies and country music singers at karoke, this year we took the Enchantment out of Ft. Lauderdale and it was wonderful! We love karoke.

Thank you for telling me no problem with deck 6 we truely appreciate your help! Glad to hear things are open till 3am as in the Enchantment they closed everythiung but the casino at 2am, a little too early for me as I am on vacation. We also boarded at 11:30 on the Enchantment and do plan on getting to the terminal by 10:30 am thank you for the advice!! :) Lynda

[GMoney]

Captain Pettersen ( he is a fantastic guy)

 

svein is the best! "'ttention, attention please...":D

[QTMichele]

When are you going??

 

We're going on February 25 - Western itinerary. SOOOOO excited!!!

[jimmyatc]

We're going on February 25 - Western itinerary. SOOOOO excited!!!

 

OK...I'm going to post my review starting this weekend, but let me give you some highlights and "must do's" for the western Itinerary.

 

If you plan on going to one of the two specialty restaurants, Chops or Portofinos, make your reservations when you first get on the ship. They fill up fast. The restaurants are right outside the Windjammer buffet, so when you arrive on the ship and head to the buffet for lunch, you can make reservations. I will tell you that we were so happy with the food in the main dining room, that we cancelled our reservation. We felt that the food couldn't possibly be that much better in the specialty restaurants....and we loved our waiters!!

 

Monday morning between 9 and 11AM, pick up your tickets for the ice show. The show is free, but it is so popular that you must pick up the tickets to get in. Do not miss this show. I can't believe all the things that they can do on this small, moving ice rink. The word "fantastic" is really not strong enough to describe the show.

 

Karaoke Idol starts on Monday night in the Lotus Lounge around 11PM. It's a "not to be missed" great time. We had awesome talent on our cruise.

 

The first stop is the private island (really not an island, but part of Haiti) Labadee.I don't know if you are going as a couple or a family, but if you are going with a family and children, turn right when you get off the tender and head over by the Water Park. The kids will love you for it. If you are just going as a couple, head straight and to the left off the tender. It's more quiet and secluded on the beaches to the left and in the back of Labadee. Labadee will definitely be a highlight of your cruise. BTW...there is a barbecue run by RCI on the island, so you don't need to bring food.

 

Jamaica - didn't like it at all. The people were way, way to pushy and rude. We plan on staying on the ship next time we stop here.

 

Grand Cayman - two words here....Stingray City...if you have never done it, you had better. You can go with the RCI excursion, but we went on a 50 ft catamaran with Capt Bryan (as recommended by Cruise Critic members), and it was great. Only 40 people on our boat as compared to over 150 on the RCI excursion. Swimming with the stingrays is fantastic. Then we make a snorkeling stop and saw moray eels and a hammerhead shark....just awesome. Shopping in Grand Cayman is also great....beautiful shops and no pushy sales people.

 

Thursday night - Karaoke Idol, part 2.....word got around the ship about how much fun this was....the Lotus Lounge was packed this time.

 

Cozumel - we did the Helmet Dive....simply perfect excursion. My nephew and i did it this year...now we have 9 people doing it next year. This was our favorite excursion. If you ever wanted to dive under the sea but don't want to take the time to get scuba certification, this is the way to see the ocean. You actually walk on the sea bottom about 20' below the surface. If you can walk, you can do this excursion. Absolutely more beautiful than any pictures or video you have ever seen on TV. We bought the video that they make of your dive, and we show it off to everyone who comes to our house. Shopping in Cozumel is also great. Never pay the price you see displayed...bargaining here is expected and accepted. If they won't bargain, go to the next shop. We never payed "sticker price" for anything here.

 

Saturday - a happy day and a sad day. Happy because the Karaoke Idol final is happening.......sad because it is the last full day on the cruise. Also, on Monday and Saturday night, they hold a parade (yes, a full parade!) down the Royal Promenade. The parades are different and both are alot of fun.

 

If you have any other questions, please ask. They were plenty of other great things to do on the ship...I just wanted to give you some highlights. I get excited every time I talk about our cruise :D

 

Jim

[lollyrn]

I can't wait to read your review. We will sailing on the Mariner in September and it is also our first cruise. We will be sailing the Eastern Itinerary. We are in a balcony room WAAAYYYY in the front, so I'm a bit nervous about that as far as motion, but I am very excited!

[Kerrupt]

What nights did they have formal dining? What night is Carribean night in the dining room? How was the food on Carribean night?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Shawn

[QTMichele]

Great "mini review"! You say that you get excited talking about it - I get excited READING about it!!! I'm not sure why I'm looking forward to this cruise as much as I am (I hope I'm not disappointed!), but I just can't get enough info! I already feel like a veteran after reading so many threads about cruising (I can answer so many of the questions that people post! hahaha) and can't wait to experience it on my own. Can't wait for your full review!

 

THANKS!

[Roe-Z]

Jim, I was getting excited just reading your review (can't wait to read more)...

 

I do have a question for you. Can you tell me if any of the pools have easy access. One of the problems I have on cruise ships are the steps getting in and out of the pool. I can not do the 'straight' ladder and that seems to be what I have encountered. I'm hoping that there are steps these legs can get up and down from..lol...I've been on so many cruises and have yet been able to use the pools!!...Thanks...

[jimmyatc]

What nights did they have formal dining? What night is Carribean night in the dining room? How was the food on Carribean night?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Shawn

 

Formal dining was on Monday and Thursday night. Carribean night was on Wednesday. I'm a wimp when it comes to trying new food, so I can't tell you how the Carribean food tasted.

 

BTW...the Midnight Gala Buffet (which is served at 12:30...go figure) is on Thursday Night.. Even if you don't eat anything, you MUST see it to believe it. Absolutely fantastic job by the Executive chef and his staff.

 

OK...I start with Sunday and Monday full reviews tomorrow (will be posted on Saturday night, Aug 12).

 

Jim

[jimmyatc]

I can't wait to read your review. We will sailing on the Mariner in September and it is also our first cruise. We will be sailing the Eastern Itinerary. We are in a balcony room WAAAYYYY in the front, so I'm a bit nervous about that as far as motion, but I am very excited!

 

Motion??? What motion??? Many times during the week, members of my family and I would look at each other and say, "can you believe we are on a moving ship". We never felt any movement at all...and that includes the one day that we had 4-6 ft seas. Both my mother and sister have motion sickness issues...they brought every remedy known to mankind on the cruise. They never once used any of them.

 

Jim

[jimmyatc]

Jim, I was getting excited just reading your review (can't wait to read more)...

 

I do have a question for you. Can you tell me if any of the pools have easy access. One of the problems I have on cruise ships are the steps getting in and out of the pool. I can not do the 'straight' ladder and that seems to be what I have encountered. I'm hoping that there are steps these legs can get up and down from..lol...I've been on so many cruises and have yet been able to use the pools!!...Thanks...

 

Sorry to say that the 2 main pools only have ladders. The six hottubs have steps into them. I really didn't get a close look at the adults-only pool, so I can't tell you about that one.

 

Jim

[Roe-Z]

Thanks for gettng back to my question...Guess I should pretty much expect the same as on the other ships...:(

 

Maybe, I'll be lucky and see something I could use in the adult pool!!...

[Pootersmom]

I'm not sure if this would be available for you particular situation, but I did read where one of the adult pools and one of the hot tubs has a hydraulic lift for the disabled??? Can't remember where I read it, but it was today. It may have been in the professional review.