All Things Mariner Of The Seas

[rdbradleyjr]

Rdbradley -- SO glad you started this thread!

 

Our family, including teen son, love the Mariner! We've sailed this great ship 3x and then tried the Radiance last December. Guess what? We're back to the Mariner for our next cruise in June 08.

 

I hope that by the time we sail again, they have changed the production shows. We've seen the same shows for 3 consecutive years. We miss the Krooze Komics too!

 

On the flip side, we've thoroughly enjoyed Captain Johnny and cruise directors Becky Thompson and James Andrews! We love Portofino and the jubilant atmosphere we find aboard the entire ship. We love the Promenade, the Ice Show, and the tremendous attention give to Teens as well. This ship IS our destination, much more than any port we visit -- although we do like Labadee!

 

For all of you who have not sailed her and are here seeking info, you will be amazed once you step aboard.

 

I will pass along a very informative website for Voyager class ships. Here you will find not only information about the Mariner, but ALL five ships in this class. Tons of photos, stats, etc. There is a wealth of info detailing the differences in design between the two newer Voyager class ships (Mariner and her older sister the Navigator) and those of the first generation design: (Voyager, Explorer, and Adventure of the Seas).

Here's the link:

http://www.romain-moisescot.com/voyagerclass/

 

On my photo website, you'll find photos from my Mariner cruises to include pictures of different types of cabins, what a Pullman looks like when it down and up, balcony photos, Jr. Suite photos, pictures of Portofino entrees, etc.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40631118@N00/

 

There is a pool of photos (thousands of pictures!!) on this same Flickr website. The pool of photos was compiled by members of our Meet & Mingle aboard the Mariner sailing in June 2006.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/marineroftheseas/

 

I'm happy to help anyone with questions!

 

Have fun!

Rose

 

Hello Rose!!

We are just up the road from you in Charleston, SC. Thank you so much for all your information!! I am very thankful for people like you on CC that help those, like me, who "don't have a clue". At least that's how it's put to me in teenager terms....:D

[sunlover2]

I am so glad this thread was started for the Mariner!! We will be sailing her on June 10th. DH and I have a balcony hump cabin, 6618. My DD and DS have an interior room just down the hall as do my parents. This is our 7th cruise with RCCL but the first on Mariner. I have been on all her sister ships but keep hearing Mariner is the best...can't wait!!! Keep the comments coming as we love reading about her!!!:D

[rdbradleyjr]

Starting to wish I booked an aft corner balcony!! Nice Pictures Rose!!!

[rdbradleyjr]

Hey everyone!! Make sure you go back to your Mariner roll calls and tell them about this thread. The more people we have sharing info about the Mariner the better off we will all be!!!! THANK YOU !!!!:D

[Lowcountrygal]

Hello Rose!!

We are just up the road from you in Charleston, SC. Thank you so much for all your information!! I am very thankful for people like you on CC that help those, like me, who "don't have a clue". At least that's how it's put to me in teenager terms....:D

 

I had to laugh!! Those teen girls WILL keep you straight! How old are they? My son is now 14 and loves cruise vacations. We find that cruising is the way to keep everyone happy on vacation.

We have friends that will be moving up your way soon, to Sommerville. We get up that way every now & then.

 

Jill: You will have a great birthday / anniversary cruise -- and your son's birthday will be extra special too! I'm a hockey mom too -- except here (Savannah) there isn't much in the way of ice hockey. :( -- just roller. Hockeytown in my home, we're transplants here.

 

I wish we were sailing THIS summer, especially with the lovely Mariner getting all spruced up soon in drydock! I will live vicariously through you all as you prepare to sail! ;) I feel certain that once you all sail, I WILL see you in summer 08, because you will have to return for another dose of Ahh-hh-hh aboard the Mariner!

 

Enjoy!

Rose

[sassyj]

AWSOME!!! That's what I like to hear. I've booked the Mariner December 16 for my GF and her two teenage daughters. No doubt that after this sailing the Mariner will have a special place in my heart too. You see I plan to ask my GF to marry me. I've gotten 3 rings. 1 for her and 1 for each of her daughters. I've heard that it's a package deal so I figured I better ask all 3 of them.:D Keep up the good work everyone!!!

 

rdbradleyjr,

 

My DH did the same thing! He gave me and my 2 dd's and his dd all rings. They still have them in the boxes. It made them feel much more a part of combining the two families. We've been married almost 6 yrs, and the girls still talk about it (now 17, 16 and 15).

 

We are on the Mariner Christmas cruise. We just booked it this week. We can't wait. We told the girls that our cruise last year was our "once in a lifetime family vacation". Ha, that lasted long! One DD says it was once in lifetime, since we missed the first two days. So we're going on another "once in a lifetime" family vacation this year, but we'll be on the ship when it leaves this year.

[debshomespun]

We are going on the Mariner 9/2, and can't wait. I love the Voyager class ships. Always so much to do, and lots of people watching. We have been to the ports several times, and plan to make the ship the destination! Can't wait!

[SylviaB]

We loved Mariner too! favourite ship so far!

If anyone is still interested, we've got the video from our trip online:

http://www.2legalaliens.com

 

[Lowcountrygal]

Hey everyone!! Make sure you go back to your Mariner roll calls and tell them about this thread. The more people we have sharing info about the Mariner the better off we will all be!!!! THANK YOU !!!!:D

 

I've not stayed in a corner aft, but took photos of different cabin categories during disembarkation for our own future reference. I kid around and say that we are now balcony snobs in training to be suite snobs!:) (We used to book only oceanview but had a balcony cabin once and never went back!)

 

Most of the folks that seek aft cabins love the extra size of the balcony, it can be 12x10, even though they are paying for a basic balcony cabin. With the corner aft, you can see in two directions, not just aft.

The drawbacks seem to be: the longer distance to your cabin -- especially if you forget something. Some say there can be soot from smokestacks, along with vibration & increased motion.

 

Sounds like you're planning a very special proposal. That is sweet -- especially about including the girls.

 

Okay, I really need to break away from this thread and get some work done around here. But I LOVE this thread!!

 

Later folks!

Rose

[taegan]

We are booked on deck 6 6636 & 6637 hope the view is good. What about talking to the head waiter and seeing if they could present the rings on a silver platter at dinner. It might be nice to have a private table for that maybe chops or portifino goodluck and congrats

[bambam2972]

I will never forget on that Innagural sailing, everything smelt sooo new, the towels were full, the robes were brand new......We were pulling the plastic covering off the balcony glass, as they didnt do it at the shipyard. Simply AWESOME!

 

OMG! That must have been incredible!!!

[Warmer Climes]

Yesterday I decided to book Mariner for the Feb. 24 sailing with our 9 y.o. DD, 17 y.o. DS and his 17 y.o. cousin. I had talked to a travel agent who is a cruise specialist and she recommended either this or the Caribbean Princess, but said that since we had cruised Explorer before and loved it she thought the Mariner would be the best choice. DH and I prefer a smaller ship but the kids love them the bigger the better. We have a category F OV on deck 8 and an inside L across the hall. I am very excited!

 

Barb

[rdbradleyjr]

I had to laugh!! Those teen girls WILL keep you straight! How old are they? My son is now 14 and loves cruise vacations. We find that cruising is the way to keep everyone happy on vacation.

We have friends that will be moving up your way soon, to Sommerville. We get up that way every now & then.

 

Jill: You will have a great birthday / anniversary cruise -- and your son's birthday will be extra special too! I'm a hockey mom too -- except here (Savannah) there isn't much in the way of ice hockey. :( -- just roller. Hockeytown in my home, we're transplants here.

 

I wish we were sailing THIS summer, especially with the lovely Mariner getting all spruced up soon in drydock! I will live vicariously through you all as you prepare to sail! ;) I feel certain that once you all sail, I WILL see you in summer 08, because you will have to return for another dose of Ahh-hh-hh aboard the Mariner!

 

Enjoy!

Rose

 

Yes they will keep on my toes...sometimes on my knees to stop singing...and probably in jail once the youngest starts to date.;) They have tought me many things that I am sure will be of great importance to me down the road...things like...some pads have wings??? And the one I just learned not 5 minutes ago from the 17 year old is "Midol doesn't help crap." Which has confused me because I though Midol was for something else.

As far as these two getting along...lol..that is funny. Ages 14 and 17. They shot fire balls at me with thier eyes when they found out they had to share a room. That's why we didn't get them a room with a balcony!! It only got better after I told them the room had a window overlooking the "mall". Now I am back in good graces with them. THANK GOD!!

 

I've made them a promise to do one family vacation with them a year. I've also promised to do one ADULT ONLY vacation that we will need to recover from the first vacation. My hope is that they all love to cruise!!

[shancan911]

DH and I sailed on Mariner in February of '06. I can't imagine what they could possible do to make it better, but I guess lucky you, those going on after drydock. The ship was breathtaking. I really have no complaints, aside from having to leave her:p I only hope Liberty of the Seas is as enjoyable for us. We would love to sail MOS again.

[Retired LEO]

We'll be going on the Mariner on 1/13/08 for the second time. This ship is fabulous in every way. The first time on her we had a grand suite. This next one we've got an Owners Suite on the center hump #1320. Sure looking forward to it.

[bambam2972]

I love Mariner! I remember the first time we drove up to her (well actually, when we were coming up on that bridge.. you know... the one after you get off exit 205 :confused:) Well anyways, we saw her and I said "THATS the ship we're going to be on?! Holy cow, it's HUGE!"

 

I developed TMJ shortly after because my jaw spent the whole week on the floor :p ;).

 

One of my best memories is actually discovering that the days in the elevator change each day! LOL we thought there was a "sunday" elevator "monday" elevator, etc!! LOL, it helped by Wednesday because we couldn't remember what day it was; we were to busy having the time of our lives!!

 

I can't wait to be back on her in a few weeks! Not only is it my first balcony, but a hump balcony!! AND 4 brand new ports that I've never been to! We're celebrating my boyfriend's graduation from College of Charleston (another year & a half for me, though.. I'm jealous!)

 

 

By the way, rdbradleyjr, did you notice the Legend in port Tuesday?? :D It looked so natural, like other RC ships should homeport here!

[lephysteria]

We had a great time on the Mariner!!!

Our group (all from CC) was called the Mariner Maniacs and we tore up the ship over Labor Day!

 

We had a great time!

We had good food, good service, and a wonderful cruise staff. (The review and pictures are below, so follow the links in my signature)

 

Have a great time! :D

[rdbradleyjr]

AWSOME!!! That's what I like to hear. I've booked the Mariner December 16 for my GF and her two teenage daughters. No doubt that after this sailing the Mariner will have a special place in my heart too. You see I plan to ask my GF to marry me. I've gotten 3 rings. 1 for her and 1 for each of her daughters. I've heard that it's a package deal so I figured I better ask all 3 of them.:D Keep up the good work everyone!!!

 

rdbradleyjr,

 

My DH did the same thing! He gave me and my 2 dd's and his dd all rings. They still have them in the boxes. It made them feel much more a part of combining the two families. We've been married almost 6 yrs, and the girls still talk about it (now 17, 16 and 15).

 

We are on the Mariner Christmas cruise. We just booked it this week. We can't wait. We told the girls that our cruise last year was our "once in a lifetime family vacation". Ha, that lasted long! One DD says it was once in lifetime, since we missed the first two days. So we're going on another "once in a lifetime" family vacation this year, but we'll be on the ship when it leaves this year.

 

Wow..sounds like we have a lot in common. So is your husband still sane?? Does he still have all his hair??;) I wish we could have booked the Christmas cruise but we can't. Staci and I talked about maybe doing a New Years Eve Cruise. If we don't do the 12 Explorer in November we may look into that. Of course once we take this trip it could all change again and we could end up on the Mariner again doing the Eastern. I wish she did a 12 Eastern or Southern.

[rdbradleyjr]

I love Mariner! I remember the first time we drove up to her (well actually, when we were coming up on that bridge.. you know... the one after you get off exit 205 :confused:) Well anyways, we saw her and I said "THATS the ship we're going to be on?! Holy cow, it's HUGE!"

 

I developed TMJ shortly after because my jaw spent the whole week on the floor :p ;).

 

One of my best memories is actually discovering that the days in the elevator change each day! LOL we thought there was a "sunday" elevator "monday" elevator, etc!! LOL, it helped by Wednesday because we couldn't remember what day it was; we were to busy having the time of our lives!!

 

I can't wait to be back on her in a few weeks! Not only is it my first balcony, but a hump balcony!! AND 4 brand new ports that I've never been to! We're celebrating my boyfriend's graduation from College of Charleston (another year & a half for me, though.. I'm jealous!)

 

 

By the way, rdbradleyjr, did you notice the Legend in port Tuesday?? :D It looked so natural, like other RC ships should homeport here!

 

HiYA BAMBAM!!

 

Nice to see another Charlestonian? on here. No I didn't see the Legend on Tuesday, but I do agree with you. I think any Voyager class ship would look totally awsome in the Port of Charleston. I would give my left arm...well maybe not mine...I would give my brothers left arm to have the Mariner port here!! However, I think the BIG issue with it is the lack of parking. I mean I pay out the woohooo for parking downtown when I worked there. I'll be downtown this weekend for the Farmers Market on Marion square.

Be sure you give us a full report when you get back. Well maybe not a full report...we know how you crazy college kids get...;)

[Oma 1]

My hubby and I are going on the Mariner Dec 9. We liked the Navigator so much, so we decided to book on another voyager class ship. It's great to hear all the good reviews about the Mariner. By luck did we get a hump cabin. I didn't know the hump cabins are so popular.

[piercetc4]

congrats rdbradleyjr on your mariner proposal cruise! that will be so sweet - great place to propose-

 

we are mariner lovers too- going for 3rd time oct 07- great ship, great crew, great everything- i dont know how to post pics so am thankful others have done that...lol

agree that chops or portofino would be a special place to propose- another place would be on deck at night with the moonlit sea as your backdrop-

anyone know if you can go to the helipad while the ship is sailing......wow....that might be an awesome place to propose.......

have a great time- love the thread!

[sassyj]

Wow..sounds like we have a lot in common. So is your husband still sane?? Does he still have all his hair??;) I wish we could have booked the Christmas cruise but we can't. Staci and I talked about maybe doing a New Years Eve Cruise. If we don't do the 12 Explorer in November we may look into that. Of course once we take this trip it could all change again and we could end up on the Mariner again doing the Eastern. I wish she did a 12 Eastern or Southern.

 

 

rdbradleyjr

 

MY husband has most of his hair, but it's all grey now and he's only 42! He doesn't care though, because all his brothers are bald. He's got something, they got nothing! He grew up with 3 sisters, so the whole house full of girls doesn't faze him at all. He's great about everything. He knows when to hideout in the basement because things are too hormonal. :) His DD (17 yr old) lives with her mom, which is in another state, but he still hears all the teenage things going on with her. The 3 girls get along great too. The cruise is their "sister bonding" time. We have to go over Christmas because none of their other school breaks coincide and we won't pull them out of school. Can't wait until we can take a cheaper cruise during a different time of the year. Then we'll be able to take 2 a year.

 

You'll do fine with 2 teenagers. You sound like you already know what you're getting into, which is a huge plus!

 

I'll think about the proposal. My DH got down on one knee while all us girls were sitting on the couch and gave us all a ring box. The girls didn't quite get that mine was real right away. It was cute. He had talked to all of them previously about it being ok if we did become a family, so he had their approval before he did it. They didn't know when it was coming though. It still makes me smile when I think about it.

[Colts-Steelers]

Ron,

 

How romantic!!! Does Staci aka RONROCKS know your plans? The first idea I had was casually touring the ship and checking out the wedding chapel...that would be romantic. The other idea was dinner at Chops or Portofino. We will be at Chops on the 18th celebrating my b-day...39 again + 11. :p So if you need moral support we will be there for you!

 

I kind of wondered if you had that in mind...especially with buying the house. Sounds like you've got a great family and future! Very happy for you both. Now...are you going to wear you moose slippers and thong to the engagement party? :D

[rdbradleyjr]

congrats rdbradleyjr on your mariner proposal cruise! that will be so sweet - great place to propose-

 

we are mariner lovers too- going for 3rd time oct 07- great ship, great crew, great everything- i dont know how to post pics so am thankful others have done that...lol

agree that chops or portofino would be a special place to propose- another place would be on deck at night with the moonlit sea as your backdrop-

anyone know if you can go to the helipad while the ship is sailing......wow....that might be an awesome place to propose.......

have a great time- love the thread!

 

See....those are much better ideas then the ones I had. I was going to shave "will you marry me" on my chest and enter the belly flop contest. Of course the shock of seeing me in speedos and swim fins for the first time may come as a shock to her...not to mention my moose slippers.:D

[rdbradleyjr]

Ron,

 

How romantic!!! Does Staci aka RONROCKS know your plans? The first idea I had was casually touring the ship and checking out the wedding chapel...that would be romantic. The other idea was dinner at Chops or Portofino. We will be at Chops on the 18th celebrating my b-day...39 again + 11. :p So if you need moral support we will be there for you!

 

I kind of wondered if you had that in mind...especially with buying the house. Sounds like you've got a great family and future! Very happy for you both. Now...are you going to wear you moose slippers and thong to the engagement party? :D

 

HiYA Kathy!!!

 

No Staci has no clue that this is coming! She's mentioned getting married on a cruise ship maybe...but never engaged! So I think what we will do is get engaged on this cruise and get married on our next one. We don't want a huge wedding...just the 4 of us and whomever wants to book the next cruise with us. After thinking about it just now I suppose it would be nice to get married on the same ship that you were engaged on huh? So maybe we'll book the Eastern Mariner while on the ship. So lets not post anything about me poping the question on our roll call OK?? Now all I have to do is pray she doesn't learn how to navigate this site!:o Oh yes...the moose slippers will be with me for the whole cruise....even formal night!...kidding...