All Things Mariner Of The Seas

[Laurie12820]

Can't wait to be on the Mariner in a couple of weeks for the third time. She's our favorite ship.

 

After reading your glowing review, it's funny to read a post about the "terrible" food that someone could hardly "choke" down. I still don't understand the impact that a change in executive chef would make. They use the same recipe book as the week before. The new chef doesn't bring on his own cook book. Bring 100 gallons of water to a boil, peel 200 lbs potatoes....

 

Just realized you are on the same sailing as I. We have a good thread going on over on the Meet & Mingle board if you are interested.

[clearwaters]

How are formal nights aboard the Mariner? Worth going? Or a good night to hit the speciality restaurants?

 

What night(s) is the Ice Show?

 

Thanks.

[critterchick]

Can't wait to be on the Mariner in a couple of weeks for the third time. She's our favorite ship.

 

After reading your glowing review, it's funny to read a post about the "terrible" food that someone could hardly "choke" down. I still don't understand the impact that a change in executive chef would make. They use the same recipe book as the week before. The new chef doesn't bring on his own cook book. Bring 100 gallons of water to a boil, peel 200 lbs potatoes....

 

The executive chef has a lot of impact on food purchases, and if he's trying to keep costs down, then the food quality could well suffer. Also, they have to follow a fairly strict menu in the dining room, but in the Windjammer they can be a bit more creative, so it could be better or worse, depending on what the EC decides to do there.

 

But the food we had on Mariner was the best we've had on RCI in recent memory, so the chef onboard must have been a profligate spender!:D

[Darspurs]

Can't wait to be on the Mariner in a couple of weeks for the third time. She's our favorite ship.

 

After reading your glowing review, it's funny to read a post about the "terrible" food that someone could hardly "choke" down. I still don't understand the impact that a change in executive chef would make. They use the same recipe book as the week before. The new chef doesn't bring on his own cook book. Bring 100 gallons of water to a boil, peel 200 lbs potatoes....

 

Just to add to this I got off the Mariner last week and we had the best food we have ever had on RCCL - The only cruise we have ever had better on was the Constallation.

[Capt. Johnny]

Just got off the Mariner on the 23rd, and it was AWESOME!!

 

The food was tremendous and a notch better than our previous Disney cruise.

 

We tried to leave the ship in good shape for all future cruisers, especially considering that we booked another cruise on the Mariner on board in 2009 when she is based out of the Pacific.

 

They did announce on board that the Freedom of the Seas will replace the Mariner in Port Canaveral when she leaves.

 

What a great ship, great crew, great Captain, and great memories.

[pmfan]

The Mariner is my favorite ship. Going on her again in September.:D

[referee]

this will be cruise #15 for wife and i...first time on mariner 7/6/08

[mrsaknar]

Capt. Johnny ~ Did you sail Western or Eastern? We are leaving next Sunday for a Western cruise ~ our first ~ and are SO excited. Anything we should know about the Mariner? Any fun hints/tips/etc?

[Capt. Johnny]

Capt. Johnny ~ Did you sail Western or Eastern? We are leaving next Sunday for a Western cruise ~ our first ~ and are SO excited. Anything we should know about the Mariner? Any fun hints/tips/etc?

 

Lets see hints and tips....

 

We sailed the Eastern.

 

Get the Seattles Best coffee free in the promenade on deck 5 all day every day. They also have great cookies and desserts and little sandwiches all day long. They really helped us bridge the gap between lunch and late dining seating which is our preference.

 

You can buy the Ben and Jerry's on deck 5 or get the free vanilla or chocolate ice cream on deck 11 near the pool.

 

If you stay up late enough, you can really have fun in the Dragon's Liar after 11 PM most nights. There is also a family hour on at least one night we took my son too. It is a dance / disco lounge that is very fun and adults only with 70's and 80's music and some newer stuff thats all fun.(and they check ID's) It is kind of hidden near the casino on deck 4.

 

They don't put things on sale in the main gift store on deck five, but they do have sales that are different each day in the main isle of the promenade and sometimes on the pool deck 11. Keep checking each day for the sales.

 

Don't rush and buy liqour on the ship at their duty free prices if you are looking to buy. Check with your port stops first. We saved a lot of money buying liquor in St. Marrten and St. Thomas over the ship. Not sure what the Western offers in duty free restrictions. They will take your liquor from you when you board the ship, but deliver it back to you on Saturday evening before you pack to get off the ship.

 

Do the Johnny Rockets at least once but go there hungry. They charge you $3.95 to enter but it is all you can eat and they start you off with a huge plate of fries and onion rings while your order is prepared. My son and I over ate big time, but had a blast there. The burgers and dogs were great.

 

Get the soda card the first day you get on the ship if you are soda drinkers. It is worth it. My son did the soda "sticker" on his sea pass and in the end it saved us a lot.

 

When you first get on the ship go straight to the Windjammer on deck 11 aft to eat. It can fill up fast and it is your first go at the buffet. You can explore the ship more after you eat.

 

I'm not sure if you have a balcony or not but if you do take a few clothes pins along to hold the curtains closed in the morning. We stayed out pretty late a couple nights and they really helped allow us to sleep in the next morning.

 

Take a highlighter along to mark items on the cruise dailies you want to do or attend. Makes it easier.

 

Do not miss the midnight buffet on the pool deck 11. We had an absolute blast that night. They had tables of different food that just didn't end. I think that was like the fifth meal that day, but I refused to keep track.

 

And with that piece of advice, take the stairs not the elevators if you can. You will consume much more food that you normally do and will want to remain able to fit into your clothes upon leaving the ship. We took the stairs everyday and it really helps especially when we were on deck 9 and dinner was deck 3.

 

Another good piece of advice, take half the clothes and twice the money. That seems to be popular advice.

 

And finally the most important piece of advice, relax, you are on a cruise vacation and it will be awesome. There is no way to cruise wrong. Everyone does it there own way so have a great time!!:D

[powderqn]

Capt. Johnny - great tips and insight on the cruise. This will be our third time on the Mariner...had to cruise her one last time before she became a West Coaster. We lived in California until 7 years ago...bummer...if they had ships like MOS on the west coast then we wouldn't have had to move to Florida:D

[mrsaknar]

Fabulous ~ Thank you!!! It is hard to relax when your first cruise is only 8 DAYS AWAY!!! Wow, the boards and all of you have been quite helpful! THANKS!

[John&LaLa]

Hi all, thinking about booking April 27th and May 4th for LaLa. Finish up with the 11th for the two of us. we have been quoted 200% surcharge for the single occupancy rate. They have been kind enough to only charge one fuel surcharge and one port fee. anyone know of a way to get a better deal. Second question, does anyone know the difference between cabin 8500 FO and 9200 FO? totally different configuration in 8500. probably more windows which is what interests me. sorry if long winded

[MilliesMom]

Thanks everyone for all of your comments. We will be on the Mariner in April 2009 when she cruises from Los Angeles. Will be our first time on a Voyager class ship, can't wait to see it.

[DustFSU]

John&LaLa, I am a little lost why aren't you going on a cruise together? That way you wouldn't have to pay for the single occupancy. Is this how you did all 11 cruises before as well???

[John&LaLa]

John&LaLa, I am a little lost why aren't you going on a cruise together? That way you wouldn't have to pay for the single occupancy. Is this how you did all 11 cruises before as well???

i may not have been clear. Laura is in need of R&R, and she has the time. i can only go one week. the 11th would be May 11th. we did this before in 2006 on the Glory. best part is, I step on the ship for week 3 and the entire staff knows who i am because they have allready spent two weeks with laura. Carnival is only asking 150% for this priveledge, but we want to take the mariner and stay in the Family Oceanview

[Robinob]

We are going on July 27th. We have a thread on the roll call boards. If you are cruising with us, stop by!

[AmyGarner]

i may not have been clear. Laura is in need of R&R, and she has the time. i can only go one week. the 11th would be May 11th. we did this before in 2006 on the Glory. best part is, I step on the ship for week 3 and the entire staff knows who i am because they have allready spent two weeks with laura. Carnival is only asking 150% for this priveledge, but we want to take the mariner and stay in the Family Oceanview

 

I read your post on our May 11th roll call, I am glad you cleared it up over here, I was confused, too. :D Does laura have a friend or family member who could go with her, maybe one person the first week and another the second week. You could even offer to pay a portion of their fare (since you seem to be okay with having to pay 150% with carnival, and its just that extra portion that seems to been bothering you). And that way she'll have some company for those weeks as well. I hope this works out for you and that we'll see you on the 11th.

 

Also, I am not sure if you can stay in the family oceanview with just two people. I believe you need four or more...

[Kamloops50]

Hi all, thinking about booking April 27th and May 4th for LaLa. Finish up with the 11th for the two of us. we have been quoted 200% surcharge for the single occupancy rate. They have been kind enough to only charge one fuel surcharge and one port fee. anyone know of a way to get a better deal. Second question, does anyone know the difference between cabin 8500 FO and 9200 FO? totally different configuration in 8500. probably more windows which is what interests me. sorry if long winded

 

Cabin 8500 will be on Deck 8 at the very bow and Cabin 9200 is on deck 9 .

Also 8500 has porthole/window looking directly forward. Cabin 9200 is a verandah cabin. My choice would be 9200 if the price is the same.

 

:)

Go to cruiseplans.com to see the cabin locations. Link is attached

 

http://www.cruisedeckplans.com

 

:):)

[John&LaLa]

Cabin 8500 will be on Deck 8 at the very bow and Cabin 9200 is on deck 9 .

Also 8500 has porthole/window looking directly forward. Cabin 9200 is a verandah cabin. My choice would be 9200 if the price is the same.

 

:)

Go to cruiseplans.com to see the cabin locations. Link is attached

 

http://www.cruisedeckplans.com

 

:):)

 

both cabins are in the bow and neith has a verandah. went with 9200 because it seems to have a seperate sleeping area

[jules815]

We've done 2 cruises on Mariner, and we'll be going for our 3rd in June. We've done eastern, last year western, and we'll be doing eastern again this year. Love Mariner; she's the only ship we've been on, so I really can't compare, but we wanted to go on her one more time before she heads west.

[cruisinhs]

Oh my gosh! I have been working on reading this whole thread for weeks now and just finished. We are going on our first RCCL cruise on the Mariner on 6/1/08. I am sooooo excited! I had to read it all for fear of missing even one great tip! Thank you to all of you who have come back to report and give tips to those of us who are still waiting to board her.

[TonyaJune]

Mariner is the only voyager class ship that we haven't had the privilege of sailing on, but that will soon be a thing of the past!:D

 

I am so excited to be sailing on the Mariner in August. It will be just my husband and I celebrating our 20th anniversary, so I know we are going to have a fantastic time!

[cruising forever]

P H E W! I finally finished this thread; yes, I skipped some in the middle! So, what other tips are there for this popular ship?

 

Over half of the cabin categories sold out in the last few days, so we're wondering if some group hasn't bought up a bunch of cabin space.......anyone know?

 

We got such a great rate, we splurged on a Junior Suite :) Can't wait!!!!!!!!

[pop5]

We are on the Mariner this summer in room 8500 and it does have the extra sleeping bunk room.

[John&LaLa]

We are on the Mariner this summer in room 8500 and it does have the extra sleeping bunk room.

 

8500 seemed to have more windows, big plus, but i saw a picture of it on another website and the overall room was layed out a little odd. i'm not 100% sure it has a door seperating it. the picture i saw looked more like a curtain. enjoy