Tell Me About Mariner Of The Sea

[CamColt]

Ive been looking at the possibility of taking a cruise on the Mariner of the Sea, but Im not very familiar with it or other RC ships.

 

The main thing Id like to know about is the Childrens programs. Are these run continuously all day, or only certain times (Ive been on other cruises lines and seen it done both ways).

 

Also, what about dining? Are there set dining times? Are tables for 4 a possibility?

 

Any other info or tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

[garnetjanet]

Hi there! The Mariner is a GREAT ship! The children's programs run from 9a-12, 2-5p, 7-10p every day while at sea. They also offer a late night program (from 10 until 1am) for a fee of $5/hour which they will put on your seapass account. We were on the western itinerary, so those details are...on the day they go to Labadee (private beach) the program is 10a-3p on the island, then 7-10p back on the ship like usual. Jamaica day, it is 8a-5p on the ship, then 7-10p again. For Grand Cayman, the hours are 7:30a-4p on the ship, then 7-10p. In Cozumel, it runs 9a-6p on the ship, then 7-10p again. They also have 3 evenings (2 formal nights & Jamaica) where they take the kids to dinner at Johnny Rockets at 6p before the 7:00 program starting time. There are assigned dining times in the main dining room where there are no shorts allowed and a preferred dress code. You can come and go as you please if you dine in the Windjammer (buffet) and can choose to eat in your shorts if you want to eat there. The same food as in the dining room is served, minus one (maybe 2) items-you just have to serve yourself. If you choose to eat in the dining room, you will get assigned a dining time (early or late) and request a small or large table when you book your cruise. Early seating is at 6p, late seating is at 8:30p. It is possible that you could be assigned to a table for 4, if you want one, just see the maitr'd as soon as you board the ship.

There is a review currently in progress by njreindeer here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=79094

There is also the review I did of our cruise on the Mariner here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=73557

Any other questions, please feel free to ask.:)

[CamColt]

Thanks for the info! I will check out those links.

Im currently booked on another cruise but for the same price I could do this cruise and some time in Disney World, so this is looking really good now.

On the port days, when the club is open, is there an extra charge for that like the late nights? We recently got off a cruise where there was so thats why Im curious.

I also came up with another question...are the mini golf, wall climbing, and activities like that ongoing throughout the day, or are those at specific times?

[rjg41]

This link might be of interest. It is a virtual tour of many areas of the ship. Enjoy.

http://www.virtualtoursusa.com/marinerseas.htm

[caregiver4ever]

great pictures and great menu!! going on voyager... first cruise!! 2 and a half weeks and I cant wait.

[sbgrace]

I also came up with another question...are the mini golf, wall climbing, and activities like that ongoing throughout the day, or are those at specific times?

 

Mini golf and the sports courts are available anytime. The rock wall and ice skating are at specified times (times are listed in the Compass), since there have to be crew members there to man the ropes and such. :) If your children want to climb or skate, you will need to go with them at the beginning to sign a release for them. Don't forget to pack long pants for ice skating and socks for rock climbing. :)

 

Mariner is a beautiful ship. My family was assigned a table for 4 in the dining room, and we hadn't requested any particular size table. This was over a holiday, so there may have been a greater demand for large tables since there were a lot of large family groups traveling. Ask your TA to request the size you want, and check when you get on board.

 

Have a great time!

Chris

[CamColt]

That makes sense. Thanks for the info.

 

A couple more...

 

Besides the Casino(I assume) are there any places that kids arent allowed?

 

For dining, is there 1 main restaurant and the others places are specialty restaurants? I know theres the buffet, but what about other restaurants? Is there an additional charge for them and do you need reservations?

[Sailfish]

As I have a group cruise planned aboard the Mariner in february, I have a forum here at Cruise Critic you are welcome to access at:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=173

 

You'll find links to reviews, pictures and other information pertaining to the Mariner.

[CamColt]

Wow! That info will be great. Now if I could just find the time to sit and actually read everything you guys have given me.

I feel like such a dope asking some of these questions, but like I said, I know(or knew) nothing about RC. Im definitely liking what Im seeing though. Thanks again everyone!

[garnetjanet]

There is only an extra charge for the late-night children's program.

[Nanatravel]

There is a $20pp charge for Chops and Portifino's and $3.95 pp for Johnny Rockets. You could always bring the kids to the Buffet early and then to the Camp, while you go to Chops, etc. a little later than a normal early dinner. Reservations are recommended to be made when you embark on your cruise.

Bon Voyage

[Christina1003]

This information is wonderful!

 

 

I have a question - what is open 24 hours? I can't help feeling that if I don't get up early I'm going to miss out on things - so if I happen to take a nap late in the day, can I come back and do activities later by ourselves?

 

What time are the activities to? Are the pools open 24 hours? What about the gym? Or the Windjammer?

[unique]

Mini golf and the sports courts are available anytime. The rock wall and ice skating are at specified times (times are listed in the Compass), since there have to be crew members there to man the ropes and such. :) If your children want to climb or skate, you will need to go with them at the beginning to sign a release for them. Don't forget to pack long pants for ice skating and socks for rock climbing. :)

 

Mariner is a beautiful ship. My family was assigned a table for 4 in the dining room, and we hadn't requested any particular size table. This was over a holiday, so there may have been a greater demand for large tables since there were a lot of large family groups traveling. Ask your TA to request the size you want, and check when you get on board.

 

Have a great time!

Chris

I read in another review that you had to sign up for rock climbing, skating, and mini golf as soon as you get on the ship as it fills up quickly. Is this accurate?

[sbgrace]

I read in another review that you had to sign up for rock climbing, skating, and mini golf as soon as you get on the ship as it fills up quickly. Is this accurate?

 

No, you show up at the start of a rock climbing session (times are listed in the Compass) for rock climbing and get in line. Especially early in the cruise it can be busy and the session may fill up. My DD went on a morning the ship was in port and she was the only one there to climb! It was great for her, since she was a beginner and they had lots of time to help and coach her.

 

Skating is also at specified times, but the times we were there they were taking all comers. We even showed up about 1/3 of the way through the session. No problem.

 

Mini golf is first come, first serve. You may have to wait for a group or two in front of you, just like on land.

 

Chris

[Candleonwater]

how old are your kids?

[CamColt]

Do they rent skates there? Im guessing they dont expect everyone to pack theirs, but this whole rink on a boat thing is just wild to me. I cant imagine them having a whole supply of skates too.

 

DH came up with what he considers a very important question...do they have Sam Adams on board? :) If not what kinds of beer are available.

 

Candleonwater, if you were asking me, my kids will be 5 & 8 when/if we sail next summer.

[garnetjanet]

They do have all sizes of skates to rent. They have the skates, benches, etc. along one of the four sides of the rink. The seats (and platforms they are on) kind of accordion back out of the way to reveal the "rental" area underneath. My husband never had any Sam Adams (not sure if it was there or not). He had Guiness and Murphey's Irish Stout. They also had Heineken.

[Candleonwater]

Camcolt - the skating is what drew us to the Mariner. My daughter trains 5 days a week and LOVED skating on the ship. It was strange packing skates for a vacation, but she would never be able to skate in rentals. They appeared to have plenty of rentals.

 

Have you seen the kids club compasses? If not, I can send them to you. My daughter was 7 this past spring break and absolutely LOVED the club