Back from Navigator 1/28, first RCL cruise, pics!

[dividedsky319]

Just got back last night from the 1/28/08 sailing of the Navigator to Cozumel and Belize... had a great time.

 

It was our first RCL cruise and our second cruise overall... the first was on Holland America for our honeymoon. (We picked that cruise more based on the itinerary and the timespan than the cruise line, I know HAL is typically seen as an "older" cruise line... and we were only 25 at the time)

 

To compare the two quickly, I preferred the Navigator to the Noordam... the Royal Promenade was awesome, the casino was bigger, I liked the pool areas better... the mini golf was great as well, although it's in big need of a rehab. But overall I did find that RCL was much better for our age.

 

Our HAL trip was 10 nights, and this one was 5 nights... and in a lot of ways I actually preferred the shorter cruise. It was just enough time to get away, then I was ready to come home. (We spent 2 nights in Miami with my cousin before the cruise as well) So, I suppose really a 7 night cruise would be perfect for us...

 

The one area I thought HAL was better than RCL was in the food in the main dining room. We ate in the dining room the first two nights of the cruise, decided it wasn't anything super special so for the last nights we went to Johnny Rocket's one night then Windjammer (well, Jade) the other two nights. The sushi on the ship was very good. On HAL the food in the dining room was spectacular, some really unique stuff every night, and I didn't really feel the same way about the dining room food on the Navigator... It was good, but we preferred to just go about getting dinner at our leisure instead of waiting for our assigned time.

 

Cozumel was great, we went to Xcaret... fun place, lots to do and see... one thing I noticed was that the safety precautions aren't as stringent as they would be in the US, a lot of the paths we walked down had no railings and if you fell off you'd fall 15 feet! Or, fall right into the pool with giant sea turtles...

 

Belize we went cave tubing with Major Tom, highly recommended, lots of fun... only annoying part was that the tender getting off the ship was being very slow. We docked at 7:30 and weren't able to get to shore until after 10, and the last tender left at 3:15. I was a little worried we wouldn't even be able to go. But, we were able to, although it would have been nice to have a little more time so we weren't as rushed. We had to "link" and be pulled through the cave so we didn't take too long.

 

Here's a link to our pics if anyone's interested:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mveino/MiamiCruise2008

[shonandsuzie]

Loved your pics! "Go turtle go" --very cute.:D

[shonandsuzie]

Loved your pics! "Go turtle go" --very cute.:D

[maggieq]

Great pics....the NOS was our first RCCL cruise and got us hooked for sure. I agree with you about the dining room food. Not what it used to be. In fact, there is a thread going on about this subject. We have decided after hearing so much about Celebrity to try their new Solstice next year.

 

We would like to try HA as well. In fact I am looking at taking the 3 nighter on the Eurodam out of NYC.

[gkyagermom]

Thanks so much for the photos! We're on this same cruise in 3 weeks. Really appreciate the "future peek".

[JmeAce]

Thanks for the review and pics! Would you happen to still have your compasses? I am getting married in Cozumel and we are traveling on the NOS to get there with 40 guests and would love have them to plan. Thanks!

[bike1964]

Hey Dividskey,

 

Great review and photo's. Can you tell me if the ship stayed on east coast time (Florida) or did they adjust to the time depending on where you were?

 

Thanks.

[cot427]

Great pics. The NOS was my 4th cruise, and I loved it. We were on her during hurricane wilma, the one that took out cozumel. We were actually suppose to go to Cozumel, along with Grand Cayman, but we missed both due to the hurricane. I loved the NOS though, i was a great cruise none the less.

[dividedsky319]

Sorry, I don't have the compasses anymore :( They were starting to clutter the room and we didn't have any plans on scrapbooking with them or anything so we tossed them.

 

In both ports they made it a point to stay on ship time. In Cozumel they're an hour behind "ship time", and they said numerous times to go by SHIP TIME, and to not ask anybody for the time becuase it would be wrong.

[JmeAce]

No problem:) Can you tell me what night was formal night? Thanks!

[dividedsky319]

The second night was the formal night...

 

It went: Casual, Formal, Casual-Tropical, Casual, Casual

[jojo08]

One question how was Xcaret and the ferry ride over. Did you have a tour guide or did you just get there and go do what you want. What was all included in the cost of $99.00 pp. How was the food, was it an all day thing what time did you get back to the ship.

[dividedsky319]

The ferry ride over wasn't bad, it took maybe half an hour and wasn't very rough. A few people did seem to get kinda queezy, though, so if you're prone to motion sickness I might be wary.

 

The "tour guide" that we had basically got us from Playa Del Carmen and brought us to the bus, told us some stuff about Xcaret on the bus, got us our wristbands for the park then walked us to the underground river (by a few people's request) After that we were on our own.

 

All that's included in the price of the excursion (it was $89 bucks pp for us I believe) is entry into the park (and transportation, of course) ...

 

The food was excellent, and I highly recommend the "big corona"!! ;) Lunch wasn't included, but the place we ate at was right on the beach and they'd bring your food to you. For two of us with one "big corona" (which was $14 bucks) it was 35 dollars with a tip. We shared the fish taco appetizer and some sandwich kinda thing that was very different but very good... Here's a pic of our lunch: http://picasaweb.google.com/mveino/MiamiCruise2008/photo#5162595044641743314

 

And, the big corona! (which at one point was completely full) http://picasaweb.google.com/mveino/MiamiCruise2008/photo#5162595109066252818

 

I was happy with the excursion, there was a lot to do and see... I guess the only negative aspect of it was that it did take pretty much the entire time we were in Cozumel. "All aboard" was at 4:15 and we got back to Cozumel around 3:50, so while we did have 15 or so minutes to look around I always get nervous when we cut it close like that so I was in a rush.

[jojo08]

Thanks this is my first cruise so I didn't know how any of it works when you get off the ship. I think were going to go here, were just trying to make sure we pick something we really want to do. Just swimming will not be enough for me but it seems with the underground river and all it's a little more then just swimming at the beach.

[lovelights]

Loved your pics. I haven't had time to get mine uploaded to the net yet. We also went on this exact same cruise, except we took the shore excursions to Mexico and Belize to the Ruins. I've been sick since the 4th day on the cruise, to the point that I wouldn't even get out of bed, and just prayed that I'd make it home on our 3 hour ride on the bus. I made it home, and I'm still sick. Going to the doctor's tomorrow to find out what I have. I would never recommend Navigator personally, and it has nothing to due with me getting sick. I had way more issues with this cruise before I even got sick. It was a nightmare for us, within 24 hours after we boarded.

[lovelights]

Loved your pics. I haven't had time to get mine uploaded to the net yet. We also went on this exact same cruise, except we took the shore excursions to Mexico and Belize to the Ruins. I've been sick since the 4th day on the cruise, to the point that I wouldn't even get out of bed, and just prayed that I'd make it home on our 3 hour ride on the bus. I made it home, and I'm still sick. Going to the doctor's tomorrow to find out what I have. I would never recommend Navigator personally, and it has nothing to due with me getting sick. I had way more issues with this cruise before I even got sick. It was a nightmare for us, within 24 hours after we boarded.

[cassieroll]

Love your pics! The drunk girl video made me laugh. Sheesh. I hope her night wasn't ruined!

[jojo08]

The ferry ride over wasn't bad, it took maybe half an hour and wasn't very rough. A few people did seem to get kinda queezy, though, so if you're prone to motion sickness I might be wary.

 

The "tour guide" that we had basically got us from Playa Del Carmen and brought us to the bus, told us some stuff about Xcaret on the bus, got us our wristbands for the park then walked us to the underground river (by a few people's request) After that we were on our own.

 

All that's included in the price of the excursion (it was $89 bucks pp for us I believe) is entry into the park (and transportation, of course) ...

 

The food was excellent, and I highly recommend the "big corona"!! ;) Lunch wasn't included, but the place we ate at was right on the beach and they'd bring your food to you. For two of us with one "big corona" (which was $14 bucks) it was 35 dollars with a tip. We shared the fish taco appetizer and some sandwich kinda thing that was very different but very good... Here's a pic of our lunch: http://picasaweb.google.com/mveino/MiamiCruise2008/photo#5162595044641743314

 

And, the big corona! (which at one point was completely full) http://picasaweb.google.com/mveino/MiamiCruise2008/photo#5162595109066252818

 

I was happy with the excursion, there was a lot to do and see... I guess the only negative aspect of it was that it did take pretty much the entire time we were in Cozumel. "All aboard" was at 4:15 and we got back to Cozumel around 3:50, so while we did have 15 or so minutes to look around I always get nervous when we cut it close like that so I was in a rush.

 

 

Thanks so much for the info, I'm having a hard time picking what I want to do this does help.

[dividedsky319]

lovelights, care to elaborate as to why you disliked it so much? There were really no big problems we had with the ship at all.

[EaglesFan13]

Matt,

 

Thanks for your highlights. My fiance and I (both in mid-late 20's) will be on the NOS on February 11 and we can't wait! Was there a goo dmix of people age wise?

 

How was the weather?

 

We both met on a cruise (carnival) when we went on a spring break cruise and have both been to cozumel. This is my second cruise on RCI and my fiance's 2nd cruise overall. We are just doing the Beach Fiesta Booze Cruise thing in Cozumel, as it on my birthday and we want to have fun. In Belize we are doing the ziplining tour. Just hope we time to walk around Belize though.

 

For dining, did you late seating? did they put you two at a big table to meet people?

 

Sounds like fun and thanks for sharing the pics!!

 

Meredith

 

PS> Even though usually I hate the NY Giants (Philly Eagles Fan here!) I am so glad they won and beat the cheating Pats!!! :D

[dividedsky319]

The weather was great... the first night leaving Fort Lauderdale it got a little chilly after leaving the port, but after that it was comfortable from morning until night.

 

I thought about the Booze cruise in cozumel as well, but we decided this time we wanted to relax and take it easy instead of drink a lot ;) I get hungover way too easily so I didn't want to ruin the rest of the cruise!

 

We did late seating for dining, but honestly I don't know that I'd do it again. It depends on what type of person you are, but we usually wouldn't stay up that late so by the time we'd get out of dinner it'd be almost 10, and to get up for our excursions early the next morning we'd want to get to bed not too long after. That was one of the main reasons we only ate in the main dining room the first two nights, becuase we decided we didn't like having to eat so late. And honestly, even with the early seating you shouldn't be worried about being in port and having enough time to get ready, there's plenty of time.

 

Enjoy!

[bike1964]

Thanks for the heads up on the ship time vs. port time.

 

How was the debarkation process? Did it seem somewhat organized? I have heard (although more recently they seem to have gotten better) some people have had some terrible experiences getting off in a timely manner. We have an early shore tour booked in Belize. What time were you able to get to the port?

[maaaaattt]

Matt,

 

I enjoyed the review and the pictures. My girlfriend and I were on NOS in mid-January and had a great time. She's definately a great ship.

 

Another Matt :P

[lovelights]

lovelights, care to elaborate as to why you disliked it so much? There were really no big problems we had with the ship at all.

 

 

Hi.... I'm feeling a little better today. My muscles don't hurt as badly, but now my husband is getting sick, and my daughter that didn't even go with us, is now starting to cough, so whatever I picked up, I must have brought home with me. This was not our first cruise with RCCL. We've been on Majesty of the Seas, and she was just as beautiful and the service, food and even the entertainment was much better than NOS. We figured the bigger the better, and we were surely mistaken.

1). might seem minor, but didn't get a towel animal until the 3rd night, and I think that was only because I asked for one.

2). Stateroom attendant never greeted us by name (maybe it's because our last name was hard to pronounce or difficult to remember, but the other 2 cruises we went on, the room attendants didn't seem to have a problem)

3). Our cooler in our room was broke (didn't even keep things cool enough to purchase the drinks out of it).

4). Never had any ice in our room, except one night when I asked for it.

5). Our thermostat was broke (so no heat on the chilly first night, and no air on the 2nd warmer night).... maybe reasoning for me getting sick later, but still doesn't explain the bite marks all over the back of my neck.... nope they weren't from hubby, lol

6). A banana for breakfast because Windjammers didn't open when it was suppose to, isn't enough to run the body very well on a 7 hour shore excursion

7). No place to eat except for Johnny Rockets when we arrived back from Belize at 4:00.

8). No ice tea served until 11:30am, and no ice tea served after 9:00pm. On Majesty ice tea was available 24-7.

9). Late entertainment on nights that people had to get up at 6:00am to get ready for early shore excursions, and on night that no one had to get up early the next morning, very little activity going on onboard.

10). Just seemed that the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing on this ship. And after having nice cruises on Majesty of the Seas, and Norwegian Dawn, to us, Navigator was a big let down.

 

Oh, and take my word for it.... NEVER stay in an interior cabin. They're like dungeons. This was our first, and it will be our last. Have to enter the bed from the bottom because there's no room to walk past the side of the bed. I have a bruise on my left knee to prove it. ;)

[trim2gofast]

We too just returned from the same cruise and had a great time. The tenders at Belize were a bit slow, which rushed our excursion for cave tubing and ziplining. But VIV tours did a great job. We booked through Shore Trips. The zip line was just so cool. Good equipment, very efficient and friendly staff, and a great experience. We made it back just in time for the final tender, so there was no time to shop, but that is the risk you take for a 6 hour tour.

 

Some of Lovelights complaints were a bit trivial. If you weren't happy with your attendant, I hope you took your complaints to guest relations so that they could address the problems. We too didn't get a towel animal till the 3rd day, but I can't imagine complaining because of that.

 

Regarding food upon arrival from Belize. I had the same problem and went down to the Prominade Cafe and had some great sandwiches. They are served there 24 hours a day and were delicious.

 

On mornings that we were tight on time, we ordered room service the night before and had a relaxing coffee, fruit, cereal and muffins.

 

Every staff person we encountered was friendly and helpful. I did hear of several people unhappy with their cabin attendants, but ours was wonderful and brought us blankets instead of comforters, extra ice, etc. No complaints. I guess there were some new and less experienced cabin attendants who needed to improve their service. That is why it is important to fill out the guest surveys.