NOS 10/2-10/9 Western Carib...just off; long!

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

Hello to any interested in reading my overview of the Navigator of the Seas Western Caribbean sailing...

We are a family of four, this being my 7th cruise, my husband's 4th, and the kid's 2nd (Disney Magic two years ago).

 

We stayed at the Doubletree Grand Biscayne Bay on Friday night, arriving around 10:00 pm. Well, since we missed dinner, my husband and kids (ages 10 and 7) went downstairs and picked up some Chinese (restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel). Booked this on Priceline. In the morning before we checked-out, we stopped at the grocery (also on the ground floor) and bought soda, water, and beer (not much), and put it in our cooler on wheels (which had a home on our balcony during the week).

We arrived at the port at 11:30, and were waiting in line to board the ship by 11:50. There were many people ahead of us, but we were on the ship and getting our pictures taken by 12:20. Very quick and efficient! As soon as we boarded, both of our children were given wrist bands to wear indicating our muster station (in the event that they were in Adventure Ocean or somewhere else on the ship, away from us). It made me feel much more secure knowing that the kids would be accounted for in the case of an emergency! We immediately went to our room and dropped off our carry-ons (too much to lug around). Since we were on the ship so early, we were able to walk around and figure out where things rather quickly.

Room: AFT, 10th floor, #1392, D1. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Randy from the Philippines was our room steward and couldn't have been nicer. The balcony was large with 2 loungers, 2 chairs, and 2 tables (great for a quiet breakfast/coffee). The bed was comfortable, and the sofa...while hard...wasn't a problem as the kids (and us) were exhausted by the end of each day. I don't think an over-the-door shoe holder (to store "stuff") is necessary, as there was ample space in the room. The 10th floor was very quiet and we never heard anything when in our room.

 

Food: Really, really, good. We were on deck #5, Swan Lake Dining room, #576. Our waiter was Jafaar from Tunisia and his assistant was Lincoln, from Jamaica. We were at a table of 12...but 4 people never showed (probably were moved). Our table mates were from Curacao, a lovely family that we enjoyed visiting with during dinner. My own opinion, but I think that the wait staff can make/break your dining experience. Our waiters were friendly, talkative, and really added to the overall dining experience. We also enjoyed the variety of food offered in the Windjammer. There was always something different...especially at Jade. The Cafe on the Promenade was also good for a quick sandwich (also changed daily) or dessert before leaving the ship for an excursion.

 

Ship: just beautiful. For being at capacity, it never felt crowded (and at times, we questioned "where is everybody?"). There are just so many lounges, bars, clubs, etc.

 

Activities: We all enjoyed the putt-putt course, ice skating (yes, my son brought his hockey skates), ping-pong, checkers, the pools/hot tubs, and the rock climbing wall. The only thing that we didn't do was the in-line skating...and being such a small course, really wasn't missed.

 

Adventure Ocean: The kids absolutely loved going! Our son was in the 6-8 group, and our daughter in the 9-11 group. For late-night (10-1 and $5.00 per hour), they combined the two groups, which worked out really well since they were together. On any evening, there never seemed to be more than 15 or so kids participating (of the 340 on board) in the activities (which started at 7:15-7:30). While our kids were with us during the day, they really looked forward to meeting up with others in the evening from various parts of the globe.

 

Casino: the slots were horrible...just feed your money in and...nothing! Oh well... The table games were much better (so says my husband).

 

Bingo: the final jackpot was won by a single winner from L.A....$7077! Even if I didn't win, it was fun to play a few times (and I did win 50% off an excursion in Cozumel on a raffle ticket that they give out at bingo...so it wasn't a total loss!).

 

Meet/Mingle: We met many nice people that I had been visiting with online for several months. It was great to chat with folks during the course of the cruise.

 

Shopping: The shops on the promenade offer different items for sale every evening...so it is worth it to stop there 1x each night to see what they are offering. There are deep discounts on merchandise the last night.

 

Excursions: Peat Taylor (and his son O'neil) in Jamaica for a tour and Dunn's River Falls. A very nice, entertaining man. Fun for all.

We also did the Fury Catamaran in Cozumel. This was a typical beginner snorkeling trip, but we all enjoyed it. We had the afternoon excursion (started at 2:00). We were back by 5:30...would have been better if it had been longer. The beach they take you to is gorgeous. In Labadee, we played on the beach, walked, and just enjoyed the sunshine. We were cooked in about 3 hours! It was really good to have a day off on Wednesday (which would have been our Grand Cayman stop) to relax and enjoy the activities on the ship.

 

Disembarking: We left our room at 7:50 (green luggage tags) and walked off the ship at 8:00, and were through customs, baggage claim, and in a taxi by 8:45. Note: we were hoping to check our bags at the port (AA, our flight was at 10:52), we couldn't (there was a sign indicating that anyone with a flight before 11:00 could check their bags at the port...but they told us that the bags wouldn't make it to the airport in time so we just took them to curbside check-in at the airport ourselves). We were at the security check-in at the airport by 9:15...1 1/2 hours before our flight (time for homework!).

 

Entertainment: El Gaucho...crazy and so fun to watch. The kids are still talking about his show. Gary Mule Deer and Jeff Jenna (comics/entertainers) were also very good. The ice show was super, with very talented skaters. We didn't take in any other production shows during the week.

 

Final comments/thoughts:

Ken Rush was the cruise director...he could really get the crowd going! Captain Bang was back from vacation (when we had our picture with him...as did everyone...he said that he lives in Orlando and had to dodge the three hurricanes during his time off).

Johnny Rockets: yes, they do charge $3+ per person.

 

Final thoughts (thought I'd never get there, right?!):

The water tasted fine on the ship. Do not fear drinking it.

If you are a returning cruiser, make sure you get the coupon booklet from your cabin steward (should be waiting for you in your cabin upon arrival).

 

This was our first time sailing on one of the Voyager Class ships. It was truly an amazing experience for all of us...and yes, we want to do it again!

 

If anyone has questions, I am happy to answer them...

 

Enjoy!

Toni

[uptheboro]

I enjoyed reading your review, and would like to ask you some questions. What kind of choices did your children make in the dining room for dinner? Also did you book your Peat Taylor tour well in advance? What was the Fury Catamaran excursion, and how did you book it? How did your kids react on boarding the ship? I cant wait to take my children on the Navigator next year.Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Fran

[ashleymathis]

Did they say anything about your cooler. Did you just roll it behind you when you boarded?

[sigafoos]

We will be on the Navigator in March 05. We have cruised on the Disney Magic 2 times, our only cruises. I was wondering if you could compare the 2 in a few ways, entertainment food etc. We have 2 kids,daughter 20 and son 17.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Great review!

 

We too loved the Navigator and also thought at times it seemed empty.

 

Glad you had a great cruise...thanks for posting!

 

 

***

[Cruisin' Patty]

Loved your review. Thanks for taking the time.

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

To answer your questions:

 

uptheboro: for dinner, our daughter (10) ordered off of the regular menu...soup or salad, and an entree. Many times, she just ordered the entree alone (portions were large for her). Our son (7), whose tastes are totally different than his sister's, always ordered from the kids menu (fish sticks, cheese sticks, chicken strips, etc. and fries. And always, a caesar salad (he really likes them). The other two boys at our table had rice, corn on the cob, fries, and chicken strips EVERY EVENING. Between the kids menu and the adult menu, there will be something they like.

Peat Taylor: I emailed him about 2 months in advance. No problem at all. You pay (cash) upon completion of your day with him.

Fury Catamaran: This is the catamaran sail, snorkel offered through RCCL.

They do have a website, but bear in mind that it can ONLY be booked through the ship. The catamaran is docked next to the ship in Cozumel. You just walk off the ship and it is right there. You need to bring a towel (from the ship), sunscreen, sunglasses, camera (I brought both my regular and a water camera) and your snorkel gear (if you have your own, if not, they will provide it). Be dressed in your swimsuit/cover-up. Eat before you leave the ship as food is not provided. After you snorkel, the bar opens with beer, margaritas, and soft drinks (as much as you want). Then you are taken to a beach for an hour to play (drinks still provided), and then taken back to the dock. It was fun.

Boarding the ship...WOW! The artwork and promenade are beautiful.

 

Ashleymathis: no one uttered a word about the cooler...it kind of looks like a rolling suitcase. We merely rolled it on behind us (with a 12 pack of Diet Pepsi, a few bottles of water, and a 6-pack of beer, and a bottle of club soda). In addition, in another carry-on, I had 2 bottles of wine, and a small bottle of v.o. (and no, we are not heavy drinkers!).

 

sigafoos: to compare the Magic to the Navigator...

Well, the Magic was true Disney...what can I say?! It was like Disneyworld for a week on the ship...very loud! The characters were great, and everywhere. The ship was very clean and very pretty. Their kids club was also well-liked. We never, ever saw our room steward (this is being very subjective, I know). And the food was mediocre. Overall my children, and us, enjoyed it...however I think it was a 1x experience. I don't know, the kids really did have a fun time.

The Navigator is more elegant/charming than the Magic. It has a much more subdued atmosphere. The ship is just beautiful. Our room steward was sooo friendly and helpful...he'd run down the hall to open my door for me! Also, the food was really good. Instead of a buffet line like school (as we found on the Magic), there are a variety of pods/stations that offer different types of foods...all beautifully arranged. When in the dining room, you truly felt like it was a dining experience...rather than just food on a plate.

As for entertainment...the Disney shows were truly "magical" and beautifully arranged. I only saw a few of the entertainers onboard the Navigator, and since we didn't go to any of the production/reviews, I can't offer an honest comparison.

 

Hope this helps; always willing to offer help as I learned sooo much from this board prior to our trip!

 

toni

[Nige]

We will be sailing on the Navigator on 12/24.

 

Thought your review was a great mix of factual information and personal opinions based on your experiences. Too many of the cruise reviews I have seen tend to let individual personal experiences (positive or negative) distort their whole report.

 

I was surprised that the ship was full in early October - but relieved to hear that it didn't seem too crowded. I am assuming that our Xmas & New Year cruise will be full.

 

Did you dine in Chops or Portofino? We can read the menu when we get on board - but how did the food and service compare with what was written?

 

Since I see that you enjoy a drink, can I ask whether you ordered wine with dinner? If so, any recommendations? Was there a wine package offered on the ship?

 

I guess you may not have had time to use the Internet. If you did, was it on a 'per minute' basis or did you buy the in-cabin hook-up? Any comments?

 

Thanks again for your insights.

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

Hello, Nige-

Yes, we did dine at Chops one evening. We took the kids to the Windjammer for dinner (while eventhough it is a buffet, they do have staff waiting on you!). Our waiter couldn't have been nicer, and brought sushi (which we don't eat...but in his words " a cruise is to try new things") and went and got bowls of ice cream and a cookie for each of our kids. Anyway, back to Chops... it is a very nicely designed steak house. We had brought a bottle of wine from home for this evening's dinner ($12 corkage fee). We were charged $25 pp. You can pretty well get anything they offer, so I had a filet and a lamb chop...and my huband the same. It was very good and in an extremely quiet atmosphere (i.e. only a few dining...however we were seated early, at 7:00 pm). Would I do it again? I don't know. We had such an enjoyable dining experience in our assigned dining room, I don't know if I'd go again. The service was very good, however once again, we had excellent waiters downstairs. Once again, just my opinion...

We didn't order any bottles at dinner. My husband had a random glass here and there, but nothing to write home about. I do believe they offer a wine package, however no one ever mentioned a word about it during our cruise...so I cannot comment.

Internet: is .50 per minute. I had two free "10 minute" coupons in our returning cruiser booklet, so it was just long enough to check my email and send out a quick note to family/friends. I did talk with a lady on the catamaran excursion that paid $100 flat for the hookup in her cabin (brought her own laptop), and said that it worked out really well.

Also, concerning wine, there is Vintages wine bar on the promenade. We did go there one evening. They offered several wine flights and wines by the glass. In addition, listed in the daily Compass were classes/wine tastings...but having been to many of these here at home, I didn't attend.

Note: I also brought 2 small splits of champagne and 2 small bottles of wine with us. This was just enough for a glass with dinner.

 

Enjoy.

toni

[uptheboro]

Toni,

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I was pleased to hear that the kids can mix and match between the adult and kids menus. I think my girls will like that option. I will remember to make a reservation with Peat Taylor well in advance.

Fran

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

Fran:

I forgot to mention that the Peat Taylor tour also takes you through the rain forest (a biggie for my daughter as she has just studied this in school), and through a few villages. In addition, he makes a stop at the Wasai Pottery factory. It is a very small operation. A lady takes you takes you on a brief tour through their bldg., and then you can buy a piece of pottery to take home (no pressure at all to buy). Note: they will let your kids throw a small pot on a wheel...which was another "biggie" for my son (7). We let it dry on our balcony and brought it home with us. It is the little things like this that make the trip much more memorable for the kids (and us, too!).

 

Don't hesitate to ask more questions as you think of them.

toni

[mbeaulieu]

Thank you for sharing your review-I enjoyed it very much! We are planning to sail the Mariner in May, 2005. and I hope you don't mind anwering a few questions for me.

Did you sail out of Miami or Port Canaveral? You mention staying at the Doubletree--(sorry I am not familiar with the area, so forgive what might appear to be a silly question.) How close was this to port? You booked from priceline--If you don't mind saying, what was the rate? Did you taxi from the Doubletree to port, or take a hotel offered shuttle? and how did this work out?

Was #1392 a suite? or a regular balcony stateroom? I've read a lot about the "quietness" of level 10 and it seems your experience was a good one, as well. And finally, did you think taking the rolling cooler was worth the extra bother (hauling an extra piece of luggage.)?

Sorry for all the questions. I am glad you had such a wonderful cruise!

Michele

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

Michele-

We sailed the Navigator out of Miami (Mariner is out of Port Canaveral).

The Doubletree Grand Biscayne Bay is about 5 minutes by cab from the port...which worked out just fine.

I bid on a 3* downtown Miami hotel and got it for $52. I know that others have gotten the Hyatt for a bid as low as $35, but I couldn't get that hotel as it was booked up for the night we wanted.

Our room, #1392, was a category D1 stateroom with balcony (not a suite).

The cooler was yet another piece of luggage for us...and after hauling half of our house with us, another piece of luggage really didn't make much difference (and since it was on wheels, it really wasn't a problem).

toni

[mbeaulieu]

Thank you so much for replying to my questions so quickly. I printed out your review and highlighted some things I thought were great tips. I think I will give Priceline a try for our pre-cruise overnight stay. Not sure which hotels are close-by Port Canaveral... So if anyone has any suggestions...

Again, thank you!

Michele

[pringle]

Thanks for taking the time to post a review... I really enjoyed reading it. Good reference for our 12/11 Western cruise.

 

I'm glad to know there is a kids menu in the dining room. My son is 4. I hope to get him to Ocean Adventure some days, but he tends to be clingy and I'm not sure how he will take to a totally new environment with strangers. Did you have an orientation night at the kids program? How long was it? What did you do?

 

I'm counting on the AA check-in at the port. Our flight departs at 4pm so I was really counting on spending a few hours around Miami without our luggage. Were you saying that AA would only take luggage a couple of hours before flight time?

 

Thanks again.

[tasbm1]

Pringle, As you come on board the first day, an Adventure Ocean staff person will be right there to put a "muster bracelet" on your child. Your child will wear this everyday and in case of emergency, AO staff will bring your child to your muster station instead of you searching the ship for him/her. At that time, the AO staff person will tell you the time for the AO introduction show. It is held the first night right after dinner. The staff gives you and your child a little show on what to expect in AO. Right after that, you go to AO and sign your child up with some forms. For the rest of the cruise, you just sign your child in or out of AO because you have already completed the sign up forms. The show was only around 30 minutes.

 

As for kids food, the kids menu was perfect, but my son loved ordering from both the kids and the adults. He especially enjoyed the chilled fruit soups from the adult menu and the desserts from the adult menu. Main entree was usually from the kids menu.

Terri

[buchie614]

Sailing on NOS on 12-11. Can't wait to board. Thanks for all the reviews. We seen El Gaucho on Explorer one year, he was great.

[shipknotshore]

Toni,

thanks so much for the review. We are planning on using Peat Taylor for an excursion too and I'm glad that you stated that he is to be paid in cash when you finish the excursion. I take it you were pleased with your hotel prior to the cruise. I've tried to get as much info. on hotels from these boards - but it sounds like having a grocery right there was pretty convenient for buying your last minute sodas, beer, etc. before boarding the ship. Now I might reconsider and bring a collapsible cooler along - I just hated the thought of having to search out a market to buy the items to put in it - seemed like too much work and hassle.

Appreciate your comments on your dining experience. I'm not a fussy eater but I do like my food tasty. I've only ever been disappointed on my selections a few times on prior cruises - and that's been mostly in the dessert catagory!!!

Nice to know that even when the ship is full that you can still find a few places for a little quiet time with your spouse.

Thanks again for the great review.

[joeyancho]

Hi OHTOBECRUSIN, Glad you had a great time. The wife and I will be crusing the NOS in February. I finally takled my sister into going with us. This will be her 1st cruise (our 14th). Would you be so kind as to describe Jade for us. I have been on the VOS and the AOS but neither had a Jade restaurant. Thank-you in advance. BON VOYAGE!!!!!!!!!

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

Pringle:

When we were finally off the ship, through customs, and ready to pick up our luggage from the carousel (with the help of a porter... they are everywhere...and a cart), the porter asked us what airline. I told him American. Well, by this time it was about 8:40 a.m. The small sign on the wall said that they would only take luggage for any flights prior to 11:00 a.m. Well, our flight was at 10:52...so I thought we would be OK. But, he asked the guy from AA and they said NO...that there wouldn't be enough time for them to get our luggage from the port, to the airport, and on our flight home. So, we just caught a cab and went to the airport and did curbside check-in.

shipknotshore:

The market on the ground floor of the Doubletree was really convenient. There was also a place where you could get breakfast in the same area.

While we didn't buy tons of items there, a cold Diet Pepsi (not a Coke drinker) sure hit the spot on the ship. I brought a lemon in my bag, also, so my husband could have a VO and club soda at his leisure.

As for quiet time, the 19th Hole bar provides total solitude. NO ONE was there!

Joeyancho:

Jade...an Asian buffet located on the 11th floor, prior to walking into the Windjammer. It offered sushi, stir fried items (beef and broccoli, sweet/sour chicken, etc.), stir fried vegetables, rice, etc. One day, they switched it out to taco shells (hard and soft), meat, quesadilla (sp?) fillings, rice, etc.

 

Hope this helps.

 

toni

[Joy ride]

I am confused about johnny rockets... we were on the navigqator this past january, and going again in a couple weeks. There was no "cover charge" then. But now there is?? would we have to pay $3+ pp everytime we want to visit johnny rockets or is it a one time deal. I am confused. I plan to visit at least 3 times the week, and i have 3 kids.

 

Glad you enjoyed the navigator, thanks for the review!! also, this roll on cooler thing is new to me as well. is this something you bring on the plane empty, then check it with your other luggage?? I would be hesitant about putting clothes in there, as i am uncomfortable anyway about others going through my "stuff". please explain more on how the cooler works if you don't mind... thank you!!

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

joy ride:

You will be charged for Johnny Rockets (for your food and beverage purchase) every time that you eat there. We only went 1x with the kids, as we wanted to try it. In our Crown and Anchor coupon booklets that my husband and I each received, there was a coupon for a "free" visit to Johnny Rockets. So, we were both free. They gave us tons of fries and onion rings when we sat down (included in everyone's visit) which was great. My husband got a malt and my kids each a soda...we were charged for these (I believe $3.60 on the malt and a few dollars for the sodas). In addition, the kids split one order of chili...and we were charged the 1x fee.

 

We used our rolling cooler as yet another piece of luggage when we left home. I packed the clothes that we'd need to sleep in Miami for the night and our clothes for the day of sailing (rolled all of the clothes)...and just rolled it onto the plane as a "carry-on). It fit right under the seat and worked out great. Then, the day we sailed, we filled it with soda, beer, and a bottle of club soda (no ice) and rolled it right onto the ship.

 

toni

[Joy ride]

Thanks for the response. I guess i had a different vision of the cooler, lol.. I will check at walmart and see what I can find.

Talk about nickel and diming, omg, i can't believe there are charges for johnny rockets now.

I will take a peek at the crown book. every little bit helps when traveling with kids.

[pringle]

Did you happen to save your compasses, and can post or email them? Thanks again for your review and answering questions!

[OHTOBECRUISIN]

Pringle...

I've got the compases from each day and also the kids' compasses for two age groups. Any specific questions?

If I find time, I'll try to scan them and could maybe email them to you.

toni