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Title :: 4/2/06 Author :: TLA Category :: Mariner Of The Seas Information :: Mariner is another wonderful "Voyager class" ship, equal to the Navigator we first discovered. After a few cruises on this class/size ship, it's tough to book on a smaller class. Description :: Western Caribbean In Route: Spring Break "06" from Detroit to Orlando & onto Port Canaveral (a new route/port for us). Also brought along the 15 & 13 year old. Both never flew or cruised, (and one is scared of heights and new adventures as well). Surprisingly they both took to the flight like "peas and carrots" Boarding: Orlando airport was a little tough to navigate, but found our Royal Caribbean bus, the same time the other 2,800 passengers did. Not as easy as the plane, to taxi, to port, to ship route, but once bags were on the bus and the group loaded, the bus ride to the port was fine. Ok, maybe a little long. Boarding: Took a little while working our way through the other 2,800 passengers (our newest best friends), but overall not bad. The terminal was nice and the staff was good. Kids were blown away once on board and looked around this big baby-WOW. April 2nd, 84 degrees and 100% sunshine! What a way to leave the states on a vacation. This is a kid friendly ship and if you want them to get hooked on this cruise thing, this is the class ship to make them a cruise junkie. Mini golf is a favorite of this group as well as Pizza (Cafe Promenade) and Johnny Rocket's onion rings. April 3rd, Coco Cay, Bahamas was a great sunny 76 degree day, even though the beach was a little on the packed side. Get off the ship first to pick the premium spots (we didn't). Enjoyed renting the foam floating beach mat ($10) and looking over the fish, that are looking back at us. At one point we were walking through the coral areas not paying attention and just happen to look down to see that I was surrounded by fish looking me over, maybe 35 to 40 of them. That will scare the crap out of you, especially when the fish are licking their lips....... that part about licking their lips sounded good anyway. There was an Eel near by as well, so it was time to take a trip to another location less Eel-ly. April 4th, was a day at sea, in route to St. Thomas. 83 and a little rain here and there. My thinking was this was a vacation day, but the kids wanted to hang with us most of the time so we hit a lot of activities, maybe 60% of them. If your kids like to be out on there own and hang with other kids, you'll be able to have a little more "own" vacation time. April 5th, 83 degrees and a little rain in the forecast, but it never showed up. At St Thomas took a tour around the island, Megan's Bay and Blackbeard's Hill. Walked around town after Blackbeard's Hill and did a little shopping grabbed a bit at the Subway sandwich shop (stay away from that place). The day went by very quickly and everyone had a good time (except for the Subway sandwiches), would like to come back again. April 6th, and again 83 degrees and a little rain in the forecast, but it failed to showed up. Took an island tour which was good and bad. Seen some of the island, Orient Beach and then some local shopping areas. Here's the details, in some areas they use an inland lakes as the trash/dump land fill (sad), at Orient Beach my 13 year old daughter discovered what a naked 78 year old male sun bather looks like, and the bathrooms at the local shopping & gathering area should have a sign that says "Enter at your own risk", in other words DON'T GO IN THERE!!!! April 6th and 7th, partly cloudy and 84 degrees. Both were "at sea' days. Kids had a great time, great meals, great explorations. Windjammer Cafe, Johnny Rockets & Promenade Cafe: Everything was excellent, lines a little long once in a while, but it's spring break, to be expected. Rhapsody Dining: The food will spoil you rotten and is beyond excellent. Service was a little less than the Navigator of the Seas cruise we first took. Savory Theater, Studio B: All the shows were great especially the ice shows. Staff: Becky Thomson the Cruise Director was great as well as 99% of the other staff. Departing: Always a sad day! Bus trip back was fine, airport packed as expected. Homeward Bound: Orlando to Detroit was uneventful, gave the kids time to reflect on a whole new experience and a world only seen on TV. They are already for another cruise trip, "Spring break 07", this time Tampa bound, they just don't know it yet. View Review

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Title :: 12/5/05 Author :: TLA Category :: Majesty Of The Seas Information :: Majesty of the Seas was a good ship, starting to show signs of needed improvement, (but since has been up graded). Would take her for a spin again. NOTE: 4 days go by very fast! Description :: Bahamas In Route: Detroit to Miami on December 4th (a day before departure), in a good way to go, especially coming from the snow belt in December. Hotel: There's a Holiday Inn "Port of Miami-Downtown", that has a view of the bay, your ship and an open air mall across the street. Bubba Gump's restaurant is great. Would stay here every time we cruise from here, if getting there a day in advance! Boarding:Typical Royal Caribbean fashion, no problems what so ever and a short process to get on board. And the 81 degrees didn't hurt nor the partly cloudy sky's. December 5th, heading for Nassau, Bahamas in 81 degree weather is not a bad thing, especially when it's snowing back home. December 6th, Nassau, Bahamas was ok. Atlantis was nice to see, took a little tour around the island that was ok, but just never felt comfortable, in a relaxing way. Hard to explain, no rush to go back there. December 7th, Cloudy and 75, waves didn't allow us to be tendered into Coco Cay. That's a crapper, as we discovered in more recent cruises, we like Coco Cay. So we spent the day on deck, sucking up what sun that was available (along with a adult beverage), which was better than getting hit with snow flakes and 28 degree wind chill. Also note, very few kids this time of year on the ship, an added bonus. December 8th, back to 80 degrees and a few clouds at Key West Florida. Wow this place has changed since my last trip there in 1974. Walked around town, hit Margarettiaville & Hard Rock to add to my shirt collection. Food was good at Margarettiaville at least. Like Nassau, Key West is a nice place to visit but the we'd rather be further south in the Caribbean. Windjammer Cafe & Maytime/Mikado Dining Room: For the most part it was good but not as good as prior or more recent cruises. The remodeling of the ship surely addressed this. A Chorus Line Lounge: Comedy was ok, but the "VIVA" show was much better. Staff: Good people, no issues with cabin service, wait service or food and beverage. Departing the Ship: Same a boarding, in the typical Royal Caribbean fashion, no problems. Homeward Bound: Miami to Detroit has been a good flight on Norhtwest, except for the tight seats. Overview: 4 days of the Royal treatment just isn't long enough. Miami is one of the very best locations to depart from, though Tampa is a close second. View Review

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Title<] :: 4/2/05 Author<] :: TLA Category<] :: Navigator Of The Seas Information<] :: [*]Navigator of the Seas is a wonderful ship that truly changed the life of my wife and I, and "is an event that lives in infinity". Description<] :: Western Caribbean In route: Detroit to Miami April 2nd 2005, non-eventful flight as I recall, only the thoughts of what the future would bring, having never cruised before. A little scary for both of us, but the couple that was traveling with us (that had a cruise or two of experience), not a care was visible. Boarding: Got in the terminal and on board early and was blown out of the water, by everything. Almost immediately, my wife and I had discovered our true vacation calling in life, The Royal Caribbean Cruise". 90 degrees and sun shine didn't hurt either. April 3rd, Clouds and 83, and a full day on the ship. A day of doing nothing was perfect for us. A chair in the sun, a drink or two and a good book. Can't go wrong there. April 4th, Labadee, Hispaniola: Mixed Sunshine, Clouds and 83 degrees. I discovered Jerk Chicken and the group discovered hammocks at the far end of the fenced in area. A very, very relaxing day of sun, water, hammocks, Jerk Chicken, sun, water, Jerk Chicken, sun and more Jerk Chicken. Two buildings on site for local crafts, one pre-priced for a relaxed experience, then theres the "Wild and Crazy" building. WOW, hold on tight for that one. April 5th, Ocho Rios, Jamacia & 85 degrees and some rain. No explorations planned or scheduled on this new be. Walked and shopped. April 6th, Grand Cayman, B.V.I. & 82 degrees. Walked and shopped and took photo's. Hard Rock Cafe for the usual goodies. April 7th, Cozumel, Mexico & 80 degrees. Broken record of walking and more shopping. At the far end of the strip that faces the bay is the greatest store (even though the name escapes me). Large, clean and they have everything under the sun, including dining. April 8th, at Sea & 83 degrees. Again, a chair in the sun, a drink or three and a good book, still can't go wrong there. Windjammer Cafe: Everything was excellent! Nutcracker Dinning: Excellent, nothing bad or even close. Metropolis Theatre & Studio B: All the entertainment and programs were good! Staff: This staff was the best of 5 Royal Caribbean so far. Better then family.......... Departing the Ship: No problems, everything smooth leaving the ship, facility and in getting our bags. Homeward Bound: Miami to Detroit, from Sun to Gloom and depression. Thant's ok, were going to do this cruise thing again. View Review

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