Fun review and great pictures.
Thanks.I loved that part about the "whole milk "
Doreen
"Paul Krause" wrote in message
news:p.e.krause-78B742.17272818082005@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> Voyager of the Seas
> Cape Liberty (Bayonne) NJ to Bermuda
> August 7-12
> Traveling Party: Myself and my wife (49), and 3 sons (24, 17, 12)
>
> Previous Cruises: Carnival Victory, Voyager of the Seas, QM2
>
> This was the first cruise for the entire family. My 24 year old son had
> never been able to work his schedule to join us so this was his first
> cruise. Last year we took the Voyager on its 9 day western Caribbean
> cruise and fully enjoyed it. I will be making comparisons to that trip
> and noting some changes on our Voyager experience.
>
> Day 1
>
> EMBARKATION: A
>
> We left home at 11 AM and arrived at the pier by 11:30. Dropped off our
> luggage and then parked. Really easy. Within 15 minutes we had
> completed all boarding procedures and had the Welcome Aboard photos
> taken. Note that it is now possible to have boarding forms (credit card
> for sea pass, etc.) completed on the internet. You then print out a
> page with a bar code that is scanned to facilitate the boarding
> procedure. We had not done this because we were unaware that Royal
> Caribbean had extended this program to the Voyager. Still, everything
> was quick and easy. We were given boarding passes #31 and went to the
> waiting area where coffee and cookies are available. We had a small DVD
> player with us for the boys to make the waiting easier. At 12:30 they
> started calling numbers for the shuttle to the ship. They started with #
> 20. In a relatively short time they called our number and we were
> whisked tot he ship. Dropped our carry on at our cabins and went to the
> Windjammer for lunch
>
> WINDJAMMER: C-.
>
> The food in the Windjammer was as disappointing as last year. Plenty of
> variety, but low quality. Not quite up to college cafeteria fare. Bought
> two soda cards for my older sons. The younger doesnıt like soda, but
> prefers milk or lemonade. We would eat lunch in the Windjammer only one
> other time on the trip while docked in Bermuda because the dining room
> was closed.
>
> We then gave my oldest son a tour of the ship, played mini golf and
> shuffle board before going back to our cabins.
>
>
> STATEROOMS A STEWARDS: B+
>
> We had two staterooms, one across the hall from the other. My wife,
> youngest son, and I were in a balcony (8556) and the two older boys were
> in an inside promenade view (8557) We couldnıt believe how quiet that
> promenade view cabin was with all the noise going on in the promenade.
> This was also the first time weıve had a balcony cabin and we will ever
> cruise without one again.
>
> Our stateroom attendant was Solomon. We immediately asked if we could
> have robes. Last year this was no problem, He explained that things had
> changed and even though we are Gold Members in the Crown and Anchor club
> it didnıt make a difference. You must reach the next level to get robes.
> But he said heıd see what he could do. After dinner we had two freshly
> folded robes on our bed. Solomon did a great job all week in responding
> to our needs. Weıd just leave a note on our bed and heıd take care of
> whatever we asked.
> The steward for our boys across the hall was Rick. Although we rarely
> saw him, he also did a pretty good job.
>
> We were surprised to discover that Royal Caribbean does not supply
> shampoo, shower caps, etc... only a small bar of soap. Fortunately my
> wife packs everything else we needed.
>
> Thereıs lots of storage space and you set your own combination for the
> in room safe.
>
> On a side note, my Sea Pass kept failing and would not open my room.
> After getting my 3rd card the purser asked if I had any magnets. Indeed
> I did. My magnetic clip on sunglasses which i kept in the same pocket as
> my Sea Pass was erasing the data on the card!
>
> MUSTER: B+
>
> Quick and efficient, but still on deck. We prefer the QM2 where you
> muster in various air conditioned lounges.
>
> After muster, we were informed the ship would delay departure for 20
> minutes due to an operational issue.
>
> We had early seating in the dining room so we went to dinner.
>
> DINING ROOM: FOOD: B+ SERVICE A
>
> We were in the Magic Flute on deck 5 which is the top level of a
> magnificent 3 story dining room. Royal Caribbean made some menu changes
> this year, but continues to offer a decent selection and an alternative
> menu. We felt that the food was better this year than last, always
> prepared as requested, presented nicely and high in quality.
>
> When my son ordered milk we asked if it was whole milk. Our waiter,
> Vardin, responded ³Of course, why would we serve only half a glass.²
>
> Service was wonderful and consistent throughout the week. Vardin was
> friendly and helpful, even with our family ordering multiple entrees and
> making numerous requests.
>
> I was somewhat surprised that Lobster night was our first night docked
> in Bermuda. I would have expected it on a Sea night so people would
> sample on shore dining while in port.
>
> After dinner we went to the ³Welcome Aboard² show followed by the Bon
> Voyage parade in the promenade (always fun). Before bed we turned our
> clocks ahead one hour as we were leaving Eastern Time and moving to
> Atlantic time.
>
> Day 2 - at sea
>
> I love days at sea. Relaxing, strolling , reading a good book.
>
> We started with breakfast in the dining room. Good service and choices.
> Noticed several head waiters who were also on board last year.
>
> After breakfast we did the mile walk on the track (5 times around) as we
> did every day last year. Lots of people do this. A big difference this
> year was in the use of deck chairs. Last year when we walked at 9 AM
> almost all deck chairs were taken. This year at 9 AM most were empty. In
> spite of gorgeous weather, there was never a problem getting a deck
> chair!
>
> Also we noticed very few packs of teens this year.
> Elevators, which seemed to always be slow and busy last year were no
> problem this year.
>
> After the walk it was off to the sports deck where my boys spent much of
> their cruise playing basketball.
>
> ADVENTURE OCEAN: D
>
> Adventure Ocean is a great program if you are under 12. Last year when
> my youngest was 11 he loved Adventure Ocean and there was a great
> program for him, Now that he is 12, he is in the 12-14 group which is
> basically nonexistent. Activities are scheduled but depend on whether or
> not anyone shows up. On this morning they were scheduled to have free
> throw competition at the basketball court. About 10 kids showed up but
> no staff member, so we found a crew member and they phoned someone who
> showed up 15 minutes later. The only other activity that appealed to my
> son was a ³snowball fight² planned for the adventure ocean pool deck,
> but it was canceled when no one planned ahead of time to sc. the ice
> rink to get the snow.
>
> Lunch in the dining room had some new selections this year along with
> the always popular pasta bar. As usual in the dining room, for quality
> and service were excellent.
>
> In the afternoon we attended the ice show which is wonderful. Donıt miss
> this! we also spent some time at the pool.
>
>
> ENTERTAINMENT: B
>
> The production values of the on board shows in the LaScala theater are
> always top notch. The shows were the same as last year and featured the
> same singers. We attended because we enjoyed the shows last year and our
> oldest son had not seen them before. Rhythm and Rhyme was a tribute to
> broadway and Vibology a tribute to the music of the 50ıs and 60ıs.
>
> We did not attend the Love and Marriage show or the Quest gameshow. My
> older sons did and said both were really lame and crude.
>
> We had 2 cruise directors, Becky and Casey. Both were adequate. Becky
> was a ball of energy. Our Activities Director was Becky 2.
>
> Best line of the week came from a comedian who told a very lame joke and
> caused people to groan. His response to the expected groan was in best
> parental tone, ³You better be good, or Iım going to turn this ship
> around..... we can still go to Canada you know!²
>
> Day 3 - BERMUDA
>
> We stood on our balcony watching the sun come up as we pulled into
> Bermuda on a bermudiful morning. We docked at Kingıs Wharf by 8
>
> Had breakfast in the dining room, did our mile walk, and prepared to go
> ashore for our first excursion at !0:30. This was called the ³Ultimate
> Glass Bottom Boat², but should have been called ³ the Rather Ordinary
> Glass Bottom Boat² We traveled out to a reef and looked through very
> small windows at a shipwreck and some fish. I see more fish in my
> aquarium at home!. Fortunately this was a relatively inexpensive
> excursion.
>
> Went back to the ship and had a mediocre lunch at Windjammer. As we
> were leaving Windjammer to go to our rooms to get ready for the
> afternoon the captain announced that there would be a weekly test of the
> electrical system and that we should not use the elevators. 5 minutes
> later they shut off all electricity on the ship for 10 minutes and then
> restarted it all without any problems. As we prepared to leave the ship
> security was walking through the hallways with dogs sniffing at every
> doorway. Iım somewhat pleased to see how thorough security is on board.
>
> Anyway, we left the ship and went shopping in Kingıs Wharf before
> boarding a ferry to Hamilton where we did more exploring. There are some
> beautiful parks and gardens there.
>
> We returned to the ship for lobster dinner and a full evening of shows
> and activities including a midnight buffet on the pool deck.
>
> DAY 4
>
> After a big breakfast it was off to Hamilton for our next excursion:
> ³Aquarium, Caves, and other attractions² This was a 3 hour tour of the
> island which included stops at the zoo, museum, aquarium and crystal
> caves. Our guide was very informative and provided a great tour, even
> singing a song about Bermuda for us. For all its beauty I wouldnıt want
> to live in Bermuda. Every household is allowed one compact car (the mini
> vans really are mini),but can have as many motor scooters as they want.
> Gas is $6 per gallon and price fixed by the government. there is no
> public water supply. Water drained from the roof of your home goes into
> a tank under your house and through a filtration system
>
> We got back to the ship at 3:00PM with a scheduled departure at 5 and
> went to the Promenade Cafe for delicious deli sandwiches and cookies.
> Each evening before bed weıd stop at here for some milk and wonderful
> cookies. The boys would also get pizza to bring back to their room. We
> give the Cafe Promenade an A+
>
> Two people evidently had called the ship and said they were running
> late. They boarded at 5:05 as the gangway was being loaded and
> passengers cheered them on as they ran to make the ship. By 5:10 we were
> on our way.
>
> At dinner the waiters did the Dance of the Flambé, walking through the
> dining room balancing plates with flames on their heads. It was also
> the night of the gala midnight buffet and the Village People were
> scheduled to be in the disco at midnight! We waited until 12:30 and were
> told that their helicopter to the ship was delayed. It was getting
> cloudy wit fog and we decided not to wait so we really donıt know if
> they ever made it or if we were just being fed a line!.
>
> Day 5
>
> ROOM SERVICE: A
>
> We had ordered breakfast for 8 AM. at 7:55 we get a call saying it is
> on the way. What fun to eat breakfast on your balcony sitting in your
> robe.
>
> After breakfast and our mile walk it was back to the sports deck for
> basketball. At one point we noticed several times that there was extra
> black smoke coming from the smokestack and we were picking up speed.
> About an hour later we were in rain and wind with 12 foot seas (although
> there was some rolling movement, it wasnıt much at all)..
>
> We later heard that we were in the northern fringes of Tropical Storm
> Irene and the captain had sped up to get through it although looking at
> weather maps i think it was just a typical storm off the coast. Several
> hours later we were back in sunshine and calm waters. This was the only
> rain we had on the trip.
>
> We spent the day just enjoying the ship and doing some souvenir
> shopping. Wait till the last day to buy T-shirts and youıll always get a
> sale, BUT, if you see something you really want to buy, do it early in
> the cruise, because they will run out of some items. I learned this the
> hard way
>
> Dinner was excellent as usual and the waiters all sang for us (actually
> lip synched is a better description) We distributed our tips and bid
> farewell and went back to the cabin to pack and put our suitcases out
> before attending the Farewell Show, another show you wonıt want to miss.
>
> Before bed we reset our clocks to Eastern time and appreciated gaining
> an hourıs sleep on the last night.
>
> DISEMBARKATION: B
>
> Everyone is given colored luggage tags and must put their luggage out
> the night before disembarking. New this year is that you are give the
> order in which the colors are called so you know approximately when you
> will be able to leave.
>
> We woke up at 6:15 and watched as we came into New York Harbor and
> docked at Cape Liberty Royal Caribbean never calls it Bayonne, but if it
> looks like Bayonne and SMELLS like Bayonne, tt must be Bayonne).
>
> We docked at 7 as scheduled and went to breakfast in the dining room at
> 8. By 9 we were in the promenade deck watching luggage be unloaded. At
> 9:30 we went to studio B to listen for our color to be called. This is
> another change. Last year you could wait anywhere on the ship and hear
> the announcements. They even had cookies, sandwiches and coffee at Cafe
> Promenade... but not this year. Announcements are now only heard in the
> Lascala Theater, Studio B, or the Atrium.
>
> We were told to have a colored luggage tag and our passport to show as
> we disembarked. By 10:30 our color was called and we walked off the ship
> with no one checking for tag or passport. Took the shuttle to the
> luggage area where we quickly found our luggage. Most luggage looks
> alike but we have large green neon luggage tags that stand out. Customs
> barely gave us a look and we were quickly loading our mini van. Parking
> employees stop all traffic for those leaving the lot so we were out of
> there in a flash and home by 11 unpacking.
>
>
> OVERALL: A
>
> This was a special cruise. For some reason the crew was extra attentive,
> energetic, friendly, helpful and exuberant. It was also fun because the
> whole family was together to enjoy the trip. Now its time to dream about
> next year. it wonıt be the Voyager because she will be in the
> Mediterranean. the Explorer of the Seas will replace her and do a 9 day
> Eastern Caribbean. We may do that, or Alaska, or a Holland America down
> the St. Lawrence... so many choices :-)
>
> Pictures from this cruise can be viewed at
> http://homepage.mac.com/pekrause/PhotoAlbum18.html
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