| So call me a Negative Nelly or whatever they | | | | |
| call someone who sees the negative in things, | | | | On the last night of the cruise the main |
| but I cannot ignore the negatives, and to be | | | | entertainment was a pair of comedian |
| fair, I shouldn't. So Let me state up front | | | | jugglers, as far as comedian jugglers go they |
| that this review will have some negative | | | | were good. But the highlight of the show was |
| points in it, but let me also state that we | | | | not the jugglers themselves but their |
| did enjoy our cruise and would do it again. | | | | "victim" for one of their acts. The jugglers |
| | | | looked for a kid to join them onstage and had |
| Our first cruises were on the Royal Caribbean | | | | him lay on the stage, they were going to |
| Monarch of the Seas and the Carnival | | | | juggle bowling balls over him. As part of |
| Paradise. Both of these ships did cruises out | | | | the comedy of the act the juggler dropped one |
| of Los Angeles (Long Beach) to Catalina and | | | | of the bowling balls. The boy they picked up |
| Ensenada. Both are smaller ships of their | | | | sat up, looked at the jugglers, got up, and |
| respective lines and are the basis of any | | | | promptly walked off stage back to his |
| comparisons that I made when looking at this | | | | parents. They apparently did not expect this |
| cruise. Of course that could be like | | | | response because they then proceeded to try |
| comparing a SUV to a VW Bug, albeit in the | | | | and convince the boy to rejoin them on stage. |
| case of the Monarch a classy Bug and in the | | | | This cruise did not have a lot of kids on it |
| case of the Paradise a Party Bug! | | | | and this boy was the only kid in the |
| | | | audience, so they proceeded to bribe him to |
| When we booked this cruise our expectations | | | | return to stage. They finally bought him |
| were a little lower then if we were booking a | | | | with a bribe of $10. He rejoined them on |
| regular itinerary for a ship because it was a | | | | stage and they had him lay down again and the |
| repositioning cruise. It turns out that we | | | | second juggler told him he would lay down |
| should not have had lowered our expectations | | | | with him. When he laid down he was on the |
| that much, the cruise ship had its full crew | | | | other side of the boy from the other juggler. |
| and the entertainment scheduled was for a 7 | | | | As soon as he got settled the boy sat up |
| night cruise while we were on a 5 night | | | | again, they started asking him not to leave, |
| cruise, this gave us more entertainment | | | | but the boy apparently was not leaving |
| choices not that we needed entertaining since | | | | without his money, he got up and laid back |
| we found ways to entertain ourselves, boy | | | | down on the other side of the juggler that |
| that "Do Not Disturb" sign came in handy. | | | | laid down, putting him next to the juggler |
| | | | with the bowling balls. This caught the |
| We arrived for check-in around noon (we | | | | jugglers off guard again because they both |
| wanted to get to the room early, we had not | | | | started laughing and the act couldn't |
| seen each other in a week), which appeared to | | | | continue for a good 30 seconds while they got |
| be a good time as we were able to walk right | | | | control of themselves. They then performed |
| up to the check-in desk and were promptly | | | | the juggling bit. When they gave the boy his |
| handled by one of the agents. A few minutes | | | | money they were short a dollar, and the kid |
| of verifying paperwork, viewing passports, | | | | had counted it, out loud, then turned to the |
| taking blood (not really) and swiping a | | | | jugglers and demanded the rest of his money. |
| credit card (They wanted to keep it but I | | | | We know (or at least strongly suspect) that |
| wouldn't let them) and we were directed to | | | | this was not staged because the boy in |
| board the ship. We learned something new on | | | | question ate dinner at the table next to us |
| this cruise that we suspected earlier. | | | | each night and so at dinner we asked them |
| Arriving early for check-in works to our | | | | about it and they were all excited about what |
| favor and gets us aboard quickly. Score! | | | | had happened and his brother was asked to go |
| | | | to the late show and recreate the |
| We boarded the ship and headed to the | | | | performance. |
| Windjammer Restaurant for the lunch buffet. | | | | |
| This was the first of a few disappointments | | | | I took advantage of snacks in the Solarium |
| for the cruise. The food for the boarding | | | | diner a few times and was greatly |
| lunch was dry and bland, kind of like the | | | | disappointed by the quality of the food and |
| foods the kids cook at home when it is their | | | | the attitude of the staff, I think my kids |
| turn to cook; compared to the Monarch we were | | | | were hiding in the back room again and |
| greatly disappointed and hoped that it was | | | | coaching the staff here. When I asked for |
| not the norm for this Windjammer. | | | | something from the Solarium Staff I was made |
| Unfortunately this did prove to be the norm | | | | to feel as if my request was an imposition or |
| for the Windjammer on this cruise but a glass | | | | annoyance, they much preferred to continue |
| of lemonade improved things some and gave it | | | | chatting with their crewmates rather than |
| a tangy taste. Every time we ate in the | | | | serve the guests, just like my kids. |
| Windjammer we found the food to be dry and | | | | |
| relatively bland, I looked around the | | | | The wait staff & bartender in the Schooner |
| restaurant and peeked into the kitchen but I | | | | Lounge was attentive of us as guests and we |
| didn't see my kids working, there were a few | | | | were impressed with how much they seemed to |
| dishes that broke the pattern but not many. | | | | care about our trip. The best bartenders on |
| | | | the ship are Rommel, Dordi, Diego, Orlando, |
| When the staterooms were available we visited | | | | Nestor, Tishar, and Karl. They did a real |
| our stateroom and while we had an interior | | | | good job of helping Sandie corrupt my bride |
| cabin the layout of the room made it feel | | | | of 23 years. The bartenders, waiters, and |
| larger then our previous visits to the | | | | waitresses live on tips and this group was |
| Monarch (They say that shaving makes things | | | | earning every additional tip they got, some |
| appear bigger). Our stateroom was set up with | | | | of the other departments on the ship could |
| the beds together in the queen configuration, | | | | take lessons from there folk. |
| which pleased us since we did not need to | | | | |
| request it. Additionally our Crown and Anchor | | | | The Casino table game staff did not seem to |
| books and the Terry Robes that were part of | | | | know what they were doing, it seemed as if I |
| our reservation bonus were in the room | | | | constantly had to remind them that they did |
| waiting for us. One disappointment here was | | | | not pay a bet, did not remove a lost bet, |
| that we did not see our stateroom attendant | | | | paid my winnings to another player, or they |
| until the 3rd day of the cruise, it could | | | | just did not seem to understand their games |
| have been because of the "Do Not Disturb" | | | | themselves. My biggest disappointment in the |
| sign, but we were careful to not have that | | | | Casino came from the Texas Hold-Em table, |
| out during the bulk of the times that they | | | | which was only opened once during the cruise, |
| are supposed to be attending to the rooms. | | | | was dealt by a dealer that did not seem to |
| While he was taking care of our cabin he | | | | understand the game, and had an outrageous |
| really did not seem interested in addressing | | | | rake of 10% to $10 per hand, most poker |
| any personal cares we may have had. | | | | rooms, including the poker table on Carnival |
| Fortunately we didn't have any. The only | | | | Paradise, only rake $3-$4 per hand and lower |
| other time we saw our attendant was when he | | | | that rake when they don't have a full game |
| gave us the customer satisfaction survey and | | | | this casino seemed to figure that they could |
| pointed out his section. I will give him | | | | take the players for all they could. |
| credit, he did take care of the room, but | | | | |
| there was no personal touch and it felt like | | | | Internet Access, both on the ship terminals |
| he had his hand out. | | | | and wireless was sporadic at best. I often |
| | | | had 5 bars when I was wireless and could not |
| We loved the layout of the ship and how easy | | | | even connect to the ships server to sign in. |
| it was to get from one area to another. We | | | | When using the ships terminals I rarely was |
| were in the Centrum quite a bit and enjoyed | | | | able to get past the login screen and was |
| the music that was often played in that area. | | | | signed out several times when I attempted to |
| We also enjoyed playing tag and hide and | | | | go to Gmail or the other forums. This could |
| seek in the ship. Problem was we hid | | | | be viewed as a positive as it limited my time |
| together and no one came seeking us, so we | | | | online and I didn't get to go to any girlies |
| got a little preoccupied at times. It was on | | | | sites. *wink* |
| one of these trips that we met a delightful | | | | |
| young woman named Sandie who was enjoying her | | | | Our stop in San Francisco, CA was great. We |
| first Solo cruise. What a sweetheart, she | | | | crossed under the Golden Gate Bridge around |
| was delightful and always had a few wolves | | | | 6:15 in the morning and the lighting was |
| following around her. She always had a drink | | | | great. We have been on that bridge before |
| in her hands due to the diligence of the wait | | | | and it seemed small, but crossing under it is |
| staff. Proof that a single person can enjoy | | | | magnificent and a view that many people don't |
| a cruise without having a wingman. I would | | | | get. We docked at pier 35, which is one of |
| just hate to see her bill at the end. | | | | the older cruise terminals on the west coast. |
| | | | Unfortunately this terminal is more of a |
| The mandatory muster drill went rather | | | | warehouse then a processing facility but it |
| quickly and our muster leader had a great | | | | did serve sufficiently as a gateway to the |
| attitude and did what he could to make the | | | | city for us. We did not take any excursions |
| whole muster drill more enjoyable then it | | | | but we did disembark and wander along the |
| could have been. It may have been a bit much | | | | waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf and then over |
| for him to be doing the shuffle and the twist | | | | to Ghirardelli's Chocolate Factory (A must-do |
| and the dive but it was interesting to watch | | | | stop in San Francisco). We then paid for a |
| him enjoying himself. He also did a fair | | | | Metro Day Pass and took the cable car over to |
| imitation of the cruise director and the | | | | Chinatown, which proved to be an interesting |
| captain. I think I saw him floating off the | | | | walk. We then took the cable car back to |
| side of the ship at one point, but that may | | | | Fisherman's Wharf and the Streetcar back to |
| have been a trick of my eyes. | | | | the ship. |
| | | | |
| Dinner in the Aquarius Dining Room was | | | | Disembarking the ship in Victoria, BC was a |
| fantastic; we were not disappointed once by | | | | chaotic mess, on previous trips the elevators |
| the quality of the food or the service that | | | | to the gangway were disabled for the gangway |
| we received there. We ate dinner in the | | | | deck so that guests could line up from the |
| Aquarius every night, breakfast every morning | | | | upper deck and not be dropped by the elevator |
| but one, and lunch twice. Our waiter and | | | | in the beginning of the crowd allowing late |
| assistant waiter were very attentive, after | | | | comers to move in front of other guests that |
| the first night (Well, second night, Sandie | | | | had been waiting patiently for the gangway to |
| was a bad influence on Karla, got her drunk | | | | be placed and opened for disembarking. |
| and she couldn't find her way to the dining | | | | Instead guests that did not feel the need to |
| room with me trying to guide her. She kept | | | | wait in line were allowed to move in front of |
| insisting that it was out the aft door of the | | | | other guests and were being directed into |
| ship, which would have led us into the wake | | | | place by the activities director, this really |
| behind the ship. Karla doesn't drink much | | | | hit a sore spot for me. |
| and in that one night she drank more then she | | | | |
| had in months, Sandie still drank her under | | | | When we arrived at our final port in |
| the table and I suspect that Sandie might | | | | Vancouver, BC things moved extremely well. |
| have drank a platoon of Marines under the | | | | While we had to wait for out group to be |
| table.) the waiters called us by name as we | | | | called we waited in one of the lounges and |
| were arriving, had our preferred drinks | | | | enjoyed some Seattles Best Coffee served by a |
| waiting for us and made us feel at home | | | | delightful young lady who gave me the news |
| (Unlike our kids who make us feel like we | | | | that the Vision of the Seas will be taking |
| shouldn't be home.) Where the Windjammer | | | | over the 3-Night/4-Night Baja Itineraries |
| disappointed the Aquarius made up for. | | | | that the Monarch of the Seas currently |
| | | | handles in the next year or so, this means I |
| The shows put on in the main theater were | | | | will get several more visits to the Vision as |
| enjoyable, however once again we were | | | | L.A. makes the best spot for a weekend |
| disappointed by the shortsightedness of some | | | | getaway right now. |
| of the staff. There was a large group on the | | | | |
| cruise that needed use of the main theatre | | | | While I identified a lot of negatives in this |
| and the staff changed the show time for the | | | | review overall we did enjoy ourselves, but we |
| second night's second show without notifying | | | | can see several areas where the crew of the |
| the guests. From what I understand when the | | | | Vision of the Seas could improve if this is |
| curtain raised there were around 25 people in | | | | reflective of their normal attitude. |
| the audience because most of the audience | | | | Hopefully we can schedule a trip on the |
| showed up 15-30 minutes after the show | | | | Vision when it is on a regular itinerary and |
| started because they expected the show at | | | | we can see what a trip then would be like. |
| 10:45 and it started at 10:15. This portion | | | | |
| of the show was supposed to have been | | | | Our adventure for this vacation continues |
| incredible with man-eating tigers (It | | | | with a one night cruise on the Norwegian Star |
| actually ate a man) and an act where the | | | | and a trip home on Amtrak's Cascades, so |
| dancers all melded into one writhing pile, | | | | watch for reviews of these trips. |
| that would have been a sight. *wink* | | | | |