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Cruise Reviews » Royal Caribbean Reviews
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AVERAGE RATING 
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First Cruise
Reviewed by Emma L on 22-4-2008 (Corby) |
| This was our first cruise and so we weren't sure what we would and would not enjoy, but we really liked the cruise and ports of call. Embarkation was easy ... we dropped off the bags at 11:30 and then headed into San Juan (20 dollars by taxi) to enjoy an afternoon in the town ... definitely worth seeing if you haven't been before and worth taking a ride on the free road train which goes around the town. Also pleased we flew in the night before so relaxed for the start of the cruise. THE SHIP: We were pleased with our choice of a balcony room on deck 8 (8118). Not huge but big enough and good to be in the center of the boat with less movement. There were plenty of things to do on board, so much so that we didn't do all we wanted as time flew by. THE FOOD ONBOARD SHIP: We enjoyed the breakfast and lunch buffet at the Windjammer and also enjoyed made to order food from the Sea View cafe. We went for the 8:30 dinner sitting in the main dining room as this allowed us more time to get ready for dinner after a day on the islands and were pleased we chose this. The quality of food in the dining room we thought was sometimes good and sometimes OK rather than great, with not too large portions, but that was all we needed after breakfast and lunch. Service was very good. We didn't feel hungry enough after breakfast and lunch to try Chops or Portofino's but would have done otherwise. PORTS OF CALL: ST THOMAS: Went to Trunk Bay on St John and was an absolutely fantastic beach, best beach all week and well worth the trip. Got a taxi from the port in St Thomas to Red Hook (10 dollars per person each way), boat to Cruz Bay on St John (10 dollars return) and a taxi from Cruz Bay to Trunk Bay (7 dollars per person). Then another 4 dollars to get onto the beach ... so take enough cash but was well worth it. Went with the 09:00 boat so it was quiet enough to enjoy this great beach. Then got back to Charlotte Amalie and the shops were closing not long after we got back there just before 1pm (being Sunday) so had some cocktails, relaxed and then walked 15 minutes back to the boat. Maybe we could have also gone to Magen's Bay or the cable car but didn't want to rush around too much being on holiday. Would definitely go back here, get a ferry or plane and see the other islands including the BVI. ST MAARTEN: Walked 5-10 minutes from the port to the center of Phillipsburg and enjoyed having a walk around. Lots of shops here ... many of them selling jewelry. Got one of the many buses to Marigot to see the French capital which was OK for a half hour walk on the waterfront but we could have missed and then a taxi to Orient Beach for 7 USD pp. Liked this beach but much bigger and much more crowded than Trunk Bay on St John, also seemed to be taken over by organized beach chairs from various bars and restaurants so more built up. Also more waves coming in at this beach when we went rather than a calmer bay, so up to personal preference if you prefer this. Enjoyed St Maarten but we felt like we've seen the island and so probably won't go back. ANTIGUA: Didn't think - or expect based on other reviews - much of St John Antigua. Definite hassle from taxi drivers getting off the ship through town. Rightly or wrongly got the bus to the other end of the island to English harbor and kind of enjoyed this part island tour but don't do it if you are in anything like a rush (buses don't seem to run to a timetable, they go when they are full / driver feels like it) and if you don't want to 'experience island life'. Then went to Darkwood beach - medium size beach at the south end of the island ... more open and not as hidden away as Trunk Bay but beautiful water again. Beach chairs here as elsewhere 5 dollars each. Seems Antigua has the dockyard and lots of really good beaches but not too sure what else. Taxi drivers will also want to pick you up as well as drop you off so just make sure you are happy with the time you agree. ST LUCIA: Did a tour here with fabiantoursstlucia which was good and 50 dollars pp. Seemed there was more to do on this bigger island so enjoyed the tour and felt this was needed here ... went to the pitons, waterfall, drive in volcano, different villages etc etc so as other have mentioned, if you do one tour this seemed to be the place as you would miss much of the island without this or hiring a car. Liked this island the most as it was very green and as it has lots to see. This is the one island where we had some rain ... maybe not that surprising as we were in the middle of a rain forest ! BARBADOS: Also enjoyed Barbados, worth a walk around Bridgetown which after San Juan was the island capital we most enjoyed. Walked ten minutes into town rather than getting a cab and that brings you to the bus station. Got the bus up the west coast to Mullins Bay which was good (easy to get to by regular buses), but missed out on the beaches where you can swim with turtles which we could have gone to if we'd got off the bus earlier, but we heard you'd get more hassle there. We did want a cruise with lots of island stops rather than days at sea but liked the last day being at sea so we could relax and later on pack bags. Recommend getting to the sunbeds early if you want one though for the day at sea. Overall would really recommend this cruise, each island was different and we liked the ship. |
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Med Cruise on the Voyager
Reviewed by Amy on 1-5-2008 (Croydon) |
| Arrived back from 1 week med cruise on Voyager of Seas in June. The ship was amazing very vast and something for everyone. Cabins were great and very spacious with a lot of storage space - we had a balcony which made it even more spacious. Very clean and tidy. Dining - what a choice we ate in every facility. The Main dining area was very good but we had booked for the late sitting which wasnt till 9.15/9.30 on the first evening we were still eating at 11pm. Which was slightly to late. Windjammer/Island Grill was fab something for everyone lots of fresh food produced - pasta, pizza, sandwiches, sushi, and even sugar free deserts. Portofino restaurant - you paid a $20 per head charge but it was worth every penny the food was exquisite and the service was fantastic - we even ate in Jonny Rockets which was a real American style burger bar. Entertainment on the ship was fantastic - the shows were first class and there was always something to see and take part in. We missed the ice shows but they were supposed to be very good indeed. Our ports of call were Marseille, Villefranche,Florence, Rome and Naples. Marseille we did a 3hr city tour - whcih was interesting but not really that much to see as There is a lot of building work at the moment as they are really trying to regenerate the city at present Villefranche - is a lovely little port, we visited Cannes and Nice - loved Cannes but not too impressed with Nice - seemed quite big and sprawling. This again was an arranged trip by RCI Florence/Rome We arranged transport through RCI and then did them both on our own - cost £30/£40 each - both are about 2hrs away from the port and you get dropped off at a central point. You then get about 5 hrs on your own and meet back at a designated spot. When we were in Rome there was a train strike for the day so all those people who opted to take the train in would have been stuck. You never really get time to see an awful lot but at least it gives you a taster and we had been to Rome before which helped Naples. We took the Hydrofoil to Capri - about 30 mins and then took the bus to Anacapri - a must is to go on the chair lift the views are specatacular, we then went back to Capri Town and had some lunch - then caught the hydrofoil back to the ship. To sum up we really had a fantastic time. The ship was spectacular with as little or as much as you wanted to do. They catered for everyone's taste and diet and it was very professionally organised. A tip is to check in on line then you don't have to wait in horrendous queues to get aboard ship. |
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