Trip Report FOS Western 10-11-09

[tmann4]

Thought I would share our experience from the 10-11-09 FOS Western.* Before:* We arrived Sat. around 1:30 and rented a car. (Hertz $65)* It was hot, 93 degrees.* We arrived at the Port Canaveral Radisson around 3:30.* The Radisson was the same as it was last time we stayed three years ago. It is clean and well kept.* The pool is nice and great patio bar.* We had a free hotel night, but think the rates are around $105/night.* We dropped the car off at Hertz in Port Canaveral around 9:00 Sun. morning.* It is about 3 blocks from the Radisson.* I just walked back to the hotel to meet my DW, DD and DS.* We took a shuttle the hotel recommended to the port.* I think it was Royal Transportation and was $4/person.* The hotel shuttle was free, but there wasn’t an open spot until 1:30.* Make sure you reserve the shuttle in advance or find another way to the port if you want to get there early.* The shuttle picked us up at 10am and we were at the port and checked in waiting for our group to be called by 11:00am.* Check –in process.* We waited in a line to go through security at the front door.* Went upstairs and there were two sides depending on what deck you are on.* We were on deck 10 so we went right.* We gave them our seapass papers we printed from on line check-in and our passports.* That was all we needed.* They gave us our seapass cards and sat in a block of chairs and waited to be called in.* They let about 50 people in at a time. It was a pretty simple process.* Our group was called around 11:30 and we were on our way.* Security took about 20 minutes to get through.* Check-in took less than 5 minutes and waiting in the chairs to be called was about a half hour.* During:This was our first time sailing with RCCL.* Once we got on we went up to Windjammer for lunch so we could beat the crowd.* Our ship was sold out so we thought we would beat the croud.* Food was great and good variety.* I was disappointed there was no outside seating.* After lunch we went exploring.* We were in our cabin by 1:15.* We were a D1 w/ balcony on deck 10.* Room #1310.* The room was spacious (as a cabin can be).* I thought the bathroom was roomy.* Shower was not as small as I thought.* We met our stateroom attendant, Gregory.* He was absolutely awesome.* Best we have ever had.* There is not a clock in the room.* There is a hairdryer in the dresser drawer that was pretty good.* No outlets in the bathroom unless you have a european converter.* Once complaint I have about the varandah was the balcony door.* It squeaked very loud when we opened and closed it.* Hard to get out there at night without waking the kids up.* Also, when it is very windy the door howls/wistles like a drafty old window.* It kept me up from 10pm until 3am one night.* After we checked out our room we did more touring of the ship.* Our luggage arrived between 3:30 and 5:30.* The boat drill was at 4pm.* No life jackets were required.* After that we went up for the sail away party.* Not very exciting so we went to deck 12 and waved goodbye to the people on shore.* We went back to our cabin, changed and headed for dinner.* Our waiter and asst waiter were great.* The Asst Waiter is transferring to the Oasis and left today.* There were a lot of people transferring to the Oasis from FOS.* The food was very good.* We had a great table next to the window on deck 5.* The dining room is on deck 3, 4 and 5.* After dinner we went to the Welcome Aboard show.* It was fun.* We walked around a little more and went to bed.* Will write more soon.* Long day today***

[amybeth4]

Thanks for starting your review. Would you mind breaking it up into paragraphs? One giant paragraph is REALLY hard to read. Thanks!

[uksimonusa]

Originally Posted by tmann4

Thought I would share our experience from the 10-11-09 FOS Western.* Before:* We arrived Sat. around 1:30 and rented a car. (Hertz $65)* It was hot, 93 degrees.* We arrived at the Port Canaveral Radisson around 3:30.* The Radisson was the same as it was last time we stayed three years ago. It is clean and well kept.* The pool is nice and great patio bar.* We had a free hotel night, but think the rates are around $105/night.* We dropped the car off at Hertz in Port Canaveral around 9:00 Sun. morning.* It is about 3 blocks from the Radisson.* I just walked back to the hotel to meet my DW, DD and DS.* We took a shuttle the hotel recommended to the port.* I think it was Royal Transportation and was $4/person.* The hotel shuttle was free, but there wasn’t an open spot until 1:30.* Make sure you reserve the shuttle in advance or find another way to the port if you want to get there early.* The shuttle picked us up at 10am and we were at the port and checked in waiting for our group to be called by 11:00am.* Check –in process.* We waited in a line to go through security at the front door.* Went upstairs and there were two sides depending on what deck you are on.* We were on deck 10 so we went right.* We gave them our seapass papers we printed from on line check-in and our passports.* That was all we needed.* They gave us our seapass cards and sat in a block of chairs and waited to be called in.* They let about 50 people in at a time. It was a pretty simple process.* Our group was called around 11:30 and we were on our way.* Security took about 20 minutes to get through.* Check-in took less than 5 minutes and waiting in the chairs to be called was about a half hour.* During:This was our first time sailing with RCCL.* Once we got on we went up to Windjammer for lunch so we could beat the crowd.* Our ship was sold out so we thought we would beat the croud.* Food was great and good variety.* I was disappointed there was no outside seating.* After lunch we went exploring.* We were in our cabin by 1:15.* We were a D1 w/ balcony on deck 10.* Room #1310.* The room was spacious (as a cabin can be).* I thought the bathroom was roomy.* Shower was not as small as I thought.* We met our stateroom attendant, Gregory.* He was absolutely awesome.* Best we have ever had.* There is not a clock in the room.* There is a hairdryer in the dresser drawer that was pretty good.* No outlets in the bathroom unless you have a european converter.* Once complaint I have about the varandah was the balcony door.* It squeaked very loud when we opened and closed it.* Hard to get out there at night without waking the kids up.* Also, when it is very windy the door howls/wistles like a drafty old window.* It kept me up from 10pm until 3am one night.* After we checked out our room we did more touring of the ship.* Our luggage arrived between 3:30 and 5:30.* The boat drill was at 4pm.* No life jackets were required.* After that we went up for the sail away party.* Not very exciting so we went to deck 12 and waved goodbye to the people on shore.* We went back to our cabin, changed and headed for dinner.* Our waiter and asst waiter were great.* The Asst Waiter is transferring to the Oasis and left today.* There were a lot of people transferring to the Oasis from FOS.* The food was very good.* We had a great table next to the window on deck 5.* The dining room is on deck 3, 4 and 5.* After dinner we went to the Welcome Aboard show.* It was fun.* We walked around a little more and went to bed.* Will write more soon.* Long day today***

The outlet in the bathroom is not a European outlet, it is a shaver outlet, using a euro adapter and plugging anything in over 5amps will blow the breaker!!

[tmann4]

Sorry about the long paragraph. Made a change and that is the way it posted.

Couple other things from the cabin. We had a queen and the pullout bed. The pull out bed was plenty of room for two people. However, it left a lot less floor space and hard to manuver between the dresser and pull out bed. There was plenty of storage. Dresser with about 8 small drawers. Room under the bed for suitcases and selves in the closet. There were about 20 hangers in the closet. Two small night stands with 1 drawer and storage under. Safe was nice to have for everything else

We did get the drink package for my DS and I. It paid for itself for us. We did use the "free" mug a lot. The cost for my DS-$32.20 and for adult was $48.30. It was fountain pop. If you didn't have your mug they gave you a glass. Never was an issue finding a place to fill it. Also, many times we would fill it and give it to someone else in the family. Toward the end of the trip they hardly even looked at our cards, and when they did, they didn't even look at the name. I could have walked up with my DW's card and they would have not noticed. Beer was $5.69 for Bud, lite and Mich Ultra. They had many other beers as well. Drink of the day with the souvenior glass is $8.95, without the glass, $7.13

Shopping on board. One RCCL store with logo stuff. One with swimsuits, one upper scale with watches, jewelry, etc. and a duty free. I think there was also a nicer clothing store where you can rent tuxes. There were always sales going on in the Prominade area. Usually jewelry. Also had a big 2 for $20 t-shirt sale and 50% off select RCCL apparel by the H2O zone. There was a jewelry sale all the time and a $10 sale. Everything was $10 (watches, costume jewelry, purses, scarves)

Towels on board
They had the RCCL towels you could check out with your Seapass. I believe he took the number going out, but don't think he counted the number coming back. It says they will charge you $20 for unreturned towels. Beach days we took these towels with us. No need to bring towels from home.

More to come.

[tmann4]

Originally Posted by uksimonusa

The outlet in the bathroom is not a European outlet, it is a shaver outlet, using a euro adapter and plugging anything in over 5amps will blow the breaker!!

Thanks, for the correction

[bigsteelerfan]

Tmann4 - We were on there with you. We were in cabin 1700 not to far from you. Our friends were in 1400. We had a great time.

[ginger2000]

Originally Posted by bigsteelerfan

Tmann4 - We were on there with you. We were in cabin 1700 not to far from you. Our friends were in 1400. We had a great time.

Do you have any pics of 1700? Our friends have that cabin in Feb!!!!
I can send you my e-mail if that is easier

Thanks

[tmann4]

Originally Posted by bigsteelerfan

Tmann4 - We were on there with you. We were in cabin 1700 not to far from you. Our friends were in 1400. We had a great time.

We had a great time as well. Hard to come back to the MN cold. Had a feel of it when we arrived at Port Canaveral Sunday morning. I think it was 52 degrees. Feel bad for the people getting on the ship that day. Sail away party was probably not much fun at the pool when it is in the 60s. Any favorite parts? We had a great time on the flowrider. I didn't really have any bad experiences.