Compare Splendor & Royal Caribbean Marina of the Seas?

[gam888]

Considering the 2 ships in March with our by then 16 year old daughter. Both sail out of L.A. for 7 days going to Cobo San Lucus, Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta. The prices are within $100. Splendor is a new ship but Marina of the Seas seem like it has got more amenities? Could anyone please share their experience if you have been one one of these ships in terms of food,entertainment, age group, amenities...etc. Also Marina stops at Cabo San Lucas from 9:30-6, and Splendor stops there from 7-3, which is kind of early and short. We have been on Carnival 3 times but never sailed with Royal Caribbean, so like to have a change.....Any information are appreciated!

[crzndeb]

RCI's ship is the Mariner of the Seas. I just returned from the Splendor and had a great time. I also like the Voyager class on RCI, though I haven't been on the Mariner. I would say, if you have done Carnival 3 times and the price is close, why not try RCI? I don't think you could go wrong with either.

[Kurbanfan]

For that price I would choose the Mariner. There is so much more for your 16 year old on that ship. Plus the time difference in Cabo would be the deal breaker for me.......the Mariner is beautiful!
Good luck!

[firefly333]

If the price is close Id choose Mariner of the Seas in a heart beat. I love Voyager, and Mariner is a sister to Voyager that I have been on twice. The dining room is gorgeous, 3 tiers and you walk in and say WOW, the promenade is really nice and has the promenade cafe, which is great for late night snacking. I love those cookies (Carnival's cookies used to be good but now smaller and hard, not chewy and fresh tasting like home baked). pizza is put out on the counter the minute it comes from the oven on RCL. On Carnival they put it in the glass case until someone comes along and asks for it. Fewer choices on RCL for pizza, but folks grab them the minute they come out of the oven.

I dont do the rock wall, but the ice skating show is really good for a afternoon's entertainment. Be sure and get tickets early as they run out.

Iv had better service on RCL, food about the same. Spendor will be nice, just you dont say WOW. The glass elevators on Mariner are really beautiful, as is the whole ship.

[Scarlett824]

I have to agree with all above. Do the Mariner.

[sassyredhat]

I can give you my limited point of view, although we don't have teenagers.
Sailed Splendor this past April. Service was great, food in MDR was great, windjammer was good, itinerary was good, price was good, but we just weren't "feelin' " this ship.

We're booked on Mariner in the future, and I am excited to try a Voyager class.

Pat

[funcky]

Here are my 2 cents Mariner vs. Splendor:

Pro: Royal promenade, nowhere else but RCI has this feature. Ship decorations are more classy in my opinion. Port time in Cabo are better as you have more time.

Cons: Free soft serve ice cream not 24hr like CCL.
If you need food or drink when windjammer is close, hike all the way down to promenade cafe. Less variety than CCL when it comes to food.
Limited seats for Ice show. They asked passenger to not save seat as courteous to other passenger yet RCI reserve seat for people in higher category that never show up.

[Cruzaholic41]

Splendor is a nice, new ship and would make a fantastic cruise (I cruised a sister ship, not Splendor). However, RC's Voyager Class ships are just awesome. Another vote here for the Mariner, no doubt.

[boaterette]

Add me to the Mariner list. I have sailed Carnival 10 times and Rcc 5 times. More to do for your teen on Royal.

[cbsorenson]

Never been on the Mariner but I just got off the Splendor in October. I loved that ship. Great food, entertainment was great, service was great, and I did say WOW when I got on the splendor. However this was my first cruise. I was having the same dilema as you were however at the time Mariner was a lot more expensive. So I went for the Splendor. I LOVED IT! That said I don't think you can go wrong.

[ChampionCruiser]

Another vote for the Mariner

We absolutly LOVED that ship. We found the food/service to be terrific and the entertainment was the best we've seen (we thought the ice skating show was crazy good). And there will be a lot more for a 16 year old to do IMO. While we've enjoyed every cruise so far, we felt that the Mariner was a small step above the others...so much to do onboard + amazing public rooms + great price + more time in port?

It would be an easy decision for me!

[whitshel]

I think you have your answer, pretty clear from even the carnival boards. Ive been on the voyager and the explorer which are both sisters to the mariner and have never had a reason to switch line. Im sure carnival is great too but like I said I ve never had the reason to switch.

[gam888]

Thank you everyone for replying my post. Looks like Mariner is a more popular choice! Since we have been on Carnival 3 times, I would like to try Royal Caribbean. The only factor that temps me to Splendor is it's a brand new ship. But I have to compare the amenities on both of these ships but not just the newness factor. Thanks again everyone!

[Seattle.Girl]

We are having the same dilemma right now (and I did notice that the prices are now on par with each other).

I just wanted to add that we went on the Mariner's inaugural sailing to Mexico and we had some minor complaints. The food was really, really disappointing (compared to DCL and Norwegian, our other cruises). We had a little laugh when the "select beef cut" they served one night in the dining room was the same beef as the "prime rib" the next night. I was also amazed by the large number of beautiful desserts - which all tasted kind of the same (I think this phenomenon is present in some fashion on all cruises, hehe). To some people (namely, my dad) food is one of the more important aspects of the cruise. We also had a problem with the shore excursion staff, but I think that changes sailing by sailing, so I certainly don't hold that against the ship.

I hear the food on the Splendor is better. Plus, it would be new and different to us.

I would have booked the Splendor already, but I am reconsidering the Mariner based on the Cabo port time disparity. The Mariner was a gorgeous ship, bland food aside!

I am surprised to see there aren't more people on the Carnival boards pushing for the Splendor!

[crzndeb]

Seattle Girl...I would tell you to go on the Splendor since you already did the Mariner. I just returned on 11/1 and had a great time. I loved the different food stations at lunch..Rotisserie, Indian (the best), Mongolian Grill, Burrito Bar. I don't do sushi, but they have a free sushi bar (some nights Tapas) from 5-8:15 every night. I thought the MDR food was good, but I'm not real picky...LOL! I am not a cheerleader for any particular line and like variety.

[copman]

Originally Posted by gam888

Considering the 2 ships in March with our by then 16 year old daughter. Both sail out of L.A. for 7 days going to Cobo San Lucus, Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta. The prices are within $100. Splendor is a new ship but Marina of the Seas seem like it has got more amenities? Could anyone please share their experience if you have been one one of these ships in terms of food,entertainment, age group, amenities...etc. Also Marina stops at Cabo San Lucas from 9:30-6, and Splendor stops there from 7-3, which is kind of early and short. We have been on Carnival 3 times but never sailed with Royal Caribbean, so like to have a change.....Any information are appreciated!

Never been on the Mariner so I cannot say, but we did enjoy the Splendor very much. The food was great. As far as the time in Cabo... your are talking about 90 minutes more... if my math is correct.