Navigator 8 Day Cruise Photo Review - Pics & Video! New 8 Day Intinerary!!!

Just got back from our Sailing on Navigator of the Seas 14-22NOV 2015. I sailed with my wife (we are in our early 30’s) and my parents. This is our 5th Royal Cruise and first cruise for my parents since the early 1990’s. This was our 2nd time sailing on Navigator, and the first run of this new 8 day itinerary since Navigator moved from Galveston 2 weeks ago.

Key Points – I sailed Oasis just 6 weeks prior. I thought Oasis was crowded, but I had not been on a ship since February so I wasn’t sure. Well, with a 6 week gap….Yes, Oasis is crowded. But, on to Navigator. With that said, I missed the epic amount of additional bar and entertainment options Oasis had 6 weeks prior, but we still had an amazing time.

The Crew was EXCEPTIONALLY on this sailing. Best we encountered on 5 sailings. Not 1 complaint except the lack of college football on the final Saturday/Sea Day.

First time getting the Premium Beverage package (or any package) for that matter. WORTH….EVERY….PENNY (and keep in mind I use to rum run very successfully). We had a lot of fun, enjoyed the bars a lot, got to try different drinks, cocktails, wines, and beers I usually wouldn’t…and didn’t have to think about money our entire cruise. I don’t think I will ever sail again without it…..

We had MTD, and never waited 10 seconds after walking up to the desk. We had 6:30 reservations each night, and always walked right in. Same table, same amazing wait staff each time we ate in the MDR.

Food was again improved in the MDR over our first 3 RCCL cruises. I noticed an improved in Sept, and another one here on Navigator. The menus are changing slightly, we noticed different items on the menus even though the menu names stay the same. MDR quality, again, overall it is improving.

We ate at 3 specialties on this sailing. Chops, Sabor, and Giovani’s. We booked the buy 3 for $70 from the guy selling them on Day 1 before we set sail. Our first specialty restaurant try was Sabor on Navigator back in February and we loved it. We added Giovanni’s to the list on Oasis, and 3rd cruise tried Chops on this sailing for the first time. Sabor, still amazing. Love it, I think it’s the best they have. Gionanni’s was amazing again but I found it slightly better on Oasis 6 weeks ago….but that could have been the wine. Chops was also Good, great…but not amazing…not mind blowing. I have had better steaks (for more money). For 50 bucks, or 38 on Day 1, it’s worth it for a full nice steak dinner meal. If someone had to choose 1….I would say Sabor for the food but Giovanni’s if you are trying to have a nicer meal for a little better atmosphere over Sabor.

Lots of Comedians for shows on this sailing. Only 2 production shows, not counting the Ice Show. This might be because of the new homeport, making changes, who knows. We like the Comedy shows anyway….who doesn’t like the laugh!?!?!

Day 1 – We drove the 12 hours from Huntsville the day prior and stayed in Port St Lucie on the Way in. We drive for trips all the time so honestly, it doesn’t bother us…. Some people give me crazy looks when I say we drove 12 hours. I also didn’t spend $800 on plane tickets. Less than $100 in gas each way. We drove down from Port St Lucie (1.5 hours to the FLL) that morning and picked my parents up at their hotel (they flew in the day prior from Wilmington, NC). Took the car to Park – N – Go. Wow, they are fast. Yes, they keep your key, get over it. This is the best run, managed, and secured parking area I have seen on 6 cruises. Right on the bus and right to the port ZERO wait time.

Embarkation – Something was up at the port. Not sure if it was security (Paris attacks were the night before) but we heard a rumor someone didn’t get off the boat so it didn’t clear. We arrived around 11:00 but stood outside for an hour and a half until everyone already in the Terminal was allowed to board. Once it started moving it was fast. Think we walked on the ship at about 1:00 or 1:30? I am not sure. It happens sometimes, within an hour on the ship we didn’t even think on it again because we were on vacation, on board, and having fun.

Weird note….. We paid for the Premium Package but receive Ultimate package stickers and our account showed Ultimate Package….but our receipt in our room stated Premium. Either Royal bumped us, or, someone entered us in wrong from our order. I drank 1 or 2 Starbucks a day I wouldn’t have usually ordered….that was the only difference. I am hoping it was an upgrade fairy since we turned Platinum mid-cruise. Positive Thoughts.

Sail-away was delayed slightly with 6 ships leaving, the weather, and late embarkation. Only by like 30 mins though.

We had chops reservations at 7:00, went a little early after drinks on the Promenade, and walked right in. Pretty sure I paid for my drink package for the day already before dinner, but they kept the wine and scotch flowing at dinner as well. Food was great and the staff were amazing. Attended the Comedy Show that night, then we did some gambling in the casino.

Day 2 – Sea Day – Weather was not great, still trying to get away the storm around Southern Florida and Cuba. Cleared up slightly in the afternoon but didn’t get to have a full pool day. Used the gym that morning ( I was impressed how packed it was….. maybe my fellow Americans are turning over a new leaf and deciding not to be fat anymore). Did some reading on Deck 4 Starboard where I can enjoy a Cigar, outside, in quiet, and read. I missed this deck….Oasis doesn’t have the lower outside decks, and it truly is one of my favorite parts of the ship.

Dinner at the MDR @ 6:30, MTD on Deck 5, zero wait….and the 4 of us got assigned table 666 all week. Our waiter turned it upside down said we had Table 999. MDR wait staff were great. Our Bar attendant, Aladdin, remembered our drinks from this first night and within 5 minutes of walking in, he brought them to the table without us having to ask (we all had packages so). We didn’t order simple stuff either. Food was GREAT on Day 2 MDR (yes I used the word Great on the Poor, Good, Great, Amazing scale for the MDR).

We skipped the production show, spent some time in the Schooner for Piano Man, the Pub, and the Casino….then bed for the beach day on Day 3.

Day 3 – Labadee. Weather cleared that morning and the seas calmed just before we pulled in. Sun came out. We hit the beach early (glad we did, the winds picked up again at noon) and we went to the beach at the far end, ocean side, under the zipline (cant recall the name). Seemed like the best beach. We liked it. Right near a nice bar and Buffet. Beach, sun, reading, water, then shops and the bar, lunch buffet, then some more bar drinks. Weather got windy so we got back on the boat around 2:00. I noticed all the Cabana’s and beach “beds” and I know what Royal charges. I don’t see the draw, unless it was a REALLY special occasion….not my thing. But, the each his own.

We went to the pool once on board, hung out there for a few hours until sailaway, then got cleaned up for Dinner. Drinks on the Promenade (Vintages now has light TAPA’s from 4-7 on Navigator). Small little spread but VERY good cheese selection. Dinner at Sabor was AMAZING and the staff were as well. The Margaritas there are the best on the boat since they use fresh juice as opposed to mixers. Another Comedian after Dinner, then Casino. Got the Cash poker gaming going this night, had a lot of fun and me and my dad played with some other great guys until early morning. No rush to bed…. We don’t dock in Puerto Rico until 2pm the next day.

Day 4 - Puerto Rico. Slept in (9 am, that’s sleeping in for me) then hit the gym. 4 miles on the treadmill and I am pretty sure all the booze from the day before got sweat out. Beautiful sunny morning. Think we did the pool for 2 or 3 hours, then I went to Deck 4 to smoke, read, and watch us sail in. Docked ontime at 2:00pm SHIP time (3:00pm local). Keep this in mind, You will have less than 3 hours of sunlight so I caution any daytime sun required excursions.

One of my wife’s friends from college lives in Puerto Rico and owns a small tour Company, DeTours Puerto Rico. She is American born and raised, just living there as an expat so to speak. Anyways, she kept the day unbooked so she could take us around on a private tour. She picked us up in here Jeep right at the pier and took us through San Juan down the Coast road towards the rainforest. We stopped at a roadside location partway there for beers, then continued to the rainforest. She took us to some great falls there. Many falls sights in the forest but if you go with a bigger tour group, they will take you to the popular ones, which will be busy and not feel very private/remote. We were the only ones at our Falls. Daylight was limited so we spent about an hour to an hour and half at the falls and in the forest before the sun went down, then we headed back to San Juan. She gave us a short driving tour all around new and Old San Juan before we went to a location in Old San Juan for Dinner, near the Fort at the entrance to the Harbor.

Dinner was at VINO @ Factoria or Factoria Vino. AMAZING best food I have had in a cruise port in 6 cruises and, just as good if not better than Specialty, without specialty price ;). Flavors were just awesome. The place doesn’t look like much from the outside, you have to go in through the corner bar which just looks like a bar with couchs, but once inside you go through some doors to the adjacent dining room area. Really awesome place. WILL DEFINEATELY eat here again next time in Puerto Rico. Don’t be afraid to walk around old San Juan after dark (just stay out of El Morro). Lots of great places a few blocks in outside of the tourist trap port area.

(Trip Advisor for Factoria Vino): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147320-d4973190-Reviews-Factoria_Vino-San_Juan_Puerto_Rico.html ).

DeTours Puerto Rico – Owned and operated by an American Girl living in Puerto Rico giving great, personal, small tours. Give her a call!

DeTours Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/detours-puerto-rico-condado?search_key=53992

Email Jamie Branch at info@detourspr.com or go to http://www.detourspr.com (202) 499-2700

Back on the ship, went to deck 4 for Sailaway, but it didn’t happen…. USCG kept us in port at least 2 extra hours (annual inspection). So we went to bed. We still made St Kitts the next morning.

Day 5 – St Kitts – We were about 30-45 minutes late to St Kitts due to the delay in Puerto Rico, so the Captain gave everyone an extra hour in port…. He pushed departure to one hour later. Watched port arrival from Deck 4 (who wouldn’t?) and then headed into town. Walked around all the shops but didn’t venture into town really. Took at cab to frigate bay beach (black sand beach) and to the JamRock Grill and Bar and we hung out there for a few hours. On the way there the Cab driver stopped at a lookout at the top of the mountain so we could take pictures. Food at Jamrock was very good. The Jerk chicken was very spicy and flavorful. For some idiot reason, I didn’t wear a swimsuit…so I got in the ocean in my shorts. Hung out here until the cab came back to get us (gave him a specific time and he came right back to get us). It was 5 each way per person. We were back at the port with an hour to spare but the shops were shutting down since the other 2 ships sailed. Back on the boat.

JamRock Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g674073-d2233558-Reviews-Jam_Rock-Frigate_Bay_St_Kitts_St_Kitts_and_Nevis.html

***NOTE*** St Kitts had the best Duty Free Liquor prices of all the islands on this cruise, and they were In the first store on the corner right when you get off the ship (of course, I didn’t go into town so I don’t know if there were better).

MDR for Dinner, amazing wait staff again, great meal. Enjoyed it. There was an Elvis Show this night I think, I skipped it, my wife and parents went. I smoked a cigar out side on deck 4. Went to bed after that.

Day 6 – St Maarten – We booked a tour through Blue Safari’s and it was amazing. We did the Splash 3 island tour. 100 bucks, lunch, open bar, all included. Amazing time. Best excursion I have ever done on all my cruises. The time table LOOKS tight when you book it (got to be there right at dock time, hour before sail away) but that’s all worst case….no issues at all. Plenty of time on both ends. There was 12 of us on the boat plus the CPT and he took us ALL OVER St Maarten giving us a full tour. Oprahs house, The Lagoon, snorkeling (2 spots), iguana’s on the beach stop, lunch stop, some more rich and famous houses, Maho beach (airplanes). Great day trip. I HIGHLY recommend it to all ages.

Note, you go to French side beaches. At French side beaches, you see boobs. no big deal :D

Dinner in the MDR, another GREAT MEAL and Staff. No wait, same table, same wait staff. Show was….another Comedian? I can’t remember. We were beat from the boat all day so we hit the bed pretty early.

(Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147347-d6353435-Reviews-Blue_Safaris-Philipsburg_Sint_Maarten_St_Maarten_St_Martin.html)

[YOUTUBE]

Boat GoPro Video Link:

Day 7 – Sea Day – Rough seas and winds, but sunny. AND, the ship had an issue with the stabilizers so the pools were like giant wave pools. The crew kept the mood fun though on the pool deck and we all still had a great time. The brought food out from the windjammer, they setup a taco bar at the pool. Thought this was nice instead of having to go inside. Great wait staff at the bars. Had a lot of fun with the cruise activities at the pool.

Dinner at 7:00, Giovanni’s….. Another amazing meal at G’s. Production show I think? We skipped it. Casino’s, Promenade, Pub, R Bar, Schooner Bar, late night cigar on deck 4 (love that, favorite part of my day on a cruise).

Day 8 – Sea Day – Loved this day, usually on a 7 day you would be getting off the ship but NO! EXTRA DAY ON THE SHIP!!! Pool in the afternoon then around the shops, also went to the pub. Dinner in the MDR with our exceptional wait staff one last time. We packed, then went out to the Casino and actually made it a late night (even though we had to get off at 6am for self-assist J). We all made money the last NIGHT in the Casino! Roulette, poker tables, cash poker. Every one of us!

Day 9 – Early breakfast then off at 6:30 (they started self-assist at 6) 45 minutes from finishing at the windjammer until outside at the Park n Go bus. Super quick. Drop the parents at the airport then 12 hour drive home.

The End.

Thanx for the review - we are on the NOS in Feb - different itinerary but loved your description of the ship

The Cruise Compasses for each day of this 8 day sailing are located here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2282982

Very nice review ...... great pictures.

Thank you

Thanks! Loved the review and tips!

Thanks for the review. Heading on the 8 day this weekend

Thanks for a great (and positive) review! It's a nice change from that other thread, entitled "What on earth happened to Royal Caribbean?" :rolleyes:

Your pictures are amazing. We were on Navigator with you. You are spot on with the review. Overall an amazing cruise. Thanks for posting. :)

Great Review and Pics. Thank you for taking the time to share. We will be on NOS in April. This will be our third time on her but first since it's recent dry dock. Looking forward to trying Izumi.

Quick question, Can you remember which night is the second formal night?

Thanks again for sharing your review.

Thank you for a very nice review. Doing a 7 day on the Navigator next year and will make sure to remember the tour company!

Quick question, Can you remember which night is the second formal night?

Thanks again for sharing your review.

For the 8-night itinerary the formal nights are the first sea day and the last sea day - so day 2 and day 7. That is based on the cruise compasses Deptacon posted in another thread here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2282982

Dan.

For the 8-night itinerary the formal nights are the first sea day and the last sea day - so day 2 and day 7. That is based on the cruise compasses Deptacon posted in another thread here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2282982

 

Dan.

Thanks for the reply and link Dan. From the link it appears the second formal night is on the second sea day and not the last sea day.

Thanks again.

RT

Thanks for a great (and positive) review! It's a nice change from that other thread, entitled "What on earth happened to Royal Caribbean?" :rolleyes:

I know. Its getting old....some people have nothing better to do than complain....

Four of us ladies booked this cruise for November 2016. It sounds like we have made a great decision. I am diamond, my DD gold, her friend a newbie cruiser and my friend her second cruise but first Royal cruise. We are very excited for this itinerary. Thanks for this review.

Thanks for the reply and link Dan. From the link it appears the second formal night is on the second sea day and not the last sea day.

Thanks again.

RT

Thanks for the clarification! Had the Days correct (2 and 7), just misspoke on it being the last sea day.

Dan.

We are unfortunately booked for the late dinner time which isn't our preference. If you go and book a reservation for the same time every night at the My Time Dining will you receive the same table/wait staff each night? Also, is the menu the same as the Main Dining room for My time dining?

We are unfortunately booked for the late dinner time which isn't our preference. If you go and book a reservation for the same time every night at the My Time Dining will you receive the same table/wait staff each night? Also, is the menu the same as the Main Dining room for My time dining?

If you book the roughly same time yes you should get the same table and staff each night. bUT this didnt happen when we sailed Oasis

We are unfortunately booked for the late dinner time which isn't our preference. If you go and book a reservation for the same time every night at the My Time Dining will you receive the same table/wait staff each night? Also, is the menu the same as the Main Dining room for My time dining?

Menu for My Time is exactly the same as for traditional dining. If you request the same table and wait staff, they will try to accommodate you, but there is no guarantee.