MONARCH PHOTOS

OK, those of you have been around here for a while will remember that this was not exactly a cruise I want to remeber.. but here are the ship photos.

[url="http://community.webshots.com/album/145370312ecNJru"]http://community.webshots.com/album/145370312ecNJru[/url]

CRUISES: Queen of Bermuda '89 Tropicale '99, Explorer of the Seas '02, Radiance of the Seas '02, Vision of the Seas '03, Queen Elizabeth 2 '03, Infinity '03, Serenade of the Seas '03, Monarch of the Seas '03, Norwegian Star '03, Queen Mary 2 '04,
Diamond Princess, '04

Detailed ship pix: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/mattinla"]http://community.webshots.com/user/mattinla[/url]

Nice pics, Matt.
The Grand Suite looks very nice....It seems they are doing the same with Sovereign. I saw them cutting the holes out for some Balconies in May. Sounds like a good idea to spruce up the older ships since there aren't too many new builds in the near future....

I must have missed your review of Monarch...what were the problems...

Radio
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

For Ship and Cabin Pics...Visit :[url="http://members3.clubphoto.com/mark269665/guest-1.phtml"]Radio's Cruise Page[/url]

Enjoyed your pictures, thanks for sharing!

***

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean
Majesty 95 W. Caribbean
Granduer 97 E. Caribbean
Rhapsody 00 Mexico
Vision 02 Alaska
Radiance 03 Panama Canal
Brilliance 3/29/04



Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]Are we there yet?
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

My bags are always packed!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;3;29;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Brilliance 3/29/2004

Great pictures Matt! I know it had to be difficult for you to post them but as someone who hasn't been on the Monarch I appreciate seeing it. Thanks!

Trish

Sorry your cruise wasn't the greatest, but I sailed on the Monarch 10 years ago, and it was great reminiscing with your photos. She really does look wonderful.

Lisa [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[b]Monarch of the Seas - 1994
Royal Majesty - 1996
Carnival Victory - 2004[/b]

<MARQUEE>A day at sea is better than a day at work</MARQUEE>

Thanks for sharing your pics. Since we're sailing Monarch next Jan., it's nice to get an idea of what the ship looks like.

Future cruises
Explorer OTS - Easter Caribbean 11/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;11;14;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2005;01;14;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Brilliance OTS - Mediteranian 10/05
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2005;10;15;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]


Past cruises
Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03
Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

Radio.. I assume you're joking [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

And my reasons for not liking the cruise had to do with the actions of some fellow passengers, and then how the onboard senior staff handled it. But not going to dredge all that up again.

The ship itself is fine, and it is a good example of how you can take an older ship and give it new life. Food was excellent on the whole, and the service staff were fine. You just have to know that the ship was designed at a time when cabins were much smaller than they are today. And the cruise is what is. For the weekend cruise, it's party time and can be really rowdy. I am sure the 4 day cruises are more sedate.

HI Matt.... I was serious...I had forgotten about the problems you had previously with the MOS.
Your cabin looked great though !

Radio
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

For Ship and Cabin Pics...Visit :[url="http://members3.clubphoto.com/mark269665/guest-1.phtml"]Radio's Cruise Page[/url]

Hi Matt et. al,

I agree with you 100% Matt, obviously. While I do not care to relive the details from that cruise either, I also felt as though I needed to publish the photos that I did. I sailed aboard Monarch back when she was only 4 voyages old and that was a completely different experience (for the positive) so that is why I had wanted to cruise her again. I certainly do not want this last experience to hamper the great memories that I had of her prior but it's tough!

Anyhow Matt, thank you for having gotten to these and sharing!

Steve
[url="http://www.shipcafe.net"]www.shipcafe.net[/url]

Thanks for all the photos Matt. It brings back a lot of great memories. It's nice to leave home and be on the Monarch in as little as 2 hours. I've got some clients sailing on June 4th and I may join them. It will be my last cruise till the fall.
Thanks too for all the Infinity pics. I hope to sail on her next May, 12 nights to Alaska,RT SF.

Reggie [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Reggierail(at)cs(dot)com

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;10;17;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Rhapsody 10-17-04

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;11;26;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0700[/img]
Mercury 11-26-04

Monarch - Sometime soon???



Viking Serenade 1998
Viking Serenade 1999
Voyager of the Seas 2000
Viking Serenade 2001
Majesty of the Seas 11-2002
Norwegian Sea 11-2002
Vision of the Seas 11-2002
Mercury 5-03-03
Monarch of the Seas 6-09-03
Mercury 10-12-03
Monarch 11-17-03
Monarch 1-19-04
Monarch 3-29-04

God bless the USA and all freedom loving people. May God protect all those who fight and die to protect those freedoms.

Nice pictures Matt! I know you travel a lot, and internationally, I would like to ask you a couple of dumb questions. Would you mind dropping me an email. It is at the end of my signature.

thanks

jc

[I]Legend of the Seas RCI 3/03 New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii, Adventure of the Seas RCI 2/02 Southern Caribbean, Radiance of the Seas RCI 10/01 Vancouver to Hawaii, Millennium Celebrity 10/00 Eastern Mediterranean, Galaxy Celebrity 12/99 Southern Caribbean, Sensation Carnival 4/98 Eastern Caribbean, Majesty of the Seas RCI 1/96 Western Caribbean

email me at [email]xpcdoojk@yahoo.com[/email][/I]

JC, just sent it..

Glad you like them guys!

Hey Matt! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
It's been a long time! WE may be taking another cruise in August- the Voyager out of Bayonne 8/27 to Jamaica & Grand Cayman. Was surfing the boards to find that thread and yours popped up!
The cabin you showed (small) was like the one we had on the Majesty, except different colors. Could you picture the four of us in it???
My sister in law is going on a Princess cruise to Scandinavia and Russia in July. I don't think that cruise line is good for Aaron, so I chose RCCL instead of Carnival even though I feel like boycotting.
Jason is off to college (Clark University in Worcester) 8/20. We leave a week later. Have you been on a Voyager class ship? We just started looking this week and a cabin for 3 popped up today. However- RCCL- "the corporate monster" charges more for triple and quad rooms, in addition to the third person charge. Just learned that from my TA today.
We're kind of stuck with leaving from NY because Howie can't fly; he just had ear surgery. Did not want Princess, Celebrity (old ships from NY and small), Carnival (not our speed) and heard mixed reviews about the Norwegian Dawn- so we're paying a premium for the Voyager. The only saving grace is we're one more cruise closer to platinum.
If you run into the 8/27 Voyager thread, please bump it up. If not, I'll look tomorrow.
Gotta go- Jason just got home & needs to IM his friends.
Peace.
Lonnie

Hey Lonnnie.. one of my best cruises ever was on Explorer of the Seas... Voyager class is amazing. I think the Dawn and NCL get so many mixed reviews because so many people can't deal with the whole "freestly" dining thing. Besides Explorer, my second favorite ship was the Dawn's sister ship, Norwegian Star.

But the kids will prefer Voyager. But I guess Jason will miss it?

I just did Princess in May on their newest ship and was very underwhelmed.

Anyway, good to hear from you, and in case you didn't see it in another post, I am moving to Fort Lauderdale in August. (For love, not for cruises [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] )

Matt

CRUISES: Queen of Bermuda '89 Tropicale '99, Explorer of the Seas '02, Radiance of the Seas '02, Vision of the Seas '03, Queen Elizabeth 2 '03, Infinity '03, Serenade of the Seas '03, Monarch of the Seas '03, Norwegian Star '03, Queen Mary 2 '04,
Diamond Princess, '04

Detailed ship pix: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/mattinla"]http://community.webshots.com/user/mattinla[/url]

Matt-
Thanks for you feedback- great as ever. I found my thread (roll calls - voyager 8/27) only a few on the thread- but two with sons Aaron's age.
Thanks for the Princess feedback- was underwhelmed with reviews- although my sister in law is doing the Grand to Russia/Baltic in July (she's single and going w/ a female friend.)
We will wave to you from the Voyager as we pass Florida- congrats- hope u r happy. Will u still be working for the sam company (Ron)?
You'll have to change your name to mattin"f"la.
Keep in touch- when u can check the VOS 8/27 thread and provide any feedback you can on tours. We're looking for snorkeling in the Caymans and Dunn's Falls in Jamaica. I heard horror stories of Jamaica- so we may over pay and book thru "corporate" RCCL. I mean we already overpaid for our room (E1 triple higher per person than D1 double). RCCL knows the "family" demand on VOS. Not too many triples and quads on the ship.
Keep in touch. Lonnie

Voyager of the Seas 8/04
Serenade of the Seas 8/03
Majesty 6/03