All things Voyager of the Seas

I couldn't located a current "all things" Voyager so thought I would create one. We are giving RCL Voyager a try in Dec out of Galveston. We're staying at the Harbor House Inn prior to departing. I've been trying to familiarize myself with everything RCL has to offer compared to comparable lines. Please share any specifics you migh have about the ship. We are excited to say the least. Any experience is worth posting that might assist others. :)

Hmm, where to start.

 

Be sure to check out Derek Lewis in the Schooner Bar at night. Always some fun and laughter whether you are a participant or just watching.

 

The salad bar in the Main Dining Room on sea days is great. Wait forget I said that, I don't want to stand in line....

 

If history repeats itself, when the ship sails from Galveston, they usually have a chili cookoff and a jambalaya cookoff on sea days at the pool around lunchtime. The jambalaya is good - the chili looks like dog food. :eek:

 

We've stayed at Harbor House - if you need any info just holler. :) I will volunteer that you don't want to walk to the ship from there - unless you like rolling bags over uneven pavement while breathing car fumes and bus exhaust. RCCL is at the far end of the pier Take a cab - it'll be less than $10.

Hmm, where to start.

 

Be sure to check out Derek Lewis in the Schooner Bar at night. Always some fun and laughter whether you are a participant or just watching.

 

 

Derek usually plays at the Pig and Whistle on Voyager and Schooner Bar on Rhapsody

 

His 5 MINUTE PARTY is a bunch of fun - we really missed him on our last cruise-he got off the day we got on

 

My MIL loved him and we went every night

 

Stompy is correct - had a brain freeze. Thanks for that catch. Although the piano guy in Schooner was good too - I can't recall his name but they bring him on for Galveston because he does a lot of country. He was onboard March 2010 and April 2009.

I would love to read more interesting tidbits about Voyager as we will be sailing her in Feb. Please sir, may I have more....??:D

I have already done the Voyager OTS 3 times before, and I'm going again Dec. 5, and March 27. It is a great ship. Last year for Galveston -- Mariner OTS replaces it. Gosh, you have quite a ways to travel -- Juneau to Houston/Galveston. You are probably flying into the Bush Intercontinentnal Airport (the one north of downtown). How are you getting from the Houston airport to Galveston? It takes over an hour to get from the airport to the ship and is pretty expensive. Welcome to Texas. You'll be glad to get out of the cold Alaska weather, I bet.

 

Here are some of my tips:

* Cafe Promenade on deck 5 is free. Great pre-made sandwiches, pizza, Seattle's Best coffee, and desserts. Open 24 hours.

* The outside area around deck 4 is a good place during sea days.

* Cleopatra's Needle (deck 5 forward) will have soft ballroom dance music at night.

* There is door on the right towards the back in Cleopatra's Needle. Go out, go out the next door too, and you'll be outside on deck 5. Go to the left all the way forward to the helipad. It is a great dark place to view stars at night.

* Viking Crown will also have live music at night -- usually pretty good and entertaining.

* At the buffet on deck 11, don't miss the Island Grill -- past the first buffet towards the back. It is not really a grill, but they do have stir fry stuff, or perhaps pasta made-to-order. Also this is the place for omelets and fried eggs for breakfast. And before dinner snacks after around 2:30pm.

* Don't forget -- Ship will be on Central Standard Time then.

More tidbits - hmmm.

 

There is a giant whirlpool just inside the spa entrance. It is available to all. As are the showers - in case you both need to get ready at the same time, use the showers in the locker room.

 

Johnny Rocket's is dang good - we usually do a late lunch there to avoid the rush or if we have an off dinner table, we will use it as an alternate dinner spot.

 

In our experience, the sports bar on the Promenade is NEVER crowded so it can make for an easy meeting place for family and friends without having to search - plus you can sit while you wait.

We're sailing the Voyager on Dec. 19. We've never sailed her, but we've been on the Mariner once and the Adventure 3 times. We LOVE the Voyager class of ships! Can anyone tell me about the shows on the Voyager? We always enjoy them!!!

Hmm, where to start.

 

Be sure to check out Derek Lewis in the Schooner Bar at night. Always some fun and laughter whether you are a participant or just watching.

 

The salad bar in the Main Dining Room on sea days is great. Wait forget I said that, I don't want to stand in line....

 

If history repeats itself, when the ship sails from Galveston, they usually have a chili cookoff and a jambalaya cookoff on sea days at the pool around lunchtime. The jambalaya is good - the chili looks like dog food. :eek:

 

We've stayed at Harbor House - if you need any info just holler. :) I will volunteer that you don't want to walk to the ship from there - unless you like rolling bags over uneven pavement while breathing car fumes and bus exhaust. RCCL is at the far end of the pier Take a cab - it'll be less than $10.

 

Hi!! I don't know if you remember me from the DFW gatherings in Arlington. I even have a picture of the 3 of us somewhere I THINK taken at the Bahama Breeze . I need to pop back in that thread. I remember we shared a love for the Rhapsody on that DFW thread. I'm excited to be going on the Voyager in Jan.

 

Tell me about the salad bar in the main dining room. How different is it than the salads in the Windjammer? Are both open on port days? Is there a Country night like they had on the Rhapsody? A talent show? On the Rhapsody every 3rd person sang the song "Crazy. I remember Derek, fun guy! Final question: Is the Voyager ambiance as friendly as the Rhapsody? More information please!!

been on voyager twice-we will be doing a b2b in february again- we always enjoy the ice show- the tickets go fast so get in line early

Here she is in May of '06 tied up in Nassau, it was our first port of our first cruise. We loved Voyager, at the time, the largest cruise ship in the world. People were just starting to talk about Freedom. Loved every bit of it.

 

 

One more pic of Voyager you will never see again :(

 

More tidbits - hmmm.

 

There is a giant whirlpool just inside the spa entrance. It is available to all. As are the showers - in case you both need to get ready at the same time, use the showers in the locker room.

 

 

In our experience, the sports bar on the Promenade is NEVER crowded so it can make for an easy meeting place for family and friends without having to search - plus you can sit while you wait.

 

 

 

Yes, that whirlpool is big and plenty warm. Your right about the sports bar. On my first cruise we went the week of the NFL draft. I loved being totally cut off from the real world, but on the first formal night I did get ready early and wait for my wife in the sports bar watching a draft recep.

Here she is in May of '06 tied up in Nassau, it was our first port of our first cruise. We loved Voyager, at the time, the largest cruise ship in the world. People were just starting to talk about Freedom. Loved every bit of it.

 

 

Great Photo, Voyager is on of 2 Voyage class ships I have yet to sail on. Technically Voyager was not the largest cruise ship in the world,at the time this photo was taken,Explorer is slightly bigger than Voyager, as re the 2nd generation of ships, Navigator and Mariner. The title of Worlds Largest Cruise ship would therefore have been held jointly by Navigator and Mariner, until Freedoms maiden voyage on June 4th 2006

I am happy I saw this thread started we are considering booking this ship for the Med next June and were wondering what kind of shape she is in. We have been sailing newer ships the last few years but am hoping the RCI has kept her in tip top shape...

Hi Bonnie, of course I remember you! :) Hope you are well.

 

Tell me about the salad bar in the main dining room.

 

It is a chopped salad made to order. You pick the lettuce, the toppings, the dressings and they chop it all together. To die for. Really top quality. You don't make it or touch it until they are done making their masterpiece.

 

How different is it than the salads in the Windjammer?

No comparison.

 

Are both open on port days?

Dining room salad bar only on sea days.

 

Is there a Country night like they had on the Rhapsody? A talent show?

If they continue as before, there is a country night and Phil (I think I'm remembering his name now) in the Schooner Bar plays a lot of country and is a lot of fun. I know they had a karaoke talent show, not sure about a plain old talent show but I confess I don't pay attention.

 

Is the Voyager ambiance as friendly as the Rhapsody?

We were really worried that Voyager would feel too big. But we were thrilled with it. We really like the size and it is easy to find your way around. The crew has definitely picked up on the Texas hospitality - I have seen them become a lot more outgoing than the first cruise out of Galveston. You will have a wonderful time.

In our experience, the sports bar on the Promenade is NEVER crowded so it can make for an easy meeting place for family and friends without having to search - plus you can sit while you wait.

 

Good point. Don't confuse this with the Pig & Whistle bar also on the Promenade -- it gets VERY crowded at night because of the karaoke. The Aquarium bar on deck 4 past the casino is also a good spot to wait, with live music at night (like a piano/violin duet). The 19th hole on the starboard (right) side of deck 14 (Viking Crown) usually is not crowded. In fact, the Viking Crown is not crowded during the day, and is a great place to watch the ocean and the pool.

 

We're sailing the Voyager on Dec. 19. We've never sailed her, but we've been on the Mariner once and the Adventure 3 times. We LOVE the Voyager class of ships! Can anyone tell me about the shows on the Voyager? We always enjoy them!!!

 

I like the shows. Most of the time the ship's 9-piece band plays live, although it is also with taped music for the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers shows. The best we had last March was the Texas Tenors -- you might remember them from America's Got Talent 2009. And the ice show is alwasy good -- You need tickets, usually handed out Monday morning around 8:30 or 9 -- but the tickets are free. If you forget, you can probably still get into one of the show in a stand-by line. They usually do four shows (all the same). I've also been pleased with the nightly entertainment in the Schooner Bar (deck 4 in front of the casino), and the Viking Crown (deck 14 -- the semi-circle glass area above and behind the main pool). Many people enjoy the karaoke in the Pig & Whistle bar on deck 5 (across from Cafe Promenade), but it does get crowded -- and noisy -- I would not want a cabin on deck 6 above this bar. Cleopatra's Needle (dec 5 forward) is often not crowded and in fact often sparsely attended -- It has ballroom style music, usually a trio or quartet. I like to go here before my late dinner.

Hi Bonnie, of course I remember you! :) Hope you are well.

 

 

 

It is a chopped salad made to order. You pick the lettuce, the toppings, the dressings and they chop it all together. To die for. Really top quality. You don't make it or touch it until they are done making their masterpiece.

 

No comparison.

 

Dining room salad bar only on sea days.

 

If they continue as before, there is a country night and Phil (I think I'm remembering his name now) in the Schooner Bar plays a lot of country and is a lot of fun. I know they had a karaoke talent show, not sure about a plain old talent show but I confess I don't pay attention.

 

We were really worried that Voyager would feel too big. But we were thrilled with it. We really like the size and it is easy to find your way around. The crew has definitely picked up on the Texas hospitality - I have seen them become a lot more outgoing than the first cruise out of Galveston. You will have a wonderful time.

 

I am making a note: Sports bar for our meeting place. Great idea since we'll be traveling with friends and salad bar in the dining room. We're all huge salad eaters. :D One of our fave dishes in the WJ is the greek salad but the made to order salad sounds even better.

 

For anyone that can answer: I hear the ice show is a "must". Where are the tickets given out?

 

Are chair hogs very evident and is the chair hog patrol vigilant?

 

On the Rhapsody we were given beach towels for port days. These were larger and thicker than the usual pool towels. Do they do this on the Voyager? Of course, if they aren't returned there is a $20 charge per towel.

 

Great thread!

They have a towel desk on the pool deck - you check towels out there and return them. Never been a problem.

 

ice show is great - don't remember about the tickets but there are several times to see it.

 

Chair hogs still exist. Last time I had just sat down in an empty lounger and gotten situated when a couple came up and demanded "their" chairs. There was nothing on them - which I nicely pointed out to them. They informed me they had been sitting there "all day." I just sighed and got up - that kind of idiocy is NOT worth my time. Generally, you should have no problem finding a chair unless you MUST have a certain location.

Does anyone know if inside cabins have the dreaded shower curtains, the kind that wraps around your body when you shower, or glass panels:confused: Best advise I got on these boards was to bring huge clips or clothes pins to anchor the bottom on our previous cruises.

For anyone that can answer: I hear the ice show is a "must". Where are the tickets given out?

 

Tickets are usually handed out Monday morning around 9am. Last time it was on Deck 3 at the entrance to the main theater. Your Monday daily newsletter (the Cruise Compass, available in your cabin Sunday night) will have the details. Only one person needs to go to get tickets for everyone in your group. If you don't or can't get tickets, just show up as a standby. There are at least 4 shows. The later ones are easier to get in standby.

 

As for a meeting place, also try the Viking Crown during the day. It is the semi-circle glass area on deck 14 above and behing the main pool. It is a great place to watch the ocean and the pool and sip a drink or two and is not crowded during the day (unless something special is going on there). The Sports Bar deck 5 is good for drinks and people watching, but there are no windows so you can't see the ocean.

Been on the Voyager twice and going again in December -- love it! Crew are absolutely the best we've encountered. Portofino is truly divine. Helipad is great at night and check out the bridge overlook on deck 11 -- very cool!

I am happy I saw this thread started we are considering booking this ship for the Med next June and were wondering what kind of shape she is in. We have been sailing newer ships the last few years but am hoping the RCI has kept her in tip top shape...

 

 

I hope others will respond to that question. When I was on Voyager in 2006 I thought she looked great. It was my first cruise, and I was overwhelmed with almost everything. I do remember one silly little detail that was talked about quite a bit here. The automatic doors from the just outside the windjammer to the pool areas were a bit balky and would stick on occasion. It was annoying if you were carrying plate of food to eat out on deck.

 

On Navigator there were a couple of minor issues that were resolved during the cruise and she also looked like she was wearing quite well.

The shows on the Voyager are right on the top, as close to Broadway as you can get. Of course I have never been to Broadway so you will have to take my word on this. :eek:

 

They have illusion and magical shows that can not be beat. Arrive early for these shows because they tend to fill up very fast and if you don't you might find yourself either standing in the back or sitting behind a very large pillar not seeing anything.

 

If you plan on playing a round of miniature golf with your family or friends do it on a day when the ship is in port because it is almost impossible to get in a round of golf when you are on one of the sea days.

 

You will love the Harbor House. We stayed there on our last cruise and tried to get a reservation for this upcoming cruise but found ourselves on a wait list so we we had to settle for the Sunspree since it is during one of the Mardi Gras weekends.

How is this on the VOS? In room or where is the best place to us a lap top? Rarely use it on board, but good way to download pictures and keep in touch with elderly in-laws.

Back to the shows, the most amazing on my last cruise (March, 2010) was Larissa Sherman. In the ice show she did a great hula-hoop act. At the final show she did silks. I don't know if she is still doing the cruise ships, but if you can catch her acts, do it. The Texas Tenors were great also. I would have enjoyed the magic act better if I were not on the back row -- there was only one show and it was PACKED OUT. In March 2009, we had Kyle Knight and Mistie for the magic act, and they were great. Their website (http://www.knightmagic.com) shows they are on the Jewel of the Seas now.

 

I have never been disappointed with any of the shows, although some are better than others of course.