Just off the Grandeur

Hello,

I just got off the Grandeur today. Any questions? I'm in the process of writing a review, but figured I'd answer questions in the mean time...

Rather than doing a day by day review, I’ll break the review up into separate sections. I’m just doing a brief review, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask. We had a great cruise to Bermuda, and we can’t wait to sail again.

EMBARKATION:

Embarkation was a breeze. I’m gold status, but my boyfriend is Platinum, so we had express embarkation. It took exactly 30 minutes from the time the shuttle dropped us off at the terminal until I was standing in the centrum of the Grandeur. There was a line for non-priority boarding, but there were only about 20 people in line. There was no line for priority boarding.

DINING:

We bought the specialty restaurant package for $55 per person, which allows you to dine in Giovanni’s Table, Chops, and Izumi. The package also gives you a $20 credit towards Izumi. All the specialty restaurants were delicious, but my favorite was Giovanni’s. We ate most dinners in the main dining room. The food was very good, but the service seemed to be lacking. Our waiters were fine, but they seemed very rushed and didn’t spend too much time explaining the menu. We felt that the Windjammer was lacking variety, and seemed to have the same foods daily. There was nothing really wrong with it, but it seemed like RCCL is cutting corners and trying to save money. Also, the windjammer was completely closed off in between meals. The doors were closed, and you couldn’t even walk through. If you wanted a snack, you had to go to Park Café or Latte-Tudes. (The roast beef at Park Café was AMAZING.)

THE SHIP:

The Grandeur is a smaller ship than most of the ships in the fleet, but she is in great shape. The ship felt empty on most days, and there were always plenty of chairs on deck. The solarium was great, and seemed to be empty most of the time. The theater has great seats, and they were very comfortable. The casino was a good size, though it was very smoky, especially at night. We smelled sewage in the centrum when we first got on, but then never smelled it again for the rest of the week. Our cabin was an interior cabin, midship on deck 2. It was small like expected, but it worked for us. The bathroom seemed A LOT smaller than the bathrooms on other cruise ships, especially the shower. I’m 6’2, and I was just too cramped in the shower. I ended up showering in the spa every day. (There are great showers in there.) There was always cleaning going on, and the crew was doing a great job keeping the Grandeur in tip top shape.

ENTERTAINMENT:

We went to see two comedians (I can’t remember their names), and they put on a very good show. We attended most of the events put on by the activities staff, and they did a good job keeping everyone engaged and entertained. Don’t miss the aerial show in the centrum….it’s very good. We played Bingo, trivia, and went to the game shows. There was always something to do if you wanted to keep busy, or you could just lounge by the pool and enjoy the sun.

Thanks for this review. I was wondering how rough the seas were on your way over and back. We have never sailed to Bermuda before and had heard that sailing in that direction can be rough. I get seasick, so I don't know whether or not to consider this cruise.

Also, what did you do while the ship was docked for a few days in Bermuda?

Thanks so much!

How was the music on the ship? Any place to dance? We are going on Thanksgiving week so I am guessing it will feel more crowded. Do you remember how much it was to play bingo? And do they have paper cards and machines? Did you have a favorite place to have a before or after dinner drink? Thank you for your review.

We were also on this cruise and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and the seas were never really rough... Though that seems to be subjective as one guy we saw in the elevator commented that it was really rough out there, and he wasn't joking. I would say the ship was rocking slightly, but it wasn't "rough." But as I said, we had really nice weather.

Regarding The Smell, we were on deck 3 and smelled the faint sewer smell on day 1 and then never again until around 2am on the last morning. It was so strong then that it woke me up. Then around 5 I was woken up again by the smell of exhaust. My parents, who were also on deck 3 but on the opposite side, smelled it too.

my wife, daughter and myself are taking this same cruise in september

this is our second cruise to bermuda, the first was 14 years ago out of NY

it seems latter season cruises in the atlantic are more prone to tropical weather effecting ocean? at least that is what I heard, not a expert

our first cruise was a much smaller RCI ship (cant remember name)

we had rough seas to the tune of 30 foot swells.

my wife gets motion sickness, she used medicine and only got a little queasy once. I just kept my seat at the pool bar and was fine ;o)

we loved bermuda, so easy to navigate, super friendly

we were in port at royal navy, short walk to everything at dockyard

can get bus, ferry, bikes and scooters

we didnt do the scooters, they drive a little fast and furious there

the ferry for us was the best, seems quicker and more relaxed than the bus

the bermuda aquarium was recently re done in the past 2-3 years,

glass bottom boat tour is nice,

snorkeling is best at church bay (although if not great swimmer, watch if windy breaking waters, stay in the boilers)

elbow beach is a free public beach with snorkeling reefs as well.

there is also snorkel beach park in dockyard, but it seems a bit more cloudy water there, but has some nice shallow reef.

hamilton is ok, we did a little sightseeing on our own.

the clock tower and dockyard have some local craft vendors for shopping for unique items and the normal key chain, souvenir stuff

we never made it to st george last visit (due to a second storm approaching) we left port early, so we cant wait to finish our exploring of bermuda!!

Does anyone have the cruise compasses or recall the order of the menus?

Also, some of the passengers on the cruises during and just after the norovirus outbreak noticed that the crew seemed tired and that the service the passengers received was less attentive. Does the crew seem to have bounced back at all?

Welcome home!

Does anyone have the cruise compasses or recall the order of the menus?

 

Also, some of the passengers on the cruises during and just after the norovirus outbreak noticed that the crew seemed tired and that the service the passengers received was less attentive. Does the crew seem to have bounced back at all?

Sorry, I did not keep the compasses, nor do I really recall the menus very well. But as to your question about the crew, I felt that they were pleasant for the most part. The only time I thought they seemed tired or irritated was at the Park Cafe, but I really think that had a lot to do with the fact that it was sometimes the only place open for food, and they often got crowded with people when they were trying to close so they could prepare for the next meal (such as between breakfast and lunch). Then again, I'm usually happy as long as no one is outwardly rude, so my opinion may differ from others!

Looking forward to more of your review. Thanks!

I'm wondering if they were ever able to get rid of the bad smell around the centrum on the lower decks.

In 1999, Mom and I were in an inside cabin on deck 2 on Grandeur under the Atrium. The Solarium showers are wonderful so Mom and I would use these each day. One of the showers had a fold down seat and that was perfect for her.

As you do, I enjoy Vision class ships. Five years ago DD worked on Vision in the children's department. She thought it was a little strange to have been a pax on Vision in high school and then after graduating from college with a teaching credential, she was working on the ship.

There have been questions raised on another thread as to whether or not the repairs to the jogging track / deck 10 have been completed. Can you confirm status?

who was the cruise director ?

DINING:

We bought the specialty restaurant package for $55 per person, which allows you to dine in Giovanni’s Table, Chops, and Izumi. The package also gives you a $20 credit towards Izumi. All the specialty restaurants were delicious, but my favorite was Giovanni’s. We ate most dinners in the main dining room. The food was very good, but the service seemed to be lacking. Our waiters were fine, but they seemed very rushed and didn’t spend too much time explaining the menu. We felt that the Windjammer was lacking variety, and seemed to have the same foods daily. There was nothing really wrong with it, but it seemed like RCCL is cutting corners and trying to save money. Also, the windjammer was completely closed off in between meals. The doors were closed, and you couldn’t even walk through. If you wanted a snack, you had to go to Park Café or Latte-Tudes. (The roast beef at Park Café was AMAZING

[COLOR=HI....

thanks for all the info....we will be sailing on the Grandeur in September.

can you please explain how the specialty restaurant package works. do you pay 1 flat rate of 55.00 per person and can you dine in all of the restaurants, and how often ?

thanks!![/color]

Menu order: Pemiento menu (Italian theme); Saffron menu (1st formal night); Coconut (Asian theme);Portabella; ****ake; Jasmine (2nd formal night);and Pomodoro (last night).

We did not have what I call the traditional first night menu w/ prime rib, steak salad, and horseradish crusted salmon.

I heard they are trying to change up the presentation of the menus. Not sure what that means.

Hope this helps.

There have been questions raised on another thread as to whether or not the repairs to the jogging track / deck 10 have been completed. Can you confirm status?

On our sailing May 30-June 6 the deck cracks had not been repaired. There were two speed bump type temporary repairs on deck 10.

The sushi place is worth the up charge? How sushi can we get??

I'm on grandeur this upcoming December.

The sushi place is worth the up charge? How sushi can we get??

 

I'm on grandeur this upcoming December.

Izumi does not charge a flat fee. It is a la carte. You can, therefore, get as much sushi as you are willing to pay for.

:)

Did you buy the restaurant package online or when you got on the ship?

Do you need a reservation for the sushi restaurant?

$55/pp up charge seems worth it. Celebrity was $109/pp and that seemed too much.

Enjoying your review. Welcome home.

Did you buy the restaurant package online or when you got on the ship?

 

Do you need a reservation for the sushi restaurant?

 

 

 

$55/pp up charge seems worth it. Celebrity was $109/pp and that seemed too much.

You can do either. Once you buy the package, you need to make reservations at each of the specialty restaurants.

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Did you buy the restaurant package online or when you got on the ship?

Do you need a reservation for the sushi restaurant?

 

$55/pp up charge seems worth it. Celebrity was $109/pp and that seemed too much.

Last time I was on in January, there was a guy selling the the dinner package right at the entry way upon embarkation. Keep an eye out for him.

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