Nos 12/19-12/24

[fgc15527]

Just returned from pre Christmas cruise on Navigator. Second cruise on Navigator, 4th cruise with Royal. Family of ten. Children ages 11 to 14. Arrived at cruise terminal at 11 a.m. and had great embarkation. On the ship before 11:30. Ate at the windjammer, rooms ready at 1 p.m. Ate in main dining room early seating each day. First day a disaster. Took 1 hour and ten minutes before salad, appetizer was served. Missed welcome aboard show. Waiter was absent most dinners spending all his time in the kitchen. Assistant waiter spoke no English and apparently boarded the ship for the first time with us. Never was introduced nor did she have a name tag. We were assured following days would improve. Service after that was faster but the usual personal service we have experienced in the past was missing. Never asked our names, never remembered daily requests (tea, coffee etc.) Never explained the menu or asked how our day was. Food was hit and miss. We did have lobster tails and they were larger than usual and good. Appetizers and salads were good. Meat was cooked as ordered. Avoid the fish. Windjammer had an omelot bar. Kids enjoyed windjammer food. 3 oclock tea in windjammer with scones is highly recommended. Rock climbing, ice skating for kids great. Kids played miniature golf. Enjoyed ping pong tournament, simulated golf. Experienced lots of rain but made the best of it. Larabee buffet not good. Kids enjoyed dragon coaster and girls had hair braiding as you got off the ship in Larabee. Can bargain for price. In Jamaica went to Mystic Mountain and had a great time in rain. Climbing Dunn River Falls in the rain is dangerous. Would recommend hiring private guide for your group. Our family was at end of line. Guide had 23 people in front. Had to quit 2/3rds up the falls. Family shopped in shops close to pier and had no problems. You were warned not to go off on your own. In spite of rain and poor service in main dining room the entire family enjoyed the cruise.

[yogimax]

We always enjoy the Labadee buffet, especially the ribs!

[LBumb]

thanks for giving your review. no matter what happens, you are still cruising.

[sandm]

We were on the cruise with you. We also found the service in the dining room awful the first evening. Our waiter and assistant waiter seemed overworked and bothered by having us there. Our orders were not complete and we were very disappointed with the food. We left before dessert and decided to eat in Chops and Portifinos the rest of the cruise. Service and the food were much better in the specialty restaurants.

We have sailed 4 different cruise lines and became diamond members on this cruise and found this to be the worst service on any of our cruises. We also noticed more guests cutting lines, smoking in non smoking areas, cutting in front of wheelchairs that had been waiting to get on an elevator or not offering a chair to an elderly women with a walker. One couple brought a boom box to a quiet area on deck 12 and turned the volume on HIGH while many of us there before them were quietly reading or talking. It seemed the HIGH volume was to try to drown out the sound of the band at the pool. There also seemed to be a lot of children playing in the elevators and ringing doorbells late at night.

We had great time in spite of the service and behavior of others. We also went to Mystic Mountain and laughed all the way to the top through the pouring rain. Then laughed again all the way down on the bobsled. On Labadee we did the zipline and LOVED it. We did not let poor behavior of staff or some passengers ruin our cruise but we will probably try a different line next time.

[Maryscooking]

Thanks for the review! We are going to be on the Navigator on the Jan. 2 sailing. I wondered if you (or anyone else who knows) could share what the main course/theme was for dinner in the main dining room each evening? And what evening would you recommend skipping (ie, trying Portofino's)?

[fgc15527]

During formal night (the second night) we were offered Filet. If you are a beef fan you will enjoy. Lobster was fourth night. Exceptional. I would skip last night. Turkey, turnip mash with stuffing. Calzone also offered. Tempura was the featured entree. Had on another cruise. Not exceptional. Would recommend skipping 5th night. Hope this is helpful.

[fgc15527]

We were on the cruise with you. We also found the service in the dining room awful the first evening. Our waiter and assistant waiter seemed overworked and bothered by having us there. Our orders were not complete and we were very disappointed with the food. We left before dessert and decided to eat in Chops and Portifinos the rest of the cruise. Service and the food were much better in the specialty restaurants.

 

We had great time in spite of the service and behavior of others. We also went to Mystic Mountain and laughed all the way to the top through the pouring rain. Then laughed again all the way down on the bobsled. On Labadee we did the zipline and LOVED it. We did not let poor behavior of staff or some passengers ruin our cruise but we will probably try a different line next time.

 

The table next to us who shared our waiter had a family of five that only came to the table on the first night. We might have had the same waiter. Each night as he served our food he gave us a big whistle as he served. We all kind of had a big laugh as we had never gone to a restaurant where our waiter whistled as he served each plate. Were you the Love and Marriage couple? If so you were the best. Our family did the Mystic Mountain. Like you they laughed throughout the rain.

[sandm]

We are a family of 4 and I do not recall our waiter whistling the first night. So it doesn't sound as though we were in the same section. I am sad to say we are also not the Love and Marriage couple. There is NO way I would ever get my husband on stage. Although the shows are fun to watch.

We had wonderful family time this trip. We stayed in the cabin and played lots of cards. Our children are 14 and 16 so I love holding them captive on a ship and spending fun family time. We did enjoy the sun when it was out and enjoyed the ship. The work out area on Voyager class is great although it was busy with the rain.

We saw the comedian the first night and giggled through his show but that was the only show we saw.

It was fun but we flew home a few days early. We were supposed to stay through the 27th but since Florida had quite a few clouds and wind we wanted to beat the snow coming to Chicago. I am still waiting for a lost piece of luggage. Fortunately it was lost coming home and not before the cruise. This is a wake up call to divide up our clothes among 4 suite cases.