Bit of a blog – Navigator of the Seas – E Caribbean – 8 nights – 26th November 2011

[Tyron]

I agree Tyron. RCI should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this type of structure to be used as a cruise terminal. All of this just to make a number at the port. They have a great terminal 20 minutes south and they should be using that in place of putting three large ships in one port.

 

Hey Gordon! How have you been? :)

 

It's mind boggling how RCI developed such a great terminal (terminal 18) & have their main competitor (Carnival Corp) use it as a model for their renovation project but are utilizing these shacks.

 

For RCI to continue using those terminals w/o renovating them will surely lead to passengers taking their business else where.

 

What I don't understand is why they won't allow the Navigator and Liberty to use Terminal 18 when Oasis & Allure are not occupying the berth. :rolleyes:

[flames]

One comment here, Royal Caribbean is shooting themselves in the foot abandoning a very good facility at the Port of Miami to move their ships to Port Everglades? I have used both ports extensively and it is beyond me why anyone thinks that Everglades is a better port.

 

John, I so agree with you as I like Miami better to stay in and the airport is better also:eek:;)

 

Carol:)

[MrsCorL]

became diamond 2 1/2 years ago and have not been on a cruise since....even though everyone here was complaining about the terminal, i would have just taken it all in because i was finally on a cruise after all this time!!! i think i would sell my soul to the devil about now!!! lol

[jebuell]

I have been considering booking Navigator for the 8 night itinerary but if this turns out to be a weekly event I will either switch to Oasis or Allure or go down to San Juan and sail on Adventure. There is no way I am going though a fiasco like that boarding.

 

I hope more people post here as the weeks go by about what they encounter. I hope the dudes at RCI are having a good look at those pictures this morning.

 

It was due to an inspection, no need to freak out. We sailed on Carnival Paradise twice in a month. The first time there was a Coast Guard inspection and they had to check every employees work permits. It took 3 hours and we didn't get to board until 1PM (we were supposed to board at 11AM as part of a VIP group). 3 weeks later, not a single delay and we were on at 10:30.

 

Inspections like these need to happen to keep us safe and the industry working honestly.

[Ocean Boy]

Hey Gordon! How have you been? :)

 

It's mind boggling how RCI developed such a great terminal (terminal 18) & have their main competitor (Carnival Corp) use it as a model for their renovation project but are utilizing these shacks.

 

For RCI to continue using those terminals w/o renovating them will surely lead to passengers taking their business else where.

 

What I don't understand is why they won't allow the Navigator and Liberty to use Terminal 18 when Oasis & Allure are not occupying the berth. :rolleyes:

 

With the exception of a few 9 night sailings I think Navigator is always in port on either Saturday or Sunday which means it is there with either Oasis or Allure. Terminal 18 is occupied. I am not sure about Liberty's sailings.

[jebuell]

NorbertsNiece- Thanks for posting everything! We're sailing on Navigator for our wedding in February. It will be the first cruise for my family and the first non-Riviera cruise for his family (and the first RCI and the first larger ship). It'll be fun to follow your adventures, even if you're heading to different ports. :)

 

 

And, man if that "shed" is bad, then you Miami cruisers are spoiled! That looks very similar to the San Diego port, nicer even! It never occured to me that the SD port was less than ideal since it's all I've ever sailed out of until going to Long Beach (and that's nothing to write home about, either).

[Tyron]

With the exception of a few 9 night sailings I think Navigator is always in port on either Saturday or Sunday which means it is there with either Oasis or Allure. Terminal 18 is occupied. I am not sure about Liberty's sailings.

 

I was wondering about those two times when Liberty was in port on November 17 & 21 (Thursday & Monday) and they used Terminal 25 instead of 18.

:confused:

[will773]

With the exception of a few 9 night sailings I think Navigator is always in port on either Saturday or Sunday which means it is there with either Oasis or Allure. Terminal 18 is occupied. I am not sure about Liberty's sailings.

 

You're right. Navigator will always be there with either the Oasis or the Allure. The Liberty will always dock at terminal 25 though, that's what the Navigator did last year.

[roudy1]

Great thread...thanks Emmy for pointing it out to us. Nice to see Wendy...looks like she had a little wait before boarding.

Thanks for the photos and starting this "blog" Norbertsneice.

[will773]

Thanks for keeping us up to date! I'll be checking back throughout the week!

[Ocean Boy]

I was wondering about those two times when Liberty was in port on November 17 & 21 (Thursday & Monday) and they used Terminal 25 instead of 18.

:confused:

 

Maybe they assign certain ships to certain terminals and keep them there unless there is a conflict that comes up?:confused:

 

Or, maybe it is RCI's way of keeping Oasis and Allure full. Either book those two ships or deal with a boarding disaster! :D

[Tyron]

Maybe they assign certain ships to certain terminals and keep them there unless there is a conflict that comes up?:confused:

 

Or, maybe it is RCI's way of keeping Oasis and Allure full. Either book those two ships or deal with a boarding disaster! :D

 

 

LOL!!! Definitely falls in line with their motto "Why Not?" :D

[emmy]

Great thread...thanks Emmy for pointing it out to us. Nice to see Wendy...looks like she had a little wait before boarding.

 

Thanks for the photos and starting this "blog" Norbertsneice.

 

You are welcome Char... Linda looking forward to new photos... any lines ON the ship :) :) :D

[Ocean Boy]

You are welcome Char... Linda looking forward to new photos... any lines ON the ship :) :) :D

 

If there are then I'm heading to Puerto Rico and Adventure of the Seas.:rolleyes:

[Cruising89143]

Hey Gordon! How have you been? :)

 

It's mind boggling how RCI developed such a great terminal (terminal 18) & have their main competitor (Carnival Corp) use it as a model for their renovation project but are utilizing these shacks.

 

For RCI to continue using those terminals w/o renovating them will surely lead to passengers taking their business else where.

 

What I don't understand is why they won't allow the Navigator and Liberty to use Terminal 18 when Oasis & Allure are not occupying the berth. :rolleyes:

 

 

Hey Tryon, doing well here.

 

We cruised out of one of those old terminals a few years back on the Navigator and debarkation was the worst for me in over 26 years of cruising. I won't repeat that mistake again. :)

[will773]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is about these terminals. You're in them for MAYBE an hour or two, if things are bad. Does this really make that much of a dent on your vacation and whether or not you will consider using that cruise line any more? I think not.

[Cruising89143]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is about these terminals. You're in them for MAYBE an hour or two, if things are bad. Does this really make that much of a dent on your vacation and whether or not you will consider using that cruise line any more? I think not.

 

That's you and not me. Each person is different and since you're not the one paying for my cruise, then I will make the decision on where and how to spend my money.;)

[Ocean Boy]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is about these terminals. You're in them for MAYBE an hour or two, if things are bad. Does this really make that much of a dent on your vacation and whether or not you will consider using that cruise line any more? I think not.

 

From the looks of those lines I would say people were in line for an hour or two BEFORE spending an hour or two inside the terminal. We were on Oasis 20 minutes after we got out of the cab.

[NorbertsNiece]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is about these terminals. You're in them for MAYBE an hour or two, if things are bad. Does this really make that much of a dent on your vacation and whether or not you will consider using that cruise line any more? I think not.

 

It was baking hot. There were portable toilets, for those of us inside. Those outside had nothing. Nada. We had wooden chairs. Those outside had nothing. Nada. The shed did have fans but not over the seating area. Those outside had nothing. Nada. Yes it DID make a dent on the first day of our vacation.

[NorbertsNiece]

Thanks for all your comments and support!

 

My OBC has been applied. Thanks very much.

 

Ok. They changed the clocks without telling me. Now apparently it was announced over the loudspeaker at some stage and it was written in the Compass last night but I didn’t see it. I DID ask the waiter if there was anything I needed to know and he missed the ball on this one! No big deal. I woke at 4 according to my watch and tried to go back to sleep. Next time I checked the TV to see if there was anything on the bridge cam….with no daylight here it’s difficult to judge the time… and it was over an hour later!

 

Eventually I get myself out of bed and head to the gym. Rather make use of the time. Bit odd walking the tread mill with pitch black ahead. Join a stretch class…. According to others there it was a light stretch… yeah right… not for me….

 

Whilst sorting myself out back in my room and about to head for breakfast I get a call inviting me to a trivia competition. This never happens at home. I rush up to Windjammer and grab some food and discover they have my favourite…. Pic below!

 

 

Not so good at general knowledge quiz….. but later on there is a movie picture quiz and we win!!! I do have to say that my ability to recognise Andy Sirkis was the winning factor! My girls would be proud (less proud for not recognising a character from the Goonies or the name of the Gene Kelly character from Singing in the Rain… I got the Don bit right ok?) I am now the proud owner of a RCCL key ring! Yay us!!

 

Lunch in the MDR is wonderful. Sit with my friends and meet new people for a delightful and fun experience. Just love the build your own salad.

 

Emmy : not seen any queues but to be honest I've not been anywhere yet.... lol ;)

[NorbertsNiece]

I will not be reporting from the 'Art' Auctions as I will not be going and you can't make me. They are still trying to sell off the papier mache shoes in frames they were trying to offload on us last year on Adventure.

 

 

Between trivia quizzes I join a tour of the ship’s art. 20/25 minutes at most….seriously though…. the visit to the Casino to show us the ‘Art’ are you serious? Not a marketing ploy then? I learnt that all the art was commissioned before the ship was built and that each deck has a theme of its own. We visited 2 decks.

 

There are 3 floors to the dining room which is designed around a ballet theme.

 

 

 

Each floor has art work relating to its theme: Swan Lake, Coppelia and Nutcracker

 

 

 

[micruiser2002]

I think something important to keep in mind is the cruise documentation states that boarding time is 1:30pm. I always get there early also but if there is a delay I can't really blame the cruiseline.

[fish6]

It was baking hot. There were portable toilets, for those of us inside. Those outside had nothing. Nada. We had wooden chairs. Those outside had nothing. Nada. The shed did have fans but not over the seating area. Those outside had nothing. Nada. Yes it DID make a dent on the first day of our vacation.

We are boarding the NOS in March 2012 with our 2 children when there are 7 other ships in port that day. What time do you suggest getting there in order to try and avoid the line up outside? Do you think embarktion will get any better??

 

Thanks,

Donna

[NorbertsNiece]

As we are rocking quite nicely right now and various outdoor activities have been cancelled as a result I have taken to walking the corridors…. Deck 6 is devoted to Music and the Musicals and Deck 7 to Cinema. There is original art as well as original posters in various languages. I circuit both decks (the 2nd deck following a break for a Pimm’s on the promenade deck). ;)

 

 

 

 

[mommabean]

I think something important to keep in mind is the cruise documentation states that boarding time is 1:30pm. I always get there early also but if there is a delay I can't really blame the cruiseline.

 

I suspect those who got there at 1:30 had the longest wait outside in the sune with no toilets. In this case, getting there after 3pm might have been the thing to do.

 

If only we could see the future. :rolleyes:

 

Gina