REVIEW - Voyager of the Seas - 3/31/11 to 4/6/11 Lots of Pics!

[vivavegas]

Loving your photo review! Looking forward to more:)

[Motleu]

After our snack in the WJ we went to the Adventure Ocean open house. I think AO on the Radiance had a better facility. AO on Voyager was very dark and somewhat cramped. Behind AO was Adventure Beach, a huge area of wasted space. They had a small swimming area for the kids then a huge area of chairs and planters where I never saw a soul. Can you say a great space for a pay restaurant down the road! here are some pics of AO:

 

 

Explorers Area (Ages 6-8)

 

Voyagers Area (Ages 9-11)

 

Entry Hallway

 

 

Aquanauts Area (Ages 3-5)

 

 

We signed the kids up for AO (no official AO activities on sailaway day) and got a self signout wristband for older dd - she loved that!

[Motleu]

Couple more from AO:

 

 

 

 

After we went to AO it was almost time for sailaway so older dd and I went up to the helipad to watch New Orleans slip away. it was a great place to watch -

 

On the way to the helipad - Whale lot from the ship - where's the car?

 

 

[Motleu]

 

 

 

 

Made it to the pad!

 

Looking back at the ship

 

I am not sure why the date stamp changed on the camera - it is correct in this pic but wrong in the others! Hmmmm....technology!?!?

[Motleu]

Looks like they are ready on the bridge for sailaway!

 

 

 

DD got antsy right after sailaway and wanted to go explore so that is what we did!

[will773]

Still loving it! Can't wait for the rest!

[Motleu]

After sailaway we explored some more. My first time on a Voyager class and I love the promenade!

 

Some pics:

 

 

The Pig & Whistle (my fav place bec of the beer selection) I will eventually scan in that menu you see on the tables)

 

 

 

The sports car is in front of the Sports Bar. The sports bar was ground zero Saturday night for the Final Four. More on that shortly.

 

Because of the Final Four NCAA National Semifinals we chose to skip the MDR and eat dinner in the Windjammer. The games started with a Univ. of Kentucky v. Univ. of Louisville matchup ultimately won by eventual National Champion Kentucky. That game started at 5pm ish and there was a huge crowd in the bar with overflow into the promenade!

[Motleu]

I forgot to comment on the Windjammer for dinner. It was the only night we went there because we went to the MDR every night but one (Portofino) and I thought the dinner that night was outstanding. That night there was an asian theme. Highlights were the tom yum soup (very spicy) and bbq chicken with crispy noodles (very good). They also had a make your own pizza station there with many toppings and while it won't register as the best pizza ever it was a big jump up from Sorrento's/Cafe promenade pizza. Unfortunately no pics.

 

After the WJ it was back down to the sportsbar for the main event! THE Ohio State Buckeyes v. Kansas Jayhawks. There was a good contingent of Buckeye fans but unfortunately Kansas came out victorious. It was fun watching such a big sporting event on the ship.

 

After the game I went out and watched this giant ship sail down the Mississippi River. That was a treat. It was quiet as we made our way interrupted only by the sounds of the refineries as we moved past. There was quite a bit of river traffic and we passed a Carnival ship and an NCL ship quite close heading back to NOLA. As expected it was raucous on the Carnival ship with shouting back and forth. It takes arounf 7 hours to sail down the Miss to the Gulf of Mexico which surprised me. I thought it was right there! At around 11pm a small boat docked next to the Voyager and we dropped off the river pilot. Eventually it was time to turn in and get ready for the Cruise Critic meet and mingle to be held the next morning.

[Motleu]

 

We woke up to a windy and overcast day in the Gulf of Mexico and went down to the Windjammer for breakfast. It was mediocre. The WJ was pretty good the whole week but this time not so much. After breakfast I went up to the High Notes lounge in the Viking Crown for the CC meet and mingle at 1100am! It was great meeting all the fine folks I had conversed with over the previous 10 months! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the roll call and special thanks to CdnTrekkie (Lorinda) and TiredOl6 (Mike) who moved along the roll call when things got slow. Here is a pic of the CC crew:

 

 

Cruise Director Jimmie Rhodes emceed the affair and gave away some RC trinkets and champagne. He talked a little about his career and the Voyager and said he often visits CC to get feedback. Hi Jimmie! You did a great job during the week! Rc provided some sweets, sandwiches and drinks as well.

 

 

We had a gift exchange also (thanks Annabelle for the Louisiana gift bag. I am using it quite a bit!). At noon I had to leave to get the kids from AO for....ice skating! Yay! (not!)

 

Luckily for me DW likes to ice skate. I spend most of the time face up! Studio B is the ice rink location and open skating was held all day. Neat to see the rink on the ship but I went right down to the ice and it wasnt real cold. I think I saw on RCTV that it is 1 1/2 inches thick and had to be tested to be sure not to break as the ship lurches.

 

DW and DD, the younger

 

After ice skating we went up to the pool deck for awhile and battled the breeze. It eventually cleared up and that would be the last bad weather of the whole cruise. Soon it was time to get ready for the first formal night.

 

One comment about formal night. I was stunned to see so many people really dressed up. I'm talking about long dresses, tuxes and better than 80% in suits. Uh, but not me. I did wear a nice shirt and slacks but was in the minority. Pics of the promenade with folks on the way to (or on the way from) dinner:

 

 

[Motleu]

More pics from formal night:

 

 

 

Capt. Frank Martinsen

 

 

 

I tried to get pics of the menu but they wouldn't come out. Our table mates also had trouble getting good pics in the dining room. Tonight specialty was Tenderloin of Beef - simply outstanding! Very tasty.

 

After dinner we went to the show - "Music in Pictures" in the La Scala theater. No pics, sorry. The show was pretty good but had a strange ending with the singers and dancers dressed in African and Indian dress singing the song "Hot, Hot, Hot."

 

I figured out the cruise compass problem and tomorrow will post Day 1 compasses and other Day 1 documents.

[Motleu]

 

 

 

 

 

[Motleu]

 

 

 

 

[Motleu]

 

 

 

 

[Motleu]

One more thing at formal night before I move on to Day 3 in Cozumel. we had a table for 8 - my four and our 2 tablemates, Michelle and Craig from Bradford in the UK. Two seats were never filled and I just assumed the folks went elsewhere but our waiter Sylvester (great guy and outstanding waiter!) said those seats were never filled. he said late on the first day of the cruise he gets a list of who is occupying the tables so he knows in advance how many he will have. I was sorry for him because lost the tips from those seats. My dd's only attended 2 and 1 dinner respectively but I tipped him as if they were the entire week. He earned it! Here is a pic of our tablemates celebrating Michelle's birthday (Sylvester behind them):

 

 

Our asst. waiter Lino was in the middle.

 

 

 

Here is a shot of the figures in the entranceway to La Scala theater:

 

Then after the show this is what we found in the room upon our return:

 

On to Cozumel and Day 3!

[Kubanita]

Gret great great review!! I am really enjoying all of your photos!! :)

[Motleu]

Gret great great review!! I am really enjoying all of your photos!! :)

 

 

Thanks! Many more to come!

[Motleu]

This was our third trip to Coz. The previous two we went up and down the main drag shopping (I hit the bars!). I tried to talk DW in to going to La Choza restaurant highly regarded on these boards. She declined. Not a big fan of mexican food! Whaaaaa?

 

So I did a ton of research on beaches and chose the pay as you go option at Paradise Beach. We told the cab driver Paradise beach but he took us to Playa Mia Beach park! Language problem? Not sure but we had a great day anyway! They do have an all inclusive package but the ship sailed at 330pm and I didnt feel as if we would get our moneys worth. It was $16/pp to get in to the park and that included use of the facilities, kayaks, hobie cat sailboats, large pedal boats, the water park inflatables, and the very nice freshwater swimming pool. The kids did not love the saltwater pools on the ship so this pool was well received. Bar and food were extra and I will tell you that the food was outstanding! And the margaritas were strong. We came close to spending what we would have at the all inclusive rate anyway!

 

The Cozumel pier

 

 

Playa Mia pics

 

This bar is designated for the all inclusive only

 

Not a bad list! (but brandy???)

 

 

[poppetts]

Thanks! Many more to come!

 

Loving you pics and story keep up the good work. Just a question, if you dont mind, what do you think the VOS is like for 4 year old kids? we are going on her in Jan next and have a little 4 year old daughter.

 

Look forward to seeing more about your trip.

 

Thanks Steve

[Motleu]

More pics from Playa Mia

 

 

The structure with the thatched roof is the cash bar

 

 

This is a view toward the dining area under the big tent and to the right is a group of hammocks

 

 

 

 

[Motleu]

More Playa Mia:

 

The buffet for the all inclusive option

 

 

 

 

 

I had the chicken soft tacos and they were great. Came with salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese, beans and sauces on the side to dress them up as you as you wish.

 

 

 

 

 

[Motleu]

More Playa Mia

 

 

This dock is where the cruise ship beach break excursions would drop off the passengers

 

 

 

 

 

[foxesden1]

Cant wait to read more!

[Motleu]

More Playa Mia:

 

 

Back at the pier:

 

The Jewel and The Voyager

 

Senor Frogs

 

Carnival Dream

 

 

[Motleu]

Loving you pics and story keep up the good work. Just a question, if you dont mind, what do you think the VOS is like for 4 year old kids? we are going on her in Jan next and have a little 4 year old daughter.

 

Look forward to seeing more about your trip.

 

Thanks Steve

 

 

Thanks for reading Steve! I think the 4 year old will have a great time on the Voyager. I am not sure what if any changes will be made to the Adventure Ocean program as the Voyager repositions to the far east but I am posting Compasses for the kids programs (some have been posted already) and they have many activities for the 3-5 yr age group. Plenty of activities to keep them occupied! Happy cruising!

[Crawfordscrackers]

Loving you pics and story keep up the good work. Just a question, if you dont mind, what do you think the VOS is like for 4 year old kids? we are going on her in Jan next and have a little 4 year old daughter.

 

Look forward to seeing more about your trip.

 

Thanks Steve

 

We were on this same trip with our 4 year old and he loved it so much, he cried when we got off. He loved it so much we have had to book another cruise :) AO was fantastic and all the waiting staff made such a fuss of him. We got a break too because he wanted to be in AO all the time.

Enjoy your trip.

 

Lisa