Last Voyage of the Monarch of the Seas!

[ticktoneer]

I can't the webcam to work. The play symbol has a line through it :-(

Phew ! It's working again

[Cruzin-K]

awesome photos as usual. Now I wish I'd just stalked you the entire cruise, asking you what your camera settings were :D

[DarthGrady]

sounded like they just did a muster drill before they leave PC for the last time...

 

There was a group of workers (not RCI) getting on the ship as we were leaving. They were all wearing similar clothes, the company name was three initials. I was thinking they might be auditing staff to help count and document all of the equipment and supplies. That might explain the muster drill.

Edited April 1, 2013 by DarthGrady

[alaska_planner]

There was a group of workers (not RCI) getting on the ship as we were leaving. They were all wearing similar clothes, the company name was three initials. I was thinking they might be auditing staff to help count and document all of the equipment and supplies. That might explain the muster drill.

 

there are probably people on board who will begin the process of taking her apart as they sail for freeport...

i assume she'll get all new fittings before she goes into service again...

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

Maybe it's just me, but I think the Schooner Bar on the Sovereign class is the best - there is just something about the feeling that I haven't found on the other classes I've sailed:)

 

Same here!! Actually there's a lot about the Sovereign class that I feel holds something that the other ships don't. Just feels different, and I love it!

[reney313]

Maybe it's just me, but I think the Schooner Bar on the Sovereign class is the best - there is just something about the feeling that I haven't found on the other classes I've sailed:)

 

I couldn't agree more. I Love all the windows. Truly was my favorite place on Sovereign class ships. The ones on Voyager/Freedom class are OK, but not as large and they definitely don't have the same "feel". Vision class are nice also, but I still preferred Sovereign.

 

I guess i'll have to find some time to make it back on Majesty before she leaves the fleet.

 

Great picture of Desmond. I'm not Diamond (yet), but I sat "right" next to the "rope" every night on my Monarch cruise. Most of the time there were only about 5-8 people in the Nightly event. He would "sneak" us in, but we still paid full price for our drinks. We just wanted the view, not free or discounted drinks (well, we wouldn't have turned them away, but alas, no specials there for us lowly plat's/emerald's).

[PH8]

Great picture of Desmond..

I can't find that pic.:confused:

[Scotty G]

There was a group of workers (not RCI) getting on the ship as we were leaving. They were all wearing similar clothes, the company name was three initials. I was thinking they might be auditing staff to help count and document all of the equipment and supplies. That might explain the muster drill.

 

She will participate in a first of its kind emergency drill tomorrow in The Bahamas. It will include a Carnival and an NCL ship. This is a full blown drill with injured Passengers and will include folks launching in lifeboats. We were told that she will have 200 US Marine Reserve troops, 200 CG personnel and 200 RCI staff on board tonight who will participate in the drill. There are also about 200 Pullmantur on board for the retrofit and drydock activities. That will answer some questions being asked. On the 3rd she has the formal turn over to Pullmantur.

Edited April 2, 2013 by Scotty G

[awboater]

I have been on both the Monarch and Majesty. Just something elegant about those older ships.

 

The Monarch will be missed.

[MrFunInTheSun]

Another great Grady review and pictures of the beautiful Monarch! Thanks for the review and pictures of her last voyage with Royal.

[DarthGrady]

We had breakfast in the dining room on Sunday, the service and food were good. We didn't go to Coco Cay, opting to enjoy the empty ship instead. I got a few more pictures of the upper decks while the crowds were absent:

 

 

 

 

 

Not much longer...

 

As it turned out, the pool attendant standing in the left rear was a camera buff. We stood around shooting the breeze about taking pictures for a few minutes after I shot this.

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

I love the last pic of the guys :)

[DarthGrady]

awesome photos as usual. Now I wish I'd just stalked you the entire cruise, asking you what your camera settings were :D

 

I'm still just an amateur when it comes to photography. :o I just tend to play around with the different settings until I get something presentable. :D

 

I will say that using the "P" programmed auto mode has helped a lot with the learning process. The camera still sets the shutter and aperature, while you get to fiddle with the white balance, flash, ISO and other tweaks. When I'm not utilizing one of the pre-set scene or effect modes, I've usually got it in P.

[Eng23]

Those were some excellent photos of the sailaway from Nassau at night!

[DarthGrady]

My wife and I spent the day enjoying the ship. I briefly went into one of the hot tubs, but got out when I discovered that it was only a luke-warm tub. We had one last lunch in the Windjammer and returned to the cabin.

 

We were excited to find that we had been given two of the Monarch yearbooks. It has many pictures of the crew and ship from the last few years.

 

 

 

They also dropped off two tote bags

 

Captain Rune also sent out a letter to the guests. I hope it's clear enough to read

[DarthGrady]

Those were some excellent photos of the sailaway from Nassau at night!

 

Thank you! :)

[Coralc]

Since there isn't a "Memories of Monarch" thread, I thought I would just attach a couple of photos of Monarch, when she was out here on the west coast and regularly visited Catalina Island. That was a fun cruise!

 

I like the B&W images from the webcam. Was that something the webcam operators decided to do?

[DarthGrady]

Yours truly with Mackey

 

My wife and I went to the Diamond event for a last evening in the Viking Crown Lounge. I will really miss the VCL on the Sovereign Class ships. I love the 360 degree views they offer. We said goodbye to Desmond, who said that he will be finishing his contract on the Majesty for the next two months.

 

After leaving the VCL, we headed down to the Centrum where the farewell party was being set up

 

 

My wife missed most of the farewell party, she was fighting cruisingpower.com for an upgrade on our upcoming Jewel repositioning cruise. The travel agents around here might understand her frustration. Thanks again for spotting the price drop L.T.!

 

The cake is brought out, to much applause. Not exactly what I expected, but it wouldn't exist for long anyway.

[DarthGrady]

Since there isn't a "Memories of Monarch" thread, I thought I would just attach a couple of photos of Monarch, when she was out here on the west coast and regularly visited Catalina Island. That was a fun cruise!

 

I like the B&W images from the webcam. Was that something the webcam operators decided to do?

 

I noticed that too, and was also wondering why.

[kruzerci]

Thanks for the pictures and review man. We only sailed on her once but would have liked to be on the last sailing.

[DarthGrady]

The aft end of the cake

 

And treats for easter. They went quick.

 

Marc "Bing Bong" Walker takes the stage

 

The Liberty Hounds play for a packed atrium

 

 

[DarthGrady]

Thanks for the pictures and review man. We only sailed on her once but would have liked to be on the last sailing.

 

No problem, they're always fun to do!

[DarthGrady]

Captain Rune and some of his officers take the stage

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

Captain Rune gives a nice speech to the crowd..........

 

 

 

......and cuts the cake

 

 

[DarthGrady]

And the ship is slowly scrapped by hungry cruise guests. Before anyone asks, yes I did try a piece. No, it was not good. Very dry and sickeningly sweet.

 

 

We then had one last dinner in the dining room. All of the dining staff came out to be recognized.