Spring Break in Texas: Review of Navigator of the Seas March 9, 2014

[Poseidon Patty]

Seaofwonder, I appreciate all of your comments. Thank you for sharing your cruise with us.

[Laney219]

I am not 100% sure how your TA handles the gratuities, but I believe many just give an OBC for the amount equal to the gratuities. Your SeaPass account would show a charge for the gratuities and then the OBC from the TA would be equal to that charge.

 

I say this since you may still be able to remove or alter your tip regarding the steward. Whatever is left over would just go to the bar bill or anything else charged to the SeaPass. Should be able to see this on a print out (or on the TV?!)

 

You are not asking for too much when it comes to your steward. The comment about having to go to lunch and be back in the afternoon would have DEFINITELY got me to go seek out the hotel director that day. I am on vacation. I want to nap/slowly get ready for the evening, etc. Really unacceptable. BUT like you, you can't allow it to ruin your trip!!!

 

Safe travels home! Thanks for all the info!

[Kevinscruises]

My cousin is treating her 17 year old daughter to a HS graduation cruise. Her friend is joining them, and now my son and daughter have decided they want to go, too. We are 17, 32, 35, 41, 44 and 64 - a very young 64 ;)

 

 

 

Awesome I am 33!! Not excited over some of the reviews here but like she says we will make the most of it!!! I always have fun even if the food is not as good or the service is not as good, as long as the weather is good and boat is not rocking im good lol I am still not sure if we will drive down or fly, we live in northwest Indiana.

[internetwhiz]

Oh fabulous. I booked my ncc last night and got a confirmation at 9 PM. Guess what? It is under the new terms. That is wrong! And I bet they are swamped today. Crap.

 

 

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There is no reason if that form was turned in and you got confirmation yesterday that it fell under the new terms. Wow!

 

Thanks for your review. Look forward to pictures. Not many people have posted pics of the upgraded areas. We sail next Sunday 3/23. I'm glad we aren't on Deck 10.

 

 

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[Poseidon Patty]

Awesome I am 33!! Not excited over some of the reviews here but like she says we will make the most of it!!! I always have fun even if the food is not as good or the service is not as good, as long as the weather is good and boat is not rocking im good lol I am still not sure if we will drive down or fly, we live in northwest Indiana.

 

My daughter is 32. She lives in Austin. My son is 35 and lives in Houston. The rest of our bunch live in Texarkana. They are all single.

[nascar junkie]

Sounds like a fixup to me.;);)

[seaofwonder]

We did MTD, so we don't see the grats on the tv. I could always find out though....but I also understand this is his livelihood.

 

We also received our official confirmation with the ncc and it reflects the new OBC structure, which is disappointing.

 

Went up to the Flowrider....which was broken for quite a while. Finally got up and running after about 45 minutes. Stepson went boogie boarding. Also played a round of mini golf :)

 

Got our confirmation of our credit towards next cruise. There is some wording that it will go to our TA, which I hope is not the case as we are moving to a new TA and want to apply the credit to our Russia cruise. Waiting for them to call back.

 

They also gave us luggage tags for diamond as opposed to suite....but we are going to try and walk off, so I need to get those tags.

 

 

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[Poseidon Patty]

Sounds like a fixup to me.;);)

 

Hey, I'm always looking. I want to be a grandmother before I'm in a nursing home ;)

[mistshar]

Thanks!! One last day and then the long drive back home :(

 

 

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That is one of the very few things I hate about cruising, the long drive home when it is over. I envy people who live very close to a port.

 

I hope we don't have a room attendant like you have. We enjoy going back to the room in the afternoon and taking a nap and we also don't like them coming later in the evening when we are ready to settle down for the night. We had an attendant similar to this on NCL and that is one reason we did not like them. They don't go by the passenger's schedule. They just go in order of the rooms no matter what. There is no reason for them to have the "Make Up Room Now" signs.

[seaofwonder]

That is one of the very few things I hate about cruising, the long drive home when it is over. I envy people who live very close to a port.

 

I hope we don't have a room attendant like you have. We enjoy going back to the room in the afternoon and taking a nap and we also don't like them coming later in the evening when we are ready to settle down for the night. We had an attendant similar to this on NCL and that is one reason we did not like them. They don't go by the passenger's schedule. They just go in order of the rooms no matter what. There is no reason for them to have the "Make Up Room Now" signs.

 

 

Yea, that seems to be this guy's way of doing things. In the past, I think they would see someone leaving and run in quickly. He isn't doing that. Maybe they are training them differently? I don't know.

 

I think we are trying ncl again this winter (European cruise at Christmas and Royal isn't in that region at that time), so I am curious to see how they compare now that we have a few years of cruising under our belt. When we cruised them the first time we had Jo clue how cruising worked and were disappointed....so we'll see.

 

 

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[Cindy]

We did MTD, so we don't see the grats on the tv. I could always find out though....but I also understand this is his livelihood.

 

We also received our official confirmation with the ncc and it reflects the new OBC structure, which is disappointing.

 

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We did MTD for the first time on the Mariner last year, and had the pre-paid gratuities. Our waiter (we were at the same table each night that we ate in the MDR) was one of the best we've ever had, but I did think our steward was a little strange. He was one of the crew who had been brought on specifically to prepare for the Asian market, and we did have to get the concierge involved in a couple little issues during the week. The thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was that he brought us an "extra tip" envelope at the end of the week that already had his name written on it! :eek:

 

As for the NCC, that's just wrong. I think you should try to get a refund, because that's not what you paid for.:(

 

 

 

I think we are trying ncl again this winter (European cruise at Christmas and Royal isn't in that region at that time), so I am curious to see how they compare now that we have a few years of cruising under our belt. When we cruised them the first time we had Jo clue how cruising worked and were disappointed....so we'll see.

 

 

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I'm looking for something local to do right after Thanksgiving, or the first couple weeks of December. I was planning to book the Navigator while we are on board next month, but now with the way they've jacked up prices with the 3rd/4th free promo, I'm not so sure. The promo will be over, so if prices for a GS have come back down I will probably book, but if not I'll take a look at Princess out of Bayport, or maybe even try a suite on NCL if I can find something I like.

[aggie1]

seaofwonder - I have really enjoyed your review. We were on the NOS in Nov. for 3 weeks. I understand about your room steward. We were also on Deck 10, starbourd, rm 1310. It was a balcony cabin, the first one on the hump. We also had a steward like yours. Can't remember his name but was very young. We would go to breakfast about 9:00 with correct key in door and it would stay there most of the day until about 2 or 3. Room never cleaned until about 4 or 5. Went to dinner about 7:30, proper key in door, room not turned down. It was hit and miss with everything. I called GS several times just to get toilet paper, fresh towels, shampoo and compasses. If I saw a cart in hallway, I would just grab what I needed. GS assured me they talked to him, but nothing changed. I thought since our balcony was wedged between suites, we would surely have better service. Everything else about the cruise was wonderful. Another thing was our roll call was huge. We had made plans to have a cabin crawl, bar hop, slot pull, put-put tournament and RCL put a stop to all of that. All in all, we love TA's and we loved this one. Anxious to sail the NOS and see all the upgrades.

[Cindy]

Another thing was our roll call was huge. We had made plans to have a cabin crawl, bar hop, slot pull, put-put tournament and RCL put a stop to all of that.

 

How did they do that?:confused: You've got me concerned, because I am planning the cabin crawl for our cruise in three weeks, and there is also a slot pull being planned.

[internetwhiz]

seaofwonder - I have really enjoyed your review. We were on the NOS in Nov. for 3 weeks. I understand about your room steward. We were also on Deck 10, starbourd, rm 1310. It was a balcony cabin, the first one on the hump. We also had a steward like yours. Can't remember his name but was very young. We would go to breakfast about 9:00 with correct key in door and it would stay there most of the day until about 2 or 3. Room never cleaned until about 4 or 5. Went to dinner about 7:30, proper key in door, room not turned down. It was hit and miss with everything. I called GS several times just to get toilet paper, fresh towels, shampoo and compasses. If I saw a cart in hallway, I would just grab what I needed. GS assured me they talked to him, but nothing changed. I thought since our balcony was wedged between suites, we would surely have better service. Everything else about the cruise was wonderful. Another thing was our roll call was huge. We had made plans to have a cabin crawl, bar hop, slot pull, put-put tournament and RCL put a stop to all of that. All in all, we love TA's and we loved this one. Anxious to sail the NOS and see all the upgrades.

 

 

We are sailing on Navigator on 3/23 and. 5/25. We coordinate the slot pull for CC groups. I contacted corporate and they put me in touch with the NV casino host, and we WILL BE having slot pulls on those. Someone on our May sailing was on your sailing and told us about that.

 

 

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[ARCruisinNana]

How did they do that?:confused: You've got me concerned, because I am planning the cabin crawl for our cruise in three weeks, and there is also a slot pull being planned.

I was also on the Navigator TA that had the events cancelled. There was a problem with RCCL on closing down the Navigator Dunes for the private CC tournament, along with playing for money. I think the organizers were told they couldn't hold the tournament. The CC organizers for the other activities cancelled in support. There has also been a problem on other ships where people were collecting money for private tours during the M&M. Since this is cutting into their profit at a meeting given by them, there was a conflict. Just sayin...be careful about collecting money for your private tours.

[Kitty Mama]

Seaofwonder I have really enjoyed your posts. I'm a newbie on this ship so I'll likely be "in wonder" about it and all of its perks. We usually travel HAL because it sails out of San Diego (home). I leave here on the 19th to join my roommate in Houston, then sail on the 23rd. Like others, I'll be watching for final reports and photos.

 

Lynn

[Laney219]

We did MTD, so we don't see the grats on the tv. I could always find out though....but I also understand this is his livelihood.

 

 

 

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I TOTALLY understand. But sometimes people don't GET it until you affect their pockets.

[Loves_Dogs]

seaofwonder - THANK YOU so much for the live thread! I have thoroughly enjoyed and learned from it!!!

[seaofwonder]

Thanks everyone for reading along...and for all of your help!

 

I don't mind the ncc changes because I like the reduced deposit; however, it is the date thing that irks me.

 

 

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[marsda]

WE are on this ship in Sept for the DW's 40th birthday. We also don't drink ( not even pop) so we are planning on taking water on board.

Hope the Fog lifts so you can get out on time!

 

I'm just now reading through this thread, so forgive me if this has been mentioned. Instead of taking our own water on board, we take the Brita filter sport bottles and just fill them from the tap in the room.it's safe water and tastes normal (for bottled water). We've used it on our last 2 transatlantic cruises. I'm diabetic, but enjoy lemonade also, so I take along the Crystal Light liquid to drop in my ice water (cabin steward always kept the ice bucket filled). We're Diamond, so we have specialty coffees free in the Lounge. I don't miss a beverage package at all.

[susanseaside]

Have so enjoyed reading these posts .. going on the ship June 1st .. so all the comments help !! :):)

[Border Granny]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but looks like fog rolling into Galveston again on the Galveston web cams. The temperature and dew points forecasted for tonight and tomorrow morning are perfect for fog. My daughter and son in law are on the ship with you celebrating their 15th anniversary, so I have been enjoying reading your thread. I was on the Triumph last month and we didn't dock until 2pm, but the captain informed us the afternoon before we were to dock that we would probably have fog.

 

 

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[Laney219]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but looks like fog rolling into Galveston again on the Galveston web cams. The temperature and dew points forecasted for tonight and tomorrow morning are perfect for fog. My daughter and son in law are on the ship with you celebrating their 15th anniversary, so I have been enjoying reading your thread. I was on the Triumph last month and we didn't dock until 2pm, but the captain informed us the afternoon before we were to dock that we would probably have fog.

 

 

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I think it would be bad news more for those embarking tomorrow... a few extra hours on the ship would be good news to me!

[Spurschick]

Thank you for all your posts

 

Have a safe trip back. If you would be so kind to let us know how disembarkation is would appreciate it.

[Tiggercat]

Thanks for a great review! I was wondering what you meant when you said that you have a sticker and do not pay the 5% to get cash advance from the casino. I loved it when that was free and was so disappointed when it went to 3%, but now 5%??? I would love a way around that!