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Live Blog from the Enchantment

kwitt703

By kwitt703,
in Royal Caribbean International

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kwitt703

kwitt703

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Hi! This is not only my first review here on cruise critic, but it's my first live review. A little intro. This is my 6 cruise, but first with Royal Caribbean. We usually cruise with the same people, and they've chosen Carnival. I see absolutely nothing wrong with Carnival, except after the last two, I felt as if I was wanting something different. So we decided to try RCI. We live in Nashville, TN and prefer to drive to the port so Miami or Fort Lauderdale is a little to long for that. So we chose Enchantment for a nice little 4 day before school starts back, this is the shortest cruise we have ever done. I'm planning on booking another onboard and I already have a Christmas sailing booked on the Allure for 2016. Ok background over!

Day 1 -Saturday August 1

We left Nashville at 6am and got on the road headed for Orlando. We decided to go south on I-65 through Alabama instead of going through Atlanta! We've done that many times (on the way to cruises and not) and we ALWAYS get stuck. Let's just say, us Nashvillians don't like Atlanta! We knew this route could be longer but we ended up making it in 12 and a half hours (including stops!). I actually think this is a record for me! We arrived at the Doubletree at sea-world and stayed for two nights.

Day 2. - Sunday August 2nd - Disney's Hollywood Studios

We bought a 1 day 1 park pass to Disney's Hollywood Studios and spent the day there. We couldn't have had a better day! What I mean by that is that this was our only day there so we didn't want to spend it in lines. Well needless to say it poured down rain most of the day which made lines almost nonexistent. We didn't care about getting wet and it's a good thing, because we were soaked! We ended up riding Rock'n Roller Coaster a mere 13 times! We enjoyed the day there but we're tired once we got back to the hotel. Disney is not the relaxing vacation we were about to embark upon.

Day 3 - Embarkation Day August 3rd

We headed out of Orlando around 9 with an hour drive to Port Canaveral. We were on the ship at 11! We drove, filled the gas tank up, parked, and went through "the process" all In under 2 hours! Very impressive Royal! I boarded and immediately noticed the more upscale feel of Royal over Carnival. Needless to say, the Breeze is still my favorite ship, but Royal is my new favorite Cruise Line! (After less than a day!). I immediately noticed the difference in the crew members, not that either is more accommodating than the other, but that way more are American, Canadian, Western European, or Australian. Where on Carnival, almost everyone is from the Philippines . We went to the windjammer immediately and got some soup and salad. About on par with carnivals buffet. We then heard the announcement that our rooms were ready! Much better than carnivals system of "Let's not announce anything and just let people figure out that their rooms have been open for the last hour". Picky, I know, but it's things I'm noticing! We checked out our interior room, first since our first cruise on carnival. It's nice, but I miss my balcony! We unpack and are hungry. I suggest park cafe so we don't have to deal with the late arrivers! I had a quesadilla and it was ok. Cold in some spots, but hey, it was food! We just relaxed in the solarium for a bit along with exploring the ship and its time for the Muster drill. Wow! Royal Caribbean really blows away Carnival on this one! Well at least what I could tell. Carnival you show up at your muster station, they go through the motions, it's over. Never understood how they made sure everyone showed up. Royal Caribbean however made you check in by stateroom and then read off each stateroom who hadn't checked in to make sure they were there while we all stood in single file lines. Much better system in my book, and it took all of 15-20 minute. We then sat on deck 5 aft and watch sail away. This never ceases to amaze me! And all of the sudden we see it is 5:30. We have MTD but we made reservations for 6! Off to get dressed. We made it right on time. Dinner for me tonight was escargot, a Caesar salad, and Salmon. Very good on all three. Oh and desert, was the chocolate explosion or something like that. Very good as well! We went to the welcome aboard show. Very nice cruise Director and hilarious comedian. Don't remember either of their names, I'll update later with that information. I had an after dinner, dinner in the windjammer. Just had some kind of Japanese soup. Very good! Early night tonight (10pm) as we have a full day tomorrow in Cococay. Actually we have nothing planned, but I got a GoPro and I'm very eager to try it out! I'll get some pictures up, but for tonight, this is it! At the end of the week, if anyone wants the cruise compasses uploaded, I'll scan them. Just let me know!

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2wheelin

2wheelin

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A little off topic but I just finished purchasing Grand Ole Opry tickets (Rascall Flatts) for our trip in Sep. and was working on hotel options before popping on this site. Hoping to also get to the Bluebird if we don't have to stand in line too long.

Will also be on the Enchantment in Nov so interested in the Compass and your experiences.

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kwitt703

kwitt703

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A little off topic but I just finished purchasing Grand Ole Opry tickets (Rascall Flatts) for our trip in Sep. and was working on hotel options before popping on this site. Hoping to also get to the Bluebird if we don't have to stand in line too long.

Will also be on the Enchantment in Nov so interested in the Compass and your experiences.

 

Nice! Ill get the compasses up this weekend or early next week. Have you been to Nashville before?

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2wheelin

2wheelin

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Nice! Ill get the compasses up this weekend or early next week. Have you been to Nashville before?

 

Thanks. Have not been to Nash before. Four girls from the bowling team coming and one of them grew up in Knoxville.

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hollon

hollon

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I'm from Maryville/Knoxville, glad to have a neighbor here and I understand about the Atlanta traffic going to cruises, you never know to go thru atlanta or around, I'm glad you're doing a review, I've done the bigger RCCL ships and am excited to see what you think of this ship. Welcome!

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kwitt703

kwitt703

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Tuesday August 3 - Cococay

This is my first time at Cococay and I really enjoyed it. Only got burnt slightly! So I say it was a success. We got off of the ship around 10 and stayed until 2. We ate the food provided by royal Caribbean for lunch and were disappointed. Lack of flavor on everything. Other than that, Cococay was a wonderful beach stop! We came back to the ship around 2 and I immediately got something else to eat! That should hold me over until our 6 o'clock dinner time. I don't know if I've mentioned yet, but we have MTD for the first time. We are very pleased with it for this short cruise. With a longer cruise or more people, I'd still choose a set dining time. We have made reservations for dinner each night for 6 o'clock and have been seated immediately! Dinner tonight was formal night and to my surprise, most of the people dressed up. Not because I Carnivals passengers didn't, just on a 4 day cruise I'd think it'd be about 50/50 but, much to my liking, it was more like 80/20! Anyways, for dinner tonight I had lobster bisque and shrimp ravioli for the main course. Very good on both. After dinner we went to the 70's and 80's show and it was very good. Theater was full and the audience seemed to love it. Now it's time to go get some late night pizza! See you tomorrow in Nassau! Oh and I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow!

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kwitt703

kwitt703

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Wednesday August 4 - Nassau

 

So some bad news! My go pro has failed me at just the worst time! So no underwater videos like I had planned or anything like that. Anyways, this is my third time at Nassau, and first time not going to Altantis. Actually, we slept in till 10 and ate lunch in the windjammer. We decided while eating lunch, we'd get off and walk around a little. That lasted all of 30 minutes before we were ready to come back! It was HOT! So today was spent on the ship. Sat by the pool and read and relaxed all day! Around 4 the first of 4 other ships in port started leaving so we watched them pull out, and before we knew it, it was time to get ready for Chops! This being my first time on RCI means it was also my first time to chops and boy was it good. I had scallops for the appetizer, French onion soup (best I've ever had) and some spicy jumbo shrimp for the main course. No! I didn't eat steak! Not a big beef fan, but I did try a bite, it was very tender. For desert, I got mud pie and was pleasantly surprised because it came with fresh strawberries and blueberries my favorite sweets. Again, not a big sweets and sugar fan, but will devour some strawberries! Oh and the mud pie was good too. Could only eat about half! Very rich! Finally, we went to the ventriloquist. He was on the first season of Americas got talent. He was very very good! Had the crowd laughing the entire show! Also went to the love and marriage show immediately after and let's just say, this is a show not to miss! Oh and at some point during the day, we booked a cruise on the Allure for next summer! That means 2 allure cruises to look forward to. After all that, We went to bed and at somepoint without waking me up! Left Nassau around midnight. Tomorrow- Seaday!

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kwitt703

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Thursday August 5 - Sea Day

 

Slept late again today but awoke just in time not to miss breakfast in the WJ. Ate and went out on deck just in time to see the belly flop contest! Good 15 minutes and then off to a more quiet spot at the front of the ship to read! Sat and read for a couple of hours and went to the solarium to swim where we met some Nashvillians in the pool! Had another good relaxing day as it was basically our day 2 at sea! I will say this is also the slowest speed we have gone while on a sea day. Averaged about 8 knots the whole day. Never felt the ship move at all! Was very surprised for this being a "smaller" ship. We had dinner tonight in the MDR and met some people from North Dakota! Apparently is was 50° when they left! No thank you! After dinner we went to the chubby bunny challenge in the centrum. Very funny because they chose the perfect contestants. I think it completely depends on who they choose. Went to the production show after and it was a take it or leave it kind of deal. Although I may have been preoccupied by the GOP debate that was happening. (I run a Twitter acct. for one of the candidates). My phone went off over 500 times during the show. Thank goodness for vibrate! Then back to the room to pack :(

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kwitt703

kwitt703

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Friday August 6 Disembarkation

 

Woke up this morning, took a shower, grabbed our bags as we were self assist, and walked right off. Our inside cabin (4579) was 30 or so steps from the centrum where you disembark. WONDERFUL a location for a room. Far enough from centrum (In terms of noise) but close enough to not have to walk down the endless hallways! Literally walked right off, went through customs, and we're in the car in 15 minutes. Now for the 12 hour drive back to Nashville! Glad I could share our journey with you and hope to get some return readers next summer and christmas for allure. And maybe another short one in between now and then!

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Yuridog

Yuridog

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Hi Kwitt703, we are going on Enchantment in November for a 3 night cruise. We have never done this before, most of our cruises have been much longer.

I was curious about the stop in Nassau. Since the ship doesn't sail until 11:59 pm, did you find that many guests decided to stay ashore for the evening or did they come back for dinner?

We are just wondering how crowded dinner would be that night.

I realize that all cruises are different, as people vary in their activities, but what did you experience?

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kwitt703

kwitt703

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Hi Kwitt703, we are going on Enchantment in November for a 3 night cruise. We have never done this before, most of our cruises have been much longer.

 

I was curious about the stop in Nassau. Since the ship doesn't sail until 11:59 pm, did you find that many guests decided to stay ashore for the evening or did they come back for dinner?

 

We are just wondering how crowded dinner would be that night.

 

I realize that all cruises are different, as people vary in their activities, but what did you experience?

 

 

Not sure about MDR. Since we knew we would be staying on the ship that day, we booked dinner at chops. If you plan on not getting of at Nassau and want to try chops, it's a perfect night to do it. Overall the ship may have felt a little less crowded, but not anything significant.

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