2017 Grandeur Refurbishment

[Masuk]

What?? We sailed out of Baltimore last summer and we waited in line to park for over an hour :confused:. Don't even get me started on the lines inside the terminal, either. Even New York is better.

 

Sorry you feel that way, we love Baltimore port. Always stay at La Quinta night before embarkation, they shuttle us to the port and we go through boarding and right on the ship.

[Thetrail]

What?? We sailed out of Baltimore last summer and we waited in line to park for over an hour :confused:. Don't even get me started on the lines inside the terminal, either. Even New York is better.

Yours was an exception to the rule, as stated previously Baltimore is one of the easiest fastest terminal out there.

[buckeye44667]

Just got back from grandeur. Embark/disembark process was easy. Experience and quality of the cruise weren't as good as the last time we were aboard two years ago though.

 

 

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[bmac1]

Can you be more specific about why the experience and quality was not as good as last time?

[thatsjustmyface]

I agree that this wasn't as good as my last cruise.

 

Onboard activities were lacking. Much of the crew seemed less than enthusiastic and it was awkward at times. It seemed like there was a general feeling of boredom.

 

On the drydock side, the first day in port, they started painting the exterior of the ship, and the paint fumes were terrible in our section (forward). This would have been a minor but annoying problem had it occurred only once, but this happened multiple times. After the first day of painting, the fumes were IN the room/hallway and so I moved to the balcony to relax. 5 minutes later the sounds of drilling and hammering somewhere below me started. It was like you could not get away from it, or you could go sit in a bar and maybe catch an unenthusiastic round of trivia.

 

A lot of things weren't deal breakers on their own, but a lot of little things add up when you've paid for over a week at sea.

[buckeye44667]

Wrong menus, overbooking in excursions resulting to cancellations at last minute, very salty food in dinning (food was a lot better before), double charging gratuities (still trying to get resolved). I think it was a brand new crew bc it seemed like a lot of miscommunication in the dinning staff and some members didn't even know how to charge for a drink at various locations . Smell of sewage in deck 8 too, the crew was working every day to fix it.

 

 

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[buckeye44667]

Totally forgot about the painting!! Very frustrating!

 

 

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[Masuk]

I am leaving this week for cruise on GoS, I would really like to hear any comments about decline in quality of service on board. From past cruises we have found that their are some things we like better about the Pride, but we have always enjoyed our time on GoS. The things I don't like about GoS are few and I will mention them here. No passenger usable washer/dryers. (this one really bugs me) - condiments packets in the Windjammer (why can't they have bottles of catsup and mustard like a quality restaurant). Continual hype and push to buy jewelry at RCCL owned stores. Only one ice cream machine, always broke down or empty. I use the gym every day and it is a nice place to workout. All-in-all though we always have a nice time on-board the ship.

[thatsjustmyface]

Wrong menus, overbooking in excursions resulting to cancellations at last minute, very salty food in dinning (food was a lot better before), double charging gratuities (still trying to get resolved). I think it was a brand new crew bc it seemed like a lot of miscommunication in the dinning staff and some members didn't even know how to charge for a drink at various locations . Smell of sewage in deck 8 too, the crew was working every day to fix it.

 

 

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We also had the cancelled excursions due to overbooking. Huge bummer. I agree about the food, as well. Additionally, I have a dietary restriction (its new to me and very annoying but I accept it) and things that I was told would be labeled or available were either not labeled at all or mislabeled (applies to WJ only, not MDR).

 

As far as the crew, two examples:

- asking for a drink off the clearly printed menu in the schooner bar was always a cause for confusion and awkward reply, so instead of feeling like an idiot for asking, I eventually just stuck with the drink of the day.

- this didn't happen to me, but I overheard in the WJ: free smoothies were being given out in the WJ on the last sea day. A passing waitress who was giving them out mistakenly thought they were alcoholic and really freaked out a couple who had already given them to their kids. I don't think they actually had alcohol, but it definitely caused a problem.

[bmac1]

I have to agree that most of the bartenders I ordered from were less than friendly this time. They seemed bored and almost appeared to be doing you a favor to make a drink. The rest of the staff was great. Also the drinks seemed more watered down this trip especially the bloody Mary's. in the past they used a mix that had a decent amount of spices in it this trip I watched and the were using just some off brand of tomatoe juice and putting a dash of hot sauce a lime and olives which to me tasted like just watered down juice no real taste to it.

[Lady Hudson]

Just got off Grandeur on Thursday. Very nice trip. Food in all venues basically the same as it has been for a while now. My sister was traveling for the first time with a severe food limitation and she was very well taken care of by Pilar (head waiter) and waiters Andrew and Iwayan. There has been only some minor inside refurbishment from what I could see - more done to the outside and her bottom was scraped and painted. Both diamond and concierge lounges very uncrowded. We all had a great time and Grandeur will continue to be our favorite ship.

[Wildcatfish]

This was our first time aboard Grandeur and very much enjoyed it! After sailing Oasis, Quantum, and Freedom classes over the past 7 years, we enjoyed the smaller, yet well maintained ship, with an outstanding crew.

 

As mentioned above, there was a lot of painting & varnishing underway. Overall I thought the ship was well maintained, but painting, as on all ships at sea, is an ongoing necessary issue.

 

I saw a lot of new carpeting in the pubic areas. Our mattresses may have been new, but we slept very well.

 

I thought the crew was very friendly, and outgoing. Dining Room staff, Bar staff, Starbucks staff, and stateroom attendant were wonderful. They all were very pleasant and helpful.

 

It was mentioned that there wasn't a lot of enthusiasm during many shipboard activities. I believe it was more due to the passenger demographics. This cruise definitely had an older demographic. Nothing wrong with that. We met many nice people. ...but I feel this cruise was a tough audience.

 

Our family had two inside rooms on deck 8... 8581 starboard far aft end was very quiet. 8529 was more fore/midship. It was next to a crew area - possibly dealing with filters/pumps for the hot tubs & pools. Noisy when one of the hot tubs didn't work and work was being performed. No sewage smells near either room.

 

I saw there were two ice cream machines, but only one was in operation at a time.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to book another Grandeur cruise!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

What?? We sailed out of Baltimore last summer and we waited in line to park for over an hour :confused:. Don't even get me started on the lines inside the terminal, either. Even New York is better.

 

We sailed on May 13 th and the boarding process was really bad. It took us sitting in line 45 minutes just to drop off our luggage then another 45 minutes to get to the check in booth in the terminal. All together just over two hours to actually start to board. We have sailed seven other times out of Baltimore and normally the entire arrival and boarding process takes 30 minutes or less. Also the muster drill was very disorganized and took 45 minutes which is way longer than all our previous drills. On top of that the ship even though it just came from dry dock has what the captain said was propulsion problems and we did not depart until 7:30pm instead of the scheduled 4:00pm.

 

 

We have sailed out of Baltimore many times. It is a very easy terminal to negotiate [no stairs/elevator] and located well off the interstate.

 

However, if you arrive at noon or very near then it is crowded. Early or later is great. It is one of our favorite embarkation ports.

 

. . . as for the first cruise after the dry dock--that is often problematic.

[Lady Hudson]

I agree that the May 18 trip seemed to be different -- but I couldn't pinpoint why. I already stated that the lounges were not crowded but a lot of the time the ship seemed rather empty. Very few lines for lunch in mdr, Schooner often near empty, etc. The only day we saw many people was the full rain day. Easy on and off the ship but then we have priority due to C and A status. Katherine

[CruiseMelissa]

We have sailed out of Baltimore many times. It is a very easy terminal to negotiate [no stairs/elevator] and located well off the interstate.

 

However, if you arrive at noon or very near then it is crowded. Early or later is great. It is one of our favorite embarkation ports.

 

. . . as for the first cruise after the dry dock--that is often problematic.

 

How early would be too early to arrive in Baltimore? Cruising Grandeur in August and we live about 20 minutes away, so we'd love to get on that ship as early as we can. :)

[coneyraven]

Gates letting you into lot tend to open at about 10:00. We got there at about 9:45, had to wait in line in our vehicle.

[sellwingri]

I'm currently on Grandeur and can honestly say the every staff member I've interacted with has been absolutely fabulous; friendly, helpful, and all around wonderful. The food has been on par with other RCI cruises; not excellent but good.

 

I spend a lot of time in the casino and the dealers are great as is the casino host and manager.

 

Ship looks excellent. Everything is clean and sparkling. Even our bannister on our balcony is shiny.

[Seatravelers]

I'm currently on Grandeur and can honestly say the every staff member I've interacted with has been absolutely fabulous; friendly, helpful, and all around wonderful. The food has been on par with other RCI cruises; not excellent but good.

 

I spend a lot of time in the casino and the dealers are great as is the casino host and manager.

 

Ship looks excellent. Everything is clean and sparkling. Even our bannister on our balcony is shiny.

 

Thank you for the update. Cheers:)

[CruiseMelissa]

Gates letting you into lot tend to open at about 10:00. We got there at about 9:45, had to wait in line in our vehicle.

 

Thanks! How early were you on the ship?

[coneyraven]

Thanks! How early were you on the ship?

 

 

I'd say we were on the ship by 10:30 - 10:45

[rafinmd]

One more thing I'll mention unless it's changed recently. Rooms don't open until 1 but you can check any carryons you want at the Grand Pacific lounge rather than carry them around with you.

 

Roy

[coneyraven]

One more thing I'll mention unless it's changed recently. Rooms don't open until 1 but you can check any carryons you want at the Grand Pacific lounge rather than carry them around with you.

 

 

 

Roy

 

 

Actually, it's the South Pacific lounge - Deck 6 Aft

[Redbeard the Pirate]

Thank you for the update. Cheers:)

is paul still the casino host? great guy if it was him. let me know. sailing 6/10. thanks

[Thetrail]

Actually, it's the South Pacific lounge - Deck 6 Aft

Yes it is!....;)

[sellwingri]

is paul still the casino host? great guy if it was him. let me know. sailing 6/10. thanks

 

No, Paul is not the Casino Host. Kaia is the host and she's outstanding! She had more energy and exuded more excitement than any Casino Host I've sailed with recently.