Splendor Review: 10/30/16

[funinthesun1964]

Good morning, I have decided to do a review on our cruise on the Splendor. The cruise originated October 30 in Miami. This was a six day cruise. Ports included Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; and Cozume.

 

We fly to Miami the day before (actually Fort Lauderdale), and we stayed at a hotel in South Beach, The Essex House.

 

We had an ocean view room on Deck 2, aft. It was in the back corner, cabin 2474. We chose anytime dining, as we were meeting friends (previous cruising buds) and thought we could dine together.

 

We bought the Cheers package; I bought it online ahead of time. It was worth it, I loved the coffee shop drinks in the mornings!

 

My husband and I both agreed that it was a fun cruise (how could it not be??), but not one that we would put in the top 3 or 5 of our "bests". It was great to see cruising friends again though!

 

I did take some photos, not a huge amount, but will share.

 

Chime in, those of you who were on this cruise or a recent Splendor cruise to share your thoughts, whether same or different.

[funinthesun1964]

We had decided to book a flight out of Pittsburgh. We live in Northeast Ohio, but we found a good deal and it was a direct flight on the way there. Even with our car parking and gas figured in, we saved a good bit of money. We use Charlie Brown's parking near the Pittsburgh airport, and they are great for a very reasonable price!

 

Our flight departed 11:50 and arrived 2:20 in FLL. So we took our time driving there (around 1hr 45 min normally), and we were in the airport in plenty of time. We went to Subway for a breakfast flatbread sandwich. When we finished that, we walked across the hall to a TGI Friday's and had a couple of drinks and an appetizer.

 

The flight was uneventful, and right on time.

 

After we collected our luggage in FLL, we decided to use UBER to get to our hotel in South Beach (Essex House). I used the app on my phone and secured a shared ride. It came back with a message that the driver was deaf or hard of hearing:eek: I wondered how we were going to tell them where to go! Then I received a call from the driver, he asked how many people (which I had already entered that when I requested a ride), he asked if we had luggage, of course we did! Then he said something about no he couldn't and then hung up on me. Immediately I received notification that driver had cancelled this trip. Ugh............Round 2. Requested a ride, this time not shared, and driver called and confirmed. He showed up within 5 minutes and we were on our way!

 

While we were riding, traffic was heavy, the rain was pouring, and so hard at one time that we could barely see the road! But in about 40 minutes we were at our destination. The total for the Uber trip was $40 and change. We tipped him and took our bags in to check in. By this time, it was getting close to 4:00.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XYmNtc0xDejRySXM/view?usp=sharing

[Annie102100]

I can't wait to hear about the ship. Sailing in June 2017 to the Southern Caribbean [emoji267]

 

 

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[GoGoJules]

Since the splendor will be coming back to the west coast I'm especially interested to read about your thoughts on the ship. Did you check out the spa at all?

 

 

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[funinthesun1964]

I can't wait to hear about the ship. Sailing in June 2017 to the Southern Caribbean [emoji267]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

 

Have fun! It will be here before you know it!

[funinthesun1964]

Since the splendor will be coming back to the west coast I'm especially interested to read about your thoughts on the ship. Did you check out the spa at all?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I did get a massage one day, and my friends signed up for the spa pass. They loved it! They used the Tholassotherapy pool - or however you spell it...and they also used the warm loungers in one of the rooms. They said it was very relaxing. I believe they said it costs $119 for one person or $189 for a couple.

[funinthesun1964]

The check in at the hotel was very efficient. Marco was from Serbia or Croatia, I know this because we had a conversation the next day, and was very efficient and friendly.

 

We went to check out our room on the third floor. This is an older hotel in South Beach, considered an Art-Deco hotel. I would say built in the 30's, possibly early 40's. The elevator was very small, only for three people at a time - a sign on the inside noted this!

 

Back to our room. Upon entering, it is musty-smelling. We figured not a big deal since we were going to only be there for one night. We adjusted the temperature on the wall-mounted unit below the window, I checked out the bathroom to make sure it was clean (it was!), and we left to go to Happy Hour.

 

Happy Hour was held in the "lounge" - it's actually considered a restaurant - this small bar area serves as the continental breakfast that is served the next morning also. The Happy Hour consisted of One glass of chardonnay or cabernet, additional glasses are $11 :eek: Also, you may have two small pieces of sushi. I took them up on the chardonnay and the sushi and also ordered another glass of the wine.

 

Our friends came her to meet us, and we had a good time catching up and all. It was raining outside, so this was fine.

 

Still trying to figure out how to share the photos. I uploaded to Google Cloud so far!

[SMSACE6]

Thanks for your review, and I am looking forward to reading more:) I also enjoyed my 6 day on Splendor (same itin), and did like lots about the ship, and a few things not so much. I also cannot put this cruise in my top 3, but maybe 5th lol...I have not been on as many as you :D I enjoyed it, but the several small issues I had, added up together, made for a less than excellent vaca. I also purchased cheers or the first time, and would not have done so, except now that the coffees are included and dont count for the 15, I enjoyed that to the max, though I think the most drinks I had per day was maybe once 10 drinks, mostly wine. I enjoyed being able to prepay cheers, and not have to consider what is going to be on my sail and sign at the end of cruise. As always though, the crew and staff were wonderful. Looking forward to hearing more about your cruise, and what you did in ports:)

[funinthesun1964]

Thanks for your review, and I am looking forward to reading more:) I also enjoyed my 6 day on Splendor (same itin), and did like lots about the ship, and a few things not so much. I also cannot put this cruise in my top 3, but maybe 5th lol...I have not been on as many as you :D I enjoyed it, but the several small issues I had, added up together, made for a less than excellent vaca. I also purchased cheers or the first time, and would not have done so, except now that the coffees are included and dont count for the 15, I enjoyed that to the max, though I think the most drinks I had per day was maybe once 10 drinks, mostly wine. I enjoyed being able to prepay cheers, and not have to consider what is going to be on my sail and sign at the end of cruise. As always though, the crew and staff were wonderful. Looking forward to hearing more about your cruise, and what you did in ports:)

 

 

Thanks for commenting! I will finish saying what I have to say about this cruise, even if I can't figure out how to post the photos...

[funinthesun1964]

Later in the evening we went to the hotel directly behind the Essex House. It is a sister hotel called The Clevelander. It had a sports bar, and outside it had a DJ and a couple of bars, places to hang out, and a very small pool. There was also a very small pool at the Essex House. I did not take pics here, the weather was so gloomy and only spent a small amount of time.

 

We did spend a little time in the Sports Bar. We are from Northeast Ohio and are INDIANS fans, so we wanted to see a little of the game. We had some pizza and fries at the sports bar and then went outdoors with the party crowd until we got rained on again, then we had to head indoors.

 

If you are planning on staying here, I want to warn you that all restaurants are very expensive. However, my friends found a Burger King nearby and made a late night run. I had went to bed around 11 or so, so I didn't go with them. Later I found out that the Burger King sold alcoholic beverages. I found that funny.

 

The beach was just a couple of blocks away but I didn't make it there. I would have walked if the weather had cooperated.

 

The hotel was OK, IMO not a family-type place, more of a party type atmosphere. BTW there was a big fight around 4AM in the room across the hall. It woke hubby up and he looked out the peephole and said they were arguing over a missing phone, and one of the guys said that he was going to take a razor blade and cut the other guy's jugular :eek: Security was called. Funny that I slept through the whole thing. I must have been really exhausted.

 

The continental breakfast was okay, coffee, juices, toasts/bagels, that kind of stuff.

 

One of the people we were traveling with lined up a taxi to take the six of us to the port at 10:30. We had the 10:30 check in time and we are all platinum.

 

We got a late start and left the hotel around 10 till or 11:00.

 

I am estimating the time of the drive to the port was 15 minutes.

 

For now, the only way I can post photos is this way: you will have to click on them. Please let me know if you can see them. I am sorry that I cannot figure out how to post them so they show up on the post.

 

 

Photos of hotel:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XYmNtc0xDejRySXM/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XUTRMMkZsUVB0U1k/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XUC1jUFJGME1Pc2c/view?

usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XdHdOZkwwX3hXbWs/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XQk8xOVJ4d1N0OFE/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Wow, I was tired from the vacation and now trying to get these photos to upload! Geez Louise! I have a new laptop and it is just a Chromebook, so I lost my software that I had on my previous laptop and the only way I could upload from my camera was to go into google drive.

 

Anyway, here are some more photos from the hotel.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XeFRyb3ZGWGJnNFE/view?usp=sharing

 

The continental breakfast area - through the lobby

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XcHBCNUdaY19TejQ/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XQzNCOEQ4bDY1OWc/view?usp=sharing

 

My breakfast:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XX2g0Y09Oa2ExdFE/view?usp=sharing

 

A sitting area on the outside of the bar/restaurant area:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XZDVmc3c4U0lKdFE/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Some exterior photos of the hotel and surrounding areas;

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XUjFTdHB6ZlpjSTQ/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XczNmOU5nekRybmc/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XSkY5eFd0aWlIRlk/view?usp=sharing

 

 

Like my new Asics? LOL

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XYnY4MXNUVDdSVEE/view?usp=sharing

Edited November 7, 2016 by funinthesun1964

[easyboy]

Nice reading your review. Your links to your photos just works fine.

Will be following along.

[funinthesun1964]

Nice reading your review. Your links to your photos just works fine.

Will be following along.

 

Thanks for letting me know!!

 

Glad you are enjoying.

[Clarea]

Enjoying the review and photos.

[NCTribeFan]

Hi there!

 

I normally write a long, day-by-day review with lots and lots of photos, but I just didn't have the energy. So my review was really just a summary with a little extra detail about the ports. Feel free to comment there and agree or disagree with my thoughts and impressions. I also thought that it was an OK cruise but wasn't great.

 

I slept about 10-1/2 hours on Saturday night and am still really sluggish today. Wonder if that's just because I'm at work! ;)

 

Looked for you between flights in Tampa but I was starving and had to go grab some lunch. Was on the QLS shuttle with your cruise buddies (I was supposed to go at 9 but was off the ship at 8 and he had room for one more). Only $15/pp each way.

 

For photos, I use Flickr. Upload them there, edit if I need to, then just copy and paste the url here. It is time consuming!

Edited November 7, 2016 by NCTribeFan

[funinthesun1964]

Ugh!!! Just typed a bunch, and accidentally hit a button on the laptop - GONE! I hate that!!

 

I do have some pictures of the hotel room itself, but won't post them unless anyone is interested in staying in that hotel, just request them. By the way, the Essex House Hotel was bought through last minute travel in advance for around 135.00.

 

Anyway, where did I leave off....oh yeah, on the way to the port on the morning of the cruise.

 

So, we got a little later start than we wanted to...I would say we left the hotel around 10 till 11 or maybe it was 11.....I would estimate the drive to the port was 15 minutes or so.

 

We hand off our luggage to the porters...find the "priority" entrance....and....wait in line. We finally get inside the building, wait a little more and get to an agent. He checks our boarding passes and our passports. Tell us where to go for the "priority" boarding.

 

We get this area and it is full of people. Now there were many diamonds and platinums on this cruise. Also, this was a premier cruise (casino), so many of those folks too. And they get priority boarding.

 

Line. Wait. Wrap around line. Go up escalator. Line. I heard the overhead speaker call for zone 4. We're still waiting in line. Finally, we reach the end. I see someone taking photos of people (evidently these were people without passports, because I didn't get my pic taken, they used my passport photo for the sign and sail card). This seemed to slow things a bit here. We finally get on the ship. Whew. I would say by 12:15 we were on.

 

When I boarded the ship, I go straight to my cabin. Remember, our sign and sail cards were to be in our "mailbox". They were there. The envelope was not tampered with. Our cabin was 2474, aft. Deck 2, in the back corner.

 

We checked out the cabin. This is an unusual shaped cabin, so I will post the photos.

 

Notice only 2 closets in this cabin, rather than 3:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XNHM2OF80WnFXNFk/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XWjlGQjNTWV9UOHc/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XdTNvb21MeVo0X0k/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XR0k5aVRWLTN1aGs/view?usp=sharing

 

 

A crooked picture of the window, LOL!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XQl9xd0gxb3FGdTQ/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Enjoying the review and photos.

 

Glad you are enjoying! Thanks for stopping by!

 

Hi there!

 

I normally write a long, day-by-day review with lots and lots of photos, but I just didn't have the energy. So my review was really just a summary with a little extra detail about the ports. Feel free to comment there and agree or disagree with my thoughts and impressions. I also thought that it was an OK cruise but wasn't great.

 

I slept about 10-1/2 hours on Saturday night and am still really sluggish today. Wonder if that's just because I'm at work! ;)

 

Looked for you between flights in Tampa but I was starving and had to go grab some lunch. Was on the QLS shuttle with your cruise buddies (I was supposed to go at 9 but was off the ship at 8 and he had room for one more). Only $15/pp each way.

 

For photos, I use Flickr. Upload them there, edit if I need to, then just copy and paste the url here. It is time consuming!

 

Hi Joan! I was so wiped out all day yesterday. I can't believe I fell asleep around 8:30 last night. Just exhausted! I am feeling a little better today.

 

In Tampa, we just went right to our gate and didn't have to wait long. We were so anxious to get home and see our little dog!

 

Is there a charge to use Flickr? I used a site called Imgur but it wouldn't let me copy and past on here. It wouldn't work.

 

See you on another cruise sometime!

[funinthesun1964]

The towels were there, if we needed them. But we didn't use them embarkation day at all.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XZXFGLXRvZ3NyMzA/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XRTJNTXBiVFNjaFU/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XT2laS21QNmRiNXM/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XVG10NGlVd0t6V1E/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XNEJxZWVscTJDZXc/view?usp=sharing

[heffy2]

Great start so far, thank you!

[funinthesun1964]

Great start so far, thank you!

 

Thanks, and you're welcome! :)

[funinthesun1964]

So after we checked out the cabin, dropped our backpacks, and took some pics, we headed out of the cabin to the lido deck, to meet our friends for lunch.

 

I will say that in the hallway, I look at the mailboxes and notice not all of them have the S&S card envelopes in them. Whether they were priority people who already took them, I don't know. I just took note of this.

 

Also, I wanted to mention that there was a small line at guest services immediately after we boarded the ship. Maybe people wanting to put cash on their S&S cards? I'm not sure.

 

The lunch area (lido) already had people in it, but it was not packed like it normally can be at lunch time. I knew this ship had the Tandoor, so I immediately head to get that grub. BUT not before a drink! I had prepaid for the Cheers pkg for us online earlier in the week, and was really looking forward to all the drink! I head to the main (central) pool area and start on one of my favorite drinks, the margarita. At the bar here, I met a nice young man named I Made, and he made my first couple of drinks.

 

Here he is. A very nice and friendly character.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XOHVvUGhBS3dITXM/view?usp=sharing

 

The 2-pc calypso band was playing. I like that they have this music now.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XYl9GelJzZEZfeG8/view?usp=sharing

 

By the way, this was our second time on the Splendor, the first time being in Sept. 2009 from Long Beach for the Mexican Riviera. The ship was exactly as I had remembered it. It brought back some good memories.

Edited November 8, 2016 by funinthesun1964

[funinthesun1964]

After we had our lunch, the girls decided to do a spa tour. I have done this on some of the ships before and I guess it is interesting to meet the people and the different services on the ship, but if you've seen one, you've seen them all. There is the drawing that you can enter to win a free service, but you have to be present to win and they do the drawing immediately after muster. I had arranged to meet some folks from the roll call at this time, so I knew I would not be there for the drawing.

 

The Splendor has the Cloud 9 Spa, and has the nice spa pool, the tepidarium (or whatever it's called with the heated loungers), etc.

 

So a couple of my friends signed up for the spa pass. It is $119 for one person or $189 for two people/couple. This includes use of the spa facilities such as the fancy spa pool (thalassotherapy?) and the rooms with the heated loungers, and I'm not sure what else. I did not purchase the package.

 

Before you know it, it's time for muster. My hubby and I were separated after the spa tour, so I just made my way to my muster station on my own. They were scanning sign and sail cards. I just could not wait to get through this. Finally, it was over! I made my way to the aft Lido bar to meet with up with roll call /FB groups. Not a big turn out, but nice to meet some folks.

 

Here are some pics from around the ship. Remember, it is October 30th!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XTnp5T1R1M2NpWEk/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XVlF0Z3k1cmw0bzg/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XQUV0TldNOXNDRDA/view?usp=sharing

 

The entrance to our dining room, The Black Pearl.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XeFlLWFlDQnNMZ1E/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Looking down from the 4th deck to the Atrium Bar / Lobby

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XalhodWFMY3NCdjA/view?usp=sharing

 

PIXELS!!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XNjFZaFRSUDhyZmc/view?usp=sharing

 

Hubster. Yes we are Cleveland Indians fans and yes, we were in the midst of the world series!!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XTE9mRkRDYl82eTQ/view?usp=sharing

 

The atrium area. I've always thought that the Splendor Lobby was very pretty, although some people are really turned off by all the pink circles.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XWGMwV3lYVmZIY2s/view?usp=sharing

 

Some artwork by the elevators. One night, the ship was swaying, and those pictures went from right to left and back again, as they were on sliding "tracks". It was funny to watch them.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XT2xhaTBrUlJURnM/view?usp=sharing

[terri-eddie]

We are sailing on the Splendor on Dec 4, so I'm happy to find your review and see some pictures of the ship. Thank you!