Splendor Review: 10/30/16

[Cruisinfromvegas]

Sailing on The Splendor Jan 22, really enjoying your review. Love the pics and the daily Fun Times!!!

[funinthesun1964]

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!

You're welcome! and I hope you have a great cruise!

 

Sailing on The Splendor Jan 22, really enjoying your review. Love the pics and the daily Fun Times!!!

 

Glad you are enjoying. I do have all of the fun times that I can scan in if someone would like to see them.

[easyboy]

The bartender's name is "I Made"?

[Cruisin 4 Ever]

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!

 

We are on that cruise as well :)

[funinthesun1964]

The bartender's name is "I Made"?

 

 

Yes, there are several of those on one the ships.

 

There will also be several I Wayan, I Ketut, I-whatever-they-are on the ships. These are all people from Bali who use the same names according to their first born, second born, etc.

[funinthesun1964]

Okay, spa tour done and muster done. Now it's time to get into the fun.

 

I met some folks from the roll call on FB/CC back at the Lido Bar. Some really nice people were there. I think I may have already told you this. If so, disregard this paragraph.

 

Later on, it was time for dinner. We went to the dining room, for a table for 6, anytime dining. It was a birthday for one man in our group, and of course he had a small cake and the waiters sang happy birthday to him.

 

I was not impressed with the service. We waited to order. And it seems we waited between courses. Not horrible, just waited a little longer than we should have. And of course when you are with friends and talking, time passes quickly. If it would have just been DH and I, we would have just stared at each other and it would have seemed like forever. LOL.

 

Personally, I think service is better if you get assigned dining and have the same wait staff each night. They get to know you, your likes and it just is a better experience all the way around - just my opinion.

 

I really don't think a bar waiter ever came by. But we were asked by the head waitress if we wanted something from the bar.

 

The food was okay, American Table menu which we have had before and very small portions. They were small before, but some things seemed they were even smaller :eek: No worries, I had my fill.

[funinthesun1964]

Okay, so we had visited the future cruise desk that first day. I knew exactly which cruises I had wanted to book, the dates, cabin numbers, everything, and I wanted to go when it was not too crowded.

 

We get there, the woman (Angel) says that the internet is a problem, so I see her write down my information on a yellow pad. She promises that later on that night, she would have our info and friends and family vouchers in our mailbox. We thank her and leave.

 

Was the promised paperwork in the mailbox that night? No.

 

After dinner, we go to the casino and try my luck. My luck is good. DH, not so much. There was a soloist guitarist playing by the casino bar. I remember he did a Johnny Cash tune. He did have a good voice.

 

Here are some pics:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XM0NfVXhVQ3VxMXM/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XRWV2TmdwLVVYRkk/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XUU5EeTl3WUpJQms/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XS3hNaWFZM19aTGs/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XaFJXWWhJNFhaVFE/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Three of us went to see the Welcome Aboard show. I hadn't been in a long time, because it was the same thing over and over. Well, this is the first time I saw the changed, new improved one. So they say. The talking towel animal creatures were up on two monitors in the corners of the front of the theater. The singers and dancers came out. I had a hard time staying awake. Won't be doing that in the future.

 

Stopped in to check out the Morocco lounge Deck 5 aft, where is where they have the comedians.

 

I will show some pics of these venues, sorry that they are blurry.

 

Front theater, when seated for the welcome aboard show:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XZWxkQ3VmREF4bnM/view?usp=sharing

 

The towel animals on the screens:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XdDluRW9udzlDMFk/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XQ0VXMktiU0lDbXc/view?usp=sharing

 

Inside the Morocco Lounge:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XdkpxUkI5R2NLZWs/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Hubster and I went to see the comedian for the 11:30 show. His name was Jerome. The place was busy, but not standing room only. We didn't think the show was all that funny.

 

We went back to the casino for a few and then headed back to our cabin.

 

 

As we walked down the hall to our cabin, we discussed the fact that we didn't see our cabin steward, or an assistant, at all that day. We looked in the mailbox when we arrived at our cabin door, but all that was there was those stupid advertisements for art, shopping, etc. No friends and family vouchers or cruise booking confirmations.

 

Well, maybe the next day.

[SMSACE6]

Yes, there are several of those on one the ships.

 

There will also be several I Wayan, I Ketut, I-whatever-they-are on the ships. These are all people from Bali who use the same names according to their first born, second born, etc.

 

Yes have seen this name often on cruises. My room steward on Spendor was also I Made. Nice guy, and good room steward.

 

ps..I know your I Made was bartender, just saying many I Mades on staff.

Edited November 9, 2016 by SMSACE6

[TrqoisWtrs]

Enjoying your review. Splendor is my favorite ship because the retractable roof is over the main pool/Dive In Movie screen. :)

[easyboy]

Yes, there are several of those on one the ships.

 

There will also be several I Wayan, I Ketut, I-whatever-they-are on the ships. These are all people from Bali who use the same names according to their first born, second born, etc.

Interesting. Additional learning on CC. Thanks.

[funinthesun1964]

Yes have seen this name often on cruises. My room steward on Spendor was also I Made. Nice guy, and good room steward.

 

ps..I know your I Made was bartender, just saying many I Mades on staff.

 

Yes, definitely many I Made, I Wayan, I Nyoman, I Gede and Ketut are often seen on the ship. Sometimes, I play along with them and tell them that I saw their brother working at the other bar. (I'm sure they've heard that one constantly!) :rolleyes:

[funinthesun1964]

Enjoying your review. Splendor is my favorite ship because the retractable roof is over the main pool/Dive In Movie screen. :)

 

It is a nice ship. I did find myself missing the Blue Iguana Cantina and bar though.

 

Interesting. Additional learning on CC. Thanks.

 

You're welcome!

 

I will continue the review later, but now I see my e-mail questionnaire has arrived and am going to complete it before I forget!

[tandemcruzr]

Yes have seen this name often on cruises. My room steward on Spendor was also I Made. Nice guy, and good room steward.

 

ps..I know your I Made was bartender, just saying many I Mades on staff.

 

Found this info on naming in Bali. Found it interesting.

 

"All Balinese people are named one of just 4 names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. Both men and women. In Bali, Indonesia, such a 4-names-only system is entirely real and intact. Here’s how it works: Every Balinese child is simply named by his or her order of birth. The first born, boy or girl, is Wayan. The second born is Made (pronounced ma day). The third born is Nyoman. And the 4th born is Ketut. If a family has more than four children, the cycle repeats itself, and the next ‘Wayan’ may be called Wayan Balik, which loosely translates to ‘another Wayan’.

 

 

Women are given the honorific ‘Ni’ before their name, as in Ni Wayan. It’s much like ‘Miss’ or ‘Mrs’. Men use ‘I’, as in I Wayan, much like ‘Mr.’"

[funinthesun1964]

Found this info on naming in Bali. Found it interesting.

 

"All Balinese people are named one of just 4 names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. Both men and women. In Bali, Indonesia, such a 4-names-only system is entirely real and intact. Here’s how it works: Every Balinese child is simply named by his or her order of birth. The first born, boy or girl, is Wayan. The second born is Made (pronounced ma day). The third born is Nyoman. And the 4th born is Ketut. If a family has more than four children, the cycle repeats itself, and the next ‘Wayan’ may be called Wayan Balik, which loosely translates to ‘another Wayan’.

 

 

Women are given the honorific ‘Ni’ before their name, as in Ni Wayan. It’s much like ‘Miss’ or ‘Mrs’. Men use ‘I’, as in I Wayan, much like ‘Mr.’"

 

 

I looked this up on Google earlier too. I tried to cut and paste the info I found, but on Chrome book it isn't easy to cut and paste. But yeah, that's where there are so many of the same name.

[funinthesun1964]

Love waking up on the first sea day. The cruise is still yet new, and there is absolutely nothing to do (unless you want to). Of course, hubby wants to go to work out. I usually go to gym 2-3 times per cruise, but this time I have hurt my knee 2 weeks before the cruise. I fell at my daughter's house (outside, a new house, without yard - just rocks and dirt). Ouch. Still was hurting, although not as much as it did the first few days after the injury.

 

Anyway, he goes to gym. I finally get up and get going and decide to get a cappucino with skim milk and sugar-free caramel flavoring. When I arrive at the the coffee bar, there is no line, thankfully. And this is now included in the Cheers program, so it costs me nothing. (I do tip the Indonesian girl working there - it takes a minute to make this drink).

 

I sit for a few minutes and enjoy my coffee, then head upstairs to the gym to see if hubby is almost done.

 

I find him on an elliptical and he says he has about 3 minutes to go. So, off I go to a seating area at the entrance of the gym. While I sit there, I take pictures of the "models"

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XRGRIajlRcWZpU00/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XX0gwd1BHV3owSlE/view?usp=sharing

 

I get a kick out of those, I had remembered them from the first time I sailed on Splendor 7 years ago.

 

Here's where I SHOULD have been -

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XT1V2TmloSnoxXzg/view?usp=sharing

 

Or at least here:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XZExhUVhhX2FFOUU/view?usp=sharing

 

Well, here comes hubby. Time to get leave the gym and spa area.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XbWFpTENWMFFnUzQ/view?usp=sharing

 

Well, hubby has to use the restroom. I"ll snap a couple more pictures.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XX2REWFJvdE5Qdk0/view?usp=sharing

 

These guys have great bodies! ;);)

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XalZEZ2ZfcENFdU0/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Well, I tell hubster all about the spa tour I had done the day before, and tell him that we should take the walk up one flight of stairs to see the thalassotherapy pool and stuff.

 

Here's looking down on it. I don't know about your thoughts, but I think these creatures are kind of scary looking!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XTWRBU3lWRWVzUDg/view?usp=sharing

 

We take a walk outside to check out the weather:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XUm5seWhDZ3pRSzA/view?usp=sharing

 

A little overcast, but it looks like it could clear up later.

 

We decide that we would skip the Sea Day Brunch today, we really just weren't feeling it. We decided to go to Lido to grab grub. On the way, we passed these hot tubs on deck 10.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XREFoTVdwNWpBbjA/view?usp=sharing

 

Nobody sitting here right now!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XOFF6MGw2aTlWczg/view?usp=sharing

 

And no chair hogs in this area at around 8:30 am.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XbEQ1a2I0Z0taMVE/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XdEsyRGR0NkNqQ2c/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5Xa1Zib1h5bDYyYms/view?usp=sharing

 

Hubster decided that he would also like a cappacino, so we went back to deck five before eating.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5Xc0x3c1RSOUdkQ3M/view?usp=sharing

 

Here is my advice to you. If you would like a coffee from the coffee shop, go early to avoid crowds. As you can see in this picture, there are a few people waiting. Also there was an officer from the ship waiting, he kind of stood in the background. It takes a while to make these specialty coffees and there is only person working there...so the line can quickly back up. In this case, hubby came and sat down with me and waited for a few other people to get waited on...then went up. Another person or two came after him, and the officer left the area. They really need more than one person working at the coffee shop, especially in the mornings.

Edited November 11, 2016 by funinthesun1964

[funinthesun1964]

So after coffee being served to the king, we strolled up to Lido and got in the serve-yourself line. I remember that i had an omelette that day. I like the vegetable omelettes.

 

We ended up on deck, it still was a little overcast, but we just wanted to relax on a lounger. Here is our spot, aft.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XcXJvZ2tUcGVfMWs/view?usp=sharing

 

I enjoyed a couple goose & juice.

 

It starts to get a little warmer and nice outside, so we head back to our cabin to change into real deckwear.

 

On the way back, I snap some pics:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XM0QtSGdWczU3X2s/view?usp=sharing

 

We head to the elevator area. We see a friendly cleaning crew person and I smile as I go by and get in the elevator. Once I am in the elevator, He still looks through the glass and smiles. Even as we drop to the floor below he is still laughing at us! He thinks we are silly. I love these friendly crew peeps.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XNmlqcG5taTMwa2c/view?usp=sharing

[riclop]

Great pictures , thanks for sharing.

[funinthesun1964]

So we get to our cabin and there is still nothing from the future cruise desk in our mailbox.

 

But when we enter our cabin, we see that we have had service and a towel animal waits on the bed.:confused: I tell my hubster that we must be going to have the morning only service that I had read about here on cc.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XQm9zUTYtbXZZMDA/view?usp=sharing

 

I would also like to add here that the bed was sort of lumpy, the place where they pushed the begs together was VERY noticeable, I roll over and can definitely feel the gap. Different. Also the edge of the bed was very rounded, almost felt like I was going to roll out of the bed if I was too close to the edge. But if I was in just the right spot, the bed was very comfy. And I love the pillows!!!

 

Also going to add that we had no robes in the cabin and had not seen the steward up to this point.

 

But we had this card in our cabin from the previous night:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XenVIVDJBNnB1U3c/view?usp=sharing

 

So, with that said, we changed into our swimsuits and went back out to the deck.

 

On the way out, we ran into the room steward. He was several cabins down the hall and we were on the way to the elevator. He said hello, are you in the corner? We said yes. He said "would you like morning or evening service?" I have heard of this happening before, but I was really caught off guard when it happened to me. Kind of shocked. Husbter said "can we have both?" and I said "can we at least have clean towels at all times"? Then he proceeded to tell us that his cabins have increased from 25 to 47, and he also said that he used to have two assistants but now it has been cut down to one. He really talked for quite a while and I thought, wow you have time to talk - but with all those cabins to clean, you better get to work! Not that I don't enjoy talking to people, I do, but I figured he had lots of work to do and I wanted to get outside!

[funinthesun1964]

So we can't stay outside too long, because we have a slot pull planned for 11:00. This was from a roll call/FB group. We had about 12-15 people show up and picked a machine. The person in charge brought prizes for largest pull.

We were in there for a while, we decided to play it all until we lost it. Prizes were given out, we had fun and we left. Back outside.

 

Around 1:30, we wanted lunch. Hubster wanted a burrito and I wanted a burger and fries. So off I went. I did have to wait in line for a few minutes.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XQWl0M1RmLUQwbGc/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5Xci1WcXMyU0Z4VWc/view?usp=sharing

 

 

The cheeseburger and fries were filling. And as good as I remembered them. The beers I had were tasty too.

 

It turned out to be a nice day. I spent a little more time at the casino, and headed back to cabin to shower. We had plans to go to Steakhouse at 7:30 with another couple.

 

When we got to the cabin, the platinum strawberry plate had arrived.

 

Hubster ate a couple of them, they didn't arrive like this! :eek:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5Xci1WcXMyU0Z4VWc/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

Hubs wanted to take a nap. I wasn't tired, so I went to the casino for a while. I won again. It seemed I just couldn't lost this time, all slots. I had a couple of favorite machines.

 

When I finally went back to the cabin, hubs was still sleeping. I woke him up upon entering. We started getting ready for dinner. Tonight was formal night, but we and and another couple had reservations for steakhouse.

 

We met our friends at 7:30 at the entrance of the steakhouse. It was a nice meal, until we had to wait an extended period of time for our main course. Also noted that they are giving one free bottle of wine PER TABLE, not couple. Our friends preferred red and I preferred white. Not a big deal for us, as I had the cheers package and could order whatever I wanted - but just putting it out there for other's knowledge.

 

Anyway, we waited and waited and the waitress came to us and apologized for the long wait. It was good food - I had the lobster ravioli as I always get and hubs had some steak which he said was very good. For dessert I had the cheesecake which of course I could not finish. Hubs had the chocolate sampler. We finally leave the steakhouse at 10:10.

 

Oh, and the table beside us was a table for 6 or 8...they were probably in their 30's....all dressed in Halloween costumes! LOL! I didn't mind, but was kind of surprised that they went to the steakhouse in costume.

 

After dinner, we hung out in the casino, which was PACKED, with all the people in costume. We didn't pay much attention to the halloween contests, etc. I just remember the casino being PACKED and smoky. All the time.

 

Went to bed around midnight, and the next day we were going to Montego Bay and a ship excursion planned, The 4x4 Jeep Tour and hidden waterfall. Many pictures and description of tour to follow.

[funinthesun1964]

We had booked a Carnival Excursion for Montego Bay. I usually book on my own, but for this time, I wanted to book a specific tour. After I had booked through Carnival, I found the same tour on the internet with a sale, so I sent in for the price match and was given an OBC credit.

 

We headed up to Lido for breakfast, had our cappucinos, and went outside to wait until it was time to go.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XYzUyYUt2b05ndVk/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XX2k3WXZnajVwVGc/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XakQ0bTgxbUxQTGs/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XZEhGaGZXOF9EWVE/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XRmV5R056d1dYUWM/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XTFVDclpTTVRlZDA/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XNUZJWDZsdDdhaWM/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5Xd09kb2FHREJRYkU/view?usp=sharing

[funinthesun1964]

We go to the main theater (3 forward) at our assigned time for the excursion. We wait until the group is called. We get off the ship and see our driver and vehicle. The tour was divided into groups, as each vehicle will hold 8 passengers.

 

Just so you know, here are a couple pictures of the vehicle and our driver:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XTkktRkFaTXhUclE/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XYXpQbkFCZXJ2cjQ/view?usp=sharing

 

Our driver/tour guide was Brian. We didn't believe his name was Brian and we harrassed him about it for the duration of the tour! LOL. One thing that bugged me about Brian, well two things: 1. His accent was strong and at times was difficult to understand (though expected when on a tour of a different country), and 2. He would say something, and then say "Hello?" at the end....several times! All day in my head, I heard "hello?". lol. But he was a friendly person and looked after us. Also, in the vehicle my seat belt was faulty (Of course, it had to be me!). You had to force the clip together, and with GREAT force. Hubs had to help me repeatedly. They should get that seat belt fixed.

 

This tour was not what I thought it would be. I thought it was more of an off-road, through the jungle type thing. It was a tour just among roads, we went to a look out place, a church, saw school yards, went on windy roads and saw several bars - about every couple of minutes along the way - and then went to the waterfall. To get to the waterfall, we went on a gravely-path for probably about a mile.

 

Driving along the road:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XeGtfWEJqZjVLczA/view?usp=sharing

 

 

The lookout:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XVEFONFVET3JFUW8/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XVW1ZblJlRENqRG8/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UCVBAV5p5XWUppbHY2NFpRN1k/view?usp=sharing