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Grandeur of the Seas, January 14-23, 2017

rafinmd

By rafinmd,
in Royal Caribbean International

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TolleranzaDelDio

TolleranzaDelDio

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Thanks so much for your review - incredibly informative! I'll be on the Grandeur in March and this is helping to pass the time until bon voyage.

 

I noticed you said you did some laps on the walking track today - I assume this is the same as the running track? I've never sailed with RCL and wondered if there truly was a mix of runners/joggers/walkers on the track or if the gym would be a better place for me to get my walking in.

 

Thanks again in advance!

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BND

BND

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Tango Buenos Aires is definitely not new. Bobby, however is. On our Oct 31st cruise, he had only been aboard for one previous cruise (I think) and he is new to RCI. So, it might be new to him.:rolleyes:

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nivrag4511

nivrag4511

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I was on that first cruise with Bobby and I thought he was a great CD. I don't really enjoy those that are so over the top. I'd love for him to be on my next cruise in October, but that is a long way off. One other thing, I think the Grandeur has the friendliest crew in RC's fleet.

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Thetrail

Thetrail

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I was up soon after 5 and it was a good morning for walking, walking 14 laps on deck 5 before breakfast. We had a lovely sunrise just before 7. At that time we were the same latitude as Port Canaveral, about 250 miles off our port side.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dawn0121.jpg

 

Breakfast was a combination of baked ham from the WJ and a fresh, hot English muffin at the Diamond Club. There were lots of activities in the morning but none of special interest to me and it was a pretty relaxing morning.

 

At noon I walked one more lap around deck 5. While the sign says “4 laps per mile” it says that on deck 10 as well and deck 5 is substantially longer. I think 15 laps is about 5 miles. At noon Captain Thor indicated we would have rain on Sunday. I guess today’s walk will be a one time event. As of noon we were as far north as St. Augustine.

 

Lunch was a 3-cheese Panini from Park Café. It was good but still not my “must do” lunch choice.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/panini.jpg

 

The afternoon was busy on the pool deck. The Sexiest Man contest was held while I was at lunch and the belly-flop contest at 1:30.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bellyflop.jpg

 

Somewhat strangely, music performances are often not shown on the schedule of events. There’s a separate little box called “Music and Dancing” which I assumed was all evening activities but it had a set by the Rosario Strings at 3:30. I would call it “standards”, things like “Charades”, and a few people were dancing.

 

 

 

There have been some changes to the menus. Tonight we had the Jasmine menu. I compared it with my Allure transatlantic and Prime Rib and Giant Shrimp have been replaced with Beef Striploin and Lobster Tails. It has also been reported that Lamb has been dropped. I haven’t seen it at dinner but it was on today’s lunch menu. At dinner tonight I went for the Peach Soup, Striploin, and Baked Alaska. The wait staff sang again tonight and were joined by the Galley staff.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dishes21.jpg

 

The evening show was the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers with Tango Buenos Aires. Bobby said it was brand new but table mates reported seeing it last year.

 

 

 

I did go up to the Schooner Bar for a while for Lora at the piano. I thought she was good but not one of the great ones. I did not stay up for the Quest.

 

As a parting shot I’m wondering how hard it can be to have a well working cruise line web site. I was curious about prices after noticing that the windows on deck 3 were bigger than mine and did a test booking for next year. I chose my date (4/26/18) and the published pricing was “from $675 per person”. I changed the party size to 1 and the price shot up to “from $3.061". Wow! But then at the bottom of the same page we had “Ocean view from $1,540". When I select Ocean View the price becomes “from $1,294 (taxes included) and finally a display with “Add $15" for deck 3. Confused yet? Well, Royal’s not alone in this; it seems most cruise lines are having difficulty keeping a coherent web site, right on up to Windstar and Crystal. Call me baffled.

 

Roy

Glad your having a pleasant cruise. BY the way I think 15 laps is four miles if my math is correct?...K.O.:confused:
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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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TolleranzaDelDio, teacher2cruiser, and Annie11455, I am going into packing mode. I think I have the photos to respond to your questions but may not get them formatted and posted until I'm back home.

 

I also will not post today's menu until later but there is Lamb Shank.

 

Roy

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Here are the menus for Ben & Jerry's/Cafe Lattetudes:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/lattetudes.pdf

 

and for Room Service:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/roomservice.pdf

 

It is possible to walk on either deck 5 or deck 10. I'm working on the details.

 

Roy

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Thank you for all the information.

 

Two quick questions when you have a chance. Is there a fridge in the cabin? Where in Maryland do you live? I am in Cecil County near DE.

 

No fridge in oceanview cabins; not sure about balconies. Prasadha brings ice twice a day which takes care of my needs. I'm in Columbia, Howard County.

 

Roy

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TolleranzaDelDio

TolleranzaDelDio

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TolleranzaDelDio, teacher2cruiser, and Annie11455, I am going into packing mode. I think I have the photos to respond to your questions but may not get them formatted and posted until I'm back home.

 

I also will not post today's menu until later but there is Lamb Shank.

 

Roy

 

No worries at all...you enjoy your time!

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John Reid

John Reid

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No fridge in oceanview cabins; not sure about balconies. Prasadha brings ice twice a day which takes care of my needs. I'm in Columbia, Howard County.

 

Roy

 

Just off Grandeur as you got on. Our deck 7 balcony cabin had a very newish refrigerator. Left empty except for two bottles of overpriced water. It kept canned beverages cold.

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Thanks all. I had a bit of a wifi hiccup this morning and just got online at home a few minutes ago.

 

The morning started relatively decently. The temperature was moderate although it was a bit windy. There were clouds but the moon was still visible in the central sky. I briefly tried a bit of a walk on deck 5 but the bow bates were closed and part of the deck was closed for maintenance and I returned to my room until about 7.

 

I went back up to deck 10 for sunrise. At the time we were about as far North as Wilmington NC although far off shore. A little sliver of sun did show through the clouds. I walked 6 laps on deck 10, at times fighting a pretty strong wind. Breakfast choices for the morning were grits from Park Café and English muffin from the Diamond Club.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dawn0122.jpg

 

Much of the morning was spent packing but there was a Captain’s Corner at 11 featuring Captain Thor, Chief Engineer Andrew, and Hotel Director Adriana. The April drydock will be mostly for hull maintenance; there will be some sprucing up but the ship will not look a lot different. The scrubber installation is ongoing; phase 1 will be completed before the drydock and phase 2 during the drydock. A reverse osmosis water system is just about complete, there were a couple of overnight periods without water as the system was hooked up. The speed bumps on the jogging track will be permanently repaired.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/capncorner.jpg

 

There have been some recent water safety improvements. There are flotation vests for kids at the pool and a “Pool monitor” is stationed by the pool. He is not a lifeguard although all crew are trained in basic rescue; the person is a lookout to get rescue help if need and to prevent problems; they are trying to have lifeguards by summer.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/newvests.jpg

 

I tried the pizza in the WJ for lunch. It was pretty decent. By this time we had entered thick fog and it stayed foggy through the evening

 

The afternoon was mostly packing but I also got down to the Centrum to watch part of the Rosario Strings set. For the final dinner I enjoyed the Pineapple Soup, Lamb Shank and double deserts, Key Lime slice and ice cream. We had our farewells and adjourned to the theater.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dishes22.jpg

 

The evening’s featured entertainment was comedian Rick Corso, with sets by Rookie and the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers followed by the Parade of Flags in the Centrum

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/corso.jpg

 

Just after 10 I stopped up at the Schooner Bar for a couple of songs by Lora and was in bed about 10:45.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/schooner.jpg

 

My parting shot is a sad one. The last time I checked my email I learned that a cousin had died over the weekend. He was 92 so it wasn’t really a shock but still a loss. Just a reminder that while we enjoy ports and service life in the real world goes on. Rest in Peace, Edwin.

 

Roy

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scottygirl

scottygirl

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My parting shot is a sad one. The last time I checked my email I learned that a cousin had died over the weekend. He was 92 so it wasn’t really a shock but still a loss. Just a reminder that while we enjoy ports and service life in the real world goes on. Rest in Peace, Edwin.

 

Roy

 

 

So sorry for your loss.

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Janet524

Janet524

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Posted

Roy:

 

My sincere condolences on the loss of your loved one.

 

I want to thank you for taking the time to share your experiences on this cruise, and for posting the menus and Cruise Compass schedules. My BFF and I will be doing this cruise at the end of February and it is always fun to have a bit of a "preview."

 

Happy cruising, and thanks again.

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Thank you Janet, Carol, and scottygirl.

 

I set the alarm for 4:30 today and when I went up for coffee at 4:45 we were already passing under the Bay Bridge. The winds had kicked up to a gale force making it difficult to even walk across the pool deck.

 

The morning started off with a problem. I tried to sign on to the internet and got a message that my code had expired. Guest services was no help, so my reports are delayed even more than I planned. I did walk about 30 minutes on the ship’s interior corridors. We passed under the Francis Scott Key Bridge about 6AM and were at the dock about an hour later.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/keybridge.jpg

 

I got an omelet at the WJ and headed down to my room, working on my writing. I left my room and made my way up to the South Pacific Lounge. Just as I arrived Green 3 was called. Self disembark started about 15 minutes late but when I left the ship at 8:15 the 8:30 group was being called off.

 

There was a significant line at Immigration but it moved quickly. One of the nice things about Baltimore is we clear customs BEFORE picking up our checked bags eliminating the need to stand in line while heavily burdened. Despite a bit of difficulty finding my bags my truck was loaded up and I was driving away at 8:45.

 

I stopped for a bit of walking at Arundel Mills Mall and made 2 grocery stops and arrived at my door just after 11.

 

The weather in Baltimore stayed nasty with some heavy rain in the afternoon. I watched on Marine Traffic and Grandeur left about on time but required 2 tugs to get away from te dock.

 

My parting shot today will be weather related. While our day in Baltimore was nasty, we were fortunate to be spared the damaging storms further west and south. May those areas recover quickly.

 

Roy

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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While there are treadmills in the Fitness Center that is not the way I like to walk. I also learned at the Captains Corner that the treadmills have no video screens to watch.

 

My preferred place to walk when possible is deck 5, under the lifeboats. A teak deck totally circles the ship, although at times gates will be closed at the bow, and at times there may also be places closed for maintenance. I am attaching copies of the deck plans for decks 5 and 10 with the walking route pencilled in, although you may need to zoom in to see the thin lines. The deck plan for deck 5 does not go all the way back as the aft space is the galley. The teak deck goes all the way to the back of the ship.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/deck5.pdf

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/deck10.pdf

 

Here are views from a few key points of the walk around deck 5:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/deck5.jpg

 

The “jogging track” on deck 10 probably gets more walkers than joggers. It ends behind the Solarium, as the passage around the back is closed off for the Rock Climbing Wall. It can get very windblown.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/deck10.jpg

 

Both tracks are marked “4 laps per mile”, although deck 5 is significantly longer. I think deck 5 is close to a third of a mile.

 

Roy

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TolleranzaDelDio

TolleranzaDelDio

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While there are treadmills in the Fitness Center that is not the way I like to walk. I also learned at the Captains Corner that the treadmills have no video screens to watch.

 

My preferred place to walk when possible is deck 5, under the lifeboats. A teak deck totally circles the ship, although at times gates will be closed at the bow, and at times there may also be places closed for maintenance. I am attaching copies of the deck plans for decks 5 and 10 with the walking route pencilled in, although you may need to zoom in to see the thin lines. The deck plan for deck 5 does not go all the way back as the aft space is the galley. The teak deck goes all the way to the back of the ship.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/deck5.pdf

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/deck10.pdf

 

Here are views from a few key points of the walk around deck 5:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/deck5.jpg

 

The “jogging track” on deck 10 probably gets more walkers than joggers. It ends behind the Solarium, as the passage around the back is closed off for the Rock Climbing Wall. It can get very windblown.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/deck10.jpg

 

Both tracks are marked “4 laps per mile”, although deck 5 is significantly longer. I think deck 5 is close to a third of a mile.

 

Roy

 

Thank you so much for your detailed reply - it's always great to have options! I enjoyed your review so much. Reading reviews like yours makes me want to try my best to share my experience with others.

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