MITSUGIRLY has a JEWEL of a time on my 1st RC cruise in years!

[mitsugirly]

Casino continued:

 

These are always on the ships and usually crowded at any given time. However, I honestly did not see one person play these on this cruise. I could have not been there when people played them, but it just struck me as odd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Casino continued:

 

 

 

 

Mermaids!! On the floor in this picture below, there was a neat glass that you walked on and it was real pretty. Every time I walked over it I thought "hmm, I should get a picture of this" but then thought, "I'm sure I took one on the first day and I'm sure I've taken one each time I have walked over it and probably have tons of them"...only to find out I actually didn't take any! Sigh

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Casino continued:

 

They did have the popular games like Carnival Rio, Pixies and a few others that are similar to them. So, I was happy about that.

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

VINTAGES:

 

 

 

 

This place reminded me of some of the NCL ships I have been on with the crazy and wild furniture in it.

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

SCHOONER BAR AREA AND WALKWAY

 

This was a pretty cool area with boats and "sea" stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Schooner continued:

 

 

 

Completed with our itinerary:

 

 

And a map. We were going WAY down. I think the furthest I have ever been so far.

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

CHOPS GRILLE:

 

This is a specialty restaurant, for an extra charge, and you can order steaks, seafood and so on in an elegant setting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

GIOVANNI'S TABLE:

 

This is a specialty restaurant, for a price, that features Italian food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

THE GAME RESERVES, SERENGETI CARD CLUB, ZANZIBAR, CONGO BAR, LIBRARY AND THE SAFARI CLUB.

 

I'm not even sure if I have the right name to the pictures for these, but they are all located in the same area, so I'm going to do myself a favor and not try to figure them out. LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the area that has a bunch of games...which is one thing we usually try to do on each cruise, but forgot to go back and play.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

THE SAFARI CLUB continued...

 

 

Excellent view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Safari Club continued:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Safari Club continued:

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

DECK 11:

 

Now I'm taking you to the prettiest place on the ship IMO. It was gorgeous!

 

THE SOLARIUM:

 

This is an "adult" only area, but does have the Pizzeria located in it as well.

 

 

Royal did have these signs about chair hogging around the pool areas, but I really didn't notice much chair hogging. There were a few that put towels out here and there around the main pool area, first thing in the morning, but it seemed to be maybe 5-6 only (at least when I was around).

 

 

 

 

 

A bridge that walks up and over the end of the pool area.

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

THE SOLARIUM continued:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the mornings they had orange juice and water out and in the afternoon water and lemonade.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

THE SOLARIUM continued:

 

It did have a roof that could open and close. I noticed it was open on the first or second day but seen it closed most of the other times I had looked.

 

 

 

 

A view from the top

 

 

 

 

Another thing I found interesting is this "Public Health Advisory" about not reusing cups...but yet they have a soda package that has you reuse your cup the entire cruise.

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

The Pizzeria:

 

THE SOLARIUM continued:

 

This place had pizza, fresh fruits, cold pre-made sandwiches and I did see a sign that said "hot dogs" but never seen them. Maybe you had to ask for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Whirlpool (and pool rules) said you had to be 16 and older to be in the area. I find this kinda weird...I don't consider someone who is 16 an "adult". If this is an adult area, make it an actual ADULT area...as in at least 18 years old.

 

I did see some kids in the pool once and questioned whether or not they were even 16. That's what made me want to stop and read the sign.

Yes, the pool is salt water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Pool and pool area:

 

 

For those wondering, yes it is saltwater.

 

 

I found the smoking section interesting with these floor model ashtrays instead of the ones that sit on the tables and are very scarce on most ships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Now I'm going to take you to the most amazing public bathroom on any ship I have ever seen. LOL

 

I walked into this bathroom for the first time and thought "wow, that's one amazing designed bathroom! The only public bathroom I have ever seen that even comes close is one of NCL's that had a wall of glass overlooking the ocean and very fancy-schmancy. I can't remember if it was on the Epic or one of the newer ships like Getaway/Breakaway. It was beautiful though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[B&J_Pgh]

Did you find the taxi prices higher than the last time you were in P.R.?

 

We did the same Jan 2014 and 3 weeks ago and pretty sure it was the same.

[mitsugirly]

WINDJAMMER CAFE:

 

I find it funny that after all these years, the name of the buffet is still called "windjammer". That's exactly what it was called back in the day.

 

There was PLENTY of seating, both sides, around back...just everywhere. It was a very nice and functional layout and NEVER felt crowded (except twice, which will be in my review).

 

 

They had a lot of different areas with different food, which I believed helped with the flow and function of this buffet (versus a long, stand in line, type of buffet that you walk down gathering food all in one line. People could be in different sections at different times and not spent waiting in line.) It worked out well IMO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are several things I wanted to mention about the buffet area. You will find the same things on each side EXCEPT it took me until around day 4 to find out my hubs was going over to the other side and found hashbrowns while I stuck to the same side each time and had potatoes. I couldn't figure out how he kept finding those and I never seen them. Then discovered they were on the other side. The exact same food as the side I went to daily, just hashbrowns instead of the potatoes.

 

Next, I found it strange that they had an omelette area on our side, but they were certain types of omelettes and pre-made. You could get a veggie or a ham and cheese and maybe there was just a cheese one too. Every ship I have been on allowed you to "make your own" and tell them what you wanted on it. Really? Royal did not offer this luxury? They were also VERY SLOW making omelettes over here. One by one...I made the comment to the hubby once that I probably could have made 3 in the amount of time it was taking them to just make the one.

 

So...this brings me to...GO TO THE OTHER SIDE!!! We did not discover, until we were told by our friend, that the OTHER side had the make your own/request for an omelette. We did not discover this until THE LAST DAY! LOL

 

 

[mitsugirly]

THE POP MACHINE!!! So, you purchase the soda package and they give you a plastic cup with a lid to use. You can either choose to use this cup and come to this drink station and refill on your own... instead of waiting in line at a bar for a cup.

 

They work exactly like they do at a fast food place (we have them here at Wendys).

 

I was told there's something in the cup that causes it to activate, but I swear I can't see or feel anything and I think they are just faking us out with this story.

 

 

Several issues with these machines that I will cover in my review, from placement to availability to function.

 

[rocklinmom]

Love your review! I am also an NCL person and am curious about how Royal compares. Looking forward to more...

[mitsugirly]

There is a section out back in the open that you can eat outside in the aft (which we didn't and I think I forgot to take pictures).

 

Then there's a section that runs along the side with windows, but is more enclosed.

 

You can enter this using the sliding doors coming from the cafeteria or from the hallway.

 

I wouldn't discover that it went all the way around and out to the pool deck where the ping pong tables were. LOL I thought you had to exit using the doors into the hallway and then wind your way out to the pool deck. Silly me.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

DECK 12

 

SKY BAR

 

 

 

This must have been a smoking area and the only place I personally seen actual ash trays.