Just of Mariner of Seas

[dalsti]

Just finished a short 3 night cruise on the Mariner.

 

Overall the ship was nice and the cruise was enjoyable.

 

The good:

Ship was recently refurbished and it looked nice

Embarkation was easiest we have ever experienced.  Docked in new terminal.  We were onboard in what seemed like 5 min.

Disembarkation, using self assist was just as simple.

Food was overall good.  Windjammer had nice selection for breakfast and lunch.  My time dining was nice.  We ended up with same wait staff all 3 nights and they were great.  Everyone enjoyed the food.

Cabin was 8692 Aft facing balcony.  We have had similar cabins on other ships and found this cabin to be a little smaller than most.  Balcony was much larger which made up for  it.  2 loungers and a table with 2 chairs was great.

The not so good:

We checked 2 bags.  Both were delivered to wrong cabin. We saw them as we walked down the hall and grabbed them.  One was 5 doors down and the other about 15 cabins away.

Don't ask the staff a question because nobody knows the answer.  Even Guest Services gave us conflicting answers about booking laser tag and we weren't able to make a reservation.

Make reservations for laser tag and escape room ASAP or you will be out of luck.

No drink service near back of ship on deck 12.  They added the flowrider and water slides, area is packed and nowhere to get a drink.

Casino was very crammed.  Tables were on top of each other and was difficult to get to tables at times.  Dealers were friendly.

Ports.  Coco Cay is a beach that is under construction.  Not enjoyable to hearing beeping from trucks and banging.  Food was not good.  Chicken and burgers were cold. $22 for kids do play on inflatables in water for 50min.  Nassau was a ship day for us since we have been there so many times.  It was nice enjoying a quiet ship during the day.

 

Over all it was a good time  I would book it again if the price is right.  Would be happy to answer any questions.

.

 

[buddylover]

Nice and honest review.  We are going on Mariner in early Feb (on a 4 day)......can't wait to see her!

[BillOh]

24 minutes ago, dalsti said:

Just finished a short 3 night cruise on the Mariner.

 

Overall the ship was nice and the cruise was enjoyable.

 

The good:

Ship was recently refurbished and it looked nice

Embarkation was easiest we have ever experienced.  Docked in new terminal.  We were onboard in what seemed like 5 min.

 

You were not in a suite I assume?

 

24 minutes ago, dalsti said:

We checked 2 bags.  Both were delivered to wrong cabin. We saw them as we walked down the hall and grabbed them.  One was 5 doors down and the other about 15 cabins away.

 

 

Another good reason to have very distinct looking bags, this happened to us a couple of times. (And we have taken bags outside our room to 3-4 doors down.

24 minutes ago, dalsti said:

 

Don't ask the staff a question because nobody knows the answer.  Even Guest Services gave us conflicting answers about booking laser tag and we weren't able to make a reservation.

Make reservations for laser tag and escape room ASAP or you will be out of luck.

Are these two available to book in the cruise planner?    

 

24 minutes ago, dalsti said:

 

Ports.  Coco Cay is a beach that is under construction.  Not enjoyable to hearing beeping from trucks and banging.  Food was not good.  Chicken and burgers were cold. $22 for kids do play on inflatables in water for 50min.  Nassau was a ship day for us since we have been there so many times.  It was nice enjoying a quiet ship during the day.

 

Over all it was a good time  I would book it again if the price is right.  Would be happy to answer any questions.

.

 

WE didn't experience that noise on Coco Cay in September, but I have to guess construction is really ramping up now.   Thanks for the report. 

[The Fun Researcher]

34 minutes ago, dalsti said:

Don't ask the staff a question because nobody knows the answer.  Even Guest Services gave us conflicting answers about booking laser tag and we weren't able to make a reservation.

 

Make reservations for laser tag and escape room ASAP or you will be out of luck.

 

No drink service near back of ship on deck 12.  They added the flowrider and water slides, area is packed and nowhere to get a drink.

 

 

 Do you know whether or not there is a fee for Laser Tag?  I KNOW my kids are going to want to do this on the AMPED Navigator next year.

 

Has drink service ever been offered back by the Flowrider on the Voyager or Freedom class ships?  I remember empty cocktail glasses rolling around back there from people that just left them, but I don't think I can ever remember bar service being offered in that location.  (I could be wrong though)

 

Glad you enjoyed your cruise!

Dan

[LuCruise]

Great feedback.  We were on Mariner in August and loved the ship.  Great changes with the slides, SkyPad and laser tag.  I'm confused...you can book laser tag now?  Or did you just mean to comment about escape room?

 

Also...can you tell if CoCo Cay construction is pier only?  Or have they started the 'perfect day' stuff?

[dalsti]

7 minutes ago, LuCruise said:

Great feedback.  We were on Mariner in August and loved the ship.  Great changes with the slides, SkyPad and laser tag.  I'm confused...you can book laser tag now?  Or did you just mean to comment about escape room?

 

Also...can you tell if CoCo Cay construction is pier only?  Or have they started the 'perfect day' stuff?

 

You need to make reservations for both Laser Tag and Escape Room as soon as you get on ship or it will sell out.

 

Contraction everywhere on Coco Cay.  not sure when they are supposed to be done.  Looks like its still months away from completion.

[dalsti]

We were not in a suite.  Also the pull down bed fro third guest was directly over the head of the bed.  Had to be careful not to hit your head getting in and out of bed.  Other ships have had the pull down over the couch

[seacruise9]

Hi, 

 

Thanks for your review. I am taking the three-night cruise on the Mariner of the Seas that departs on December 7. Did many people wear formal clothes to dinner on the second night? Should I bring a dark suit or are dress pants and a nice shirt okay for dinner every night? Also, when are the ice shows offered?   

 

Thanks,

 

Chuck

[dalsti]

27 minutes ago, seacruise9 said:

Hi, 

 

Thanks for your review. I am taking the three-night cruise on the Mariner of the Seas that departs on December 7. Did many people wear formal clothes to dinner on the second night? Should I bring a dark suit or are dress pants and a nice shirt okay for dinner every night? Also, when are the ice shows offered?   

 

Thanks,

 

Chuck

Almost nobody was formal.  Saw a few guys in a jacket, but most wore slacks and dress shirt.  They call it dress your best not formal night.

I know there was an Ice Show the first night and one other time but not sure when

[dalsti]

I read a few posts prior to sailing asking about the elevators on the Mariner.  I can confirm that they are terrible.  When the comedians are telling jokes about the elevators you know its bad.  2 elevators on the aft port side were not working at all the entire cruise.  sometimes the stop and sometimes they go right past you.  

[karena1]

We love Mariner, been on here 5 times already and will be on her for Christmas.  We always sit at the pool so we get amazing poolside service.  Entertainment for the most part has been really good.  CocoCay is one of our favorite places.  Where we sit on the beach, you hear non of the construction noise.  Food at CocoCay is always good, husband loves the new roasted carved suckling pig they have.  Food is always hot and yummy.  Have been to CocoCay over 50 times and have loved every time we have been there.  We don't do the Casino so could care less what it is like in there.  MTD has always been good and WJ is also fine.  Mariner has been such a wonderful ship for our 3/4 night cruises that we cannot wait to see what Navigator is going to offer us!

Edited November 27, 2018 by karena1

[LuCruise]

4 hours ago, dalsti said:

 

You need to make reservations for both Laser Tag and Escape Room as soon as you get on ship or it will sell out.

 

Contraction everywhere on Coco Cay.  not sure when they are supposed to be done.  Looks like its still months away from completion.

Interesting....booking Laser Tag is new as we couldn't book when we went end of August.  Lines weren't bad though and we even went a few times in a row.

 

Sorry the CoCo Cay construction was bothersome.  Think the park is supposed to be ready May so good to hear they have started.

[SAmome]

Were you the only ship at Coco Cay?  Since the island is going to be able to take on Oasis class ships I'd have thought it was easy to handle a relatively smaller ship in the Mariner.  I've never loved the CC food but it too has gone downhill over the years, miss the ice cream machine and is it my imagination or did they previously have much better fruit available?

 

Either way, how were the lines for food on Coco Cay?  

[drneal]

Question with My Time Dining

If I have a 6:15 can I show up at 6:30 ? 6:45?

Do we always get the same servers?

Are they strict about the corkage fee in the dining room ?

[Clarea]

5 minutes ago, drneal said:

Question with My Time Dining

If I have a 6:15 can I show up at 6:30 ? 6:45?

Do we always get the same servers?

Are they strict about the corkage fee in the dining room ?

 

You can show up whenever you want.  However, they won't hold your table forever, so expect to wait longer if you don't show up on time.  They try to give you the same servers, but it does not always work out.

[parothead]

just booked cabin 8690 for next Dec so glad to hear the balcony was nice

[oojeanie]

Could you suggest a good time for going to Cococay? Earlier? Later?

[Clarea]

6 hours ago, oojeanie said:

Could you suggest a good time for going to Cococay? Earlier? Later?

 

Best choice of loungers would be early.

[orville99]

19 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

 Do you know whether or not there is a fee for Laser Tag?  I KNOW my kids are going to want to do this on the AMPED Navigator next year.

 

Has drink service ever been offered back by the Flowrider on the Voyager or Freedom class ships?  I remember empty cocktail glasses rolling around back there from people that just left them, but I don't think I can ever remember bar service being offered in that location.  (I could be wrong though)

 

Glad you enjoyed your cruise!

Dan

There is (was) a Wipe Out bar next to the flowriders on Freedom Class ships - not sure why they didn't put one in when they added the flowrider to Voyager class ships.

[Paulette3028]

21 hours ago, dalsti said:

  They added the flowrider and water slides, area is packed and nowhere to get a drink.

 

 

 We were on Mariner for a B2B, the weekend before Thanksgiving and the week of Thanksgiving.   The Waterslide/Flowrdier area can get very packed and there isn't much seating.   I found that to enjoy a few rides down the slides without much lines, I got there a few minutes before they opened in the afternoon (2pm) It would be nice if they had cubbies for people to put their towel and shoes and sunglasses in, so they did not need any chair at all.   I did make that suggestion to the Hotel Manager, Ron Ness.

 

We had a very enjoyable B2B, food was good; service fine as usual.  On the weekender we tried the MyTimeDining, but for the mid week, we had Early Traditional Dining (which is what we usually do)....both seemed fine.....I just like having the same tablemates each night to catch up with.

[dalsti]

15 hours ago, SAmome said:

Were you the only ship at Coco Cay?  Since the island is going to be able to take on Oasis class ships I'd have thought it was easy to handle a relatively smaller ship in the Mariner.  I've never loved the CC food but it too has gone downhill over the years, miss the ice cream machine and is it my imagination or did they previously have much better fruit available?

 

Either way, how were the lines for food on Coco Cay?  

Lines getting off the ship were not too bad.  Maybe a 5 min wait around 9:30am.  Each Tender can hold 250 passengers and they use a forward and aft launch. 

[dalsti]

We were the only ship in Coco Cay.  NCL has a private Island next door so they were tendered as well.

We were at the far end near the inflatables.  If you stay near the cabanas its probably quieter since you are further from the construction.

They will have no problem handling the larger ships.  We all commented on how many open chairs there were on the beach.  That being said I would still get off earlier so you get your choice of location.  Especially if you want some shade.

Once the construction is finished we will definitely be back.

[Paulette3028]

2 minutes ago, dalsti said:

We were the only ship in Coco Cay.  NCL has a private Island next door so they were tendered as well.

We were at the far end near the inflatables.  If you stay near the cabanas its probably quieter since you are further from the construction.

They will have no problem handling the larger ships.  We all commented on how many open chairs there were on the beach.  That being said I would still get off earlier so you get your choice of location.  Especially if you want some shade.

Once the construction is finished we will definitely be back.

We just were at Coco Cay....shade is very limited for sure, no matter how early you get there....a great thing to do to guarantee shade is to rent an umbrella.  It was $20 for the day, and as the sun moves, you just readjust the tilt of the umbrella....worked great for my hubby.    Based on what I saw and the conversations with some home office personnel, it will be months before CocoCay is finished.  The dock isn't nearly done, so larger ships won't be visiting CocoCay for awhile....maybe middle of 2019, but I can't imagine it before then.   Perhaps the new onshore activities might be opened before then, but not the pier.  It barely looked half finished.

[SAmome]

Wow, really? I was expecting the dock to be done before an April cruise booked.

 

Did most stuff stay open Nassau day for those that don’t get off the ship?

 

did it feel more crowded with the extra cabins added?

 

are any of the shows or activities things that can be reserved so less line waiting?

 

 Thanks 

[parothead]

just booked this cabin for dec 2019 balcony sounds great