Rhapsody review 3-25-07 !!!!!!

[Lake Erie Boaters]

Well all I can say is that our cruise was a solid 15 out of 10!!!! Right out of the ballpark like a homerun here in Tigers Stadium :)

I'm sorry we didn't go to the Meet and Mingle, I never got the notice in our cabin so I thought maybe it was cancelled, plus it was hard to tear myself away from the glorious pool!!!! :D We boarded at 1pm after Amy "TIGFAM" called me and said to get on board! I'm sorry we never got to meet you, Amy1118 said you had left a message, but our light never blinked that we had one. I did meet Amy1118 and Karen "Hogwild" also I met Montgomeryfamily, it was great to share wonderful memories with you all. Our Cabin Steward was a wonderful women and we had room 4570 and she was awesome! I did buy a fan in Galveston and left it to the her after, she loved it! I have NEVER slept better in my life, the covers were wonderful and soooo cozy!!! We got there on Sat late afternoon and after renting a car at Houston Airport-Enterprise we were in Galveston around 9pm after going to Targets, then we ate at Gaido's- Kaseys that is attached, yummy and friendly, great view of the Gulf!!!! We stayed at Gaido's also, it was clean and friendly, they did have a pool, but no frills inside the room, but it was only $79 for cruisers so perfect as long as it was clean!! Plus right on the Gulf of Mexico also and attached to the 2 restaruants!! And they give you a $10 coupon to eat there too! So after we ate it was 10pm, we asked about buying liqour and to my surprise all liqour stores were CLOSED!!! And no liqour on Sundays either. We were shocked they closed so early on Saturday, so if you need to buy prior to boarding buy before 8pm on Saturday!!! So no smuggling for us even though I had 4 rum runners!!! So we got up Sunday, shopped in town and then dropped the rental in Galveston and got a shuttle from them to the ship, the line for Carnival when we past it was I swear 2 blocks long, I thought oh no!! But we got to pier 2 where RCI is and breezed right in NO LINE at 1pm at all, got our sea pass cards etc and had pics taken and bingo we were on Rhapsody in awe!!!! They know what they are doing for sure. The rooms were ready at 1pm when we got on also. The staff was fantastic, so friendly and helpful always had a smile for you and help. The Windjammer was good, they had an omelette station for breakfast, yummy! And at lunch/dinner it was a stir-fry- I almost liked the Windjammer better for breakfast/lunch/dinner better because of the choices and things I would never eat before but did try, and liked!! At the late seating dinner hour we had a great bunch of people, 2 people never showed up! But we all had fun!!! The midnight chocolate buffet was awesome too, what a show!! Chris the CD was really upbeat and a lot of fun!! The comedians were good and the games also. We did the drink seminar, $9.95, highly recommend it!!! The bar staff puts on a "Cocktail" type show with the bottles and dancing and then you get to get the 4 drinks that they show you how to make!! YUMMY and all for $9.95, plus lots of fun and entertainment too, this was done in "Shall We Dance Lounge", "Broadway Melodies Theater" had decent entertainment shows, "Piano Man" "Pure Country" "Mosaic" "Bobby Collins" "Milt Abel" -The pool entertainment was "Heatwave" a great reggae group!! I miss hearing them! The pool games were a blast, best leg contest for men, best biceps for women, belly flop, and cannon ball, plus more!!! So much to do! At bingo they gave away a 7 night cruise and a $3,000 prize, plus the smaller winners too! We only played a tiny bit in the casino, lost of course, but had fun!

We tendered at Cayman, docked at Key West and Cozemel. I posted a review of Nachi Cocom at Cozemel on there board, awesome place!!!!!! The Quest was so funny!!! Surely not to miss! Even after posting on the ships compass, adult only, and after Chris said it prior, I was surprised to see people come in with with their kids :confused:

I did use the extension cord, brought the duct tape but didn't use it, but glad to have it just in case, I did use TSA locks on all my luggage and no problems at all, even brought our snorkel gear in a back pack and checked it on the plane! Be aware with the TSA 1 qt 3-1-1 ziplock bag rule, they are enforcing it!! Also, funny story, we still did not have one bag and it was 6:30pm Sunday, so our CS said to call the purser desk, we did and she said there was something suspicious in it, well we laughed because we didn't even have any liqour!! The 4 rum runner bags were in a bag we had gotten already but empty!! So we went down to deck 1 and there were about 200 bags plus, so he opened ours and rifled through and he thought my tanning lotion and hair spray were liqour, so we opened them and proved him wrong, gathered our bag laughing thinking we get busted and didn't even have anything!! So be warned they are really checking!!! Disembarkation was perfect also, we were ready prior to the 9:10am yellow tag calling, and we checked the deck and no one was there, they said sure grab your carry ons now if you'd like, we were off in no time back to real world :(

The weather was great, the waves cooperated and it was just a perfect trip! Not one complaint!!!

PS- The drinks of the day were great!!! Plus only $4.25!!! Also, if you want a chair by the pool, you have to be there by 9am, people saved chairs everywhere and there are signs that say please respect others and not to save more than 30 min. but sadly I saw many chairs with towels on them and literally no one ever showed up hours. I would put my book down and go grab something in the Windjammer or my DH would stay till I got back, but after an hour I think the pool attendees should remove the towels, so be advised on sea days if you want a chair poolside get out there by 8:30-9am, or you will be on the upper deck, which is nice too but not close to food or drink stations. But great breeze!! Have fun and if you have a question please ask!!!

We met some wonderful people and I'm sorry we didn't get to meet all the CCers here, I probably did run into you and said hi, everyone was so friendly there, my only disappointment was leaving this great ship!!!!

Lori :)

[Nitra]

Whew! Take a breath now...:D

 

Thanks, I am going on her one final time in 33 days... sniff sniff. I love hearing others had a great experience too. I personally like the Windjammer, never did understand how some dont like it, but guess it is personal taste. I cant eat the size of the servings in the dining room so Windjammer is a great option for me for breakfast and lunch, dinner I gotta go to the dining room!

 

Oh gotta ask, did they still have the garlic soup?? I love that stuff!

[Lake Erie Boaters]

Yes to the garlic soup! They had all kinds I never head of, I didn't try the garlic though, even cream of sweet potato, plus lots of cold fruit ones! I'm jealous of you going in 33 days!! ;)

[Nitra]

I dont like the cold fruit soups but OMG the Garlic is sooo good. The night they offer it, I get two bowls and bread and that is all I have.. LOL

 

I might have to try the sweet potato soup. Think I will do like I did with the Garlic, go to the Windjammer when it opens for dinner, get a bowl of soup and see if I like it. :p

 

33 days is taking a long time to pass, I got my docs today! I am so ready to go.

[Lake Erie Boaters]

Lucky you!!!! The entertainment was really great! Heck everything was! I loved the blankets on the bed!!!! So cozy!!! :)

[wolfcathorse]

Did you have Capt Anders? I think they're checking all the bags closely cuz it's Spring Break.

[brn2crz]

Now this is a review I have really been waiting for..

I know you were having so many second thoughts about this cruise..But tell me the truth....Wasn't it everything,plus more that we said it would be ?

:D

 

Anyway..welcome back glad everything went well,even with your car rental....Now we just need to get you on the Voyager with us in January!!!

[Lake Erie Boaters]

Yes it was Capt. Anders, Chris Armas was the CD. I need to work on DH for another cruise now!!! I planned this all myself, he just showed up! :)

And yes, it was everything I hoped for plus more!! :D

Lori

[wolfcathorse]

I loved Chris Armas, he's very visible and approachable. Not to mention energetic!

[SForman]

Thanks for the great review.

[crazy 4 cruising]

great review. I get on Rhapsody in 18 days or so & can't wait. You didn't mention--is Derek Lewis back in the Schooner Bar? He has Kamakazee Kareoke. I sure hope he is back.

[Lake Erie Boaters]

great review. I get on Rhapsody in 18 days or so & can't wait. You didn't mention--is Derek Lewis back in the Schooner Bar? He has Kamakazee Kareoke. I sure hope he is back.

 

YES he is there!!! He is good!!!! Lots of fun!! Anything I can help you with don't hesitate to ask :)

Lori

[Ligayskin]

Wow! I am so glad you had a great time and your review makes me even more anxious to go! I know you mentioned the drinking seminar but what are some of the other activities besides that and bingo and what is the average cost of them. Also does it have a shopping seminar? The last cruise did and got lots of great tips and would hope to do the same this time. Thanks for the info.

[benandelena]

garlic soup?!?! how come no one has ever mentioned this before?!? i'm even more excited now! can't ya tell? :p

[Lake Erie Boaters]

Wow! I am so glad you had a great time and your review makes me even more anxious to go! I know you mentioned the drinking seminar but what are some of the other activities besides that and bingo and what is the average cost of them. Also does it have a shopping seminar? The last cruise did and got lots of great tips and would hope to do the same this time. Thanks for the info.

 

Hi yes they do a shopping tip prior to the ports. Plus its in the compass you get the night before, I always took the little cheat sheet part and tucked it in my DH pocket, it has the whole 24 hour days activities!!! Perfect to know what to do!! There are game type shows (you can watch or participate in it), kareoke for adults and kids, good comedy acts, Broadway type shows, DJ Disco, theme nights 70's-90's in disco bar. A piano bar- there is so much to do you need to go 10 times to get it all in :D - Oh Ping pong & video game room, library and internet rooms, exercise room, and on the top deck is a running/walking track all around the ship- all outside, really neat to walk and see the water etc. Spas, lots of shops too! Hope this helps out ok!! Just keep asking it will job my memory more :p Here are some pictures of the Mariner docked next to us in Cozemel for you, she is alot bigger than Rhapsody but both beautiful!!!

Lori

[crazy 4 cruising]

YES he is there!!! He is good!!!! Lots of fun!! Anything I can help you with don't hesitate to ask :)

Lori

 

GREAT. we sure enjoyed him the other times we were on ROS. He was on vacation not too long ago, so glad he is back.

[crazy 4 cruising]

garlic soup?!?! how come no one has ever mentioned this before?!? i'm even more excited now! can't ya tell? :p

 

 

it is awesome soup!!!

 

 

REALLY

[crazy 4 cruising]

Hi yes they do a shopping tip prior to the ports. Plus its in the compass you get the night before, I always took the little cheat sheet part and tucked it in my DH pocket, it has the whole 24 hour days activities!!! Perfect to know what to do!! There are game type shows (you can watch or participate in it), kareoke for adults and kids, good comedy acts, Broadway type shows, DJ Disco, theme nights 70's-90's in disco bar. A piano bar- there is so much to do you need to go 10 times to get it all in :D - Oh Ping pong & video game room, library and internet rooms, exercise room, and on the top deck is a running/walking track all around the ship- all outside, really neat to walk and see the water etc. Spas, lots of shops too! Hope this helps out ok!! Just keep asking it will job my memory more :p Here are some pictures of the Mariner docked next to us in Cozemel for you, she is alot bigger than Rhapsody but both beautiful!!!

Lori

 

it's so good to see the dock able to have 2 ships at once docked. the first time we were in Cozumel was right before Wilma and Mariner was there too & we were in awe. Went on Voayger since then & it is BIG in deed