All things Monarch of the Seas

[critterchick]

San Diego has so many options it can make your head spin! Monarch docks a couple of blocks away from the Midway, a WWII-era aircraft carrier-turned museum. We toured her in May and it's quite interesting. DH is retired Navy, and was of course more into it than I was, but it was still pretty cool. You can also hop a ferry over to Coronado Island, rent bikes and tool around town - it's quite small and picturesque.

 

In Catalina, we just walk, walk and walk some more. We've hiked up to the Wrigley Botanical Garden, about 1.5-2 miles uphill. The garden itself isn't all that amazing, but you can get a great view from the mausoleum (Wrigley isn't buried there anymore - they moved him after Pearl Harbor). Then you can stop at the Sandtrap restaurant for a well-deserved beer on the way back to town. The Casino is in town, and a nice stroll from the ship - no need to buy tix through the ship.

 

Ensenada - the winery is fun to visit once. I haven't been on any other tours - some people like the Fox studio, others La Bufadora. We usually head into town for a massage and then have lunch. On the 4-day I think I'd be inclined to use the Ensenada port as a sea day, but if you've never been, it's good to try it.

[gdisney]

I thought about doing the winery tour in Ensenda in December...can you elaborate more on it?

 

The Bufadora is neat to see if you've never seen it. And if you like to shop for bargains and barter for good deals, the marketplace there is good for that. They're awfully pushy to get you into their store though!

[Sunny AZ Girl]

I thought about doing the winery tour in Ensenda in December...can you elaborate more on it?

We did the ATV & Winery Tour in Ensenada for my 54th birthday! For experienced riders it was probably a bit too tame, but since I had never been on an ATV before it was quite an experience!:D As far as the winery tour part, we were very impressed with the winery. It was a beautiful, never building. We were shown how they make & store the wine in various stages. Our guise (the winery owner) showed us his vineyards and the history of each part. In December the vineyards were brown and dormant, but still beautiful. Afterwards we had a wine tasting. We bought some wine to take home. At dinner we found that our tablemates had bought wine from the same vineyard at a local market!

 

My DD went on the same tour 4 months later & went to a different winery. She wasn't as impressed as we were. So either her winery wasn't as good or we're easier to please.;)

 

If you click on the link in my siggy and go to the Monarch, Dec. Album I have lots of pictures of the tour!:)

[lephysteria]

We also went on the winery excursion. It was a great time. I'd do it again!

http://www.jenscruisereviews.com/Monarch_111006_review.pdf

Pages 8 - 11 ;)

[critterchick]

We did just the winery tour, so took an hour ride through the countryside & learned a little history of the area. Then we visited the LA Cetto winery, saw a bullfighting ring (ick) and had a winery tour that culminated in a tasting with bread, cheese and olives. We then went to the Domeq winery, which also produces brandy, had a tour of their facility and another tasting. On the ride back we got off in town at the tasting room of another winery (can't remember the name) while the bus headed for a central drop off and then back to the ship for those who had had enough. We didn't go into the third winery, just walked back to town through the red light district. It's pretty tame during the day.

 

I am completely spoiled by having access to good, inexpensive California wines, and I don't think these wines are worth what they charge. But they are perfectly drinkable, fun to taste and you get to know a little about the area, so I'd say do it once.

[cruisePRN]

Were you allowed to bring the wine onboard after the winery tour? I'm taking that tour on my DEC 3 Monarch sailings and was wondering what happens if i buy a bottle.

I always stop at the supermarket in Enseb=nada to buy a couple bottles of vanilla. it's the same vanilla they hawk on the streets for $6 but only pay $1 in Gigante Market. They also sell wine, it is a supermarket :D

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Karyn - they told us it would be consficated at the ship and then given back to us when we disembarked. However, I just put the bag through the scanner & no one said a word!:D

[critterchick]

If they notice it, they will tell you to report to the confiscation desk that's near the security area. Some people do, some people don't. I've never seen anybody chased down.;)

[lephysteria]

Half the time the people waiting in the line at the confiscation desk are pushed into the nearby elevator by other passengers just coming back onboard. :rolleyes:

 

That happened many times on the Liberty. The one RCI employee couldn't keep tabs on all 50 people in the foyer to make sure that the booze-carrying passenger made it to the other side of the area where the desk was located.

 

I've never seen anyone chased down either.

[cruisePRN]

with your info in mind I think I'll chance buying a bottle of wine, one for bringing home and one to bring to the dinner table.

 

Jen, check out the diamond gift thread i started. Are you aware sometimes (for unknown reasons) the LA gives out crystal ships. I have two of the Monarch already and think it's something you would absolutly love.

[cruiserbryce]

If they notice it, they will tell you to report to the confiscation desk that's near the security area. Some people do, some people don't. I've never seen anybody chased down

 

working out sneaky plans as we speak:cool:

[lephysteria]

with your info in mind I think I'll chance buying a bottle of wine, one for bringing home and one to bring to the dinner table.

 

Jen, check out the diamond gift thread i started. Are you aware sometimes (for unknown reasons) the LA gives out crystal ships. I have two of the Monarch already and think it's something you would absolutly love.

 

 

;)

Santa Claus had already made sure one was in my stocking some time back ;)

 

... it sits proudly in our showcase :D

[cruisePRN]

;)

Santa Claus had already made sure one was in my stocking some time back ;)

 

... it sits proudly in our showcase :D

 

 

:D:D:D

[AdMaven]

I actually walked off the Monarch Friday with 2 bottles of wine I had purchased from RCI and delivered to our stateroom---and we never opened them. So we brought them home. I thought about leaving them for Renaldo, our stateroom attendant since he kept my white zin on ice all week, but didn't know if that was legal.

[critterchick]

It's quite legal - we often have a bottle left over and leave it for our cabin steward. Even if they don't drink they can share it with their friends.

[lephysteria]

Hi Kathy! :)

If you have Monarch questions, you've come to the right place ;)

[Cruisedreamer1]

We had a great time and all of us enjoyed the cruise. OUr ages ranged from early thirties to 70's.

 

Our observations:

--boarding and disembarking was seamless

--the soda card works out to be $22 for 3 days($6 plus 15% tip) The soda cost is $1.75 plus tip

--drinks ranged from $3.50 for some beers to $6.50 to 9 for mixed drinks

--the ship is showing some wear and tear-but is clean

--the sit down meals are better than the buffetts

--the shows were good to great(we have cruised on up scale ships and thought the M of the Sea's equal or better)

--don't miss Johnny O and his Quest game on Sunday night

--thought that there were not enough public rest rooms for full ship

--we took the winery trip and enjoyed it

 

If you have any questions, just ask!

[cruisePRN]

Do you remember what time the winery tour left, I'm not a morning person :D

[lephysteria]

Oh it was early. We met our tour on the pier at 8:45am. We were back onboard around 1-1:30 ish. But it was a great time. The wine we tasted was light, crisp, refreshing and had a nice bouquet and finish. It didn't taste like I thought a Mexican wine should have tasted ;)

 

Although there are some posters that say they didn't find the wine to be very good, and they wouldn't do the tour again. These are probably the same people that have a different opinion than I do regarding the dining room food. I thought our food was outstanding. Others say that Chops and Portofino are the only way to eat on a ship.

Your cruise experience may vary ;)

[gdisney]

--the sit down meals are better than the buffetts

 

Did you find this to be true for breakfast as well? I thought breakfast was much better at the buffet. I didn't get a chance to have lunch in the dining room last time...I'll correct that mistake in December!

[mtncouple]

San Diego has so many options it can make your head spin! Monarch docks a couple of blocks away from the Midway, a WWII-era aircraft carrier-turned museum. We toured her in May and it's quite interesting. DH is retired Navy, and was of course more into it than I was, but it was still pretty cool. You can also hop a ferry over to Coronado Island, rent bikes and tool around town - it's quite small and picturesque.

 

In Catalina, we just walk, walk and walk some more. We've hiked up to the Wrigley Botanical Garden, about 1.5-2 miles uphill. The garden itself isn't all that amazing, but you can get a great view from the mausoleum (Wrigley isn't buried there anymore - they moved him after Pearl Harbor). Then you can stop at the Sandtrap restaurant for a well-deserved beer on the way back to town. The Casino is in town, and a nice stroll from the ship - no need to buy tix through the ship.

 

Ensenada - the winery is fun to visit once. I haven't been on any other tours - some people like the Fox studio, others La Bufadora. We usually head into town for a massage and then have lunch. On the 4-day I think I'd be inclined to use the Ensenada port as a sea day, but if you've never been, it's good to try it.

Where's a good place for a massage in Ensenada? Like you said, once you've been there....So a massage sounds great to me. Then lunch, a few drinks and back on the ship.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Oh it was early. We met our tour on the pier at 8:45am. We were back onboard around 1-1:30 ish. But it was a great time. The wine we tasted was light, crisp, refreshing and had a nice bouquet and finish. It didn't taste like I thought a Mexican wine should have tasted ;)

 

Although there are some posters that say they didn't find the wine to be very good, and they wouldn't do the tour again. These are probably the same people that have a different opinion than I do regarding the dining room food. I thought our food was outstanding. Others say that Chops and Portofino are the only way to eat on a ship.

Your cruise experience may vary ;)

Jen - I'm not a big wine person & usually stick with White Zinfadel. A red wine usually gives me a headache. However, we bought the Domino wine on our tour and I actually like it! The wine experts out there would probably disagree, but we did buy three bottles!;)

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Here is a picture of the winery owner talking to us about his vineyards.:)

 

[lephysteria]

Jen - I'm not a big wine person & usually stick with White Zinfadel. A red wine usually gives me a headache. However, we bought the Domino wine on our tour and I actually like it! The wine experts out there would probably disagree, but we did buy three bottles!;)

 

OMG this was our experience too!!!

I don't care for red. It doesn't give me a headache, I just don't care for it.

 

I loved the white wines. I felt they were a good value and really enjoyed them. I believe we bought two bottles! ;)

[Sunny AZ Girl]

And here is a picture inside the winery. We were very impressed with the architecture. The whole buiding was made from brick (including the ceiling) from a brickyard right in Ensenada. It was gorgeous!:)