Vision of the Seas November 2014

Vision of the Seas  November 2014

Our first cruise driving to the port from our condo in Sanibel.  Left around 8 AM for Tampa and parked at the Parktologist's.  Shuttle came shortly and they dropped us off at the luggage drop off area.  Line to enter the building was very long and slow moving.  No priority line.  Once inside we were able to enter the priority line to get our sea pass.  Again, a long line to get on the ship.  We waited a few minutes until 1 pm to enter our room.  A bit smaller than other GS's but the balcony is wider than on the Adventure of the Seas.  The tub is much larger.  We ate lunch at Windjammer and both had hamburgers, struggled with finding something appealing.  We are not fans of the buffet.
After lunch we returned to our room and my bag had arrived.  Muster was at 3:30.  At 3:15 the steward insisted we vacate the room before the signal had been sounded.  Muster was at station 5 on deck 5.  We had to wait for all the stragglers to find their way before starting the drill.  Royal Caribbean is one of only cruise lines that still makes you stand outside in the heat.  After the drill we came back to the room and unpacked.  Went upstairs to get water and listened to the band on the pool deck.  They were okay, but very loud.  Back to our balcony for sunset with drinks from the pool bar.

We went to the concierge lounge for drinks before dinner.  It was very crowded.  Dinner at 7:00.  Our waiter was Roque and assistant waiter was Roland.  I had roast chicken and Greg had roast beef.  Both were good. We missed the entertainment which started at 7:45.  No other entertainment so we went back to the room.

Sunday Sea Day

Thoughts:  Our bed was very hard, room service doesn't have a place to order what is available for suites.  We had to write our order in on the form.  Water is lukewarm at best coming out of the sink.  Shower was barely warm last night but Greg said warm enough for him. Most of the tv channels are non-English channels  and the only English channels available were Turner stations which meant CNN for news. Noise above our room started around 5:30 AM every morning.  Sounded like chairs being a scraped across the floor. Steward is Patrick, nice but not assertive.

Greg woke up very early with his back hurting and I didn't sleep well due to the hard bed.  Room service arrived at 8:30 with breakfast.  My eggs were very undercooked and cold.  Everything was cold.  Greg's omelet was warm, not hot.

Cruise Critic gathering was at 10:30 in the Viking Lounge.  Over 40 people attended.  That was a large group for the small inactive roll call we had.  They gave away several good prizes (not the usual  luggage tags).  CD and activities director conducted the meeting.  A few stayed to mingle but most left quickly.

At noon we had a reception for suites in Chops Grille.  A seated lunch with liquor and appetizers.  Very nicely done.  Officers came by each table and introduced themselves.  Dede from AOL is now in charge of guest relations.  One couple that was not in a suite but had a high status level was indignant that they did not receive an invite and were very vocal about it.  Interesting.  They knew they were supposed to be invited, showed up, and preceded to tongue lash the Concierge.  It was his first cruise as the Concierge.  I felt bad for him and irritated at the couple for making a scene.  The ship was full of cruisers who felt very entitled.  We had bloody Mary's and plenty of appetizers.  We left Chops and  went to MDR and had lunch.  We were both full and only had a salad.  Then back to stateroom.
We both napped at different times, Greg watching football.  Tonight was formal night.  We went to the Concierge lounge at 6:00 and it was full.  We sat in the Viking Crown and visited with a couple until time to go to dinner.  Greg had beef tenderloin and I had shrimp ravioli.  After dinner the captain  talked in the centrum and then the aerial show which was very amateurish.  Then to the theater for a show with Horizon (soul town music).  Pretty good. Patrick placed two comforters on top of the mattress but it was still very hard.  We asked for a mattress topper but was told by Patrick that they don't have them on the ship anymore, but we heard several people saying in the Concierge Lounge that they requested a topper and received it.  Cruisers with high loyalty status certainly received more attention than those of us in a suite.  We saw that throughout the cruise.

Monday. Roatan 24th wedding anniversary

Breakfast in the concierge lounge.  We talked to the Concierge about the hard mattress and he was going to see what he could do. We had to go to the theater to leave the ship for our excursion.  We were off the ship by 10:20 and went straight to the pontoon that took us to Maya Key.  It was better than the last time we were here.  Perfect weather, only one excursion on the island, and food was very good (BBQ chicken and fried sea bass, rice and beans and banana chips).  We stayed until 3:30.

Returned to ship, rested a bit, bathed and dressed for dinner.  We had asked for reservations for Giavanni's at 7:00 but did not receive a confirmation. Called  the concierge and he called back and said we could come at 8.  We said we prefer 7:00.  He called back and said 7:00 was ok.  Went to concierge lounge at 6:00 and again very crowded.  When we went to Giavanni's it was only half full and probably 3/4 full when we left.  Not sure why the request for 7:00 was so difficult.   Only two choices of red by the glass and two choices of white (both Chardonnay).  Greg's first choice was Chianti and we were told that they didn't have it anymore.  2nd choice tasted awful so they pulled his wine from the MDR.  My Chardonnay was fine.  Dinner was very good. Greg had lamb chops and I had veal.  After dinner we went to the production show.  No waiters anywhere.  We asked hostess and finally one came.  I asked for a Brandy Alexander and he said what?  When it came they charged $13.50!  Show was Boogie Wonderland.  Ok, but not fantastic.  Wanted to hear piano player in Schooners.  No one was in Schooners to listen to the music, no waiters coming by taking orders, and the singer was mediocre.  Went to the room.

Tuesday.  Costa Maya

Gave room service another chance and much better today.  They called before delivering and food was hot.  Arrived to rain and lightning, so we cancelled our fly fishing.  Mid morning we walked into the port but didn't stay long.  Owners of the stores were annoying and it was raining lightly.
So we went back to the boat and read for awhile. We had lunch in the MDR which they opened due to so many people staying on board.  We went to the concierge lounge to read for awhile.  Greg returned the call from the beverage manager (Jannear Young Davis) and they visited about the availability of wines, especially Chianti in  Giavanni's and bar service in the theater (or lack thereof).  She sent us two complementary bottles of wine and a cheese plate before dinner.  We dressed for dinner and went to the concierge lounge.  Again it was full and we had to sit in Viking Lounge.  Talked to a couple from the Villages.  For dinner in the MDR, I had prawns and Greg had fried chicken.  They did have a coconut dessert.  Coconut parfait. We watched the aerial show in the Centrum.  Better than the first night but still just ok.  We then went to the R bar and listened to Hott Sands.  Band is pretty good, we immediately had a waiter ask for our drink order and she knew what a brandy Alexander was. Amazing!

Wednesday. Cozumel that didn't happen.

Seas were very rough last night (room had lots of noises) and we were cancelled due to high winds.  Found out two ships did dock but since we do not have azapods, it would be harder for us.  On to Grand Cayman where we will arrive earlier (you would think!).  We had already ordered room service early.  Both had eggs Benedict and it was good.  Room service was very prompt.  We left the room mid morning so Patrick could clean.  We went to the casino bar for Bloody Mary's then to the Concierge Lounge to read.   Concierge told Greg we would receive a 20% off coupon on a future cruise due to the noise above us.  Appreciated but certainly not expected and probably won't be used.  We ate lunch in the Solarium cafe.  Food was just ok.  Solarium was not as crowded as we expected and we found a table easily.  Back to the room to read and nap.  Weather continues to be rainy and very windy so being outside is not an option.  Tonight was formal night.  We went to the Concierge earlier (5:15) and it was packed again.  We were seated in Viking but seats opened up quickly.  Dinner at 7:00.  I had lobster and Greg had prime rib.  They brought Greg lobster too and we split the extra lobster.  We saw the production show which was a compilation of Broadway tunes.  Ok- nothing special.

Thursday.  Grand Cayman.

Since we skipped Cozumel we arrived earlier in Grand Cayman than scheduled.  We ate breakfast in the MDR and then went to the concierge lounge for a ticket to the tender..  Taxi bus took us to Calico Jacks.  It was $5 a person and they filled the bus to capacity before taking off.  We went on down the beach too where the beach was wider and we could rent loungers and umbrellas ($15).  We ate conch fritters and wings at Calico Jacks.  With one drink and 3 beers it was $60! Good but expensive.

We left around 3 and stopped at Margaritaville. Greg got a tshirt and I bought one for Parker.  Sat on the balcony for a bit and then got ready for dinner.  Concierge Lounge then dinner.  I had lasagne and Greg had pork tenderloin.  Went to the theater and gee there were bar waiters everywhere.  We saw the ventriloquist Ron Lucas.  He was excellent.  No music was available after the show- only contests so off to bed.

Friday sea day
Rainy then cloudy and windy all day long.  Greg got up earlier and went for breakfast in the concierge lounge.  We went back to the concierge lounge after I got up via a Bloody Mary from the casino bar.  We read for a while.  Back to the room and MDR for lunch.  The menu had changed slightly and we both had she crab soup and a hamburger.  We had a bridge tour at 3:00.  Ok but not that informative. Vision of the Seas has one of the first woman captain. She was very nice and we saw her around the ship more than most captains.  However, NCL's bridge tour was better.

Drinks in the concierge lounge but again full so we sat in the Viking Lounge.  Visited with a couple from Germany that came over on the Liberty then the Vision and was getting on the Brillance after our cruise.  Dinner was enjoyable talking to a couple next to us from Jacksonville.  I had fried seafood and Greg had turkey.  We barely made the 9:00 show which was a juggler.  Good but not great.  Bags had to be out by 11:00

Saturday. Disembarkation

We were supposed to be off by 8:50 but closer to 9:30.  We were late getting docked due to the high winds getting from Grand Cayman to Tampa.  We had continental breakfast  in Chops while we waited.  Getting bags and through customs every easy.  Called the Parktologist's and they came quickly.  In the car by 10:30 and on our way back to Sanibel.  Not our best cruise.  Definitely, one of our least favorites.  Certainly did not feel that we received our money's worth by sailing in a suite this time.  This was our first cruise at a non holiday time.  Royal Caribbean was selling inside rooms for $199 right before the sailing.  Lots of  Royal Caribbean loyalist from  Florida jumped on the cheap fares.  Heard many bragging out the cheap fares, how they don't pay for any liquor by staying in the Concierge Lounge from 5 to 8, even though there is a separate lounge for high level passengers.  Not the environment that we are used to on a cruise.  The weather didn't help the situation either but that was not the main reason for our negative feel for this cruise.  The biggest complaint was the hard bed and how little we were able to sleep.