Thread: Information from "LIVE from the Mariner"

Here is some information I gathered from someone who is posting "Live from the Mariner" for 53 days!!!


Here I am, finally on board the beautiful Mariner of the Seas, my home for the next 53 days, until February 19, 2009.

Our E cabin on the hump is lovely. This is my first trip on the Mariner, although I've sailed Voyager class and Freedom class before.

Luggage hasn't arrived yet, but I hardly expected it by 3!

We have already made appointments for pedicures. Alas, they have only ONE "nail person" on board, so Lizzy and I cannot have "mother-daughter pedicures", which is what we prefer. She negotiated () a lower price for "just a trim" instead of a full-blown haircut.

Big crowd on board; lots of kids, of course. Not that it feels crowded - not even up in the Windjammer. The Honey Stung chicken was the best that I've had so far. Fries were light and crispy.

Check-in and boarding were so fast, I swear that I was out of breath from never stopping for a moment, from the instant we went through security until we were walking out onto Deck 4. It was SO nice bypassing all of the people waiting in line for the next check-in agent!

Everything was ready in our cabin: robes, booklets, D+ amenity (wine), welcome aboard/back letter, concierge lounge key, wine from my TA. The closet is nice and big for a basic balcony cabin - the lifejackets even slip into a little compartment in the closet so that they aren't taking up valuable closet real estate.

I'll try and read what you all say and ask as often as possible. The connection speed right now is the sloooooooowest I have ever experienced onboard.

According to the Cruise Compass, they are running a "special". Dom Perignon is 30% off! Would someone please look the price up for me, and tell me what "amazing" price that brings it down to?

Originally Posted by stanford's girl

Here is some information I gathered from someone who is posting "Live from the Mariner" for 53 days!!!


Here I am, finally on board the beautiful Mariner of the Seas, my home for the next 53 days, until February 19, 2009.

Our E cabin on the hump is lovely. This is my first trip on the Mariner, although I've sailed Voyager class and Freedom class before.

Luggage hasn't arrived yet, but I hardly expected it by 3!

We have already made appointments for pedicures. Alas, they have only ONE "nail person" on board, so Lizzy and I cannot have "mother-daughter pedicures", which is what we prefer. She negotiated () a lower price for "just a trim" instead of a full-blown haircut.

Big crowd on board; lots of kids, of course. Not that it feels crowded - not even up in the Windjammer. The Honey Stung chicken was the best that I've had so far. Fries were light and crispy.

Check-in and boarding were so fast, I swear that I was out of breath from never stopping for a moment, from the instant we went through security until we were walking out onto Deck 5. It was SO nice bypassing all of the people waiting in line for the next check-in agent!

Everything was ready in our cabin: robes, booklets, D+ amenity (wine), welcome aboard/back letter, concierge lounge key, wine from my TA. The closet is nice and big for a basic balcony cabin - the lifejackets even slip into a little compartment in the closet so that they aren't taking up valuable closet real estate.

I'll try and read what you all say and ask as often as possible. The connection speed right now is the sloooooooowest I have ever experienced onboard.

According to the Cruise Compass, they are running a "special". Dom Perignon is 30% off! Would someone please look the price up for me, and tell me what "amazing" price that brings it down to?

Awesome!!!

Just a word of caution – we had the D+ wine amenity delivered to our cabin last week on the Monarch and there was a card noting that there would be a $12 corkage charge to take the bottle to the dining room! I was shocked and angered as C&A never mentioned that there was any difference between the cabin delivery or dining room delivery.

Thanks for the heads-up. The D+ desk actually gave me that warning when I picked the amenity. At least they are being upfront and honest!

So, on Sunday, we went to the lovely line at the Dining Room, since we were assigned to late seating when I had firmly requested and been confirmed for main seating.

Maitre D' was very sorry but main seating was full, and why would we want that seating anyway? It's full of noisy, disruptive kids! (I swear, that's what he said!)

We put our names on his waiting list, and Liz at least checked out where out assigned table was. We made spa appointments and made a vow to FINALLY use the spa's thalassotherapy pool. We dashed to our unofficial Meet 'n' Mingle at the Pool Bar, but no one was there. They closed the bar at 3:30, for a 4 o'clock Muster. Oh well. Muster started late, but we survived. No crew member made ANY attempt (that I could see) to take roll. No one told anyone to put on a lifejacket in line who decided not to wear it. No one told anyone to SHUT UP. But we survived. I took off my earrings - I have always lost an earring because of the neck fitting of the lifejacket. Liz sort of made fun of me for doing this.......until she suddenly reached up to her ear and realized that SHE had lost an earring! Fortunately, it was lodged in.........well, her female anatomy.

Then we put our lifejackets back in the cabin, freshened up a bit, and headed up to the Concierge Lounge.

Just about the first people I met were in the following staterooms: 1282 and 9394. Remember those. There will be more later.

CL was crowded, but I've seen worse. Allan said that they only open a satellite lounge if there are more than 120 D, D+ and suite passengers, and there are *only* 90, so the Concierge Lounge it will be.

Hors d'oeuvres were cold and not worth eating. Champagne was a new label that I have NEVER heard of. I'll try to memorize it tonight, and you internet denizens can look it up on some wine site and tell me just how low it rates.

We spent some *quality time* with two Greek brothers. VERY interesting cultural diversity.

I was able to confirm what a Greek had told me years ago...............

What do we Americans say when something is incomprehensible? "It's all Greek to me."

What do GREEKS say????

"It's all Chinese to me!"

Dinner was at 8:45 P.M. although it will be 8:30 for the rest of the week.

At 8:45 we were the only ones at an 8-top.

Finally, at 8:55, another twosome joined us. They are a father and daughter who are (I believe) of Indian origin, who have moved to Australia, after a stint in Bermuda. ALL of their luggage was lost by the airline! But they have a very good attitude - the 16 year old daughter got to go on a shopping spree at the mall in Orlando!

They are with a large family group, and expect to be moved to sit with them by tonight.

Then there is a divorced father with his EXTRAORDINARILY charming and precocious 10 year old daughter. They were delightful conversationalists also.

And last, a couple from Connecticut, who did not bring their adult children with them.

This last foursome (who didn't know each other) had all been assigned to an 8-top of a family, who wanted those 4 seats for family members, and they graciously agreed to move. We consider ourselves lucky to have them.

Liz has decided that she's ok with staying on late seating now. (it was mostly her preference, although I share it to a lesser degree, to have main seating)

Dinner was very good.

I had:

Vidalia Onion Tart
Smoked Fish Tapenade (love that fish & caper combination!)
Hot and Sour shrimp soup
Spinach Salad
Angus Steak with mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes
(fat free/HA!) blueberry & peach cobbler.........which inexplicably came with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!!!!!

Service was very good, once things settled down.

Waiter is Yunus from Turkey. Assistant never introduced himself; I'll try harder to read his nametag tonight.

Welcome aboard show - horribly crowded. One show for both seatings; not enough seats for all. I don't like sitting in the top balcony. Tonight we vow to get there EARLY and sit IN FRONT, because it's MOTOWN!!!!! (spectrum is the name of the group)

Missed the RC Singers & Dancers intro, because we were trying to get INTO the theatre.

Abe Hughes (CD) is FULL of energy. He looks like he's about 14 years old. He told us (at the CC M&M) that his mother reads CC and calls him up any time that he is mentioned. So I guess that he'll know that I posted this!!

Frankly, he's adorable, and I look forward to 53 days of his cruise directing.

We lost some money in the slots, then wandered around a little, and returned to our cabin. The luggage was there, and spent time carefully unpacking and repacking.

It was VERY difficult fitting five suitcases under the beds, because that's where the cabin steward stores the bed coverings and pillows after he turns down the beds for the evening.

I bet that he had a HELL of a time finding everything when he went to make up our cabin today!

Itinerary - Mariner of the Seas Around the Horn - 1/4/2009 to 2/19/2009

Jan 4 Sun--Port Canaveral, Florida--7:00am to 8:00pm--Docked
Jan 5 Mon--Cococay, Bahamas--7:00am to 5:00pm--Tendered
Jan 6 Tue--Cruising
Jan 7 Wed--Cruising
Jan 8 Thu--Philipsburg, St. Maarten--7:00am to 600pm--Docked
Jan 9 Fri--Basseterre, St. Kitts--7:00am to 3:30pm--Docked
Jan 10 Sat--Bridgetown, Barbados--9:00am to 6:00pm--Docked
Jan 11 Sun--Cruising
Jan 12 Mon--Cruising
Jan 13 Tue--Cruising
Jan 14 Wed--Cruising
Jan 15 Thu--Cruising
Jan 16 Fri--Salvador De Bahia, Brazil--9:00am to 5:00pm--Docked
Jan 17 Sat--Cruising
Jan 18 Sun--Rio de Janeiro, Brazil--3:00pm--Docked


Jan 19 Mon--Rio de Janeiro, Brazil --8:30pm--Docked
Jan 20 Tue--Cruising
Jan 21 Wed--Cruising
Jan 22 Thu--Montevideo, Uruguay--9:00am to 7:00pm--Docked
Jan 23 Fri--Buenos Aires, Argentina--7:00am--Docked
Jan 24 Sat--Buenos Aires, Argentina--6:00pm--Docked
Jan 25 Sun--Cruising
Jan 26 Mon--Cruising
Jan 27 Tue--Cruising
Jan 28 Wed--Cape Horn, Chile--4:00pm to 6:00pm--Cruising
Jan29 Thu--Ushuaia, Argentina--7:00am to 5:00pm--Tendered
Jan 30 Fri--Strait Of Magellan--Cruising
Jan 31 Sat--Chilean Fjords--Cruising
Feb 1 Sun--Cruising
Feb 2 Mon--Valparaiso, Chile--11:00am--Docked


Feb 3 Tue--Valparaiso, Chile--9:00pm--Docked
Feb 4 Wed--Cruising
Feb 5 Thu--Cruising
Feb 6 Fri--Arica, Chile--7:00am to 6:00pm--Docked
Feb 7 Sat--Cruising
Feb 8 Sun--Lima (Callao), Peru--7:00am to 6:00pm--Docked
Feb 9 Mon--Cruising
Feb 10 Tue--Cruising
Feb 11 Wed--Cruising
Feb 12 Thu--Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica--7:00am to 7:00pm--Docked
Feb 13 Fri--Cruising
Feb 14 Sat--Cruising
Feb 15 Sun--Acapulco, Mexico--7:00am to 6:00pm--Docked
Feb 16 Mon--Cruising
Feb 17 Tue--Cabo San Lucas, Mexico--7:00am to 4:00pm--Tendered
Feb 18 Wed--Cruising
Feb 19 Thu--Los Angeles--8:00am---Docked

I know that I have been neglecting you guys and this thread, but tomorrow when we are in Jamaica (Ocho Rios), I'll find an internet café and catch up (ketchup), I promise.

Food has been very good to excellent EVERYWHERE on the ship so far.

I don't know what recent Mariner whiners have been complaining about.

*Some* of the staff at the purser's desk could use an enema or high colonic.

Melissa, the LA, is PERFECT - the best I have ever encountered. She gave a speech at the general C&A party tonight that was actually worth listening to.

Captain Johnny is SO entertaining.

Make A Wish Foundation auctioned off ship-based goodies tonight, and raised many thousands of dollars on bridge tours, galley tours, and CD-led behind-the-scenes tour and an ENGINE ROOM tour.

I love our cabin steward Catur. He made a NEW towel animal tonight - we think that it's a turtle.

I asked for more hangers - he brought 15!

Pool towels, schmool towels. We took ours to Labadee today, and he put new ones in the cabin while we were out. None of this "you can only exchange them" chazzerei.

Kids all went to bed on time tonight - they were out roaming around after curfew last night.

Too crowded in the pub for us to go in and participate in the fun.

Celia, Giovanni at the Schooner Bar told me that Angelo is in the Promenade Bar now, so I'll go look for him tomorrow.

Does anyone know the best place to buy booze in Ocho Rios? Dang store on board has NO JACK DANIELS!!!!!!!

At the Crown & Anchor Welcome Back party last night in the Lotus Lounge, Captain Johnny specifically mentioned the fact that he will have to BACK the Mariner down the channel 1.7 nautical miles to its berth in San Pedro!

He told us how he trained to do it at STAR on the simulator.

You know what?

People often ask about differences between ships, or classes of ship, and will I like this one or that one.

In my experience, the PURSER'S STAFF is often the big difference.

Cabin stewards are just as good on all ships.

Waiters and assistant waiters are just as good on all ships.

But the Guest Relations people....................WONDERFUL on Sovereign, Majesty and Monarch.

But I have encountered more snarky and snotty attitudes on the big ships. NOT ALL. This is only a mild generalization, but there it is. Gaston has been very kind and helpful, but...................

There is this ONE woman at the desk here who is about to suffer a brain aneurysm from all the eye-rolling that she does. It's simply unacceptable.

Dinner on Monday, Night 2:

Shrimp cocktail (small but tasty, and there were 5 or 6 of the critters) - it was actually served in a real shrimp cocktail server - two metal dishes that fit together that had been chilled.

Lobster bisque - really wasn't very good. I've had it before on RC ships, but it was always better than this one.

Atlantic cod - good, except for three VERY large bones. At least they were big enough that I easily spotted them, instead of accidentally ingesting them.

I asked for the filet, too, and he had to bring the whole plate.

The waiter called it filet mignon, which you and I know that it is NOT - it is a tenderloin of beef.

It was DELICIOUS. Fork-tender, and very flavorful. Two large slices, but I would rather be served less and ask for more than be served too much and waste food.

No dessert for me. I never waste calories unless I know that they are "worth it".


Dinner on Tuesday - Night 3

Caprese Salad
Scallop Risotto - the smallest serving of this that I have ever been served, and I always order it when it's available. It was tasty.
Caesar Salad
Garlic Tiger Shrimp - very garlicky and good
Fat-Free chocolate mint cake - one of my absolute favorite RC desserts - I recommended it that way to my tablemates, and they all got it. Fortunately, they liked it, or my reputation would have been shot to hell!

I had asked for coffee ice cream on the previous nights.........tonight they paraded out with four dishes of it! Special order! I *do* like RC!

Raj, our headwaiter, has (illicitly) arranged for me to trade in my (TA-sent) Asti Spumante for a bottle of Korbel Brut tonight.


There were two Crown & Anchor Welcome Back Parties last night - one for early seating and one for late. (we're in late)

At our party, the most cruised passenger had 75 or so, so he of course won the champagne. I've been trying to meet him, because Melissa told me that he is staying on for the 46 days, and was on last week, so he has me beat by 7 days.

But at the first party, the most cruised passenger only had 22!!! I would have won!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, this is one of those weird truth-is-stranger-than-fiction stories.

On Monday, we were at sea, so the dining room was open for lunch. Liz and I decided to eat there.

For anyone who doesn't know: Lunch and breakfast are open seating in the dining room. Someone escorts you to an open table.

A crew member started to lead us to one table, then quickly realized that those people weren't English-speakers. She changed course, and led us to another table, over by the window.

We sat down, and started to get acquainted.

First, I noted that the man (it was a family of four) was wearing a cap that said "Ocean City, New Jersey" on it.

I asked if they lived there.

He said "no, but we had a boat there", or something like that.

I asked if they lived in New Jersey, and he said, "No, Pennsylvania."

I said, "Oh, where in Pennsylvania?"

He said, "Philadelphia.".

I said, "Where in Philadelphia?"

He said, "Well, not *in* Philadelphia.....we live in the suburbs."

I said, "WHERE?"

And he said "Bala Cynwyd."

People, Bala Cynwyd is so close to Merion that they are in fact almost the same place, just different zip codes. Neither really *exists*, except as zip codes. Both are just parts of Lower Merion Township.

They live about ten blocks from us! Their kids are in 10th & 8th grade, and attend the same schools that my kids did. They have many of the same teachers. We know many of the same people.

So, to summarize:

We are on a ship currently sailing with more than 3,600 passengers.

There are some 40 countries represented on this cruise.

Thousands were eating in the Windjammer at that time, hundreds in the main dining room.

And we were seated at a table with people whom I probably see around home every day without even realizing it.

How do you like THAT?!??!?!?!?

The Monday night show, Spectrum singing MOTOWN, was FANTASTIC.

Lizzy and I got there early, as we had promised ourselves, and sat plunk in the middle of the front row.

These guys were FABULOUS. I knew every song and almost every word, and sang along and danced (in my seat - my daughter would have KILLED me if I had gotten up to dance!)

So, they see that I'm bopping along with them, and they started to sing "I'll Be There (Reach Out )"............

and we REACHED OUT to one another - one guy leaned all the way down from the stage and grabbed me!

Then they introduced themselves, and one said that he had lived in Philadelphia for a long time, and I, well, I whooped. Loudly. It was great!

What a wonderful show! Spectrum performs all over - afterwards this same guy told me that they had played last year with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops at the Kimmel Center.

Last night there were two ice shows, so no main theatre show. Just the auction and the Love & Marriage Show, which I already told you about.