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Voyager of the Seas & Hooked on RCL Service
Just got off the Voyager yesterday and do have to say it was one of, if not the best cruise ever. The weather didn't cooperate for water activities in Grand Cayman and cancelled Jamica altogether and there were many dissappointed cruisers. For us, this was our first time on the Voyager but our 4th time to the ports and all we wanted was a relaxing, laid back cruise. We got that and more! Our hang out spots became the Aquarium Bar, the Pig and Whistle (we both became superstars), and the Cafe Promonade.
On Monday we received a call from the excursion desk and were told that maintenance work was needed in our cabin on both Cozumal and Grand Cayman days and they would need us to be out of our cabin on those 2 days. I'm thinking, not a problem, we'll just get up earlier to head out to shop. But no, the shore excursion manager continues on that to compensate us for our inconvience they would like to give us free excursions in both ports. For Cozumal, we were offered and accepted the Tulum Mayan Ruins and Beach Break - a $99 value each! We were going to just hang out and shop that day so we quickly accepted this one. For Grand Cayman they offered the Land and Sea - a $79 value each. We turned that one down because we had prebooked a similar land tour with Capt Marvin and told them we would just be ready to leave our cabin earlier. Then on Wed, Martin calls us and tells us he had left us tender tickets one under our door and did we get them? I mentioned in our conversation that I had heard lots of good things about him on the DS. Well, next thing, he sends us Conceirege Lounge cards! Now this was our platium cruise and we were in a JS so we were delighted to be able to enjoy a few drinks and preorder some wine for dinner on one formal night. All of this, and I mean all, was never asked for nor were we ever upset about having to be out of our cabin. We honestly feel the Voyager Officers and Crew went above and beyond for this slight incovience.
Our only problem in the whole cruise was a mix up in our Portofino's reservation. That was handled well and we received wine and champagne with our meal.
We were at table 443 and Rick and Nick were absolutly the best. And at the Aquarium Bar, Keith and Carlos became our overall favorite bartenders. Loved their personal service. Keith would actually see me coming and have my usual sitting before me before I even got on the barstool completely. We really enjoyed Derek's show on several occasions and glad he is back on a ship out of Texas. The staff in the Cafe Promonade were always friendly as well as in the Windjammer. Having my last 5 cruises being on other than RCL, I found the food to be much much better than I remembered. Both in the Windjammer and the MDR. Favorites included chicken marsala (can cut it with a fork tender), fisherman's platter, prime rib in MDR; honey stung chicken and beef bourgouinne in the Windjammer; and cocunut cookies in the Cafe Promonade. But everything we had was great. The first formal night we skipped the MDR and found escargot in the Windjammer. Also, we found caviar in the Champagne Bar.
The ship looked to be in extremely good condition considering it is headed for dry dock in a few months. There are little things but it still looks outstanding.
By far, the best thing were the fellow cruisers. We had a wonderful Roll Call group and it was great meeting the ones we were able to do so. And we had two wonderful couples for tablemates. And I so enjoyed talking to Margie from Fredericksburg - sure hope I have that much moxey when I get to be her age. And I can't ever forget John and King - love those guys and were delighted to be invited to a wine party in their corner aft balcony cabin.
We will be back on the Voyager one day and are more than willing to pay more to sail RCL - after all, you get what you pay for.
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What a wonderful time you had .... and the staff is still as good as I remember from our 2 cruises on her.
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