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Awesome again!!! by
Alesia (Lisa) M from Salisbury, MD Sailing date: Nov 2009Pros: Fun things for the teenagers Cons: Unsure, everything we did seemed wonderful. Although we were told this is the smallest of the cruise ships, it was wonderful. We have taken a Royal Caribbean cruise once before and it was great also. I get motion sickness very easy. Even though our cruise was much rougher than last time, it did not seem to affect me at all. I thought every thing seemed amazing. Ship QualityEverywhere we went seemed very clean and the staff in all the areas were exceptionally helpful. I could not have asked for a better staff of people. Dining/FoodWe did not miss a night in the dinning room. Our teenagers enjoyed getting dressed up and the staff in the dinning area was phenomenal. The food was beautifully displayed and delicious (although I do like my food with a little more flavor) it was still very good. Stateroom QualityWe had a junior suite and it was great having a balcony. I loved going out there at night time and reading and watching the ocean (part of God's beautiful world). Ship Staff QualityI do not think there was an area that did not go above and beyond. The ship staff was excellent in every area that I used. Entertainment & Activitiesthe shows were great. I wish that there was more clean comedy. Although a person is funny, not everyone enjoys filthy jokes. Children's ProgramsOur teenage girls met some wonderful new friends and had a great time with the youth staff.  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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  The best of the best Caribbean by
Bill S from Kennett Square, PA Sailing date: Oct 2009Pros: 1- Great Liner-like ship 2- easy from Rt 95 access no airplane Cons: Embarkation most of this could be done on-line and by mail. Lets do a good and bad review.
Well get the bad out of the way first. RCCL, and the Port of Baltimore should look at Philadelphia and model an embarkation that would have lines of chairs (lounge style) with refreshments for the several thousand mostly senor cruisers to wait and be called to the check-in desks row by row rather then a 2 hour stand in a long, long, grueling, winding, single file line. Ideally we should be dropping off luggage and walking up the gangway SeaPass in hand all pre-arranged via the inter-net and mail.
Now the ship For me the Grandeur of the Seas is a throw-back to the days of the great liners a wonderful teak promenade deck with a highly varnished cap-rail encircling the ship. She has the grand dinning found on the SS United States in the days of old, and that that massive Centrum (open atrium) luxury and marble. Sail on her now because I believe the RCCL Vision Class is the end of an era. Enchantment of the Seas, a Vision Class will also be ported in Baltimore next year. For those with a concern for sea travel the Grandeur is a very sea kindly ship with an easy roll in roughest of seas and a rock steady, quiet ship that you would never know was moving a joy to sail aboard.
The crew the RCL folks are the most polite, helpful, engaging people in the cruise industry, from the maintenance staff fixing plumbing and scrubbing down that teak, the housekeeping, the dinning wait staff, the entertainers, right up to the captain. Captain Rob Hempstead and his Rhode Island humor kept us in stitches. It isnt the usual to have a US captain. He even did a cooking show better stick to commanding the ship.
The food myth no, I didnt gain on the cruise. I sampled - and what sampling! RCCL matches the finest restaurants and feeds a thousand guests simultaneously, amazing. And it feels as it you are the only guest they have that is how you are pampered.
The itinerary of our 9 day cruise included great destinations and the best were St Thomas for touring and Samana for just plain relaxing. I enjoyed the warmth (San Juan was a bit too hot) and the breezes. If I were planning, Id just have 2 stops and more time - St Thomas and Samana.
Future in the 1890s my great grandfather captained the SS Cienfuegos, Ward Lines New York, Nassau and Cuba run. She carried about 40 passengers and had 2 passenger decks. I can image those folks amazement had they viewed the Grandeur of the Seas. We are now amazed by the new Oasis of the Seas - may we always enjoy sea travel.
Ship QualityCruise ships are generally pretty well kept - Grandeur of the Seas is the cleanest best kept ship I have ever sailed Dining/FoodAs mentioned RCCL matches the finest restaurants world-wide. Be sure you dining time suits if not, change it 1st thing when you go aboard the dining staff are very accommodating. Ask you dining wish is their command. Stateroom QualityStaterooms are larger then you might think and well appointed lots of drawer and closets you wont have to live out of a suitcase Ship Staff QualityWe had a slow shower drain it was fixed quickly. Needed an extra pillow - right there. Whatever the request, nothing was too difficult. The staffs in all areas were great. Entertainment & ActivitiesI was surprised to the entertainment stature of that of Marty Allen and his wife great show. The production company shows were good, some of them, but they need to pay attention to demographics a 70s, 80s, and 90s hip show didnt go over well for a 40s, 50s and 60s audience. The Wilds and James was a treat. 0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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Baltimore to Bermuda by
E Wheat from Baltimore, Md Sailing date: Oct 2009Pros: Cruise was smooth. Size of Grandeur is comfortable. Staff great Cons: Nasty drinks at all cocktail parties..even Crown and Anchor parties..No chocolates at night It was our 4th cruise on this ship out of Baltimore. Very easy and convenient. We enjoyed Bermuda. Cruise staff is great. Shows mediocre. Food also mediocre. Ship QualitySize is perfect. Rooms clean, well stocked..Casino is old and dull Dining/Foodfood was nothing special..Watched them play shell game all the buffet with fruit and danish ands rolls..Had them out then put them away. Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff QualityEveryone nice Entertainment & Activities
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50th Anniversary Cruise by
A Traveler from Warrington Twp., PA Sailing date: Sep 2009Pros: Ship access accomadations in Baltimore, MD Though the ship, Grandeur of the Seas, was in very good maintenance condition we did not get the impression that it was one of the newer and larger luxury liners of today. We would, however, continue to recommend this ship. Ship Quality
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Stateroom QualitySrateroom condition was excellent however window could have been cleaner on outside. Ship Staff Quality
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i enjoyed the cruise by
margaret d from ne ga Sailing date: Sep 2009Pros: the staff was excellent for the most part Cons: some clothing items were stolen : the departure could have been better regulated ; the days in port's departures could have been better regulated The ship is older but still a good ship. The size of the populations gives a cruiser the opportunity to meet and sustain relationships with staff and cruisers. The work out room needs work ! Ship QualityEverything on board was very clean. Dining/FoodWe only ate in the diring room once : the variety and offerings in the Windjammer kept us coming back to it. Stateroom QualityThere needs to be a clock and assess to an iron in the staterooms. Ship Staff QualityStaff were good for the most part. Entertainment & ActivitiesEntertainment was enjoyable. 0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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Great cruise aboard the Grandeur of the by
Mary Ann D from Pittsburgh Pa Sailing date: Aug 2009Pros: service & friendliness of the staff Cons: tendering on Samara could have been better organized We recently returned from a cruise aboard the Grandeur of the Seas. This was the first time that we sailed on Royal Caribbean and found it to be similiar to other ships and cruise lines. The staff was always friendly and willing to serve your every need. I would consider another cruise with Royal Caribbean becasue of the great time we had on our vacation. The ports of call were great and we especially liked spending time in Labadee. The shows on board were great-the singers and dancers were amazing. Ship Quality
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Labadee (Cruiseline Private Island)Great way to spend a day at the beach
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Samana, Dominican Republic
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Finally saw the beaches of San Juan by
Deborah C from Potomac, Maryland Sailing date: Aug 2009Pros: Itinerary and port times Cons: just small amenities missing - had to pay for cappucino, etc even in the main dining room, beach towels on 9th deck when debarkation is on the first deck for beach stops. Older ship but well kept up. Wait staff was wonderful. Some of the entertainers were a bit long in the tooth, but then, so am I so I found it nice. Ship Quality
Dining/Foodmy husband is diabetic and I am not permitted sodium. Ship accommodated almost all of our wishes and all of our needs. Wish they had more sugar free desserts - jello? and brought an unopened pound of unsalted butter but cook refused to use - a shame because it limited some of my selections. Stateroom QualityJust wish they had either a fridge or guest accessible ice. Twice a day ice didn't allow us ice late at night for our sodas. Ship Staff Qualitywait staff is excellent. Others vary according to personality. Crown and Anchor rep not very knowledgeable or particularly helpful. Entertainment & Activities
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Labadee (Cruiseline Private Island)They have really upgraded this private island since our last visit.
San Juan, Puerto Ricofirst time a cruise had decent hours in port. I am not interested in middle of the night stops and bar hopping tours. This time finally got to see one of the beaches. Will never go back unless I can hit one of those wonderful beaches again.
Don't Miss: Isla Verde beach Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasAlways hit Sapphire Beach. Shame a lot was closed this trip but beach is still beautiful.
Don't Miss: Saphire beach Samana, Dominican RepublicFound a motorcycle taxi who took us to a local beach. They caught a fish for us for lunch. Had a wonderful time. Bring your own raft - the water is great.
Don't Miss: Playa Anadel 0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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WE LOVED IT! by
Kathy W from Virginia Beach, VA Sailing date: May 2009Pros: everything Cons: nothing In MAy 2009 we cruised on Grandeuar of the Seas from Norfolk Virginia to Bermuda and we loved it. I had read reviews saying it was an older ship but it was LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL and the staff was great. The meals were Fabulous. Our waiter Jozef was awesome. I would so cruise on this ship again. My family ranged in age from 16 to 57. Previosly we had cruised only on Carnival and we LOVE Carnival so we went open minded to RC. WE will definately do RC again. We traveled out of Norfolk Virginia what an easy place to get onto the ship and off. Much easier than Ft. Lauderdale. We have cruised out of Norfolk 3 times now and just wish they would bring more and more cruises and ships there. The staff there is great and smooth running. Ship QualityThe ship was PLENTY BIG, layout was easy to learn and enjoy plenty of quiet space, plenty of space to enjoy entertainment it was always clean. We have never stayed in any rooms above the 2nd floor (mainly because of cost) but wehave NEVER MINDED. The bottom floors are just fine, quiet and peaceful. Dining/FoodThe food was greast!!!!!! One night my son and husband ordered lobster and my son asked the waiter what if I don't like lobster? Our wonderful waiter asked if you don't like it what might you want on the menu so my son said prime rib. My son ended up LOVING the lobster and before he took his last bite our wonderful waiter JOZEF had a prime rib dinner ready to set down in front of him and my husband and they enjoyed that meal as well. Needless to say breakfast was not high on the priority list for the guys in my family : ) The food was great, My son always enjoys eating the most on cruises I think. Stateroom Qualitya great amount of storage space. The rooms on the Carnival ship was bigger but we had Plenty of room for three in a room!!! We had a bed for us and then the third bed came down from the ceiling perfect for our 16 year old he didn't mind at all. Our room was an oceanview room on the 2nd floor just lovely. Ship Staff QualityEvery one on the ship was more than helpful and I am telling you we so enjoy going back to our rooms at night and with anticipation open our doors to see the animals the staff makes out of towels...silly I know but a nice touch. Entertainment & Activitiesgreat shows. We particularly liked the wine tasting we had never done that on a cruise before. There is always so much to se and do!! We actually didnt have time to do all we wanted to even on the ship so next time a longer cruise!!! : ) 8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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A really nice & relaxing cruise! by
Neal Myers from Columbia, MD Sailing date: Jul 2009Pros: The food was generally excellent. Cons: We didn't find many of the shipboard activities interesting. A really nice ship; small enough to make it easy to get anywhere, but large enough to have all the amenities I wanted. Everything was well maintained. I was especially impressed by the nightly sanitizing of the swimming pools & hot tubs. Ship QualityEverything was well maintained. I was especially impressed by the nightly sanitizing of the swimming pools & hot tubs. Nothing was shabby, nothing was dirty; obvious pride shown by the ships crew. Dining/FoodMany choices, always found something I liked. Problems & special requests were quickly handled by the staff. Desserts were excellent, although breakfast pastries came out of the freezer. Eggs/omelets were cooked with excessive fryer oil, giving them a greasy "off" taste. Stateroom QualityCan't say enough about the cabin steward, who cleaned meticulously, & provided anything we needed. Ship Staff QualityGenuine concern from entire staff, & everyone went out of their way to satisfy special requests. Only real problem was the Port & Shopping Guide, who provided little information about the ports of call; he just seemed interested in promoting local merchants. Entertainment & ActivitiesOnly fair. Annoyed by charges for just about every activitiy. Children's ProgramsGreat staff got the kids involved in activities that kept them both busy & happy.
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Labadee (Cruiseline Private Island)Great beach day. Be sure to get a chair in the shade, as the afternoon sun can be brutal. Nice looking beaches for play, but too many rocks in the water to have much fun.
San Juan, Puerto RicoInteresting town to visit, but required a lot of walking. Shops were of little interest, mostly overpriced & low quality merchandise.
Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasSome nice shops, but nothing special. At least the taxis are regulated & fees are fixed.
Don't Miss: Ferry to St John Samana, Dominican RepublicNothing to do in town. Beach excursions are the best way to experience this stop.
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relaxing getaway by
Ted N from Lake Worth, Florida Sailing date: Jun 2009Pros: overall experience Cons: small cabins Grandeur of the Seas is showing some rust and the staterooms need some updating, but overall, this cruise was very enjoyable. The food was just right, the crew, especially our stateroom attendant and the dining room staff, was terrific. We wanted a relaxing break, and this cruise was just that: a good value for the money. The cruise port of Norfolk sets a good example on how to get people on and off the ship with as little frustration as possible. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodThe "anytime dining" option is the way to go, Stateroom QualityThe outside staterooms were the smallest we have experienced, the decor needs updating, but overall, we were comfortable and the staterooms served their purpose. Ship Staff Quality
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