Experienced cruisers with first time travellers - frustration at start but ok afterwards
Navigator of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern
8 Night Eastern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)
Sail date: November 14, 2015
Ship: Navigator of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 9562
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 8 years ago
Review summary
As experienced cruisers, we built up the RC cruise to the in-laws as an experience not to be missed. After spending 3.5 hours in line to get on the ship, they were exhausted and in no mood to be impressed. It was embarrassing for me considering how much I bragged on RC and how efficient it is. Luckily, their state room and on-board experience was their first vacation in literally 20 years so they did not have anything to compare the experience to. Since we travel abroad often, all of the missing "little things" were very noticeable to us and it was not an impressive cruise. Hopefully, we will convince them to go on another cruise with us in the future, but it wont be on the Navigator of the Seas.
A few items in no particular order :
Safe not working for 3 days
No hot water in shower for 3 days
Charged for minibar items that were not used
Lost luggage between boarding and room
Windjammer buffet - ok but nothing special
Sapphire dining - excellent
Room staff unseen - left notes for repairs and had to call maintenance ourselves and had to stand in room for hours waiting for them to show up. Reminded me of waiting for the cable guy.
Constantly a line of at least 8 people at the customer service desk. Literally the entire cruise we never walked by the customer service desk without a line being there. Personally stood in line at least 4 times adding up to hours of wasted time.
As RC gold members, we are not supposed to be required to attend the ridiculous safety drill, but had to for this one. * edit * (it has been pointed out to me that this drill is mandatory for all passengers. All I can say is that on our last two cruises we were not required to attend due to previous cruise experience)
Overall, the cruise was not terrible, but I am sure that isn't the review rating that RC was aiming for when they charged me for the cruise. We have been on many cruise lines and still seem to prefer RC, even though the cost is a little more. Sadly though, one more cruise like this one and we will be looking for a different line.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Ship tip
Overall not impressive. We will save up for another cruise. Hopefully it will be RC and hopefully it will be more impressive.
Ports of call
Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)