Great Family Vacation

Navigator of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 65

Overall rating:

4 out of 5
Verified Review
Navigator of the Seas

7 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 24, 2014

Ship: Navigator of the Seas

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 8394

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 10 years ago

Review summary

The cruise was a great opportunity to get the extended family together and booking a suite was great.  It served as an informal meeting area and general spot to have a conversation virtually anytime of the day or night.  There are some great amenities on the Nav of the Seas including Johnny Rockets, the FlowRider, climbing wall, mini golf, casino, and just great venues for laying around to read a book.  Meals were nice and varied beyond what I normally have at home but not quite up to the quality on Celebrity.  The waiters were excellent and fantastic at delivering immediate food service for my 15 month grandchild while the rest of us studied menus. 

 

The drawbacks are the ports of call.  Roatan had beautiful beaches but what a desperately poor island with desperate people trying to make money; it is one thing for a country to encourage tourism but depressing when the poverty level is so high.  Belize was great with lots to do but the tender situation is ridiculous; either find another port or dredge that one so ships can get to shore.  As to Cozumel, in a few years with global warning and rising ocean levels the problems of this port will be solved.  I summary, only Belize was worth the stop but very limited in time by the long tender rides. 

 

I would advise some considerable change to the disembarking.  I am willing to bet that half the problem was arriving in the middle of a three day weekend (Labor Day) and the longshoremen were likely the least senior if not just hired that day.  But you should have anticipated this and taken charge.  Yeah, I hear you saying you can't interfere with the unions; then stop porting at Galveston.  You threat to leave and things will straighten up. 

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
fantastic conversational time with family but average food quality

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5
FlowRider, climbing wall, casino all great; enjoyed mini goal and shuttleboard too

Entertainment

1 out of 5
Only the Illusionist/comedian was worth seeing and I saw every show. The Beach Boys music let alone voices didn't sound like the real band. The first night's comedian wasn't even funny..

Children's Programs

5 out of 5
both the ice show and the check in tots program were excellent.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
waiter and assistant (table 352) were fantastic and accomodating of 15 month old needing food quickly

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
great activities and only minimial waiting for some things like the Flow Rider

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Family suite is way to go

Ship tip

Conserige Club is a fantastic place to read a book in quiet in a beautiful setting.

Ports of call

Galveston, Texas Did not visit port

don't know, no time to visit

Coxen Hole, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

1 out of 5
poverty stricken and desperate people

Belize City, Belize

3 out of 5
put tendering it a pain and uses up two hours (not counting waiting in line for the tender) of your short time ashore.

Cozumel, Mexico

1 out of 5
Why bother
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