A Great Getaway From It All

Navigator of the Seas Cruise Review to Mexico

lisahorneonfox

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 25

Overall rating:

4.2 out of 5

Verified Review

4 Night Catalina & Ensenada (Los Angeles Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 07, 2022

Ship: Navigator of the Seas

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9674

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 2 years ago

Review summary

The amplifications made on this ship were excellent, especially in the pool area. Drinks: Goonbay Smash and Lime and Coconut are outstanding! They hold 70s and 80s theme parties so bring your neon tees or bell bottom jeans and get ready to dance. No need to rush to the pool area to get a lounge chair. We had plenty of chairs to choose from at noon. If you get there by 10am you may get a cabana or day bed. The Escape Room was not open on our cruise due to Covid protocols still in place. Note: NO MASKS are required on the ship if you are vaccinated. MASKS ARE REQUIRED embarking and disembarking.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Very smooth, did not have to wait in line and we arrived 1 hr before our scheduled time

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

The MDR was terrific. I had the Caribbean pork chop on Liberty OTS and it was very dry but on this ship, the chef nailed this chop! So tender I didn't need a knife. Everything was very good to excellent.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

The Main Pool was out of service but since the ship was only 38% capacity we had other pool options. The 70s and 80s theme parties hosted by Mey were excellent... she really gets the crowd going. The Fitness Center was surprisingly busy in the morning but I really loved the Lifestyle Fitness treadmill.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Make sure you do Majority Rules and Battle of the Sexes games. Both of these were not all fun but hilarious! The ice skating/drone show was also fantastic on Day 4! Do not miss!

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Sezai, Santu and Raj in the MDR were excellent, Mark our cabin steward (made awesome towel animals every day) was truly fantastic and Mey, the cruise director, was the best I've ever seen. She got everyone moving and grooving and was quite personable.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Ship was well maintained and I really enjoyed the amplifications onboard, especially at the pool area. There's a taco/burrito/nachos bar that really relieves lunchtime crowds at the windjammer and the food is very good! The tropical theme was very nice, the day beds and cabanas were fun and the Lime and Coconut Bar is two-decks tall and has lots of sitting areas!

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

To be fair, the last stateroom we were in was a royal suite so this was a step down. The reason for the 3 stars is: NO USB ports in the room. This is 2022, there is no excuse to at least have that convenience. The bathroom had NO storage/cabinets but the living space had cabinets. I did find the speaker announcement volume control by the mirror in the room and that was nice to not have blaring voices at 7 am. Bed was comfortable. Balcony was ample enough. Plumbing worked great and there were no problems in this room.

Ship tip

Go to the Happy Hour for Diamond members! It is held in the (formerly called) Viking Lounge on Deck 14 and the views are a 10!

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Catalina Island, California

3 out of 5

Nothing opens before 10am so eat a late breakfast on the ship. Marlin Club and Luau Larry's are local hangouts for bar lovers but it can get rowdy. Pebbly Beach is not recommended for sunbathers. The sand is not smooth and the rip currents are strong. Also, some sharks nearby are not unusual.

Thumbs Up 0

Ensenada, Mexico

4 out of 5

They've really cleaned up Ensenada since I was last here. We walked from ship to down town (about 2 miles one way) and it was a nice walk. Get fish tacos here. This is the best taco I've ever had. Remember, everything is negotiable here and if you pay more than 50% of the quoted price you paid too much. Most vendors do speak passable English.

Thumbs Up 2