Royal Caribbean International
Monarch of the Seas Cruise Review
Baja, Mexico

Jon Trudeau
Age: 42
Occupation: tech support / marketing
Number of Cruises: 2
Sailing Date: October 24th, 2005

Getting on / Getting off

Convenient parking at the terminal. Check-in went smoothly. As is customary, we were called to board in groups. The wait in the cruise terminal was reasonable; about 15 minutes before they called our number. Bags were waiting at our cabin when we arrived.

Disembarking was fairly speedy, too. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the top deck while we waited for our group to be called. Note: Having a US passport speeds your return to the US, as the line for citizens with passports is considerably shorter. We were in our vehicle and on our way by 9:30 AM.

Ship and Cabin

Our cabin was at midship, ocean-view, Deck 6. The cabin was small but comfortable. Plenty of closet space. Very small vanity top held little more than your wallet and keys. If you are a neat-freak, you’ll need get over that for a few days. The queen size bed was in fact, two well-worn singles pushed together. My only negative regarding the room would be the bed (s). Time to replace those mattresses, folks! I’ve thrown away better bedding!

The ship was very nice. The Viking Lounge offers incredible views while enjoying a cocktail. There is an outdoor walking / jogging track circling the ship which was a nice place to walk off those delicious dinners! A central atrium with several shops (including Seattle’s Best coffee!) was a popular crossroad. The ship was clean and well maintained. The crew was professional, friendly and helpful.

One negative: Smoking is allowed in too much of the ship. And in the places labeled “No Smoking”, people smoked anyway. Ideally, the interior parts of the ship should be smoke-free zones (c’mon, kick the habit already!) At the very least, they should do a better job of enforcing the current “No Smoking” areas.

Food

No cruise review is complete without addressing food! First, the negatives: I was disappointed that the heavily promoted Jade Sushi Restaurant was never actually open. In the four and a half days I was aboard, and the three times I went searching for sushi…it was always closed. I was also chagrined to learn there was no beer on tap in the Windjammer Lounge, despite it being listed on the menu.

Dinners in Claude’s dining room were always delicious. Some of the especially good entrees included scallop risotto, tiger shrimp with vegetables, prime rib, and an orange glazed salmon filet. I also recommend the Indian cuisine for lunch at the Windjammer. The biriyani rice with Caribbean coconut chicken was spectacular!

Ports

San Diego- Visited the aircraft carrier USS Midway, berthed a short walk from the cruise pier. Enjoyed it very much. You don’t get very many opportunities to tour a modern carrier-so I willingly forked over the $15 per person fee. Afterwards I enjoyed a quick beer and some smoked fish at Anthony’s, right on the bay.

Catalina Island- My favorite port of the three we visited. I had previously read reviews referring to Catalina as “a tourist trap” and “K-Mart by the Sea” so I arrived a cynic. But I was pleasantly surprised. We rented bicycles and got some much needed exercise by riding up the valley to the botanical gardens. We also rode along the shore and all through the town. (Watch out for crazy tourists in golf carts!) I loved it! We visited a few art galleries. I found Catalina quaint, friendly and colorful.

Ensenada- Didn’t spend too much time ashore here, as we had been here before. On a previous trip we visited La Bufadora, a natural waterspout on the coast. The waterspout itself is fascinating, but I didn’t care for the gauntlet of street vendors you have to endure to get out to it. Definitely go see La Bufadora once, but arm yourself beforehand with such phrases as “No thank you”, “No, Gracias!” and “I freakin’ said NO!”

{PS: $2.50 Coronas available at one of the cantinas near the parking lot!)

Summary: I enjoyed this cruise. Would I go again? Yes.
 

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