Terry Salyer
terrysalyer@galaxycable.net

Age: young 50's
Occupation: computer programmer
Number of Cruises: 1
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Name of Ship: Voyager of the Seas
Sailing Date: February 23rd, 2003
Itinerary: Western Caribbean

This was our first cruise and it was fantastic. We sailed February 23 through March 3rd. I researched everything there was about cruising on the internet, and found some very helpful information, so now it’s payback time. After all the research, we decided to start our first cruise with the top of the line cruise ship. The Voyager of the Seas is not only the largest, but it is the most beautiful ship inside and out. Beauty and some great engineering made the perfect vacation on the Voyager. We traveled with our great friends Joel and Clare. The ship has 17 bars onboard, and it was our mission to hit each one at least once. It was lots of fun.

Packing – We each packed one pair of sandals, one pair of dress shoes and one pair of casual tennis shoes, and a pair of aqua shoes for the beaches. (If you do the Dunn’s river fall in Jamaica, you will need the aqua shoes). The dining room requires men to be “smart casual”. Wear slacks or dockers and a sports shirt or nice dress shirt. Two of the nights are formal wear, so I packed a dark suit and dress shirts. My wife packed a dress suit and a dress for the formal evenings, shorts and sun dresses for the daytime. Some wore tux’s and evening gowns to the formal dinners, but we were perfectly comfortable with our attire. I did not pack enough shirts. I could have used more T- shirts. We actually wore our swimming suits most of the time, especially when on the top decks.

Miami – We flew to Miami a day early. We stayed in the Best Western Marina Park hotel
down town. It is an older building, but the rooms were quite cozy. The “Bayside Marketplace” is only about 3 blocks down and 3 blocks over. We had no problems walking there and back. There are lots of restaurants, shops, outdoor music and entertainment. We had a few beers at “The Hardrock Cafe” and ate at the “Bubba Gump Shrimp” restaurant. We even rode on one of the horse and buggy tours. A great time was had by all.

Embarking – We took a taxi to the Port of Miami about 11:00 on Sunday morning. We handed over our luggage to the porters, tipped them and walked right in. There were no lines at all. We signed in and got our “SeaPass” card for charging all purchases, and walked right onto the boat. Took 15 minutes at the most. We then headed to deck 11 for lunch in the Windjammer and spent the rest of the day exploring the ship.

Restaurants/food/drinks – The Windjammer and Island Grille serve buffet style meals for breakfast lunch and dinner. You have try Johnny Rockets, 50’s style diner, for their hamburgers and malts (there is a $4 charge for the malt, but well worth it). The dinning room is a beautiful 3 tier banquet room that serves 5 course meals. Café promenade is open 24 hrs, and serves sandwiches, pizza, cookies, etc. You have to see the midnight Gala layout with all the ice sculptures, carved watermelons and the most gorgeous display of food you have ever seen. All food here is free, but you pay for pop and alcohol. The bars charged $2.75 for beer, and $3.95 for the special drink of the day. We drank 23 ounce Amstell Light beer for $4. The fancy drinks were like $6. Somewhat expensive, but not to far out of line. You can get drink cards for pop/fountain drinks for $20 for kids, and $33 for adults. Individual cokes were $1.50. House wines were $4.50.

Entertainment/activities – There is so much to do on board that you will never get bored. There’s basketball, wall-climbing, putt-putt golf, swimming, hot-tubs, sun bathing, spa, exercise equipment, skating, jogging, bingo, board games, art auctions, souvenir shops and much more. Then there is the live entertainment in the La Scala Theater, ice-skating shows, and don’t forget about the casino.

Cabins – We were on deck 8 near the aft of the ship. The room was laid out perfectly and well designed. We had plenty of room for us and our luggage. There was an ample closet space to hang clothes and plenty of drawer space, and room under the beds for the luggage. They furnish the hair dryer and had a huge lighted mirror that Elaine really liked. The bathroom had plenty of space to move around in with a cute rounded shower. I expected to hear people walking around in the cabin above us or walking outside in the hallways, but it wasn’t so. It was very quiet. Next time I will bring a digital clock so I can see what time it is when I wake up in the middle of the night. They have wake up call phone service.
Our cabin steward was very nice and very efficient. He made the greatest “towel animals” each night. I didn’t miss any windows or outside deck, because the only time we were in the cabin was to change clothes or sleep (we practiced sleep deprivation for most of the cruise because there was so much to do on this ship). I finally hit the ‘Wall’ about Thursday, and needed to take a nap.

Sunday – After lunch we explored the upper decks. We played putt-putt golf on the aft of deck 12. What a great view of Miami and the bay. After checking out the pools, hot tubs, rock climbing wall, basketball court, etc on the upper decks, we decided to visit the promenade on the fourth deck. There are several bars and shops on this beautifully decorated mall, that is 5 decks high. It is the center of attention on this boat. Lots of fantastic art work. The parades and gala events are held here. The “Kruze Komics” roam around and spread humor. Ice cream dispensers are open 24 hrs for everyone. It is a nice place to hang out and watch people from all over the world. It is like a small town main street and you will visit this area many times. At the end of the cruise, the shops have some pretty good sales. The ship departs around 5:00 P.M., so we went back on deck 12 to watch the boat leave port. We then went to the ‘High Notes bar’ that is surrounded by windows with excellent views of the swimming pools and beyond. We had the second seating for dinner, so we changed clothes and headed to the La Bohemme dinning room on deck 5. (more on the dinning room later)

Monday – This was our first day at sea. You have plenty of time to check out the ships amenities, exercise equipment, spa area, pools, etc. Most people hung out on the upper decks sunbathing. After eating lunch, we hit the adult only pool and hot tubs, and played golf. Be sure and have plenty of suntan lotion. Lots of people didn’t, and got burnt on their first day out. There were lots of ‘red sun burnt bodies’ at dinner that night.

Tuesday – We arrived in Labadee Haiti about 8:00 A.M. There is no dock for the boat, so it remains in the bay, and they ‘tender’ you to shore in smaller boats. You have to wait in lines for a little while, but it’s not that bad. Be sure to have your ‘SeaPass’ with you.
Labadee was a beautiful place. The beaches were great. The first beach was too crowded, so we walked over to the second one on the left. We snorkeled next to the rocks, and saw plenty of fish, starfish, shells etc. The water was very clear, even in depths of 20 or more feet. I was the only one in our group who has snorkeled before, so I taught the others. It is very easy and everyone learned rather fast. We planned to do some major snorkeling in Grand Cayman, so this was the prefect place for everyone to hone their skills. My wife doesn’t swim, but she did fine. Here they require you to wear a snorkel vest (you inflate as much as you want by blowing into a tube). I left mine deflated so I could dive down and check out the sites. They even have instructors there to show you how if necessary.
The ship brings lunch to the shore as a buffet style meal. It is served under a permanent open-air type building. It was OK for what they had to go through to get it there.
The Haitians have a market place behind the beach areas. They have some beautiful wood carved statues, paintings, stone ware, etc. I love to fish, so I bought a large wooden carving of a fish. You have to barter with these people on the price. He started at $60, and I got him down to $20. They take American currency of course, so don’t forget to bring some cash. Always cut the price to at least half of what they want. It may take several tries, but they will come down to your price. If you are not interested in their wares, just say no thank you and keep walking. They tend to be pushy and do all they can do to get you to look at their wares. I really had no problems at all, and bought some beautiful items at a good price. There is plenty on the island to keep you busy: Parasailing, waverunners, kayaks, Banana boat rides, and floating mats. ( all for a price of course).

Wednesday -
We traveled at night, and arrived in Jamaica the next morning. We booked our excursion through ‘Pete Taylor” oneiltay@cwjamaica.com They took us on air-conditioned buses through a rain forest called Fern Gully to the hill tops in Jamaica. (Pete will even sing Jamaican songs for you). The countryside was beautiful, but the people are very poor. You get to see how the people actually live. The people seem to be either rich or poor.
They then took us to ‘Dunn’s River Falls’. It is a very beautiful 600 foot waterfall that is tiered in varying levels. You can get a locker to store you stuff while you climb the falls. Everyone holds hands and forms a human chain and climbs to the top. It was great. Be sure and have your waterproof camera. There are literally thousands of people of all sizes and shapes, so don’t worry about making it to the top. It was very crowded, but fun. A must do for Ocho Rios.

Pete brings you back to the boat for lunch, and will even pick you up afterwards to go shopping around Ocho Rios if you want. There is a shopping area about 2 blocks from the boat dock. We went there and had a couple of drinks at Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville. It’s a wild place. Most of the stores in this shopping area had prices marked on the items, so you did not have to barter. If it is a ‘outside vendor’ then you have to barter.

Thursday – We arrived in George Town Grand Cayman the next morning. We had booked a snorkeling excursion online. This is the reason I came on this cruise. We chose Captain Marvin’s watersports - www.captainmarvins.com . The entire operation was very professional. I would recommend them to anyone. They are only 2 blocks from the dock and furnish all the snorkel gear. After we signed in and paid, they bused us to where the boats are. It only took about 15 minutes, and you get to see some of George Town. We only had 22 people on our boat. The crew was excellent. They took us on about a 30 minute boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef. What a beautiful place! When you put your snorkel gear on and put you face into the water, a whole new world opens up. I was totally in awe and amazement of the beauty. Fish were abundant, the coral reef was thriving with life and the water was totally clear. The water was about 20 feet deep, and my wife was very nervous. I convinced her that the vest would prevent her from sinking, and to relax and just kick her feet in a scissors motion. She did fine and really enjoyed herself. We made 2 stops on the reef before going to a sandbar called Stingray City. Here the water is only about 4 feet deep. The guides instruct you on what to do and what not to do. They furnish squid bait to hand feed the rays. What an experience! There were hundreds of rays of all sizes. Some with wing spans of 4 feet or better. The guides will catch one and let you hold it and take pictures with it. Some people would not get into the water with the rays, so the guide took one close to the boat for them to see and touch.

They also have a professional underwater photographer on board, who video taped the entire trip. I wear glasses, but had to remove them in order to wear the snorkel mask. I could see things, but not in great detail. I ordered a video for $54 and now have a record of this outstanding experience. It arrived the next week, and was fantastic. (Now I get to see all the fine details in great clarity).

Shopping in George Town was also great. Made some good buys on Rum. The Grand Cayman experience is something I will never forget. WOW!

Friday - We hit Cozumel Mexico Friday morning. The four of us chose the Tulum/Xel-ha excursion. They picked us up at the boat and ferried us down to Playa Del Carmen where we caught an air conditioned bus to Tulum. The ferry boat ride was about 45 minutes, and the bus ride was another ½ hour or so. (You can get some great T-shirts, very cheap, on the ferry boat ). They stopped about half way for a bathroom break and some shopping at the local shops. The ride really didn’t seem that long. The Mexican guide tells of the Mayan ruins in great detail and then allows you to explore the area at your own pace. Our guide, Saul, was very knowledgeable about the Mayan history and Mexico.

There are iguanas all over the ruins. My wife accused me of taking more pictures of the iguanas than I did of the ruins. The trees, flowers and yucca plants are a wondrous site as well. The ruins are right on the coast line with beautiful aquamarine waters lapping on the beaches. Some people even went into the ocean to cool off. I estimated the temperature to be around 90 degrees, but still felt comfortable. If you like history, and beautiful scenery, Tulum is a fun excursion.

We then boarded the bus again for about a 20 minute ride to Xel-Ha. This is where the inland river meets with the incoming ocean water. What a beautiful place! Lots of activities for any age, or just sit around and relax. You don’t have much time to spend here, so make the best of it. They had several open-air restaurants, and lots of small shops. The water is very clear and great for snorkeling. I saw a school of large yellow fin tuna. WOW. There is plenty to do; swim with the dolphins; snuba; tube the river; explore underwater caves; etc. The entire place is well thought out and well kept.

There is no time to do any shopping in Cozumel. Because the Tulum/Xel-ha excursion is about 8 hours, you have to book this excursion through Royal Caribbean, but you can do it online before-hand. The tickets will be delivered to your cabin.

Saturday – This is the last day at sea, heading back to Miami. Relax, enjoy the food and drink, and have your bags packed before nightfall. Be sure and let them know when your flight leaves. You can do this on the RC television channel. This then determines which color of tag you get for you bags and the order that you disembark.

Sunday – You arrive early Sunday morning. Make sure you get up early and get a big breakfast. It may be awhile before you eat again. You must then meet at your designated place for disembarkation. Once off of the ship, you have to go through customs. Make sure you have filled out the paperwork they give you. It doesn’t really take all that long.

Tips:

Compass: The Compass is a daily newsletter the cabin steward leaves in you room. It will list all the entertainment, drink specials, and daily activities aboard the ship to help you plan your itinerary.

Cameras: Take your camera everywhere you go on the ship. You never know when something interesting will come up. It makes for a great documentation of your cruise. Be sure and buy some of the returnable underwater cameras for the snorkel trips.
Dinning Room: Don’t miss any opportunity to have dinner in the Dinning Room. The meals were excellent. You start with an appetizer menu with about a dozen choices. We always picked two appetizers, one of which was always a soup. The soups were excellent. You then get an entrée menu, with mouth-watering choices, and then a desert menu that was a great finish to a great meal. The waiter and assistant waiters occasionally also got together and sang or had parades. We enjoyed each and every evening meal. It was nice to get dressed up for the formal dinners also. They have professional photographers stationed at different entrances to the dinning room. The pictures are very good. (If you don’t have a red face from being sunburned). Every picture taken is displayed on the 3rd deck, so check them often, because they don’t leave them out.

Tipping: They recommend a $3.50 per person per day tip for the waiter and cabin steward. $2 for the assistant waiter, and your choice for the head-waiter. He came to our table every night and talked with us about football, his home town in Greece, or about our meals, etc. Some people complained about tipping the head-waiter because they never saw him. He does do a lot behind the scenes to make sure all runs well. All of the tips could be added to your SeaPass card or paid in cash in the envelopes they give you the last night. I took a bunch of $2 bills for any general tipping to the baggage handlers, taxies, room service, and so on. That worked out well. Each and every one deserved a nice tip because they do everything in their power to serve you. There is an automatic gratuity added for all drinks in the bars.

If you go to the boat early on Sunday, be sure to have whatever you may need for the rest of the day, because you may not get your luggage till that evening.

On the excursions, I recommend taking bottled water, sunscreen lotion and some means to keep your money and small possession’s dry. (a good baggie safety pinned to the insides of you bathing suit works well). I carried a back-pack everywhere with minor first aid stuff, sun screen, sunglasses, bottled water, camera, film, etc.

All of the bars on the boat were very good, and seldom crowded. The one with the best view is the “High Notes” on deck 14. The panoramic view of deck 11 with the pools and the surrounding ocean view are fantastic.

Do not miss any of the shows, especially the “Ice Show” and the “Dreamscape” theater productions.

The excursions do not have to be booked through the cruise lines. Surf the net for some great excursions at a better price than the ship offers.

We spent an extra night in Miami so we could relax and not have to worry about making our flight on time Sunday. Clare put in a bid on Priceline.com of $50 for a 3 star hotel in Miami Beach and we got it. We really needed that day to unwind from the cruise, and enjoy the warm weather one more day before returning to Nebraska.

Summary – When we booked this cruise, we thought it might be a once in a lifetime thing. Wrong. We are hooked, and will save our money for our next cruise. I highly recommend the Voyage of the Seas, “The greatest vacation on earth”. Take a look at the Royal Caribbean web site. It shows 360 degree virtual tours of the ship. http://www.royalcaribbean.com/asp/default.asp If you need additional information, please e-mail me.

Bon-voyage

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