Mariner of the Seas - February 3, 2022

Mariner of the Seas - February 3, 2022

Mariner of the Seas - February 3, 2022

 

Just The Facts:
Ship: Voyager Class, launched 2003, 140,000 tons, Pax capacity 3100
Captain: Thore Thorolvsen

Ports: Port Canaveral, CoCoCay, Cozumel
Weather: Very Good--clouds and sun

This is my 4th cruise on the Mariner of the Seas, my 33rd Royal Caribbean cruise, and my 172nd cruise overall. I’m sailing with the Dear Wife (DW) celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary and coincidently we sailed the Mariner of the Seas together exactly ten years ago this week from Galveston.
 

Day One--Thursday—Embarkation  

We were up early enough to finish packing and hit the road at 9:30 am. This is now my fifth time driving to Port Canaveral so used to it now. It was my first time to park at Park-n-Cruise just outside the official Port Canaveral area arriving about noon. They have Valet parking and very nice buses. After checking in just a short wait for the shuttle. We arrived at the Royal Caribbean terminal by our scheduled 12:30 arrival time and proceeded through the Boarding process. Initial screening as entering, then Security, then Health & then the RCCL Check-in. We never stopped or had a wait as went from station to station and onto the ship by 12:45 pm. Super fast and super easy. We rolled our bags on with us and dropped them at our cabin on deck nine. A FIRST for us, we have a suite and the bonus is that it’s a premium location: dead center on the ‘hump’ (extended balcony area midship). Wow, it’s nice. We left our bags in the walk-in closet and walked up to the Windjammer for lunch. The DW had a nice Salad…I had Roast Beef, Potatoes, Broccoli & Carrots, and we shared a selection of nice desserts. Then we had another FIRST! We witnessed our first rocket launch. A Space-X rocket was launched at 1:13 pm from Cape Canaveral. (photo right) Very Special. After lunch & launch, we watched the Safety Video on our iPhone then went to our Muster Station D18 located on deck 4. An announcement that cabins were officially open so we went back to deck nine, got our Sail&Sign cards at the door, and officially entered our suite for the week. Time to unpack, update this blog, and even a short nap. About 6:00 pm we went down to the Promenade deck to see the shops and new additions since we were last on this ship. They now have a Sports Bar as well as the Pub, and Cafe. A quick stop at Guest Services for $1 bills and a hole punch in my Sail & Sign card before stopping at Boleros for cocktails and entertainment. We went up to the Diamond Crown Lounge and the Diamond Club for H’orderves and cocktails. It wasn’t busy and I enjoyed the Brie and the Chicken-Mango Chutney canapé. We then went down to the Windjammer about 8:00 pm for dinner. DW had Macaroni & Cheese and Mashed Potatoes. I had a generous serving of Pork Tenderloin from the Carving Station that went perfectly with a serving of Grilled Pineapple. I also had some nice Fish & Chips, Carrots & Cauliflower, Green Beans, and a wonderful Hearts of Palm salad. An excellent meal with good service as well. We passed on the ‘Welcome Show’ featuring the band, dancers, and Cruise Director at 10:00 pm in the theater and retired to our suite for the evening. It was a great day of FIRSTs on the Mariner of the Seas.

 

Day Two—Friday—CoCoCay, Bahamas 

Smooth seas overnight and a very restful night. DW ordered her usual Room Service continental breakfast in bed and I had breakfast in the MDR. I had Tomato Juice, Grapefruit, Eggs Benedict, Bacon, and Hash Browns. It was good. They did make a Leche Caliente for me. We are in no rush to get off the ship so some good balcony time this morning. I checked in for my next cruise and we fed some Seagulls on the balcony, the weather is so perfect for sitting outside. About 11:00 am we went to the island, my first time here as on previous visits I would not bother as it was a tender port. Now just a short walk on the pier. The Symphony of the Seas is docked next to us today. (photo left) The private island has just been updated with a new Water Park and facilities. We walked the island then stopped at the Chill Island Beach Bar and enjoyed some Pina Coladas and watched guests swimming in the lagoon, the water was very nice, and the weather perfect with a cool breeze. We stopped for a lunch at Skippers, I had a Cuban Sandwich and BBQ Chicken on the way back to the ship. Once aboard Terry brought a salad down from the Windjammer, might as well enjoy the suite and relax over the afternoon including a nap.  Thanks to the Crown & Anchor Society for the very nice sliced fruit delivery, much nicer than a basket and I snacked on it all afternoon.  Also thanks for the Coca-cola, Bottled water, and Cookie assortment yesterday. We went up the Diamond Lounge at about 7:00 pm for some cocktails and also made reservations for the Ice Skating Show tomorrow.  Then to the Windjammer for a late dinner.  DW had a proper Salad and I had some nice Fish Fillets, a Chicken Cordon-blu (a bit dry), Sweet & Sour Pork, Mashed potatoes, Hearts of Palm, and Grilled Pineapple.  A nice meal.  The production show Center Stage was tonight, but we again decided to retire early.  I had to have a hot bath as we have a huge tub in the suite and basically tons of hot water…it was very nice.  Enjoying the cabin very much.  It was a nice relaxing day at CocoCay and on the Mariner of the Seas

 

Day Three--Saturday—Sea day 

Smooth seas overnight and I slept well although up early enough to see the sunrise. We do keep our curtains open to the outside overnight. Casual morning until Room Service about 9:00 am. Fruit Plates for both of us plus an English muffin for DW. Balcony time until about 11:30 when we went to the Windjammer for a light lunch. I had two small Strip Steaks, Mashed potatoes, and Broccoli. We did a walkabout the ship, the guests are enjoying the outer decks and sunny perfect weather, but perhaps too cool for swimming. We walked the Grand Promenade and visited the shops and bought some duty-free liquor. We missed The Bamboo Room when we did our earlier tour…it’s a Polynesian Tiki Bar located about mid-ship and very nice. We also saw an old Carnival friend and met two bartenders at the Bamboo Room. We tried three cocktails, a Hemingway Daiquiri, a Dark & Stormy, and a Bamboo Room Mojito. We liked it very much and will return, but it was time for the afternoon Ice Show. The show, Under the Bigtop, was great (photo above). A wonderful cast of ice skaters and several colorful costumes and themes. I’d never seen a full overhead flip on ice before today. At 4:30 we attended the Top Tier Event for Pinnacle and upper-level D+ guests in the Star Lounge. It was a very nice event hosted by the Cruise Director with a complimentary Cocktail, the full 9-piece Orchestra, a Production singer, and more. The Captain spoke for a long while and also did a comedy routine with the Staff Captain involving common questions the Captain gets from guests. My kind of Captain. There were 28 Pinnacles on board and they acknowledge the top three and newest Pinnacle. The senior guest had over 220 cruises and about 2200 points…Wow, that’s Loyal to Royal. We returned to the Bamboo Room for aperitifs, I was very curious about the rum & watermelon juice-based cocktail On the Run. It’s served in a plastic pouch with long straw much like a CapriSun juice pouch for adults. It was good. We then went to the Windjammer a little earlier than usual as we skipped the Diamond lounge this evening, I had a nice Pasta from the made-to-order Pasta Station, some nice sliced Pork, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables, and Carrot Cake for dessert. DW did a nice Salad, she loves being able to choose the exact items that go into her salad at the varied Salad Bar. The shows this evening were the production show Goddess, and the Love & Marriage Show. We decided to watch Goddess on the Live TV channel from our lovely suite while munching on some Oatmeal Raisen cookies. It was a very nice sea day sailing on the Mariner of the Seas.

 

Day Four—Sunday—Cozumel, Mexico 

A bit of rolling seas overnight, but calm by the time we entered the Straits of Cozumel. I slept well, but was up early so updated this blog and got some internet work done. We are the only ship at the International Pier (photo left) and none at Costa Maya (Carnival) pier. The Disney Wonder is at Puerto Langosta so slow day in Cozumel. It is cool and cloudy so no rush to go ashore. I went to the MDR for a large Lumberjack Breakfast, the bacon and hot milk were especially good. DW took advantage of having cell service and caught up with news from home and friends. About 11:00 am we left the ship and made our way to the taxi stand ($8) and into San Miguel. It was raining by the time we got to town. We dodged raindrops and went to Woody’s Bar & Grill our usual Cozumel hangout that was high & dry and even got my usual table #7. We enjoyed Diet Coke, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Cheese Quesadillas, and some Bohemia cerveza. Also had a great long visit with our friend Nelly, she and Terry had not visited since pre-covid. We went back to the ship about 3:30 and enjoyed balcony time through sail away then went to the Bamboo Room for some specialty drinks. I had the Royal Zombie, I think my favorite so far. After a walkabout we went to the Diamond Lounge for aperitifs, more guests as we were earlier than usual, We again went to the Windjammer for dinner, DW had Chips & Guacamole. I had a nice grilled to order Steak, Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli & Carrots, and the Hearts of Palm Salad. I took some Oatmeal & Raisin cookies back to the cabin for dessert.  We watched some of tonight's production show on cabin TV, and just chilled this evening. We are beginning to be the typical ‘older’ cruisers of late, but that’s not so bad. It was a wet but very productive day in Cozumel and fun on the Mariner of the Seas. 

 

Day Five—Monday--at Sea

Smooth seas overnight and I again slept well but was up too early. So this morning we went early to the Windjammer for the best breakfast of the cruise.  Between us, we had: three fresh egg Omelets, Hash browns, Bacon, great Ham slice from the carving station, Avocado toast, Oatmeal, Grapefruit, Almond croissant, Milk, and a Berliner doughnut. Much better than eating in the MDR. After breakfast I was able to do some online business then had an early Nap sleeping past noon. Sunny day today for the guests so we did an outer deck walkabout. We watched the action at the Wave Runner for a while, not many successful board surfers today. The four-person Calypso Band played on the Lido deck and I had a Goombay Smash from the Sky Bar. Late lunch in the Windjammer. DW had a Salad and Air Fries, I had a Pork Chop, a small Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Veggies, and a very good broiled Red Snapper. So much good food on this ship. Cabin and Balcony time the rest of the day. I did get rapid-antigen tests for my next cruise scheduled as well as our Air flights to Rome in October so busy. We went to the Bamboo Room (photo above) which has become our favorite bar…I had a few Royal Zombies. We cleared our ship account with Guest Services and picked up our purchased liquor, the things one does on the final day. We went to the Windjammer for our dinner, DW had her custom Salad and I had Pork from the carving station, Vegetables, and Royal Caribbean’s signature Mashed Potatoes, I have had them for almost every meal. Carrot Cake and Key Lime Pie for dessert. We packed cookies and bread for tomorrow’s early debark breakfast. We retired to the cabin to pack and soon we were sailing up the coast of Florida, the lights of Miami were quite visible. It was a great last sea day on the Mariner of the Seas,

 

Tuesday—Debarkation
Smooth seas overnight and I slept well.  I was again up very early so time to finish packing. We were docked about 7:00 am in Port Canaveral and self assist started rolling off by 7:30 and we were among the first off the ship.  We rolled off and through face-recognition security straight to the parking shuttle.  Very impressed with Park-n-Cruise… the shuttle was there,  a quick ride to the lot,  car was waiting (valet), and off the lot by 8:00 am.  Amazing.  Drove to Spring Hill to pick up the Maisie and grand-daughter and back to the Villa before noon.

Cabin

This was our first real suite and we enjoyed it. Cabin 9618, a 'hump' suite. It has a lot of floor space probably twice the width of a standard balcony. Also oversized sliding doors as well as a window opening to the balcony. Features: Walk-in Closet, Wardrobe, Vanity with drawers, small Refrigerator, Coffee maker, Keypad safe, Lounge Chair & Ottoman, Couch, Coffee table, King Bed, Nightstands, Chair at vanity, Two ventilator systems, Table & chairs on the balcony, and a large bathroom with oversize tub, It could use a larger TV, but no complaints at all with this cabin. It was dead center on the ship and near a stairwell and elevators.

Highlights of the Cruise

Everything about our special Cabin

Space-X Rocket Launch

Food in Windjammer

Bamboo Room

Under the Bigtop ice show

Cozumel Day

CoCo Cay

Ease of Parking

the Cookies