2007-04-16
Cruise Review #1
I'm posting this on a cruise message board as well, but I figured if I'm writing this much I might as well publish it both places. I'll throw in current updates as well, as we go along :)
A little bit of background. I'm 24, my mom is 50something and we decided to go on a 10 day southern Caribbean cruise on the Maasdam. We cruised 4 years ago on the Zuiderdam with some of our extended family so this was going to be more of a girl's getaway. My mom is the kind of person who doesn�t really like to deal with details and doesn�t want to have to ask for things to be done for her, she just wants it to happen. I�m in hotel management and realise that sometimes if you want something done, people will be more than happy to do it for you if you just ask with a please, thank you and a smile on your face.
We're from Ontario, Canada so I�ll try to include some helpful tips for Canadians as well. Please feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to answer the best I can.
Our flight from Toronto was on time, but the baggage carousel that claimed it would produce our luggage was in fact only teasing us, as it was the carousel a few down that actually ended up spitting it out. I took a wheeled carryon that I checked, a backpack and a big purse. Mom checked a large suitcase and carried on a bag and smaller purse. We would end up checking 4 bags on the way home. We phoned the Sheraton airport for their free shuttle and were on our way.
While we have stayed at this hotel before, I find it over-priced (about $300 a night) but I wasn't paying so really, who am I to complain.
Took a cab to 15th street fisheries, which was excellent.
Took a cab from there to Los Olas Blvd which was ok, but nothing spectacular. It would be a nice place to spend a relaxing lunch hour or 3 though. Mom had some banking issues and we discovered that Bank of America only lets you take $300 out of a foreign currency account. Not sure if this applies to all banks or not.
My mom sometimes has trouble with things that aren't English and asked the driver for �osama� blvd...for some unknown reason�instead of Los Olas. This was the last time I let her talk to anyone.
We found hailing a cab on the street to be an exercise in patience, it often took 10 minutes or more for an empty cab to pass us, and often they were on their way to pick someone up.
We took a cab from Los Olas to the galleria mall. There is a Sacks, Anne Taylor, Nordstrom's and Dillards, but there is no pharmacy or bookstore. There is a Boarders next door and a CVS across the street, but they are both a bit of a walk and the traffic signals weren't really working properly (actually, not really working at all). It wasn�t really worth the long drive and expensive cabs to be going all over the place like we did, but lunch was good. I had the catch of the day (salmon) in the sandwhich and it was excellent. Mom had the mahi-mahi and it was only so-so. They were kind enough to tell us about the water taxi that we could take to Los Olas but we decided to take a regular cab, which they called for us but it took forever.
Day 1 of Cruise
The hotel arranged for our driver to the 15th street lunch and so we engaged the same guy to drive us to the boat the next day and then to pick us up at the end of the cruise. This is an example of minimizing the stress of dealing with my mother.. Make sure the cab or driver you get has a grey sticker on their windshield to get you into the port area faster. They had to show our passports when they drove into the port area, so have them accessible when you get into the car.
When we arrived at the port we were handed a medical questionnaire. We had also failed to fill out the ship board account paperwork ahead of time but had done the online immigration stuff so we filled out this last little bit and then got in line. It only took about 5 minutes in line and then 5 minutes to check us in. We were boarding number 6. If you get #6 or #9 make sure you remember which one is it, we ran into a lady in the lido who had a 6 but waited until they called 9 to get in line! We arrived at the port around 1120 and were in the lido by 1230.
There were loooong lines at the lido, so I suggest grabbing a table first and then getting in line. Beverage servers were coming around offering cocktail and wine cards. We bought 3 cocktail cards at $56 each (plus 15%) but ended up giving one back in towards the end of the cruise when it became apparent that we weren't as alcoholic as we thought.
Our cabin was ready by 115 and our cabin steward Yrizard would turn out to be awesome. We had booked a guarantee and ended up in room 635, right across from the maitre D's office.
I went up to the dining room to check out our table assignment, and we are at a table for 2, 615 seating, just as requested. I then went to identify myself as �the tomato allergy at table 139� as I had called ahead to ship's services (which is who you call if it is a non-life threatening allergy) and they had me written down.
I then signed up for the internet deal, 100 minutes for $55. They also had a 250 minutes for $100 but we thought that would be too much. We got 10 free minutes for signing up on the first day, 10 free minutes for being mariners and 10 free minutes for something else that I can't remember. We could have gotten 2 or 3 other small add-ons as well so be sure to read the ad that comes about the internet the first day.
The cruise director was David Martin. He was hardworking and pleasant.
The library was well stocked, they only usually have the newest book from any one author as opposed to the entirety of a series but there are lots of interesting books.
Our lifejackets were hidden under our bed as opposed to being in the closet where they should have been. This was mildly disconcerting until we found then and went up to the lifeboat drill. One older lady fainted during the drill but it was relatively quickly finished, only the usual people not listening to directions or not doing their lifejackets properly.
Our luggage came at 3, my backpack came at 315, all was well.
The movies playing on board at the theatre and in room were Dreamgirls, Invincible, The Guardian, the Last King of Scotland, the Queen, Gridiron Gang, etc.
Dinner was delicious, as usual, and our dining room servers were excellent. San San and Ari really worked as a team and went out of their way to remember our preferences (lemon with the water, earl grey tea) and to make sure that everything was going well.
We didn�t go to the welcome show, just wandered around the ship and then went to bed.
moi at 3:02 p.m.
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