5 Nights Western Caribbean Cruise Cruise

Less cost, shorter cruise but enough to satisfy

Mariner We did a five-day Western Caribbean cruise on Mariner of the Seas out of Galveston. This was a family cruise with ages from the late 60s down to a 3-year-old. We had several cabin types from inside, balcony, and suites. There was a range of cruise experience with some on their first cruise, and some having done several. Pre-cruise: With Royal Caribbean, you need to pre-book many of the on-board experiences to get the best price and selection. Prices fluctuated widely over the year that we had it booked, so it was always important to check in periodically to see how the price had changed. Black Friday turned out to be the best time to purchase some of them, but others were cheapest just prior to the cruise. Royal’s dynamic pricing is tricky to work out. For some of the new cruisers, it was easy to miss some of the details about the process and which dates are important and so on. Make sure to review online resources and any literature your travel agent or Royal provides. All of our reservations were linked, which helped with most things; however, we had more cabins than could be linked to a single account, so not everyone could see everyone else. That caused a couple of issues where we had to use two accounts to see everyone. It made check-in easier since we could select arrival times using the app for everyone in our group, and they could complete it later. The app is very important to learn to use and handles most everything except luggage tags, which still require a browser to download. Embarkation: We had an early arrival time and arrived within our set window, although there were no backups and some of the people there were clearly arriving early. We dropped our bags, which there were a lot of, with the porters and made our way to the departure lounge. Check-in was fast. Most of us traveled with passports, but a few used driver’s licenses, marriage and birth certificates, and had no problems. However, even though not required, passports are really the best option and the only one acceptable if someone has to leave the cruise early. We were on the ship within a very short time, and our muster station was right there. We arrived on deck four, and while some of the family headed to the Windjammer, some went up to the promenade to get their first views of the ship. The Windjammer was very busy, since it’s the only real option for lunch on the first day, but even with that, people were able to get tables with a reasonable wait. They were pushing drink packages and specialty meals a lot the first 2 days. Since the Mariner leaves on different days of the week, Houston traffic is a consideration. Ours was a Monday, so that added almost 30 minutes during the morning. There was also a semi-truck fire north of town that shut down I-45 for some time. Houston’s Intercontinental Airport has had a number of extended storm-related closures this year. Be sure to work that into your travel plans. Many people choose to arrive at least a day early and stay closer to Galveston. After lunch, the weather was nice, and there was additional time to explore the ship. A lot of people were already hitting the pools, and the pool deck was crowded. Cabins were available just after 1 o’clock, and luggage arrived periodically throughout the rest of the afternoon. Our cabin attendant did a great job. Several of our rooms were serviced by the same attendant, who did their best to accommodate us all for our daily cleaning and only a few times that we needed to adjust schedules to work around his cleaning. One thing that we take advantage of is clothes pressing on the first day. If you get your clothes in on the first day, they will be back before dinner on the second, which is the “dress your best” night. If you have one or two items, you can do them individually or up to 10 items for $18. Others in our group just used the shower and wrinkle remover. Daily meals: we did the Windjammer almost exclusively for breakfast every day. The variety of different food options provided the most flexibility for our group. For the sea days, it was also the most common, although sometimes people just grabbed pizza and snacks from the Promenade Café. It was much easier to find tables on subsequent days compared to lunch on embarkation day. For dinner, most of us did the main dining room every night. We did the early dining which eating at 5 is a bit early, it makes it easy to finish up and then do shows and evening events. There was enough variety in the menus to satisfy the wide range of tastes. Our waiter also went out of his way to make sure that the children got their meals quickly and were cared for. Overall, the food quality was good with only one issue the final night with some overcooked steaks, which they replaced quickly. We had a couple of big eaters in our group who sometimes ordered two or more appetizers and/or main courses, and it was nice that they were brought concurrently rather than sequentially, which had been done on some of our previous cruises. Only two people from our group did a specialty dining option, and they went to Jamie‘s Italian. They were surprised that it was not busy at all, and they found the food very good and enjoyed their meal. Shows and Activities: There were more than ample different ongoing activities throughout the cruise. Given the varying ages within our group, they were all able to find things to do. The younger ones used the kids’ club activities and enjoyed them. Although note that if you have someone who is reluctant to use the kids’ club, they have to go on willingly or they are not able to use it. The nightly shows were good with a variety of comedy, music, and jugglers. The ice show was also entertaining, especially the clown act. We did not take advantage of open ice-skating since no one wanted to bring long pants for a summer cruise. The clubs in the evening had a wide selection of different entertainment styles. While it may sound cliché, there was something for everyone. It was not uncommon for some of our group to be active until very late each night. Ship: The Mariner is a good-sized ship in our opinion. It is big enough and stable when sailing but not so big as the Oasis/Icon-class ships. For most cabins, the access to dining or to the shows is very easy. Getting on and off the ship at ports flowed very well. The promenade, although lined with many shops we never go in, is a step up compared to some of the smaller ships that only have the centrum. The venues seemed smaller compared to the Adventure, which is the same-class ship, and did not have adequate seating relative to the number of people who might want to enjoy a drink and music. Excluding the pool area, which was packed most of the time, there were a lot of deck chairs and loungers available around the ship, although sometimes a bit out of the way. There are also great viewing areas to check out, like the peekaboo bridge and the helipad. The Viking Crown Lounge had great views and was often empty, perhaps because many people think it’s restricted access. For the older kids, they found enough to do, such as the flow rider, the rock climbing wall, and such. They were not impressed with the arcade. For the real young ones, there was a bit less to do. There was a small, shallow pool area but no splash pool for them to enjoy. Cabins: The Mariner cabins are very similar to most of the Royal ships. They come with ample storage space. The closets are a good size and have metal racks to one side for storing your larger clothing. Also, like many of the older ships, the standard rooms only have outlets on the desk side and nothing by the beds. We took power banks and charged them during the day so we could have our phones bedside at night. The bathrooms were typical with plastic shower doors. Our balconies were nice, but all of the balcony doors took a lot of effort to open. One cabin had an inside promenade view, and that offered a glimpse of the promenade, and although being concerned about noise, that was never a problem. The suite was very spacious, and the concierge was very helpful throughout the cruise. Ports: the five-day cruise did Costa Maya and Cozumel. For Costa Maya, port times were a bit short compared to some of the other ships that dock here. We arrived at 12 o’clock with a 7 p.m. departure, which of course meant getting off the ship at 12:30 and all aboard at 6:30. We often book excursions using third parties, but with the short court time, we elected to go with a Royal Excursion. This also eliminates a lot of the walking you have to do to get outside of the port area. We chose to go to Chacchoben Ruins, which were actually quite a surprise and more extensive than I thought. Plus, we saw monkeys. Everyone we talked to that did the excursion enjoyed it despite the hour drive each way. Others in our group had booked the dolphin experience, but that appears to be not currently offered in Costa Maya, possibly due to changes in the regulations around dolphins in captivity. Instead, they rented golf carts and went to a nearby beach. They thought the experience was enjoyable but found the effort required to get out of the port area to be unpleasant. Specifically, it was a long way to walk and narrow in many places and just overly complicated. Just prior to departure, a large storm passed over the ship, and the upper decks were closed because of the wind and rain. This also affected some of the excursions, and some of the people did not arrive until after the all aboard, but we waited for them. In Cozumel, our port time was from 7:00 until 4:30. With this longer time, some chose to book on their own, and some directly, although we all ended up in Chankanaab. Some did dolphins, some manatees, some snorkeling, and a couple took an introductory scuba. It rained a lot off and on, but the day was still enjoyable. If considering going here, do your research as to what is included because there are different vendors all operating within this park. While you can book on arrival, it is to your advantage to book ahead since a party in front of us while we were checking in was charged almost twice the price we had paid for the same thing. Taxis are abundant and easy to get to any of the beaches around Cozumel with fixed prices posted at the taxi stand. Sea days: with a five-day cruise, there are two full sea days and many people are concerned about the weather and how rough it is. Ours was a bit mixed; the first day heading south had periodic thunderstorms, that in one case closed the outer decks. There were small to medium swells and while some people mentioned it, it did not seem to cause any problems. It did keep it a bit cooler and windy. As we left Cozumel and headed north, it was a bit rough, and the crew placed seasick bags near the stairs. However, it’s settled down fairly quickly and again I don’t think it was much of a problem for anyone. The final sea day had mostly clear skies with some clouds, small swells and only once did we pass through a brief rain shower. I would say it was one of the better sea days. I can remember around the Galveston area. Disembark: we arrived back in Galveston on schedule and departure started about 30 minutes early. By 7:45, the self-departures were getting off the ship. Shortly thereafter, those who chose to have luggage assistance were departing as well. The bag claim was easy and shortly thereafter, you cleared customs and immigration. It was nice that immigration was after picking up your bags because several people were opening their bags to get documents they had packed away. Those with passports did not even need to take them out as long as they passed the facial recognition. We had parked in the north lot and even with the many bags we had, we were able to quickly walk to our cars and we were on our way. Summary: Mariner is good value for your money for a Galveston cruise. The Harmony/Allure/Symphony have longer itineraries and more amenities, especially for younger cruisers plus some wow factors like Central Park, water shows, etc. with more passengers and have a higher price point. The Mariner is going to have a lower price and enough to satisfy many cruisers with its 4 and 5 day cruises which offer enough of the cruise experience.

Our First Cruise Thoughts

First time cruiser, doubter at first, but because of our experience with Royal on the Mariner we are hooked! Wonderful staff, specifically our servers in the dining area Dani & Ariani, Rowena our attendant, and head waiter Anant. They made our first trip unforgettable. Our group definitely misses them:) Wonderful service from the entire ship staff. Our few little issues were fixed without problems. Enjoyed the Chef’s Dinner, all of the Indian cuisine, and Windjammer options. Sure there were some items to skip like biscuits & gravy, but the fresh pineapple and corn beef hash made up for it. The attendants offered coffee which was always appreciated. Easy to board and exit. Good entertainment with the ice show specifically. Musicians and singers were top tier. We had interior room, no window, and thought it was just fine for a first time, but we’ll get a balcony for sure next time. The excursions were well handled and made easy to find where we wanted to go.

Fabulous Vacation

I am Diamond status on RC. I have also cruised on many other cruise lines including luxury lines. I absolutely loved this ship! I was amazed how clean it was and how well kept. The carpets were in perfect condition as well as the furniture. The staff was extremely accommodating and very friendly. The entertainment was wonderful. I thought the RC dancers and orchestra did a fabulous job. I also enjoyed attending the game shows, bingo and the piano bar. The embarkation and disembarkation were both smooth and seamless. We had the drink package and really enjoyed the wine, champagne and mixed drinks. We ate at Chop's and The Italian Restaurant for dinner- both were good. The main dining room was wonderful for dinner too. The Windjammer Buffet was delicious for breakfast and for lunch. I was very pleased with the variety and quality of the food. I found the bed very comfortable. I didn't care for the pillow, but my cabin steward delivered a nice feather pillow to my room upon my request.