Monarch of the Seas 2008 New Years Eve Voyage Review
Written: Jan 08 '08
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Pros: A great way to ring in the New Year!
Cons: You pay a premium for all New Years Voyages.
The Bottom Line: Thinking about doing something special to ring in the New Year? Why not try a New Years Cruise! It's memorable and a lot of fun!
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| Suzi's Full Review: Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas |
Monarch of the Seas 2008 New Years Eve Voyage Review
December 31, 2007 – January 4, 2008
Our New Years Eve cruise aboard the Monarch of the Seas was great; I went with my husband and two other couples and would not hesitate recommending the ship or this brief holiday sailing to Ensenada Mexico. But you’ll have to go soon, as the ship will be departing Southern California for the Caribbean later this year.
Reviewers Background
We have quite a few cruises under our belts on a variety of cruise lines. Although I am not particularly loyal to Royal Caribbean in the sense that it is the only cruise line I choose for a vacation, we are Diamond members of their past guest program and love the perks that come with membership in the Crown & Anchor Society. We are an active couple in our 40’s, and particularly enjoy Royal Caribbean’s larger, newer ships; we loved the flow rider on the Liberty of the Seas and particularly enjoy the quality entertainment and activities aboard most Royal Caribbean Voyager class ships. We also prefer the Caribbean over the Pacific, as we are avid scuba divers.
The Monarch of the Seas is older and a lot smaller than what we prefer, but the most convenient and least expensive short getaway for us as we reside in California. As we live up north, it’s a treat to be able to visit San Diego and Santa Catalina Island. Ensenada isn’t the most exciting of ports, but a great excuse to party.
We made the decision to book this New Years Eve Voyage about 6 months ago; we had never cruised over New Years and thought it would be fun to invite friends along. We booked through three different travel agents, around the same time, and ended up in similar inside cabins. My husband and I each received $50pp shipboard credit while the other two couples did not, so it pays to shop around for the best booking incentives. We all paid about the same, but no two couples got the same “gifts” my husband and I got shipboard credit, one couple got a bottle of wine and one received a VIP coupon book, a bottle of champagne and some chocolate covered strawberries.
Pre-Cruise & Embarkation
We drove down to Los Angeles the day before and spent one night at the Vagabond Inn in San Pedro, CA, about two miles from the Port of Los Angeles. It was a very clean, budget motel with limited amenities, but worked out well for us and the other couples. We got a $108 Park & Sail Package that included one night hotel stay, parking, one-way transportation to the port and continental breakfast from 7am-9am. Because we were a group of six, the hotel offered to transport us together in the hotel van to the port at 10am; normal shuttle service begins at 10:30am.
We arrived at the pier around 10:15am on January 31, 2007, handed over our bags to the porters and proceeded upstairs to the check-in counters, which opened at 10:30am. Check-in took all of five minutes. We were among the first passengers to check-in and board the ship around 11am. The staterooms were closed up until 1pm, so we went up to the Windjammer buffet area and had an early lunch. With carry-ons, it was a hassle to wander around the ship, so we stayed put until our cabins were ready.
First Impressions
We have been aboard the Monarch of the Seas a few times, so we knew what to expect, but this was one couple’s first cruise and the first small ship for the other. The ship still had Christmas decorations up and preparations for New Years Eve were well under way. There were balloons suspended in netting above the atrium, and all staff assigned to greet oncoming passengers was in formal wear.
The public areas aboard the Monarch seemed to be clean and in good repair. There was a good variety of food available in the Windjammer and staff seemed to be in a festive mood. After the lifeboat drill, we proceeded to go up on deck and enjoy sail away. Although the weather cooperated the day we boarded the ship (it was in the low 70’s) it was already starting to get dark and cold as we pulled away from the dock. Bar waiters were everywhere ready to take drink orders and the band was playing as we set sail into the sunset.
Our Stateroom
Our tiny cabin was located on Deck 2 – 2137 which was towards the aft. It was small and cramped, with very little storage and not at all to my liking, but it was to be home for the next four nights, so we made the best of it. Keep in mind that New Years voyages are priced higher (double) than other sail dates – I felt we got a great deal with the shipboard credit, so no complaints from me. But to cut down on the cost, we opted for the least expensive room at the time. No regrets from me, as we spent very little time in our room, however it was uncomfortably small, with no shelves and only four small drawers in a vanity for storage. We knew what we were getting, but it’s still a little disconcerting.
Our room had two beds that were pushed together. Bedding consisted of a European style synthetic duvet, crisp white sheets and two large oversized pillows in addition to two regular pillows. The mattress was okay as was the bedding, but the quality was not what we were accustomed to on other Royal Caribbean ships. Probably the fact that this was a low end inside room had something to do with it. Suffice it to say, it was a place to sleep. Our cabin steward was unremarkable, though managed to keep our room clean and made up. There were several occasions where we had to ask for things like our C&A coupon booklets, ice or for towels, that normally you should not have to ask for, so we left the standard tip. But in general, we were okay, and had no other concerns.
Dining
Food aboard the Monarch was good. The Windjammer had good variety and was fine for breakfast or lunch. The food served in the formal dining room was also good, but somewhat uninspired. I always found something liked, but nothing impressed me so much that I could recommend that you order a particular item. Food quality, in my opinion, is not Royal Caribbean’s selling point. For what it’s worth, I have come, over the years, to not have high expectations where food was concerned, regardless of the ship. This is a fleet wide issue that probably will not change anytime soon. If you are looking for four star cuisine, you will not find it on the Monarch of the Seas or aboard any Royal Caribbean ship. The closest you will come to a solid three star restaurant will be at one of Royal Caribbean’s fee-based alternative restaurants on other ships – Chops is my favorite. Jade Sushi aboard the Monarch, also has a fee. It’s not bad, and not expensive (about $2 an order) but the quality is not what you would expect to get at a sushi restaurant – but then again, you aren’t paying sushi restaurant prices.
The formal dining room can be slow at times and the waiters seemed a little over worked, but most we encountered were pleasant and efficient. For New Years Eve, a special menu with lobster (no lobster tail, though) and other nice selections was presented. We were immediately poured a glass of champagne, so there was a very festive atmosphere in the dining room. The tables were decorated with party favors and hats. It’s not the norm to schedule formal night on Embarkation Day, but as New Years Eve was on a Monday the same day we boarded the ship, we were informed that the requested attire would be formal.
Activities & Entertainment
As is the case with nearly all Royal Caribbean ships, the entertainment and activities are top notch. Rock climbing walls, flow riders, sports courts, etc. may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is something unique to Royal Caribbean, and one reason we cruise with them. One big complaint I have with Carnival (and we do occasionally cruise them also) is the lack of active things to do. Not so with Royal Caribbean; we find their gyms, structured competitive activities like the dodge ball tournament we had on the first sea day afternoon to be more in line with how we want to spend our days at sea. I realize not everyone’s idea of fun is playing a competitive game of volleyball, but for us, it gets us outside in the fresh sea air.
Entertainment options aboard the Monarch of the Seas included nightly variety and production shows. Some performers were better than others, but none were so bad that we were compelled to leave 10 minutes into the performance. There were a handful of pay per view type movies shown on TV and a big screen matinee one afternoon. Since we had only one day at sea (which is unlikely to happen again while the Monarch is in California) the variety of shipboard activities and entertainment venues increased for our sailing.
New Years Eve
Around the time we made our final payment, I was beginning to wonder about how to dress for New Years Eve. Because it’s typical to have formal night the 2nd night of the cruise, I wasn’t sure how the ship would handle New Years Eve at embarkation, which normally would be a formal affair. I contacted our travel agent, who contacted Royal Caribbean. The answer I got back from my TA stated that the ship would be the one to determine which night would be formal night – and they didn’t know what the Monarch was planning to do.
Between my two girl friends, three different travel agents, and numerous calls to Royal Caribbean’s call center, we knew enough to assume that New Years Eve would probably be formal and that the normal formal night with the Captain’s Cocktail Reception would probably also be formal. All three of us went on line to research New Years Eve cruises, so we figured (correctly I might add) that it would be a very dressy evening. Dressy was an understatement; black tie formal was pretty much the norm, and I know I speak for my friends when I say that we were glad we brought floor length gowns for New Years Eve and cocktail dresses for the 2nd night of the cruise.
At embarkation we were handed a paper that detailed the recommended dress for the week and itinerary. The second day of the cruise, normally spent in San Diego, was a relaxing day at sea. We had great weather considering it was January, and had an opportunity to enjoy some sun. That night, normally Monarch’s formal night and Captain’s Cocktail Party, the dress was more casual than formal. The requested dress for the evening was Smart Casual but most people dressed in formal wear. Smart Casual can mean a lot of things, but we saw people mainly in cocktail dresses and suits. No really dressy outfits (people wore those the night before). The rest of the week was Casual.
Fellow Passengers
The vast majority of people were between 30-60; not a lot of little kids, few young adults and a smattering of seniors. The passengers were restrained and well mannered but there to ring in the New Year and party! We never saw any rowdy groups or packs of drunken teens roaming the halls. We also made note that the passengers on this voyage were not at all like the spring breakers we met aboard the Monarch a few years ago!
We didn’t run into any complainers or people frustrated with the service or food quality either. At every turn we met passengers who were enjoying themselves and had nothing but positive things to say about their cruise! A good time is infectious; our friends all agreed that this was the best New Years Eve they have ever had!
Ports of Call
Catalina: Kayak Adventure Shore Excursion
Recommended: No
We were part of a morning kayak tour in Catalina that we purchased through the cruise line. It was about three hours long, and had a total of 11 people. We were instructed to meet at the tender pier on shore, where as a group, we walked 5 minutes over to the center of town. We had about 15 minutes before we were escorted to a tour bus, which transported us 10 minutes to Descanso Beach where the kayaks were.
Our guide gave us water proof pants and set us up with kayaks and paddles. The tour itself consisted of our small group of two man kayaks following a guide. We paddled around for about 45 minutes before pulling over to a beach near Frog Rock where we got out to snack on some cookies. Our guide was a very nice guy, but because we encountered virtually no wildlife (not even birds) the entire tour was somewhat of a bust. We spent about a half an hour on the beach before we paddle back.
It turned out to be a nice day, but I can’t recommend this tour as it’s easy enough to do on your own for half the cost. We stopped by a sand court and played some beach volleyball for a few hours before we took the tender back to the ship. It was fun day, and the kayak tour was just fine, however, the tour cost about $40pp. Save your money and rent a kayak at Descanso Beach.
Ensenada: Off Road Bicycle & Winery Tour
Recommended: Yes, for more experienced mountain bikers
My husband and I go mountain biking often, so when we saw this tour combined with a visit to a small local winery, we jumped at the chance. Although quite fun, this tour is not for everyone, despite what the cruise line will tell you. The terrain is very hilly and steep at times; even the tour guide had to walk his mountain bike up several steep hills, so be warned!
The tour guide will meet you at the pier in Ensenada. Then, you take a bus to the outskirts of town where you are issued a mountain bike. I initially got a bike that was not in good shape, and requested another one. The tour takes you on very hilly terrain, so having the ability to smoothly shift up and down is a must. The dirt road is uneven, with lots of pot holes, steep down hills and a few obstacles, so you have to be careful and comfortable on terrain like this. People who have an issue with speed, are fearful of steep downhill biking, getting rattled on uneven terrain or are unable to peddle up hills should find another tour. It is what it is and a load of fun if you like this sort of thing. The tour guide was not in the best of shape, which surprised us, so we had to make frequent stops. I was enjoying the pretty scenery and hilltop views way too much to complain, but my husband was a little annoyed.
After about an hour, we stopped at a small private winery. We met the owner and got a very intimate tour that was both very interesting and quite enjoyable. I didn’t care for the wine; because I thought the winery was so cool, I really was hoping to buy a few bottles of wine to take home, but it was so bad, I couldn’t bring myself to spend $40 a bottle on wine I would never drink! At the end of the tour, we got back onto our bikes for the 5 minute ride back to the place where we began the tour. We got on a bus that took us back into downtown Ensenada or to the ship. The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping.
Disembarkation
The disembarkation process was easy and fast. We were issued white luggage tags and all of us were off the ship at 7:30am. We picked up our luggage and departed for home at 8:00am. The entire process was easy and painless. Although white tags are automatically issued to Diamond C&A members, you can request them from the front desk yourself if you have to be off the ship early – for an early flight home, for example. I see no reason to sit in the many public areas of the ship for hours on end if you can get off early.
Self-debark passengers who could carry off their bags began leaving the ship at 6:30am. The entire process is so fast and easy these days, I would guess the entire ship was off loaded by 9:30am! I was told that US Customs and Immigration has implemented a few changes making the clearance process faster, and there is a new luggage off-loading system in place in San Pedro that has also make it easier to get all the bags off the ship in a more timely fashion.
Conclusion
This was my first New Years Cruise but it won’t be the last. I have cruised before on the Monarch, and although my experiences have all been positive, this cruise was by far as good, as or better than those on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships! What made it so special? The festive atmosphere of New Years Eve probably had a lot to do with it. The staff, service and food quality were about the same as what you would normally see on other ships. And although some aspects of our cruise were far from ideal (like our stateroom) the festive atmosphere more than made up for any shortcomings.
The Monarch of the Seas normally is an inexpensive getaway for us and you tend to get what you pay for; this time we paid nearly about as much as we would for a week long cruise. I guess you’re wondering if we found it to be worth the extra $$$. We all agreed it was! Would I do it again? You bet!
So, looking back, what made it so special? The little things, I suppose: free champagne at dinner and in the evening hours leading up to New Years Eve. The special menu, party favors, all the sparkle, and fellow guests who all dressed up to make the evening special.
I appreciated the Captains Cocktail party the second night and how the festive atmosphere continued all week. There was a good variety of shows in the evening. The weather cooperated and everyone on the cruise seemed to be in a good mood. No one among my group of friends experienced any problems – no billing issues, no complaints about rude staff or issues that sometimes can negatively influence a vacation.
I can’t say whether your cruise aboard the Monarch (say) in five months will be as good as mine. But I can tell you that if you are looking for something different to do for New Years, you might want to look into a cruise!
Good luck!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
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Epinions.com ID:
Suzi
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Location: California
Reviews written: 190
Trusted by: 147 members
About Me:
Suzi is an aspiring travel writer who enjoys scuba diving and volleyball.
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