Lovely ship but not top of the line. Nice trips!
Written: Feb 04 '08 (Updated Feb 04 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great service, fun atmosphere.
Cons: Food was okay.
The Bottom Line: Fun trip, nice deal and would go again. Great service and atmosphere.
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| dvlish's Full Review: Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas |
I have sailed on the Monarch of the Seas twice. Both times were the 3-4 day jaunts to Ensenada, Mexico, San Diego, CA, and Catalina Island. The first was a 3 day with a stop only in Mexico. We went with friends and family for my husband's 30th birthday in October 2004. The cruise was a surprise to him and great fun!
The day started with my sneaking and loading the car. We had some friends in for MD who were in town to "dive" and "wine taste". For my husband's birthday I told him to do whatever he needed to do, but to be ready to leave the house for the day at noon. He was mowing the back yard while we snuck the luggage into the car. After his shower I did the same with his overnight kit and we headed out. The guys sat in the back seat and our friend Scott kept him occupied. The gals were up front trying to figure out how to get to the port of LA without having to ask him. The cruise ship terminal is near the Catalina flier terminal and when we got off the freeway he assumed that's where we were headed. When I turned what he thought was the wrong way he started giving me directions to which I promptly sushed him. We parked at the terminal with no problems and as we hopped out of the car I handed him the folder of cruise documents and told him "Happy Birthday!" Our friend Kel who had the hardest time keeping the secret started jumping around screaming "We're going to Mexico!!!". He was so stunned and very confused and kept asking, "What are you talking about (as he stared at the huge ship right behind us) asking what do you mean Mexico? We are going to Catalina!"...the pictures are hilarious! We unloaded the luggage and he still didn't get it and kept asking why we needed all the bags to go to Catalina for the day. It was too funny!
The packet RC had sent me had our luggage tags all ready to go. Once the secret was out I tagged the bags and we headed for the terminal. We gave our bags to a porter (tipping $1 per bag) right outside and walked right in and up the stairs to check-in. Check-in took about 10 minutes and we were headed onto the boat. I highly recommend getting there at about noon for any cruise even though they tell you boarding is at 2pm. I have always been early and walked right on. I have heard that check in takes longer the later you come. It is fine with me to wait on the ship with a cold drink even if you just lounge around for 4 hours before setting sail. Definitely take a carry on with sun screen, book, bathing suit, etc. that you might need before your bags arrive.
We went right to our room to unload our bags and headed out to find a drink. We bought a bucket of coronas and wandered to see the sights of the harbor from the top of the ship. We then found the shuffle board area and played a few games. My hubby called his boss to let her know that he was on the ship and thank her for the time off (that I had previously arranged). About an hour into our game, I got a call from my folks who had just dropped their bags and told them to join us (their presence was a surprise) so they walked up shouting, "Hey, we heard this was where the 30th birthday is!". My husband was again stunned...really fun!
After the bucket of beers it was time for our muster drill...we went back to our room where our cabin attendant was waiting with our lifevests and found the room all decorated for hubby's birthday...complete with cake! I had ordered the decorations online prior to boarding. I think the cost was right about $30 for the cake and decor. When we had first arrived the beds were seperated as 2 singles, we had let the cabin attendant know we would need them put together and they were all set when we got back.
We went to our drill and bumped into my folks on the way so it turned out to be a good thing that they had done their part of the surprise earlier. They were just down the hall so we all drilled close together...the rest of our group was on a different deck so we still hadn't seen them.
After the drill we went up top to watch the ship pull out of port. We then needed naps (after all those beers) and went back to our rooms to rest and get ready for dinner...little did hubby know there were more surprises! The plan was he and I would arrive a bit late to dinner. His mom, sis, aunt and uncle were waiting for us along with our friends and my folks. When we walked in they all shouted happy birthday and I thought he was going to come out of his skin. He started shouting what is this? Are there anymore people here I should know about? Is this the last surprise? It was great!
The next day was our "fun day at sea" we lounged by the pool, some had massages and hair appts and generally just a fun day. We went to the art auction for the free champagne and our friends actually stayed the whole time and bought a number of pieces of art that they love. They said the prices were reasonable but I wouldn't know as art isn't my thing.
The first night was the fancy captain's dinner and I had to pack a suit and what not for my hubby. When he saw all the clothes I unpacked he was stunned and asked, "So this is why I couldn't find anything to wear." Um, yep! We went to the cocktail reception before dinner and had a lovely time. The drinks and appetizers where yummie.
The next AM we woke up in port in Mexico...we had signed up for the winery tour and set out on the bus for that. The ride was an hour + each way but was pleasant enough. About 6 of us went and the tour was fun and the tasting afterward was great. The wine wasn't my favorite but the olive oil was really good! We bought a jug of that to bring home. It was interesting to find that they don't export the wine to CA so that they don't cause competition for the CA wines. You can buy it and bring it back with you though.
After the tour the bus stopped in downtown Ensenada for those that wanted to hop off in town. We sent our purchases back with those who didn't want to stay and set out in search of tacos and beer. We spent the afternoon in town and found a couple of taco shacks and plenty of beer to go around.
We were back on the boat by 5 as required and again out by the pool and switched to yummie margaritas. Mom had a whole set of 12 RC margartia glasses as a souvenier from the trip...I think she bought them for everyone so that she would have enough glasses! We pulled out of port and headed home right on time at about 5:30pm. Dinner was missed that night by my hubby who had too much to drink in Mexico along with my mom. The rest of us ate and then later some of us went to the sushi place which was yummie!
For the food, we did the buffet each morning for breakfast and one day ordered room service. Both were pretty good, no complaints. For dinner each night we all ate at the 8pm seating in the dining room. The food was ok but not great. I like that you can order more than one thing if you are undecided and that it's no additional cost. The portions are small enough that you don't feel like you are wasting food if you don't care for something. The friends of ours that came on the trip are vegitarians and after the first night on board weren't impressed with the vegi options. They had dinner with us the first 2 nights and then wheren't full the 2nd night and headed for the sushi bar (they eat fish). They liked it so much that they ate there the 3rd night without coming to the reagular dinner. We joined them later for a late night snack! Best tuni sashimi ever!! And the saki and beer wasn't bad either.
My only complaint is that the sushi bar is up front in the ship and you really feel the boat move and can see it out the windows. I didn't care for that as it was a rough ride home and it made me a bit queezy.
We didn't do any activities on board such as kareoki but did go to the dance club a few times which was fun. The music was pretty good and the atmosphere was great...nice mix of young and older crowd. The club was 21 and older which was nice.
Another nice feature of the trip was the photographers. They are present each time you get on and off the boat, at dinner and on formal night in the lobby areas. We had some lovely pictures taken of the group, which most of us purchased for the very inflated fee. Still well worth it for a nice momento of the trip. I also liked the on-board shopping. I bought a cute knock-off watch for $10 one of the days.
As for the price, I paid $349 each for an inside cabin. It was very small but we reallly didn't spend much time in the room so it didn't matter and was fine for the 2 of us. My only complaint is that it is pitch black and there isn't a nightlight. If you want to check the time you have to turn on a regular light or trip over the desk to get to the bathroom to turn on the light in there. It would be nice to have a small nightlight in the interior rooms. Without a window I was very disoriented most of the time not knowing if it was 4 or 7 am.
The room charging for your drinks is dangerous if you drink alcohol. Our room charges were about $250 for the 2 of us after 3 days. That didn't include the wine tour or decorations that I paid for in advance. Total for the trip cost about $1,200 for the 2 of us. Parking at the terminal was about $15 per day. My dad came out to a flat tire which was a bummer.
Debarking was a bit painful as you don't get to choose when you leave. If you want breakfast you need to be up early and at breakfast before about 10 I believe. We got to the buffet at the tail end and almost missed it. We then waited in the ballroom for about an hour or so until they called our color. Once they did though getting through customs and picking up our bags was a breeze.
One thing to remember is that you need to put your bags out the night before so be sure you have a carry-on to fit your jamies and toiletries in or you will carry them in a laundry bag to get them off the ship.
All in all great fun. The ship was nice, although not glamorous, but the service was great even with a loud and rowdie group like ours. Definitely recommend and we have already been again!
We opted for the 4 day option on the same ship in June of 2006 for my sister's 30th. This time hubby stayed home and she and I shared a room. Mom and dad and our cousins with a 15 year old daughter came along. We tried the spa this trip, which was okay (wouldn't go again but glad I tried it) and stopped in San Diego and Catalina in addition to Ensenada. Our cousins went parasailing in Catalina and had a ball. Mom, sis and I went in to walk around town and have lunch and then came back to to ship. The little shuttle boat back and forth was nice and the boarding and what not was efficient and you didn't feel like you were waiting in tons of lines to get back and forth.
being from CA San Deigo was a fun detour as we don't get down there much. We took a bus into town and wandered around. we hit a Mexican food joint for lunch and did some shopping. We walked back to the ship from town which was long but still a nice walk though some cute neighborhoods.
This trip was a blast as well. We had a great waiter this time and the matrede' (not sure how to spell that) loved us. It was my cousin's birthday too and we had both rooms decorated. We celebrated for each of them on different nights and the staff was great. I enjoyed the food better the 2nd time around and sis and I ate at the sushi bar twice. We all even went for kareoki twice which was a kick.
We did the fancy dinner and pre party again which was again lovely. We did salsa lessons but my foot got stepped on because it was so crowded and I was done. We spent a lot of time in the hot weather lounging on the deck. The waiters serving the drinks were very attentive (more so that the first trip because there were more people outside in the nicer weather I think)...by the end of the trip I was so over the island music though! There is a band on deck most of the time with one sound...if you know a song they sing it in an island sound. It does get old.
The club was fun again this trip but not as many people as before and the vibe wasn't as good. We left after an hour. We caught one of the shows on board which was very corny...we won't do that again.
My cousin got pink eye the first day and went to the ship doctor. You pay for the full cost and then submit the claim to your insurance to get reimbursed. I am alwasy curious how that works so now I know.
Embarking and debarking was quick and painless until we got off with the early crowd only to realize we had used the wrong color tags. Our bags were in the 3rd area and we had to wait an hour for them to open the door for us to get them. We were not pleased and they could have been more helpful to our plight of making a simple mistake but needing to be on our way. Overall it didn't take away from the great trip.
I would cruise with RC and aboard the Monarch of the Seas again, but have heard she is now cruising the Caribbean. Great trip and if you book early you get a great deal! The June trip was $449 each.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
dvlish
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Reviews written: 68
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Married. Live in the Long Beach, CA area...
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