WOW!!! Mariner is certainly a beautiful ship! We sailed the Western Caribbean Itinerary, August 10-17, 2008. We met some really great people on these boards, so sign up for your Meet and Mingle and GO!

We stayed at the Embassy Suites, Altamonte Springs, FL for three days prior to the cruise. It was a more central location for us to meet family residing in Florida and to visit Universal Studios. It was a little over an hour drive to the port. We left after 10 am and we were on the ship before noon! Very easy embarkation, the lines moved very quickly. Someone on our cruise thread offered to have T-shirts printed and we wore those to board. It was fun to see others wearing the T-shirts and know that we had been talking with them on-line. We also had several people ask where they could purchase the T-shirts. Someone else in our group organized a scavenger hunt for the kids. They had fun all week trying get all of the requirements. Then they gave out a great prize from their state of Ohio. We checked out the ship (although there were places I hadn't found until the end of the cruise) and had lunch at Windjammers. I appreciated the sani-wipes being handed out to prevent the dreaded Noro Virus. Our rooms were ready by 1 pm so we went and checked them out. They were the largest I've had so there wasn't any complaining by me. We had three people in a balcony room 6242 and three young adults in an interior 6235, their cabin was smaller, but they didn't complain. I would recommend the power strip, not enough outlets. I really liked our location. I could walk one floor down and be at the Promenade, great for those afternoon snacks; hot coffee, hot tea, delicious little croissant sandwiches, pizza, wonderful cookies and desserts. They also had great breakfast danish and donuts. My kids discovered the hot chocolate here too!(No charge) They would fill the cup halfway with hot water and the hot chocolate and ask the person behind the counter for a pint of milk to add. The elevators were also nearby. Labadee: We just used this day for a beach day. We tipped the guys for getting us our chairs, rented snorkel gear and spent 80% of our time in the water. There is a sunken plane, marked by a red bouy that we had fun snorkeling around. It's at the second cove beach to the left after getting off the ship (I thought it was Barefoot Beach but, my kids tell me no?). The kids swam around the tip and found a cave filled with conch shells. I brought a cheap blow up mat and just floated and snorkeled in the cove. We visited Dragon Breath (wear shoes) then had the picnic style lunch, it was okay. The kids went to the market and bought some souvenirs (high pressure). My 21 year old walked to the fence line and there were poor children begging for money and asking him for his shirt. It's so sad. Ocho Rios, Jamaica: We booked Dunns River Falls through Marva Shaw, at far less than what the cruise ship charged, 35.00 each. She was very easy to find in the cruise ship terminal. She took us directly to the falls where we were one of the earliest arrivals. The falls are amazing and we had such a good time climbing them. Bring your water shoes, you have to have something on your feet or they will make you buy or rent them. Marva told us to avoid the market after the falls by walking out the entrance. She was waiting in the parking lot where she dropped us off, then we were off to Mahogany Beach for an hour or so. The beach was very small and had pushy vendors. We bartered to rent a kayak for only $10.00. The kids had a blast. Again, Marva was waiting just where she dropped us off. She drove us through different parts of Jamaica to take us shopping. She showed us where Mick Jagger's vacation compound is. She answered all of our questions, the kids had some good ones; Where would your dream vacation be? Answer: New York City! Then she dropped us off at the cruise ship terminal. Three of us went to Margaritaville and the other three wanted to do some more shopping. I had a drink by the pool while the two younger kids swam. Georgetown, Grand Cayman: We booked a tour through Moby Dick Tours, again far less than the cruise ship's prices, 35.00 each. We were scheduled for the morning trip, but, my daughter left her sea pass card in our cabin and by the time we went back to get it, the tender lines had backed up so much, the tour left without us. No worries, they put us on the 11 am tour. We didn't get to go to Seven Mile Beach though. We shopped around the terminal then did the 11 am tour. First we snorkeled at a reef with stunning coral and many colorful fish. Then we went to the Sting Ray City sandbar. It was amazing! Moby Dick really helped us understand them. We touched them, held them, kissed them and fed them, they are amazing creatures! They dropped us off back and the pier and did some more shopping. Cozumel, Mexico: We booked directly through Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab Park. There were six of us so we received a 5% discount for booking on line. They also gave us vouchers for free cab fare to and from the pier. We chose the Royal Dolphin Swim at $149.00 each (minus 5%) and it was worth every penny! This was the only tour which we had to pre-pay for. This experience was incredible. Because we were a group of six we were the only ones in our group and had an intimate time with our dolphins, Marte and Amaya, and their trainer. The kids asked excellent questions and we learned so much about dolphins and marine biology. This experience was highlight of our entire vacation! We played with the dolphins, kissed them, had dorsal pulls and the most incredible foot pushes out of the water. If you do this I would recommend wearing water shoes, the platforms are slippery. After our tour, of course I had to purchase the video/photo package. Chankanaab Park admission was included in our package so we just went over to the beach/snorkel area. Again we snorkeled and saw many colorful fish, along with sunken cannons, a Madonna statue and a Christ statue. The two oldest bartered with a scuba diving instructor to take them down for for $35.00 each for an hour. They also had a great time. We took the taxi back to the pier and two of us went back on board and the other four wanted to go into the real town and do some more shopping. Days at Sea: We tried to do everything; rock-climbing, ice-skating, bingo, but there just isn't enough time! We had late dinner seating because we didn't want to rush back to have dinner. I thought the food was very good in the main dining room, Rhapsody in Blue. I always tried something different and never was disappointed. The vidalia onion tart was excellent, as well as the cold soups. My children also enjoyed trying many different things that they would never try at home. The ice show really is not to be missed. It was so good that I went back to the last show to see if I could get in and I did! The other shows were good, I really enjoyed the 80's Review and the RC Singers and Dancers. My youngest enjoyed the juggler and comedians. The Quest was hysterical but, we got there late and it was standing (crowded) room only. The love and marriage show was also very funny! Other tips: Buy the photo package early in the week, they didn't offer it after Tuesday and I was able to increase it to a larger, better priced package when I finally chose my pictures the last night of the cruise. My younger kids didn't want to participate in the clubs so I can't comment on them. I also didn't use the bars or lounges so I can't comment on them either. Bingo was a loser and I didn't use the casinos. Debarkation: Alas, all good things must end. We chose to self assist our luggage and had to be in the Bolores Lounge by 6:45 am. We were off the ship by 7:30, walked to the back of the chain link fence and waited for our rental car shuttle to take all of us to pick up our rental car. Spent several hours at Downtown Disney before returning to the airport and boohoo returned home.