Navigator of the Seas Review
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Embarkation at Southampton went like a dream and we were on the ship in minutes. We had been on the Navigator five years previously when it sailed around the Med out of Rome so were looking forward to seeing if there were any changes. Unfortunately, there were only bad ones. It seems that Royal Caribbean are now only interested in trying to make you spend as much as possible at every opportunity. We were pestered at breakfast, at lunch and when trying to relax in the bars in the evening (when we could get a seat) with people trying to sell the paying restaurants to us. Thirty seconds out of every port the promenade was constantly filled with extra tables with 'sale' goods, making it difficult to actually get down the promenade, and everyday we were bombarded with leaflets and emails about the next 'big sale'! The shops on board weren't very good, little variety and very expensive, $5.99 for a tube of Pringles!
Fortunately, the dining room experience was still as good as ever with very friendly and attentive waiters and good food, with good wine served by an excellent Sommelier. We did notice however that a number of people frequently turned up at dinner sometimes 40 or 50 minutes late which obviously caused problems for the waiters trying to serve dinner on time to those of us who arrived at the allotted time and we were frequently very late getting out of the dining room because of this. Previously the dining room would be closed 15 minutes after the sitting time but this doesn't seem to be the case now, even though there is anytime dining available on the ship.
The so called production shows were dismal, and the space taken up by the ice rink could be made better use of as the bars were so crowded it was really difficult to get a seat, mainly due to people sitting sleeping, reading or eating food from the promenade cafe as they couldn't get a seat in there. As the Windjammer now closes in the afternoons - people come back on board hungry and have to queue down the promenade to get something to eat at the cafe, the only place open at that time.
Cabin Review
Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
Our stateroom attendant was more than helpful, very pleasant and went out of his way to speak to us every day. However, fixtures and fittings are now looking quite shabby; the sofa was absolutely filthy and should be thrown out really. I tried to clean it down myself as it was so dirty we didn't like to sit on it but it was just ready for the bin. , My husband fixed the bathroom cabinet door himself as it wouldn't open / shut properly, the hinge was hanging off! Surely if the room was cleaned properly the attendant should have had tat fixed?! The pillows seem to be short stumpy things, it looks like they've cut them in half to make two (more cost cutting?!!!), but they're definitely not a proper size! The tannoy didn't work so we had to run into the corridor every time there was an announcement, and most of the drawers in the dresser were broken and difficult to open / close. Having said that the bed was comfy! One really annoying thing was the bottles of water, orange, biscuits and large plastic beakers which were lined up along the dresser taking up a lot of space - obviously more of the hard sell.
Port Reviews
Southampton
Embarkation was excellent
Lisbon
Lisbon is lovely. A short walk from the ship, but a nice walk!
Madeira (Funchal)
First time in Madeira. It was lovely. Very clean etc. We took a trip up to Monte on the ski lift and the views were fantastic. It was really nice up there and well worth a visit.