Enchantment of the Seas Review

A relaxing and fun vacation

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Enchantment of the Seas
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poppysmum
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Aug 2009
Cabin: Junior Suite with Balcony

We are two regular cruisers (both Diamond Plus with RCL), this time traveling with two adult daughters who flew from London to join us. One cruised with us last year, on Majesty, the other was cruising for the first time. In a nutshell, we had a wonderful time. I've cruised Enchantment several times and love this ship. Sadly, she was moved to Panama on an itiniary we weren't interested in (and many of her old regular crew, who were wonderful, departed); so there had been a bit of a gap since we last were on Enchantment. But she was back in Fort Lauderdale doing four- and five-night cruises in the Caribbean, so we were very happy to revisit her. Flight: We flew from our home in Washington D.C. early on Monday, the day of departure, nonstop to Fort Lauderdale. JetBlue service was wonderful; LOTS of legroom, FREE checked bags if you wanted (though we actually managed with carry-on); FREE snacks and soft drinks/coffee; Direct TV service with multiple channels and satellite radio in every seat; Friendly service; arrived 10 minutes early. Airport to Port: This is usually a simple task at Fort Lauderdale; a short taxi ride to the port is around $15 including tip. However, the port security people were making such a meal of it that vehicles were backed up and we sat and waited in a queue for what seemed like ages - the taxi fare, as a result, was $25. When we finally got to the security gate, we had our passports ready, but the two women weren't interested in them, they just yelled "seat belts on!"; we all had our seat belts on, and said so, but they yelled it twice more until we yelled back "We HAVE seat belts on!"; then they finally waved us pass. So much for security..we could have been armed terrorists, but so long as we were seat belted, who cares? At the Terminal: Handed over our bags and then went straight through a much better and far more polite security process that checked our passports, seapass documents, carry-on bags etc. Then we went straight up to the check-in desk and soon had our cabin keycards in hand. RCL had a big desk set up at the check-in area loaded with water, juices and cookies, but the process was so swift, we were onboard in no time, by 11.15am. Cabins were to be ready at 1pm, so we gave the girls a quick orientation tour. They were amazed. Enchantment still looks very good and spotlessly clean. We had lunch in the Windjammer; there was a wide array of salads, pastas, deli meats and cheeses, a roast beef carvery, hotdogs and burgers and lots more. One daughter is vegetarian (she does eat cheese), the other is an avowed carnivore and here, as in the dining room, neither had any trouble finding lots of things to suit. Cabin: We had two junior suites at the aft of deck 8. The girls just screamed with joy when they saw their cabin! Each JS had plenty of room, a sofa and two armchairs, vanity desk and chair, loads of wardrobe/drawer space, bathroom with full tub and shower over the tub, safe, coffee maker and tea kettle, fridge, and a huge balcony equipped with two sunbeds, a large table, two small tables and a couple of chairs. Excellent and highly comfortable. In our JS, we unpacked and met our cabin steward, LeRoy. He was fantastic the whole cruise. Never intrusive, but always keeping the room spotless, always providing fresh towels and lots of ice, and providing the most imaginative towel animals we've ever seen! Cabins were peaceful throughout and no noticeable movement. There was a small TV but we never turned it on. A thermostat that we turned to the coolest setting kept the cabin a nice temperature. Lots of sun on the balcony. Muster Drill: was the quickest I've ever seen and also the first I've done WITHOUT lifevests. Hurrah! No more standing around in stifling heat with that orange thing clamped around your neck. This was a new policy on Enchantment (and I think RCL is doing it elsewhere) and you just go straight to your muster station without the lifevest, get a quick demo of what to do in an emergency, then you're out of there, free to wander where you want. There were no elaborate, long-winded speeches either. Great move. Concierge Lounge: We're Diamond Plus, so have access to the concierge lounge (it's open to Diamond Plus and suite guests and, on Enchantment at least, open to Diamond member until September 2009). It's one of the nicest lounges in the fleet - large and with a wall of glass on one side so you have a great view. Diego, the concierge, and his assistant, were wonderful. Friendly, helpful, very professional. We enjoyed cocktails and hors d'ouvres every evening. It did get a bit crowded and noisy a couple of nights, but everyone was friendly and enjoying themselves. Dining Room: We had second seating, 8.30pm, in My Fair Lady. We had a nice table for four in the center, next to the Captain's table. The food was fine-to-good. Lots of choices. Prime rib served two nights (and good); the vegetarian curries were excellent; lobster tail on the last night (and they'd bring you extra), but mine was overcooked so I switched to prime rib. One night I ordered filet steak from the Chops specialty restaurant; it was $15 extra but worth it. Came medium-rare as ordered, was butter-tender and so huge that the carnivore daughter had half. Other high spots were a mushroom-pastry appetizer that three of us enjoyed and a very tender lamb shank. We had pre-ordered and pre-paid for a wine-and-dine package, so just ordered our wine from a set choice, which was good and included one sparkling wine, a white zinfadel, a couple of chardonnays and a pinot grigio, a couple of cabernets and a couple of other reds. Here's the one disappointment about dinner - the service was slow, slow, slow! The first night our appetizers didn't arrive until 9.30 - an hour after sitting down. My soup was lukewarm. The second night it was the same, with our main course not arriving until 10.15pm! We were so hungry we asked for a second bread serving, but even that was slow coming. Our waiter and assistant waiter were friendly and trying hard, but just seemed overwhelmed by the number of tables they had. Also, there is no bartender or wine server, so they were having to take care of everything. The head waiter was nowhere to be seen. After the second night of way too long waiting, I had a word with the head waiter who looked after the group of tables next to our's. He promised it would be addressed. On the third night service was improved - and our head waiter started appearing and helping out with wine service and other things. By the last night we were able to get away by 10pm - though I noticed the large table of 10 next to us was getting their main course at around then! Other meals: The girls ate breakfast in the Windjammer every morning and reported good things. We ordered room service of cereals, pastries, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato and hash browns. Always served hot and good. Lunch, we either skipped or had a hot dog or slice of pizza mid-afternoon in the solarium. Bar Service: Didn't use much because we had predinner cocktails in the concierge lounge and wine with dinner. But a long island ice tea and a mojito at the pool bar on day one were good and strong and rapidly served. Some after-dinner drinks in the schooner bar and spotlight lounge were also good and promptly served. All service was friendly. Entertainment: The girls and husband went to the opening show (cheesey, they said) and another musical show (very good, they said). We all went to the love and marriage game show you know the drill, but it's always entertaining; and to the late night/adult comedian, who was reasonable and struck a good balance of adult but not crude. Best entertainment of all was the karaoke in the spotlight lounge the first and last nights. The last night was a hoot; great atmosphere and fantastic mix of karaoke-awful with those who truly can sing. There was never any problem getting seats in all show areas and they are all no-smoking (all of RCL ships now ban smoking apart from outside). Spa: I had a deep tissue massage. Irene, the masseur from Spain, was so good that I booked a second for the last day, a cruising at sea day. Very good service. Massages run around $125 and up for around an hour or more. I also had a manicure, which at $45 plus $19 because I wanted French polish, seemed over-priced for a pretty basic service. My Diamond coupons gave me 20% off two services. Captain: I have to make special mention here of this ship's Captain, who hails from Croatia. He has to be one of the nicest, most accessible, charming captains at sea. He could be seen everywhere; even playing pool volleyball with guests one day and he just seems to love his job. His enthusiasm and friendliness seems to percolate through the entire ship and crew. On the last day, my husband and I were invited to a bridge tour because of our Diamond+ status. I've done bridge tours before, but none like this. The officers could not have been more welcoming and eager to tell us all about the ship and its operations. The Captain greeted us all very warmly, stood chatting with us and posed for photos. We also saw who REALLY sails the ship....a teddy bear was strapped to the wheel!! What a great crew. Disembarkation: Was a breeze. We kept our luggage with us (they all fit in the aircraft overhead bins) and opted for express departure where you carry your bag off yourself.At 7.30am sharp they led us off the ship and we whizzed through immigration and were in a cab by 7.45am and at the airport by 8am. Flight Home: we had an 11.30am flight with JetBlue, so there was plenty of time for breakfast, which we did at the Chilis to Go that is in Terminal 3/4 on a strip of little shops before you go through security. Eggs breakfast (they only have scrambled eggs) is around $8 per person. JetBlue excelled again, departing and arriving on time with more great service. They deserve credit for making flying enjoyable, where most airlines make it barely bearable. All in all a wonderful cruise; we all enjoyed it thoroughly. The only let down was the initial slow service in the dining room, but Enchantment proved once again that the smaller ships can be the most beautiful and friendly; and we wanted for nothing. So good, we immediately selected our cruise on Enchantment for August 2010, when she sails from Baltimore to the Caribbean.

Cabin Review

Junior Suite with Balcony

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