Royal Caribbean - Mariner of the Seas Review

I booked a Western Caribbean cruise directly with RC on March 1 for March 23, 2008 cruise for myself and 16 year old son. We had a guarantee stateroom (RC chose) in 1639 and it was quiet and dark, good for sleeping. We have no complaints about the room but may choose a balcony next time. I highly recommend passports and a credit card account to go through registration at port. There were more than 3600 passengers with 1/3 of those under 18 on spring break. The little kids seemed so happy to be in the kids program and the teenagers were having fun and were well behaved. Lots of folks from the midwest on the cruise. The cruise sailed to Haiti - Grand Cayman - Ocho Rios - Cozumel. The ships are so stable that seasickness was not an issue EXCEPT for the tender to land from Cozumel for Cozumel/Mayan excusions. The tickets correctly warned of rough seas. I ate a sour green apple and had no problems but many passengers, including my son, got sick. On the return trip, my son took the motion sickness pills and sat at the rear of the tender and had no problem.

Anyway, we had the best food, cabin steward, waiters and excusions. I love salmon and fruit and both were freely available at almost all meals. We were pleased with the excusions: Haiti - tour and beach with floating mat; Grand Cayman - Steve? with Trolley Tour and taxi ride to Seven Mile Beach; Highlights of Ocho Rios (take water shoes for Dunns River Climb); and Cozumel - Highlights of Cancun. Cancun had the most beautiful beach and I loved playing in the water.

I worked out most days and the excursions provided physical activity to help offset the good meals. Plus there were many times it was more convenient to take the stairs instead of wait for the elevator. There was never a dull moment and plenty of activities. The one service I was most unimpressed with was the spa. I didn't appreciate the sales pitch for products at the end and there was no comparison to the services provided by my regular lady at home. 

My son summed up our cruise as we drove away from Port Canaveral - "that was a good vacation!"