RCI Enchantment of the Seas Western Caribbean
July 2 - July 9, 2000

This was the first cruise for all five of us. Traveling with me (I'm 44) were my wife Barbara (45), daughter Chelsea (15), my daughter's friend Devin (15), and our friend Janice (Devin's mother, 45). I booked the cruise in October 1999. I was amazed at how few rooms were left at this time. RCI kept upping the price once or twice a week. We booked a Category I cabin, # 2538, on deck 2 for my family, and Janice and Devin booked the adjacent room. I visited the rec.travel.cruises newsgroup almost daily from September '99 until the cruise. I learned everything I needed to know to plan a great cruise here. Thanks to those who responded to my posts.

We felt comfortable leaving our two 15 year olds roam the ship together. They had to join us for dinner at 6:00 and be in by 1:00 AM (2:00 AM if we did not have to get up early--days at sea). We ran into them frequently around the ship and they sometimes joined us at the pool and shows. Our cabin steward, Allan, did a great job. Our room was cleaned, made up, and decorated with 'pillow art' twice daily, after breakfast and after dinner. Our waiter, Forlindo, was extremely attentive and did everything he could to see that we enjoyed our meal. Overall the entire staff were delightful. The only negative experience was that that one ship photographer, Andrew, was rude to us on two occasions.
This was our first cruise and we are hooked. It far exceeded our expectations. We will be sailing again and probably with RCI. Our friends just got back from the Carnival Destiny and hated it. We compared notes and the Enchantment seemed like a much better ship in all aspects.

Day 1 - Ft. Lauderdale
We left Pennsylvania at 7:30 AM arrived in Florida at 11:50 AM (via Pittsburgh). We had purchased the air/sea program. At the terminal RCI met us and we were herded into a lounge to await the bus to the boat. It was around a one hour wait, then a 5 minute bus ride to the dock. The embarkation line took around an hour to get through. At 2:00 we were in our room. We were all pleased with it, small, but well designed.
We went to the Windjammer for a lunch buffet, toured the pools (they were closed the first day), and signed up for excursions. Excursions fill up fast, I recommend signing up soon after you get on the ship at the pursers office. They have forms you fill out and put in a box. Our tickets for our excursions were on our bed that evening.
At 4:00 we went back to the room and unpacked. At 4:30 they had the lifeboat drill. At 5:00 there was an embarkation party by the pool with dancing. Quite a few people danced to the Electric Slide, Macarena, etc... 6:00 was dinner (early seating) in the My Fair Lady dining room. Casual dress tonight. Prime Rib. Overall throughout the cruise I thought the food was excellent. At all meals there were around 6 appetizers you could choose from (as many as you like), one salad, around 6 entrees (as many as you like), and around 6 desserts (two low-calorie).
After dinner I went to the casino. I had downloaded the game "Super BlackJack" from the Internet before the cruise and brushed up on BlackJack strategies. I played BlackJack after dinner all week and was around $10 behind at the end of the week. Better to almost break even then loose big. I had a lot of fun playing, this was only my second time in a casino. I can see how gambling can be addicting. The show on the first night is not really a show. There was a 15 minute talk by the cruise director followed by comedian who was on for 30 minutes. The comedian was Janine Gardener--we did not like her.
Map of Key West was on our bed with our excursion tickets for the week (Sting Ray City and Dunns River Cruise) when we returned to our room.

Day 2 - Key West
From 7:00 to 7:45 I watched the boat approach and dock at Key West. From Deck 10 you can watch the captain below on the left side of the boat as he maneuvers. They can turn these boats on a dime.
Last night we ordered breakfast in the room for today from a very limited menu. It never showed up. We went to the WindJammer. Although I liked the breakfasts here two people in our group were not fond of them.
At 9:00 we were on the free train ride to downtown Key West. We walked up Duvall Street and shopped. Not great shopping--mostly T-Shirt shops. If I had to do it again I probably would have done an excursion (snorkeling or glall bottom boat) and skipped the shopping.
We had lunch in Margueritaville (Conch soup and Key West Ale). I purchased a mask and snorkel across the street from Margueritaville (of Jimmy Buffet fame) at a good price.
At 2:00 we were back on the ship and at the pool. 6:00 was formal dinner. I had rented a tux (I would say around one out of every five men had one on) and plan to rent one again on our next cruise. We missed the show that night in the theater. At 10:00 we watched the "Battle of the Sexes" in the Carrousel Lounge. 11:00 we went to the Centrum Disco. Danced. 12:00 was the Galley Tour and Galley Buffet (a buffet set up in the galley). Amazing that they make close to 10,000 meals per day on this ship.

Day 3 – Cozumel
Thank you to everyone that recommended Chankanaab Park. It was the highlight of our cruise (Stingray City was a close second).
At 11:00 AM we took a cab from the ship to Chankanaab Park. It was $8 for the cab ride and $10 per person to get in. It was beautiful. Grass umbrellas shaded free beach chairs. Snorkeling was unbelievable ($5 to rent equipment). Fish everywhere. I took some bread in as suggested and was 'attacked' by around 200 fish before I could get it out of my hand. Take an underwater camera here.
The wife and I went scuba diving. A one hour dive with lesson for $40 each. I was certified and had dove twice. My wife had never dove. With one instructor for just the two of us I felt it was safe for my wife. The 20 minute lesson they gave my wife (in broken English) was not really sufficient preparation to dive. She only stayed down 40 of the 60 minutes. Diving was beautiful, tons of fish (big and small), sponges, caves, etc... If you are PADI certified and have not dove for a while you would love this.
We went to the free showers and changed, took a tour of the Mayan ruin replicas, and at 4:00 grabbed a taxi into town to Los Sincos Soles in San Miguel. We had dinner in the back of Los Sincos Soles at Pancho's restaurant. Good food. We shopped briefly in Los Sincos Soles and then hit several other shops. If we had to do it again we would have spent most of our shopping time in Los Sincos Soles. Their prices were as good as anywhere and the sales people were not pushy as in the other shops. The $4 Mexican blankets made great gifts for relatives.

Day 4 - Day at Sea
At 8:00 AM I was the first person in the Solarium pool (By 10:00 all good seats were taken). No kids under 12 are allowed in this pool. It is a quiet area nice for sunbathing, reading, and chatting with new people you meet. At 12:00 I took a tour of the ship and walked around every deck, then back to the pool. There is a snack shop by the pool with pizza, hamburgers, and great fries.
6:00 PM was Jamaican night in the My Fair Lady dining room. The waiters did the "Dance of the Flaming BaBa-Loos". They had cakes on their heads with lit candles and danced around the dining room. A fun dinner.
9:00 PM was LaRaf (2 magicians) in the Orpheum Theatre. Everyone seemed to like them but me. They use what I call store bought magic--tricks you purchase. I saw no slight of hand or anything that required actual talent.
At 10:15 PM my table won 2nd place in the 50's-60's trivia contest in the Carrousel lounge.
My daughter and her friend often hung out in the teen club. Every night they would have many activities planned for them. One night they had karaoke, another night they had to go in groups (guys vs. girls) with a Polaroid camera in search for the most gorgeous people on the ship. The girls thought that was really fun. All the activities were very fun; they were definitely geared toward their age group. They met many new friends from all over and still keep in touch with them. Also in the teen club they would have free drinks (e.g. non-alcoholic pina colodas), which you don't often see on this ship, and free cookies, sandwiches, and fruit.

Day 5 - Grand Caymans
8:15 we departed on the Sting Ray City Tour. Not to be missed. They boat you to a sand bar around 3 miles from shore where you stand in waist deep water and feed sting rays pieces of squid from your hand. It is an unbelievable experience. A must do.
At 12:00 we walked from the Sting Ray City boat dock to the Beach Club Colony (around 3 blocks). We stopped on the way for an ice cream cone--it was $7.50 (and they would not give me change in American dollars!)! What they say about high prices in Grand Cayman is very true.
The Beach Club Colony is a resort that allows cruise ship people on their beach. Of course it costs $5 to get on their beach, and another $5 for an umbrella. They pack you in like sardines--5 rows of chairs all next to each other. The water was clear with a sandy bottom. As you looked up and down the beach at the uncrowded sections it looked beautiful. I snorkeled and only saw one fish. I would never come back to Beach Club Colony.
At 2:00 it started to rain and we left Beach Club Colony. We shopped brieflly by the pier on the way out and bought two large rum cakes ($18). I wished I would have gotten more. I'm surprised they did not kick me out for all the free samples I ate (I really pigged out).
At 4:00 they gave out sheets by the pool and demonstrated how to tie togas. 6:00 Italian night in the dining room. Waiters sang O-Solo-Mio (forgive my spelling). The 9:00 PM show Flashback was excellent. Great talent. They sang music of the 50's - 90's. The comedy juggler that followed was also excellent.
11:00 Toga party. Not to be missed. How often do you see 100-200 people in togas doing a chain dance around the pool. A small buffet was also set up by the pool.

Day 6 - Jamaica
We took the 11:00 AM Cruise to Dunns River Falls excursion. At the pier we boarded a boat with around 40 other people. Cruised along Jamaica to Dunns River Falls. Climbed the falls (took around 1 hour). The few vendors near the falls were very pushy ("Why don't you want your hair braided"!). This is another not to be missed event (the falls, not the vendors). The falls are a bit treacherous at spots (one person from our ship broke his leg here). Cruised back to ship. They served some very strong rum punch on the cruise back and sold hats, T-shirts, Jerk sauce, etc... I purchased my Jamaican mementos here.
At 2:00 I went to the pool and my wife and her friend went shopping in Jamaica. I had heard bad things about Jamaica and was surprised when my wife and Janice said they had a great time. They found a craft bazaar with hundreds of vendors and got the best deals of the whole cruise. They felt the vendors in Cozumel were more pushy than Jamaica.
6:00 - Formal night number two--French Cuisine. We went early and had our pictures taken by the ship's photographer. They came out nice and we ended up purchasing them.
The 9:00 show with the ventriloquist and his 'parrot' was very good.

We continued the evening at the Champagne Bar in the Centrum listening to jazz music.
Made it to the Grand buffet at midnight. It was around 4X bigger than I expected.

Day 7 - Day at Sea
At 8:00 AM I was at the pool and reserved 5 chairs for our group by the main pool. By 9:00 AM all chairs were taken.
A lot going on as usual-- Bingo, horse racing, slot tournaments.
6:00 - International Night in the dining room, then we went back to the room and packed (bags must be set in the hallway by midnight).
The 9:00 end of the cruise show with the staff and the juggler/comedienne was hilarious. Don't miss this.

Day 8 - Disembarkation
I was surprised we did not see anyone being checked by customs as we disembarked.
Flew back to Pennsylvania.

Looking forward to our next cruise.

Please e-mail me if you have any questions about this cruise:
E-mail comments/questions to powlusr@ptd.net