Sailing Dec.27th. from home (Ft.Laud.) to Lima. Anyone on board ? Is the mini bar stocked with liquor ? <BR>neviboy

<BR>Hi Neviboy, <BR> <BR>Do you ever stay home? <BR> <BR>Paul

Yes,Paul, I do stay home. I was booked on Ren.1 for next week. Changed my mind on Marco Polo, found that Celebrity's Brazil cruises were cancelled months ago, and have now booked Mariner. So it just LOOKS as though I am never home. <BR>neviboy

Won't be on board, unfortunately (was for one of the April inaugurals though). Anyway, the scoop with the minibar is that each person in the room (we were double occupandy) gets a bottle of their choice from a pretty extensive list. When that's gone, they don't replenish it, but you can purchase replacements. Beer, soda and mineral water is replenished at no charge. I don't know if it was because we were one of the first sailings or not, but though they say wine is free with dinner (based on the suggested wines on the menus), we occasionally ordered mixed drinks or beer and weren't charged. Apparently, non-wine drinkers feel they shouldn't be penalized just because they drink something different and, despite the fact it's not advertised, the dining rooms seem to honor that.

Greetings Neville, <BR>Please see my post on Frommers in response to your direct query to me. <BR>Yes, the mini bar is stocked. We don't like what they usually stock it with (Vodka, Gin & Whiskey, I think) so we ask for Bailey's Irish Cream which we then take home the leftovers so we have it here to serve to guests. <BR>The service is the best ever and the staff called me by name. <BR>We loved having breakfast on the balcony. We also had room service dinner which is nothing like the other lines' room service. First the waiter sets the table with linens and silverware. Then the appetizer, soup, salad are served. About 20-30 minutes later the waiter returns with the entree. If you order dessert, that is brought later. We did this room service the last night of the cruise so we could pack without having to leave any clothes out for dinner. Also did it the evening that I had a late afternoon massage, so I just wore the robe back to the room and could leave the massage oil on. Very relaxing. <BR>Anyway, I think you will really enjoy the Mariner. Please post me direct with your feedback. <BR>Happy traveling. J

I thought I'd put my two cents in about room service dinner, myself. One night, I had a business dinner on board so my husband ordered room service for himself. I am not exaggerating when I say that when I returned to the suite, the guy would NOT shut up about it. "The roast beef sandwich was THIS THICK!" That's all I heard. And, the funny thing is that he expected the meal to be the rather lame room service portions that other lines give you, so he ordered, if I recall, soup, salad, pasta, that damn roast beef sandwich I heard so much about, a dessert. Anyway, the waiter set the table for two!

Note to Judy. We never have room service, preferring to meet people in the dining rooms. Chacun a son gout as the Chinese say. <BR>neviboy

Welcome back.<BR>I wrote you here in Oct. and am wondering if you could please post a report on your experiences on the Mariner. Look forward to it. Or post to me directly at above address. Thank you.