Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 - Alvinology

Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas – Day 2 of 4

I brought my wife and 21-month-old son, Asher on board Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas for a 4D3N cruise to Port Klang in Kuala Lumpur during the June holidays.

On our second day on board the ship, the three of us slept late, taking the opportunity to laze and recharge in our cosy stateroom. We woke up around noon time, just in time for lunch at the complimentary three-tier main dining room, individually named on each floor.

There were noticeably less people on the ship as we have docked at Port Klang in Kuala Lumpur in the morning. Many have got off the ship to tour the Malaysian city.

Rachel and I chose to stay on board as we have visited KL several times and would prefer to enjoy the food and amenities on board the ship. Fyi, even when the ship is docked, the restaurants are all still operating, as per many of the programs and activities.

Scenes from Titanic the movie come to mind when we dined in the main dining room, surrounded by lavish furnishings and attentive waiters. Jaded diners will be pleased to know that menu items are changed daily.

Reminds you of a scene from Titanic?
Reminds you of a scene from Titanic?
The fine dining experience is quintessential on board any Royal Caribbean ship
The fine dining experience is quintessential on board any Royal Caribbean ship

Rachel and I ordered and sampled many dishes throughout our 4D2N stay. It is fun to explore the diverse menu and it was a good introduction to western cuisines for Asher. We came to the conclusion that the beef dishes are the best recommendations as they are almost always cooked to perfection. Seafood dishes are more risky. Escargots are available when in season and are great appetizers to have. Scallops too.

Here is what we had for lunch on the second day:

Rachel loves the salad bar at the main dining room
Rachel loves the salad bar at the main dining room
Fresh salad tossed with ingredient which Rachel chose
Fresh salad tossed with ingredient which Rachel chose
Pasta of the day for Asher
Pasta of the day for Asher
Steak with egg for me
Steak with egg for me
A mushroom quiche for Rachel
A mushroom quiche for Rachel
Apple crumble
Apple crumble
Asher stuffing himself silly
Asher stuffing himself silly

This post will focus mainly on food as we spend the whole of the second day eating at the various complimentary restaurants available on board Mariner of the Seas. Here’s a list of the restaurants available:

Rhapsody in Blue interior
Rhapsody in Blue interior

Rhapsody in Blue Dining Room (Deck 3)
Top Hat and Tails Dining Room (Deck 4)
The Sound of Music Dining Room (Deck 5)
Three-tier dining rooms features a wide variety of menu items and impeccable service.

Café Promenade (Deck 5)
This café on the Royal Promenade offers specialty coffees, snacks and pastries in the morning and sandwiches and cookies throughout the day and night.

Cafe Promenade - there is Ben & Jerry ice cream as well as Starbucks coffee available with top-up charges
Cafe Promenade – there is Ben & Jerry ice cream as well as Starbucks coffee available with top-up charges

Boardwalk Dog House (Deck 11)
Kiosk located beside the pools for traditional hot dogs, brats, sausages and other delicious linked meats, plus a variety of toppings to split a long bun.

Windjammer Café (Deck 11)
This seaside café offers buffet-style breakfasts and lunches. In the evenings, the café’s casual atmosphere is complemented by a changing menu and restaurant-style service. This area also incorporates the Asian-themed Jade buffet restaurant.

Giovanni’s Table (Deck 11) – top-up charges required
A casual Italian trattoria with indoor and al fresco seating, Giovanni’s Table offers rustic dishes with a contemporary flair, including toasted herb foccacia, pastas, braised meat dishes and stews, served family-style.

Chops Grille (Deck 11) – top-up charges required
Royal Caribbean’s popular signature steakhouse, featuring grade-A premium cuts of steak cooked to your specifications, plus fresh seafood, hearty side dishes and signature desserts in an upscale, contemporary setting.

Johnny Rockets® (Deck 12) – top-up charges required
Themed 50s diner, which features red naugahyde booths, formica counters, a jukebox, burgers, fries and good old-fashioned malted milk shakes.

After lunch, we did some exploring of the facilities and activities on board the ship:

Artwork for sale via bidding
Artwork for sale via bidding
Control room for the ship's own radio and television channels
Control room for the ship’s own radio and television channels
Guess the price correctly and you get to win this painting
Guess the price correctly and you get to win this painting
Photography gallery featuring many celebrities like John Lennon here
Photography gallery featuring many celebrities like John Lennon here
Asher observing that we have docked at Port Klang in KL
Asher observing that we have docked at Port Klang in KL
Adventure Ocean arcade for teens
Adventure Ocean arcade for teens
Inside the games arcade
Inside the games arcade
More game stations
More game stations
Asher pretending to drive
Asher pretending to drive
Teens hangout room
Teens hangout room
Rachel and Asher had fun with table soccer
Rachel and Asher had fun with table soccer
The library
The library
Internet and computer area
Internet and computer area
One of the bars on the ship
One of the bars on the ship
Jazz singer performing
Jazz singer performing
Shopping along the Royal Promenade
Shopping along the Royal Promenade
Wig and Gavel English-style pub
Wig and Gavel English-style pub
Jewelry on sale
Jewelry on sale
Rachel checking out the duty-free cosmetics
Rachel checking out the duty-free cosmetics

The walking around made us hungry, so we went to Windjammer for light bites, not forgetting to grab a few fruits for Asher on-the-go:

Salad bar at WIndjammer
Salad bar at WIndjammer
Meat section
Meat section
Fried chicken, french fries and other American staple snacks
Fried chicken, french fries and other American staple snacks
Fruits and desserts
Fruits and desserts
Indian food
Indian food

Before we know it, it was time for dinner. We headed back again to the main dining room. It was Captain’s Night and all three of us were decked in formal wear, following the dress code. Our dinner experience:

Rachel and Asher in formal wear, ordering their food
Rachel and Asher in formal wear, ordering their food
Asher looking at the menu
Asher looking at the menu
Family photo
Family photo
Escargot
Escargot
Ham with rock melon
Ham with rock melon
Strawberry bisque
Strawberry bisque
Lobster bisque
Lobster bisque
Small portion of spaghetti for Asher
Small portion of spaghetti for Asher
I had steak again
I had steak again
Rachel ordered chicken
Rachel ordered chicken
Asher made a new friend
Asher made a new friend
The pretty little girl is a child model from Hong Kong
The pretty little girl is a child model from Hong Kong
One of the wait staff folded a little hat for Asher with his napkin
One of the wait staff folded a little hat for Asher with his napkin
Lava cake
Lava cake
A strawberry dessert which Rachel ordered
A strawberry dessert which Rachel ordered
Ice cream
Ice cream
Banana Creme Brûlée
Banana Creme Brûlée
Lemon Meringue
Lemon Meringue
Rachel and Asher all dressed up
Rachel and Asher all dressed up

I think most Singaporeans would prefer the buffet-style dining at Windjammer to eat fast; but I would recommend eating at the main dining room if you can afford the time so as to fully enjoy the high service standard of Royal Caribbean’s wait crew in a fine dining environment.

The diverse menu is always very tempting, but avoid food wastage by ordering too much. For Rachel and I, we make sure we always order different starter, entree and dessert so we can swap and share, sampling more dishes.

After dinner, we brought Asher to catch a Broadway-style musical at the Savoy Theatre. The good thing about the theatre is that young children and babies are welcome as long as they are accompanied by adults. Asher love it and kept asking us to bring him to more performances. He would go: “我要看表演!”

Gallery of Dreams musical
Gallery of Dreams musical
Asher sat on my lap throughout the performance, eyes glued on the stage
Asher sat on my lap throughout the performance, eyes glued on the stage

We tucked Asher into bed after the show. Rachel and I then get to do some quiet reading, sitting on the deck chairs in the attached balcony of our stateroom while enjoying the ocean breeze and rhythmic lapsing of the waves.  Life is good.

View from our stateroom balcony
View from our stateroom balcony

Oh, one more thing, the Royal Caribbean housekeeping staff is amazing! They always manage to sneak into our room and get it tidied thoroughly without us ever spotting them. This is how the room will look after we come back from breakfast or lunch:

Our room by day, all set and with sofa-bed folded back
Our room by day, all set and with sofa-bed folded back

This is how the room will transform when we are back after dinner:

Our room by night with the sofa bed all set
Our room by night with the sofa bed all set
Towels folded into the shape of an elephant and the next day itinerary planner on our bed
Towels folded into the shape of an elephant and the next day itinerary planner on our bed

Amazing isn’t it? No prompting required!

Stay tuned for my next and final blog post on Mariner of the Seas.

Click here to read all my blog posts on cruising with the family on board Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas.

About Mariner of the Seas in Asia

Mariner of the Seas’ maiden Asian season has lined up cruises from Singapore in early June of 3 and 4 nights to Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and Langkawi, and 10 nights to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Shanghai. She will sail North Asian cruises from Shanghai during the summer before returning to Singapore for more Southeast Asian cruises from November till next March. They include a variety of 3,4 and 5-night cruises to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Langkawi, Penang and Phuket, a 7-night cruise to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (overnight) and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), and an 8-night cruise to Shanghai with calls at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Xiamen and an overnight in Hong Kong. She is Royal Caribbean International’s fourth ship homeporting in Asia, following Rhapsody of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

About Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 40-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry firsts never-before-seen at sea. The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL), the cruise line sails 21 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, Asia and Australia and New Zealand. World renowned for its friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, delivered 2 by every staff and crew member, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 10 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Reader’s Choice Awards.

Click here to read all my blog posts on cruising with the family on board Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas.

To book a cruise with Royal Caribbeans, visit their official website to find out more. For Singaporean travelers, additional contact information are as below: 

Asia Pacific (Singapore Office)
Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Tel: 65 6305 0033
• Fax: 65 6536 2282
• [email protected]

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