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.
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Reminds you of a scene from Titanic?](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9136998092_3184e9c137_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 The fine dining experience is quintessential on board any Royal Caribbean ship](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/9136998382_e396781671_o.jpg)
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:
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Rachel loves the salad bar at the main dining room](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/9136997856_aaaf855174_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Fresh salad tossed with ingredient which Rachel chose](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/9134775711_77e388a151_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Pasta of the day for Asher](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/9136996970_0ac1a4d277_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Steak with egg for me](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/9134776413_4f54d60eff_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 A mushroom quiche for Rachel](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/9136997422_d910b2d2d8_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Apple crumble](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/9136997614_c54bdce1b7_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Asher stuffing himself silly](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/9134774575_e1e3ff53ee_o.jpg)
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:
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Rhapsody in Blue interior](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/9136996426_c85846f6d3_o.jpg)
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.
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Cafe Promenade - there is Ben & Jerry ice cream as well as Starbucks coffee available with top-up charges](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/9137026722_f3da8b1c95_o.jpg)
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:
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Artwork for sale via bidding](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9136998694_4764685519_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Control room for the ship's own radio and television channels](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/9136999118_2e675e91e7_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Guess the price correctly and you get to win this painting](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/9136999558_712c214bf4_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Photography gallery featuring many celebrities like John Lennon here](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9134779105_e7599a41b9_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Asher observing that we have docked at Port Klang in KL](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/9134779545_6f294b4f1c_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Adventure Ocean arcade for teens](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9134779853_97c954542d_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Inside the games arcade](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/9134780477_15ca697e33_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 More game stations](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/9137001434_85f2fd22d9_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Asher pretending to drive](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9137002144_9e728aefe6_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Teens hangout room](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/9137002740_c74f83878a_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Rachel and Asher had fun with table soccer](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3738/9137002466_97dcd0426c_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 The library](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/9134797075_10df2dcaaf_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Internet and computer area](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/9137023046_3d1d6d1e51_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 One of the bars on the ship](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/9134805307_aba6d0e5b7_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Jazz singer performing](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/9134807343_b0d9aa7257_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Shopping along the Royal Promenade](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2845/9134805563_54e06ceeb8_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Wig and Gavel English-style pub](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/9137026468_cf4875c954_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Jewelry on sale](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/9134806321_4deb45a3f4_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Rachel checking out the duty-free cosmetics](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7346/9137027236_f083c4206b_o.jpg)
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:
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Salad bar at WIndjammer](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9134786177_3cc4d3d817_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Meat section](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/9137008240_2c2ca317b4_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Fried chicken, french fries and other American staple snacks](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/9137008510_5bc4827d2c_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Fruits and desserts](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/9137013450_10f35cc190_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Indian food](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9134796443_af25bab4f8_o.jpg)
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:
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Rachel and Asher in formal wear, ordering their food](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/9137032078_2bc7cc0506_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Asher looking at the menu](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/9137032320_e3258fb208_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Family photo](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/9134812471_777234cba4_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Escargot](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/9137033154_2cebe204df_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Ham with rock melon](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/9134812969_75c55dd8ea_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Strawberry bisque](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9137033618_5026646380_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Lobster bisque](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/9137033838_11ed0ef3eb_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Small portion of spaghetti for Asher](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/9134813669_836304e678_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 I had steak again](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/9134814131_a6a8e9e0cf_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Rachel ordered chicken](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/9137035184_beda7bbd5b_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Asher made a new friend](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/9137034654_50fa7b7e93_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 The pretty little girl is a child model from Hong Kong](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/9134814627_fcfdfb5cfb_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 One of the wait staff folded a little hat for Asher with his napkin](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/9137035372_ef8f162689_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Lava cake](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/9137035614_0759c8a360_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 A strawberry dessert which Rachel ordered](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/9137035826_14f4201b7c_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Ice cream](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/9137036054_40276e24f3_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Banana Creme Brûlée](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/9137036294_25456ba022_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Lemon Meringue](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/9137036530_ea5fa12e8a_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Rachel and Asher all dressed up](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/9137036834_91c5f22229_o.jpg)
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!”
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Gallery of Dreams musical](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/9134807045_5999c9171c_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Asher sat on my lap throughout the performance, eyes glued on the stage](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7447/9134806797_0f33e234ae_o.jpg)
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.
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 View from our stateroom balcony](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/9134818059_df426700a8_o.jpg)
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:
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Our room by day, all set and with sofa-bed folded back](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5336/9137023514_b1bbdcd608_o.jpg)
This is how the room will transform when we are back after dinner:
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Our room by night with the sofa bed all set](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/9134805037_db515358a9_o.jpg)
![Cruising with the Family on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - Day 2 of 4 Towels folded into the shape of an elephant and the next day itinerary planner on our bed](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/9137038036_6227aec3eb_o.jpg)
Amazing isn’t it? No prompting required!
Stay tuned for my next and final blog post on 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.
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 • APACRes@rcclapac.com |
Sounds great! Looks yummy!
By the way, how much did you pay for the whole trip?