Mayan Jewels was RSSC's name for the cruise, not an LCT moniker. Just to be clear.
This was our first time back on Navigator since its last dry dock. Probably the biggest change is in La Verandah, which has been shrunken to accomodate the expansion of Prime 7. At first we were concerned that it would be too tight--the service areas are very scrunched together--but this never proved to be a problem. The new chairs there are quite comfy and attractive.
No changes in food or service there during the day, but at night it becomes Sette Mari, an Italian restaurant. This is where, IMO, the best food on the ship was to be found. We had dinner there twice during the 7-day cruise.
Prime 7 was still good, with the same look, only a bit larger.
Compass Rose was the surprise. For the first time since I started cruising on RSSC 15 years ago, I found it to be poor quality. The service was excellent, but the food was not good, ranging from unmemorable to affirmatively awful.
Kudos to RSSC for the changes at the pool. The chairs are now cushioned with towel "jackets", and very comfortable. They've moved the smoking area away from the pool bar to a partially partitioned area on the other side, making the pool bar a highly inviting place. Also, poolside service was the best I've ever seen it.
Oh, and the smokestacks have changed. I kept looking at the ship and feeling that something in its profile was different. Beth finally put her finger on it, and we confirmed at a dinner with the chief engineer that indeed it was the smokestack.
Something rather funny with the lighting. When we boarded the lights in the hallway areas looked like the insignia from the starship Enterprise. Gradually, as the cruise progressed, they were replaced with glass sconces with black shades. Beth said they look like something from a French whorehouse. I was thinking more domestic whorehouse. Whichever type brothel they call to mind, they are definitely out of place.
Oddly enough, this was my first Caribbean cruise (if you don't count the final week of the Discovery Collection, which I don't--it's a whole different tenor when you are winding down a lengthy cruise). I don't think I'll be likely to do one again. The excursions were so-so at best, and it lacked a certain something--I guess mostly a sense of adventure. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time and met some wonderful people. And am glad I did it. But it's just not something I will rush back to.
