Free at sea package made it more tempting to do excursions, but I forgot to bring binoculars so I didn't get to see a lot of wildlife from the cruise ship. I did see them on excursions
Embarkation
3 out of 5
The process was fast, but they had no idea what to do with the 811 form for Canada or how to handle forms for anyone staying in Canada after the cruise or cruising back to back. I had to fill out the form 3 more. Times on the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Garden Cafe
4 out of 5
Most of the food is good especially for bulk cooking. Breakfast is the same each day, but lunch and dinner changes each day. I also liked the rotation of exotic ice cream flavors such as macadamia brittle each day. The carving station was almost always overcooked and too tough to eat.
Palace Main Dining Room
3 out of 5
Same as Crossings. There were days where the chicken was too overcooked to chew and days the chicken was perfect and juicy. Most of the beef dishes were tough or chewy. If able, stick to soups, egg noodles and lamb. They were the most consistently cooked well and soft. Seafood was usually okay, sometimes overcooked and dry, but still decent.
Crossings Main Dining Room
3 out of 5
There were days where the chicken was too overcooked to chew and days the chicken was perfect and juicy. Most of the beef dishes were tough or chewy. If able, stick to soups, egg noodles and lamb. They were the most consistently cooked well and soft. Seafood was usually okay, sometimes overcooked and dry, but still decent.
Le Bistro
4 out of 5
If I didn't get a meal credit on my booking, I wouldn't have done specialty dining. The meal was tasty, pretty, and the duck breasts were decently cooked. I'd dine here again if I got another meal credit, but I avoid spending extra for specialty restaurants.
The Atrium Bar
4 out of 5
Small side bar that only opens at night. Would have loved to see at least one day time indoor bar. No frozen drinks.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
They have enough facilities for the amount of people using them and they're relatively well kept.
Fitness Center
4 out of 5
Good for a cruise ship, has plenty of dumbbells in assorted weights, a few weight machines and lots of cardio machines.
Jogging Track
4 out of 5
Gets the job done, pass on the left.
Spa
4 out of 5
Sauna and steam room are nice, but steam room smells a little moldy
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The names of the venues don't match the ones listed in this app/site. The production shows had great dancers, some songs had too much going on to follow the lyrics.
The comedian was good, would like him to have more adult sets and fewer family sets.
The magician was talented and very humble.
I didn't care for the main band or pianist, but the solo and duo performers were nice.
The cruise director and his entertainment staff were awesome
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The hospitality by the staff and crew were great.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Moldy smell in some areas.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Bathroom sometimes had a moldy smell. There's a gap between the twin mattresses which is awkward, maybe they need toppers or something
Ship tip
If you like using the sauna, steam room or want a robe, get the spa pass (no thermal suite on ship)
Decent town, the Sydney Pub Tour excursion goes to a cider house for a flight of three ciders and one of the guides sings. Then it walka to downtown for two bars to get a beer at each one and they have a local performer sing at each one as well.
Nothing to do other than tours. The Craftsman Road excursion had poor timing. First a glass gallery for a demo by the glassblower and then too much time shopping (if you're quick on your feet you can run over to the HaHa Pyramid for pictures). Then a cheese factory with samples of three cheeses (they only speak French, it guide translates) and they have a full store, but there's no time to shop since it's a very busy location (only stop to get drinks/food). The final stop is the Alpaca farm which was the best part.
Typical city. The Countryside of Quebec ending at Quebec Airport excursion was nice. The sugar shack was delicious and gave us water ,maple tea, coffee, sugar pie, a thimble of amber maple syrup, a taste of maple butter and maple taffy. The Montmorency Falls was beautiful and immense. The last stop for photos was more of a quick break.
Seems like a nice place to spend a weekend. The Nature Cruise excursion allowed close up views of what people on the cruise ship were peaking at with high powered cameras and binoculars. We saw harbor seals, various birds including bald eagles and harbor porpoises.
Would like to come back for their shellfish festival. The Charlottetown Stroll excursion takes you through downtown and back, but you can drop off whenever you want.
Full Island Tour excursion used up the entire time at port. We saw all of the island,went to the Gay Head Cliffs and learned a lot, but didn't get to enjoy town.
The ship did their part well, but the port agents and your guides were all over the place. Had people stand in line then move because they had them stand where buses had to go and had no clear directions for what was going on.
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