This was a nice New Year's cruise. Not the best I've been on, but one of the best dressed I've been on in quite awhile. I don't think I've ever seen more sequined outfits on a cruise (worn by both men and women). Everyone appeared to be very well behaved. Those 3 and 4 day cruises often seem to shake the freak tree for guests, but this one not so much.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
It was soured by finding out the day before embarkation that we needed to be shuttled from our lot next to the cruise terminal to another terminal. About a 45 minute delay and annoyance.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Some say "terrible", "inedible". It definitely wasn't that, but it was far from memorable. It was average with a C- rating because the variety was lacking. One night, we had to go to three different bars just to be waited on.
Schooner Bar
2 out of 5
Putting large TV's in a piano bar was cheesy and a sad attempt to cater to sports nutz.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Probably not fair to rate because we really didn't do much. The sports, rock climbing, and water activity areas all looked good. One of the more bizarre experiences was doing a trivia session right in the middle of an active group screaming at the Rose Bowl on TV
Entertainment
4 out of 5
They never seem to do a good job staging the musical performers on this class of ship. They seem to be playing in a tiny bar are sitting out in the promenade area where no one can sit and enjoy them. The ice show is always a nice treat and done very well.
Studio B
5 out of 5
Ice show is a "don't miss"
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Staff was generally pleasant and helpful; but you never felt like there was a "fun squad" trying to keep everyone happy. Another cruise line just does that much better. As noted before, bar service was sparse in most areas.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
It's an older ship but everything seemed clean and well maintained. I'm not a fan of the central promenade design; but that's a personal preference.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
This time we did an interior. Not a bad room, but the bed and adjacent couch were shoe-horned so tight you had to crawl into bed. Best to keep those beds separated on this class of room. Room 7371 was generally quiet, but not in a good location.
Ship tip
My ship-tip: On this class of ship, the 11th floor mens room by Windjammer has a great view for a guy needing to gaze out wistfully over the ocean for a minute or two
They funneled everyone out to the exterior promenade deck and a long line looped around the back of the ship and to the gangway. About 45 minutes total. Having that passport for facial recognition must have saved at least 15
We were on the same cruise. Similar experiences around the Schooner Bar and the Rose Bowl... There were venues more appropriate for a sports bar and why they have Trivia and then Kat the Piano Woman competing with the game was simply a huge miss.
Thanks for sharing!
2004, our biggest regret was that we didn't think to do a back-to-back so the 4-day would have turned into an 8-day. Don't think that this was disappointing to us at all. (Except for the bed)
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