katj
First Mate
Tampa
Joined 08/2014
41
Cruises15
Reviews304
Helpful VotesI took my first cruise in 2008. I now have 16 under my belt. I live on the east coast. I would love to live in a port city like to Miami. I would probably sail every other month with those specials. I plan to retire on a cruise ship some day.
Upcoming cruises
Past cruises
April 2024 - 14 nights on Carnival Pride
January 2024 - 5 Night Bahamas: Great Stirrup Cay Key West & Nassau (Tampa Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Jade
Relaxing Getaway post holiday season
Managed expectations went a long way to having a great cruise. I met wonderful people onboard and enjoyed delicious meals even if mass prep was evident. I didn't bother with internet this time, I just downloaded enough to my Kindle to get through 5 days on reading and movies. I didn't get the drink package but spent about the same as what the drink package gratuity would have run me with the flexibility of ordering what I wanted since the cheapest package wouldn't have included Starbucks or water so it worked out for me especially since I'm not a heavy drinker and NCL's propensity to shortcut cocktails by premixing ingredients leaves little room for drink customization with them employeeing drink servers over actual bartenders that have the flexibility to curate specialty cocktails.
November 2023 - 5 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Cruise on Radiance of the Seas
Radiance of the Seas 5N Mexico
Great cruise. The internet worked well. There was plenty to do and ample food.
September 2023 - 6 nights on Carnival Paradise
August 2023 - 5 Night Key West & Perfect Day (Tampa Roundtrip) Cruise on Serenade of the Seas
April 2023 - 8 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Cruise on Serenade of the Seas
November 2022 - 6 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Celebration
Inaugural Cruise Miami Departure
Carnival Celebration is a beautiful ship. It's in it inaugural season so there may be a few hiccups but I had no issues that would prevent me from sailing on her again. Carnival does casual dining the best out of all cruise lines, and Celebration continues this tradition. I prefer the traditional pizza shop to that of Miami Slice, but I see the need to offer pizza in slices versus entire pies to try to reduce waste. The ship never seemed crowded; notwithstanding the elevator congestion or busier wait times at prime dining hours. The staff were overwhelmed at times but were always professional if not always obsequious and fawning.
September 2022 - 7 Night Canada & New England (New York Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Breakaway
May 2022 - 7 Night Bahamas (Baltimore Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Legend
January 2022 - 14 Night Panama Canal Carnival Journeys (Baltimore Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Legend
Revised Itinerary but not canceled
14 day Panama Canal was cut short. We went to Antigua and St Maarten instead with multiple Sea Days. Carnival's Sea Day Brunch makes a sea day an experience so I was not disappointed with floating at sea. The ship is one of the oldest in the fleet. It's not a shiny new toy, but it handled the rough seas relatively well. The staff and crew were welcoming, attentive (for the most part) and did a wonderful job with managing a dynamic cruise environment. It was a relaxing and fun cruise.
November 2021 - 5 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Cruise on Serenade of the Seas
Amazing Views
I had a great cruise which was booked for relaxation versus itinerary or onboard options. Serenade is a beautiful ship. I am a fan of the art auctions but not a fan of them hijacking the Viking Crown lounge which is prime real estate. It's one of the best places to relax and escape the crowds. I was able to use the Concierge and Diamond lounges but since that wasn't always the case, I recognized that taking the space out of play for other passengers is not ideal. Royal could definitely use more complimentary, readily available dining options on its smaller and midsized vessels. The menu at Park Cafe and Cafe Latitudes isn't comprehensive enough. You won't starve until something opens up; but compared to the options offered by their competition, I find their complimentary offerings fairly limited and uninspiring.
September 2021 - 4 Night Bahamas (Miami Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Sunrise
Glad to be Back
This was my first back to back. I was glad I had the two sailings booked as certainly wasn't ready to disembark after the first cruise. Service on the ship is great.
September 2021 - 5 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Sunrise
January 2020 - 9 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Getaway
Fantastic Cruise
Getaway is a beautiful ship. The staff is great. The food was well prepared. The itinerary was exciting. As usual with any cruise, the experience will be what you make of it.
August 2019 - 12 Night Baltic (Amsterdam Roundtrip) Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas
Fantastic Itinerary
Great cruise with a great itinerary. The ship is bright and open with wonderful views. The staff and crew are engaging. The food in the specialty restaurants is great, but you'll be fine with the complimentary options also.
February 2019 - 9 Night Southeast Coast & Bahamas (Baltimore Roundtrip) Cruise on Grandeur of the Seas
This was my third or fourth time on Grandeur. I love the convenience of cruising out of Baltimore. It is a great embarkation port. The ship is the perfect size if you're a fan of traditional cruising. The food was good. The service was fine, but not as good as past cruises. I might be wrong, but I got the feel that a few, not all, crew members tended to ignore some guest in an attempt to cater to those they perceived to be "good tippers". I was fine with this approach, it became a self fulfilling prophecy for quite a few of them and saved me a ton of money. I went to customer service and had the auto gratuities removed and tipped at my discretion. Servers in the MDR weren't as personable this time around so I did not tip them. The service wasn't horrible, but it was sub par compared to past waiters so whatever RCL paid them is what they got from me. For the guests they showered attention on; hopefully for them, those guests tipped them well. I'm pretty low maintenance so I think I like this new approach, it will certainly save me money. Naturally, on my next cruise if the staff delivers the wow I'm accustomed to, I'll be back to over tipping. I enjoyed my cruise immensely so there will be a next time. The entertainment was great, the crew performance was probably some of the best. There was always something going on. They made good use of the Centrum with the evening performances since they are no longer using the space for aerial shows.
October 2018 - 13 Night Transatlantic Westbound (Barcelona To Miami) Cruise on Vision of the Seas
Smooth Transatlantic Voyage
Vision is a lovely ship. There weren't a lot of kids onboard which is why I selected the longer off peak itineray. As usual what the smaller class ships lack in bells, whistles and modernity, they make up for in personality, service, and charm. The captain was new. I was so looking forward to sailing with the captain that everyone raved about, but that was not to be. I still had a marvelous time. It would be pretty hard not to with Steve and Talitta at the helm. Their energy is infectious. I would defintely sail Vision again. I would have loved to done the Panama Canal cruise on this vessel. One day soon.
May 2018 - 9 Night Canada & New England (Baltimore Roundtrip) Cruise on Grandeur of the Seas
Grand Time on Grandeur
Canada/New England is a lovely itinerary. The lobster rolls and blueberry pie is not to be missed. Oh, and the clam chowder, not to be missed. Budget for lunch in town. It is well worth the expense and not to be missed. Try to find someone that serves the lobster roll hot and buttered or dipped in a lobster bisque. Sorry I don't remember the names of any restaurants. I walked until I found a place with room to accommodate me. The Sushi making class and Champagne Brunch with galley tours were wonderful, if you're inclined to pay the fee. I would suggest getting one of the dining packages and using it to cover these activities, if you're thinking about participating.
January 2018 - 4 Night Bahamas (Miami Roundtrip) Cruise on Empress of the Seas
Empress is a lovely vessel. She is a 5 star ship if you board her with the expectation that she is one of the oldest and smallest ships in the fleet and the understanding that she is not meant to compete with Oasis or Quantum class vessels. This is traditional cruising as I remembered it, sans dress codes. MDR dress was the most casual I've seen. The stateroom attendants are always around and accessible, and refreshing the room as you come and go. The food and service in MDR were up to par. Each night was a challenge to decide which entree I would get. This was a 4 day stint so the lobster and prime rib dinner was a pleasant surprise. The fresh shrimp cocktail tower and paella in the luncheon buffet on embarkation day was a nice Welcome Aboard treat. I always found seating in the Windjammer. I didn't experience unreasonably long lines at embarkation or when disembarking. I didn't find the activities lacking. They had a 70s night, a white party, a pool party, photo op with the captain. Movies by the pool, parade of flags, trivia, Vegas style shows, dance lessons, etc. I would sail her again since I like traditional cruising and don't suffer from fomo or require constant stimuli. I'm the person that once on board, I try to find the peaceful nook so when I'm ready for down time, I know where to go to read. There weren't too many kids and those that were onboard were very well behaved. I don't have kids; however, I did speak with parents who advised that their kids enjoyed Adventure Ocean. I was unable to detect motion until the last night when the sea got rough. If my sea sickness vets bad, I go see the Acupuncturist. This time around Dramamine and ginger ale dd the trick so kudos to the construction done on this older vessel. She managed to hold her own. Waves weren't too crazy. They got to about 10 feet. Folks were having a ball in the pool as the shipped was being rocked by the waves.
November 2017 - 7 Night Bahamas & Florida (New York Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Breakaway
I loved, loved, loved this ship. I think it maintains enough elements of traditional cruising while keeping pace with changing times to keep it lively for guests of all ages. I sailed solo. The studio accommodations are "cozy" but more than adequate with a full bed and ample storage. The Studio Lounge was a nice amenity offering juice, coffee, tea, and snacks. The entertainment is excellent. There was usually something to see or do in the Atrium. I would suggest a visit to LaCucina. Ocean Blue did not require a jacket or tie the night I dined there; however, men in shorts were refused entry, but offered seating at the less formal Raw Bar. Yes, there's a heavy lingering smell of cigarette smoke from the casino, but they did their best to air the venue out daily. The lines for dining sometimes had a queue, but I never had to wait longer than 15-20 min. I suggest reservations for dinner and shows. I also suggest arriving 10min prior to the window for dinner and 20 min earlier for shows. Pretty much the same routine one would follow for a land based dinner and show evening. Kids were plentiful but in most instances well behaved. Staff and crew were pleasant and engaging. Garden Buffet waiters were on point quickly clearing vacated tables. Sometimes too quickly, it was funny to come back to have them have cleared the table, don't make the mistake of leaving your table unattended. No complaints about this ship. I did get annoyed with passengers that liked to show up in the library for the sole purpose of having a lively conversation. Oh well, what are you going to do. Happy Sailing!!
May 2017 - 10 Night Eastern Caribbean Carnival Journeys (Charleston Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Sunshine
Loved the Carnival Sunshine Journeys cruise. 10+ days of pure delight. The room was clean and ready upon boarding and well maintained throughout the cruise including evening turndown. The food in the MDR was great with only one Friday night exception. I wanted them to serve something other than what they had; a simple fish and chip entree would have been preferable to what they threw together. However, I acknowledge that it was way more than what is normally in my fridge on any given Friday so no complaints, just an honest observation. The MDR staff, phenomenal, as always. Shows were entertaining but Liquid Lounge venue is just not the best or most comfortable accommodation. Closing off the venue to create a running of the bulls queue didn't lend itself to the most relaxing experience; but if you manage to not get too jostled and to find a decent seat, the shows were very enjoyable. Emma, your cruise director is entertaining. I'm not a huge party person, but others that like to boast about being up to the wee hours weren't impressed with the night life (second hand information). I was surprised, the Lido deck desserts were very tasty and not just different shapes, sizes, and colors of the same sugary sweet base. As with most vessels, they ridiculously made the smoke filled casino the bridge to connect the ship's forward and aft sections. If you're an avid cruiser, you're use to this so you knuckle under, take a deep breath, and go full speed ahead to the other side. Sewage smells were sporadic and temporary, just a footnote in your experience that might easily go unnoticed. I think I realized it only because so many others mentioned it in their posts. I can be pretty oblivious when the ocean is calling. It was nice of them to announce the Towel Animal deck exhibit in the Fun Times; I usually miss it, but I got to see it this time and it was great! Sunshine isn't a new ship with all the bells and whistles, but you'd have to work pretty hard to not enjoy what she has to offer. Great staff, great food, great accommodations. Embarkation and disembarkation were a cinch, but full disclosure our ship came in with no passengers. The crew had a day at sea with no passengers, pretty sweet. They were ready for us. Disembarkation can be relaxing and organized if everyone adheres to Emma's instructions. The Muster Drill was a delayed, disoganized, mess causing my spa appt to be rescheduled leading to a conflict with my Steakhouse reservations. Oh well, ship happens, their fire drill to sort. I was on vacation.
March 2017 - 7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip) Cruise on Celebrity Reflection
My first time on Celebrity, but not my last. Celebrity continues to give the star treatment that other lines are starting to abandon. This cruise line still seems to have enough staff to passenger ratio so the people don't appear tired and strained. The staff is courteous and attentive. I was happy to see the evening chocolate treats are still part of their nightly turndown process. I did however miss the towel animals which they don't do as part of the turndown, but will upon request. The evening performances were top notch. The food was delicious and served hot. The ship is laid out nicely. There were always enough deck chairs and loungers and hammocks to accommodate the passengers who didn't seem to over abundantly hog space while disapearing for hours. This ship also had nooks and coves that provided a place to sit back and relax and read without subjecting you to isolation. The pods were enclosed but still part of the main central space. Occasionally the space was over run with kids that should have been in the areas that were designated for them. They had nicely appointed facilities for younger passengers, but what are you going to? The kids weren't being obnoxious, they were just being kids. This ship still had far less children than other lines I've sailed so no complaints. Especially since they were never playing over the food in the buffet. The silent disco was a different and nice experience which shouldn't be missed. I wasn' t sure how they would cross honor my Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor status since they never inquired. But they knew, and they did provide equivalent benefits for their Captain's Club tier. Great week and looking forward to cruising with them again.
October 2016 - 13 Night Transatlantic Westbound (Barcelona To New York) Cruise on Carnival Vista
May 2016 - 9 Night Bermuda (Baltimore Roundtrip) Cruise on Grandeur of the Seas
August 2015 - 14 Night Italian Mediterranean (Southampton Roundtrip) Cruise on Anthem of the Seas
May 2015 - 10 Night Alaska Glacier Bay (Vancouver To Seattle) Cruise on Norwegian Pearl
September 2014 - 7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Conquest
January 2014 - 8 Night Bahamas & Florida (New York Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Splendor
May 2013 - 13 Night Hawaii Northbound (Honolulu to Vancouver) Cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas
February 2013 - 10 Night Eastern Mediterranean (Rome roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Jade
May 2012 - 8 Night Bermuda & Northeast (Baltimore roundtrip) Cruise on Enchantment of the Seas
September 2011 - 7 Night Alaska Glacier Bay (Seattle to Vancouver) Cruise on Carnival Spirit
September 2010 - 14 Night Transatlantic Westbound (Harwich to Boston) Cruise on Jewel of the Seas
September 2009 - 5 Night Canada/New England (New York roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Triumph
April 2008 - 4 Night Bahamas (Miami roundtrip) Cruise on Majesty of the Seas
Vision of the Seas
Sail date: October 18, 2018
Vision is a lovely ship. There weren't a lot of kids onboard which is why I selected the longer off peak itineray. As usual what the smaller class ships lack in bells, whistles and modernity, they make up for in personality, service, and charm. The captain was new. I was so looking forward to sailing with the captain that everyone raved about, but that was not to be. I still had a marvelous time. It would be pretty hard not to with Steve and Talitta at the helm. Their energy is infectious. I would defintely sail Vision again. I would have loved to done the Panama Canal cruise on this vessel. One day soon.
Norwegian Jade
Sail date: January 07, 2024
Relaxing Getaway post holiday season
Managed expectations went a long way to having a great cruise. I met wonderful people onboard and enjoyed delicious meals even if mass prep was evident. I didn't bother with internet this time, I just downloaded enough to my Kindle to get through 5 days on reading and movies. I didn't get the drink package but spent about the same as what the drink package gratuity would have run me with the flexibility of ordering what I wanted since the cheapest package wouldn't have included Starbucks or water so it worked out for me especially since I'm not a heavy drinker and NCL's propensity to shortcut cocktails by premixing ingredients leaves little room for drink customization with them employeeing drink servers over actual bartenders that have the flexibility to curate specialty cocktails.
Carnival Legend
Sail date: January 09, 2022
Revised Itinerary but not canceled
14 day Panama Canal was cut short. We went to Antigua and St Maarten instead with multiple Sea Days. Carnival's Sea Day Brunch makes a sea day an experience so I was not disappointed with floating at sea. The ship is one of the oldest in the fleet. It's not a shiny new toy, but it handled the rough seas relatively well. The staff and crew were welcoming, attentive (for the most part) and did a wonderful job with managing a dynamic cruise environment. It was a relaxing and fun cruise.
Serenade of the Seas
Sail date: November 22, 2021
I had a great cruise which was booked for relaxation versus itinerary or onboard options. Serenade is a beautiful ship. I am a fan of the art auctions but not a fan of them hijacking the Viking Crown lounge which is prime real estate. It's one of the best places to relax and escape the crowds. I was able to use the Concierge and Diamond lounges but since that wasn't always the case, I recognized that taking the space out of play for other passengers is not ideal. Royal could definitely use more complimentary, readily available dining options on its smaller and midsized vessels. The menu at Park Cafe and Cafe Latitudes isn't comprehensive enough. You won't starve until something opens up; but compared to the options offered by their competition, I find their complimentary offerings fairly limited and uninspiring.
Carnival Sunrise
Sail date: September 16, 2021
This was my first back to back. I was glad I had the two sailings booked as certainly wasn't ready to disembark after the first cruise. Service on the ship is great.
Carnival Celebration
Sail date: November 21, 2022
Inaugural Cruise Miami Departure
Carnival Celebration is a beautiful ship. It's in it inaugural season so there may be a few hiccups but I had no issues that would prevent me from sailing on her again. Carnival does casual dining the best out of all cruise lines, and Celebration continues this tradition. I prefer the traditional pizza shop to that of Miami Slice, but I see the need to offer pizza in slices versus entire pies to try to reduce waste. The ship never seemed crowded; notwithstanding the elevator congestion or busier wait times at prime dining hours. The staff were overwhelmed at times but were always professional if not always obsequious and fawning.
Brilliance of the Seas
Sail date: August 11, 2019
Great cruise with a great itinerary. The ship is bright and open with wonderful views. The staff and crew are engaging. The food in the specialty restaurants is great, but you'll be fine with the complimentary options also.
Norwegian Getaway
Sail date: January 17, 2020
Getaway is a beautiful ship. The staff is great. The food was well prepared. The itinerary was exciting. As usual with any cruise, the experience will be what you make of it.
Radiance of the Seas
Sail date: November 25, 2023
Radiance of the Seas 5N Mexico
Great cruise. The internet worked well. There was plenty to do and ample food.
Grandeur of the Seas
Sail date: May 10, 2018
Canada/New England is a lovely itinerary. The lobster rolls and blueberry pie is not to be missed. Oh, and the clam chowder, not to be missed. Budget for lunch in town. It is well worth the expense and not to be missed. Try to find someone that serves the lobster roll hot and buttered or dipped in a lobster bisque. Sorry I don't remember the names of any restaurants. I walked until I found a place with room to accommodate me. The Sushi making class and Champagne Brunch with galley tours were wonderful, if you're inclined to pay the fee. I would suggest getting one of the dining packages and using it to cover these activities, if you're thinking about participating.
Grandeur of the Seas
Sail date: February 14, 2019
This was my third or fourth time on Grandeur. I love the convenience of cruising out of Baltimore. It is a great embarkation port. The ship is the perfect size if you're a fan of traditional cruising. The food was good. The service was fine, but not as good as past cruises. I might be wrong, but I got the feel that a few, not all, crew members tended to ignore some guest in an attempt to cater to those they perceived to be "good tippers". I was fine with this approach, it became a self fulfilling prophecy for quite a few of them and saved me a ton of money. I went to customer service and had the auto gratuities removed and tipped at my discretion. Servers in the MDR weren't as personable this time around so I did not tip them. The service wasn't horrible, but it was sub par compared to past waiters so whatever RCL paid them is what they got from me. For the guests they showered attention on; hopefully for them, those guests tipped them well. I'm pretty low maintenance so I think I like this new approach, it will certainly save me money. Naturally, on my next cruise if the staff delivers the wow I'm accustomed to, I'll be back to over tipping. I enjoyed my cruise immensely so there will be a next time. The entertainment was great, the crew performance was probably some of the best. There was always something going on. They made good use of the Centrum with the evening performances since they are no longer using the space for aerial shows.
Carnival Sunshine
Sail date: May 15, 2017
Loved the Carnival Sunshine Journeys cruise. 10+ days of pure delight. The room was clean and ready upon boarding and well maintained throughout the cruise including evening turndown. The food in the MDR was great with only one Friday night exception. I wanted them to serve something other than what they had; a simple fish and chip entree would have been preferable to what they threw together. However, I acknowledge that it was way more than what is normally in my fridge on any given Friday so no complaints, just an honest observation. The MDR staff, phenomenal, as always. Shows were entertaining but Liquid Lounge venue is just not the best or most comfortable accommodation. Closing off the venue to create a running of the bulls queue didn't lend itself to the most relaxing experience; but if you manage to not get too jostled and to find a decent seat, the shows were very enjoyable. Emma, your cruise director is entertaining. I'm not a huge party person, but others that like to boast about being up to the wee hours weren't impressed with the night life (second hand information). I was surprised, the Lido deck desserts were very tasty and not just different shapes, sizes, and colors of the same sugary sweet base. As with most vessels, they ridiculously made the smoke filled casino the bridge to connect the ship's forward and aft sections. If you're an avid cruiser, you're use to this so you knuckle under, take a deep breath, and go full speed ahead to the other side. Sewage smells were sporadic and temporary, just a footnote in your experience that might easily go unnoticed. I think I realized it only because so many others mentioned it in their posts. I can be pretty oblivious when the ocean is calling. It was nice of them to announce the Towel Animal deck exhibit in the Fun Times; I usually miss it, but I got to see it this time and it was great! Sunshine isn't a new ship with all the bells and whistles, but you'd have to work pretty hard to not enjoy what she has to offer. Great staff, great food, great accommodations. Embarkation and disembarkation were a cinch, but full disclosure our ship came in with no passengers. The crew had a day at sea with no passengers, pretty sweet. They were ready for us. Disembarkation can be relaxing and organized if everyone adheres to Emma's instructions. The Muster Drill was a delayed, disoganized, mess causing my spa appt to be rescheduled leading to a conflict with my Steakhouse reservations. Oh well, ship happens, their fire drill to sort. I was on vacation.
Celebrity Reflection
Sail date: March 18, 2017
My first time on Celebrity, but not my last. Celebrity continues to give the star treatment that other lines are starting to abandon. This cruise line still seems to have enough staff to passenger ratio so the people don't appear tired and strained. The staff is courteous and attentive. I was happy to see the evening chocolate treats are still part of their nightly turndown process. I did however miss the towel animals which they don't do as part of the turndown, but will upon request. The evening performances were top notch. The food was delicious and served hot. The ship is laid out nicely. There were always enough deck chairs and loungers and hammocks to accommodate the passengers who didn't seem to over abundantly hog space while disapearing for hours. This ship also had nooks and coves that provided a place to sit back and relax and read without subjecting you to isolation. The pods were enclosed but still part of the main central space. Occasionally the space was over run with kids that should have been in the areas that were designated for them. They had nicely appointed facilities for younger passengers, but what are you going to? The kids weren't being obnoxious, they were just being kids. This ship still had far less children than other lines I've sailed so no complaints. Especially since they were never playing over the food in the buffet. The silent disco was a different and nice experience which shouldn't be missed. I wasn' t sure how they would cross honor my Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor status since they never inquired. But they knew, and they did provide equivalent benefits for their Captain's Club tier. Great week and looking forward to cruising with them again.
Norwegian Breakaway
Sail date: November 19, 2017
I loved, loved, loved this ship. I think it maintains enough elements of traditional cruising while keeping pace with changing times to keep it lively for guests of all ages. I sailed solo. The studio accommodations are "cozy" but more than adequate with a full bed and ample storage. The Studio Lounge was a nice amenity offering juice, coffee, tea, and snacks. The entertainment is excellent. There was usually something to see or do in the Atrium. I would suggest a visit to LaCucina. Ocean Blue did not require a jacket or tie the night I dined there; however, men in shorts were refused entry, but offered seating at the less formal Raw Bar. Yes, there's a heavy lingering smell of cigarette smoke from the casino, but they did their best to air the venue out daily. The lines for dining sometimes had a queue, but I never had to wait longer than 15-20 min. I suggest reservations for dinner and shows. I also suggest arriving 10min prior to the window for dinner and 20 min earlier for shows. Pretty much the same routine one would follow for a land based dinner and show evening. Kids were plentiful but in most instances well behaved. Staff and crew were pleasant and engaging. Garden Buffet waiters were on point quickly clearing vacated tables. Sometimes too quickly, it was funny to come back to have them have cleared the table, don't make the mistake of leaving your table unattended. No complaints about this ship. I did get annoyed with passengers that liked to show up in the library for the sole purpose of having a lively conversation. Oh well, what are you going to do. Happy Sailing!!
Empress of the Seas
Sail date: January 11, 2018
Empress is a lovely vessel. She is a 5 star ship if you board her with the expectation that she is one of the oldest and smallest ships in the fleet and the understanding that she is not meant to compete with Oasis or Quantum class vessels. This is traditional cruising as I remembered it, sans dress codes. MDR dress was the most casual I've seen. The stateroom attendants are always around and accessible, and refreshing the room as you come and go. The food and service in MDR were up to par. Each night was a challenge to decide which entree I would get. This was a 4 day stint so the lobster and prime rib dinner was a pleasant surprise. The fresh shrimp cocktail tower and paella in the luncheon buffet on embarkation day was a nice Welcome Aboard treat. I always found seating in the Windjammer. I didn't experience unreasonably long lines at embarkation or when disembarking. I didn't find the activities lacking. They had a 70s night, a white party, a pool party, photo op with the captain. Movies by the pool, parade of flags, trivia, Vegas style shows, dance lessons, etc. I would sail her again since I like traditional cruising and don't suffer from fomo or require constant stimuli. I'm the person that once on board, I try to find the peaceful nook so when I'm ready for down time, I know where to go to read. There weren't too many kids and those that were onboard were very well behaved. I don't have kids; however, I did speak with parents who advised that their kids enjoyed Adventure Ocean. I was unable to detect motion until the last night when the sea got rough. If my sea sickness vets bad, I go see the Acupuncturist. This time around Dramamine and ginger ale dd the trick so kudos to the construction done on this older vessel. She managed to hold her own. Waves weren't too crazy. They got to about 10 feet. Folks were having a ball in the pool as the shipped was being rocked by the waves.
Cruise tips
Norwegian Jade
Patience is key. Lines at popular venues like Starbucks and O'Sheehns could get long during rush hours like morning coffee fix and lunch time. It's a single ship with 1000+ passengers all on the same schedule. There will be lines, especially on sea days. The ship's Starbucks didn't serve Refreshers, which was disappointing. I was glad I didn't purchase the Starbucks package since the Refresher would have been my primary reason for considering adding it.
Radiance of the Seas
Don't sleep on the pizza in the buffet or the brauts at Boardwalk Dogs. Get to the theatre early for movies. The venue is small, and it fills up quickly.
Carnival Celebration
Use forward and aft elevators. They are typically less busy than midship elevators. Check-in to dine sooner than later wait times were as long as an hour some nights.
Beautiful beaches. Guided city tour in an air-conditioned bus with lunch provided some of the history of this beautiful island and allowed a glimpse into the daily life of islanders.
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic
First time at the Carnival port. I like that the passport stamp spot is right there in the center of things. Ventured out to top 10 spots including Central Park, the baseball stadium, umbrella street. Great locations for photos. So much to see and do or makes for a great beach day as well.
Carnival Legend
Understand the class of ship so expectations are appropriately managed as far as what she offers and have fun. Steakhouse desserts are really good.
Tampa is one of the easiest embarkation and disembarkation ports to cruise out of. The sail under the Skyway bridge and its light show never disappoints.
Serenade of the Seas
Serenade is a great ship. Research to ensure it's the right class of ship for your expectations. I cruise for ocean views versus bells and whistles so I'll enjoy most ships that have ample dining options.
Carnival Sunrise
Solarium is a great alternative to the pool and has ample lounging space and comfortable seating.
NOLA is always fun and energetic. Food is amazing so if time permits definitely try the local cuisine.
Jamaica was wonderful. The cooking class tour was better than expected with stops at the Bird Sanctuary, Turtle Farm, and Hell.
Norwegian Getaway
NCL likes it queues so be patient and get to the venues early. Book dining ahead of time if you can to make sure you get the venue and time you want.
Lovely city that allows you to explore on your own.
Beautiful walkable city. There's so much to see and do. Mind the bicycles, they have the right away. Use the hop on/off to get away from city center and explore other areas of the city.
Great city. Small walkable.
Island while walkable, hop on hop off is a good choice in this city.
Beautiful/typical quaint European city.
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
The best port visit. The tours were great. The people were amazing and friendly. If possible book smaller more personal tours for best experience.
We docked further away so shuttle to city required. Hop on/off is a good way to get around.
Brilliance of the Seas
Deck 6 Aft is a great place to relax and see the aft sail away views.
Barcelona is an excellent port city. It is walakbel and there is plenty to see and do. The port is not too far from central tourist area Las Ramblas.
Unfortunately it was slightly overcast so we didn't get to see the glory of the blue green lake that the city is famous for, but it was a lovely visit and we had a nice nice hike to the viewing site the craters lakes. We also got to see remanants of the Roman aqueducts which are still in excellent condition. It's hard to believe the ingenuity that preceded us without the help of modern technology. The downtown architecture is beautiful. The city gardens are equally amazing.
Miami is a beautiful city. Lil Havana is a great place to visit. The art and architectural structures are exciting to experience.
Very scenic ride to the countryside. It was worthwile to visit the caves.
Cartagena is also a walkable port city. There is plenty of history. I loved visiting the castle.
Nassau was an enjoyable port. Vendors were still eager for a sell but seemed less aggressive than prior visits. This was a nice surprise. My walking tour guide revealed the cost of everyday items, giving perspective to the increased costs of the island. There seemed to be less discounts or wiggle room for negotiating than prior visits. The cost of milk, bread, and eggs on the island made the increased prices make sense.
Vision of the Seas
If you don't have a dining package, multiple visits to your favorite speciaty dining venue could net you a discount.
Baltimore Inner Harbor is worth exploring. The Aquarium is a great experience.
Acadia is lovely but may still be overcast in May. Park services don't open to later in the month so no passport stamp if visiting in early May.
It's still chilly in May. Bring a jacket
Grandeur of the Seas
Viking Crown lounge has excellent views. I was able to hear some music from the theatre above but it wasn't so loud that it presented an issue. After awhile you don't notice it.
Charleston is a beautiful city. I easily saw how they earned their reputation for being the top friendliest and the most historical. A tour guide mentioned that they are second to Rome, Italy. If that's true, that's impressive. The morning greetings from those Daughters of the Republic were not rhetorical; they were having none of my north eastern avoid eye contact, keep your head low in case you need to tuck and roll, and move swiftly. I would visit again for the food alone; but considering the city has so much to offer, I'm looking forward to my next visit to the low country for the people, the food, and the charm.