billnbev

First time to do a repositioning cruise and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Bests

The lecturer on History of Roman Empire, Peter LaSorsa was supberb

Our cabin steward, Suh was terrific

Dining room service was excellent

Food was above average.  Nothing great but very good

Cabin was plenty big enough and well appointed.  Bed was as good as mine at home.

Was leery of being on a 3,000 passenger ship but only time we felt the crush was our one port where we had to be tendered and altho we had a rather lengthy wait to debark, the day on the Riviera was plenty long and we did everything we wanted to do.

Irritants>

I guess the low cost ($1350 PP for a 16 day cruise with a balcony) requires the line do everything to enhance revenue.  Fitness "evaluations" were ham-handed attempts IMO to sell $40 orthopedic inserts for $100, and Acai berry "cleansing" formulas,   Please.  Does anyone actually fall for that kind of stuff?

$319 for internet for the cruise and $25/hour I suspect will go the way of the buggy whip one of these days but for now it seemed like another attempt to gouge for those who can't bear to go unconnected.

$15 movie fee was exorbitant.  

But I get the deal and since my wife and I don't drink, our on board charges were a few nights in the specialty restaurants (not that special, but I'm not a foodie) and our cabin gratuities.

The ports of call were sensational, the boat motion even in heavy seas was not an issue, and the boredom factor, made manageable with fitness center, trivia, books, crossword puzzles, lectures and evening entertainment.

One word about the evening entertainment and most everyone I spoke with on the boat agreed.  The big hits were the juggler/comedian, the old time rock and roller (channeling Jerry Lee Lewis and Elton John) and the Beatles tribute band.  While I appreciate the artistic director trying to go creative with his original productions, the story lines were largely lost on everyone I spoke with, and the songs were not memorable at all.  The solo pianist singer, who did Dolly Parton and other female vocalists was terrific.  The "Broadway" night chose obscure songs from obscure plays with little Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart,, only one song from Les Miserables, nothing from Cats.  Lots of selections that most were not familiar with.  My opinion, the entertainment director just tried to hard to be "different" or go outside the mainstream, but this audience of largely blue hairs (i[m right in there with them) wanted to hear the Greatest Hits version and that wasn't always the case.