Hadn't visited these ports on the eastern routes before. Nice to see them but, not much reason to select this route again. More to do in Sint Marten, Puerto Rico and Saint Thomas and the cruise navigation path is nearly the same. I'd like to see the Adventure of the Seas with a new coat of paint and refurbishment. I much prefer the ships that don't pack 6,000 passengers into their gigantic space so this ship is a great alternative for size.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Seems like embarkation lines were shorter but could not carry on all my luggage. Largest bag was forced into later delivery. Have to be out of the cabin by 8:00 AM but had to wait past 1:00 PM to get access to the cabin.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Main Dining was above average and dinner choices were similar day over day. Windjammer is too crowded and the food was similar day over day - not much variability.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The pool area was crowded and most chairs were covered by towels by 10:00 AM without the people in the saved seats. This was one of my biggest disappointments.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Found it difficult to book any shows onboard. Pre-cruise bookings were non-existent or not permitted. Halloween events were the only thing we could get into. Moreover, we did not receive notification of Diamond+ invitation events.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Main dining wait-staff were excellent and friendly in most instances. My-time dining at 7:00 PM usually required a wait in line. Room steward regularly forgot to leave hand towels or wash cloths.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
I've been on this ship several times but it is beginning to show its age. Crew tell me a $95 Million refurbishment is beginning at the end of the year - first of next year. Maintenance seems neglected when the corner cabinet comes out of its mounting when the door is opened. Fixed quickly but something that has been true for a while. Bright finish on faucet fixtures missing doesn't inspire confidence in other maintenance around the ship.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Our Junior Suite cabin was tighter than expected for three adults but much better than the normal sized cabins. 277 square feet. Deck balcony was larger so that helped. Overall bathroom maintenance was lacking. Tub floor was so slippery that a floor mat needed to be installed to prevent injuries. Could not get cold water and barely able to get shower water temp down to a level that was tolerable.
Ship tip
Book my time dining for the whole week at one time. We sat at the same table and had the same wait staff. Attempt to book all entertainment in the first minutes on the ship.
Disappointed in the empty and abandoned buildings just off the main shopping area. Was told limitation on reconstruction is to build back to historical appearance-function. Serious limitation, and the reason why buildings are in ruins.
Walked off at other than the designated appointment time to catch up to early flight. Past cruising allowed me to indicate a need for earlier departure.
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