Royal Caribbean's 12-night Southern Caribbean Cruise was our best cruise yet!!! Things went smoothly from the time we got dropped off & disembarked 13 days later at the terminal in Bayonne, NJ. The Royal Caribbean Staff is AMAZING and will go above & beyond to make sure you're happy!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was quick, painless, & easy!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food was the best it's ever been on Royal! It was fresh, hot, & tasty! The red meat wasn't fatty/tough/dry, there was a LARGE variety of foods to choose from, and everything was nicely seasoned (not overly salty, like in the past). The dining areas were kept very clean & the waitstaff was AWESOME (no matter where you chose to eat)!!
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Though the Cruise Compass had a LOT listed to do, there wasn't very much that interested us this time around....a first in all our cruises with Royal. There were a lot of on-board sales in the shops & trivia though. The outside pools were often closed, probably due to (perceived) rough seas.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The staged productions like Spectra's Caberet, We Will Rock You, & The Gift were awesome! The house band is supremely talented. The comedians were hilarious, but it's too bad they didn't have more on a 12-night cruise. DSB, a Journey tribute band, rocked the house for a few nights. The Cruise Director & her team are full of energy & enthusiasm!
Children's Programs
We don't have children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Michael, a waiter in Chops, is a class act with a memory like a steel trap! He remembers us & our preferences every cruise and should be training ALL waitstaff!! He remains calm & unflustered, no matter the situation, and often helps his fellow waiters. He's THE BEST waiter we've EVER had on Royal!!
Our Cabin Attendant, Allen, went above & beyond in keeping us stocked with fresh towels & glistening surfaces each & every time we asked for the cabin to be made up.
Widia, Arjay, & Everastus, all waiters in American Icon, work SO hard & smile through everything......even when dealing with yet-to-be-caffeinated & grumpy passengers. They kept our glasses full at lunch/dinner & the caffeine flowing at breakfast and made excellent recommendations for meals. Even when not in their section, they stopped by to say hello & to make sure we were being well taken care of.
Dimitri & LaToya, baristas in La Patisserie, were always smiling & happy. Though they double-checked before preparing his order, they always knew what my Husband wanted to drink.
Hannah From Wales, our Cruise Director, & her team were FANTASTIC!! She has such charisma & energy ~I don't know when she/they sleep!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The layout is great! Even with SO many passengers, there are times when you have an entire area all to yourself somehow!! The cleaning staff are ninjas, but are so warm & friendly when you actually do spot one.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was HUGE.....a "benefit" of needing an Handicap Accessible cabin. There was a king-sized bed that was SO comfortable, nothing was out/in the way, there was PLENTY of closet/storage space, & the bathroom was ENORMOUS (again, thanks to being in a wheelchair). Our Cabin Attendant (Allan) was AWESOME!!! He kept us in fresh towels & made sure everything was spotless!! He was ALWAYS smiling & never minded how many times we asked for the cabin to be made up.
Ship tip
Wear comfortable shoes because you'll be doing a LOT of walking on the ship!!
Can be dirty & a little sketchy if you don't go to the "right" areas. We're usually there from 3 PM - 11 PM......not very conducive to a beach/water-based excursion, but there are some nice shops/restaurants to walk to in the area close to the pier.
St. Maarten's one of my favorite Caribbean islands! It's very clean, the people are friendly, & the shopping is plentiful and Duty Free! The beaches are superb, the water's crystal clear, & the snorkeling can't be beat!! What's NOT to love?? We did a snorkeling excursion that was a lot of fun (by Maho Beach).
It's a very impoverished country, where you'll pass many houses/shacks made of metal roofing/plywood. However, the people are SO friendly & welcoming! The beaches are clean & the water is wonderful. We did an excursion to Ffrye's Beach & LOVED it!! Though it rained 3 out of the 4 hours were were there, it didn't stop us from enjoying the warm, clear water. The included lunch was DELICIOUS, too!!
Another new favorite Caribbean island! It's GORGEOUS & the locals are wonderful!! We enjoyed an excursion to Vigie Beach where we lounged under palm trees when not frolicking in the warm water. There are restaurants & shops right there & the beach attendants are GREAT.
My Husband's favorite island! The residents are warm, welcoming, & very helpful, and the landscape is GORGEOUS!! We enjoyed an excursion to Carlyle (sp?) Beach where we basked in the sun and enjoyed swimming in the clear water. Though there were a lot of people, you didn't feel crowded by them.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this island!!! There's SO much to do in just the immediate port alone!! The snorkeling is top notch since the water is so clear (& warm)!! We took an excursion to Carambola Beach (only a few minutes from the port) & were impressed with its' beauty. The water was calm & relaxing, but our favorite part is the shopping in the port area! There's a tiki hut(?)/bar straight in when you enter Port Zante called Cheers. Their Rum Punch is delicious, but their Drunken Monkey will knock you for a loop, in the sneakiest way possible. My advice is to shop BEFORE drinking!!
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