My husband and I were celebrating out 15th wedding anniversary and our first trip without kids in 5 years! We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the cruise. We went into the trip realizing that all ships are having staffing issues and understood that there may be some things that were different. Masks were recommended but not required by passengers but mandatory for staff. I would say about 20% of guests wore masks. We were very impressed by the wonderful service we were given. I was sad to hear other passengers grumble about "the little things" and not take current times into account and offer a little grace.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We arrived early but were allowed to check in. We boarded the ship on time. There were 3 lines allowing people onto the ship. My husband and I were in a line where the security officer didn't like the uploaded picture of most guests and insisted on retaking a vast majority of pictures, causing our line to move much slower than other lines.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
All of the food was fantastic as were the beverages. I am a tea drinker. I found the tea during afternoon tea to be on the weak side. However, I did ask for stronger tea and the wait staff had no problem with it.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We were at full capacity however I never felt crowded. It was easy to find a lounge chair, space in the gym, space in the pool and other activities.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The Cruise Director and staff was excellent. The production shows were wonderful. The other musicians and the magician were less entertaining.
Children's Programs
We did not sail with our children
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All of the staff was wonderful. It was not a hidden fact that the ship was operating with 1/3 less staff for the amount of passengers. I did not notice that the staff was lacking. I must give the staff massive praise for this. I could tell that ALL of the staff were working extra hard to fill the gaps. I could not have been more impressed! I was dismayed to hear other passengers complain about certain amenities that were not present due to the staff shortage. We woke up one morning and our cabin toilet wouldn't flush. We notified guest services and our cabin steward. It was fixed before we returned from breakfast.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Everything was very clean. I liked the Piazza and that most of the entertainment was centrally located.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
For 2 people, I felt that we had plenty of space, lots of storage, and I loved the "walk-in" closet compared to tall cabinets on other ships. Our cabin steward did a wonderful job cleaning each day and was readily available if we needed anything. The only issue we had was the light switch was in the middle of the headboard. On several occasions, my husband rolled over in the middle of the night and inadvertently turned the cabin lights on causing us to wake up. It was annoying in the moment but nothing we could change.
What a beautiful, picturesque island! We did not book an excursion but decided to take a taxi to Coki Beach for some snorkeling. The cab ride to the beach caused my husband to get car sick since the driver chose to travel quickly over the mountains. However, the driver on the way back to the port drove along the coast and smoother, preventing the car sickness. All of the people were helpful.
Also a beautiful island. We booked a ship sponsored excursion and it was wonderful. It was easy to come off the ship and have everything planned for you so we could just enjoy ourselves.
We chose to walk-off the ship. Unfortunately, there was not a staff member at the meeting location to tell people where to go. We were a little late disembarking due to weather related issues. That was not a problem. The problem arose when the gangway did open, the people who were in the self-made line first were not given first priority to disembark. They were upset. I was not bothered by the disembarking process, but more by the grumbles of the other passengers.
1960cruiser you are dead on correct. Before you go on your cruise you have to realize things aren’t the same as pre-pandemic. We were on the Enchanted in January and the Covid protocols were different then they are now. You just have to go with the flow or stay home. We have 24 completed cruises and there are always grumblers. One thing to keep in mind is that any review is just one person’s opinion! Even the grumblers write reviews.
Good to hear that you enjoyed your cruise. You are correct when stating that so many people are being so petty with trivial service issues, or the food is bad, ect. I have yet to go on a perfect cruise where the wasnt a hiccup at some point, but reading some people's post, you would think they will be in therapy for the next 10 years because their cruise was so bad, which, in reality,, was more close to being called a minor inconvenience.
Thank you for this review. Very nice to see one with a positive experience. We are leaving in 10 days and are a bit disappointed with all the not-so-good reviews. So glad you enjoyed your vacation and Happy Anniversary to you!
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