We loved our first cruise experience and we can't wait for the next one. It was a very relaxing week, full of fun and new experiences.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
We enjoyed our first cruise! We were a bit surprised at how rocky the water was, but were told that was not the norm. We thought there was plenty to do, considering we had three rainy and cold days at sea. The staff was exceptional. They went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Anything we needed, we got. We didn't meet one person who wan't happy and willing to help us.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We were not super impressed with the food in the dining room. The wait staff was amazing and we did discover we could order more than one thing from each category, which helped if we didn't like anything. I did purchase wine on two occasions, and sadly I was not told I could buy a bottle and store it until we the second time I purchased it. When I asked why I wasn't offered this option the first time the man said "they want the money, but I want you to save." The buffet food was pretty good, but we did only eat breakfast there. We dined at two of the restaurants that were included in the price of the cruise and we enjoyed both. The major downside is that the cheers drink package is only available if BOTH or ALL people in the cabin purchase it. My husband has been a recovered alcoholic of nearly 7 years and because he doesn't drink alcohol, I was not able to purchase the package. I didn't drink much, so the cost would not have been to my benefit, but if I had, this would have been a major disappointment. I think this is a policy that needs to be reviewed.
The Gathering Lido Restaurant
5 out of 5
The Gathering was always clean and the food was always hot and ready. There were two nights when we wanted ice cream and they were out of cones, but on the second night, after finding help, they filled the cones for us.
Pizzeria del Capitano
5 out of 5
So good!! We decided to have pizza for dinner one night and take it back to our room. We really enjoyed the pizza. It was hot and fresh. Made to order.
Room Service
4 out of 5
We love Indian food and thought this was tasty!
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We were not able to use the pools or saunas much, because of the weather, but when we did we found them clean and not too crowded.
Cloud 9 Spa
3 out of 5
My husband and I had a couples massage on our first day at sea and it was great!! We were able to relax and enjoy this time together. The women were very friendly. Sadly, we didn't realize that the consultation and the education at the end were part of the 50 minutes session so the massages weren't as long as we had thought it would be. They also started late, so it was even shorter. We didn't appreciate them trying to sell us more products. Otherwise the massages were great.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We thought the comedy club was great and the comedians were talented and funny. We enjoyed a few shows and the performers were talented and enjoyable to watch. We recommend the Love and Marriage show was the best. The director (Brandon) was a great host and the couples were hilarious. We played BINGO one day and felt it was a waste of our money.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The services and staff exceeded our expectations. We didn't expect the hospitality we received. Our Room steward, I Made, greeted us by name, which surprised us, because he didn't have notes or anything to look at. One morning I asked if I could get an extra blanket and when I went back to the room it was folded on the bed waiting for me. The ship personnel was all friendly.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
We thought the ship was very clean. The design was a bit outdated. The bathrooms were all well-kept as were the dining areas and main common areas.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We loved the aft-view Extended Balcony and would pay the extra fee to have it again. Our cabin was always clean and we appreciated that the steward asked when it would best suit us to have our cabin cleaned. The size was perfect for the two of us and the layout was easy to get around.
Ship tip
As first time cruisers we learned that you can order more then one thing in the dining room. We learned that almost everything starts on time and it does help to be early for some shows and performances. There is a lot of walking. We didn't expect to walk as much as we did, but being on the aft, we walked every where.
We went to New Orleans the night before and enjoyed some night life. We ate dinner in the French Quarter and didn't have to worry about missing our boat. It's a fun city.
We did the Wet and Dirty Buggy ride and it was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. The description was very misleading. We went to the site and waited about 35 minutes for them to wash the buggies. We got in and started our adventure and it lasted about 20 minutes, only because we made a number of stops along the way to make sure our whole group was with us. When we got back to the site we sat for about 20 minutes and were told that we were then going to load a wagon and take a tour around the grounds. This is not what we signed up for. We thought we would be on the buggies for 2 hours and get wet and dirty. We didn't get either! The cruise line did give us 50% back
We went on the Tulum and Mayan village for lunch. The tour guide, Lily, was very friendly and knowledgeable. The lunch was great. To see one of the Seven Wonders of the World was a great experience.
We carried our own bags off and we were off and to the airport in less than an hour. Everything from getting off the boat to going through customs was smooth and organized.
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