We had a great time. Lots of lessons learned for our first cruise but we will definitely do it again and we definitely recommend this cruise itinerary to others.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
We were able to get in line well before our embarkation time. It was a bit chaotic but the workers were nice when we asked where to go next.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Main dining room was great. Breakfast lines were crazy long in the buffet. Specialty restaurants could've been open more. Pizza line should've had pre-made slices so the line wouldn't take so long. Snack type foods would've been nice to have in between meals (chips, popcorn, cookies). The unsweetened tea was horrible, coffee was strong. Wish there had been more water stations away from the dining areas for when we were doing other things.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Pools were small but waterpark was pretty good for the kids. Casino was smoky but it looked like people were having fun. Comedy shows, main theater shows, etc were pretty good, we enjoyed them. We really wish they would've had a nice big tv or two to watch the NFL playoff games. There were way too many people gathered around a tiny tv in the Red Frog bar!
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The shows were fun to watch. Some entertainers were great, others were ok. The kids really liked the Towel Animal Theater
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
The staff in the child care area were great. They took our child and entertained him so he wouldn't notice that we left. They always knew his name and learned who we were pretty quickly. He enjoyed his time in the daycare center. The kids didn't think there was a lot of entertainment on the ship for them but they did make it to some of the shows and the PG comedian.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
They all seemed to really enjoy their jobs. They all tried to talk to the kids and be very personable, which we appreciated. One worker in particular went and got us pancakes off the buffet because he saw I was alone with my 2 yr old. They all seemed eager to please an eager to make sure we had a great time.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship layout was fine and was pretty clean. There were busy times in the Lido Buffet where they could've used more workers to help clear the tables but the ones working were always working hard to keep tables open and clean. The Casino smoke smell went into the stairwells and hallways, which was gross. The ship as a whole was pretty clean and well kept.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Our room was really small but it didn't really matter, we weren't in there very much. The pullman beds helped a lot, and the closets with space to put our clothes was a life saver. The space under the bed for our suitcases was AMAZING!
Ship tip
Bring your own 12 pack of soda, but don't worry about bringing water. Expect to eat a lot. Stay out of your room and enjoy all of the activities on the boat.
We went on our own to the 27 waterfalls and I would recommend it to anyone. It was WAY CHEAPER and easy to do on our own without an excursion. Just grab a cab at the port and the driver will sit and wait while you do the falls.
We went to the castle of St Cristobal on our own. US military discount here so bring your ID. The castle and the views were awesome. Lots of streets to walk down and great food!
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