First cruise for elderly mom in wheelchair

Staff facilitate passage of our group with 86 year old mother through checkin process and this went smoothly. One issue while passing through security with an agent rushing us through despite having to wait to recover carry-on bags passing through scanning machines.

Bacchus dining room food for dinner was always special with interesting choices, variety, quality, tasted good. Wait staff Igor, Eduard, Geronimo, Juan were great. Had open seating, but always went at earliest time, with orders taken promptly, attentive staff, finished eating in time for early main music show. Assisted with handling of wheelchair in dining area without much difficulty. Lido deck food items for breakfast and lunch gave diners a lot of choice on food items. Lines delayed access to deli and pizza. Days at sea also had longer lines. Access to water, ice, lemonade, coffee, and tea 24 hrs. Lunch dessert cakes looked good but generally didn't like frosting, no buttercream, frostings tasteless ie suppose to be key lime cake but no key lime taste. Desserts in main dining room outstanding. Most guests enjoyed regular soft serve ice cream most of day and evening.

Loved music/dancing shows. Performers outstanding, choreography and singing very impressive and creative presentations of many hit songs/themes. Comedy Club too small for all guest who wanted to see show despite 3-4 shows a night, but enjoyed a lot. Cruise Director very funny and entertaining whenever he presented info or game shows. Pools cold, some whirlpools also cold, some whirlpools without bubbles. Too small to swim in most pools. Elderly not ale to get in and out of pools because had ladders and NO steps for access. Should have handicap access. Plenty of guests with wheelchairs. No elevator to minigolf deck, had to carry wheelchair up more than twenty stairs, and 86 year old had to climb. Enjoyed band Daft Sailors in Pub. Smoking in casino area prohibiting to non--smokers. Smoking on pool decks also effecting air for non-smokers, need a more isolated area for these people, can't even walk past these areas without breathing or eat at tables out in open area without inhaling second hand smoke. Liked info on in rm tvs.

Cruise director Lee, dancers/singers, comedians all excellent.

Our room steward Laura was outstanding. Room always clean, brought new pool towels for exchange every evening, loved towel animals, bags delivered promptly. My mom's handicappp room was not ready at 1:30pm. Thermostat didn't work and mom/brother in handicapp room froze first night, being inexperienced cruisers didn't know to call in this problem. Called next morning and it was fixed by later in the afternoon. Dining room staff Igor and Eduard attentive, informative, explained food choices, offerred suggestions and encouraged trying new things or if we didn't like something to order something else. Brought additional sauces and condiments. Staff in aft lido area also great at keeping areas clean to turn tables over, bring additional items like water or lemonade for mom in wheelchair.

Staff in lido area great a turning over tables, noticed water puddle before ladies restroom entrance every day on Serenity deck and had to caution my elderly mom and be careful when entering and exiting so didn't slip. Double doors on restrooms difficult to enter for handicap/wheelchair/walker also many bathrooms insufficient size for wheelchair passage. Handicapp accessible room with door wide enough for wheelchair to roll through however metal door jam made it impossible to roll over. Elderly mom had to stand up and step in so wheelchair could be lifted over. A number of ramps over doorways on lido deck ult wrong such that wheelchair could not rollover without elderly mom standing up and walking few steps. Not good for mom, wheelchair, or for person assisting with chair. Walkways in Madhatter room on left side of room when looking at stage not wide enough for standard wheelchair to pass. Steepness of walkways also very difficult for wheelchair up and down. Didn't care for decor in Bacchus dining room. Number of machines in fitness room not working. One elevator not working in front set, would go up and down within a few floors and never higher. Restrooms need more attention, soap, toilet paper. Liked emergency buttons in bathrooms. Some difficulty accessing elevator with wheelchair as elevators full with able body walking guests who could take stairs. Hallways to rms sometimes impassable from steward carts and vacuums and even other guests folded wheelchair left in hall. In port, assistance need to roll wheelchair up/down ramp which was narrow and steep. On last day of sea, had black soot from ships smoke stack blowing on Serenity Deck for hours staining clothes, suits, hands, water bottles. Reported to staff who seemed aware but unable to help. Had to leave area after belongings stained. This can't be healthy for breathing either. Had towels removed from hammock while getting drink and was told it was removed by staff along with my husbands magazine. This could have resulted in a charge as heard other stories of guests or staff taking towels.

Cabin clean, beds were suppose to be set as two twins and this was NOT done. Drawers/closets sufficient for belongings. TV great with info channels. Phone worked. NEED MORE OUTLETS. Bathroom size functional, shower could have been warmers. Safe helpful. Appreciated fridge. Could use longer washline in stateroom for towels, fitness clothes and swimsuits, coverups.

Waited from 7:30am when disembarkation started until after 10am to leave. Difficult to disembark in crowds and lines of other people with wheelchair. Should have been given priority for disembarkation. Pickup on port also difficult - what a mess of people and traffic and with arrivals mixing with others guests arriving and leaving from the same place.