The new process was smooth. Arrived in the pouring rain during our check-in time (plan for heavy/slow traffic if taking a ride share to the pier) and got through the check in process and security screening very quickly. Started boarding around 11:30.
Hint: sit and wait, don’t stand by the doors that people need to walk to to board. Sit and wait until your boarding zone is called or it is slower for everyone.
Room keys are at your room when you get to go to it (around 1:30).
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Specialty restaurants are great. Lido buffet is ok. Seek out the free extra lunches on sea days (Guy’s Pig and Anchor makes a great lunch).
Only take what you will eat from buffets. So many people left full plates of food behind. Even saw people piling unwanted food on the table and left it for staff to clean up. I wonder who cleans up after them at home? Food waste = higher base cruise prices for all. So, don’t add to the waste.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Pools were taken over by kids. That’s fine. But many kids were not respectful of others. Where were the parents?
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Karaoke was fun to watch. Saw one comedian and he was good.
Tried to watch one show in the theatre, but could not see from the back where we sat.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Staff are all friendly and doing their best.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Ship tip
Most of the “for an extra fee” restaurants serve free lunch on sea days. Seek them out. Way better than Lido buffet.
I was the most reserved, polite child. My oldest daughter is the same. My youngest daughter would not have pushed the buttons on the elevator but would have jumped up and down to freak the rest of us out. My boys are quiet, and follow the leader, but they dress bad and often smell bad too. I’m not taking them with me on my cruise. I hope the kids on the family-loved Carnival line didn’t upset you too much. I have heard that there are minimal kids on their sister line, Princess.
Re the kids:
Saw one throwing something overboard from the sports deck. I guess the extra ten steps to the trash bin was too far.
Elevators operate by choosing the floor you want from the lobby and then it tells you what elevator to get on. Kids would block access to one set of buttons and if someone selected deck 12 they would then select all other floors before it.
Not watching where they are going and running into people. And then not apologizing, but looking like it was the other persons fault.
I could go on, but you get my point.
Perhaps I’m just an old curmudgeon.
Great review with some excellent tips. Thank you! What were the kids doing that was disrespectful? I've seen plenty of disrespectful adults but usually the kids are just having a good time.
Thank you for info! I am surprising my hubby next month for his bday and was worried about some of the reviews i saw. Glad to know the embarkation process is getting smoother and thanks for the tip about lunches!
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