We had fun and had a chance to relax, but there were a lot of disappointments. I like the itinerary and there were a lot of great choices for lunch. It often seemed that they did not have enough staff to provide good service. The dinner choices are very limited both the dining room menu and the venues. Serenity is a relaxing place to go and the views from the hot tub are outstanding. They completely mishandled the wheel chair situation for embarkation and that was horrific. I think Holland America was much better.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
We had arranged for a wheel chair for my mother-in-law. They had us waiting for 90 minutes and seemed totally confused. There was one chair available and they just waited for others. We tried calling Carnival but their was a 90 minute wait. Finally we decided to try to make it without a chair. When we got to the check in their were several wheel chairs behind the desk going unused.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The lunch choices were really good with Guy's burgers, pizzeria, Carnival deli, Italian place, buffet etc. The choices for dinner both venue and on menu for limited. The buffet has very limited choices. I had an unlimited soda card. You had to ask people clearing the tables to get you a drink but they were helpful when you asked. The Coke was very tasty.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
I enjoyed the hot tubs and the one on Serenity has a spectacular view. We had hear stories about not being able to get a chair but that was not a problem likely because it was the fall and not swimming weather. We saw some good shows and music.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The shows were decent and we found some musical performers we liked. You had to go early to get a seat particularly for the stage shows.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Everyone said Emma was a wonderful cruise director and she is. She has a lot of personality and makes the activities fun. You had to ask for drinks but when you did they were helpful. Twice I had to go to guest services about overcharges and their were usually lines. The room steward was ok but not exceptional as we were used to on Holland America.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
It is an older ship and a little run down but not too bad. They force you to go through the casino which is smoky to get to some locations. But there is nothing about the design that is a major impediment.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
It was a nice size cabin. There were three adults and I slept on the couch and was perfectly comfortable. Of course sleeping is one of my best talents. The shower was easy to operate but it was hard to get into the tub because it was so high. The balcony was comfortable and we were able to use it even though it was a fall trip to New England and Canada. The ship and furniture were a bit older but it was not a significant issue.
Ship tip
If anyone in your party needs a wheel chair you might want to consider a different company.
Boston is a wonderful city, aside from the Patriots and Red Sox. We took a quick tour that did not involve getting on and off because we were with an elderly relative, but even that was fun and interesting. There are a lot of great sites and history to cover.
Portland is a beautiful area with many sites to see. We particularly enjoyed the stop at the lighthouse which has such pretty views and good ice cream.
For me, the highlight was the cemetery where Titanic Victims are buried. My professional work has to do with the enormous harm custody courts do to children in abuse cases because they continue to use outdated practices. So I was particularly moved and disappointed to learn there were so many child victims from the Titanic. I thought they would have at least made sure the children were in life boats. The guides in kilts had some wonderful stories to tell.
This is a beautiful area and I particularly liked where the Bay of Fundy meets the River and changes course periodically. It seemed like a nice city to visit.
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