It was okay. On onboard costs for 4 ppl ended up being more than the cost of the cruise for one person. The spaces are tight, elevators are slow in coming, the cruise director is a hoot and has great energy, and the staff does their best to ensure it's a great experience. But lines are long, spaces are small, it doesn't seem like you get the most bang for your buck!
Embarkation
3 out of 5
The lines were long, but they moved steadily. We were able to take our luggage onboard ourselves, and our room was ready when we arrived.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The lines were always long at the buffets and the selections weren't as varied as I'd like. The restaurant staff was great, though wait times were sometimes longer than expected and the food itself was hit or miss. We enjoyed breakfast the most - delicious French toast!
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The pool on the lido deck was small and full. The activities (bingo and trivia) were okay. Game shows were hilarious. The absence of activities pushes people to shop, when there's nothing better to do, which is hard on one's wallet for sure.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Comedy was good, but held in the Limelight lounge for the most part where seating was sparce. Main performances were good for the most part.
Children's Programs
Traveled with teens who were unwilling to participate in these programs.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Polite and respectful.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
Spaces are tight; cups in the buffet area weren't clean; absence of bottle filling stations leads to long refreshment lines and messy ice stations; there was mold in the bathroom sink; carpets could use an actual cleaning; surface (dresser, some tables) weren't clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
Extremely small cabin, but we made the most of it. More comfortable balcony furniture would have been awesome. The bathroom was also quite small.
Ship tip
Though the website says you can't, you can bring bottled water on board. If you have more than two people in a cabin, book more than one cabin. Plan to dine a few nights at specialty restaurants for variety and a great experience. Choose main restaurant dining for breakfast to avoid long buffet lines, but know you must check-in from the app first and all members of your party must be present for you to be seated or you risk losing your space
Not as clean and welcoming as the NJ port, but polite staff and fairly efficient embarkation process. Disembarkation process was super efficient and quick!
Lots of shops at the port. The excursion we booked was good, but if they tell you you need water shoes, put them on right from the start (and make sure your day pack is light).
You get to the island on shuttles and have to get boarding passes for the morning departures - it's a bit of a hassle. This process would have been easier through the app. The Caribbean BBQ is a BBQ in the Caribbean, the food was disappointing and there were long lines for refreshments. Those stations also closed when the BBQ concluded. You have to rent umbrellas in advance, and there aren't enough chairs to go around. There isn't enough shade in general. The beach and water are beautiful though and there are bathroom facilities and shops on the island.
Thanks for the review. You described the negative parts of cruising very well. (There are a lot of positives also of course) If you plan to cruise again, that means you are choosing those negatives so you won’t be disappointed. Yes you can spend a lot of extra money during a cruise if you choose to but you don’t have to.
BrooklynGirl1 thank you for your candid, well-detailed review. It’s nice you recognized the staff for trying their best. Sorry about the hiccups along the way. Wishing you happy cruising on your next
😎⚓️🤩❣️‼️
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