I had a very nice experience on this ship. Two of the ports were not that great. Aruba was disappointing. Walking off the ship to the town strip all I found there were jewelry stores and souvenir shops. There were a few upscale stores that I could find anywhere such as Ralph Lauren. The island was dusty and looked like it had seen better days. I was not in the resort area, so that could have been nicer. Bonaire was the nicest and the most interesting. I learned about sea salt and how it is mined.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very quick and easy. There was no waiting in long lines or sitting and waiting to be called. As soon as I arrived at the terminal I was waved in and boarded the ship about 10 minutes later.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food was excellent and there were great choices. I did not go to a specialty restaurant. I ate raining in the dining room and a few times at the buffet. I was pleased with both. My only complaint was that I asked for decaf cappuccino several times and I am pretty sure I was given the caffeine version. I could tell because I could not get to sleep after having the beverage. The staff should pay better attention to the request. If they do not have decaf then I should have been told.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The pools were crowded and despite telling people not to hog the chairs, I saw cruisers going to the pool at 7 am and saving chairs. If you got there later in the day every chair was taken. I did not use the fitness center. One activity that needed to improve was the timing of the game show outside of the Equinox Theater. The game show started at 8 pm just when the theater was emptying. The game show closed off one of the aisles, so everyone had to flow to one aisle. Making it worse where the many people sitting in that area waiting for the game show. Walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters trying to get through compounded the situation. I suggest they have the game show a little later to allow people to exit the theater. 8:15 would probably work.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Most the performers were good. I did not like one of the singers. Her dress was too tight and very distracting. The pianist was excellent, the magician was comical, and the house troupe was very talented. I did not care for the comic either.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The wait staff was excellent catering to my requests very quickly. My room steward (Imade)was very efficient and friendly. He did a great job. A shout out to Joel in the main dining room. He had a great sense of humor and was very efficient. So was his assistant and the man that served the wine. I did not like the cruise director. When I approached him about the situation with the theater and the game show (mentioned above), he brushed me off and was very arrogant. He was not approachable. I also did not like the ridiculous short cropped pants that he wore most nights. I would think the cruise director would be open to suggestions and would be kind to guests.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I liked the layout and design. The staff kept the common areas well maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was very nice. There was plenty of room and sufficient areas for storage. I had a cabin to myself so if I was sharing it might have been different. There should be a retractable clothes line in the shower which many ships have. It would be easier to dry went clothing if one was available.
Ship tip
Orient yourself to the ship design before going. You will be able to find your way around much easier. Search online for the ship design.
The line to get out was a bit long but it did move. Be aware that you have to be out of your stateroom at 7:30 am so make your travel plans accordingly. The airport is very close to the terminal and transportation to get there is very easy. I booked my plane for the afternoon, so I had a lot of waiting around. I should have booked a morning flight. I was at the airport by 8:30 am.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
