The cruise was a nice introduction to what cruising is like as it was both of our first time cruising. However, 4 nights is definitely not enough! We will make sure our next one is 6 or 7 nights. The Atlantis is the main attraction in Nassau, if you've already been there multiple times and don't want to go again pick a cruise that visits other ports. Coco Cay is nothing impressive and Key West is fun. We did not have any sea days, I am looking forward to a cruise with some sea days so we can experience being on the ship during the daytime! I would go for newer, bigger ship next time as this one had very outdated decor. But Royal Caribbean really outdid themselves with the food at the buffet! Definitely my favorite part of the cruise, am considering RC again over other cruise lines just because of how great the food was!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Lines were very long at the Miami cruise terminal, but we were able to get on without any issues and headed straight to the buffet for lunch which was delicious. The buffet was very packed during lunch the first day which was expected. Our rooms were ready by 1:30 and our bags were delivered to our stateroom a few hours later.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The only reason I am not giving the food 5 stars is because of the Main Dining Room. We had made reservations in the MDR for each night but ended up eating in the buffet even after visiting the MDR. Portions were small which was fine, but the menu wasn't very appealing and I was unimpressed with what we got. Waiters are very nice and attentive but will interrupt you mid-conversation to constantly ask if you need anything else. It's difficult to just sit and have a conversation without being interrupted. The first night, however, we had a table for 2 right by the window and could watch the ocean; although the food was underwhelming the view was amazing.
In short, the buffet was outstanding. So many different options even for someone trying to eat relatively healthy and most food was excellent. Wonderful dessert options as well! On our next Royal Caribbean cruise, we may end up just skipping the MDR altogether and heading straight to the buffet each night. You can find pretty much anything you're craving, eat as much as you want, and get in and out quickly while having a nice conversation with your party (and only your party!).
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The ship was relatively small and in my opinion did not have enough activities onboard. There was a small rock climbing wall which was nice, and the bungee trampoline but both were only open during certain hours. The pool and hot tub in the Solarium were nice, but there were kids at some points when there weren't supposed to be. Did not use the pool outside as it was constantly filled with young kids.
There was no basketball court on the ship which was disappointing for my boyfriend. Next time we'll probably try a ship with water slides, mini golf, etc.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Some of the bands/musicians that played were EXCELLENT! We came to watch the Latin band "Son Machine" perform multiple times! Lots of people danced to their salsa music.
The DJs were not good. They played the same songs over and over across multiple days and did not have enough variety. We went to the Viking Crown Lounge two nights in a row and heard all of the same music, for the most part. People were dancing, though. It would be a nice spot if they had better music.
Children's Programs
Don't' have kids so did not look to see what was available.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service was excellent across the board.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
The ship is honestly pretty ugly. It was definitely clean and kept in good condition, but the decor is extremely outdated and you can see lots of wear and tear on the outside especially. It is one of Royal's oldest ships and also pretty small.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Our cabin was a pretty good size and the bed was comfortable. My only issue is that we paid for an ocean view room and got a large interior stateroom with no refund given to us.
We purchased Atlantis Aquaventure tickets with lunch which were very pricey. If you aren't huge into water parks and don't think you'll spend most of the day at the water park, don't waste your money and just head to the beach for free. Contrary to what people tell you, you an access the Atlantis beach without purchasing an excursion.
Coco Cay didn't impress me. The sand was pretty rocky in most places and the water was too cold to swim. The island was just okay. The barbecue lunch was nothing special. We headed back to the ship early. The "beach party" they advertised was nowhere to be found.
Key West was actually our favorite day. Be prepared to spend some money as there are shops and restaurants galore, but we had a great time walking around Key West and shopping.
Disembarkation was easy, except room attendants kept knocking on our door trying to get us to leave before our group was called down to the meeting place.
Can't you stay on the ship when it's at port? That's usually the best time because it's not crowded, and if you've already done Nassau a few times then it makes sense to enjoy the solitude on the ship while most are off of it.
My introduction to cruising was last year on the Oasis. We also went on the Harmony about a month ago. I loved those ships. I'm curious to see how it will be on the smaller ship since we are going on the Enchantment in a few months. Reading your review has me definitely looking forward to the food since I really enjoyed it in the other ships. Thanks for posting.....
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