A wonderful cruise for someone with dietary needs!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
It took about an hour to get from outside the Baltimore port to getting on the ship, but that was mostly due to the line to get into the parking lot being so long. Once we got into the terminal the lines went quickly and we were able to board the ship in just a few minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I can’t sing the praises of Royal Caribbean enough for catering so well to my dietary restrictions. I have celiac disease and needed gluten free meals, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure I was well fed at every meal. The head waiter Michael would usually surprise me with several different entrees and desserts that I didn’t even order! I’m sensitive to cross contamination so I ate all my meals in the main dining room, and although there wasn’t a huge variety of meals, it was all delicious. They made all my food in a separate kitchen too and I didn’t get sick once, which I was so impressed with. Aside from the dining room, the only other gluten free options for me were a gluten free sandwich and pizza in the Park Cafe, so that’s what I ate for lunch on port days.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
My fiancé and I viewed this cruise as an opportunity to unplug from our phones for a week and read a few books, and everything else (like the pools and activities) was an added bonus. We went in the pools and hot tubs a few times on the port days so it was less busy, and they were fantastic.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We didn’t see any of the shows, but the musicians - especially the pianist Andrew - were all so talented.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone we interacted with was beyond wonderful. You could tell they were all overworked, but a little patience and kindness goes a long way. We got much better service than the cruisers we heard being rude and demanding.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Although it’s a little rusty in spots, the inside of the ship was always kept very clean
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We were under the casino which I was initially worried about, but I didn’t hear it at all. The inside room was small but cozy and always kept very clean by our room attendant Ivan.
Ship tip
Cruising is what you make of it! If you go in with incredibly high expectations that the overworked and short staffed crew can’t reach, you’ll have a bad time. But being patient goes a long way.
At breakfast on the last day, there was an announcement that they had “technical difficulties” overnight and we would be late getting to Baltimore. We ended up being pushed into the port by a few tugboats and were two hours late. That being said, they still somehow made the disembarkation process so smooth! We did self-assist and had all our luggage with us, so I’m not sure how long it took for everyone after us to get off.
Greatly appreciate your review. So many complain about lack of gluten-free options. Glad you were treated well. Happy you thoroughly enjoyed your cruise.
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