Cruising was almost back to normal after COVID. This was our first time on HAL and will probably sail them again based on itinerary
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation was quick and smooth. We were traveling with a family group and we managed to keep everyone together throughout the process. From curb to onboard the ship was about 15-20 minutes
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food in the main dining room was good. Variety over the 11 days was sufficient, although they have done away with lobster on formal night, which was disappointing. There was not a lot of variety in the buffet, but the food was good. The morning omelette station was fantastic and had very little wait. We tried 2 of the specialty restaurants, Pinnacle Grill and Taramind. We had the "Have Everything" package and if the specialty restaurants were not part of the package, I don't know if they would be worth the extra cost. The Pinnacle Grill is not as good as Chops on Royal Caribbean in my opinion.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We typically don't take part in many on board activities, but it didn't seem like there were a lot scheduled on this cruise. A great cruise if you are looking for a quiet relaxing time.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The entertainment on the ship was not typically what we would attend. The main stage was used for showing documentaries on the Panama Canal, a dance group, and a steel pan band. And although I'm sure the dance group was technically good, it was not what we would typically attend. The steel pan band was also very good, but they played classical and Broadway tunes in their first performance which was a bit of a surprise. The group in BBKing Blues club, sounded really good, but the venue was too small and there was never any seating available. Same with the comedy shows in the same venue. They should take better advantage of the larger theater.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff on the ship were fantastic. Everyone was friendly and worked very hard to keep the guests happy. I think the ship, especially the buffet and bars were understaffed. Wait times for drinks and lines at the buffet were long, but not due to the effort of the staff
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
For an older ship, the design was nice. The ship was extremely clean and well maintained. We had a verandah stateroom. It seemed a bit smaller than the typical Royal Caribbean balcony state room, but we didn't spend time in our room other than to sleep and change
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Our cabin Stewards were fantastic and kept our cabin clean. The hallway from the door into the room, seemed a bit narrow, and it was a constant struggle trying to get ready with 2 people in the room accessing the closet and bathroom. The cabin was good other than it was directly beneath the aft pool deck. The staff puts the deck chairs away every night around 10 and sets them up at 6:30 am every day, making a lot of noise
Ship tip
Choose a room on deck 7 or lower. Be prepared for a relaxing time
We carried our own bags off the ship. Disembarkation was smooth and fast. Having the Captain personally thank guests for sailing as you left the ship was a nice touch
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