Aft balcony is a different experience and we loved it. Drink package if you aren't a big drinker is still really worth it! Try different things you'd never try. Fresh squeezed juice is in windjammer each morning. Windjammer has awesome dessert bar, but ends at 9pm each day. Go see it at least one day - we took desserts back to our room! Order multiple appetizers/main meals each night to try anything you want. We did a sampler each night! The first four items on menu are "one night only" so be sure to try those! Kids club is awesome. We booked a NextCruise while on ship - but suggest you know which cruise you want BEFORE you go to book with them. Use the free internet and computers to do your research. Didn't find the employees were good at helping us find a cruise - just in booking it. The advantage - we only had to pay a $100 non-refundable deposit per person. This is much less than the $250 AND we have 30 days to change ship, dates, etc.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
If you are concerned about the drink package, do it. We aren't big drinkers and used the package to try lots of fun stuff. If we didn't like it, no worries because we didn't pay individually for a drink. When drinks were melting on pool deck, just get another one. Enjoy the fun coffees and fresh squeezed orange juice each morning which we don't have at home. Have wine - and try lots of different ones - at dinner each night. Truly got our value by experiementing. If we didn't buy package, we would have just bought one or two drinks of the same thing we always drink...and that isn't vacation!
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
The pools have life guards and kids area was plenty of big even with a full ship.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
There were two music shows and an ice show. I'd do all three if you like theater. We did wish there were more comedy shows.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
The best. Kids club is divided 3-5,6-8 years old. They run in 3 hours "camp style" blocks of time. Usually 9-12, 2-5, and 7-10. You get a schedule the night before telling you each "block's" theme with specific activities. So you can pick in advance if your kid wants to go to the pirate theme or the one with face painting etc. And truly an awesome staff.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
If you get Nevil in the dinning room - you score! He is amazing!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
They are constantly walking around sanitizing the railings.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Ship tip
We had an aft cabin - Freedom 8712. I was really nervous about it...we LOVED having the lounge chairs and the beautiful view. If you have the chance do it - and don't worry about the superstructure. Sure it is there, but we didn't even notice it after awhile. Just be aware that everyone on aft balconies can see everyone because of the design.
Don't go far - lots of people had traffic issues. We took the water taxi ($7 per person) across the water from cruise port and got two chairs, umbrella, and five beers for $20. Spend whole day in beautiful water and sun. Didn't go exploring - treated day like a beach day. We went to the most distant set of beach umbrellas and even with three ships in port, not crowed. If you don't do the water taxi to the beach, then do an excursion. This is NOT the port to go rouge on! The country is recovering and people who went solo, had issues with transportation and accurate information.
What is not to love about doing nothing and sitting on beautiful beach???? Get a float for $20 - worth it. Columbus Cove - get off boat and follow signs. Lots of trees for shade and super calm water for swimming.
Our luggage was damaged by having them take it the night before. Bent our handles so they don't retract back inside. You MUST file a claim while in the terminal. Just ask someone and they will get you to the booth to do it. Then when you get home you call the number and they will work with you to solve problem. If you don't file while in terminal, you are out of luck because they need a RCL employee to view and verify damage was done on ship - not you or airline.
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