I pretty much said it above......great food quality....poor delivery.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
I've been on well over 15 cruises....primarily with Princess Cruises....and this was the 3rd for HAL.....this was the longest line I had to wait in.....why.....well, the cruise line was training new employees and there were 3 other HAL ships in port.....I get training the new employees....but they had 1 trainer for 3 trainees.....seemed unbalanced.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Ok.....the food quality was great.....the method they delivered the food in the lido needs some adjustments....
First, they have designated hours for the lido/buffet....other cruise lines have staggered hours or don't completely shut down the food for a period of 2 hours? How about closing one side to prepare to change over....and leave the other side open with limited items? At first I thought....no biggie....go get a pizza or a burger.....but both had a 45 minute wait time - because everyone else was thinking the same as me!!!!
So in short....you'll need to change your customary eating times to match the ships....I felt like I wasn't on vacation because I had to base the daily schedule to when food was available.....
So easy to stagger the hours.....again....the quality was great.....just poor planning on deliver.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
No art auctions.....not blaming the art coordinator, he was new on the ship and inherited "a mess" from the off-going art coordinator......those were his words....."a mess"......
The jazz club was good....
The pool was always crowded.....typical MO.....come place a towel on a chair and leave....blocking others from using the chair....
The casino was a game of chance.....lol
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The shows were lackluster.....going out on a limb.....were ok.....what made the shows were the surround screens.....awesome way to use technology!!!
Children's Programs
No children under 18
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Room stewards were friendly and polite.....normal MO....I thought it was strange that neither one came around on the 1st day to introduce themselves?
Bartenders.....overall.....were good.....some didn't appreciate taking up thier time to pour me a soda....because I purchased the soda package....one bartender even pointed at the freestyle machine.....which I looked at him and repeated my request......he poured 3 more after that one because I sat down and downed soda after soda to iriate him.
The lido staff......food preparers.....busers....all friendly and polite
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship was easy to navigate.....
The crew were on top of any debris....no problems
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Overall Clean....
Bed was like sleeping on a rock.....started sleeping on top of comforter for extra padding and used pool towels as blankets......my back still hurts and I've been off the ship for 5 days?!?!?
Tight to navigate between bed and wall....
Toilet was positioned in such manner that anyone over 5-05 in hgt.....would have to sit sideways......I went to a community bathroom for legroom......oh well.....
The interactive tv.....awesome
We had an oversized Balcony......very nice and spacious......I reccomend the bigger Balcony....
The ship is 2 years young.....so still in good shape!!
Ship tip
Be prepared to schedule your daily activities around food....I typically don't eat at regular scheduled times.....but closing down entirely to switch over.....unreal...
Haven't been here since 2008.....some things have changed....
I did take an excursion.....electric hummer tour....overall....ok.....next time I'll rent a private vehicle and do my own thing....
Got off ship....went ashore....walked/toured around.....got a beverage....went back to ship....
Remember I reside in Florida....go to beach whenever I want....
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