This was my first cruise and I went with some friends for spring break. We had a great time and there was always something to do, so I would definitely recommend this cruise!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The first thing I noticed was that the buffet was not open 24 hours a day, because I had heard from friends that cruise buffets were always open. It is open mostly during normal hours though, from 6am to 9pm, with an hour or so in between each meal (there's also snack time from 3-5). I'm really glad that the buffet was not 24/7 because I probably would have gone too much late in the night, and this way less food is wasted and it is fresher.
The buffet food was alright, some dishes were really delicious, whereas some were mediocre.
The dinners, however, were amazing every night. Our servers were very professional but also kind and humble. The menus offered a variety of steak, pork, seafood, or a vegetarian dish every night and and the desserts were always delicious.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
There was a show every night in the Chorus Line (the ship's theater). We were told that there would be a magician that night, but instead there was a dancing through the decades show. The misinformation wasn't too big of a deal, but the performance was not too entertaining. I think the show would have been more enjoyable for the older crowd.
Another night we went to a comedy show, and it was hilarious. The comedians did not need to make fun of people or say harsh things to be funny, unlike most comedians.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I can't say enough how great the staff members were. Everyone was really friendly and helpful, and they always tried to make my experience as enjoyable and convenient as possible. Even when crew members needed us to move to another deck for cleaning, they set out chairs for us first before asking us.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship is pretty big and the layout is really simple to understand, once you figure out that there are two sets of staircases on every floor. All the bars and clubs were gorgeous and really clean - the staff members cleaned multiple times a day.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
We booked the smallest, most inexpensive stateroom on the lowest dock, so keep that in mind. I'm sure that the more expensive staterooms were much nicer, and I didn't mind that our stateroom was tiny because we were only there to shower and sleep. There was very little room to unpack and the walls were thin enough that we could hear our neighbors argue or play music. Our bathroom was very small and basic also - there were no travel sized lotions or shampoos, so make sure you bring your own! Next time, I would definitely book earlier and spend more money for a nicer room.
For a first time cruiser, our room was enough. The beds were comfortable, we were located close to the elevators, and our steward was great. He was super nice and would clean our room and bathroom several times a day.
Key West has a really eclectic feel and unique culture. I would definitely recommend walking around downtown and talking to some locals. All the locals were very friendly and willing to help with directions, which is something I'm not used to because most people dislike tourists.
We walked a good 2 miles to the beach later on. The beach was the smallest I had ever seen, with only families and couples so it was very quiet and relaxing.
I wish we had more time at this port so we could have rented some bikes and explored more.
I honestly wish I had not gotten off the boat. The island of Cococay was created by Royal Caribbean just for its cruises. I spoke to a lot of people who enjoyed the island, but it just wasn't for me. The entire island was covered in fake sand, and there were no natives because everyone there was on our boat with us. We waited in line for about an hour to get lunch... the food setup was inefficient because there were 5 different lines for the same thing but no one knew that, so everyone stood in one giant line.
We tried to lay out, but it was too hot that day, so we ended up going back to the boat after lunch.
I wish we had stopped at another port in the Bahamas instead of Cococay.
Once you get off the boat, there are taxi drivers and tour guides everywhere trying to sell you their services. Personally, I dislike traveling with other tourists, walking around and hearing about how great a city is. I want to explore by myself and find the true culture of the people, I want to talk to locals and understand their way of living. So the constant bombardment of sightseeing tours and excursion (we had to say no literally every minute) was annoying.
Later on, we walked through the market where they sold fake purses, carved wooden animals, and jewelry. I enjoyed walking around but every single merchant I passed would try to get me to buy something that I didn't want or need. They would say things to make me feel bad and it was uncomfortable being there because I felt like they all just wanted to pick me up and shake my money out of my pockets.
The actual stores are a bit better and don't try to force you to buy things. Make sure you buy some rum to bring home!
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