Overall we enjoyed the cruise ship and most of the excursions. The staff was for the most part great, only a few exceptions. Communications on port changes and timing of excursions for that port could have been better.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Long wait in line. The crew didn't seem to be well organized. Very small area for new people coming in to wait, and no queing so people who had been waiting the longest got into the que last.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Food was good, drink was not.
Grand dining room was nice - liked that it was more open than the Vista's, and acoustics were good. However the service one night was really slow, and we got attitude from the staff (not my area...). Ate mostly in Toscana but did enjoy each of the specialty restaurants as well. Liked that there was the option for a small breakfast in Horizons lounge. We upgraded to the O package, but were disappointed that wine and beer were only free during lunch and dinner in the dining areas, e.g. not by the pool, not in Horizons or any of the bars. Selection of Chardonnay, which is what I prefer, was really bad (2 options, one French and one CA, neither to my liking)
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Did not participate in activities. Would like to have more options for groups of 6 or more to have areas to play cards.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Did not participate in the shows. Quality of musicians were hit and miss. Band that played in Horizons most nights would have been better with another vocalist. Last couple of nights the 3 piece band was much better.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Room stewards were great. Very quick to respond to our needs. Most of the staff was very friendly, engaging and provided excellent service. One or 2 snooty ones in the restaurants that were a turn off.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Cleaning standards were not as good as on the Vista last year. There were many mornings when we arrived in Toscana for breakfast and tables, though vacant, were not cleaned so we had to wait, or search for another table.
Layout of the ships spaces was great!
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Was disappointed that the Marina was not upgraded as expected and advertised. The Veranda Suites still had bathtubs, which took up an enormous amount of space, and left very little room in the shower. The magnified mirror in the bedroom was dirty, with finger prints all over the mirror, upon arrival, so cleaning standards are not what they used to be. Size of room was okay, as expected. Beds were very comfortable. Plenty of space to store clothes. Couldn't use the deck much as it was cold and rainy most days.
Ship tip
If you are interested in the drink package, know that the drink portion of the Simply More package was not explained well in the advertising- could only get free beer and wine while dining, and poor selection. Do take advantage of the happy hours - 2 for 1 drink specials. inks.
Lovely clean city. Loved that the main part of the city restricted private car traffic, so it appeared to be very quiet and peaceful without having to worry about crossing the streets. Excursions taken were private.
Cute little town to walk around in. Went on a Rib ride to an island. The guide was very knowledgeable and shared a great deal about the history and preservation of the WWII site.
The port was unimpressive in itself. The excursion to Akrafjordan was special. long drive up the fjord with impressive landscapes. Boat ride to Langfoss Falls which was spectacular.
We did not spend much time in port, so I am not rating the port itself. We were disappointed that the cruise did not have an option to journey to Geirangerfjorden, so decided to rent a car and travel their on our own. This was a spectacular trip which I would highly recommend. It was an all day trip. Roads were easy to travel, ferries were perfectly timed, and the views were amazing.
This port was cancelled and Malloy was substitued, which was a big disappointment as the town was not set up for cruise ships. shops, restaurants/bars were lacking, and there wasn't much to see.
We did not spend any time in port, but did take the excursion to Bricksdal Glacier, which was amazing.... The hike was invigorating and strenuous. Not good for people who are mobility challenged or unable to manage rougher terrain. Stops along the way were very scenic. Lunch was provided in the cafeteria, and was very good.
Thanks for your review. We are sailing on the Marina and are also spoiled by our Vista cruise, so I hope to make the best of it. One trick with the drink packages is that you can always order a few drinks delivered to your room during dining hours. In that way, you can then take them with you to other events. We regularly get 2 drinks per person delivered at 8 pm then we are good for the evening shows.
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