The ship is beautiful. Don't like that THEY pick my tour times !! That has always been my decision on other cruise lines. They way they have the meal times scheduled is NOT passenger friendly at all. Sea Days are horrible if you want a sit down meal - not accomdated for that -- mainly buffet times. I don't think this ship knows how to relate the schedule to fit the cruise. They do not account for the New England weather into their meal schedule at sea or not! Always very long lines to enjoy a sit down meal ! NO, Breakfast time is not friendly at all on sea day - 7-9am??? Really?? & in only one restaurant !!! Lunch is only served on sea day and is only for one hours 12 - 1pm!! NO, people aren't by the pool and are indoors being up North !!! Everyone is eating indoors !!! I doubt I would go on this ship again or recommend it - too many dissappointments.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
It went smoothly but not easy to drop off luggage close to terminal
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
The food and service was excellent !!! The schedules were not passenger friendly. Times were awful and scarce. Breakfast was only served in Panarama room from 7-9am on sea days !!! Lunch was served on sea days in the Panarama room from 1 - 2 pm!! Since the ship holds almost 4,000 people this is rediculous !!! I do not want to go to the Buffet for my meals - I'm on vacation and would like a nice sit down meal but I don't want to get up early on a sea day for breakfast, wait on a long line to be seated, be rushed and then have not much to do the rest of the day in New England and Canada!! Same with lunch, 12-1pm - one restaurant or the Buffet -- wait on line before or right after they open the doors to be seated, then wait to be waited on, meal served and then it is 2 hrs before you are done --- not a very relaxing time for these meals at all. On port days, Breakfast in the Buffet, lunch only in the Buffet, dinner as usual in your assigned restaurant. Rest of the day - at sea or not - Buffet only after certain time. Buffet closes at 10:30 am. opens again at 12 noon, closes at 3, opens at 5:00 for dinner closes at 9:30 then has a few snacks 10:30 - midnight. On a sea day use a restaurant that is closed till dinner, for breakfast and do breakfast from 7 - 10:30. Then do lunch in Panarama restaurant from 11:30 - 2:30, then all restaurants open at 6 for dinner. They don't seem to realize that people really would like a hot meal served & the buffet is good for inbetween items. The food was always hot, delicious and a nice variety every night. The servers were attentive, helpful and caring - but they were always rushed as people were coming in at various times. The same with the drinks we ordered - Mud Slides - they were inconsistant and different in every bar. Bloody Mary's were just the mix in a glass with ice --really?? Servers were great, attentive and helpful too.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Since it was a New England/Canada cruise, the outdoor pool was a rare option. The indoor pool was limited seating - always confiscated by certain large groups taking over serveral tables for MahJong, while also securing lounge chairs for when they weren't playing. It was not easy to find a place to sit, relax and enjoy. There were a few onboard games etc. but really not a lot of large group happenings. They showed a movie by the pool once, it was cold and windy but a few people got to enjoy it with coats on.... the theater wasn't used for any daytime shows or movies even though the first few days it rained so outdoor plans were scrapped. They need to become aware of the weather and adjust !!! they did not!! Just like the food -- strict schedule and stuck to it!!! NO - ADJUST FOR THE CRUISE ITSELF, WEATHER AND HAVE ACTIVITIES ACCORDING TO THAT.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The shows were average, & entertaining. People had to have a reservation, then wait on line for a half an hour for the doors to open, then wait in your seat for half and hour for a 35 min. show. Most people did this but were not very happy! I needed the handicap seat at the top- waited on line for half hour(not comfortable)but necessary, then to be told that my husband couldn't sit with me even though he helps me lower into my seat and helps me to get up. It was embarrssing to have the woman running the seating on Wednesday announce loudly that my husband would have to move or we could move into the middle seats and he could be next to me -- I was mortified and now had people watching him help me up and then move and sit again !!!! HORRIBLE ! Yet, the wheelchair people put their wheelchair behind a seat and their companion got the seat !! WHY? My husband was my helper but not treated equally!! She really needs to do some classes on learning people skills! Where there was a nice singer at night, & a piano player at times -- there are only about 30 seats Total !!!! Standing along the walls, banisters and whereever you could find a space was your choice unless you sat real early and didn't leave ... Why have nice entertainment with no seats ??? Bars nearby had seats but were very noisy and couldn't hear the music. Again, no thought put into this area.
Children's Programs
NO CHILDREN !
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
They were always willing to help, be attentive and go the extra mile.
There were times however, they did not have any specific instructions or each one had a different plan of how something was to be done --- very confusing at times, but not their fault -- ship needs a good person in charge who knows how to set schedules, manage people & make changes when necessary.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
All was good - always spotless -Easy to navigate the ship.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
cabin was fine, all good, always taken care of properly by our cabin steward.
Ship tip
They choose your tour times! Meal schedules aren't passenger friendly and not often enough. Don't expect to be able to enjoy a nice, relaxing meal. They aren't set up for that. Times and places to eat is very slim and very over crowded ! Always waiting in lines since you get 2 early hours for breakfast & 1 hour for lunch on sea days! The other days it is the Buffet only. Also not acceptable is the fact that you are given your tour times - you don't get to choose! I like morning tours, wasn't give a choice & got late tours which made it hard to get to dinner on time! I want to choose my own tour times!!!!.
To get on the busses was a very lone walk from the ship !!! Not easy!! The tour was okay, saw the coastline etc. not much to do or see. The return to get back on the tenders was awful -- lines were hours long!!!! They do have a handicap line which they don't mention - I found out on my own.
Port is good, buses near the ship across the terminal. The tours were good choices but very unorganized at the terminal. I enjoyed the Duck ride tour - fun and interesting.
Excellent port -- terminal just off ship has many local vendors with a nice variety of items. The busses are not too far and tours are numbered so usually easy to find.
Buses are very far from the ship !!! A hugh walk ! They do have a sm shuttle once you walk 2/3s of the way which take you the last block or so but it doesn't run a lot. Tour of lighthouses was nice - lot of walking to get near to the lighthouse from the bus.
We got off quickly -- the organized getting off by numbers waiting in the theatre was very unorganized, noisey and people refused to sit and cooperate and just stood in the way of the doors!!! Being I can't do stairs, we left on our own to do the elevator & discovered there was a handicap line to get off which no on mentioned. We got on the line & was off in no time. Glad we didn't wait for our number in the theatre!!!
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