Excellent embarkation and disembarkation at Southampton.
Food tasty, but sizes of portions vary greatly some starters filled the plates others were mouthful. _ note you can ask for a side plate of vegetables in the main dining room.
Ports visited were great, some I would love to spend more time in
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Although we were allocated a time to check in, our trip to Southampton took less time than expected, so arrived earlier. We had already printed our papers and checked in online, so breezed through security and straight onto the ship - we then just waited for the deck access to our cabin.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We were on a 2nd sitting and requested on the first day a change to my time - our details were taken and we were told they would get back to us by midday the next day; nothing happened despite our 2 calls after noon. However after our first port day 4 (Gibraltar) we found our place settings missing from our table and we were told we had been moved to a table for 4 at the same time as per our request! By this time we were totally happy with our companions and Zukiswa (our waiter) and it certainly wasn’t our request to just move table and keep fixed time dining.
We loved the sea day lunches and breakfasts in the Sapphire Dining Room ( seated as you arrive!)
I had the refreshment drink package which meant Virgin pina coladas, mango smoothies, lattes each day and bottles of chilled water as I set off to explore our ports.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
My sister did the rock climbing, surfing and spa and was very happy...although choose to do stretches on her own as the time set for official activity was too early for her.
Note if it is slightly chilly on a sea day there does seem to be a lack of seating
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Would have loved ballroom classes at a fixed time and place.
A very varied mix of shows ( the Royal Caribbean Dancers not appearing every night) hypnotist, Queen tribute, soul sensation (5*) Darren Day, comedians
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Very happy staff on board - drinks change at different bars and only the promenade coffee bar has drinks displayed with prices
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Surprised by the salt balls created on deck 7 through the lounge chairs on our balcony.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
So happy with the cabin after our bed was divided into twins. Kettle and mugs in the room. A “non fridge” that kept everything so cold. A shower cubicle rather than a curtain.......so much storage space plenty of hangers and drawers. The bedside lights excellent; if you wanted to read and not disturb your cabin mate.
During a little rocky sea session our wardrobe hinge came loose but within 2 hours it was fixed and didn’t reoccur.
Ship tip
Avoid the windjammer and head to the promenade cafe....especially for cookies and cream scones
The Apes were behaving badly due to the stormy weather......but they are wild animals and should always be treated as such.
We walked to the cable car then £14.50 for a return ticket - fantastic views
Tenders needed here, you head up for a ticket number then wait to be called......an injury occurred here as the sea moved the steps and someone stood too close to them.
€6 for a return train ticket to Monaco _ train every 30 mins
Free shuttle to port gate (3 mins) or 20 min walk to rail st.
Take your cruise compass into town with you ( emergency telephone numbers on it) and shops displaying RCI symbol offers discount to passengers.
We took a private car into Rome (1 1/2 hours drive away) , will need to spend more time here to explore more
Would have been excellent except for he horrendousl queues to get off the ship _ lifts bringing people into an already compacted area as we waited to enter down the 1st floor corridor to a single sea pass zapper (40 minutes!)
Cases out by 11pm the previous night - tags given out according to your request for dept time. Then asked to go to a designated collection area 15 mins before that tag time. They were ahead of schedule so straight off and headed towards our tag number to collect the cases we put out the night before.
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