It was good overall, but it will be my last cruise. A lot of tipping expected by everyone from tour guides to wait staff. Spent more than I wanted to. I'd rather drive or fly on my own and not feel trapped on a ship with 4,000 people.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Excellent. We were in the Haven suites so we got preferential treatment.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The free food dining experiences were subpar. The extra-charge restaurant options had higher quality food. This was an Alaska cruise, yet no smoked salmon anywhere in site. The buffet was the worst food I've had on a cruise. Most of the food is bland.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We gambled a lot, but didn't do the pools since it rained most of the time. A lot of the entertainment was extra cost. Bingo was $50 or $80 dollars for only three games.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Jersey Boys was exceptional. The piano in the Atrium was good, and so were some of the games.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The Haven suites butler and concierge were excellent. Worth the extra cost.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship was nice. The seating in the Atrium could use new chairs. They looked tired.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Size was good, amenities were nice. Bathroom shower was exceptional. Balcony size was great. Biggest problem was the movement at the stern was way too much. I felt as if I was trying to sleep in a pepetual earthquake or a washing machine agitator. Didn't get the best sleep all week.
Ship tip
Find a cabin midship. The movement isn't so noticeable, and the walk to your room is a lot closer.
Was extremely disappointed in the shore excursion. Went to a bear refuge instead of seeing real bears in the wild. Same with the bald eagles. It was a rehab facility. The only good part was the whale watching boat.
Glad you mostly enjoyed your cruise. As others have said, tipping is voluntary. The only times I’ve ever felt pressure to tip is on some excursions. But even then I’ve never been bothered if I don’t tip. On the ship, I generally only tip my room steward, and that is if they do an exceptional job or I have extra requests for them. Occasionally I tip others if they do an outstanding job, but that’s entirely my choice, I have never felt at all obligated.
Extra tipping is if you feel the staff has done an excellent job. I’ve tipped bar tenders because they work exceptionally hard in my opinion and room stewards if I’ve had multiple requests from them. It’s not mandatory.
Appreciate your feedback. Cruising has changed and it certainly isn’t for everyone. Glad you enjoyed Alaska and hope your future vacations are wonderful.
So the cruise was good, but you won't cruise again because you had to tip and pay, unfortunately that's on all cruise lines, but the extra tipping is on you, not mandatory. I've cruised in the past and have anything on my expense account at end of cruise. If you don't want to pay extra for entertainment , then nobody is going to shame you for it.
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