Family and friends vacation with multiple rooms booked. Communicating was critical for us with such a large party. We purchased the 9.95 package for texting and calls onboard. The service worked intermittently. Some could receive texts, but not respond, some could receive calls and others couldn't, some texts were delivered hours later. It was a real pain setting up the service initially. Definitely should be done before arriving on the ship.
The beauty of cruising is that most of the entertainment and food was included with the price. This ship seems to limit the included items and emphasizes the fee related activities/food.
I among others that I spoke with on the ship would prefer not to sail on this ship again.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
go carts,
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Loved the Choir of Man and Kinky Boots. Only got to see one comedy show because they were sold out, had to wait in standby line and stand through the whole performance. Didn't get to see the Beatles show because the venue was standing room only 45 minute before show time.
Children's Programs
1 out of 5
There were 1,000+ children on board and capacity in kids club for 110 persons. Our kids only went once and never made it back because it was always full.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Grace in Taste was very accommodating when my grandchild showed up late for dinner. Mary Joy, our room steward was great. Overall, the staff was friendly and helpful.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
We tended to hang out in the Obvservation Deck at the front of the ship. By far, it was the quietest place. The pool area is a nightmare. It is so crowded one can barely walk. No chance of getting a chair after 8:30am. Signs posted about not reserving seats, but not enforced. Pools too small and not heated. Hot tubs lukewarm and not enough of them for the capacity of guests.
Likewise for the pools. So many rules for the kid's pool our kids opted not to go there after the first time. The middle elevator is missing from this ship design, so one walks quite a bit to get from place to place. Parties on the top deck are heard on the 11th floor.
The ship is pretty, but crowded due to the go cart track and laser tag taking up so much space on the upper levels.
Go carts are cool, but it costs $199 per person for a week's pass. Also the weekly pass is only valid for single rides, not doubles so one can only ride at set times. Long wait times for the go carts caused our 3 participants to stop going after the 3rd or 4th day.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
The room was fine. The balcony was smaller than on other ships. It was a pain to discover that electronics won't charge when there's not a room key in the slot by the door. We'd leave everything charging while out of the room only to discover that nothing had charged.
Everyone missed the chocolate on pillows at night and towel animals.
Ship tip
Take plenty of money, because you will need it. Be prepared to wait in lines.
It was a mess. Lines ok until my 13 year old grandson was pulled out for not paying his bill. This was pretty ridiculous since I added my credit card to his room. It seems odd that the other parties in the room were covered but not him. It caused a delay in departure. I'm also surprised that I wasn't notified prior to disembarkation.
Trick for those trying to charge devices - ANY gas card, gift card etc can be used to keep the power on in the room, but turn off the lights to still save energy.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
