We loved the itinerary, and the cruise offered us a great opportunity to visit these ports. However, this cruise ship was too crowded, and the cruise line did not seem particularly adept at managing crowds. For example, when people were wandering around with food looking for a place to sit (buffets), a staff member should help direct guests to available seating. Also, the lines during crowded times should be managed in such a manner as to promote efficiency and discourage arguments between guests.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We got on the ship early, and our experience was very smooth.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The restaurants were very good, especially for people who like to dine in couples. However, the Garden Café (buffet) seemed to always be jammed at meal times when everyone was on the ship. The overcrowded state promotes rudeness and creates a situation where it is very difficult to find seating.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Entertainment
3 out of 5
We only went to one stage show, and it was pretty good.
Children's Programs
We had no children with us.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
The service we received was good. There were a couple of minor glitches. For example, we made dinner reservations every night, knowing the restaurants may be crowded. When we went to dinner at our appointed time one evening, the restaurant had a long line and they were not going to honor our reservation until we pushed them. Finally, they did, but it took a fuss!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship seemed very clean. The design of the ship was easy to learn. I'm not sure there are enough elevators to accommodate a full ship of people, however. And, our ship was full! There was a sign indicating the ship was at full capacity.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was great, and it was our refuge! Since the common decks were so crowded during at sea times, our balcony was the best place to find a seat!
We loved Barcelona. It was clean, inviting, charming! We embarked at Barcelona, and spent three nights there prior to the cruise and one night after. We stayed at a boutique hotel in the gothic district and took a couple of tours. Don't miss the Sagrada Familia and the Park Gruell.
We thought this was a perfect port of call. We took an excursion to the Amalfi coast, stopping at Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi, and then on to Pompeii. Tours were interesting and scenery was lovely.
Fun, fun, fun! We did not take an excursion from this port, but took the day to rest and relax. We spent the day in Civitavechia, and enjoyed the town center, shopping, eating and experiencing the wonderful people.
Florence was great, but the tour we took was so-so. The tour was booked through the ship and it was both expensive and crowded. Florence was also very, very crowded, adding to the discomfort of the experience. Our tour guide had a very heavy accent and was somewhat hard to understand. In addition, she had some trouble responding to questions about some of the art and other cultural features in Florence.
We thought this was a fine experience. We loved the market and old town at Nice, and we enjoyed the tour. Our tour took us way above the town, so we had spectacular views. Overall, a great port experience, although the little train tour left something to be desired.
We really enjoyed Mallorca. We did not do an excursion, and we had tons of fun on our own. The ship offered a shuttle from the port to town (15 euro p/p). From there, we walked all around and there was so much to see and do. It is a wonderful stop. We had some delicious treats, good shopping, fun outdoor entertainment, and enjoyed the outdoor vendors. Palma is a perfect cruise ship stop!
We opted for the walk-off disembarkation. Unfortunately, after we ate breakfast and we were all set to go with our suitcases in tow, we had to wait a very long time (at least 45 minutes) to disembark because every elevator that stopped was jammed full of people and we could not fit on.
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