For this cruise we took our 5 grandchildren ages 11 - 20. Their parents came along, as well as our beloved aunt. The grandchildren have all stated how much they enjoyed the cruise which was our main desire for booking. We wanted them to experience some places in Europe with us before we are too old to travel. It was a short cruise, and we really missed the sea days where we could rest up, relax, and enjoy activities on the ship. It was sometimes difficult to navigate with 11 people and all the different personalities, but all things considered, an enjoyable experience.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Embarking was timely, but the covid testing staff was very rude.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We enjoyed the specialty dining options especially the Tepanyaki and the Brazilian barbecue. The buffet was always a good choice; however, the main dining room was not a welcome experience. It was slow and our family did not get to sit together. I think I like the assigned dining times and tables better where you sit in the same area and get to know your servers.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
My family used many of the activities when they could including the spa, water slides and pool areas. With the exception of a large pool not being available, the rest were enjoyable.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
With the exception of having our grandchildren exposed to a drag queen show (apparently we needed to complete more research on this show and ended up walking out along with a lot of others), the rest of the entertainment was professional and top notch.
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
Nothing specific here, but no complaints.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
If comparing the staff with other cruise lines we have been on, I would say that most, not all, were unfriendly and on the rude side. Our room steward did his job, but we didn't get much interaction with him. Compared to the rest of our family's steward, who went above and beyond to offer help and information, there was no comparison. I don't know if this is because we had prepaid our gratuities, or not. The staff in the specialty dining were great (maybe because they receive extra tips), but the other areas buffet, dining room were just doing a job.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Everything was clean; the layout and accessibility of everything on the ship was good.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The above cabin# is not from our specific cabin, but we were happy with the size of our cabin, however the bed was not quite long enough for myself and my spouse. We are 5'6" and 5'8" respectively, and our feet were hanging off the mattress. We loved the balcony and will always get a balcony from now on. The room was clean but had some well-worn and rusty areas.
Ship tip
If you have sailed on Carnival, Princess or Celebrity, don't expect the staff to be as friendly; however, the cruise overall was still very enjoyable.
This is a must do port if you've never done it; we flew in a few days early so we could visit sites on our own time which I highly recommend. You just can't see what you need to see with a single excursion.
We loved visiting Pompeii on our own. We did not book an excursion but went off the ship and found our own transportation. If you have never seen this port, you should definitely book an excursion or tour guide.
I have been to this port before, and I am still not excited about it. There are just not a lot of options for excursions and sites to see. We took a small train around the area which offered the few highlights of the hotels and film festival. However, if beach time is your thing and seeing the opulence of wealthy people and their yachts, then this is for you.
We absolutely loved this port and would love to go back. The people were friendly and enjoyed tourists. The prices were reasonable, and it was a beautiful place to visit. We enjoyed the specialty pastry that is only made here. We did not book an excursion but received information that this port was easy to visit on your own. We found that to be the case.
We have been here before and found this to be one of the rudest areas for tourists. The staff trying to get you in their eating establishments especially were rude if you chose to eat elsewhere. What's more is they do not realize that many Californians know Spanish and could understand their rude comments and cursing. Never need to come back here, however if it's your first time to visit, I suggest the Hop On / Hop Off bus which helps give you an overview of the various attractions or book an excursion.
It was our first time to this port, and if you like beach time then you will probably like it. We did not book an excursion but walked to several of the sites on our own which is very doable. The beach was extremely crowded, but the water was beautiful and refreshing.
*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.
