Had a great time apart from the mishap of fracturing my fibula. Food and service terrific. Ship VERY crowded at times, so know that before you book. Overall, 8 out of 10.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Transportation from the airport to the ship was well organized, and well worth the price. Checked in luggage and next time we saw it was outside our cabin. There was a long line to check in for embarkation. In fact there was two - it split. The way the line splits can easily be missed, so keep you eye open for the shorter line. Even though there was a lot of people checking it, the lines kept moving quite well.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food was excellent everywhere, accompanied but great service. We did not try the specialty restaurants, as there was enough choice in the complementary restaurants. We went to the buffet once, but since both Taste and Savor served breakfast as well as dinner, we preferred to be served. We both fell in love with the Mango Meltdown drink. If you have a sweet tooth - go for it!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Did not participate, apart from eating and drinking.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
If you want to go to a show that requires booking - book EARLY. They fill up fast and you'll end up in the stand-by line. Shows were okay-to-good. We are talking cruise ship, so don't expect Broadway, but it was good entertainment. Did I mention book early? You do receive a daily activity guide for the ship, so look at it the night before to plan your day, and if you've not already booked you may be too late. Go online and book early BEFORE boarding the ship.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Awesome staff. Always greeting with a smile and a "Hello" or a "Good-bye" when going to/from a restaurant. Bar staff were good and eager to please. Room stewards kept the room looking great. They all worked VERY hard.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I don't remember tripping over anything on the floor. Bar staff cleaned up pretty quickly as people left tables. No complaints.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Quite roomy. We thought the bathroom was larger than those on the average cruise. Good size cabin. Balcony had three chairs, a lounger and a table. Not a lot of spare space on the balcony if all were in use. I wouldn't like to have four people in the cabin though - that would be a bit cramped.
Ship tip
Be prepared to 'enjoy' a crowd, as the ship was VERY busy. 5,000+ guests we were told, so that makes for a lot of crowds, especially at the entertainment venues. Book ahead of time when possible, and arrive early at the venues.
We preferred to stay at the Miami Airport Hilton. Really a small resort with nice views and pool/spa. Jogging track around hotel. Plenty of time to relax before the cruise, which after flying from SFO to Miami was definitely a good idea.
Maya Key private island excursion. Sort of an animal sanctuary, but don't go expecting to see loads on animals in cages. That part was a bit run down. Looks like they may have experienced a fire at some point in areas. Lunch was below average, but not necessary if you have a good breakfast and eat dinner on board ship early. If you just was to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded ship, this was a nice day out on the beach. If you go shopping at Diamonds International, ask for Tania - such a sweet girl and very helpful (tell her Steve and Cindy sent you).
This was our favorite port. So new and clean. Well laid out. Beautiful beach. We did have jelly fish warning signs but only saw one all day, and that was while the ship docked. Water so nice and warm. If the beach is not your thing, the pool is huge - HUGE, but again, as with most things, get there early if the pool is your thing. It gets busy. You can see the zip-lines above you, but we did not try them.
It was a hour's drive there and back. The buses were air-conditioned but it was very humid that day, especially in the rain forest. Be VERY CAREFUL walking down the pyramid steps! I lost my footing, as it rained heavily for 5 minutes, and fell heavily. Thought I had just sprained my ankle, but 5 days later when I went for an x-ray back in the USA, I was told that I had fractured my fibula. It could have been worse - MUCH WORSE, so please be careful.
Port itself was pleasant. Lots of shops to browse around. The town reminded me of some Spanish tourist resorts (in mainland Spain) - hotels, bars, restaurants and shops! Too busy for us. We did the dolphin swim, which was terrific. My wife swam and thoroughly enjoyed herself. I was an observer, and came to discover that all food and drink was included. I did not realize that. found a spot by the bar overlooking to pools. Had a great time and even managed a few photos.
I was unlucky/lucky. Having fallen down pyramid steps on the Wednesday, I disembarked in a wheelchair. Basically a front-of-the-line pass. Not to be recommended as a way to get off early or quickly, but I did. Otherwise, it looked like a lo-o-o-o-o-ng ling to get off the ship.
We will be sailing on the Escape in cabin 9134 as well. I see the bed is by the sliding door, which I like. Could you please tell me if it was noisy in that area? Did you fell the motion of the boat? Any other info would be helpful. Sorry about your leg. Hope it healed well.
Thank You
*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.
