This cruise was a wonderful way to disconnect and spend time with my family. As a first-time cruiser, this experience opened me up to more with NCL.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation was pretty smooth. Check-in took a bit longer than I expected but maybe it felt that way because we were anxious to get going.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We ate! Boy can I tell you! The food at the buffet and Food Republic was great! Le Bistro was a bit disappointing for a few members of my party. Entree' portion size and temperature of meat was a bit of a pain point for some. If you have a chance try the pineapple cream cake!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
My son enjoyed the arcade and pools. Others in my group rocked to the beat of the dance parties every night (until wee hours).
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The entertainment led by the crew (Tyler and Jacky) was awesome and very engaging. I laughed and screamed so much!
Children's Programs
3 out of 5
My son didn't really enjoy the kid's club. I think more than anything, he felt like the kids he was grouped with were babies. After the introductory visit, he didn't go back. If he had been with a few more kids who he felt were his peers, I think he may have felt differently.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All of the servers were very friendly. We were greeted each time we walked by. They came over to talk to my 8-month old at each meal. Even walking through the ship there were smiles and greetings. Our cabin attendant, Mariano, was very efficient and responsive.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
For a family with 2 small children, it was a bit tight space wise (cabin and shower). However it was manageable.
Routan was lovely. We did an excursion with Victor Bodden Tours. Our driver Francisco was friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating. He took us on a driving tour, pointed out sites, and our tour included a visit to Victor's animal sanctuary. We visited a little chocolate factory and a private beach. On the way back to the ship, Francisco stopped along the way to let us capture some memories.
The pool at Harvest Caye was beautiful. I wasn't impressed with the beach though, the sand was like gravel. We laid out by the pool for a few hours, let the kids splash around and went back aboard. It was very hot!
I enjoyed the native display (musicians and costumed men) at Costa Maya. We opted to take the kids to the water park here. The pools are not the beautiful, crystal blue but we were told the poo;s were fresh water. The kids enjoyed their time at the park. All activities were included in the cost (the many zip lines, slides and pools). Food and drink is at a cost.
After a long walk to the cabs, my family went to Mr. Sanchos. We had all-inclusive passes which gave us access to all we could eat/drink (buffet and a la carte), pools and beach. Beto was our awesome server who made sure we were looked after.
And that is the best thing about cruising is being able to disconnect and spend all the time with the family. That is what I do with every cruise. Glad you had a great time.
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