1st time cruise, the good, the bad, the ugly and the horrible

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 10

Review summary

Background: our first cruise. Family of 6. 2 separate rooms on deck 10. One balcony room and one interior cabin. Our package came with $50 excursion credit per excursion and 150 min internet package. Pre paid the service fees on line and my husband added the soda package and upgraded internet to him only. The GOOD: food was great and easily accessible. Rooms were clean and felt like a good use of space. Beds were comfy. And showers had shampoo and bodywash available. Ship was well maintained. The BAD: AC didn't work in one room the first night, 150 min internet does not apply to minors, ships communication package at $10/person doesn't work 95% of the time. The ship was crowded. There were never chairs available by pools unless you were the first ones there. The larger pool was for 18+ and the small family pool was over crowded and kids had no room to move. Rope courses close ten minutes before their posted close times so that the employees can get to different work areas in time. $50 credit only applies to the first person in the room, so if they don't want to go, no credit. Jewelry shop employees mislead you to make money. Ship smells like cigarettes, Laundry service is extremely expensive. There are no self laundry options. Soda package is not worth it. The only place you can get a soda is at a bar, where the bartenders are catering to people with alcohol packages. The wait for any given soda was 30mins. The UGLY: The ships tendering process is very poorly run and does not leave you time on the island. time from ship to island was 1 hour and 10 mins. Time waiting in line for tender to get back to ship was 95 mins. Once on that tender another 35 mins to get back to boat. Food service on this island stops promptly at 2pm so they can bring it back to the boat. They will take it away in front of you. Excursion listed as "relax at long bay beach, beef island" DO NOT DO THIS ONE. The group running it begs for tip money and explains slum like living conditions. The beach area is run down with broke facilities, dangerous showers. You must rent their chairs and umbrella, its not optional and very misleading. The HORRIBLE: When asked for a diet coke, waitress served my alcoholic husband a whiskey and coke. My 11 yr old sipped it first while waiting for his drink to be filled and said there was something wrong. Husband tried it and realized it was almost pour alcohol. No apology from waitress, just an "i must have grabbed the wrong glass" Yes, we told guest services and no we were not happy with their apology.

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Great Stirrup Cay (Cruise Line Private Island), Bahamas

Disembarkation

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