We learned a lot from our first cruise (although there were others who had cruised before and felt the same as us about this one). The best analogy is:
This cruise was as if traveling on a crowded bus, stopping at a shopping mall, return to the bus on time and for another 8 hours to arrive at another shopping mall.
If you do not spend the extra money to attend additional excursions -- on a serious schedule (not a vacation) -- with CROWDS of people, you are only being delivered from one tourist trap to another. Very disappointing.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Organized and easy to follow, but very crowded. Not enough seating for elderly and challenged.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Specialty restaurants were above average, some better than others (personal preference), but well done. Buffets too chaotic and extremely crowded. Main dining room with table service proved to be very nice and away from the crowds.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Waiters, stewards and ship personnel were outstanding. Bartending leaves much room for improvement, including adequate number of bar tenders and wait time.
Used local cab to tour the area. Needed to escape the crowds of tourists and VERY COMMERCIALIZED shopping traps. Requested the driver take us for lunch with the locals: tried two locations, both swamped by tourists -- paid to take us to those locations?
Well organized except that wheelchairs were not prominently available and once you got in the wrong line, there was no turning around to access them. Created severe problems for several in our group.
You’re shoving like 3,000 people on a boat I mean I don’t know what you were thinking was going to happen. & yeah it’s going to get kind of boring if you don’t plan things to do when you get off the boat.
Do research before your cruise. To me that is big part of trip. Figure out things to see or do. If possible do them on your own. Some ports if we feel comfortable doing so we will rent a car. We have rented mopeds. We might hire a taxi to take us to destinations I have come up with. Some places it is possible to just do a walking tour.
Why didn't you do excursions to see the places and learn and enjoy the culture and the beauty of the places? Of course if you stay around the ports you will see nothing but venders.
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