Glad that we had a short getaway on this ship--food was good, bed was comfy and the drinks were free--what more is there???
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Picked the 10-10:30 time slot to be at the terminal. No crowds at the check-in counter. Presented passports and credit card, were given our room cards and waited at a lounge. We were given group numbers and went on-board when the group was called. Worked out well and had no problem/delay getting on the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Free drink cruise--don't need to say more about that subject!! Had dinners at the main dining rooms all 3 nights. Had made 2 reservations, but didn't need them. Entrees and desserts were quite varied and very tasty. Didn't go to any specialty venues as we were pleased with the food and service in the 2 dining rooms. Had lunches and breakfasts at the buffet. Same choices each morning--limited food compared to Princess, but filled belly. Not enough indoor seating so some people had to go outdoors which was cool and windy. I imagine their food got cold really fast. Chairs not comfortable--plastic. Buffet ambiance not as inviting as venue on Princess. Reminds me of a high-school cafeteria--no personality, just utilitarian.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Husband went to a movie. Saw "The Dark Tower" and thought it was okay. I used the time to walk around the ship and read.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Went to 2 of 4 evening shows. The general audience shows started at 9:30 which is rather late for me. The theater was small and so was the stage--no digital bells and whistles, but the singers and dancers were very good. There was only one show a night except for the last night when there was a show at 9:30 and an adult comedy show at 11:15. I would have liked to have gone to the adult comedy show, but we had to get up early the next morning to disembark. Wish it had been on the 2nd night instead. Princess has 2 -3 shows a night: 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30--much better schedule.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Room steward was very pleasant and gave us new pillows when I asked him to replace the original ones that were smelly. Wait staff were very accommodating and professional. All other personnel were also very pleasant and helpful. Wish they'd stop the "washy, washy" spiel at the entrance to the buffet--rather annoying, but I do understand why they want to remind people to clean their hands. I've seen people sneezing into their hands, which is disgusting.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Layout and design were fine--much like other ships. Small atrium. Common areas clean and well-maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Cabin was very small--much smaller than Princess. The space between one corner of the bed and the cabinet holding the refrigerator only had room for one leg to fit through--you had to go between them sideways. The closet was small, but fortunately, we only were on the ship for 3 days and had room for everything. Can't imagine being on this ship for a 10- or 14-day cruise. Liked the round shower--plenty of room. Liked the bed. No storage space under the sink which Princess has. Can't use a night light in the bathroom as the outlet is only "on" when the bathroom light is on--outlet only useful for electric shaver. Not a good feature.
Ship tip
Don't think about any minuses I have listed--go ahead and enjoy your cruise--any cruise is better than not cruising. Try other cruise lines to see which one you like the best.
Nice to be able to choose when to disembark. Chose latest time so we could have a leisurely breakfast and not have to rush as our flight wasn't unlit 3 pm.
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