I was disappointed by the cruise as a whole compared to my previous experiences. So much so I am going to consider trying a different cruise line or perhaps stop cruising completely.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Boarding was quick thanks to the purchase of "They Key" prior to the cruise. I was able to skip all of the lines and go directly to the waiting area to board the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The food in the main dining room was largely good but nothing extraordinary. I found the menu to be underwhelming and the food to be average compared to my previous two cruises. I also found the waiter to be a bit too 'much' and took offense when a fellow cruiser was not a fan of one of their meals.
I ate at Wonderland which was an interesting experience albeit a little hokey, the appetizers at Wonderland were largely bad but the main entrée and desert were delicious.
The buffet food was largely cold, but that's the norm with nearly all buffets. There's a lot of seating but by the time you get to your table from the buffet area, the food is even colder. I ended up sticking with cereal and other foods that are edible with a cool temperature. I tried a cook-to-order omelet once, but it was not worth the 10 minute wait.
I also found the staff to be largely moodier than in the past, maybe it was the impact of the pandemic, but the food staff seemed grumpy.
Windjammer Marketplace
2 out of 5
I found the food variety was good but the quality was just ok. All of the food was cold, their was ample seating but by the time you get to your seat the food is cold.
Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine
4 out of 5
It's a little hokey and the appetizers were not good but the entrée and desserts were amazing. The waiter was also quite friendly and approachable.
Main Dining Room
3 out of 5
It was ok albeit a bit underwhelming. My waiter was a little overwhelming at time.
Starbucks
4 out of 5
Expensive and it was only staffed by one or two people meaning you could wait awhile for your drink. But the drinks were all great.
Sorrento's Pizza
4 out of 5
Good reliable pizza spot!
El Loco Fresh
5 out of 5
This was my favourite food venue on board, offering nachos, burritos, tacos and quesadillas. I wish it was open later than 6pm though.
Cafe Promenade
3 out of 5
Lots of quick bites and coffee on order, but there wasn't a large variety.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I didn't take part of the activities on the ship as it was largely a relaxing vacation, but from what I saw, there was lines at all of them. So I suspect they were all good. The one activity I took part in was the North Star Experience which was alright, albeit I did not know that the 'free' experience meant the north star did not circle around the ship like the 'paid' experience does. That was frustrating.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The main stage show "The Book" was entertaining and good but the other shows I saw on board were underwhelming, the magic show wasn't good and there wasn't much else on offer entertainment wise. The Caribbean musicians on the pool deck were too loud and annoying to be enjoyed.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
The service was largely good, but I found the staff to be grumpy and moody especially compared to past cruises. Perhaps it is pandemic related, but it made the cruise even more average.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
The ship was spotless so no complaints there. I did not like the design as the ship had a lot of wasted space full of luxury retailers I would never visit. I wouldn't choose this cruise ship again.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
I enjoyed how tucked away and quiet this room was, sure it was an inside room which didn't offer a window or balcony, but it was quiet and I never encountered any noise issues from the surrounding rooms.
Hotels are expensive at this embarkation and disembarkation point, even more so than other ports such as Orlando or even San Juan. I wouldn't choose Fort Lauderdale in the future because of the sheer cost.
Extremely artificial port which has little to offer if you don't like waterslides or beaches. I was disappointed that my hot air balloon ride was cancelled due to winds.
I had "The Key" which offered choice departure, the line to leave the shift was the longest one but afterwards, it was a quick disembarkation process and I found my luggage with ease.
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