Overall it was an enjoyable cruise. The spa was a brightspot for the trip. I felt pampered and the staffed knew me by name by the second day. Entertainment and crowding at poolside could be better, but it was a nice adventure to two ports I had not been to previously.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation wasn't as smooth as the last cruise I took in April.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food in main dining and buffets was good. It was not exceptional-if it was exceptional, they wouldn't be able to upsell to the specialty restaurants. A frustrating reality of cruising - Less food, less service, less quality, automatic gratuity charges, less staff, more passengers, all to increase profit for the cruise line. I did not participate in the specialty restaurants on this trip, so I can't comment on the quality.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Activities/facilities were usually too crowded or booked completely to be able to enjoy. Could never get a seat anywhere close to any pool (unless it was raining.) They say they won't allow people to leave their things on loungers to save the spot for the day, but it still happens.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The entertainment on this cruise was sub par. The shows were sometimes difficult to interpret. The musicians acted like it was torture to have to interact with people.
Children's Programs
I was not traveling with children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff was excellent. They always seem to be happy and smiling. Doing everything they can to make passengers happy & comfortable.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
I liked that I didn't have to walk through the smoke-filled casino to get to the dining room. The ship was kept clean and maintained well.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was mainly comfortable, it could always be larger. It was kept clean. The bed was very comfortable.
I went to DePalm Island for the day in Aruba. The food was good, the frozen drinks were a little watered down. The beach areas were a little small for the number of people who were there. It was a pleasant day with the exception of a bit of rain.
We had a great afternoon at the Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort. It was a very short walk from the port. We could see the resort from the ship at the dock. The resort was not too crowded, seemed clean and well kept.
Disembarkation was challenging due to the amount of demand for elevators to get to the designated lounges. Lines seemed incredibly long within the ship, but they continued to call additional groups, creating some chaos getting to the gangway. Once off the ship, everything went very smooth and quickly.
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