This was our first cruise and we were told by many that we picked a great ship for this as there is so much to do. Highly recommend checking it out end to end as there are many venues and hidden gems to be found. Be prepared for alot of other guests however as it’s a big ship with alot of people. We had a great time.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We arrived early and that was not a problem, more of a bonus for us as our bags were taken and we were able to join the line to get on the ship straight away. A few checkpoints through various security and we were beginning our holiday earlier than expected.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Dining room food and menus better than expected with great waitstaff and timely service. 2 out of 3 specialty restaurants were amazing (Chops Grille & Jamies Italian), a step up in class of service and food. Unfortunately Wonderland proved overly hyped and the food wasn’t the amazing experience we had been waiting for. Service was a bit slow and we were a small table of two competing with some big tables for attention and service. Buffet was as chaotic as expected in the school holidays. Highly recommend booking dinner at main dining rooms each night, we found this process easy and part of our morning routine. Dinner times around 7:15pm were great as they were a but quiter than 8pm.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Bumper cars were fun! Bit of a wait in line but nothing we couldn’t handle. iFly was excellent. There’s always something going on daily and we found it easy to alternate between relaxation and activity. Unfortunately the Solarium pool area was extra busy as we realised many teenagers were also sharing this space. Initially sold as “adults only area” we discovered this was open to all cruisers 16+ in age. Drink service in this area was mostly good, but could be hit and miss in the pool itself.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The entertainment was fantastic, great bands, performers, theatre shows, etc. unfortunately managing such a large ship full of people could be problematic. Many of the big events were just too crowded. Suggest they could split some of these events (e.g. big beach party, 70’s night) over multiple venues as the ship has many great options. Too often the 270 theatre area was maxed out with more and more people cramming in.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We never had a bad experience with any of the crew, all were friendly, and genuine when getting to know you and helping us enjoy our holiday. There were a few standouts across stateroom attendees, bar staff and wait staff. The cruise director was fun and seemed to be all over the place making sure everyone had a good time.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Well spread out across venues but still easy to get around. Cleanliness was better than expected, always clean and tidy and felt safe.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Very comfortable, bed was a little hard for one of us. Good size but some of that is wasted a little bit as you have the front of the ship cutting off part of the room. Great view off the front of the ship from the window. A bit of a walk from the room to stairs/elevators. Cleanliness was excellent and our stateroom attendant seemed to work 24 hours a day to make sure we had all we needed. Shower and bathroom is small but better than expected on a ship. Watch the step!
Ship tip
Research what’s available onboard before you go and book ahead (both prior to sailing and once aboard) as much as possible
No excursion necessary, very small island. Nice areas to swim, unfortunately there were blue bottles all over one side of the island on the day we were there. Strong currents off the point so be careful. Tender process can take a long time, be prepared to wait in line.
We did a city sights, aquarium and beach tour. Was good fun. Aquarium is skippable, the snorkeling at Lemon Bay afterwards had plenty of fish life to get up close to. Lunch was provided, was fresh and easy, and we had time to wander around a bit and do our own thing.
Easier than expected. Although we had an allocated time, we were able to get off an hour earlier just from being organised and up and about early. This ship rewards you for being early to most things. Breakfast was still fully available on disembarkation day, enjoy the service one last time before you go back to the real world. Suitcases were surprisingly easy to find once we were back on land and ready ahead of time. The exit through customs was a breeze.
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