This is a great ship for first time cruisers, with loads to do on sea days and a nice blend of ports on most itineraries. It's a no-nonsense, experienced crew. Although the ship is older, it's fine. Enjoy!
Embarkation
3 out of 5
The embarkation process was slow, yet it's hard to tell if that's the cruise line or the port. It was a busy holiday cruise time, with three ships departing almost simultaneously. We park at this covered place across the street, so we had a very easy time getting there!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I loved that they put little scales next to healthier options on the menu. I ate in the main dining room for most lunches and all dinners. We didn't do the specialty restaurants because I'm a teacher!!!! Teachers eat in cafeterias! We loved the Windjammer for breakfast, and we loved the wait staff.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
I climbed the rock wall, did jewelry classes, dance classes, attended lectures, and everything in between! It was cold, so no swimming other than an indoor hot tub. I loved how they put a little sign next to the activities that were physical. We did tons of those. My husband won a miniature golf activity and they gave him cool prizes.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We loved the entertainment! We had the early seating for dinner, and it worked great for us. We went to everything they had, and while some were better than others, it was all worthwhile. I recommend getting there early. Don't save seats, and don't show up a couple of minutes before expecting four seats together!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We just had a cheap inside cabin, but our steward treated us like royalty. The towel animals were adorable, the room was immaculate, and it was just all-around great service. The waiters were super nice, too. I think they knew this was a special thing for a bunch of teachers!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I didn't find it hard to get around, and it was clean. I never saw trash anywhere, and I felt very comfortable.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was small, especially the bathroom, but that's what I expected. I slept better than I ever have in my life! It's super dark and cozy. We loved it. You can do some tricks to make the most of your space, and it's fine.
Ship tip
Bring a highlighter to mark the activities that you want to do on the card they give you every day. Take a picture of it in case you lose it.
We got there too late to see Hemingway's house, which was what I really wanted to see, but it was fun to walk down the main street. I wanted to buy one of these pretty bud vases they had for my classroom, but a fellow passenger warned me they were bongs! I decided NOT to purchase drug paraphernalia for my desk!
We combined with other cruisers and hired a private van for the day when we got off of the ship. He took us to the beach, the turtle farm, hell, and his house! It was fun.
Yes, if you do the online check in beforehand you'll see a boarding time. On past cruises this has seemed to expedite boarding. Once you get on the ship it can be a couple of hours or longer before your bags get to your cabin. Like lisavagemert says, you've already got your carry on with your basics. Avoid the scramble of everyone looking for their luggage and wondering why they can't get to their cabin immediately upon boarding. Go right to one of the bars on the upper decks, get a cocktail and chill out for a couple of hours. Anywhere on the lower decks is already going to be packed with newbies flooding in and wondering about their luggage. On Oasis we went right to the Solarium Bar on deck 16. On Liberty we hit the bar outside on deck 12 and watched Barcelona fade away. When we sail in December this year on Rhapsody it's probably going to be Solarium on deck 10 but maybe the Schooner Bar on deck 6. The Centrum and R Bar will already be jamming.
It will tell you a boarding time on your ticket. Do the check in on line, and you should be able to see it. You may not be able to get into your cabin, and your luggage won't be there, so take a bag to tote around and go have fun!
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