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Great, Non-traditional Cruise

Scarlet Lady Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 26

Overall rating:

4.2 out of 5
Verified Review
Scarlet Lady

4 Night Fire & Sunset Soirees (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 19, 2023

Ship: Scarlet Lady

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 13018Z

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

For my first cruising experience, I had an awesome time. The price seems high, but the inclusive features were worth it. There was different food to try everyday- from Italian to Korean BBQ. The Galley (similar to a buffet) had options such as sushi, tacos, burgers, and all-day breakfast. The service was excellent and all of the staff were polite and ready to help us if we needed it. There was a lot of diversity in age, race/background, and people coming from all over. The culture was super friendly and I felt no judgment at all from anyone at any point. There were fitness people, married couples/parties, singles, and people who just came with friends. Everyone seemed to have no trouble finding something to do or finding somewhere to relax. Many reviews warned that this cruise was gaudy, but I felt that the vibe was more of a "reliving your inner child" and was not sensual in any way. There were parties available every night, but the music did get redundant which did leave me bored. It was also hard to socialize with new people since there were many groups, so I recommend meeting people beforehand if that is appealing to you. As for improvements, the rooms could definitely be expanded. The bathroom was cramped and the showers would sometimes flood/clog. Additionally, the app had several issues that need to be repaired. We had trouble accessing the daily agenda, ordering food, sometimes just opening the app. While I enjoyed the modern aesthetic, I think providing guides and improving some of the technological aspects would be useful for people. Also, there were some events that were repetitive or times were there was nothing to do at all which sometimes left me a bit bored, but the plenty of unique places to sunbathe on the ship reminded me I needed to also enjoy relaxing. I highly recommend this cruise, especially if it's your first experience. The non-traditional experience allows you to distinguish what you like and don't like about cruising while allowing you to try something new.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Embarking was smooth with a lot of staff to help along the way.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5
Food and drinks were delicious. More food options could be implemented- especially for longer cruises.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
The pools were quite small/shallow and often packed from the moment the day started. The fitness center was nice but admittedly I didn't use it much. More activities could be added.

Entertainment

5 out of 5
The show I attended was excellent. Thrilling acrobatics left me on the edge of my seat.

Children's Programs

All adult cruise

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Everyone was attentive and willing to help you. Waiting staff often gave honest reviews on the menu and great recommendations.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5
The ship's layout was sometimes confusing and hard to navigate since some areas were not accessible from the fore areas of the ship. After a few days, you adjust quite easily and you realize where the shortcuts are to get to other places. The design of the ship was very modern and sleek.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5
The balcony was my favorite part of this room and is often where I spent most of my time. The hammock will have you lounging for hours. The bathroom was quite small and storage space could be improved. It would also be nice to have the option of two separate double beds. Overall, the room was quite comfortable with good privacy.

Ship tip

Book reservations ahead of time if you want to go to restaurants or shows.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Key West, Florida

3 out of 5
Key West was nice, but not memorable. There's not a lot of areas to swim and it is on the expensive side. The excursion I did was enjoyable, but was difficult due to the windy conditions. If you do an excursion, plan to take motion-sickness medication the night before and the day of.
Thumbs Up

The Beach Club (Virgin Voyages), Bimini Bahamas

5 out of 5
The Beach Club was a lot larger than I was expecting. There were two large pools in addition to the ocean with plenty of seating. There were 2 bars available that had pretty efficient service. Some people took golf carts to explore the rest of the island or booked excursions, so there were plenty of options for things to do.
Thumbs Up

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
The lines moved very quickly and everyone was very polite. There was assistance available for people with heavy luggage and customs moved surprisingly quickly.
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