This was our first cruise, and lived up-to and went beyond our expectations. The ship was clean, well maintained, and the ships operations (dining, cleanning crews, etc.) ran smoothly. I was worried about the scale of operations, more specifically the number of passenger that needed to be cared for (2400+ passengers). But, the crew handled the scale perfectly. While on board, we did not feel crowded, and the crew made the experience very personal.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The dining experience was excellent. The food was great, the selection was appropriate, and wait staff was superb. We choose second dining for dinner, and it was the right choice for us. Later dining allowed us time to rest after our shore excursions, and take our time getting ready for dinner. That rest before dining was crucial, as it allowed us to further enjoy the dining experience, stay up late with ship activities, and still get up early for the next day excursion.
The food was excellent. I had prime rib, lobster and shimp, lamb, an Indian Tandor dish, and a couple of others that were all prepared wonderfully. They tasted great and the presentation was like a work of art. The wait staff was attentive, personable and knowledgable. Their recommendations for wine, appetizers, and dessert that would go well with our chosen main course were always right on track.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
There was some things that were excellent and somethings that were not up to par. The shows were good, and some were great. The ships dancers and musicians were wonderful. However, we did go to a Tango class that was not very good. They could have dramatically improved that class with some minor changes. Move it towards the front of the cruise, after class provide space and music for practice and to engrain what was learned, and provide a follow-up class to correct issues and ask questions.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone on the ship seemed to go above and beyond, with the exception of the customer support desk. There was a large difference between the exceptional serviced everywhere else, that customer cares sub-par service may have seemed worse than it really was. Regardly, they should try to attain the same level of service.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
The condition of the stateroom was excellent, but the size and comfort left some to be desired. I understand the need to keep the staterooms compact, but I would like to have had a comfortable bed. Again, the staff was excellent. They kept the room clean, ordered and in good working condition. They also provided some much enjoyed entertainment, with their towel folding works for art, that they left in our stateroom.
We had the most fun at Barbados. We went on a planned snorkeling excursion. We got to swim with sea turtles and swim over a reef with many varieties of tropical fish. The ships crew were great, the open bar was nice, and the lunch that they served was excellent.
Pros: On the ship we liked the dining experience the best. Not just the food, but the whole package. They had some great wines available at resasonable prices, and the wait staff was the absolute best.
Cons: The beds. The people that managed our rooms were great, but the bed itself was not very comfortable.
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