The Serenade of the Seas was a perfect ship to take our first cruise. From the start, the crew's main goal was to provide the best experience for the passengers and, in my opinion, they exceeded that goal.
The ship had enough activities on board to provide ample entertainment when at sea. Whether it was trivia contests, musical entertainment, the casino (Casino Royale), the pools, the spa or numerous other activities, each was enjoyable. In addition to the plentiful activities, there was little to no waiting for what we wanted to do.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
One of the best parts about the cruise was the dining. There was something for everyone on the menu each night and, if you weren't into the dining areas, there were plenty of other food options throughout the ship.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The ship had enough activities on board to provide ample entertainment when at sea. Whether it was trivia contests, musical entertainment, the casino (Casino Royale), the pools, the spa or numerous other activities, each was enjoyable. In addition to the plentiful activities, there was little to no waiting for what we wanted to do.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
From the start, it seemed the crew's main goal was to provide the best experience for the passengers and, in my opinion, they exceeded that goal.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship was easy to navigate, with plenty of markers to tell you where you were and where certain areas were located. Overall cleanliness of the ship was outstanding, with the staff constantly tidying the ship throughout each day of the cruise.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
I was quite surprised by the size of the stateroom. While it was cozy, it was still sizeable enough for two people to enjoy the room. The beds were more than comfortable, with two pillows for each person (something you don't get in many hotels on dry land!). Overall the rooms are well taken care of and show no signs of wear.
Aruba was very beautiful, with plenty of activities off the ship. My wife and I went on a particularly enjoyable snorkel/sailing excursion, which demonstrated the beauty of the Caribbean waters and the ample fish life. We also snorkeled about the wreck of the Antilla, a German warship sunk during WWII.
After this day of snorkeling, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and some sunbathing on one of Aruba's beautiful beaches before heading back to the ship.
Dominica was probably the most diverse of the ports of call. You can go to the mountains, where their are rainforests and waterfalls, or go to the beaches, which are black (reflecting the volcanic nature of the creation of the island).
My wife took an enjoyable kayaking trip which went from the main river above Roseau to the Caribbean Sea. The trip wasn't difficult for her (although she is a pretty good kayaker) and she raved about how much she enjoyed it. I chose a hiking trip to one of the waterfalls and a stay on the beach. Both were well worth it.
Although we didn't take any of the excursions that were a part of the Curacao stop, it was still enjoyable to walk around the city of Willemstad. We did also visit the Curacao liqueur plant, where the Blue Curacao liqueur is distilled, which was enjoyable.
St. Thomas was extremely beuatiful, especially from Paradise Point, the highest point about Charlotte Amalie. From this location, you can get some fantastic shots of the surrounding city and the port. Especially good for getting a shot of the Serenade of the Seas from high above!
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