A clean, comfortable ship that has been well maintained. The staff provided excellent service, the food was much better than expected, and the itinerary was interesting. We lost St. Kitts and went to Martinique instead which we missed but understand the change. The Captain of the ship was everywhere it seemed and interacted with the guest on a regular basis. A cruise ship and itinerary that we would gladly take again.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
RCCL seems to have embarkation down to a science. Very little time to get checked in and a short wait in the passenger staging area prior to boarding. Hats off to the onboard crew for turning the ship over so efficiently and quickly. Watching them the night before we arrived back at Port Everglades I see that there is a whole lot of planning that takes place in order to turn the ship over like they did. Only suggestion I might have for RCCL is to have the restaurant open for lunch on embarkation day. Only option was to go to the Windjammer with the rest of the "herd"
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Overall the food was excellent and was always well presented. The normal issue I see in the buffet is the holding temperature of the food. The hot food was always warm and the cold food chilled and that is what can be expected everywhere. I wish there could be a way to keep the hot food warmer without loosing the "shelf life" of the food.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
It seemed there was always something going on throughout the ship. The entertainment was a mix of the standard things such as bingo, Zumba, and the like as well as activities that seemed to be perfectly suited to the demographics of this particular cruise. The cruise staff was everywhere and involved in what seemed to be everything.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The entertainment was somewhat lacking to me but appeared to be well received by most who attended. I understand smaller ship equals smaller entertainment budget so my expectations were consistent with what was offered in the theater. The DJs, and other performers did a great job with a good mix of music throughout the ship. One surprise was to see the Captain in a Hawaiian shirt, with epaulets, jamming with the band in the Centrum. In fact, the Captain seemed to be every where including on the dock in several of the ports wishing guests a great day while in port and generally being available to questions and such. Great job!
Children's Programs
No kiddos - whoo hoo!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Did not encounter any staff member who did not project the highest levels of customer care and concern. It also appeared that these attitudes were not out of a fear but more so from a team atmosphere and camaraderie. As mentioned above, the Captain popped up all over the ship and interacting with the guests. By far the most we have ever seen the Captain on any of our many cruises.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The SOTS is aging well. Although it was just two weeks out of dry dock where it received new carpets and other upgrades, I noticed that the little things like rusting metal and dings where pretty much absent throughout the ship. It was clear that the ship is being taken good care of. I would sail her again in a minute
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Upon our first entry into the cabin we remarked that it felt larger than normal. After a day or two I realized that the walls were squared giving the feeling of openness. Newer ships that we have been on have the cabin walls that "bump" in or out to save space which also make the room feel more closed in. The bed was comfortable and there was plenty of storage space. The wood furnishings were a bit dated however were well cared for and perfectly functional.
Ship tip
Enjoy the intimacy of the ship. If you go in expecting the same areas and amenities as the Oasis class ships you may be disappointed. The ship is well cared for and you will be comfortable, well fed, and well entertained.
Stayed a couple of days prior to the cruise. We have been many times and it may just be getting to be routine. I would recommend the water taxi to cruise about the intercoastal as well as seeing the downtown area shops.
Somewhat disappointed with this port. Not because of the hurricane damage but because it seems like the downtown shopping area has become overrun by jewelry stores. There are few unique places to shop. Our favorite is Fish Face which has none of the normal port stuff, but is stocked with handmade treasures, great clothing, and beautiful photographs. There needs to be more of these type shops.
Went to Martinique instead - Not a fan of Martinique as it was expensive, somewhat dirty, and store keepers seemed put out that we were in their stores.
This was our second trip to St. Lucia. The first trip was a rained out mess with historic rains and damage to the island during the stop. However, this trip changed our view 100%. We noticed that the island was significantly cleaner than our first stop and appears that it is being much better maintained. We did a tour with Spencer Ambrose tours and had a most enjoyable day with them. All in all, St. Lucia went from being an island we dreaded to visit to one we cannot wait to visit again. Congratulations to the St. Lucians for the great turnaround.
Rainy day while we were there however that is not why I give this port a 3 star rating. On our prior visit to Barbados we were taken to what apparently was the better side of the island and did not witness trash in the roads or piled in vacant lots. This trip we opted for a day pass at a hotel in Needhams Point. This was not the same Barbados we had seen before as there were many areas trashed and rundown with no signs of repair. The hotel area however was very clean and comfortable.
Another gem on this trip. From the moment we stepped off the boat we felt welcomed by everyone we came into contact with. We took a ship tour to the Stingray experience and were very well taken care of in a friendly and professional manner by the staff at the tour site as well as our tour guide. The shopping area near the port was clean, well maintained, and the shop keepers friendly and helpful. A couple recommended shops that we found great were Chelles on Redcliffe Quay and Island Press. Chelles has an outstanding selection of handcrafted jewelry and art at very reasonable prices. Island Press is a clothing shop that will imprint one of many of their island specific imprints onto any of the many pieces of clothing that they have including t-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, and more. Both were great locations and I highly recommend them
Off the ship by 9:15 and on the way to the car. The disembarkation was smooth and we did not feel pushed out at all. Used the new customs application which significantly shortened the time we had to wait to get through customs.
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