Loved the cruise, loved the ship, food was okay. We would sail on the "Serenade of the Seas" again. Thank you, Royal Caribbean, for all that you do. :-)
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was quick and easy. Wham, bam, boom and we were on the Serenade of the Seas, headed for the Bahamas.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Main dining room and the Buffet were okay. I enjoyed the food and could always find something to eat. Food in the MDR was only "Luke warm" for the most part. Our Waiter and Assistant Waiter were amazing! They learned who we were and what we liked and attended to us every night, and they were spot on with everything we needed.
The Buffet was also only okay. The food was good but it did not set the world on fire. I am not a picky eater. I could always find something to eat and be satisfied. It wasn't 5 star but I was happy and grateful for the food that I received and everything and everyone that helped prepare it and make it available to our family.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We enjoyed seeing some shows, playing Bingo and some of the entertainment pool side.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Loved the different genres of music. Personally, if I am sailing the Caribbean or the Bahamas I would prefer more Reggae, Island Music or Steel Drums. On my past cruises it was usually part of it, but for some reason the Island Music is getting less and less. :-( That type of music sets the scene for the whole cruise, it does add another layer of enjoyment for the memories.
I cannot say much for the "Vibeology". It was very difficult for me to even sit through the whole show. It was a letdown and definitely below standards for Royal Caribbean, from my experience.
Children's Programs
There were no young children traveling with us.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Waiter and Assistant Waiter were AMAZING! Thank you to Jem and Omkar! They made our dining experience the best. Other ship personnel were very friendly, polite and professional. Our Room Steward.... we did not see him for four days. Our room was always clean and waiting for us but we have never had this experience before. We usually see them and get to know them and share what our wishes for the week are, we did not get that chance. Our grandkids were really looking forward to the "Towel Animals", we only received them every other night. When one of our children asked if he could do it daily, he said No, that he only does it every other evening. That was a shock to me! L:-( Kids (no matter how old) love to open the door and see a "Towel Animal".
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship's layout was easy to navigate. Some restrooms generally needed cleaning when I went in them. Pool area needs more tables and chairs. Not everyone wants to be in a lounge chair out in the sun.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The room was spacious enough for what we needed. There does need to be some power next to the bed for cell phone charging. When needing to get up on an island day, our phone was across the room. Needing to see the time is necessary at some points of the day. The ship is definitely aging but was clean. It also needs more hooks on the walls for hanging things.
Ship tip
Enjoy the Serenade for the ship that it is. It is smaller but we still had a great time on it. It is very easy to navigate and most of the shows are worth seeing. Bring items for extra wall hanging (metal hooks) and extra hangers for the closet. Enjoy her! We had a great time.
Way to busy! It was like cattle being guided from the ship area. Not clear on what is available to do or where to go once off of the ship. Not everyone wants to do an excursion. My husband and I enjoy more of just seeing the islands at our own pace.
It was a little crazy. We had just gotten off of the "Wonder of the Seas" in December and it was way more organized than the "Serenade of the Seas" was. One problem I noticed was that people were carrying their luggage with them, sometimes three to four suitcases, while merging down the hallways of the ship. Royal Caribbean does a great job of taking your luggage the night before and having it available for you. There were a lot of people that did not do that. :-0 Along with the baby strollers, scooters and wheel chairs it was just a mess. Of course, then you have the people complaining along the way about how horrible this process is. If people are CHOOSING to carry off more than one piece of luggage, I believe that they should have to exit the ship last. The space does not allocate for that much "Stuff". Royal Caribbean does a FANTASTIC job of getting people off and offering them simplicity. If they choose not to use it, they should not be allowed to clog up the flow of disembarkation. That is not necessary.
Appreciate your detailed and informative review. Glad you enjoyed your cruise with your family. Supposedly, if you carry your luggage off you can exit the ship earlier and faster. Your suggestion to have ten exit last might speed up the debarkation. Interesting thought.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
