It was the trip of a lifetime and the cruise ship really came through. The choice of ports were outstanding and the terminal port of Venice added another couple of days to our vacation. There was really nothing to complain about. The food was great, so much so that we never bothered to have a meal in any of the ports. The entertainment was top rate and varied. The entertainment staff really seemed to enjoy their jobs and seemed to go out of their ways to connect with the passengers. Service staff was so polite and paid such attention to detail that they make you feel like a king (just like the commercials say!) I really have to get very picky to find any criticism but just to be balanced I would state a few very minor details:
A small refrigerator in the stateroom would be nice to keep a few cool snacks.
Better port maps for those who like to explore on their own and not participate in packaged shore excursions. The information provided seemed geared mostly towards shopping. Perhaps separating preview information into shopping, sightseeing, exploring, cultural, sporting activities etc. would be useful. Not everyone likes to shop.
Midnight buffet at 1:00 AM is a little late for some of us, especially when the next day's port of call is at 8:00 AM. Keep the ice cream open until midnight instead of 11:00 PM.
These are my biggest criticisms and they are nearly insignificant. For all practical purposes the cruise was perfect. I would recommend it to anyone.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Great quality, great variety, and always something good to eat. Only minor drawback was the absence of a midnight buffet except for one night, in which the buffet didn't open for consumption until 1:00 AM. Probably saved me from gaining another 5 lbs. though.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Outstanding talents and variety. Never a dull moment. The production shows were truly excellent and the daytime activities were always fun. So many things to do that we often had to choose between 2 fun activities, but that was probably also why they were never overcrowded. Only complaint: the karaoke machine was inferior and not loud enough. made good singers mediocre and mediocre singers bad.
Children's Programs
3 out of 5
As we did not bring kids we did not have first hand knowledge of the quality of children's programs, but kids were not in our way for most of the time. Only exceptions: ship did not enforce policies for kids in outside hot tubs, so hot tubs on the outside deck were alweays taken by kids. Also parents brought kids to some activities clearly for adults which made for some awkward times.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The best part of the cruise. Always top notch. The dining room staff made you feel like you were eating at a top quality restaurant. The stateroom attendant was always there friendly and attentive to our every need. Always there when we want them, never when we didn't.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
A little on the small size, but really had all we needed
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
A little small, but comfortable enough. would have liked a small refrigerator. Bed was comfortable roomy, plenty of space for clothes. Bathroom always clean and while small, still had plenty of room to do our bathroom stuff.
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