The overall feel for m family and myself was that the cruise was just too big and impersonal. We have cruised with Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines in the past, and this was the first time we felt like we really couldn’t do anything because there were too many people with too little space. They have cool things like an ice skating rink and a sports deck, but my mom is 70 and that’s not her thing. We wanted places to sit, play trivia, listen to music, maybe dance a little, and they were just too packed. It was so hard to get seats by the pool, and there was a lot of holding chairs and then leaving, so things were just full without being used. It felt like we had a lot of time with nothing to do. There was no captains night, which was a bummer for my aunt. We enjoyed our time off the boat the most, but just kept running up against hurdles while on the boat.
The entertainment was pretty good and we liked the comedians and ice skating show! If you are a poor like us and can’t afford a nicer room, they will gladly remind you that you are trash and don’t deserve a room that is quiet to sleep in!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The main dining room was a big disappointment. The service was great, but the food was so bland and mediocre. Most things were over cooked and under seasoned. Some of it was inedible. Two nights we left hungry (being a pretty small person who doesn’t eat a lot in one setting) and headed to the buffet. I had a very Hilary Swank at the Oscars moment in the Windjammer one evening eating a more delicious meal in a fancy dress! We made some other friends on the boat who also found themselves skipping the main dining to eat at the Windjammer instead as well! The Windjammer did have plenty of options, I just wish they had a better variety of salad ingredients and fruit. It’s also absolutely impossible to get a table for breakfast at Windjammer. The lack of places to sit was a theme for this cruise in general.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
We were really hoping to get into the karaoke hall for trivia events, but they only had a few tables that were full 24/7. There was no way to get in there for activities unless you got lucky and someone happened to leave while you were hovering close to their table. We never once were able to get a seat and tried many times most activities were packed and inaccessible. We did enjoy some of the fitness classes, but it was just hard to get a seat anywhere whether it was the pool, a bar, or an activity.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
We did enjoy the shows we booked. The production quality (costumes, sets, performances) were an A+ but the storytelling was a D. Most of the shows were so weird and we couldn’t really tell what was happening. It seemed like they really wanted to make fun of 20 something’s using social media. We also learned from the “music throughout the decades” show that women never contributed any songs in the history of music. All male artists. I guess we’ve just lack the talent?
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We had nothing but pleasant experiences with the staff. I just wish they didn’t require the wait staff to work 7 days a week for 7 months without any days off. That seems like it is not legal.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
1 out of 5
I have deep regret for renting a room without a balcony, but I have stayed on other ships without balconies and had fine experiences. We were apparently positioned above a thruster on the ship, and every time they were used our room would vibrate like there was an earthquake. It was so loud it woke us up several times a night. I made a video of the sound and vibration, and even in the video you can see how extreme it is. I kept waking up panicked that I needed to get to safety before realizing I was on the boat and not in an actual earthquake.
Anytime you go on a cruise , you likely can expect a crowded ship unless it is offseason and not after a scamdemic, when everyone is anxious to sail again.
I've always enjoyed the main dining room. Food isn't always perfect, but consider them are serving over a thousand guests in an hour, it is pretty amazing. If you don't like what you ordered, you can always request pretty much anything within reason and they will accommodate.
The thrusters can be a bit extreme, as I have experienced the intense vibrations. However, not enough to make me scared.
I doubt any "poor" people go on cruises. 😁
Appreciate your review. We’ve cruised on smaller to mid to larger and find our tastes vary depending on age of ship and brand. Cruise lines keep putting out bigger and bigger ships and sadly I think smaller ships are a thing of the past unless you’re taking a Viking River cruise.
We stay in aft cabins all the time. Maybe some vibration every now and then..but hardly noticeable, and never that strong. I sure wouldn’t book a room in that area if it were like that…I can understand your frustration!
I see mixed reviews on the newest ships on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL. Newer or bigger is not always better. It’s always important to choose your own cabin and pick a location with other cabins above below and around you. Cabins toward the rear of the ship almost always feel the vibration from the thrusters or engines.
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