Well, I have to say... I got mixed feelings. Overall the cruise was terrific, but the things that were bad, were REALLY Bad!
Food -- D :
It was at best, bland.... The no sugar added and lighter fares were downright tasteless (Im on WW) .... PALO was great! But we had small kids and we were interrupted twice from the counselors room... so much for making an effort to entertain your kid while you are spending money somewhere else in the ship.
Service -- A
EXCELLENT!!! From everyone around us. The ad-hoc servers were terrific, the assigned ones were second to none... but our head server never even introduced himself to the table. I felt bad, but we split his tip between the server and assistant server... he did come the last day
Cabin deck 2nd level - 2643 F
HORRIBLE! The hallway had a foul smell like chemicals... the noise levels were unacceptable. This is a copy and paste from my stateroom review: Extremely Noisy cabin! We are good sleepers, and NEVER had stayed in such horrible place (veteran budget cruisers always in inside staterooms.) At 3AM, someone drags chairs across a room nearby, probably above... at 5AM the entire space trembles and the noise behind the wall is as someone is about to come through the wall with a chainsaw... and at 2PM (my child's nap time) they start hammering away until at least 5PM that we couldn't take it anymore and left the stateroom for the pool. I read the previous reviews and thought it could not be that bad... after all is a CAT 10, but IT IS THAT BAD!!! Pay attention to my and other reviews and ask for a different stateroom if you are still on time to do the switch - I would much rather have less room than no sleep! I have stayed in the wonder in a CAT 12 and was great! - At the Front of the ship same deck level... it isnt the level or the inside... its this cabin and its location.
Entertainment -- A+
This is where Disney takes the cake! The night shows, terrific! Even though they were all repeats for us.... the sail away, pirate and 4th of July pool parties were BEAUTIFUL! The National Anthem was performed by the Cast that does the shows and it gave me goose bumps and made me tear up! Then at night (last cruise night) they did fake fireworks! They dropped red, white and blue balloons and played the typical 4th of July music. Then they dumped the regular confetti and CMs started popping the balloons... of course everyone else followed. Very soon the place felt like great fireworks were been thrown. Wonderful Show!
Characters everywhere and very nice doing the signing and pictures. Still my favorite character Jack Sparrow! So funny, engaging and handsome
Note - no more bandanas in Pirate nt.... I guess budget cuts
Youth Programs -- C-
I have to say... I was disappointed... AGAIN. My child has been raised with a Nanny, so I thought the first time she had been overwhelmed by being with so many kids (and only 3 months in school) but now she was 4 and had finished her first year at regular school... still did not like to stay in the club. The counselors aren't doing much effort to keep the kids in there. I was quite surprised this time how little kids there were every time we went in. Too many activities involve TV/Video... you are in the middle of the Caribbean! why is that room so dark and low??? I know they went for the Peter pan theme, but I don't think it's all that appealing to kids.... let's see: do I stay with mom and dad by the pool and running into characters around the ship? or do I stay in a dark low ceiling room watching TV with no one making any attempt at entertain me??? mmmmm?
Still I 'm wondering if the clubs are more for > 7 year olds... They seemed better adjusted and better attended.
At Castaway Cay, my DD told me when I asked what she wanted to do: Anything as long as I'm with you and you don't put me in the club....
when we walked by the scuttle cove, she said I DONT want to go there please... you would imagine she had spent a ton of time at the club... NO more than 90 minutes on Thursday and Friday.....obviously - none on Saturday.
Friendliness -- A
Still the Disney Signature! everyone was great! the only surprise was the head server that never even said hi.... obviously we did not leave any tip to a phantom and said so on the tip form and feedback form... so I hope he got the message.
Palo server and Triton Lunch server were TERRIFIC! so friendly so nice! and our regular server team, could not have been more accommodating! Great Disney Service all around. Although never really saw the stateroom attendant until last night, he kept our place very nice!
Castaway Cay and other amenities -- A
Terrific!!! hands down the best stop!. we don't get off in Nassau any more...I kinda wish they would change the 3 nt stop every once in a while; but been at the rain forest spa was nice and the rasul bath was wonderful...better time than going to see the Atlantis aquarium wall for the Nth time.... Not ready to pay $160 pp for a water park.... I know is cool... but that is a $480 day for us.. and my DD is 4. May be when she remembers.
Value -- B
In December, I told my husband: I will save twice the time to go on a DCL half the opportunities we can go on any other cruise ship.... now I'm not so sure... The cabin was a Horrible disappointment! I work very hard, long hours and not been able to sleep is just the fastest way to tick me off and lose my loyalty. The Kids Club lack of effectiveness makes me question the entire concept. I have to mention we went on a 3nt NCL cruise and my daughter was every evening LOOKING FORWARD to the Kids Club.... something on the DCL concept doesn't appeal to her...
We are going on a RCCL cruise over New Year's. I've heard great things about their youth program and THEY DO HAVE WINDOWS in their kids room....That experience will dictate where my loyalty to DCL will lie.... if it is at least as good... why would I pay the 25%-40% premium for Disney??? We'll see....
I am a Die Hard Disney fan. I work in Customer Experience Management - They are the PARENTS of that concept!!! I love seeing how they create magic, and I know my bar is high - I expect the BEST from Disney! and that is why I am ok paying more! but if the gap starts narrowing, I am also very budget conscious and like to have my money's worth.... I hope the economic downturn doesn't take them astray of their roots: to provide the best service possible... On the food and Youth programs, I'm afraid they are falling short. On the cabin noise and location, I don't think this one should be sold at all....
I hope the new ships bring new and fresh air to the DCL ideas too .
Food -- D :
It was at best, bland.... The no sugar added and lighter fares were downright tasteless (Im on WW) .... PALO was great! But we had small kids and we were interrupted twice from the counselors room... so much for making an effort to entertain your kid while you are spending money somewhere else in the ship.
Service -- A
EXCELLENT!!! From everyone around us. The ad-hoc servers were terrific, the assigned ones were second to none... but our head server never even introduced himself to the table. I felt bad, but we split his tip between the server and assistant server... he did come the last day
Cabin deck 2nd level - 2643 F
HORRIBLE! The hallway had a foul smell like chemicals... the noise levels were unacceptable. This is a copy and paste from my stateroom review: Extremely Noisy cabin! We are good sleepers, and NEVER had stayed in such horrible place (veteran budget cruisers always in inside staterooms.) At 3AM, someone drags chairs across a room nearby, probably above... at 5AM the entire space trembles and the noise behind the wall is as someone is about to come through the wall with a chainsaw... and at 2PM (my child's nap time) they start hammering away until at least 5PM that we couldn't take it anymore and left the stateroom for the pool. I read the previous reviews and thought it could not be that bad... after all is a CAT 10, but IT IS THAT BAD!!! Pay attention to my and other reviews and ask for a different stateroom if you are still on time to do the switch - I would much rather have less room than no sleep! I have stayed in the wonder in a CAT 12 and was great! - At the Front of the ship same deck level... it isnt the level or the inside... its this cabin and its location.
Entertainment -- A+
This is where Disney takes the cake! The night shows, terrific! Even though they were all repeats for us.... the sail away, pirate and 4th of July pool parties were BEAUTIFUL! The National Anthem was performed by the Cast that does the shows and it gave me goose bumps and made me tear up! Then at night (last cruise night) they did fake fireworks! They dropped red, white and blue balloons and played the typical 4th of July music. Then they dumped the regular confetti and CMs started popping the balloons... of course everyone else followed. Very soon the place felt like great fireworks were been thrown. Wonderful Show!
Characters everywhere and very nice doing the signing and pictures. Still my favorite character Jack Sparrow! So funny, engaging and handsome
Note - no more bandanas in Pirate nt.... I guess budget cuts
Youth Programs -- C-
I have to say... I was disappointed... AGAIN. My child has been raised with a Nanny, so I thought the first time she had been overwhelmed by being with so many kids (and only 3 months in school) but now she was 4 and had finished her first year at regular school... still did not like to stay in the club. The counselors aren't doing much effort to keep the kids in there. I was quite surprised this time how little kids there were every time we went in. Too many activities involve TV/Video... you are in the middle of the Caribbean! why is that room so dark and low??? I know they went for the Peter pan theme, but I don't think it's all that appealing to kids.... let's see: do I stay with mom and dad by the pool and running into characters around the ship? or do I stay in a dark low ceiling room watching TV with no one making any attempt at entertain me??? mmmmm?
Still I 'm wondering if the clubs are more for > 7 year olds... They seemed better adjusted and better attended.
At Castaway Cay, my DD told me when I asked what she wanted to do: Anything as long as I'm with you and you don't put me in the club....
when we walked by the scuttle cove, she said I DONT want to go there please... you would imagine she had spent a ton of time at the club... NO more than 90 minutes on Thursday and Friday.....obviously - none on Saturday.
Friendliness -- A
Still the Disney Signature! everyone was great! the only surprise was the head server that never even said hi.... obviously we did not leave any tip to a phantom and said so on the tip form and feedback form... so I hope he got the message.
Palo server and Triton Lunch server were TERRIFIC! so friendly so nice! and our regular server team, could not have been more accommodating! Great Disney Service all around. Although never really saw the stateroom attendant until last night, he kept our place very nice!
Castaway Cay and other amenities -- A
Terrific!!! hands down the best stop!. we don't get off in Nassau any more...I kinda wish they would change the 3 nt stop every once in a while; but been at the rain forest spa was nice and the rasul bath was wonderful...better time than going to see the Atlantis aquarium wall for the Nth time.... Not ready to pay $160 pp for a water park.... I know is cool... but that is a $480 day for us.. and my DD is 4. May be when she remembers.
Value -- B
In December, I told my husband: I will save twice the time to go on a DCL half the opportunities we can go on any other cruise ship.... now I'm not so sure... The cabin was a Horrible disappointment! I work very hard, long hours and not been able to sleep is just the fastest way to tick me off and lose my loyalty. The Kids Club lack of effectiveness makes me question the entire concept. I have to mention we went on a 3nt NCL cruise and my daughter was every evening LOOKING FORWARD to the Kids Club.... something on the DCL concept doesn't appeal to her...
We are going on a RCCL cruise over New Year's. I've heard great things about their youth program and THEY DO HAVE WINDOWS in their kids room....That experience will dictate where my loyalty to DCL will lie.... if it is at least as good... why would I pay the 25%-40% premium for Disney??? We'll see....
I am a Die Hard Disney fan. I work in Customer Experience Management - They are the PARENTS of that concept!!! I love seeing how they create magic, and I know my bar is high - I expect the BEST from Disney! and that is why I am ok paying more! but if the gap starts narrowing, I am also very budget conscious and like to have my money's worth.... I hope the economic downturn doesn't take them astray of their roots: to provide the best service possible... On the food and Youth programs, I'm afraid they are falling short. On the cabin noise and location, I don't think this one should be sold at all....
I hope the new ships bring new and fresh air to the DCL ideas too .
