Summation of our 1st 7 day cruise (we did a 4 day last year):
2 adults, kids-16,15,14,10
Cat. 8 and 11
(sorry, starting out with a rant)
We pulled ino the port parking lot waiting area at 9:30(just like last year). It used to be very orderly-first come, first to cross the street. This time someone started to go without being told so it was a free for all. WE were scrambling to get back in the car and all these people lined up in front of us :
At 10:15 they let the line cross but we got boarding #3. There were about 100 people in front of us. I know this is still considered good but not what I wanted. (There's nothing like having the whole ship tp yourself for a little while!)
I thought I would be miserable without a verandah, but the 8 was great!
Teenagers wanted no part of the teen activities but had a great time doing their own things.
No one liked Key West. We wished it was a Castaway Cay stop instead. We saw some historical sights and had a cheeseburger in " paradise." The kids were begging to return to the ship. I was unhappy because the Kino sandal factory was CLOSED! I learned from the boards it was open on Sunday but it was NOT. I got our friends all excited to go and felt foolish that I had talked it up so much. NO sandals for us.
Grand Cayman was great. We rented a car from Avis and drove to Rum Point. It rained heavily the whole way but we had a great 1/2 day there. We were the first ones there. Other people showed up and were freaked out that a Disney excursion was coming. DH got the sunburn of his life while snorkeling, but he saw some great fish. When the excursion came, only about 25 people came to the beach. Another 15 took a boat directly to Sting Ray City. So it was no big deal. Not crowded at all.
Cozumel was great too. Tendering on a 600 person boat was tedious but okay. It took forever. We tendered to what was left of the Punta Langosta Pier. Even though there was hurricane damage you didnt see that much of it in the city. We planned to go to Paradise Beach but because of DH sunburn just toured the city and ate some Mexican food at Palmeras. Expensive! The mariachis played for us in the open air restaurant and we had tacos and chips, salsa,and quacamole which were wonderful.
We sent our friends to Paradise Beach and they LOVED it! They thanked us and said it was awesome! Im really sorry we didnt go. Taxi for them was $15 there and $20 back (5-people). Taxi driver was great!
We met up and played mini-golf. It was so hot but a lot of fun! The owner was not there but had two helpers who took care uf us. We had beers delivered to us by walkie talkie. The course was great and easy to find. After we were done they gave us cold towels to cool off. Very friendly.
Then we walked around and shopped at $1 store. The kids bought some cheap souvenirs and we were all happy. The people were all friendly. I was worried the vendors would be pushy and make us uncomfortable, but that was not the case .they were polite and tried to get you in the store but we just smiled and walked past. We want to come here again. We really loved the town!
Castaway Cay was heavenly. We brought our own floats and there was CM at the store that had a pump to blow them all up for us. That was awesome!!! There were 2 for 1 drinks at about 2:30. only one kind but still, I love a deal! DH and kids did the banana boat. The water was very rough (some parasailing was cancelled because of wind)because we were on the verge of a storm but the ride was lame . only the 10- year old liked it. They think it went slow because a girl kept tipping over. We played a lot in the Grouper Pavilion, had a great lunch and stayed on the island till the last tram. We were the last ones back on the ship.
I was very disappointed in our food server. I found him arrogant and rude. On our last cruise our server was wonderful and we missed her terribly. The food was fantastic.
We had breakfast every morning at Topsiders and ate ouside on the back deck. I think that is our favorite thing to do of all!
We went to Palo brunch on Key West day. I couldnt get a ressie online but it was no problem when we boarded. We loved it. They did send several men back to their staterooms to put on dress slacks. DH had on dress shorts, belt, dress shirt with collar and topsiders and they made him change. The women, many of whom were not dressed appropriately, were NOT asked to change.
Our cabin steward . Im not really sure who it was. There seemed to be several. Our service was inconsistent but it didnt matter. They were all friendly when I saw them in the hallway.
I am not big on the shows. The girls went to all of them and loved them. The boys like the ventriloquist and the juggler.
We didnt do the pirate party. We dont find that fun. We did go up to see the fireworks.
The adult pool was the best! The kids wished they had a great pool like that. The family pool was always mobbed and murky.
Loved the Dumbo Screen at the pool. Loved the movie theater. Saw premier of Cars, saw Glory Road and watched Pride and Prejudice in the room.
FYI- our friends cell phone and charger were accidentally taken/stolen from their stateroom. It was a Razr phone. They said the head of security was very patronizing. Never got the phone back.
Hope this doesnt sound like a negative report. We absolutely had a great time and cant wait to go again someday. The ship is beautiful and it was a wonderful vacation!
2 adults, kids-16,15,14,10
Cat. 8 and 11
(sorry, starting out with a rant)
We pulled ino the port parking lot waiting area at 9:30(just like last year). It used to be very orderly-first come, first to cross the street. This time someone started to go without being told so it was a free for all. WE were scrambling to get back in the car and all these people lined up in front of us :
At 10:15 they let the line cross but we got boarding #3. There were about 100 people in front of us. I know this is still considered good but not what I wanted. (There's nothing like having the whole ship tp yourself for a little while!) I thought I would be miserable without a verandah, but the 8 was great!
Teenagers wanted no part of the teen activities but had a great time doing their own things.
No one liked Key West. We wished it was a Castaway Cay stop instead. We saw some historical sights and had a cheeseburger in " paradise." The kids were begging to return to the ship. I was unhappy because the Kino sandal factory was CLOSED! I learned from the boards it was open on Sunday but it was NOT. I got our friends all excited to go and felt foolish that I had talked it up so much. NO sandals for us.
Grand Cayman was great. We rented a car from Avis and drove to Rum Point. It rained heavily the whole way but we had a great 1/2 day there. We were the first ones there. Other people showed up and were freaked out that a Disney excursion was coming. DH got the sunburn of his life while snorkeling, but he saw some great fish. When the excursion came, only about 25 people came to the beach. Another 15 took a boat directly to Sting Ray City. So it was no big deal. Not crowded at all.
Cozumel was great too. Tendering on a 600 person boat was tedious but okay. It took forever. We tendered to what was left of the Punta Langosta Pier. Even though there was hurricane damage you didnt see that much of it in the city. We planned to go to Paradise Beach but because of DH sunburn just toured the city and ate some Mexican food at Palmeras. Expensive! The mariachis played for us in the open air restaurant and we had tacos and chips, salsa,and quacamole which were wonderful.
We sent our friends to Paradise Beach and they LOVED it! They thanked us and said it was awesome! Im really sorry we didnt go. Taxi for them was $15 there and $20 back (5-people). Taxi driver was great!
We met up and played mini-golf. It was so hot but a lot of fun! The owner was not there but had two helpers who took care uf us. We had beers delivered to us by walkie talkie. The course was great and easy to find. After we were done they gave us cold towels to cool off. Very friendly.
Then we walked around and shopped at $1 store. The kids bought some cheap souvenirs and we were all happy. The people were all friendly. I was worried the vendors would be pushy and make us uncomfortable, but that was not the case .they were polite and tried to get you in the store but we just smiled and walked past. We want to come here again. We really loved the town!
Castaway Cay was heavenly. We brought our own floats and there was CM at the store that had a pump to blow them all up for us. That was awesome!!! There were 2 for 1 drinks at about 2:30. only one kind but still, I love a deal! DH and kids did the banana boat. The water was very rough (some parasailing was cancelled because of wind)because we were on the verge of a storm but the ride was lame . only the 10- year old liked it. They think it went slow because a girl kept tipping over. We played a lot in the Grouper Pavilion, had a great lunch and stayed on the island till the last tram. We were the last ones back on the ship.
I was very disappointed in our food server. I found him arrogant and rude. On our last cruise our server was wonderful and we missed her terribly. The food was fantastic.
We had breakfast every morning at Topsiders and ate ouside on the back deck. I think that is our favorite thing to do of all!
We went to Palo brunch on Key West day. I couldnt get a ressie online but it was no problem when we boarded. We loved it. They did send several men back to their staterooms to put on dress slacks. DH had on dress shorts, belt, dress shirt with collar and topsiders and they made him change. The women, many of whom were not dressed appropriately, were NOT asked to change.
Our cabin steward . Im not really sure who it was. There seemed to be several. Our service was inconsistent but it didnt matter. They were all friendly when I saw them in the hallway.
I am not big on the shows. The girls went to all of them and loved them. The boys like the ventriloquist and the juggler.
We didnt do the pirate party. We dont find that fun. We did go up to see the fireworks.
The adult pool was the best! The kids wished they had a great pool like that. The family pool was always mobbed and murky.
Loved the Dumbo Screen at the pool. Loved the movie theater. Saw premier of Cars, saw Glory Road and watched Pride and Prejudice in the room.
FYI- our friends cell phone and charger were accidentally taken/stolen from their stateroom. It was a Razr phone. They said the head of security was very patronizing. Never got the phone back.
Hope this doesnt sound like a negative report. We absolutely had a great time and cant wait to go again someday. The ship is beautiful and it was a wonderful vacation!
