(*) - Video Clip on Yelp Mobile App. For my 25th Cruise (2nd with PCL), we cruised to Newport, RI, Boston, MA, Bar Harbor, ME, and Halifax, NS. We would have stopped in St. John, NB but due to hazardous cross winds, this was cancelled. Our time in Bar Harbor, ME was reduced due to a approaching storm that was dangerous for the tender (aka LIFEBOAT) boats. Safety 1st!
This beautiful ship has various bars ($), lounges, duty free shops (RIP-OFF), eateries (some $$), a "puff puff" room, a tiny nightclub (ZZZ), a tiny library (lol), an outdoor family pool area with a tiny adult section, a sports deck, a fitness gym, a spa ($$), and a quiet area that requires high payment for relaxing (BS). Our balcony room was small and a bit cramped with the fold-out bed from the top, but had FREE recent on-demand movies & nightly chocolates. There are formal nights on this ship.
The inclusive food qualities at the Buffet, dining room, tea times, and International Cafe ranged from ok to superior. The I-Cafe was the only spot that was open 24/7 and had light lunches & dinners, which was convenient for those coming back at later times on port days. The Pastry Shop was the FREE dessert section in the buffet that had various baked treats. Qualities for that ranged from ok to superior too.
I remember talking to my friend in SF about cruise ships messing up pizzas back in '13. Well, Alfredo's Pizzeria here (FREE) knows how to NOT mess up. Their pizzas were HOT, CRISPY, and PACKED WITH FLAVORFUL TOPPINGS. Those seeking a TASTY full meal can add a minestrone soup, a salad, & a tiramisu to their pizza.
In The Pastry Shop and Cafe, different choco treats were offered every day. Look for the "Choco Journey" ones as they tend to be richer in taste. Other treats ranged from ok to great. But the formal night choco treats in the dining rooms were the most richest and decadent ever. Don't ever miss out on that!
All of the hot tubs were outside with NO coverings. The indoor area had to be paid for (AMF!). On nice days, we were able to relax, unwind, and warm up in these blissful tubs with bubbles. On other days, we couldn't do that due to the cold air & rain. It would be nice if coverings were installed.
A water fountain show consisted of fountains and lights dancing to the beat of oldies, which was awesome. (*) The lighting effects and pyrotechnics in the shows were awesome too. The onboard pricing for specialty coffee and boozy drinks were low!! The White & Dark Choco mochas had great tastes and the boozy drinks weren't watered down. Because we were Gold members, we got a coupon for a free boozy drink of our choice. We also got to see the galley for FREE. Yay!
I had the pleasure to participate in the traditional champagne event. There, I poured champagne onto the mountain of glasses with the Maitre D. Not only was this a photo op moment, but also a highlight on the cruise DVD. FREE mimosas & choco truffles were also distributed at this event. Fun & yum!
There was a balloon drop "pop pop" event. Here, a cruise director motioned myself and a bunch of other people over to the floor. After 8 minutes of jamming to oldies hits, the balloons were released, & we all caught, tossed, & popped balloons. Some people even had their ears covered. Hilarious! (*)
There is a TV studio here, but it's quite misleading. Even though activities were held here, NONE of them (except for talk shows) are broadcasted on live shipboard TV. There was karaoke here, but I didn't sing at all since the audience was too old for me... The only thing notable here was watching the host's friend FORCIBLY grab an old lady & an old man onto the stage and make them dance while performing the "Get Up Off That Thing" song. WHOA NO...
They have a lame Laser Target system, which was just simply a projector, screen, laptop, and a laser shotgun where you had to shoot the screen. I got 2nd place out of 3 people. They have a SeaWalk (*), which is much smaller than what they hype. Not only do you see the sea when you look below, but also your neighbors too.
We had an issue with a loose pipe over our room during the overnight hours. It took us and the staff two nights to realize that the issue was coming from above. They put a lot of effort in fixing the issue, but noticed that the noise resumed as we pulled into Brooklyn. I thought about taking 2 stars, but 1 will be kept for the efforts and additional on-board credit as a punitive damage. (-1)
This cruise line caters to a much older crowd. If you're like me, a young cruiser, then you may not find a lot of people in your age group to socialize with. In fact, I didn't find any at all since there was just mostly people who were aged 40+. Hey, if you can't have fun, then just relax!
Overall, this ship is much better than the Anthem Of The Seas due to service, pricing, and food quality reasons. But you may go through a maze to get to certain areas. I also hope they find a permanent solution to the loose pipe problem. Bon voyage! read more