We just got off the Serenade on 2/7/15 in New Orleans from traveling to the Western Caribbean. The cruise was great. We were very happy with the ship, the service, the food and the shows. Check-in was very easy because we didn't get to the ship until 3:30, nobody in line. RC did a great job moving us through. It was a breeze. With that we were able to take our luggage straight to our room and unpack without waiting for our clothes to arrive. It was much different with the ship traveling through the Mississippi River. I never realized it would take 7-8 hours before you reach the gulf. Seeing land and then oil rigs at night is pretty cool if you never have seen them. The staff was great throughout the ship. There always seamed to be plenty to do. Typical stuff by the pool. The shows were very good. A juggling comic, a standup comic had great laughs. RC's own shows were a little corny but entertaining. We would not recommend the Mystery dinner. It was very disappointing for a couple reasons. 1st. The show was lame, we expected maybe something like the game clue, it was nothing like it. There was a skit, a little more acting, ask questions of the actors and the finale. In between, you had great service, great food, drink and company. The second disappointment was that we were in Giovannies Italian Restaurant. Our meal choice was steak or seafood. We expected a choice of italian food, our bad, where it was never mentioned in the outline of dinner. RC did a good job with the excursions, getting off was quick and easy.

My biggest complaint on entertainment would be the music that was being played by the pool and in the disco. It always seemed to be the same. The live music was fine. When you go to a place that has a DJ, most dj's talk it up and get people pumped. Not this guy. He would put on a series of songs and then spend time talking to people. Maybe that is what they want but overall it was boring.

They had a young Australian, Zach Coombs playing guitar, he was excellent. We were not keen on the piano bar player. There is a nice Pub for karaoke and Coombs. The downfall to this Pub is, it's next to the crowded, smokey Casino. Unless you go up or down a floor, you have to walk thru the Casino to get to the Pub or that part of the Tropical Theater. If you are a non smoked it's quite gross. Read more