We were leaving from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ, and after all that we had read online we were quite anxious. It was our 35th anniversary and we were taking our adult children who hadn't been on a cruise since they were little. Anxious wasn't the word....VERY WORRIED was what we actually were. Hadn't really read anything positive about either Voyager of the Seas OR Bayonne. Well guess what...EVERYTHING WE HAD READ ONLINE WAS WRONG!!!
First, we had been told (online) that we would not be allowed to board before 6:00...WRONG...(one man said he waited on line from 5:00 and didn't get to his room before 8:00)..we arrived at the pier at 4:00 and were in our room by 4:30....everything about the embarkment was orderly and speedy...maybe it just took them a while to get things going at Bayonne..but guess what...they're ready!
Now, for the rest of the ship, it was beautiful...we were told the food was fair to mediocre...we are a family of good eaters, and particular ones at that...we all found the food to be from good to better...and the service was excellent. Now, about the special restaurant onboard...Portofino's...yes, there is an additional charge of $20 per person....DEFINITELY WORTH EVERY CENT. We are from New York City and have been too many excellent restaurants....Le Cirque...Lutece...let me tell you, the six of us felt that Portofino's was possibly one of the BEST restaurants we have ever been to.....food was beyond excellent, and the service was such that we felt we had to speak to the head waiter to complement our waiter....the only word to use is incredible!! If possible, don't miss this wonderful place.