As a first time cruiser I didn't know what to expect. In the end I was pleasantly surprised.

When you arrive at the port you will be directed to the check-in area. Remember to have a pen on you because you will need to fill in a health form to hand over at check-in. The entire process went very smoothly and after a short wait you are asked to board. We immediately went to our cabin to drop off the hand luggage and have a look around. We ended up sitting at the Bali Hai bar overlooking the pool deck sipping our first free drink (as part of our cruise deal we got free flights, accommodation in Venice and the unlimited beverage package [UBP]). We had luckily picked the right spot. Not long after we were underway and sailing out of Venice the crew put on a welcome party and introduced themselves and from where we were sitting we were able to see everything. To make a long story short, we spent a lot of time at the Bali Hai bar and I can’t say enough good things about the staff who quickly learned what we preferred to drink and how often!

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