This review is actually for 3 B2B cruises on Serenade of the Seas (Aug 13 - Sep 13), Baltic, Norway, and 16 day TA (stops in Norway and Iceland). We had been on Serenade before, and although it isn't our favorite ship, we chose it for the itineraries. Anyone doing B2B cruises should be aware that you get repeated menus and entertainment. Embarking in Copenhagen started off with RC not being able to find our reservation. We had to wait quite awhile as they researched it, had to print our seapass cards, etc, etc. Got on board and our seapass didn't work at all. And then our internet code wasn't valid. We are Diamond members and none of our benefits were loaded on our seapass card. So after several trips to Guest Services (long lines!), we finally got settled. My husband likes everything in order before he can relax.

We thought that MOST of the public areas of the ship were quite clean except all the windows were very dirty. I realize you can't keep the outside clean when sailing, but this dirt was on the inside. Park Café needed a good cleaning, there was always food on the floor and window sills. In our cabin, the sofa was old and soiled. Cabinetry was well worn, balcony dirty. There's good storage, but hangars are too wide for the closet, and the hangars have to hang at an angle. As for the staff, we liked the cruise director and activities staff. They worked very hard. Our room attendant was the worst we have ever had. I could write a long review on just our encounters with her. We had to ask for soap, tissues, two washcloths, ice, and robes. She gave us those things begrudgingly, or so it seemed to me. I asked if there was additional padding for the bed, and she rolled up our mattress pad, put the entire thing under my side of the bed (hubby had no mattress pad under his sheet), and then she laid pillows on top of that, and then the sheet over that. My side was at least a foot higher than his. I thought it was a "snotty" response to a simple request. She never introduced herself, never called us by name until the 28th day, always unhappy, complained of back pain and being tired. I avoided her as much as possible; she just made me feel uncomfortable.

The shops were constantly having those "junk" sales. And they had tables set up in the small hallways outside the shops, which was a terrible bottle-neck when everyone was trying to get to the theater. You just could not get through. So annoying. Read more