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This was our very first cruise. We booked last minute, so cabin choice was limited. We chose a short trip to see if we liked it. Although there was quite a lot of info presented, we still had questions which we were constantly asking our tablemates and the ship’s crew. The crew was the most friendly group of people you could meet. Everyone was happy to help and never once bothered us about expecting a tip.
Stateroom 5002: This room does not allow the twin beds to be pushed together, so we each had our own twin bed in an “L” shape. This allowed for more free space to move around. The bath was OK size, with the shower a bit tight for my 6 foot tall husband. We had an oval window which gave plenty of light and made the room feel larger. Things were a bit dated, but everything was very clean. The closet space was good for this short cruise. The first night out was casual dining, the second night formal, and the third casual. The food was OK, with nothing really standing out. We ate in our dining room and the Windjammer, which is the buffet. Did not care much for the breakfast buffet, or for the pizza they served. There was plenty of food, and we were never hungry. I generally drink lemonade and my husband ice tea, so we did not buy the soda package. We had drinks in several of the lounges and they were very good and reasonably priced. Everything includes the tip, so no need to give extra. We also chose to tip in cash at the end, and not to have the tip package charged to our credit card.
The only complaints I have are (1) we could not stop at Cococay due to the weather and (2) the somewhat “pushy” attitude of the spa staff. We appreciated that the captain had our safety in mind when canceling the stop at Cococay, and he was very professional in announcing the change. Extra activities were scheduled to keep people busy during the extra sea day. Many people booked a spa visit, as did we. I had a very nice pedicure, but was constantly being “sold” products. My husband had a neck and shoulder massage which was more of a body rub, and they also tried to sell multiple products to him at very expensive prices. So, I do not recommend the spa at all. There was also plenty of onboard shopping so be prepared. The photographers were constantly taking your picture, which you can then purchase at the end of the trip. We did buy two photos, but the prices were a bit high.
We will take another cruise, maybe a bit longer, with a larger cabin. Being cooped up for that one day at sea really illustrated what we would not enjoy about a very long cruise. People were everywhere hanging around because it was too cold and windy to be outside. I like to have quiet time alone and that was hard to find.
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