Serenade of the Seas Review

Unforgettable sights and friendly staff

Review for Alaska Cruise on Serenade of the Seas
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david jones
First Time Cruiser • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Jun 2009
Cabin: Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

We chose Royal Caribbean's 'Serenade of the Seas', sailing from Vancouver, as there was a special offer available. This avoided entering the USA at an airport, with all the associated infamous problems with US immigration staff. Having spoken to passengers from Princess, Celebrity and Holland America, in different ports of call, we could have had a better cruise for little or no extra cost. Almost certainly we would have had better value for money. Cabin size seemed small compared with what one would find for the same price on other lines. Sound proofing was fine and we didn't hear noise from our neighbours at all. We took a length of string so that we could wash our socks and knickers and hang them on our balcony to dry. Royal Caribbean always seemed to go for the cheap option: they use Ballantyne Pier (in the bonded commercial docks) rather than the newer, more stylish, centrally located and better Canada Place Cruise Terminal; at ports of call they berth out of town and leave early (presumably to save money again); they charge for things that other lines offer for free.

Our cruise price included a $50 per head on board credit. However, when we went to pay our bill, the pursers denied all knowledge of it saying, "Miami have no record of it. You'll have to sort it out with your travel agency on your return." This appears to be down to Royal Caribbean in the UK not communicating with Royal Caribbean HQ and was not the fault of staff in our travel agency.

Living in south Wales, we found it to be cheaper, and easier, to fly to Vancouver from Cardiff via Amsterdam than to travel all the way to a London airport with all the crowds, hassle and stress involved. The aeroplanes were comfortable and on time. Travel time, from leaving our house to touchdown in Vancouver, was less than it would have been had we flown from Heathrow.

Cabin Review

Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Cabin E1

Great balcony but a smaller cabin than I would have expected, certainly too small to swing a cat. The bathroom is all plastic surfaces. The shower cubicle is very small; if one drops a bar of soap or shampoo bottle there is barely enough room to bend down to pick it up .

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