We just returned from our trip on the Poesia. When we arrived at the dock we were in a line 4 or 5 deep, that stretched across the parking lot to the next cruise line's offices. When we finally made it inside the building, we were herded to assigned seats to fill out a very silly health questionnaire. Who is going to put down that they don't feel well when they have spent the money and time to fly across the country to get on the ship. Most of the cruise line people in the cattle pin area were rude. Eventually I made it to the customs lady who was wonderful and funny and smiled a lot. She was a ray of sunshine after what we had been through.

Finally we were on board. I thought things would pick up. About 20 minutes after boarding, Katrina started yelling at us for about 15 minutes on the overhead speaker to go for the evacuation drill. It felt like I had either joined the army or been sent to prison. I understand we were so late in boarding, because the DEA with their dogs, met the boat on arrival and arrested about 40 people on the Jazz Cruise. I guess the staff decided to call the DEA.

The buffet was a real line experience. There were never enough coffee machines, but the coffee was good. The only juice we ever saw was at breakfast. You would think they could have had watered down lemonade available all day long for health reasons if nothing else. There were times when the water machines did not work. The food was basic casino buffet, except for the deserts. They looked beautiful and had absolutely no flavor. Day after day they all tasted like bland pudding. I do not know how they did it. The good part is I did not have to worry about gaining weight. The dinners were OK and we could order a great many things. They really need a chef who knows how to buy and cook a good steak. My husband was one of the people who got violently ill for about 24hrs right before we returned to Florida. Read more