This is a nice cruise, my first..I did not stay on the island, wish I had..the biggest flaw is the debate of needing to go to welcome center in ft lauderdale..I was told that I didnt need to because I didn't purchase the package to stay on the island..then I was I did..was very confused..I made the decision to fly into west palm beach, and not to go to ft lauderdale...I talked to Joanne at the welcome center and told I was not going to ft lauderdale..she told me I could get my boarding passes on the ship by attending a meeting about a travel club..which I did..BUT:..I didnt get a boarding pass, never saw one, and when I checked in, they didnt ask for one..they want id and credit card..so the mystery is solved..its a gimmick to make u think you have to go to ft lauderdale, and its a time share sales pitch!...The ship was nice, entertainment not bad, the food I was disappointed in..seemed to be cafeteria style food..the grill closed on me while standing in line..after not eating all day when I was on the island..I enjoyed the Hollywood brats band at the casino..very good!..The highlight of my trip was the excursion, the dolphin encounter..it was awesome..its pricey at &125 each..but for me it was worth it..( it rained on us the whole trip, so unable to swim on ship) Read Less

I know a lot of people say this cruise is a scam, but I don't think it is the actual cruise line that scams people, I think it is the private contractor's that book these cruises. We impulsively bought a "great deal" from Holiday Cruise Line that turned out to be working on behalf of a time share company (RCI/Wydham). We ended up spending significantly more money on this "great deal" and it was a nightmare to book. Luckily, aside from the hotel that they booked us at in Orlando (Park Inn by Radisson - don't ever stay here) most of the trip was a lot of fun. Aside from the extra fees that we paid to take this cruise ($82.59 for a beverage package - 10 drink tickets, $116.82 for 3 people to eat at the specialty restaurant - Admiralty Club and $115.80 for gratuity and taxes/port fees), we really had a great time. The entertainment was great and we had a lot of fun playing Name That Tune with the piano player at the martini bar. We also enjoyed playing board games which they had a nice variety to choose from in the lounge next to the martini bar. The main pool was being painted while we were there, so that was kind of a bummer. It was not easy to find a lounge chair either since it was Spring Break and the ship was full of people. The food was decent and they have top shelf liquors to choose from which was nice. I also managed to find a good glass of wine. One thing I want to mention is that dinner we had in the main dining room that you do not have to pay extra for was actually better than the meal we had at the specialty restaurant. Don't waste your money. One more thing - the Belgian waffles at the Buffet were probably the best Belgian waffles I have ever had. Seriously good! We really enjoyed the evening entertainment and I was very impressed with the theatre! It was super nice! They do a really nice job of taking care of this ship. It is very clean and the furniture is in good shape. We had no issues with customer service. Boarding the ship in Port of Palm was fairly painless, it didn't take too long. Boarding the ship in the Bahamas was a little concerning - they could not find our reservation! The reservation attendant had to go on to the ship and it took a half hour or so before he returned and told us he got it straightened out. Luckily it all worked out, except that our room was in the front of the ship on the way back and the vibration from the engine woke us up very early. Definitely will make sure we don't get a room in the front of a ship again! Getting off the ship once we returned to Port of Palm was kind of crazy. We ended up waiting until about 11:00 am until almost everyone was off the ship before we attempted to leave. Once we got off the ship we had to wait for a Valet to retrieve our car which took some time. We had to pay $19.00/day to Valet Park at Port of Palm - Valet parking is not an option, it is a requirement. I would recommend making sure if you are flying out the same day you return to book an afternoon flight and plan on relaxing on the ship until the very last minute. Trying to beat the crowds off of that ship and standing in line for a long time is not a fun way to end your vacation... Read Less

We fell for the a timeshare gig giving us a few days in Ft. Lauderdale, a few days of cruising and a few days at Light House Point in Ft. Lacia. This cruise boat took us too and from the Bahamas and was adequate. For our family of 5 with 2 teens and 1 - 9 year old there was very little to do, other than the typical ping pong and bags tossing. The teen club consisted of pay for play video/arcade games. The pools were clean, but very small. There was a play area that included a shallow pool for toddler, although they advertise for kids less than age 12. I'd say less than age 6 myself. Adult activities were ok if you like to casinos. Some entertainment out by the main pool each afternoon while folks are boarding and the boat is departing. Evening shows were short, but average I'd say. The comedian was fabulous!! Wish there was a 2 hour show just with him! The music was SOOOO loud we could no understand our waitress when we arrived as well as the language barrier we wound up with instead of 1 beer, a whole bucket of beer. With drinks for each of us and the bucket of beer along with the service up charge our first round of drinks totaled $97.94. Just crazy!! Very expensive drinks both alcohol and others, won't allow you to bring your own. Lots of extra fees and are PER PERSON (we had 5) - Cruise terminal fee of $1, Wait staff service fee $25.90, in addition to the 18% service fee/upcharge for each of any thing we purchased on the boat which were just drinks for us, fuel surcharge $9, "Shore excursions" or the transportation to/from the boat from our resort, valet parking at the terminal was $18 per day. I do have to say the ocean view rooms were basic but very clean and nice. The shower had great water pressure and was very relaxing. We booked 2 rooms as they had no rooms to accommodate the 5 of us. I booked this package back in August of 2016 and was told I was one of the first to do so. I requested a higher floor in the center of the boat with side by side or across the hallway from each other as one was for the kids and one was for us. When we checked in were were 2 floors apart and they would not change it for us. That was very upsetting to me as it was promised when I booked the trip. I wanted to be close to our teens. Our 9 year old daughter really enjoyed her kids club, spent about 3-4 hours there each trip. Overall, a smaller outdated boat. Food was fair at best at the buffet. Juice, tea and water was included in all inclusive only. Few family/teen activities. We would not book this cruise line again. Read Less

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We had a great time, we weren't expecting a 5 star experience as in the bigger ships. The food was good, the entertainment was decent and the rooms were actually great. They were much bigger than in the cruise we've been on in the past. It was a quick getaway and it truly exceeded our expectations. For the price we would Definitely recommend and we'll cruise with them again in the future. I can say that they were much more coordinated than in our experience. The boarding and un-boarding was quite simple. They provide parking for 18/ per day which I thought was pretty average. The alcohol packages aren't great, but not too terrible either. The only thing I would say they could improve on would be on their kids programs. Our son wasn't very thrilled about their programs, but I wasn't expecting Disney either. We went on a quick family vacation and our expectations were exceeded. If you're looking for a 5 start retreat pay for that. This isn't what you're going to experience here, but if you're looking for a quick fun getaway book your cruise and make the best of it. We DID! Read Less

The cruise itself was amazing. The offshore excusion was the jeep tour. They were terrible! Not prepared, not enough water for the 107 degree weather. Bad breaks and one jeep ran into the back of another one. One jeep broke down! We had to squeeze the passengers into the other jeeps. Not happy for $139.00 each! But the cruise was great. Staff was very friendly. We got fresh towels 2 times a day! Beds were made 2 times a day. My cabin mate ordered the birthday surprise to set up in my room. Banners, signs, balloons, cake and chocolate covered strawberries in the room when we arrived. So nice! They always announced the activities to keep us informed. Bingo never had a big winner though hummmm. The shows were just ok. The art was very nice but not in my budget. The spa was very pricey. Too bad because i really wanted a message. The food was pretty good. I didn't make it to the white party, but was told it was lame. The worst on the ship though was the wifi. Overpriced and didn't work 50% of the time. It was very frustrating, but he did refund 50% back to us. Read Less

When someone calls and uses the word “free” just hang up the phone! We received a “free” cruise for doing a phone interview. I knew that I would have to pay port fees but everything else was a lie! Lie after lie and fee after fee! We stayed at the Ramada for two nights as part of the package with three free meals. Again, there is that word “free.” The food was horrible and we had to pay a tax on top! We also had to pay a tax for the two-night stay. The morning of the cruise, we had to go to a “2-hour” tour about the time share. Ok, I have been to one these before and NEVER had so much trouble!! After MUCH complaining, we were able to get out of there with our cruise vouchers after 2hr and 45 min! Most people we talked to didn’t get out until 3-5 hours!!! I don’t know how that are allowed to treat people that way. The boarding of the ship began at 12pm. The port was an hour away, which we were never told and they were going to charge us $30 each to take their shuttle!! There was only one shuttle and it didn’t leave until 2:30pm! Had we waited for the shuttle, we would have missed half a day on the ship and lunch! We ended up riding with someone that had a car. Plus, some woman had the audacity to tell us that we wouldn’t be able to board anyway until at least 4pm because of the lines. We had our passports and didn’t have to wait more than about 30 minutes to board! Once on board, it was decent and the staff was very friendly. That was a breath of fresh air from how we were treated prior to boarding the cruise ship. My husband and I were getting away for a short trip for our 15-year anniversary. I was only able to finally relax once we finally got on board the ship. What a joke! By the time we paid all of the fees and travel costs, we probably paid full price for the 2-night cruise! Nothing “free” is worth it! Read Less

We chose this cruise as a graduation celebration for my daughter and niece. The cruise was part of a cruise and stay vacation in Freeport, Bahamas at the Grand Lucayan Resort. We stayed at the resort in Freeport for a couple of nights. The ship is an older ship but it was perfect for our trip. Because we had passports, we did not have a long wait for either disembarking or embarking. The staff on the ship was really great and we enjoyed the entertainment. My daughter even won $640 in BINGO. I would suggest this cruise for those cruising for the first time, those who want to travel for a lower costs, and those who like to have a really good time. There was plenty of fun even though the ship does not have the modern luxuries of the newer cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean. I would suggest upgrading your dining, the food is just average for the buffet. I have made a promise to myself to take this same trip next summer. I had so much fun!!! Read Less

Chose this because we were traveling with our parents. It was their first cruise, so we thought a short one would be suffice. We had cruised to Nassau before and were hopeful that Freeport would be just as awesome. The ship itself was dated. The rooms were a nice size. The food was ok, but seemed limited. Shows were average and the clubs were nice. The most disappointing part of the trip was Freeport. Not as exciting as Nassua. While the driver tried to impress, there really wasn't much to see and the history of the young island is limited. It is necessary to take a taxi to "civilization" where the beaches and shopping district are. Getting off of the ship was a chore. Long lines at customs made for a 2 hour wait, however, valet was pretty quick. Not a phenomenal experience, but you get what you pay for. Good trip for a weekend getaway. Staff was friendly and worked hard to please! Read Less

This was the only cruise I have ever been on. Everything was mess. We were told that we could check in at 10am, board the ship at noon, rooms at 2pm and that our luggage would be waiting for us in our rooms. 10am check in- the lady was very slow and made several remarks about how she hated her job. Boarding the ship- it was almost 1pm before we could board the ship 2pm room check in- got to our room, there was no luggage. We were told that we would have our luggage by 5pm. I actually went and found my own luggage and took it back to the room. We came in from KY and were not dressed for the higher temps. Room- the room was not clean, there was trash under the bed and brown/reddish stains on the bathroom wall. Staff- the staff was very rude. On several occasions, the staff was so rude and spoke very little english. Food was not good at all and was served only at certain times, anything outside of the set times was for an extra charge. All entertainment you had to purchase tickets. Terrible experience. The excursion was worth the money, around $100 for a snorkel/kayak adventure. Read Less

My husband and I consider ourselves seasoned cruisers and received this cruise as a Christmas gift. We had never heard of this cruise ship and was somewhat uncertain as to what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised! The larger cruise lines could take a page out of their book when it comes to embarkation and disembarkation - they did a fabulous job. The food could use some improvement was wasn't as bad as I have read in some of the reviews. The waiters in the main dining room were not as accommodating when it came to requesting changes in the menus - so we opted for dinner meals elsewhere on the ship. The entertainment was fun as the cruise director was a hoot! I didn't care for the comedian and I'm about sick of BINGO (that all cruise lines have) but overall I think he did a great job. the weather in the Bahamas was windy, rainy and dreary - so we stayed on the ship. This was fine with me as we have visited Freeport several times in the past. All in all this is a great deal for the price and a even greater adventure for first time cruisers. I would like to see them pay a little more attention to the Encore Lounge area as there was an odor in that area. I am not certain if it was poor air circulation or if the carpeting needed refreshing. To the cruise director - please continue to seek out new entertainment - and let that be that be the main reason people want to cruise with this cruise ship. I think you're doing a great job but folks are tired of BINGO...By the way the band in the Encore lounge was awesome and enjoyable! My family and I are thinking of taking this cruise for New Years Eve. We met the senior couple who are longtime cruisers on this particular cruise and they talked us into joining them and their family for New Years Eve. I can't remember their names but I will not forget their warmth, kindness, and wonderful memories they shared about their cruises with this cruise ship. Where there is definitely room for improvement - overall - GOOD JOB! Read Less

The ship was surprisingly clean and nice, cabins were bigger and nicer than my previous Cruise on Carnival. The food was ok, the crew was friendly but not very knowledgable (different answers on where to pick up alcohol, where we can use $50 ship credit etc ) The entertainment was strange, music and dance was geared toward the Latin crowd but the shows were aimed towards the older crowd ( 60-70+ ). My wife and I are 33 and 35 and we were very bored with both shows Heres Johnny and the other I cant recall the name of. The newlywed game was fun and the adult comedy was fantastic, although 11.50$ a person is a bit high. I will say i wont go back on this ship unless im staying in the Bahamas, 2 day cruise is way too short for all the hassle Read Less

So as first timers my partner and I had a splendid experience on board! The staff was pleasant and understanding. The rooms were better than anticipated, bathrooms great size. The ship was older but in great condition and SUPER clean. I could eat off The floors! As for the food, you can never go hungry, even at 1a.m after The club or casino lol. There is also a couple of restaurants to choose from! Over all the cost was affordable for what my partner and got out of it! We didn't have any high standards or expectations and we just wanted a get away and this was exactly what we got with the Grand Celebration! I would definitely recommend this ship for families who wanna get away for cheap money for a high quality vacationing experience. And the captain didn't rock the boat at all, steady sailing to and from the Bahamas! Read Less

I must say, the cruise was excellent for the price. The food was ok it wasn't anything to run home and brag about but it was good/edible. This is the first cruise I have had to pay for the adult comedy show but 11.00 a person we throw that away in the couch. The clubs etc. we're good open late nights. I upgraded our cabin once we arrived at the port...man it was a huge difference in cost from what I would have paid online. So upgrade once you get there. The suite we stayed in had a walk in closet, whirlpool, two Tvs, pull out full size couch, King size bed, and 110 volts cabin v4. I would recommend this ship to anyone needing an quick inexpensive getaway. Find yourself an excursion, you would thank me later. Our room attendant was excellent. We couldn't have asked for a better person. All I could remember is his name starts with a "D". He cater to our every need. The pillows were always fluffed, bed was pulled back. I can't say enough about him. Read Less

I read soooo many reviews prior to booking and I was def on edge upon arriving but I must say I DID NOT ENCOUNTER half of the disasters i read. We traveled on a Saturday and came back Monday. Port of Palm Beach There were no long lines or long waits (we arrived around 4:30 pm) I pulled up got my belongings out the trunk, paid the 17$ per night for valet parking ( i read they accept cards and the gentlemen who approached us said cash only, so be prepared just in case) went thru security up to the check in (it's an advantage having the paper work completed prior to arrival) after documents were seen and key cards were given we went to the other side where u can take a welcome picture, book excursions, make reservations, and buy drink packages. I was not forced or pushed into buying anything, as a matter of fact we took our pic stopped to get a excursion paper and by passed everyone else and made our way on the ship. SHIP We went to the shore excursion booking desk to find out the prices on the one we were interested in, we may have waited maybe 5 minutes, I can say the jeep excursions was waaaayyy overpriced ($93 bucks per person) so we declined any excursions and decided we would just take a taxi out. We then decided to drop our luggage off and check out our rooms, we were on the floor E for Equinox, the room was very nice, nice size for the two of us, We never cruised before so we had nothing to compare it too but we did hear the horror stories of a small room, it was an ocean view and VERY VERY COLD, so we had no A/C complaints, as a matter of fact at night it got really cold and we did not see a thermostat to adjust so we just dealt with the extra blankets and each other to stay warmer :) we ran into our room keeper, i cant remember his name but he was very nice and always greeted us with a smile, we were promised a bottle of champaign because we were celebrating a anniversary, which was not in the room upon arrival, but i checked with customer service who got it delivered right away with no problem. we pretty much just tried to familiarize ourselves with the boat, we visited many of the rooms to see what they had to offer, i still cant remember the decks by hard, my bf was a master at it though :) We watched some activities that were going on and ate some hot dogs, hamburgers and fries. Listen out for the announcements they let u know whats going on and where, if u r a drinker they keep u informed of the drink specials as well :) We ate in the stellar room, i did not like being seated with strangers but hey it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be, i had the salmon and veggies and the Jamaican jerk pork, i loved the salmon better the other dish was ok, i loved the cheesecake but i didn't like the desert choices the second night. we went to the regal room i think it was called and watched the show they offered at 7 but we didn't care for it much, so we didn't stay the entire time. That evening we went to the room with the saxaphone player and singer and I truly enjoyed there session and the songs they were playing was the bomb.com we visited a club also there music choices were good as well. the breakfast leftovers (we arrived around 10 am, so get their earlier for better variety) was not as good but we were ok with just putting something in our stomachs before getting off to see the island. I did experience a bit of sea sick the first night but i went to the customer service desk and got the complimentary pills. ISLAND We got off the boat and waiting on a taxi round trip for two of us was $20, WAY BETTER THAN $93. we were taken to Lucaya marketplace, where we picked up a few souvenirs(i can see where the shop owners can become a pest but I think of it as its there job and they are trying to make a living) we got some fresh conch lobster and conch salad which was very good and very cheap we then got a pina colada drink fixed inside a coconut, we visited there casino(which didn't have much a/c but we won $7 bucks off $1,cant complain) we also visited there beach but we didn't stay too long because it was very hot,we arrived back to the boat by 3:30 pm and was met by NO LINES.... We then went to freshen up ate dinner again in the stellar room, caught a free comedy show,hung out in a club then called it a night, We were up and ready by 8:30 AM many others thought like us,the earlier the better,we did have to wait but it was not nearly as long as the reviews i read, i can say the time consuming part was arrival back to the port and waiting on customs, ITS TRUE THE PASSPORT LINE GOES FASTER,and waiting on valet to bring the car. All in all I enjoyed our brief vacation and for the price i really cant complain, i recommend going yourself and experience it rather than going by what others say, i def didn't regret this Groupon purchase and next time we want to take the kids Read Less

This was my first time on a cruise and I ignored all the bad reviews when I wish I had listened! I have heard many people talk about other cruise lines where the food is great and you can eat any time. That wasn't the case here. The best food came out at 11pm, where you can have onion rings, chicken tenders, tacos. The food during the day is not very good. They only have four places you can eat, The Ocean Breeze Buffet, The Admirality Club, ($20 extra) The Stellar Prime and the Pico Bar. There is no 24 hour restaurant on the boat. The Ocean Breeze, which stays open the latest, closes at 2am. However, you can't eat because the crew is standing over the food or trying to sell you drinks! The only entertainment is a show at 9:45pm, filled with people trying very hard to pull you into liking their presentations, pay a halfway funny comedian an extra $13 bucks or karaoke by the pool. Last I hope they get rid of the woman that works with Customer Service on deck 5! Despite her rudeness, she practically laughed at us after we left the desk to enquire about the $50 credit they decided not to give us. Do yourselves a favor and save for a bigger name cruise line where you can really enjoy yourself! Read Less

We enjoyed our first cruise with this cruise line. A boarding the cruise was pretty quick. Had to wait until after 2 pm to check in the cabin. The cabin was very clean as we got housekeeping service twice a day. The staff was very friendly. The Buffett for breakfast, lunch & dinner was great. The dining service was ok, was we preferred the Buffett. The casino was very small. There were some cool shows and activities on the cruise. We saw a lot of couples from all age ranges. There were a handful of kids. The grand Bahamas was ok. It want as lavish as we expected to be. The grand lucayan looks like its in the middle of the hood lol. The beach was pretty and people were nice. Overall the cruise was great and would recommend for first timers. We enjoyed karaoke night for sure. That was so much fun. I wish there was more entertainment but we can't complain. We participate in karaoke, friendly feud, & corn whole. Service was great with friendly staff!!! Read Less

This was my first cruise on a ship from Florida. This ship is a lot larger than their previous ship. The ship's cabins are modern and very clean. They have lots and lots of framed artwork along the walls on each of the passenger decks. The entertainment in the Encore Lounge knows how to get the party started. This band can play anything...and does it well!! The staff are very, very nice. The buffet serves food from the time you board, and until you return to West Palm Beach. The food was delicious, especially in the Stellar Prime restaurant. My kids are grow, but they have three different venues for kids of all ages to have fun. They have a venue with computers that guests can use, and it also has board games for guests to play, such as checkers, chess, and more. I did not have time to visit the Spa, but it was very, very upscale and offered a lot of services. It has a very nice and CLEAN fitness center. I would definitely sail on this cruise ship again, and bring my family and friends with me. Read Less

We were tricked into going to a mandatory time share meeting before we were allowed to get our tickets to the ship. This took up the better part of a day. We were not aware that this was required. Every upgrade we were offered, such as the hotels, meal plans, etc) was a waste of money. The kids had very little to do & pool did not stay open very late. This was a party ship, no doubt, but there should have been more accommodations other than bar-like atmospheres, where the drinks are watered down (very little alcohol) & over priced. We would have been better off flying straight into the Bahamas. This ship was nothing more than a ferry. Read Less

We love to cruise and was told NCL was great. WRONG!!! We took the sky on march 30th April 3rd 2015. First we went for our older children's birthday was told there would be cake in their room, there wasn't we asked about it we were told we had to buy the cake, so we let it go. Then we purchased the soda packages for our 3 older children because it is usually the best option, after spending 90.00 (30.00 per child), we find we were also charge almost 16.00 gratuities on top of that for the cards ! We were told we would have a fridge we could use because were traveling with a baby, the fridge was locked and we were never able to gain access to it the whole 4 days. Granted if we needed milk we could go down 5 decks to the front desk and were able to get milk but who wants to do that a 3 am when there is a fridge 10 steps away! We had to get 2 rooms because there were 7 of us, we were told we would be on the same deck but might not be next to each other, no big deal me and the girls in 1 room and my husband and boys in the other, we were not only no were near each other but they were 2 decks above us !!! When we booked the cruise we were told they would accommodate my daughters wheat allergy, there was nothing wheat free, lucky for us we had her retested prior to the cruise and was told it came back negative so she was able to eat, but they were not aware of this because my husband forgot to call and cancel the wheat allergy information. My husband and I had some free time to ourselves so we went to the pool deck and sat at the bar for some drinks. The drinks were great and were only 7.00 each but then each time we got a drink and they swiped our room key they charged us 2.50 tip on each drink!!! so we each had 5 drinks at the same hour sitting, it was 25.00 in tips !!!! When we went tot he front desk to say between that and the 16.00 coke card tip it was insane! We were more or less told oh well, and when we said this insanity would change our decision to ever cruise NCL again he shrugged his shoulders and didn't care! I was appalled at the buffet, for a 4 day cruise the breakfast and lunch was exactly the same every day. They didn't even add different side dishes! They hamburgers were disgusting ! So we figured we would go to the pool side bbq for a change, except it was the same food as inside at the buffet!! The food and service inside the palace for dinner was amazing ! The room attendant was great! We will go back to our normal cruise lines for future cruises. Read Less

We picked this cruise for a quick weekend get away. While we were able to have a nice weekend we left the ship feeling like something was missing. The rooms are a nice size and the ships common areas were well maintained the lack of on board activities left a lot to be desired. Our cabin was located on deck 7 at the end of the hall, we were jarred awake both mornings by a very loud noise and heavy vibrations, it made sleeping past 6 AM impossible. The two pools, not five as advertised, we very very small and not big enough for anything. There are three hot tub close to the pools,which I suppose they are counting on the total of pools, these too are very small. The food was ok. We chose a sit down meal our first night and it too a lot longer to have dinner then we ever expected. The all you can eat buffet was lacking in many areas. The food wasn't hot more like room temperature and the seating area is far too small for the number of people on board. Having breakfast before disembarking on the day of returning to port was a nice gesture but some food is so over cooked we decided not to eat it. The cruise line does offer several different excursions, the one we took wasn't at all like we expected. If they are going to offer shore excursions then they should be accurately so that everyone can make a well informed decision. While the cruise was offered at a decent price we won't be travling with this company again, we are disappointed and let down. Read Less

Ok First off let me just say, there are some horrible reviews out there for this cruise!!! I honestly think that this just isnt for those who have high expectations for something that is free!!! You get what you pay for!! Me and my Husband really enjoyed this cruise!! it was a great get away from our horrible Michigan winter weather!! I was so happy just to be in the sun again!! And yes their are hidden fees and its not "free" but it was still cheaper then paying for everything out of pocket!! All in all we paid about $1500 for our trip not including plane tickets. heres the major stuff we had to pay for: Alamo Rent a car $450 (insurance 25$ a day and young adults under 24 yrs 25$ a day) Grand Lucayan resort $83 -2 nights Ramada Plaza hotel $45 -3 nights Grand Celebration $130 -2 nights Wings valet parking $82 -4 nights Gas fill up 22$ Everything else we spent was either on food or souvenirs for friends. For the food at the Ramada Hotel you are given food vouchers and you only pay tip and like 3% of total. This was a buffet restaurant and the food was alright. service was ok too. The cruise ship was awesome in the food department!! it had two different buffets that were completely free!! The food was so good too!! service was awesome!! The Grand Lucayan resort you had to buy your own meals, which me and my hubby were happy for a change anyway, however all meals there were super expensive!!! cheapest one we had was by ordering pizza up to our room and it was still 30$. Most expensive meal for both of us together was 50$ (we're not big spenders :) The rooms we got ...not too bad!! The ramada was definitely not my favorite though!! Its was annoying where we got put, all the way in the back of the hotel 3rd floor where the elevators didnt work! Also the workers there were polite but not very helpful! When we tried to leave for our cruise we were told we were supposed to be staying another night, so they wouldn't let us check out and sent us to the welcome center to get it figured out. we had to wait in line for 20 min only to be told it was ok for us to check out.. stupid!! Also DO NOT leave anything in your room because you will not get it back!! My husband accidently left work out supplements and when we got back from our cruise we tried THREE different times to get it from lost and found and were told "they would get back to us" or "they didnt have keys". Grand Lucayan resort was Amazing!!! We Upgraded to an ocean view and it was perfect!!! it had a balcony, a huge tv, and great bed. although we had room 666 which was slightly scary lol. The pools at this place, so awesome and beautiful!!! they overlooked the ocean and even had a swim up bar! Wish we stayed in the Bahamas longer!! I could go on and on!! The beach was just perfect!!!! so beautiful!!   Read Less

I was completely impressed with all aspects of this cruise. Embarkation was the easiest I have ever seen. We arrived at the port at 11:30 and were sitting down to eat at 12:30. Our bags were in the room at 2:15. All employees were cheerful, friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and served at the right temperature. The dining room service was outstanding. We had My Time Dining in the Fantasy Dining Room and never had to wait to be seated. We had a different server every evening and sat at a 7 place round table. The server called us each by name as they placed our plates down. Our tea glasses and water glassses were kept full. The night we had prime rib, we had lobster tail first, then my husband decided he wanted prime rib and asked for it, and it was cheerfully provided although the others at the table had finished and I'm sure it was an inconvenience. The waiters performed a song and dance each evening and it was fun and entertaining. The magician in the dining room was wonderful. Please note that NCL does not serve lobster without an upcharge. The standard steak was tender and flavorful without an upcharge. It was the first time I had eaten escargo and it was delicious. The Buffet had a great variety and really good food. The tables were always cleared. Best managed food service I have ever seen on any ship. The French toast was really good and on alternate days if the scrambled eggs weren't done enough for me, I got an ommelete which was really well prepared. Guest Services went beyond expectations. I had a situation with an excursion unrelated to Carnival and the guest services made a phone call from sea for no charge to help me resolve it. They were so nice, patient and helpful. There was a live for the shows and the dancers, singers and constumes were nice. The comedians were funny. The piano bar was in a nice room and the player/singer was very good. The margarita wasn't but the daiqeries were. The items in the gift shops were good quality and well priced. The attendant on the serenity deck was eager to do anything he could to make everyone comfortable. The lounge chairs had thick pads that were very comfortable. This was my favorite area of the ship to hang out in.   Read Less

I received this mini getaway as a birthday gift and was really excited. I started reading some of the reviews and got worried but still looked forward to it. My husband and I sailed out on 10/22/14 and came back on 10/24/14. We had an awesome time the whole trip. We loved celebration cruise line. The staff is great. The ship and the cabins are really clean. We decided upon arrival to upgrade from an inside category 5 cabin to a ocean view category 4 cabin for $129 more and it was a great decision. We loved our cabin. It was really clean and spacious. It consisted of a queen size bed, the spacious restroom, a sofa bed, a vanity table, a closet, and even a mini fridge. It was only my husband and I and we had more than enough space I'm sure we would have enough space for our three kids too. We loved the food. Both nights i made reservations for the fancier of the free restaurants (Crystal Dining) and the food was really good. There were several options in the menu each night and they all looked great. My husband and I decided to order different things to be able to taste a little of everything and we were mot disappointed by anything. Breakfast at Rio was good too they had a little bit of everything it was a great way to start our day in the Bahamas. We didn't want to get an excursion cause the weather forecast wasn't so good so we just decided to take a taxi from Freeport to the Lucayan market place ($15 pp for roudtrip) the taxi driver told us were to find the free public beach and we headed there right away and boy we had so much fun. There is nothing better than hanging out with the locals when you travel thats how you trully get to experience the country. As i said before the weather wasn't great but we didn't let that ruin it for us. We rode the banana boat with fly water sport you can find them in front of the public beach and we had so much fun. The ocean water was the warmest and clearest water I have ever seen. After that we ate at the shack on the beach. We had the best fried conch ever. We had a cocunut man make us cocunut rum drinks and we loved them. Then we headed out to the marketplace to do some quick souvenir shopping and got some more drinks at some local bars. (Tip: take enough cash with you) they have atm machines too. On board the cruise the entertainment was ok but good enough. Overall our trip was great and we wil definitely do it again. It's a great getaway. Read Less

Family and friends had an awesome time! While gambling, you're Black Jack staff was amazing. There was a drunk guy testing one of your crew members patience at the Black Jack's table closest to the exit by the cashing out window, and he handled himself professionally at all times. The professionalism of your crew was amazing. Michael, he was always running around helping guests with drinks, getting ice, and whatever it took to make guests happy. He sure made our day by selling us a big bottle of rum and kept the sodas nice and cold for us by refilling the ice every time he came around. Our room attendant was great and always smiling. Suggestion: putting some sort of padding around the bed frame. The ice cream sampling was awesome! Don't ever get rid of that. It was a nice way to cool off after being outside in the pool and hot. The food was delicious. The host of the late show was a little slow at first but then started to make people laugh. He kept his composure and didn't give up. My brother in law and I were turned away for our family dinner because we didn't have pants, but we were wearing nice shorts. Some individuals were wearing jeans that looked dirty. I think dressing nice if fine, but with over twenty in our group, we were the only outcast. My wife and I were part of the couple's show/competition. We love it! I came in second, but everyone agreed I should've won. I've been in Disney Cruises, so I can tell you that you guys really made my family, friends, and us feel Magical. Read Less