Rhapsody of the Seas Review
Rating by category
Additional details
My wife and I went on this cruise with another couple and everyone had a great time. We're in our mid- to late-fifties and enjoy an active lifestyle and this ship had everything that we needed. We prefer the smaller ship because its not too crowded and its easier to move about. We booked the cruise about three weeks prior to sailing and we got a competitive price. The whole trip was a good value; you can pay more but it comes down to what you believe you need.
The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. Another advantage of a smaller ship is that you get to know some of the staff during your stay. I had a minor cut on my foot during my time on shore that required medical attention back on the ship and their staff was extremely professional and helpful.
While on shore, we took taxis to the local beaches and restaurants to relax so we can't rate the ship's excursions but we heard good comments from people who did. It's nice to have a choice of so many activities available.
Cabin Review
Large Ocean View Stateroom
Compact but very efficient. We travel light and unpack our belongings into the drawers and shelves when we arrive so we feel more settled in. There was enough room for both of us. The first cabin we were given was directly below the kitchen area and the noise from above kept us awake at night. The second night was too much so we complained about it. Fortunately there were a few empty rooms available on the ship so they moved us to another area and it was very quiet after that. The Customer Service people were extremely helpful and went out of their way to make sure we were happy.
Port Reviews
Tampa
The only complaint here is that getting to the actual port in Tampa is a bit tricky. You must wind your way through the downtown and it's a bit confusing. But once we arrived at the ship everything was very smooth and efficient. We arrived early Saturday morning so that we could board early and be on the ship for most of the day.
Roatan
We took a taxi to the West End beach area with is a bay with small commercial fishing boats. It was very quiet and relaxing and we didn't spend much to go there. We had terrific lunch at The Lighthouse and the owner visited with us.
Belize City
We had a taxi driver take us around the area and then he dropped us off at Kukumba Beach where we spend several hours and had lunch. He came back at an agreed upon time and took us back to the ship.
Costa Maya
We took a shuttle from the port area to the beaches and knew to go to the last stop along the Malecon. This was the best beach area of the whole trip. You get free beach chairs and shaded areas if you buy food and drinks from the merchants. They sold $4 Margaritas that were excellent. We really didn't want to leave.
Cozumel
We took a taxi to the Mahawaul beach area on the southwest side of the island where we hung out for several hours and had lunch there. When it was time to leave we negotiated with our taxi driver to take us the rest of the way around the island to see the beaches on the east side. We may go there the next time we're in Cozumel.