Last minute decision and easy to get to & use the Port of Baltimore. Embarkation was ok; everyone's good mood helped. Our balcony cabin was spacious, if a bit worn. Our first surprise was a good one in that our cabin attendant was very efficient and friendly. We dined in the speciality restaurant that first night and were again pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food - creatively presented and well prepared. The servers, although outgoing and professional, were over-stretched and slow. This unhappy surprise was evident throughout the cruise - waitstaff were extremely overworked. Too few waiters meant extremely slow service (eg. Brunch in the MDR took over two hours, including 20 minutes to get water!); too few people covering too many stations.

Another unpleasant surprise was the lackluster Afternoon Tea. Possibly because there so few waiters, the little metals hot water pots must have been filled prior to service. This meant that the tea bags (plain Lipton) would be placed in tepid water. Again, the pastries & sandwiches were good, but we only got a look at them once because our server only came by once.

A happy surprise was the Chef's Table. It was the highlight of the trip. Excellent food, a personable host, and good company. Read more