We chose this cruise due to the Panama Canal experience. We wished they had cut out the Santa Marta Stop and let us stop in Panama. There is nothing worth seeing in Santa Marta and was a wasted stop. We also stopped in Manta Ecuador and it was a wasted stop too. Most of these ports are not ready for tourists and big ships. Getting off the ship was different since we were in shipping yards. So you had to disembark then take a bus outside the terminal.
The shopping ability on this cruise was poor. This is a long cruise to have only two small shops. One was all jewlery and the other was a gift shop with liquor. They should have changed out the merchandise daily. Since we spent a lot of time at sea, woman like to shop. The choice of merchandise was slim. Cheap t-shirts. The makeup section was pathetic. Our last cruise there was one whole store of makeup and three women’s clothings stores with bathing suits, dresses, shorts, shirts, etc. Not this cruise.
Also, there wasn’t the ability to get soft drinks. On our last cruise they had self help areas for drinks. This cruise only offered juice, tea, water and coffee. If you wanted a soft drink you had to go to the bar. Then you were made to feel like you had to tip for getting a coke. (Pepsi)
Cabin was beautiful, except we were on deck 10 right under the cafe. Every night at midnight the staff would move ALL the table and chairs. They would scoot the tables and chairs and it was extremely LOUD. So every night we were woken up around midnight to 2 am to the scooting of table and chairs. Was not happy about his taking place. We told Carlos about it, and nothing was ever done. Please tell your staff to NOT SCOOT the table and chairs. THEY need to pick them up and carry them. This is very disrespectful to us. So every night for 14 nights we were woke up by this sound.