This review and ratings are based on my experience on the inaugural sailing of the Classica. I fully understand that this was an inaugural sailing, this is a lower priced cruise line, and thing will happen that need to be ironed out with better processes moving forward – no one should expect a perfect trip on the inaugural sailing, in my opinion.

I received an invitation to be a guest aboard the inaugural sailing of the Bahamas Paradise (BP) Grand Classica sailing to Freeport on 13APRIL2018 thru 15APRIL2018 from an Association of which I am a member of. No one asked me to write a review nor provide any feedback, and this invitation did not influence my review. This ship was formally the Costa neoClassica. The invitation was for travel industry professionals to experience the product, visit the resorts that BP partners with, and the company personnel. For those who have read any of my reviews here on Cruise Critic (CC) or other sites, you know that the review can sometimes be longer then the sailing. With this being the first sailing of this ship, I EXPECTED vast amounts of technical difficulties, process issues, confused staff, shortage of supplies and so forth – you go on an inaugural sailing, it should be expected.

Confirmation of my reservation came a couple of weeks before the sailing, and about a week after accepting the invitation to join the festivities. It was an email with basic information including my ocean view room on deck 6 (6105), arrival time and links. I called the cruise line, waited 45 minutes on hold to talk to an operator, as I wanted to inquire about online registration – there is none – show up with passport, fill out one form when you get there. Read more