This cruise was interesting, yet in many ways disappointing. Great itinerary that included Gloucester, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, New Bedford, Newport, and Provincetown. Of the 175 passengers most were from East Coast and MidWest with the majority being older seniors.

Our first disappointment, the bus picking us up from Four Seasons Hotel was 1 1/2 hrs late for the pre-cruise excursion around Boston! This meant a shortened, hurried tour before boarding the ship. Then upon arrival at our ship, they did not check for any certificates and/or verification re: Covid-19 vaccinations from those of us boarding the ship. Throughout the voyage, masks were not worn by the servers in the main dining room or housekeepers cleaning the staterooms. Why do I mention this, both my husband and I returned home with Covid. Last day of cruise, my husband thought he had a cold (sneezing and runny nose) ... the next day (day after flight home) I came down with a very sore throat. We both took tests and tested positive for Covid-19. The cruise director and managers on board seemed cavalier about Covid or important explanations about disembarkation. Jokes were made about the ship's "doctor" -- we never really knew how to interpret the jokes and comments; nor were we sure he was a qualified medical provider. We accidentally missed mustering and no one ever bothered to look for us or say something about it. Another safety worry: the gang-way planks need to be updated for use on Deck 2 -- the ones used were "rickety" and steep -- waiting for someone to trip and fall.

The Good News. The excursions for the most part were very good, especially Avenue to the Mansions, New Bedford's Whale Museum, Whale Watching in Provincetown, and the tour of Gloucester with the visit to the Cape Ann Museum. The JFK Museum was closed the day we went to visit it with the Hyannis Experience tour (a surprise to everyone, including the tour guide). However, the Lobsterbake Luncheon in Newport was excellent!! Read more