This was my second cruise on the Ryndam this year. Both were Western Caribbean cruises departing from Tampa but the onboard experience was unbelievably different.

My first cruise on the Ryndam, taken in February 2010, was the week before the ship went into dry-dock for extensive refurbishment. The ship had a tired, worn look and I thought the food was mediocre at best and service, while OK, was nothing exceptional. We loved the port of calls of Belize, Roatan, Costa Maya and Key West and the weather, so all the negatives on that sailing were easily forgiven.

On this cruise, the weather was extremely uncooperative in 3 of the 4 port of calls (rainy in Montego Bay and Grand Cayman and too windy to dock at all in Cozumel), but splendid in Key West and our 3 sea days. Despite the inclement weather on port days, the cruise was very enjoyable, mostly due to our onboard experience. Read more