We got off the ship this morning so let me write this while my dissatisfaction is still fresh. Let me start by saying this was our first cruise. We booked it 6 months ago mainly for the experience AND the fact that we wanted to go to Grand Cayman. Much to our dismay, we found out AFTER we boarded (very quickly I may add) that we were no longer going to the Caymans, but we were now going to Key West instead! A place I can DRIVE to! The reason? Berthing issues due to the hurricanes! We were extremely upset but tried to make the most of it. To put salt in our wounds, they went last week and the cruise leaving tonight (in 5 mins to be exact) is going there as far as I know. I understand unforeseen circumstances occur, but wow, couldn't dock due to storm damage ONLY this week?! Gee, I can't pay my cruise due to unforeseen circumstances in my checking account. The guy at the purser's desk could only offer this bit of wisdom, "You don't ever book a cruise for the destinations, you book it for what the cruise ship has to offer. The destinations are an added bonus." The woman at the Crown & Anchor Society desk was not pleased to hear he said that. Then why doesn't the ship stay in port? Why offer destinations at all?
First off, Key West I must say was very nice. I really had no problem with it. I could understand every word spoken by the shop owners! If I never go to Cozumel again, it will be too soon. It is filled with hustling shop owners and wandering "salesmen." Everything looks filthy (except the Diamond Int'l of course, ha ha). Even an RCI ship employee says the area is totally corrupt. If one more person said Amigo, Senorita, hey buy this crap, I was going to scream. We didn't even get off the ship in Costa Maya, mostly because we haven't heard a single good thing about it, and it looked like a rocky beach full of more jewelry shops. The worst port and we stayed there the longest.
On to the food and entertainment. I have heard many people talk about cruise food being so great. Well they must not have been on this ship. The food was horrible, to ME anyway. Nothing special, dishwater soups, except the lobster bisque which I liked. If it wasn't for the salad/fruit bar I would have starved. My husband liked the food a little more than me but was not impressed either. I like the Windjammer overall, most of the waiters were nice though if I wanted to order a Coke I had to flag someone down, no one ever came up and asked if I needed something. The guy at the carving station was very friendly and polite every night. We ate in the Great Gatsby one night, on a smart casual evening. Our waitress Jennifer and asst waiter Myron were very nice and funny. I did not like my bass so I got steak, which turned out to be a leathery New York strip. I should of had a choice. Jennifer looked kind of mad that I didn't like my food. She tried to hide it but I could tell.