Adventure of the Seas Review

A Review in Memory of Nosmo King

Review for the Western Mediterranean Cruise on Adventure of the Seas
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passenger
10+ Cruises • Age 100s

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Sail Date: Sep 2011
Cabin: Owner's Suite

Cruise Critic

My wife and I have just returned from an RCL seven day Med cruise aboard Adventure of the Seas. We had a great time, the Adventure is a beautiful ship with the trademark RCL main street and our cabin was one of the best we've encountered in nearly 20 years of cruising. Having been upgraded we took full advantage of the extra space a suite provides albeit with a very small and sheltered balcony. The food in the Mozart restaurant was stunning, no need to spend extra in the Portafina and 99% of the staff were warm, friendly and very efficient (amazing how the 1% can spoil a cruise but more of that later). The embarkation procedure was well organised, we didn't use the shore excursions but instead spent time in the spa which was excellent. The guest entertainers were great (a Motown tribute act and a troop of Flamenco dancers). The production shows were rather bland but special credit should go to all the sound and lighting technicians as the Ice Show and theatre shows were greatly enhanced by their skills. At the end of the cruise we'd both had a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing time, and at a price we felt was good value for the initial out-lay.

However we will probably not cruise with RCL again. Why? Firstly, there was an instruction in the daily paper (The Compass) for "no shorts" etc etc in the restaurant at dinner. It's a shame the rule is not upheld. Getting dressed up in evening wear is something we like to do - the atmosphere is somewhat then spoiled when sitting next to people in the restaurant wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip flops. This lack of 'observing the rules' was brought to a head (pun intended) on our last morning when a crew member in a very abrupt manner asked me to remove my hat at the breakfast buffet (no mention of head apparel in The Compass). However, the main reason for not returning to RCL is the ship's policy on smoking. Over the last few years we have found on many cruise ships a designated bar for smokers plus smoking permitted in the Casino (if gamblers want to risk their health as well as their money so be it). However on Adventure it was the other way around. One tiny bar for non-smokers (with no entertainment) and smoking allowed in all other areas (except thank goodness the restaurants and the theatre). We would have liked to enjoy the musicians in the many bars; this was impossible in the evening 'fog'. The dangers of passive smoking have been well documented and it seems RCL are now set on contributing to one of the world's most common causes of death. I don't think a life threatening disease can be caught by standing next to someone wearing a hat. On the other hand passengers, bar staff and entertainers are being asked to risk their health in an environment which is constantly being advertised as fun (cough), healthy (cough), relaxing (cough), full of sunshine (cough) and thoroughly enjoyable for everyone on board (cough cough). Come on RCL, the world's leading nations have got it right - smoking should be banned in public places.

Cabin Review

Owner's Suite

Cabin OS

Good size for a suite. Tiny balcony but nicely secluded. No problem with noise from above. Badly designed closet as it is so close to the bed you had to take turns to use. Would have expected a walk-in closet for the size of the room. Great having a kettle in the room. Television and audio system was poor and not up to the standard expected in a suite.

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