3rd Disney cruise and loved it again every time room has been immaculate cleaned every day and towels are folded into animals and bed sheets changed every day. People say pool is too small and the 2 pools for all ages are small however it isn’t easy to have a large pool onboard a cruise ship there are also adult exclusive pools and a pool for teen club vibe (14-17) Ship is easy to navigate with maps all around and staff are friendly the ship has a fun mini golf course and basketball court. The 3 times I’ve been on the cruise my son has been able to go to all 3 clubs oceaners lab (3-12) edge (11-14) vibe (14-17) the oceaners lab is very large and great for kids as there is always activity’s on this also goes with edge and vibe. Edge is fairly small however is my sons favourite out of the 3 and every time has been extremely sad to leave his new friends. The activities range from sports deck fun to trivia challenges and video game challenges and much more. We have never made him go to the clubs yet he has chose to he would wake up have breakfast with us ( which the breakfast is a large buffet) then go to the youth club until dinner have his dinner then go back till the club closed. The waterslide the aqueduct is also a must do. There is a rotational dining plan where you change restaurants every night and cycle between the 3 and your servers rotate with you. And one restaurant even allows you to draw a character and have it animated the food quality is great with bread service,starter, salad/soup, main course, dessert. not to mention the adult only restaurants you can go to. There is also an option to share your table with another family at first this may see odd however I would fully recommend as the look at of you have children there gender there age etc and match you up with a family like so you child will instantly have a friend. You can also get food like pizza and ice cream and soda during the day for no fee The whole ship is in Christine condition as everynight and whenever the boat docks workers are always jetwashing painting or doing maintenance There is also a range of activities for adults including Karaoke music quizzes game shoes etc and like there is plenty for kids to do there is also plenty adult exclusive areas all over the ship Overall an amazing vacation and would recommend to anyone thinking about booking with or without kids Read Less

This was the first cruise I have ever taken. That being said I doubt I will ever go on another cruise again, and if I do it defiantly WILL NOT be with NCL. From the bad attitudes of Port staff all the way until dismemberment NCL staff had that "not our problem" attitude. First off, our scheduled trip to Great Stirrup Cay was cancelled 2 weeks before the ship set sail. NCL offered a whole $100 to accommodate us. COME ON. When I called NCL customer service to see if I could reschedule our cruise the lady told me and I quote "listen you can either go on this cruise or not sir." Against my better judgement, I went on the cruise thinking I could make the best of it. Once on the ship, my wife and I waited for our stateroom to become available. No big deal. We grabbed a drink at the Mojito bar on the inside of the ship. Great quality drinks, nice bar staff. So I figured if the whole trip was as good as that I would have a good time. I was wrong. On our way to the pool deck I stopped to use the public restroom. It was disgusting. Urine on the floors, clogged toilets, and no paper towels. At this time we had been on the ship a total of 15 minutes. I would have been a little more understanding 15 minutes before dismemberment... Once on the pool deck, we got another drink from the bar. Completely different attitude of bar staff and quality of drinks. Our room became available fairly quick, so we went to drop our bags and enjoy our day. Upon entry into our balcony room it appeared pretty nice. My wife is a clean freak and inspected the bed for cleanliness. It definitely was not. There was dark curly hair in between the sheets, she has blonde hair.... also stains on the white sheets were very noticeable. Thankfully we brought our own bedding and exchanged it. We spent most of Saturday around the "adult" pool area and made the best of it. The comedian Rob Long was great. My only disappointment is that he only performed for 35-40 minutes. Sunday we went on our "excursion" and I use that term very loosely. We decided to explore the history of Nassau, I wish we would have just stayed on the boat. The 3 hour tour lasted about 2. We explored the slums of Nassau. The "Atlantis Experience" was the guy dropping us in front of the resort and him saying okay I'll be back in 30 minutes. Atlantis Resorts doesn't allow access to any beach area or aquarium areas to patrons who are not guest. As they rightfully should. I just assumed this being a "guided tour" that we would be walked around and shown the area. We were not. The tour guide drove us around to 2 Forts in the area and 1 public beach for 10 minutes. He proceeded to give advice to people on the bus to tip him for his time. What a joke. We got back on the ship and pretty much stayed in our room until we returned to the Miami port the next morning. I wish I could say I had the time of my life and that I would book another cruise with NCL, but that simply isn't the case. I hope someone reads this and saves themselves the trouble and money I wasted. Read Less

A last minute choice as we would normally do a road trip to Queensland this time of year (Australian Winter). Had only done 2 cruises previously 1 on Azamara Journey....Athens to Barcelona and 2 Celebrity Millenium Singapore to Hong Kong. Price for this local cruise was a big factor and we weren't disappointed with anything. Boarding was very smooth and efficient all tendering and disemarkation very well managed. Delighted with our Guarantee balconcy cabin 4231 at rear of ship...plenty of storage space and layout very good...great bathroom. Cabin steward always happy and remembered our names and cabin beautifully clean. Dinner a Empire dining room was excellent and very attentive waiters. Lido buffet area always clean and food very good. Bar staff always helpful and mostly knew our regular order. Alround nice ship and staff and good value. Not the same demographics of passengers as previous cruises but a very lovely crowd. Read Less

Customer service specifically Dining and Housekeeping were amazing. We were served by Filipino staff and they all met our highest expectations. We were served our own food and it sure was a plus in our dining experience. The shows and activities were all world class. The cruise director was great putting those all together. Fun and Relaxation were all there. Enjoyed just laying in the sun overlooking the ocean. Embarkation was okay even with some technical problems. They said the computers were down and there were some issues. The lady who served us was a first timer and slowed our processing but the supervisor stepped in and finished the processing quicker. Cabin was spacious,comfortable and always clean. Our kids including us loved the animals made from towels. Shore excursions were okay. Timing and transportation were all comfortable. This was a great experience for our family and our friends alike. We are already planning for our next cruise. Truly a dream vacation! Read Less

We picked this ship because it is really large. With our Star Class, getting on and off the boat was always easy. Our Genie took care of us so we waited very little. The ship has lots to do, is clean and absolutely beautiful. Our cabin was a suite. There are 2 suites bigger than ours but they don't sleep but 4 or 6. Ours sleeps 8 and was spacious. The views were great, the balcony was amazing and the service was above and beyond my expectations. Being Star Class definitely made us feel like Royalty! Your personal Genie caters to your every need. I had 4 fourteen year old boys and they had a blast. Plenty for them to do socially and they love sports. They were occupied at all times and I always felt they were safe and supervised. They loved the 24 hour room service! The entertainment was awesome. We saw Cats, the Aqua theater water show, the ice skating show, the comedy show and all of the bands and singers. We missed some shows, just ran out of time. All of the shows and bands were great! Some of our group did other events and loved them all. My husband played poker and gave it a big thumbs up. The staff at all levels are very accommodating and kind. They work hard and seem to be happy to serve. The food was delicious and we ate way too much! The shore excursions were typical. Ours was not described accurately for St. Thomas (said 2 beaches but was only 1 and rushed). It was snorkeling too and not many fish. Nassau at Atlantis is crowded and the rain closed it for a bit. But there is a beach and it has jet skis for rent and other water activities. St. Maarten was our best! Sea Trek and they threw in some snorkeling. We saw lots of fish there. Then we found a Zip line on our own afterwards that Royal Caribbean does not sell and it was the best of all. It was a zip line plus you could ride an inner tube down the mountain. Just need more time at all the stops. Typical for a cruise but there is always a rush and of course, lots of people. But everyone was friendly and we always felt safe. Bring cash off ship for extras! Jet skis Etc want cash. Read Less

We chose this cruise based on the availability of balcony rooms for our family and we likes all of the stops. It was also more affordable (on the surface) than other cruises at this time. If MSC doesn’t make some major changes to their processes - they will not make it in America. First - dining. They tell you that you have the time for dinning when you book 7:15 until you get there and your card says 5:15. What a joke. There were lines of angry passengers with the same issue. We were moved to a 9:30 seating. Way too late to eat. We never would have chosen to go on this cruise if we had known 5:15 or 9:30 were our only options. With excursions and family activities. This is a big deal. Food wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t great. BEWARE - they take your picture when you board the ship. Deliver it to your room the next day. And CHARGE you for it 5 days later. What a SCAM. More lines of very angry passengers. It was apparent. If you were from the US. You were treated like a second class citizen. They didn’t have the drink vouchers we were promised. ( because we paid More to upgrade!). The billing system is awefull. If I wasn’t watching it. I would have been billed for other passenger charges. They sell you a wrist band but you need your cruise card for many things. I will neve Sail MSC again. It’s that simple. I want to know what I’m going to pay and they nickel and dime you all the way. I don’t want to see a fee on the main dining room menu. I want coffee served with my dessert. NEVER happened. 3 dining times. 5:15. 7:15 and 9:15. Everyone promised 7:15. Only the Europeans got the 7:15. Don’t tell me there’s room service when nobody answers the phone. Ship never arrived on time at stops or left on time. The only thing I was impressed with were the shows. We loved all of them. Not enough to go back. For a new ship. It was worn and dirty. They had a balcony washing day. The same filth was there after the cleaning day. Find another cruise line unless you like clandestine charges. Being lied to about dining times. Average food with understaffed conditions. Half way done bedding and a less than relaxing vacation. Read Less

Me and wife been on Norwegian breakaway in 2014 so we thought the gem would be cool because it was a smaller ship.Well I was wrong. First never seen the steward of the floor he never came to introduce himself had to call him that Thursday to clean the balcony window and the glass rail. 2. The buffet was horrible food had no taste no seasonings and juice only during breakfast whatt CRAZY so lunch and dinner was flavor water crazy. Bacon was like paper grits watery. Eggs runny. Highlights specialty restaurant was way better. Can't understand same ship different food. The gem needs to revamp there food more food options and seasonings on the food. Nice decor and drink package. Water should be free in rooms .entertainment needs to address the younger crowds. Live entertainment the singer could been better. Breakaway vs gem .. Breakaway way better. Overall good times with family and friends Read Less

Needed a cruise that began and ended in the week of 7/16. This was the one available. When we take short cruises, we often like to go Carnival. they really do provide the most fun. Particularly as the end of the day.. This ship had 2 late night comics, that were hilarious. When I go on Princess and other lines, once the main show is over, there isn't much to do, unless you like gambling or dancing. Many people say that the food on Carnival isn't very good. That hasn't been our experience. While not the gourmet food one finds on some of the Luxury lines, it is more as good as most of the other ships we travel on. Our cabin service, as well as our food servers were outstanding. No issues with service. I've had much more difficulty with the service on Princess, which I usually take. Others providing excellent service include the pool bar staff, and the Customer Service desk. Read Less

I've cruised a lot. This is my second time with Royal and I will never cruise with them again. The service, staff, and overcrowded ship really ruined my vacation. Royal nickel and dimes you to death and doesn't allow a day to go by without trying to sell you EVERYTHING under the sun. I just stepped off the cruise boat yesterday and feel like I should course correct review I've read on here. A few highlights for those considering this ship: MYTH: For every reviewer who claims that it's hard to notice you are sailing with 6,000 other people because of how large the ship is are LYING! You cannot get onto an elevator without having to fight your way on. It was exhausting. Every pool, every restaurant, every inch of that ship is filled with people. Hands down the most unenjoyable part of this "vacation." THE GOOD: - the speciality restaurants, particularly 150 and Chopped, were very good and relaxing. These two nights were the only enjoyable dining experiences I had on the ship. The food at the Italian restaurant wasn't as good but the atmosphere wasn't as enjoyable. - Though my five year old only visited the kid club twice, he really enjoyed it. And the staff was very nice and fun. The kids area was divided by age and there seemed like there was plenty for kids of all ages to do. - The rock climbing, zip lining and surfing were good for older kids (my 5 year couldn't take part in any of those activities) but others seemed like they enjoyed it despite LONG lines. The shows were enjoyable but I didn't go on this cruise for a show. THE BAD: - The poor staff. It's very difficult to work on a cruise ship but this staff seemed over worked and miserable. It was noticeable and uncomfortable to be around. From seeing the employees fighting, falling (because they are running around trying to help 6,500 cruisers) to simply not being friendly.... while it's not their fault that they are overworked, it was noticeable and really took away from vacation, particularly in the dining room. - I get it. There are a lot of people. But nothing seemed to be easy on this ship, even down to receiving my luggage. It was never delivered to us on the first night. So I missed my dinner reservations to go hunt it down. First I went down the the 2nd floor and their answer was "we don't know. Just keep waiting." Around 9pm, it still had not come. So I began walking up and down the (long) hallways to find it. I finally found it on the other side of the ship. When I spoke to customer service, they said I probably labeled it incorrectly. I checked three times. I had not. - The pools. If you can find a seat, be prepared to be blown away and stepped over! The kids area is legit chaotic. The lifeguards are on it but I witnessed multiple fights between parents, kids running and acting CRAZY. There should be an age limit on the kid pool. THE UGLY: - Be prepared. Royal is out for your money. I mean, what company isn't. But it really was a core contributor to this being the worst vacation I've even been on. They were relentless about trying to sell more cruises. I went to the spa - to remove my gel manicure, they wouldn't wrap my nails. That was an additional charge. I paid $200 for a massage. They wouldn't use anything other than medium pressure. Because THAT would be an extra charge. And while I was there, they would NOT stop trying to sell me stuff. The arcade... a majority of games were $1.45 PER GAME. And most of the time, you would scan your card and they game wouldn't work, but they sure as hell would take your money. It is nonstop bombardment with trying to get more of your money. As I mentioned above, the speciality restaurants were great but I HAD to spend the extra $90 to get away from the dining room chaos. The dining room should be where you go to enjoy a nice dinner. I already paid $2,600 for an ocean view. Why do I have to pay more for what should be basic?! - The one factor not in control of the cruise line is the people and their poor behavior. This comes with having 6k on one ship. But man oh man, get ready to see the worst of human kind on this boat. Incredible rude people. It was not just me who noticed either. Multiple people would make comments about the rudeness, even with simple acts like getting on and off of elevators. All in, I spent $2,600 (without airfare).... and it was hands down the most unenjoyable vacation. Not for families. I may have enjoyed it as a single person on spring break when I was drunk and didn't care about service or an enjoyable experience, but nope. I should have cruised with Disney or Princess! Read Less

This is our first cruise so we don’t have any point of reference. We really did enjoyed it and looking forward to another cruise next year. I find their staff friendly, professional and knowledgeable. We purchased their most expensive wifi plan and still could not connect to anything. It was a waste of money so we do not recommened this. We couldnt even load united.com to checkin for our flight. We had to ask a family member to check us in. Conclusion: Waste of money We purchased Faster to the fun program. At first we were having a great time skipping lines during checkin but all these changed. It was pretty much useless during island tour. We only used it for Grand Cayman tender. Getting back to the ship would mean long lines even if you paid already. At least open a priority line! For Guest Services, we were ignored at one point and the agent decided to help a non-faster to the fun person instead of helping us first even though we were on the line earlier. Conclusion: Waste of money We left our wallets, ipads and wedding rings inside the vault that you can find in your room. We neglected to lock the vault assuming it was safe since we are the only ones and the housekeeping team who have access to our room. The theft took $200 in our wallet but left my expensive ring and ipad untouched - sign of being a professional theft! Sure, we left the vault unlock but how did the third party entered our room? Glory lacks certain security level that you expect. A thirf person could have entered when the housekeepers left our room with the door open or one of their associates stole our money. No one would know as they do not offer finger printing analysis for the wallet & no security camera installed on the hallways! It would have been easy if we have a video to watch - another person entering our room, = third party theft. No other person entered our room = one of carnival’s associates. To make the matter worse, during the cabin search (which we didn’t mind) the VP of security calculated the approximate money we lost by substracting our pocket money - expenses. At his calculations, the missing money is $188, he was trying to manipulate my husband to write that the approximate lost amount was $188 and not $200. Good thing I was there and I told my husband not to write this as we firmly believe and certain we lost $200. It didn’t added up as we were uncertain of our total pocket money prior withdrawing for our carnival glory money. Conclusion: Rooms that are supposed to be safe are not safe. Carnival glory lacks security. Put your money & valuables inside your dirty laundry cause no one wants to touch a dirty and soiled panties! Seminars: Sure they are educational but mostly about sales talk Conclusion: You’d spend money on consultations Food: So, so. Lido buffet opens at different times of the day - sometimes at 7am when we have to leave the ship at 7:30am Conclusion: Friendly stafff, decent and clean food & room Staff: Friendly & professional. I love them! Cabin: Inside Stateroom MEH - you only get a soap & not very secured Read Less