BOS: THANK YOU Cruise Critic & Review (long . . . sorry!)

[azbirdz]

We sailed the BOS March 27 to April 7 with ports of call in Labadee, Aruba, Curacao, Panama Canal and Costa Rica. We used so much info from Cruise Critic that I had to provide a (not so brief) review here:

Here are our thoughts in no particular order:

• Demographic: The cruise was mostly 65+ years old. There were probably about 30 kids on the ship (according to parents we met). This was both a plus and a minus. Many of the passengers were just surly and rude. But there were so many other really nice people that the rudesters were outshadowed. The passengers really participated in the dance classes and we enjoyed watching them strut their stuff to the live music in the Centrum bar each evening.
  
• Food & Restaurants: We enjoyed the Seaview – and have never experienced the ‘old’ menu so we didn’t miss it. The pizza and panninis (sp) were great. The food in the main dining room was also great. We had excellent dinner companions. Our group of four adults was placed with a family of Mom, Dad and two kids. Couldn’t have asked for a better combo!! We made new friends and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Before the cruise, our group of four had decided to not go to the dining room on formal nights (as we didn’t want to pack formal stuff – having done it before). The family was so gracious and strongly encouraged us to show up in our smart casual clothes – and we did! (Please don’t flame us for dress code --- we still fit in) Windjammer was good too. Must admit we missed the soft-serve machines conveniently located along the promenade on the Voyager class ships!! Weird thing: the Ben and Jerry’s cart on the pool deck was never open --- we never saw it open, even on sea days.
  
• Ship Overall: We’ve been on the Monarch and the Navigator (plus the Disney Magic) and the BOS is also a wonderful ship. We loved the many, many places to sit and people watch, doze, connect to the wireless, etc. Only the Centrum elevator lobby felt crowded --- and that’s to be expected. The Pacifica theatre was very nice. We only went to two shows but they were stellar. Loved the Solarium pool – but wish they had just one more hot tub in that area.
  
• The crew: We had exemplary service from everyone with whom we came into contact. Our dining room team was terrific and totally on top of things. Our room steward was awesome – he was out of the way but took amazing care of us. The captain was wonderful and we understand this was his last cruise before retiring (all of the other boats and ships blasted their horns in the Panama Canal as a tribute to him – very very cool.). The ‘announcement’ lady was amazing – she did all of the announcements in English, Spanish, French and Dutch – and sounded so fluent in each.
  
• Excursions: We booked some with the ship and some on our own.

· (via RCI) Panama Canal by Ferry: We loved it --- but many on our trip complained. It was hot and it was long – but it was a total immersion in the Panama Canal – which is what we all wanted. We heard many others complain – and desperately wanted to remind them that this was not an amusement park ride, but actually a working set of locks on an historic canal. Oh well – some folks don’t see the forest for the trees.

· (via RCI) Diving in Aruba: DH did a wreck dive in Aruba. He liked it but the water was very murky from so many divers. Also, many divers on ship excursions are not careful about their fellow divers or the ‘wildlife’ --- that’s been true on every ship dive excursion he’s been on. He was spoiled by a week of personal diving in Grand Cayman so he may be biased!

· (own) Car rental in Curacao: this was an idea we got from Cruise Critic and it was wonderful. We got to see the whole island which is beautiful and the people are just so nice.

· (own) Charlie Soto in Costa Rica: Also an idea from Cruise Critic and it was the BEST! Very personalized and off the beaten path. We felt completely safe and really felt we got a great snapshot of the country. We would love to go back there. We met Charlie and he is delightful. We like that he’s bringing business to the locals and is working so hard to make a go of it. CC was RIGHT ON with the recommendation – it was an awesome tour at a more than reasonable price.

· (via RCI) Malfini in Labadee: The weather kinda hurt this excursion – very choppy sea going to the private beach. But the tour guide was awesome and gave us so much info about Haiti. The beach was very very nice and we were very well taken care of. The rain made the water very murky so we couldn’t really snorkel – but we enjoyed swimming in the ocean and enjoying a beach day. When we got back to the main peninsula, it was raining really hard so we went back on the ship ==== in a future trip we would enjoy spending more time on the actual ‘island’.

• Top Cruise Critic Lessons:
  • Gifts for Crew: We brought Arizona Tshirts and decks of cards for our steward and dining team. They were soooo appreciative! Inexpensive gifts that provided big results in terms of making others feel good.
    
  • Charlie Soto: See above – it was awesome.
    
  • Getting cash in the casino – instead of at an overpriced ATM.
    
  • Quiet time in the disco during the day – great for getting away from a bunch of people and still see the ocean.
    
  • Asking for an egg crate mattress topper. The beds aren’t the best --- very thin mattresses. The egg crate really helped.
    
  • Free cookies and scones at Lattitudes – yummmmmmmmmy for us non-coffee drinkers!
    
  • Timing for the Panama Canal --- we were up at the right time and on the helicopter pad – it was wonderful to see the sun rise as we entered the canal. So amazing. Oddly we couldn’t hear the speaker up there – supposedly they were giving a talk about the history etc.
    
  • Ferry excursion – WRP96 gave us so much info in her live review – and it settled our minds on the Ferry – she was SO right!

So, sorry for the lengthy post – but we appreciated the help from Cruise Critic so much we wanted to share our experiences. So THANK YOU to everyone who posts with such candor and thoughtfulness on this board. You’re the best! We plan to cruise RCI in the future – we love the line and how it does business.

[wrp96]

· (via RCI) Panama Canal by Ferry: We loved it --- but many on our trip complained. It was hot and it was long – but it was a total immersion in the Panama Canal – which is what we all wanted. We heard many others complain – and desperately wanted to remind them that this was not an amusement park ride, but actually a working set of locks on an historic canal. Oh well – some folks don’t see the forest for the trees.

 

• • Ferry excursion – WRP96 gave us so much info in her live review – and it settled our minds on the Ferry – she was SO right!

 

You're welcome. I'm so glad you had a great time! I agree about the heat on the Ferry Excursion but it was so worth it. It's just amazing what human engineering was able to do there.

 

If you didn't sign up for Crown and Anchor Society while on the ship, make sure to go to RCCL's website and sign up for it so you can get past cruiser benefits.

[azbirdz]

If you didn't sign up for Crown and Anchor Society while on the ship, make sure to go to RCCL's website and sign up for it so you can get past cruiser benefits.

 

We are C&A --- and got nice tote bags in our room this time. Everything you said about the ferry was spot on and we remarked about it several times. We found it so fascinating that the canal is functioning essentially as it has for so many years --- if it ain't broke, don't fix it seems to apply here. Once again, thanks for your real time review!

[gambler]

Thanks for the nice review. How many formal nights did you have, 2 or 3? Thanks

[azbirdz]

Thanks for the nice review. How many formal nights did you have, 2 or 3? Thanks

We had two formal nights and two smart casual nights.

[loug1601]

Great report...thanks for sharing it with us!

[Lokalona]

Nice review and so glad you enjoyed the Brilliance my personal favorite! The champagne bar also is a litte cozy spot with canapes' and chocolate covered strawberries hidden over in the corner...yummy!

[azbirdz]

We did go to the Champagne bar -- chocolate covered strawberries were wonderful. Also, on this ship we noticed them putting bar mix out on the tables --- a nice touch (something we didn't notice on the Monarch or the Navigator). We really enjoyed the BOS -- and the itinerary was great too.

[gambler]

Thanks for the info, I thought the 11 nights had 3 formals, you never know, it always changes.