JSinapijr

The term "foodie" is tossed around a lot, and I never thought of myself as one unless it means someone who likes to eat a lot of good food then heck yea I am a "foodie." Do I know the science of food, recipes, and what ingredients are in a dish just by tasting it? Of course not, but put a spread in front of me that looks like I am going to be in a food coma in under an hour and I am going to tell the world about it. As a born and raised New Englander, I have dined in some pretty fantastic restaurants in Boston Massachusetts, New York City, Portland Maine, and Providence Rhode Island all of which are very well known to have some of the best food in the country so my expectations are always very high regardless of where I am. Being an avid cruiser since 2000, I have experienced the complementary food being incredible to horrible, and back to incredible so there is some fluctuation in the complimentary dining. Where I have only experienced absolutely fantastic food and service consistently? The specialty dining experiences offered. It is not a secret that specialty dining is becoming very popular amongst the cruise lines and the more time goes on, the more options we have. That being said, sailing aboard the world's largest cruise ship gives you plenty of specialty dining options. Let's take an overall look at the specialty dining currently offered onboard Symphony of the Seas. Specialty dining onboard Symphony: Hooked Seafood, Playmakers Sports bar & Arcade, Izumi, Johnny Rockets, Wonderland, 150 Central Park, Chops Grille, Jamie's Italian, and Coastal Kitchen (for Suite Guest only). Unfortunately, I was not able to get to every restaurant but picked the ones I was most curious about, Jamie's Italian, Wonderland, and Playmakers! Jamie's Italian: From British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver comes Jamie's Italian. Found on multiple Royal Caribbean ships across the fleet and coming to more, Jamie's Italian caught my attention on numerous Royal Caribbean Ships, but I was finally able to enjoy this venue onboard the beautiful Symphony of the Seas. Located amongst 12,000 live plans in Central Park on deck eight, Jamie's is tucked away directly across from Park Cafe, so dining alfresco is limited but available. I was lucky enough to have the chef bring out some of the best dishes, because why not ask the guy in charge. Located amongst 12,000 live plans in Central Park on deck eight, Jamie's is tucked away directly across from Park Cafe, so dining alfresco is limited but available. I was lucky enough to have the chef bring out some of the best dishes, because why not ask the guy in charge. We started with the "Classic Meat Plank," and the "Crispy Squid." The plank came with Fennel salami, pistachio mortadella, San Daniele prosciutto & schiacciata piccante with mini buffalo mozzarella, pecorino & chilli jam, pickles, olives. & rainbow slaw. The mini buffalo mozzarella, being my favorite type of cheese, was the first thing on my fork and the flavor of the topping of an Italian fig brought a sweetness that made me realize buffalo mozzarella can be even better than it already is. The crispy squid (calamari) was fried to perfection and had a light crunch to it paired with a garlicky mayo dipping sauce. Next, the Bruschettas, one "Tomato," and one "Avocado and Crab." The tomato bruschetta with roasted cherry tomatoes, whipped ricotta cheese, basil, and olive oil was the perfect amount of a sweet creamy crunch that just drove my taste buds to a level I never thought possible. The avocado and fresh crab bruschetta with apples, yogurt, and chili was the perfect blend of the sweetness from the crab, the thickness of the avocado and crunchiness from the apples but surprisingly not spicy even with the chili. Now onto pasta and lucky for me the chef must have known that I am a seafood lover because he chose the "Prawn Linguine." The linguini with garlicky prawns, fennel tomatoes, chili and topped with peppery arugula dressed with olive oil. Without question one of the best pasta dishes, I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy with the perfect blend of garlic, sweet tomato sauce, and pepper. The main course, "Lamb Chops Scottadito." Now I am not typically a lamb fan but my mind has been changed. These artisan, free-range lamb chops are cooked to a perfect medium-rare that just melts in your mouth paired with agrodolce peppers and balsamic basil pesto, that is enough to make anyone into a fan of lamb! Now, last and best, "Jamie's Dessert Plank." Yes, a dessert plank because why have just one when you can have a plank. This amazing plank comes with four different amazing homemade desserts, an "Epic Chocolate Brownie," "Raspberry Pavlova," "Amalfi Lemon Meringue Cheesecake," and "Tiramisu." The brownie is made with 70% dark chocolate and topped with caramelized amaretto popcorn and chocolate syrup. Next, the Raspberry Pavlova, a raspberry meringue cookie topped with honeycomb and raspberry syrup, proved to me that I need to have pavlovas in my life daily. The Amalfi Lemon Meringue Cheesecake was the biggest explosion of flavors I have ever experience from a dessert, and I teared up a little after tasting this. Finally, Tiramisu but this is not just any tiramisu, this is a Jamie Oliver tiramisu, so let's take ladyfingers throw them away and then replace them with sponge cake and then realize everything you know about Italian desserts should be changed! Jamie's Italian is open daily for lunch ($25.00) and dinner ($34.99), lunch and price can vary per cruise. If this specialty experience is not on your list of restaurants to try on your cruise well click here to add it to your calendar on cruise planner, you'll thank me later! Jamie's is currently available onboard Symphony, Harmony, Navigator, Mariner, Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, and coming soon to Spectrum Stayed Tuned for parts two and three of "Specialty Dining onboard Symphony" next up, Playmakers! Check out Symphony of the Seas on our Member Portal!

Thank you so much I appreciate it! Symphony is definitely Royal's push to create the "perfect" cruise ship!

As a fan of the large ships, Yes I do! I think Royal bringing the amazing features of the large ships to some of the small ships is an incredible idea so people who enjoy the smaller ships can enjoy those features too!

I know we have been gone for a second but we are back and starting off with a blog that is bound to answer your questions! Symphony of the Seas VS Harmony of the Seas! The largest passenger ships in the world, Symphony of the Seas (2018) and Harmony of the Seas (2016), just so happen to be sister ships operated by Royal Caribbean International. "They can't be that different" is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of sister ships, right? I am here to tell you that YES they can be that different! Some differences are noticeable and some not so much, but I notice the smallest details, so I am here to help you choose the best ship for your cruise experience! Let's start with the big picture and the fast facts of these queens of the ocean! Symphony GRT: 228,081 Length: 1,188 Feet Width: 215.5 Feet Capacity(Max): 8,880 Harmony GRT: 226,963 Length: 1,188 Feet Width: 215.5 feet Capacity (Max): 8,887 As you can see from the fast facts above these ships, seem practically identical except the Symphony being about 1,100 tons larger giving her the title of largest in the world! The differences are in the details! The most noticeable differences: Completely reimagined Solarium and Boardwalk onboard Symphony. Solarium: Symphony boasts a completely reinvented solarium that is unrecognizable from her Oasis class sisters. On Harmony of the Seas, we saw an additional floor added to the solarium on deck 14 which expanded the adults only area to three decks but no pool at all :(. Forget everything you know about the solarium and discover the sprawling two-story adults only area with a pool, multiple whirlpools, a waterfall fountain, larger bar with complementary Solarium Bistro, and new specialty restaurant Hooked Seafood with floor to ceiling windows boasting panoramic views. Not to worry Royal Caribbean brought back the glass ceiling on the solarium, so no more looking at ripped plastic as we do on Harmony! One major thing to note is, you cannot access the solarium from deck 16! Boardwalk: One of my favorite places on board any ship, the Boardwalk. Introduced in 2009 onboard Oasis of the Seas, the Boardwalk is designed after the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk and features a carousel, shops, restaurants, and to top it off the Aqua Theater. Fast forward nearly ten years the Boardwalk has been reimagined! Onboard Symphony, Starbucks and the logo store have been moved back to the promenade and "Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade" spans the entire port side of the Boardwalk with "Sugar Beach" taking the place of "Sundials" and "Design District" on the starboard side. The place to be on the boardwalk on Symphony? Definitely Playmakers! El Loco Fresh: Taking the place of Mini Bites, El Loco Fresh is located on deck 15 starboard aft before getting to the pool and sports deck! Here you will find Tacos, Burritos, Nachos, and a salsa bar! This is an excellent place for a quick bite in between Flowrider sessions. With ample seating which stretches around to overlook the boardwalk, you might just find your secret spot to watch the Aqua Show! Hooked Seafood: Royal Caribbean's newest restaurant addition, Hooked Seafood takes your taste buds to New England and it's glorious seafood! It is no secret that New England has incredible seafood and has been a major player in the fishing community for hundreds of years. It's time to enjoy the best seafood in the best place possible, the middle of the ocean! Semi Noticeable Differences: Windjammer: Arguably the busiest venue onboard any Royal Caribbean ship, the Windjammer, has some subtle changes to accommodate large quantities of guests. Larger hand wash stations are offered at both entrances making it much quicker getting you to the food faster! The only other noticeable change in this venue was the removal of the bar making room for significant additional seating, but not to worry there are plenty of bars on the way, so if you need a drink you will find one! Park Cafe The best place to go to avoid the craziness of the Windjammer, Park Cafe is located in Central Park on deck eight. Park Cafe onboard Symphony has about 25% more seating than Harmony, making it far easier to enjoy breakfast or lunch and of course, al fresco dining is offered! Unboxed: Located on Deck 15 aft, just under the Windjammer, Unboxed has taken the place of the small silly store that is barely open onboard the Harmony, Oasis, and Allure. Here you will find Vending machines where you can buy anything from baby diapers, band-aids, and sunblock to Ray Ban Sunglasses and iPads. Yes, this is closed while in Port. Starbucks: Making its way back to the promenade, Starbucks has a chic new look located at the far forward of the Promenade. Offering a full menu and the ability to use your Starbucks card to pay but not to redeem points. The Logo Store: My favorite store on the ship, the Logo Store, has a new home next to Cafe Promenade in the circular space which currently houses "Kate Spade" onboard Harmony. The store is small so get your ship model at the beginning of the week and avoid the crowds. Overall, Symphony brings back design elements we missed onboard Harmony and brings an entirely new concept to some areas. I can say from experience the Symphony handles crowds much better, merely the flow of guests was much better than I experienced onboard Harmony. Both Symphony and Harmony are incredible ships, rivaled by no other but Symphony gives us a look into future Royal Caribbean ships and proves how fast Royal Caribbean responds and adapts to guests wants and suggestions! Please comment any questions you have, share this with all the future Symphony cruises and lastly follow our Instagram because this Saturday, February 9 we are back onboard Symphony! Learn More about Symphony of the seas and so much more by clicking to visit Cruise Ship Crayz

Well, 2018 is racing to a close, and it was an incredible year for the industry. Let's take a look back at some of the incredible new ships that debuted in 2018! New Ships: Every year cruise lines seem to outdo themselves with the incredible ships they debut, and 2018 was one of the most incredible! From the largest ship in the world debut to the most innovative ship of our time. The Largest: Symphony of the Seas, debuted in May of 2018 making her the fourth Oasis-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. At 228,000 GRT, 1,188 feet long, and 215.5 feet wide Symphony of the Seas is the largest passenger ship afloat. In addition to bringing back some Royal Caribbean classics such as the Royal Promenade, Central Park, and the Boardwalk (made famous by her sister, Oasis). Symphony brings some new features including Laser Tag, Playmakers Arcade and Sports Bar, and Sugar Beach. Symphony has earned the "Best new Large Cruise Ship" title by the reader choice awards! Check out the Symphony here! The Most Advanced: Celebrity Edge debuted just weeks ago stunning everyone who sails on her. EDGE is Celebrity Cruises first new ship since 2012, and it was well worth the wait. The Edge is unrecognizable as a Celebrity ship as her design both inside and out is a first for this premium cruise line. From countless new restaurants, a cantilevered elevating bar and restaurant, a 22,000 square foot spa, and new staterooms the EDGE is "A total game changer." Check out the EDGE here! The others: Norwegian Bliss: The largest Norwegian Cruise Line ship to date the Norwegian Bliss is the third in the Breakaway Plus class ships and at 168,000 is one of the largest passenger ships in the world. The Bliss features one of the only go-kart tracks at sea, outdoor laser tag, and multiple full-size water slides. Check out the Bliss here! Carnival Horizon Carnival has stepped up their game. The Carnival Horizon might not be the largest cruise ship ever built, but she is one of the best ships afloat. The Horizon is beautifully laid out, features incredible restaurants, bars, venues, staterooms and has unrivaled service. I can not wait to be back on board. Check out the Horizon here! MSC Seaview: MSC Cruises is making waves in the North American market. MSC Seaside was built specifically for North America, and the reviews are incredible. From her chic exterior design to her dazzling interiors she is allowing the North American market to be more Mediterranean! Check out the Seaview here! Nieuw Statendam: Holland America Line is bringing elegance and innovation together on their newest ship Nieuw Statendam. The largest Holland America ship to date she allows guest to enjoy the classic elegance of an ocean liner and the innovation and excitement of a modern cruise ship! Check out the Nieuw Statendam here! These are just some new ship that we saw hit the ocean this year. 2019 looks to outdo 2018 with ship hitting the ocean such as Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas, Norwegian's Encore, Carnival's Panorama and even more ships being released by MSC Cruises, Princess, and Costa Cruises! Click here to check out all the new cruise ships coming in 2019!

We like to be pampered! I wish Southwest would debut a first class I would be there in 2 seconds!

After trying multiple new airlines over the last year, I have figured out which ones would be best for getting me to my ship on time and which ones might cost me my entire cruise. For all of you seasoned cruisers sound off and tell me what you think is the best/ most reliable airline to fly and where you are flying from! Also, tell me what your most unreliable airline for cruise travel is! Now I would ALWAYS suggest flying in a day early to avoid any possibility of missing your ship but here is my favorite and most reliable airline: From Providence, RI (PVD) to Fort. Lauderdale (FLL) for Port Everglades or Port Miami and to Orlando (MCO) for Port Canaveral Southwest is the only airline I fly if I am catching a cruise ship. Here is my reasoning: Providence is a major Airport for Southwest Airlines, so there are many direct and stop over flights going to all areas of Florida from early morning to late night. Additionally, no bag, change or cancellation fees, and the customer service is some of the best I have received while flying. Lastly, my flights are very rarely delayed, and they are always ready with another flight for you if needed. Untrustworthy Airline: JetBlue JetBlue has very few flights from my area, has bag fees, the customer service is lacking, the planes themselves make me feel like I have to flap my arms to fly and they are famous for delayed or canceled flights. This is one airline I simply can not chance while flying to a cruise ship. Let me know what Airlines are best for you and your area!

As of October 2, 2018, Norwegian has released the new base price of their Unlimited beverage package to USD 99.00 per person per day! The beverage package on Norwegian includes soft drinks, beers, spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including USD 15 during your entire cruise. Bottled water is NOT included in this package. Now in addition to the USD 99.00 per person per day, a 20% gratuity surcharge will be added to your package. Norwegian offers a promotion which the beverage package is included with your cruise fare, so the price of most Norwegian cruises now reflects an almost "all-inclusive." When booking NCL guests do not have to select the beverage package as their perk, four other perks are usually offered. Other perks include free 250 minutes of internet, free third and fourth person in the cabin, free specialty dining, or free shore excursion credits. After looking at all the perks the unlimited beverage package has the most cash value. I know you are asking the question and yes your cruise is the same amount regardless if you choose the beverage package with a value of USD 1,663.00 for two people (on average for 7-night voyages) or 250 minutes of the internet with a value of USD 105.00. So the choice is yours, but I know what I would choose. What are your thoughts on this price hike? Let us know in the comments below! To get a price quote on an NCL cruise click here!

It is official Norwegian Cruise Line has hiked their Unlimited beverage package to $99.99 USD per person per day!

@lasalmi I think that might be something I start doing! Seeing I cruise mostly for work now I do not drink until after 5 P.M. on the weekdays so I really don't drink much. Maybe I will save that as a "splurge" on a vacation cruise!

@Jan115 You are right if people buy them the cruise line will sell them! I noticed onboard Harmony 2 weeks ago that the bartenders now assume you have the package with many saying " you have the package?" Very rarely did I hear someone answer no, and now very few cocktail menus onboard list prices because most do not have to worry about it! Now don't get me wrong I got my $458.00 out of the unlimited internet and beverages but the internet I no longer think of as an expense because I am there to bring the onboard experience to all the wonderful viewers such as yourself but I can do without the alcohol. I agree that I would love to see a package sold beforehand that allows you a drink or two per night. Now I have to say I think there are two significant flaws in NCL's promotion of the drink package. One, there is no other perk you can choose that equals up to the amount of money someone can save by the beverage package. Second, after a certain hour onboard some NCL ships I have noticed that the entire ship gets a little too crazy and mostly younger passengers are out after a certain hour after the first night. I do know that NCL is completely redesigning their pricing structure so we will see exactly how that impacts the beverage package perk!

@AndiD No judgment here at Cruise Ship Crayz we completely understand the need to unwind in any way you wish while at sea. We also very strongly believe in "What happens at sea, stays at sea." I am happy to hear your thoughts on this, and that you wouldn't change cruise lines based off of the package! I am happy that Royal is now offering three complimentary drinks to diamond members I take advantage of them even when I have the package! I think I am going to try one of NCL's all-inclusive cruises to experience it first hand and see how it is! We will see what 2019 brings looking at the prices of the beverage package onboard Symphony for January I might be skipping it! ?

@Shari2 Thanks for responding Shari! I think that my next cruise will just be a refreshment package so I can get specialty coffee and freshly squeezed juices! Rather go on another cruise rather than spend it all on alcohol, it will make me feel better the whole time too! ?

So as we all know alcohol is not included in the price of your cruise (most of the time). As we are getting into the 2019 cruise season, most cruise lines are bumping up the prices on these packages. Norwegian is seeking to bump their beverage packages to $100 U.S.D. per person per day, Royal Caribbean is going into the $60 U.S.D. per person per day, and most people are adding $1,000 to their cruise in addition to the money already spent on the cruise. Now we have NCL that is consistently offering the unlimited beverage package as a perk in, what seems to be a never-ending promotion, and have overall increased the prices of their cruises. Additionally, NCL is offering "all-inclusive" cruises now as well. They are the only cruise line bold enough to offer a beverage package as a perk, and I believe that is a primary reason some younger cruises are switching to NCL. I do want to share with you my opinion on the beverage package. When I purchase the unlimited beverage package, I have paid no more than $450 for alcohol and internet, and I feel that I get more of a use of the internet and specialty coffee perk. Please let me know if you agree, but I feel that I force myself to drink more to get my money's worth. So I have some question for everyone whether you are a new cruiser or have been cruising for years: Do you think the prices of beverage packages are getting out of control? Would you leave the cruise line you are loyal to if another cruise line offered you an "all-inclusive" option? (For new cruisers) Would you choose a cruise solely based on how much the alcohol packages cost? (For seasoned cruisers) What is your overall opinion on the change from when beverage packages were not a thing to now? Would you rather pay for each drink or would you rather a package?

Cruise Ship Crayz is sailing onboard the Harmony of the Seas in 8 days, and it will be our largest live onboard experience broadcast EVER! Click below to learn more about how you can follow our journey and discover why an Oasis-class ship should be your next cruise! Discover Back to ROYALITY

@jacketwatch That is a first one for me, I have never heard that before! Now we even have options of different brands of coffee while onboard!

@Shari2 WOW I did not know that about the S.S. Consitution! That must have been pretty fantastic to sail onboard. I would love to sail onboard a ship that has a history like that, as much as I love the new ships and the innovation they hold I love me some history!

@Shari2 Wow sailing on the Carnivale must have been fantastic, one of the ships that started it all! Seems like sticking to two pieces of luggage is the way to go and if you consider bringing something make it a Yes or No and any maybes put into the no pile! As for formal nights, growing up my mom, sisters, and grandmother would always bring one "gown" then have a something more casual like a sundress for the second formal night. I used to bring two suits, and now I decided on bringing one suit and two shirts and ties but typically go casual the second night without a tie (or take the tie off after pictures). Seems like the more you sail the better you learn!

@Jan115 I like the " Pack the bag and then remove half" I think I need to start going by this because 26 cruises later and I still pack WAY too much! Seems like smartphones and kindles have certainly reduced the amount need to bring on a cruise!

Think back to your first cruise, for some of your this may be hard if you have been on many of them! Think about your first cruise and the first time you thought "I should have brought that" of " Why did I bring this?" So I want to know after your first cruise what did you wish you brought and as a seasoned cruiser what have you learned you don't need to bring? ✈️?️ -Joe

Thanks, @Shari2 I am happy you enjoyed the post. NCL is definitely worth trying again! The service was quite fantastic and the new ships are something to see! Let me know if you need help choosing an NCL cruise, here to help!

So what do we all think of the new rendering of Virgin Voyages first cruise ship? The first Virgin Voyages cruise ship will hold 2,860 passengers and will have an age minimum of 18. The first of three "Lady Ships" will debut sometime in 2020 with the other two arriving in 2021 and 2022. Interiors will be designed to bring "sailors" closer together and closer to the sea. Venues onboard the ship will boast an educational factor with a few classes teaching cooking, wines and etc. There is still much to be known about Virgin Voyages and I know I am on the edge of my seat waiting! The Athletic Club: Featuring the largest lounge chair at Sea The Dock The Test Kitchen The Manor What are your thoughts? Let me know!

After 25 cruises it shocked me that I had not yet sailed onboard Norwegian Cruise Line and I knew I was way overdue to experience "Freestyle Cruising." Fast forward a few months, and I find myself on a train racing toward Grand Central Station to Board the Norwegian Escape to Bermuda! Perk number 1 of NCL departing out of Manhattan, it is the most convenient departure port for New Englanders that is a train, bus or car ride away. With the taxi, Uber and Lyft drop off directly in front of the terminal getting from Port Authority Bus Station or Grand Central Train Station could not be easier and takes about 10 minutes. Once you arrive at the Pier, your luggage is taken by a porter, and you are through security in about 5 minutes. Check-In: After security things got a little confusing, with lines every which way but little signage that directed me to where we needed to be, however, I believe this was because the Escape was very new to New York, I did find my way and was happy to be so close to boarding. I am very used to a check-in process that is different from Norwegians'. Typically my onboard expense account is set up when I check in online 2-3 weeks before my cruise, with Norwegian this is not, currently, an option and your expense account is handled at the pier. This lead to noticeable longer wait times to check in and was clear to me that the expense account was the reason for this, especially with chip cards. After the longer than normal check-in process, Thanks to Norwegian, my friend and I were quickly escorted onto the Escape before any other passengers and then the fun began! Boarding: Stepping onto the ship was that same feeling you get every time that feeling of escape, relaxation and excitement for the week that awaits you. The one thing that I was most excited to see was 678 Ocean Place! The hub of the ship did not disappoint, with a marvelous multi-colored Chandelier dangling in the center, I immediately realized that this was going to be my favorite part of the ship! Booking Onboard Experiences: I have been on quite a few ships that have well over 4,300 passengers and have always been able to make reservations online before sailing. With Norwegian, I realized that there is a significant amount of onboard experience that you can only book once you are onboard. We were lucky enough to be the second people in line and finished booking everything that we needed and even though we just booked three activities it took about 20 minutes for the crew member in the box office to do this and an extremely long line formed behind us, definitely not the way I want to start off a cruise. So I would make sure this is your first stop when boarding to try and avoid lines! Garden Cafe: The buffet area onboard Norwegian Escape, the Garden Cafe, had a lovely relaxed vibe with hand washing stations at every entrance and a large variety of foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night snacks until 12 A.M! Dinner was a different global influence every night, with breakfast and lunch remaining consistent throughout the cruise! Accommodation: We were booked in a Family Balcony Stateroom on deck 9. The stateroom was spacious, had plenty of storage space, a mini refrigerator, hairdryer, television, plenty of outlets included one on each side of the bed and a beautiful view from the spacious private veranda! This stateroom has the capacity of 4 people with a bunk bed that drops from the ceiling and a sofa bed with plenty of room to move around! Freestyle Dining: Freestyle dining was the best, included, dining I have ever experienced on a cruise ship! Being able to choose a different restaurant and time every night was fantastic. I was expecting a different menu in each restaurant; however, most everything on the menu is the same in each restaurant, but the atmosphere is different in each one! For those of you who are unfamiliar with "Freestyle Dining," this is how it works. You can make reservations for one of, typically, three "main dining rooms" in this case we had choices of the Manhattan Room, Savor, and Taste. Each restaurant has the same menu and same times, but you can enjoy different atmospheres, times and wait staff every night! So say goodbye to being stuck in one dining room, at the same table, at the same time for the length of your cruise and hello to freedom to do what you like! For those of you who still enjoy the traditional way of dining with the same place, time and waitstaff you can do that too! To ensure you have the same time place and waitstaff every night go to a hostess at the very beginning of your cruise and let them know that is what you want and they will make it work! Onboard Activities: The Norwegian Escape is the first ship in the Breakaway Plus class of ships, so there are many activities onboard with but unfortunately laser tag and Go Karts did not make it onboard ? #firstworldproblem, am I right?) Waterslides: An absolute must try, my only regret was not trying them sooner. The Escape is equipped with two freefall slides and one "Aqua Racer" which is a nice relaxing slide! So you can opt for the exhilaration of the racer slides or the laid back lazy Aqua Racer slide and have the time of your life on both! Ropes Course: I understand why the Go-Kart tracks have replaced this, it was anti-climatic, at least for adults I can see children from 7-15 enjoying this activity. Is it worth doing, of course, but only once per cruise is fine! Learn More about Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard features here! Onboard Entertainment: While on a cruise that is overnight in a port it is easy to miss the onboard entertainment, but we made it a point to try and get to everything we could! The comedy shows onboard were offered almost every night both for families and for adults only. Of course, we chose the adults-only show and we left Howl at the Moon exhausted from laughter! The on-stage shows offered onboard Escape currently are, After Midnight and For the Record: The Brat Pack. Both shows are can't miss, it is a bit difficult to follow the story but the talent is OUT OF THIS WORLD do not miss one show! The small shows such as the Newly Wed game and similar shows were typically held in the Atrium, each show was unique and had its distinctive flair. In addition to small shows, you can also see cooking demonstrations, dance classes, cruise ship 101 and more in the atrium daily! Learn More about Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard entertainment here! Disembarkation: Although this is the worst part of the cruise, regardless if the process is smooth or not we all know smoother disembarkation is preferred over a prolonged wait for the enviable (reality). Disembarking the Escape was, and I hate to say it, the most unorganized process I have ever experienced. Now I definitely can not place all of the blame on Norwegian because it seemed that customs and the coast guard slowed them down, a lot. So disembarkation was quite horrible, but we were able to get a glimpse of the Norwegian Bliss, so that made everything better! Ratings: The below ratings are based on a 5 "wave" 5 being the best and 1 the worst, and it is waves because why not! These ratings are strictly opinion based and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cruise Ship Crayz TM. Check-in and embarkation: 3 Waves Some improvement is needed on the organizational side at the Manhattan cruise terminal to speed up the check-in process. Security is quick and Easy! Onboard Dining: Included Dining: 5 Waves The food onboard the Escape was some of the best-included food I have had at sea in a long time, and of course, the service was impeccable! Specialty Dining: I can not give a rating because I enjoyed the main dining rooms so much I forgot to try one! Onboard Activities: Solid 4 Waves The wide variety of activities offed onboard the Escape keep you busy all day, but I didn't get that WOW factor from the activities. Onboard Entertainment: 4 Waves As mentioned above The talent was incredible, but I was looking for more of a storyline, still can't miss shows! Accommodations: 5 Waves We loved our stateroom and attendant, and we had more than enough space to spread out and unpack completely! Disembarkation: 2 Waves Disembarkation was horrendous with people coming from all direction to get in a line that I am still looking for. I would opt for the express walk off! Overall I absolutely loved my first Freestyle cruising experience and can not wait to be back onboard a Norwegian cruise ship! I would highly recommend cruising onboard a Norwegian cruise to anyone, especially those with children! Click here to learn more about Norwegian Cruise Line and the Norwegian Escape!

@Shari2 I could not agree more Carnival has come a very long way in a short amount of time! If you enjoyed the Carnival Liberty you would definitely enjoy the Horizon!

Hi @Jason These were all things I was concerned about as well and did not understand until I was onboard. So the Carnival Horizon is roughly 133,500 GRT and the Oasis Class of ships range from 225,000 to 230,000 GRT. The horizon has a passenger capacity of 5,056 and the Oasis class ships hold up to 6,900. So even though there is only a 1,800 passenger difference I still understand the concern. So how do they manage this? Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class gives you all the amenities of a "Super-Ship" with the capability of having every public space half full because there is such a large variety of them. Now on Carnival, there are enough public spaces for each of them to be about 95% full at most times, even with this you will not feel "crowded" but you definitely be in an elevator with 3 or 4 other passengers whereas on Oasis I was on the elevator by myself almost always. So it seems to me Carnival was able to fit that amount of people by having fewer public spaces or at least smaller spaces and having more cabins. To put this into perspective the older Carnival ships such as the Triumph class have large atrium areas that span the entire height of the ship where the newer ships have an atrium that spans three decks. If Royal Caribbean did something similar to this I would image they could fit upwards of 8,000 passengers onboard. The smokehouse is an additional fee restaurant. I am not too sure about the price I think it might be al la carte pricing and of course, the drinks do cost extra and they cost anywhere from $10- $14 but if you do have the cheers package those drinks are included with those packages. So the food onboard was just perfect. Over the last few years since specialty restaurants have become a very common thing onboard, I have noticed a steep decline in the main dining room food. I noticed this onboard Harmony of the Seas in 2017 when, for the first time, I decided to forgo dinner after getting my dinner and it being horrible enough to the point that I did not want anything else. Now onboard the Horizon I was able to sample the food at multiple specialty restaurants and then had a full dinner in the main dining room and I did not notice any differences in the quality, presentation or flavor. The main dining room was perfect from the atmosphere to the Kale salad, Lobster, and Shimp, to the GLUTEN FREE, melting chocolate cake. For those who need approval that I know good food, I live in Providence, Rhode Island which is home to some of the best and most award-winning restaurants in the country. Needless to say, I know good food. I hope this sufficiently answers your questions! -Joe