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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Arthur T Overby
Email: overby@mt-olive.com
Age: 31
Occupation: Technician
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 12/27/98
Itinerary: Western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Jan 1999
Time: 17:21:26
Remote Name: 208.149.187.137
Remote User:
Comments
After reading some of the reviews on the Internet and after cruising on what is considered
an exquisite ship
(Celebrity Century) I was not expecting to be impressed by the SS Seabreaze. This trip was
planned about 9
months in advance and was with a group of about fifty people from our small town in Mount
Olive IL. My wife and I
and two children (both 8) drove to Ft. Lauderdale from central Illinois. After a 20-hour
drive I was very pleased with
the ease of getting around the Ft. Lauderdale Port. Our check in was very smooth took
about twenty minutes from
curb to cabin.
The Room 95 Our cabin G48 was an outside cabin and was suprisingly roomy. We had our
travel agent find the
biggest cabin in the price range we were looking at and we were very happy. I recommend
this highly. It is near
the center of the ship and is close to the elevator that brings you to the main dinning
room and casino.
The Buffets After getting settled we headed up top to our first buffet. The seating was
scarce and there was
nowhere to eat indoors if you preferred. I don't like to eat outside in the wind I would
have like indoor seating
somewhere. I did not want to rush to any kind of judgement about the cruise from the first
day so I decided to take
it in stride. The buffets in general were good. The deserts left a lot to be desired. They
were bland and not much
of a selection. The service at the buffets was very good the staff was always taking away
unwanted plates and
willing to help in any way possible. If you did not care for the buffet for lunch you
could always opt for the hot dog
or hamburger on top deck. The hamburgers weren't bad I had them a couple of days. I only
made it to two
midnight buffets. They were both ok. I would rather they splurge more at the lunch buffet
and forget the midnight
buffet and just make it deserts. I was always to full from the dinner to enjoy them very
much.
The Main Dinner 99 After our first buffet I was very skeptical about the dinners. My
skepticism was not justified.
The bigger, newer ships have nothing on the SS Seabreeze. The food was great. The service
was great. The
selection was great. The dinning room was great. I enjoyed every meal in the dinning room.
The only reason that
I give it a 99 is that there was not RANCH dressing on this ship. Blue cheese, Thousand
Island, vinaigrette but
no RANCH. I believe that ranch dressing is a very popular dressing. At least more so that
Thousand Island. Well
that is my only complaint on the Main dinning.
The Casino 100 Although the casino was small it had something for every type a gambler.
Video poker, slot
machines, blackjack, roulette and Caribbean stud poker. A lot of my time was spent in the
casino. Not to gamble
but at the bar. This was the best bartender to be found on the ship. Donovan my Main man.
The group of people
we went with always gathered around Donovan bar. We ranged in age from 30 to 65. Donovan
was not only a
great bartender but also very entertaining. If I had to pick out a highlight of the cruise
it would be the time spent in
the Casino bar. If you go to the Casino bar and see Donovan tell him 'Todd, Chico and Ray
say we're not done
yet'. At the end of the cruise we all pitched in and gave him a $100 tip. He deserved it.
The Shows 85 The shows were definitely low budget. This is not to say they weren't
performed well. There was a
good magician/comic and a good Mexican band. I did not attend all of the shows so this
might not be the most
accurate review. The entertainment on the Celebrity Century I would not miss but I did not
feel this way about the
shows on this cruise.
Good for Families We took our daughter 8 and here cousin (boy) 8 on the cruise. This was
their first cruise. We
took along hand held radios from Radio Shack ($59 each) so we could always be in touch
with the kids. This
worked very well. The kids program did not start on Sunday it started Monday at 9am. The
pool was not filled until
Monday so there was little to do for two 8 year olds the first day. Monday after breakfast
the kids went to the kids
program. This was a full day at sea so they had things for them to do all day except
mealtime when we had to
pick them up. The kids had the time of their lives with scavenger hunts, games, movies and
meeting new friends.
All the staff was very helpful with the children and made them feel welcome. On day when
the ship is in port there
is no kids program until 3pm. I didn't like this because some days we chose not to go
ashore. The kids program
shut down every night (except New Years Eve) at 10pm. I thought this was kind of early.
They did offer baby sitting
at $5 dollars an hour per child. Overall the kids had a great time and had no complaints.
Shore excursions 90 Cozumel- We took the kids horseback riding. We had and excellent guide
'Ron' he was very
good with the children and was very informative on the Myan culture. I would recommend
this trip.
Roatan- We went to Tabianya Beach. After the grueling bus ride we were on one of the most
beautiful beaches I
have been on. The snorkeling was great. It is a shallow reef so the kids got to see a lot
of fish and had a blast. I
would also recommend this trip.
Key West- The two kids and I went on the ski do tour. All three of us were on one ski do.
The ride was great. We
drove through a trail through the mangrove it was awesome. We all enjoyed the 1.5-hour
ride. I would
recommend this trip also.
Cabin Steward 95 Our steward was good. He brought me coffee every mourning at 7am sharp.
He kept the room
great and was always willing to help.
Cleanliness 95 They were always cleaning something. The carpet was in great shape the
brass was polished
the rooms did not smell like smoke. Someone was always painting something or vacuuming.
Although this is an
old ship it is kept very well.
Overall 95 Although I would rather be on a larger newer ship I was in no way disappointed
on this cruise. I would
recumbent this ship to anyone. Our 7-day cruise between Christmas and New Years was $900
per adult. This is
a good price for this time. If anyone has any questions about our trip please feel free to
Email me at
overby@mt-olive.com
Name: Robert Lombardi
Email: Mambo64@aol.com
Age: 35
Occupation: Book Publishing
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: March 21, 1999
Itinerary: Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 65
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 70
FoodLidoDeck: 70
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 79
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 78
DeckService: 70
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 70
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 70
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 16 Apr 1999
Time: 17:33:38
Remote Name: 206.154.143.12
Remote User:
Comments
This was my first cruise and I read some very scathing reviews of the SeaBreeze. I went
with absolutely no expectations. I
was more than pleasantly surprised with the ship itself and the entire experience! Getting
on and off the ship were no trouble
at all. Most everyone on the ship was gracious and patient during the check-in. The ports
of call were wonderful. I selected
this cruise for its price and itinerary. I got much more value for my money than on any
vacation I've taken. Although most of
the passengers were 65+, I had no trouble meeting other young people, and made friends
with some of the older
passengers who gave me helpful tips and suggestions for future cruises. If you want to
drink and dance all day and night,
pick another cruise since things on the SeaBreeze seemed to wrap up relatively early. If
you want to relax and see some
wonderful historic ports, the Panama Canal itineray was superb! The food was basic, good
banquet food. I noticed alot of
the food (particularly from the vegetarian choices) were frozen (frozen vegetables,
quiche, etc.) However, the presentation
was appealing and the dining room service was fantastic, friendly, and relaxed. The buffet
at lunch was a bit boring as was
the 4pm tea service, and had me lamenting 'cold cuts again!'. But I wasn't on the cruise
to gain weight, so it was no big deal.
My only real complaint is that there wasn't enough fresh fruit and melon and not enough
ice in the ice machine during the
hot Caribbean days. That's my only complaint. (Although the cruise director was a bit
annoying throughout the trip.)
Organization of the excursions was smooth, even though it did take longer than expected on
two of the
excursions...everything was worth the wait. Perhaps the best part of the journey was
standing on the front deck at night
staring at the sky and the sea and feeling the wind. You'll see constellations you've only
seen in text books! Overall, the
Seabreeze was great. I'm not a picky guy and I don't need all the comforts of home when
I'm on vacation (or else I'd just stay
home). If you are a budget-conscious traveller, or a first-time cruiser, Premier Cruise
lines offers some great itineraries. If
you are stuck-up, a chronic complainer, or would prefer ALL the comforts of home, then
book a cruise on the QE2, and
leave the relaxed, unpretentious travel to those of us who can appreciate it. Thanks
SeaBreeze! I can't wait to sail with you
again.
Name: Randy Hanna
Email: rainbow@netstarcomm.net
Age: 42
Occupation: Hospital Admissions Dir
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: April 11, 1999
Itinerary: Mayan Americas
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 97
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets: 93
CabinSteward: 97
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue: 92
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 98
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 97
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 92
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Apr 1999
Time: 15:21:06
Remote Name: cougar.netstarcomm.net
Remote User:
Comments
If you are looking for value for your cruise dollars, you should definately give the
SeaBreeze a good look. What the Sea
Breeze lacks in Sparkle and Glitz, it more than makes up for is personal service.
Personally, I prefer well polished brass and
teak to Chrome and plastic any day.
The staff was very personable and it was very rare to not have someone close by to assist
your every needs. Whether they
be a fresh drink, directions to one of the lounges or instructions on how to play
roulette.
Activities aboard ship were plentiful and quite varied for those desiring more than a deck
chair in the sun. The excursions
available for each port were just as plentiful. My only complaint about the excursions is
we often felt rushed. I would
recommend that if there is a specific sight on one of the islands you wish to spend some
time at, you consider hiring a cab
as opposed to the tour. This will allow you plenty of time to explore.
The food on ship, whether in the formal dining room or one of the buffets, was always
excelent. A nice variety was always
offered, including vegitarian dishes.
Overall, I highly recommend the Sea Breeze and Mayan Americas itinerary. It was one of the
nicest and most relaxing
vacations we have enjoyed in some time.
This was my first cruise (just husband and I). I enjoyed it so much that I am already
looking for the way to plan my next
one....and I would most definitely be pleased if it could, once again, be on the Premier
Line. Although I have been told by
many of my 'cruising' friends that some of the 'glitzier' ships have much more to offer..I
cannot imagine that I missed out on
anything. The cruise director and his staff were available and kept both themselves and
the passengers who wanted to be
active very busy. They were helpful and friendly. There was entertainment all day long,
from Bingo, wine tastings, massages
and deck games to just relaxing around the pool(although it is not my general expectaion
of a pool-just a deep well full of
water), jacuzzis or in one of the many bar/lounges. It felt as if each minute could have
been busy with some ship activity that
was available. Some of the areas were most definitely socializing places and others were
less 'inhabited' for those preferring
a solitary time (with one area remaining darkened at night for some amazing stargazing.
The food was excellent and abundant. Each meal offered many choices and I find it hard to
imagine that anyone could not
find something to their liking. The deck buffets were informal and relaxing with busboys
who kept things tidy without even
being noticed. The drink waiters were easily available, seemed to keep a close eye out for
anyone in need of anything and
yet were not the least bit pushy. They 'added' to the trip with their friendly attitudes
and willingness to visit with those of us
who enjoy such exchanges. (Akarsh, from India, will see to it that you get an excellent
drink-a BBC-and will assist in making it
to suit your taste).
The Formal dining was a great experience. Our waiter, Berny, from Costa Rica was full of
wit, charm, humor and was an
amazingly mindful caregiver. It will be an asset to Premier to have him interacting with
more of the passengers, in the near
future, when he moves into his much deserved Head Waiter position. Courtney, our busboy
from Montego Bay, remained
courteous and friendly throughout. The dining room, table setting and general ambiance was
one of unpretentious
elegance. There were even some very welcome surprises on a few of the evenings when the
staff offered us some
impromptu 'entertainment'.
The casino was always busy but plenty of room for one more. The staff in there were
courteous and even took time to help
out those of us playing something for the first time with hints and suggestions.
Our room steward, Astika (Tika), was a master at caring for our needs making himself both
available and invisible at the
same time. The accomodations were great with no complaints. We had a double bed and then a
single that we used as a
couch and a 'catch all'. I find the 'baby' showers annoying but realize what are ya gonna
do on a ship that is showering 1200
residents..how big does it really need to be to get the job done?
The excursion offerings are profuse causing only the problem of deciding which one to do.
In Cozumel we chose to visit the
Mayan ruins by going on the Tulum/Ex-hal Tour. Our tour guide, Horvay (sic) and driver,
George, were great. Horvay is very
learned regarding the ruins and was entertaining on the bus with his banter. After the
tour we still had time to spend on a
beautiful beach and then take our things back to the ship before returning to Cozummel for
a shopping trip. In Roatan we
opted to swim with the DOLPHINS!! There were a group of people outside the ship wearing
native dress and playing drums
that made the departures and arrivals unique and joyful. Our cab driver, Dimas, spoke only
broken English so the ride was
extra special as he pointed out schools, churches and other landmarks in English and we
attempted to respond to him and
his good humor. The folks at the Dolphin encounter were wonderfully informative and appear
to love their 'charges' (in this
case, both the dolphins and us tourists). I was also able to make the aquaintance of a
little, 10 year old local girl named
Ama. (It couldn't have been better if she had been 'planted' to be selling her Momma's
pastries from a kitchen pot covered in
a dish towel-sort of a Honduran little red riding hood). In Belize we chose to explore the
Xuanatunich Mayan ruins. After a
ride on the tender we boarded a bus with the tour guide, Ed, and his driver, Dudley. Ed
was full of interesting information
about Belize and the ruins as well as offering us a look into himself as a local
philosopher. Unfortunately, this is the one and
only complaint..this day..we felt a need 'keep on schedule' and therefore felt rushed and
missed out on any shopping
(certainly not browsing) time. In Key West we chose to just meander the streets on our
own. We found it a good day to kick
back, do some souvenier shopping and have a Marguarita at Jimmy's place.
It was a wonderful experience and I cannot for the life of me find anything to complain
about. I guess there may have been
things that went wrong..but they must have been well hidden behind the scenes because my
view was one of comfort and
pleasure.
Jill Ulrey-Hanna ImaRainbow@aol.com
Name: Mary Anne Vonderheide
Email: Gusnmare@aol.com
Age: 38
Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Mother
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: April 11th to April 18th
Itinerary: Mayan Americas
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 50
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 40
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 60
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 50
EntertShowLounge: 50
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 07 May 1999
Time: 22:09:15
Remote Name: spider-wg051.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise experience. We had read many things before we went and weren't
sure what to expect. We were
pleasantly surprised. The service from our waiter Timothy and busboy Dave were
exceptional. They were so much fun, it
really made our meals with the 17 in our group truely a dining experience. They were so
accomodating and Timothy
especially bent over backwards to please us. The meals were good with lots of different
menu items. They were not gormet,
but, were tasty. Desserts were yummy, and you always had the option of delicious Ice cream
if you didn't like the other items.
The Cabin Steward, Matin, was really wonderful. We had an odd plug for our hair dryer and
he immediately came to the
rescue and saved us $25.00 in the gift shop buying and adapted kit.
A simple extension cord did the trick! We would be
gone a few minutes and come back and our entire room was cleaned, beds made and neat and
tidy again. He was great!
We were on the D deck and had twin beds with lots of storage and closet space. The only
thing that was bad was the toilet
paper roll was on your lap when you sat down! The shower was quite tiny and had to hold
the shower sprayer so it wouldn't
shoot out and flood the bathroom. We had heard that the noise was supposed to be bad and
were concerned, but never
had a problem. We slept great! The entertainment was so so but the disco was quite fun. We
had fun with all 17 of us in the
Kareoke bar until it closed at 12:00. That was a bummer. The shows were just okay, nothing
great. The young people
worked hard performing, but they were kind of boring.
The pool deck and area was really bad. The pool, which we had
heard about, was a 7 foot hole. The deck was packed with chairs and people. We went up on
floor on the Hot tub deck and
there were many chairs available. Also the deck at the front of the boat was great. It was
breezy up there and was not near
as hot. We stayed out there all day and were never hot. It also was very peaceful and
quiet. The drink waiters we found to
be pushy, rude and nasty. We figured it out though, their 15% tip is automatically added
on to the check, so they don't have
to be nice. They were the only ones we found to be bad, all other service people were
fantastic. We had heard different
things about the change in ports and were concerned.
There was no change in any of our ports. The one day we went to
Belize the winds were terribly high and it took those poor people so long to get the
guests on the tenders fighting that wind
and those waves. They did a great job though and got us there safely. The tender on the
way back was a little scary. This
one woman was holding the window closed so it wouldn't blow open and soak her. Glad I was
on the other side of the boat!
We did the snorkeling in Cozumel and had a blast. The coral reef was not very good, saw a
few fish and that was all, but the
party after was so fun, that made the trip for us! We went to Fantasy Island in Honduras
and it was really beautiful. Some of
the people in our group found on the other side of a small inlet was beautiful snorkeling.
The trip to the island was very
depressing and we almost felt guilty pulling up to this beautiful resort and beach area.
It kind of took the fun out of it. They
had it well organized and we were lucky once again to get a bus that had air! Belize was
nice, we did the snorkeling and
Manatee watching.
We saw a fast glimpse of a Manatee, but we did see one! The snorkeling was not nearly
as organized as
it was in Cozumel. The water was beautiful and in some parts only waist high the
snorkeling was beautiful way out. The lunch
there was ok, with barbqued chicken and cooked carrots. Nothing special! The portable John
on the end of the pier was very
clean. Key West was fun. We went to Sloppy Joes and had delicious Coconut Shrimp. The
waitress was very rude but the
food and atmosphere made up for it all. The shopping was plentiful and so were the
restaurants. Lots of fun! All 17 in our
group had a very enjoyable trip. Again, we were not expecting glitze and glamour and
therefore were very pleased. We
would do it again in a minute. We did see a family there with two small children. They
were bored to death. The parents
looked totally stressed out and not having fun.
The child programs were for children over 3 and theirs were 18 mos. and just
3. We were glad ours were home and in school. They were happier at home as were we! Truely
not a place to bring small
children. Also, one elevator on the ship, felt sorry for the elderly people we saw, must
have been hard doing the stairs for
them everyday. We just felt we walked off a few desserts! The ship had a few rough nights
but nothing really bad. Only one
lady in our group had felt sick twice. The disembarking when we came into Ft. Lauderdale
was rather goofy. We had an
11:00 flight and they left us in the theater. Customs came in at 8:45 a.m. to clear the
people who had 9:15 flights and then
left. We heard nothing until 10:00 and then they just said ok you can go. They took our
declaration slip and off we went. We
thought that rather strange. Anyway, we made our flight with time to spare so that was all
we cared about. That is about it!
Happy Sailing!!
Name: Ed Gonzalez
Email: eigonzalez@aol.com
Age: 40
Occupation: Financial Systems Manager
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 5/2/99
Itinerary: Mayan Americas
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 98
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 70
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 75
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 10 May 1999
Time: 16:21:37
Remote Name: tcs-gateway11.treas.gov
Remote User:
Comments
When I first boarded the ship I was a bit disappointed because it looked a little shabby.
The pool was covered with
an unsightly net (which looked dirty) and the walls were covered with padding to protect
them during the boarding
process. The carpet was worn in places and some of the furniture needed to be replaced.
I think, in retrospect, that my disappointment was based on being in port (the pier is not
what one might call
aesthetically pleasing). As we sailed out that afternoon I was beginning to enjoy the ship
more and the ocean made
the surroundings more pleasing.
There are many good points to the ship and itinerary. It is a classic ship in styling and
much more appealing to me
than the mega-ships. It looks like a ship and not a condominium. The crew and staff were
excellent overall (with a
few minor exceptions). The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and expertly served.
The casino was more
than adequate. My room (F-134) was very nice with more than enough room (although some
that I saw were rather
small). And the cabin steward was always available.
Some of the shows were just so so. But a few were top notch. There was enough to do on
board with the excellent
SeaFit program (the instructor was better than most on land), bingo, trivia, discoing,
gambling, etc. The itinerary and
shore excursions were wonderful. I’m thinking of sailing it again to experience some
of the excursions I didn’t get to
go on this time around.
The major shortcoming of the ship is it’s pool. It needs to be totally overhauled (it
bordered on being gross). I also
think that it’s time for a bit of sprucing up in the public areas where some carpet
and furniture replacement is
warranted. Other than that I would say that the ship is more than worth the price of the
cruise.
Overall I would give the ship, crew, staff, itinerary and excursions a 90.
Name: Lee Walker
Email: LWalker@JELeanos.com
Age: 43
Occupation: Tax Accountant
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 05/02/99
Itinerary: Mayan Americans
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 60
LoungeService: 100
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 50
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess: 25
ExerciseFacilities: 25
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 May 1999
Time: 15:03:16
Remote Name: joanl.clark.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was my 4th cruise on Seabreeze, and the best ever. My father, sister and I cruise
every year May 1st. My
father likes this ship because it is easy to manuever around, and he likes the smallness
of the ship.
We were pleasantly surprised to learn two weeks before the cruise that we had been
upgraded from cabins D-35
and D-37 to the Category A suites, D-17 and D-19. These were incredibly roomy, with a
queensize bed, full bath
with tub and shower, and a living room and refrigerator. Also, there was an outer door
that closed off the two rooms
from hall noise.
Premier has done a good job of improving a lot of the negative things when Seabreeze was
in the Dolphin line. THe
bar staff is not so pushy with the drinks. On board announcements have been kept at a bare
minimum (no more
bingo announcements every 5 minutes). The staff seems somehow more attentive and polite,
and go out of their
way to make polite conversation, such as 'how was your day', or 'did you enjoy your day at
port'. The F&B Manager,
Marek, told us that since the ship is old and with few amenities that the staff must make
up for it with superior
service. For instance, if a passenger asks where the rest room is, they don't point in the
direction of the restroom,
they escort you there.
The ship was clean and well kept. The food was excellent, well presented and always hot.
The wait staff was
wonderful. We see a lot of the same staff year after year, and it's nice that they
recognize us.
The shore excursions - other than Cozumel and Key West were geared towards divers.
Honduras and Belize had
dive trips, but the towns were not particularly great. Honduras had a pretty beach at a
private resort and Belize an
interesting town, but not your typical caribbean tourist town. The proverty is the worst
I've seen except for Jamaica. I
believe that a lot of the passengers were disapointed and would rather go back to the old
St. thomas, Cayman,
Jamaica, Cozumel route. If you want more information on Premier's shore excursions, they
have a great
fax-on-demand feature. Try Premier's web page to get the information on how to hook into
this info.
The entertainment was great. The Styleliners review of juke box oldies was professional
and well done with lots of
costume changes. The magician was also great. The cruise director, John, was also an
incredible singer and did a
great medley of Frank Sinatra tunes, both in the Carmen Lounge shows, and the late-night
Serenade Bar to the
accompanying piano player, Ted.
Bingo cards were too expensive, at $20 for three.
The casino staff was the best ever, all very friendly and giving hints to beginners. There
are 12 nickle slots, which
were fun for my Dad. I won 2400 nickles ($120) with a jackpot pull, plus a few hundred on
the blackjack tables.
Breakfast and lunch buffets outside were good, with a large variety of hot foods as well
as several selections of
salad and bread. I really missed the mango and papaya from last year, but the F&B
Manager said that it wasn't
available this year.
Tropical buffet is not to be missed. Lots of fresh fruit, but the show put on by the staff
is incredible.
The Friday night buffet is so fantastic that a line forms to take pictures before the food
is served. Head waiter Carlos
said it takes 50 man hours just to prepare and set up the decorations.
Disco was rocking into the wee hours. Errol is a great DJ, and keeps the tunes coming
fast.
Pool area small and crowded on sea days. Go to the whirlpool deck for more lounges.
Nice walking deck on Daphne. Lots of chaise lounges that look right out onto the passing
sea.
Rough seas between Honduras and Belize, and from Belize to Honduras.
Bridge tour worth the trip. Take it if you can get the tickets.
We'll be cruising on the Seabreeze again. Feel free to contact me for any information
while this cruise is still fresh in
my mind.
LWalker@JELeanos.com.
Name: Melilnda Kazmer
Email: mkazmer@gulfaccess.net
Age: 54
Occupation: Business Owner
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 5-2-99
Itinerary: Mayan American
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 75
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 May 1999
Time: 10:52:14
Remote Name: nap-pm3-01-29.gulfaccess.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was a wonderful cruise. Since the price was so reasonable, we were leery, but
couldn't afford NOT to go! It was
excellent! This is an old, small ship in good condition for its age. If you like glitz and
glamour - do not sail with
Premier - but if you like wonderful food and great service and a good time, by all means
go.
We had an inside cabin that was roomy and had good storage space. Next time, since the
price is reasonable, we
will book an outside cabin. On these older ships, there are all kinds of cabins, so book
carefully. The ports of call
were Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Key West with two days at sea. This was an itinery we
had never done and we
had a great time. Be aware that Roatan and Belize are pretty "third world" - but
there are some beautiful inns and
beaches on the West End of Roatan. Belize, unless you are a diver, was not for us at all.
We had a great time in
Cozumel and Key WEst. The ship excursions were very reasonably priced. We did not go on
them, however, since
we prefer to explore on our own.
We had a table for two in the dining room and the service and food was wonderful! As good
as we have ever had on
Celebrity - and better than our last cruise on the Ryndam(HAL).
Because the ship is small, you meet people and keep running into them - a very friendly
feeling. The ship is not for
anyone who is significantly disabled. There are two elevators which hold 5 people each.
There are some area of the
ship you could not really get a wheel chair. You should really be able to climb stairs on
this ship.
The entertainment in the show lounge was good - it is not the qualilty of large ships -
but the cruise director, John
Hayes, did a great job and we had a wonderful time at the shows!
We really can't say enough about this line - we plan to sail with her again - Melinda
Kazmer
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