premier-seabreeze6

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Jay Emlen
Email: acstraveljay@acadia.net
Age: 46
Occupation: Travel Agent
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 04-11-99
Itinerary: Mayan Americas
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 87
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 89
CabinAmenities: 992
FoodLidoDeck: 82
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 992
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 89
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 91
GoodForSeniors: 92
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 60
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 89
DiscoNightclubs: 89
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 May 1999
Time: 13:24:56
Remote Name: ell63.acadia.net
Remote User:

Comments

I have been working as an owner, manager, and agent in travel agencies for 16 years. Besides the three cruises
listed above I have inspected almost all of Carnival's ships and have had a one night cruise on Holland America and
have eaten on many ships as I live near a port in Maine. These include Silversea, NCCL, QE II and more. I found
this review sight extremely helpful when I was planning my cruise and I wanted to return the favor.

I chose this cruise because I like smaller ships, the itinerary was interesting, and the price was right. The ship is 40
years old and it shows in places, but overall it is well maintained. Most of the decks are teak, the railings varnished
wood and brass. There is a lovely promenade around deck D 1/6 of a mile in circumference. There were always
people on this deck ,walking, running or just hanging out, gazing into the distance.

Embarkation was easy. We took a cab from the Sheraton Yankee Clipper. It took a little over 5 minutes and cost
about $12.00. We arrived around 12:45PM. The line was pretty long but it moved quickly. I think it took about 20
minutes before we were on board. Once on board you have to establish your credit line, but this took very little time.

Our cabin number was D-7. We loved it. There were 4 of us, myself, my wife, our 14 year old daughter, and
12-year-old son. I estimate it was about 300 sq. ft. There were 1 double bed 2 lowers and one upper. One of the
lowers stayed folded into the wall the whole week, which left space for a little table and two chairs. The were 3 large
closets, each of which could hold 10-12 hanging articles of clothing. There was still space for shelves above the
hangers. We were able to unpack 4 large bags and 4 carry ons and put it all out of sight. The bathroom had a large
tub/shower combo. We were very pleased with the size. Our cabin steward, Rudolph, kept the cabin clean and neat
and was always friendly and polite when we saw him. The location of the cabin was also very good. It was near the
main staircase of the ship. One deck down was the purser's area and dining room. One deck up was the Carmen
deck, which had most of the public rooms. Because this ship was built as a three-class ocean liner, there is far more
difference in cabin sizes than on modern cruise ships. I am very happy that we spent the extra money for an upper
deck with a large cabin. There was a problem with the smell of garbage on the G deck. Apparently, it improved as
the cruise went on, but those living on that deck referred to it as the GARBAGE deck. The management was aware
of the problem and one can only hope it has been corrected.

The dining room was attractively decorated. The main color theme was blue with a metallic ceiling and lots of
mirrors. It gives the effect of a larger room than it was. Our table for 4 was near the piano, which we enjoyed. There
were 5 courses at dinner, appetizer, soup,salad,entre and dessert. The portions were small, but the food was
excellent and very well presented. Most people seemed to be happy with the portions, as I was. A few complained,
but I'm sure they could have gotten more as the waiters were so willing to please that I think they would do almost
anything for their assigned passenger. Everybody I talked to were pleased with the food and dining room service,
even those who had sailed on more expensive cruise lines. I consider myself to be quite critical of food and am a
fairly good cook. There was not a single meal that I did not thoroughly enjoy. The first night I had a very tasty strip
steak with herb and garlic butter that was cooked to medium as ordered. Another favorite was a filet of red snapper
nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. Duck a l'orange was delicious even though a bit dry. And yes they did serve
lobster tail one night. There was great attention given to the vegetables. There was very good variety, color, and
presentation. They were cooked just right to my taste; not too crunchy but not over cooked either. There was always
a fish, meat,bird,pasta, or vegetarian entree to choose from. The lunches were not quite as elaborate, but were very
good. The breakfast menu was the same each day, but had as much variety as one really needs. There were eggs
any style, omelets, pancakes, bacon ..etc, and of course fresh fruits. Generally the juices were not particularly
great. Our waiter, Berny, was wonderful and so was his busboy Courtney. We were very sad to say good bye to
them.

My wife and I are not very fond of buffets, but we did try a couple of breakfasts and lunches. The breakfast had
most of the foods available in the dining room but not quite as good as they were kept warm in hot trays. Same with
lunch, there was usually a fish , a meat, a vegetable,rice , again fresh fruit. Some were very good, and some were
just OK. I much prefer to eat in the dining room.

I enjoyed the entertainment. It was low tech but sincere. I have seen entertainment on some of the big ships and it
does nothing for me. The "Seabreeze Orchestra" played for a variety of shows and functions. Sometimes they
backed up other entertainers and sometimes they provided dance music. The "Styleliners" were a quartet of
singer/dancers in their early 20's. They were the headliners for 2 nights. They put on good professional high energy
shows both times. One night there was a trio of Mexican pan flute players who also sang. They played traditional
Latin music, but also some classical arrangements of their own. They were very good. The Carmen lounge is a nice
place to watch the shows, because it is relatively small. Another reason that a small ship is nice. There was a male
duo playing in the Royal Fireworks Lounge each night. We hung out at the Prelude Lounge a lot because my
children and I love to sing. I sing in an a cappella group here in Maine, and I just can't seem to stay out of the
Karaoke bars. Our kids usually headed to the disco around 1030PM or 11. Unfortunately, they make all those under
18 leave the disco at midnight. The younger kids seem to enjoy the midnight buffets, but would have preferred to
stay at the disco. We enjoyed the duo that played in the Pastorale Café area. The keyboard player had a very nice
voice. He was accompanied by a very good steel drummer.

The casino is small but very friendly. The crowd on board was not of the high roller variety, so it was always easy to
find a spot at a slot machine or blackjack table. There were only a hand full of dealers so they learned to recognize
the players, even if they played a couple of times.

The ports were great. We had been to Cozumel before, but never had seen Chanknaab National Park. (I've seen it
spelled about 20 different ways, but I think this was the spelling on the entrance). It is a very nice facility, clean, well
maintained and fairly crowded that day. Most of the other tourists seemed to be off the Carnival Destiny. It cost 8
USD each way by cab and 7USD each to get in. The snorkeling is pretty good there. There is a botanical garden
and a lagoon in which you can see some tropical fish without going in the water. We ate lunch there under a palapa.
The restaurant was not crowded.

The next stop was Roatan, Honduras. We decided to "wing it' when we got there and were glad we did. We arrived
at 12 noon instead of 10AM so we decided to eat lunch in the dining room. After lunch, we just walked off the ship
and we to the Chamber of Commerce booth set up on the pier. We told the gentleman that we wanted to have a car
drive us around for a tour and also to do some snorkeling. In no time we had negotiated a rate of $60.00 for the four
of us to be taken in a private mini van,complete with guide and driver! The tour seems to have been the standard
one for Roatan. Stops included shipwreck off coast, shipwreck #2 off coast and the iguana "farm". The farm is just a
small house with abound 2000 iguanas crawling around loose. I asked our guide why they were raising them and he
said it was to give the cruise passengers something to look at. By the way, make sure to get an English-speaking
guide. There are some taxi drivers from the mainland whose native language is Spanish. They then took us to the
Half Moon Bay Resort at West End. We were able to snorkel there and use their facilities. The snorkeling was better
than Cozumel but still not as good as other places I have seen. They had us back to the ship by 5 PM.

I did quite a bit of research on Belize and decided there was not much we could do on our own there. The ship has
to anchor 4 miles from Belize City. Passengers were tendered in depending on the tour they had signed up for.
When all the tours had left the ship, those not on tours were allowed to go ashore. We chose the "New
River/Lamanai" tour. We were taken by bus through the city, then north on the main "highway " to the New River.
There was a short bathroom break there and then we boarded 15 passenger boats, which went about 30 miles an
hour. In the beginning of the journey the driver would stop suddenly if he saw something interesting like a "Jesus
Christ bird" which walks on lily pads. After about an hour on the boat we arrived at a small dock, still showing
damage from Hurricane Mitch. This is where the tour of the ruins begins. We were fed a picnic of barbecued chicken
and rice along with soda and bottled water. The tour of the ruins was wonderful, although hot. The entire tour
requires around a mile of walking, some through beautiful jungle. We went back to the ship in the same manner as
we got there, boat,bus,boat. It was a great day.

My son became ill the day after we were in Belize. He had severe diarrhea that was not helped at all by Pepto
Bismol, lomodil, or Imodium. We took him to a doctor when we got home and it turns out he had salmonella in his
system. We think it could have come from 1 of 2 places. The picnic served on the tour above was packed in
Styrofoam boxes. At first I thought maybe he got it from the chicken, but no one else became ill other than he. Then
I read that reptiles are major carriers of salmonella. One should always wash their hands with antibacterial soap
after handling reptiles. Of course my son did touch the iguanas at Roatan, and of course he didn't wash his hands
afterward. We'll never know for sure if he was exposed to the salmonella there, however I would be careful not to
handle the iguanas if you go there.

Key West was interesting. I have been there many times before, but I always am intrigued. It's a great stop for
shoppers and drinkers.

Disembarkation was slow as it has been on every cruise I've been on. This seems to be more a function of customs
and immigration than the cruise lines. We arrived at Fort Lauderdale at around 730AM, we were off the ship at
1015AM.

I approve of what Premiere Cruises is trying to do. They believe there is a market for people who think smaller is
better, old isn't necessarily wrong. There are lots of small luxury ships out there that many like me can not afford.
These cruises are very affordable and of high quality as long as you are prepared for what you are getting.

Name: Rob Brown
Email: JRobBrown@aol.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Anlayst
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 05/02/99
Itinerary: Mexico & Central America
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 40
FoodRoomService: 70
CruiseStaff: 70
CabinAmenities: 50
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 60
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 60
CasinoStaff: 70
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 0
LoungeService: 60
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 60
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 0
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 60
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 80
EmbarkDisembark: 60
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 50
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 60
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 May 1999
Time: 19:38:59
Remote Name: mtldfl-as-1-ip-54.atlantic.net
Remote User:

Comments

My twelth cruise. This was my third cruise with Premier Cruise Lines. Overall, they offer good value for their cruises.
The Big Red Boat was fair, the Rembrandt was FANTASTIC, and the SS Seabreeze was fair. She is an old ship with
little deck space for all of its guests. The pool areas were cramped, and the dining room was almost elbow to elbow.
Our cabin, which was an upgrade to a 'D' class was tiny, and uncomfortable - just too small to feel good. The crew
was adequate, but not superb. The food was good, but not excellent. Bar/lounge staff and drinks and wine choices
were very good, (great frozen pina coladas) activities were excellent - they had their act together, and everything
moved smoothly, always something to do. We played bingo and won the grand jackpot! Big bucks here...and no
taxes! But that relaxed feeling you are supposed to have on an 8 day cruise never happened due to the cramped
space, and crowed public areas, we even had 2 full days at sea.

The dining room food was good, but lacked some
creative imagination, we did find much creative cuisine on the Rembrandt and the Big Red Boat. Our ports this trip
were Roatan, Belize, Cozumel, and Key West. Roatan was a very poor tropical island (most folks don't have a
pot)with some beautiful vistas - we took the island tour, humming birds all over the place! - - did it, next. Belize (also
a very, very poor country)was an opportunity to see the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich, which was quite impressive.
The climb to the peak of the highest temple is a steep climb. You should be in good shape for this. It was a bit scary
though as our guide was telling us about Guatemalan Raiders robbing tour buses in the mountains - he let us know
that a bus hadn't been hit in almost 8 months. Our tour director had, in fact had 2 tourists shot on buses while being
robbed.

The ruins are only a mile from the border - take a camera and bug spray, the view from atop the main
pyramid is beautiful. This is primal country here - be on guard. Cozumel is great for shopping - I've done this before
and we always have fun here. You can find some interesting items - pewter, silver, mache, leather, blue glass, etc.
Good prices, and you can bargin with the locals. Take bottled water with you while on the island for your day... Key
West is of course great fun, if only for the day - this is one of my favorite places to visit. You will find great food,
'family', a fun atmosphere, and fantastic shopping. We took this cruise based on our experience with the
Rembrandt, we got a deal on this cruise (only $3,000 for 4 people including ports)which I feel still made it a good
value, but overall I was disappointed. We will be taking Premier's Rembrandt again next spring, as it will be docking
in port Canaveral from now on. Now she is a grand old ship with European flair and ample deck space.

Name: Sandi Poznanski
Email: pozfam@ix.netcom.com
Age: 40
Occupation: homemaker/student
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: June 18, 1999
Itinerary: 2 night NYC cruise to nowhere
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 50
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 50
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 99
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall:
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 50
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Jun 1999
Time: 14:11:54
Remote Name: nyc-ny68-16.ix.netcom.com
Remote User:

Comments

First I would like to say that this was my first cruise. Before I left I read a lot of the reviews and was getting
nervous after seeing a few bad ones. I decided that I was going to form my own opionion and see for
myself. When we got to the ships terminal embarkation went very fast. From the time we checked in until
the time we got to the cabin took maybe 10 or 15 minutes. When we got on the ship everyone greeted us
with a friendly smile. The ship is old but is decorated very nicely. Nothing elegant, but very nice. Some of
the reviews said the carpeting was ripped in spots but I did not see this and I wandered all over the ship.
What I did see was the crew constantly cleaning and fixing things which is good. Once we got down to the
cabin that is when I became dissapointed. Not with the cleanliness, because the cabin was very clean. I
was dissapointed in the size. I paid for a Deluxe Inside Cabin. I know cabins are small but this is ridiculous.
The double bed took up about 95% of the cabin. If I had to describe this cabin, I would call it a bed with a
door. The bed was next to the wall and the foot of the bed touched the end of the room right next to the
door. Next to the bed we had a little night stand with three drawers. It was ok for my husband and I for two
nights but definitely would not have been good on a longer cruise.

The area of walking space was about a
4 ft by 2 ft rectangle. The two of us could not get dressed at the same time. One of us had to stand in the
bathroom while the other got dressed. The bathroom's size wasn't too bad. It was almost as big as the
cabin itself. The closet space was enough. Our room steward, Wasil was very friendly and very good. We
asked for extra towels and received them right away. We also put in for two wake up calls in the morning
and got those on time too. I liked the little feature of them turning down your bed at night and putting the
little chocolates on your pillow. That was a very nice touch. Our cabin was very clean and Wasil make up
the room very nicely. We saw him a few times in the hallway and always greeted us with a friendly smile
and a hello.

The pool was on our deck. We were on Daphne Deck in Cabin D58. The pool was very small
but the water was only 54 degrees so I wasn't going to go in anyway. There really wasn't enough deck
chairs either. We did spend a little while at the whirlpool located up on B deck which was quite nice and did
have more deck chairs. That whirlpool jacuzzi was wonderful. My husband and I spent about 20 minutes in
there and totally enjoyed it. Now on to the bar waiters. They were fantastic. If you literally wanted a drink in
your hands every 5 minutes, you would have it. They were always looking to please you and they were
quite good. One waiter I cannot remember his name was extremely funny too. The drinks were not watered
down, as I read on one review on this site. The drinks were fine and were quite reasonably priced. A
regular mixed cocktail would cost between $3.25 and $3.95. The drink special was $2.95 I think. They do
add on a 15% gratuity but it still came out much cheaper than in a regular bar. As for the food, I would say
it was very good.

When we got there they had a welcoming buffet set up at the Pascorale Cafe. The
variety of food was very good and everything looked very pleasing to the eye. It also tasted very good too.
We didn't have a problem finding a table to eat at either. Maybe that was because we got on to the ship at
1PM, but even later on there were still empty seats. The food in the main dining room was extremely good.
There were a lot of different varieties. The first night I had the catch of the day which was delicious. It was
red snapper. There were also about 5 other main course choices to choose from. There was always at
least 2 appetizer choices, 2 soup choices, 2 salad choices and 3 desert choices. The waiter and busboy
were wonderful too. They treated me like a queen and brought me everything that I asked for. The service
in the dining room is quite elegant. After dinner they brush the crumbs off the table with this little thing.
Lunch on Saturday was like a dinner in itself.

We always took our meals in the dining room. The breakfasts
were great too, although I am not much of a breakfast person. I liked the idea that if you wanted tea they
would bring you this box with a whole bunch of different teas to choose from. The midnight buffets were
fabulous. On the two night cruise you won't see any of those lovely ice carvings that I heard about, but
that is ok cause I'm not going to the buffet to eat the ice. The first night's buffet I only had some fruit and
cookies and coffee. The second night I didn't have anything and just went down to take a look. We had the
late seating so there was no way I could eat like that at midnight. The portions during the regular meals
were small but you could eat as much as you want so you don't have to worry about going hungry. The
entertainment in the main Carmen lounge was quite good. The first night we saw a magician who went on
first and he was very good. After that we saw a comedian, his name was Lenny Windsor. It takes a lot to
make me laugh but Lenny was hysterical and had me in tears. He was so funny. I never laughed so hard in
my life.

The second night we saw a 50's revue type of thing and they were quite good also. The cruise
director John was fabulous. He was very entertaining and had a wonderful voice. After the show we went to
the Serenade Bar located on Daphne Deck and he was in there with Ted the pianoman and John sang
some really great songs and Ted played the piano fantastic. We were alone in there for a while and they
were playing just for the two of us, it was so nice. I didn't see any entertainment by the pool but in the
Pascorale Cafe area they had singers and also in the Royal Fireworks lounge which is located outside the
casino they had a duo playing in there who were quite good. The casino was small but ok. The slot
machines are very tight and don't pay off. I did a bit of gambling but not much cause I didn't feel like
wasting my money. I think I covered just about everything on the Seabreeze. If you are looking for a
weekend getaway to have a great time, then the Seabreeze is for you. She is older and not as beautiful as
the mega lines such as Carnival and Princess, but she is still a lovely little ship with her own wonderful
charm. You will definitely have a fantastic time. Although the way to have a good time is if YOU make it that
way. Just go with an open mind and have a good time. Like I said above the only complaint I really have is
the size of the cabin.

[Husband's Opinion:]

The Seabreaze is a wonderful place to spend a few days. We boarded early on Friday June 18 wondering
if there would be anything to do until the ship sailed at 6:00pm There was a steel drum band and
sumptious buffett. It seemed like smooth sailing from the moment we arrived. Bar waiters are never more
than a few feet from you. Drinks are delivered quickly, accurately and with a smile on your servers face. A
few of the bar waiters entertain you with their ritual dancing and tray spinning to the sounds of a steel
drum band Our cabin was spottless. It was quite small though. It was booked as a deluxe cabin and was
basically only big enough to house a bed and noght table. There was barely enough room for one person
to dress at a time. The bathroom was also spick and span and was almost as big as our cabin. To be fair,
we did look some of the other cabins prior to exiting the ship and they were larger. Our cabin steward was
there for our needs 24 hours a day and the chocolates placed on our pillows in the evening was delicious
as well. The pool on the seabreaze was quite small and a chilly 59 degrees. If you do not arrive at the pool
early, 10:00am or so, getting a lounge is virtually impossible. Thank goodness there were the whirlpool
bathes on 'B' deck. There is no better way to spend a Saturday morning then sipping momosa's in the
morning sun while the whirlpool jets relax all the pre-vacation stress out of you. There is the standard
cruise and hotel activities available to you throughout the day. Bingo was fun but the first four games
could have been worth a wee bit more. Speaking of games of chance, we did wonder into the casino a
couple of times. There was a noticeable lack of bells and whistles coming from the slot machines. Those
machines were as tight as a drum. There are very few blackjack tables, you could actually wait hours for a
seat to open up. There is quality entertainment throughout the day. If the stell drum band in the Pascorale
Cafe is not your cup of tea, there is a rock and roll band in the Royal Fireworks bar only a short walk
away. The Serenade Lounge is a special place. The piano players hands move like magic accross the
keys and your cruise director John Hayes might be there to sing your favourite tunes. Speaking of John,
there was 'showtime' On Friday evening the comedian was absolutely hillarious and the magician was
mystifying 'how did he do that'? Before dinner on Saturday we went to dance in the Carmen Lounge. The
music was lovely but a bit sleepy for our tastes. But that was not a problem because there was a lively
band performing in another one of the ships lounges. The food was delicious and the dining room staf is
tuned into your needs. The portions are small though but that too is not a worry because 'seconds' are not
only granted, they are encouraged. If a sit down meal, three times a day does not suit your needs, there
are buffetts set up for breakfast and lunch daily. The buffetts offer the same exquisite faire as the dining
room does. My overall perception of the Premier Seabreaze is excellent. In the slow portion of the
afternoon , the ships staff can be seen cleaning or polishing the brass. Where ever you go, there is
always somebody cleaning something. I would definitely be inclined to take their Cruise to Nowhere again.
Premier also sets sail on a five night New England and Canada tour, would I take the Seabreaze for five
days? Absolutely, but I would make sure that my cabin was more than just a bed and a door.

Name: Lyndell Sills
Email: lynn@cybercomm.net
Age: 77
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 9
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 09/28/99
Itinerary: Nassau,Freeport,Key West
Cabin: F126/Inside Deluxe
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Oct 1999
Time: 09:53:53
Remote Name: dover1-04.sl.cybercomm.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was my first cruise with Premier Cruise Line and I must say I was quite impressed. Yes, the ship SEA BREEZE
is one of those "classic" ships (translation age 40) we hear about from time to time but she looks like a ship - with
the graceful lines of ships built in that era. What with the refits and refurbishments made over the years the public
rooms look almost new! It's the deck mechinary, electrical wiring on deck and plumbing in the staterooms that show
her true age. But never mind, she is a great ship and I highly recommend her. (As a point of reference I
had a career at sea that spanned 42 years including 10 years in the US Navy (1942/52) and 32 years (1952/84)
sailing as a ships purser with United States Lines. My service with USL included 9 years aboard the SS UNITED
STATES - the fastest passenger ship ever built - and more cargo and passenger/cargo ships than I can
remember) My only negative observation about the SeaBreeze is the lack of elevators. The deck plan
shows three sets of elevators located as follows: a bank of two elevators forward, a bank of two elevators midship,
and one elevator aft. In fact there is only the forward bank of two elevators available to passengers with a maximum
load of five (5) passengers each. One midship elevator has been designated for crew use only and the other
midship elevator, plus the after elevator has been taken out of service all together. Our cabin was located slightly
aft of midship on "F" deck and our only choice for getting to the upper decks (A,B,C.D.E) was to take a longish walk
forward to the forward bank of elevators or walk up several decks using various stairwells that were available. In all
fairness to the passengers (especially the seniors) I feel Premier Cruise Line would do well to reprint their deck plan
eliminating the midship and after elevators. Or put them back in service!!

There have been some negative
comments made about the size of the swimming pool. Lenny Windsor, in his comedy act made reference to this with
this joke. "The swimming pool is so small the lifeguard on duty yells out "OK folks, please line up, we only allow two
passengers in the pool at a time". But this is unfair. After all the SeaBreeze was never built as a cruise ship and the
spot where the pool is located was, at one time, a hatch opening for the after cargo hatch. Personally I think
Premier did a great job removing the hatch cover of this hatch and converting the opening to the pool we see
today. The Ship:The "SS SeaBreeze" (ex "Fredrico'C' " ex "Star Ship Royal") was built in 1958 in
Genoa, Italy. She is 605 feet in length and has a beam of 78 feet. She is registered in Panama and has the call sign
of 3FGV2. Her Gross Tonnage is 21,010 Tons with a displacement Tonnage of 22,445 Tons.

The vessel
is powered by three boilers which turn twin steam turbines. Each turbine produces 14,300 horse power. There are
two fresh water producing evaporators aboard and each can make approximately 270 tons of fresh water daily. This
combined with the 1105 tons of fresh water carried as a reserve provides an almost unlimited amount of fresh
water. The Cruise:This was one of those "repositioning cruises" that ships make to take up slack
between summer and winter schdules. The "SeaBreeze" had been sailing out of New York, with ports of call at
Newport, RI and Halifax, Nova Scotia, all summer and made one final cruise out of Baltimore, MD before heading
south for the winter season cruising the Carribean. She sailed from Baltimore at 11am on Saturday September
25th arriving Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, at 8am on September 28th. She sailed at 6pm this date for the five
(5) day cruise of which this is a review. The Ports of Call for this cruise was to be Nassau and Freeport in the
Bahamas then south to Key West before sailing north again back to Fort Lauderdale.

Frances Mayer, my
travel companion, and I both live in New Jersey. She in Toms River and I in Brick Township. I have a daughter living
in North Palm Beach, FL and we flew down from EWR via Continental Airlines on Saturday 25th to spend a few days
with her before leaving on the cruise. We rented a car at PBI upon arrival and turned it in at FLL on the day of
sailing. DAY 1 (09/28):After turning in the rental car at noon we checked with the Premier Cruise
Line Representative who was waiting in the baggage claim area for incoming passengers arriving FLL. I was
informed by her the fare on the Premire Line shuttle bus down to the ship would be $10 each or $20 total. We
elected to take a cab and the fare was $8.75 plus tip. After leaving our luggage with a porter to be loaded aboard,
we went into the check-in area for one of the fastest, easiest check-ins one could imagine. No more than 5 minutes
at the most. And later I found out why. As mentioned, this was a repositioning cruise of five days duration
and the ports of call not all that exciting. Also this was in the middle of the hurricane season. In addition to this it
seems all the passengers (at least the ones I talked to later on during the cruise) booked this cruise through an
internet online auction site! All of these factors combined made for a very small passenger list. I was not able to find
out the exact number of passengers we had onboard sailing from Fort Lauderdale (I checked with the pursers office
but they declined to give me the number) but whatever the number, made it very nice for the rest of us. No long
lines, one sitting in the dining room, and plenty of seating in the main lounge for the shows.

After turning in
our documents at the check-in area and getting our onboard credit card squared away, we took an escalator to the
deck on which the Purser's Square is located ("E" Deck) and there we were met by a steward (others were standing
by to assist passengers as they boarded) who escorted us to our cabin - F126. Frances carried aboard her formal
gown with her and the steward, taking it from her, even handled that with extra care! <g>And what a cabin! 
 I have sailed on many ships in my travels but never have I had a cabin as large as this one! There is a large
double bed on the right as you walk in the door, then two huge closets straight ahead. Next to the closets was a
huge dresser. On the left as you walked in there is another huge dresser and then on the left of that there were two
berths (one lower and one upper along the bulkhead (wall) with plenty of open space between all this furniture. I
mean this cabin was BIG. Of course it was a four berth cabin which is why the abundent space. The bathroom was
pretty much standard size with a smallish shower, and the usual toilet and wash basin. Basic but adequate. 
The "Welcome Aboard" ships bulletin ("Today's Premier) was already in our cabin so we checked that out. It
offered the usual sailing day information. 12:30 - 3:30 Welcome Aboard Buffet 1:00 - 3:30 Calypso music with
"Island Magic" 4:15 Shore Excursion Talk 5:15 Mandatory Lifeboat Drill 5:45 Sail Away Celebration in the open deck
"Pastoreal Cafe" - Movie Schedule for today and much more.

Knowing it would take an hour or so before
our luggage arrived, we went topside for the buffet lunch. This ship offers two locations for this lunch. Planets
Counter on "A" deck and the Pastorale Cafe located on "C" deck. We chose the latter as it was open air and plenty
of table space. The lunch was outstanding! Not the usual hot dogs and hamburgers but a real down to earth buffet
with lots of entrees, salads, and desserts. After lunch we decided to explore the ship and found it to be
very clean and all the public rooms modern. The main lounge, the Carmen Lounge, is located just forward of the
Pastorale Cafe. This is where the production shows are held each night. Forward of that is the casino, small but
nice, and forward of that another lounge called the "Royal Fireworks Lounge". It too was very nice and comfortable
looking. The Dining Room, called the "Bacchanalia Restaurant"is located on "E" deck was a real delight. Very
modern and a joy to dine in. The theatre is also located on "E" deck forward and the Purser's Square is located on
this deck just forward of the dining room but aft of the theatre.

After completing our tour of the ship we decided
to return to our cabin to await the arrival of our luggage. It was then we met our cabin steward, ASTIKA, who hails
from Indonesia, and he turned out to be a real gem! Shortly thereafter the luggage did arrive and both Frances and
I breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how much faith we put in the hands of the pierside porters there is always that
small feeling of doubt that something could go wrong. After unpacking we felt the rest of the day was one to be
enjoyed. Since we had a small passenger list this cruise there was only one sitting in the dining room and
dinner was to be at 7pm. The ship was sailing at 6pm so we had plenty of time to shower, dress, and go up on deck
to witness the sailing and have a drink before going in to the dining room. To me one of the great pleasures of
going on a cruise is anticipating what "the table" will be like. Believe me, the "table" can make or break a cruise! And
so like everyone else we chose our dress rather carefully for this "first night".

At 6pm sharp the SS
SeaBreeze slipped her moorings. There was a tug on the port quarter to pull her away from the pier (the ship has
no stern thrusters) and assist turning her around. After passing outbound thru the cut from Port Everglades I could
feel the slight rise and fall of the deck as we entered the open sea and that old familiar thrill returned - as it always
does. I have sailed on many ships from many ports but the feel of once again being at sea gives me a special
feeling I will carry to the end of my days.. At 6:30pm Frances and I went into the Carmen Lounge for a
pre-dinner drink at the bar. There we talked to a gentlemen who was travelling with his mother. Everyone we had
talked to on the ship so far seemed very nice and especially the crew. They seem to go out of their way to please,
which makes for a very nice feeling. We had been assigned table 64 in the dining room (the table # was
imprinted on the shipboard credit card) and a few minutes after 7pm (I refuse to stand outside the dining room door
waiting to enter) Frances and I left the bar to go down to dinner. As we entered the dining room we were met by one
of the three Asst. Head Waiters and escorted to out table. After sitting down I introduced Frances and myself to the
three couples who were to share the table with us

Wayne and Millie Stahl from Brownsville, TX, Sandy
Tremain and Bill Ogden from Jeffersonville, Indiana and Art and Diane Childers from Pompano Beach, FL. were to
be out table mates. Had we looked the world over and it would be impossible to find a nicer, friendlier, more
congenial group than these three couples. And world travelers all!! After a few minutes into the first meal we
learned that collectively they had made dozens of cruises all over the world. Frances and I kept a rather low profile
at dinner as did Sandy and Bill but it was fascinaing to listen to Wayne and Art relate stories of their former cruises,
with their wives, and ports of call. Frances and I ate only one meal a day (dinner) in the dining room and we always
looked forward to hearing interesting stories of former cruises from Wayne and Art. Our dining room staff
was very good and the food was excellent. Our Asst. Head Waiter was TIMOTHY from Jamaica and he never failed
to drop by the table each night to ask about our well being and satisfaction with the cruise. Our Waiter was ERDAL
and he comes from Turkey. Although difficult to understand his English at times, he nevertheless did an outstanding
job and his presentation of each course was flawless. The Busboy was VICTOR and he comes from Honduras.
Victor must have lived in the United States for a long time because his English was perfect and without an accent of
any kind. Thanks guys for doing such a first rate job!!

Frances and I have made cruises together before
but we had always selected the first sitting at dinner as the second sitting usually has a rather late dinner hour but
this time it was different. With only one sitting we felt we had plenty of time to eat, gossip, listen to "sea stories" and
enjoy dinner without rushing so it was usually about 9pm when we finished and left the table Since there
was only one sitting at dinner there was only one production show in the evening and that was always at 9:30pm in
the Carmen Lounge. As the ship was built before glitzy, laser light, Las Vegas style shows came on the scene, the
entertainment was rather basic in style with the "SeaBreeze Swing Orchestra" providing the music, four (2girls, 2
boys) singers/dancers billed as "The Music Makers" providing high energy song and dance routines and a guest
artist (sometimes two) to fill out the entertainment package each evening. The entertainment was nothing fancy or
high tech but nevertheless very enjoyable. Sailing night the entertainment guest was listed in "Todays
Premier" (the daily bulletin) as "The Music and Comedy of VENNI MARK" along with the "Music Makers" and the
"SeaBreeze Swing Orchestra. The "Music Makers" came on first and did their high energy song and dance routine
then Venni Mark came out. This was pretty much a standard comedy act with some magic thrown in for good
measure. His final act was to escape from a strait jacket which had been securely put on by a passenger. He did
escape - in less then two minutes as promised - and that ended the show.

After the show the inevitable
bingo games started and since neither Frances nor I care for bingo we decided to call it a day and turn in. END DAY
1 DAY 2 - NASSAU (9/29):One of the big disappoints for me this cruise is the absence of sea time
during the day. The schedule is such that we will be in port every day and at sea between ports during the night.
And speaking of port time! We arrived at 9am and will be here in Nassau until 6pm tomorrow for a port stay of some
33 hours - which must be some sort of record! Rarely does a cruise ship stay in port longer than 12 hours and
some even less. Another disappointment is I learn from the ships bulletin tonight will be "Formal Night" with
the Captain's Cocktail Party to be held at 6:15pm. Normally this is next to the last night of the cruise when the ship is
at sea but for some unexplained reason the decision was made otherwise. Oh well.

I have been to Nassau
many times when I was sailing aboard the SS United States and both Frances and I live only 1 hour north of Atlantic
City so the prospect of visiting a casino on Paridise Island held little interest for either of us. It was very hot ashore
and since we will be here tomorrow we decided to stay aboard today. There were seven tours for passengers to
choose from (1) City Bus Tour (2) City Limousine Tour (3) Dolphin Encounter (4) Glass Bottom Boat Tour (5)
Harbour Cruise and Atlantis Canino Tour (6) Snorkel Tour and (7) King Eric's Native Show. There was plenty of
activity for those staying aboard in addition to the tours so it seems Premier Cruise Line provided something for
everyone. Going up on deck for breakfast I noticed several changes in the Nassau scene since I was here
last. The SS United States was too large (55,000 tons) to enter the harbor so we had to anchor outside about a mile
beyond the lighthouse (we needed a minimun of 50 feet of water to drop anchor) and used tenders to ferry
passengers ashore. This was very convenient as the landing pier for tenders was near the straw market just off Bay
Street. In recent years two new piers have been constructed (closer to Paridise Island) and ships docking inside the
harbor (as we did) are much further away from town.

Other than eating about twice what we should, the
day spent aboard was uneventful. Since this was "Formal Night" we begin dressing a bit early for the "Captain's
Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party" to be held at 6:15 in the Carmen Lounge. Shortly after 6pm we went up to "C"
(Carmen) Deck and got in line to have our photo taken with the Captain. The Master of the ship, Captain Ilias
Lekkas, cut a fine figure in his white uniform and warmly welcomed each of us as we entered the lounge. After
settling down to free drinks and hors d'oeuvers (both excellent) Captain Lekkas proceeded to introduce his senior
staff. The turnout was rather small but really very enjoyable. At 7pm it was time for dinner again. After enjoying a
lovely dinner and lively conversation with our table mates it was "showtime" again. Tonight the show is
"Legends In Concert". Just about every cruise ship afloat and many casinos have this style of show and we all know
this to be a musical show where "live performers recreate (imitate) the "Superstars of Yesterday and Today" (this
must be true because it says so in todays ship's bulletin)

The bulletin did not say who the live performers
would be or who they would represent but after settling down in the lounge it turns out a Mr. Jerry Cunningham
would be singing as Neil Diamond and a Miss. Stacy Ann Curry would be Marilyn Monroe. Jerry sang a medley of
Neil Diamond hits and Stacy Ann did - what else - "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend". Both acts were solo of
course but Stacy Ann did coax one gentlement up on state and made him part of her act.. All in all it was an
excellent show (both did remarkable jobs of singing authentically - no lip synch) and that's as it should be as both
were introduced as "coming directly from "Broadway and Las Vegas." After the show there was the usual
Snowball Jackpot Bingo followed by "Name That Tune" in the piano bar and after than the Late Night Buffet so
Frances and I once again called it a night. END DAY 2

DAY 3 - NASSAU (9/30): Today is our last
day in Nassau and it would be unthinkable for me not to take Frances ashore since this is her first visit here. There
are no organized tours today so the ship is providing free tender service to Salt Key for those wishing to get away
for awhile. After breakfast Frances and I went out on the pier and caught a taxi into town. Nothing has changed!
After paying the taxi we walked along Bay Street and I pointed out various stores which I remembered from my past
visits. Then we visited the Straw Market located on the old original harbor and Frances had fun shopping for a gift
of some sort for her daughter back home. The downtown terminus for city public buses (but privately owned) is
located next to the Straw Market so I suggested to Frances we take one for a round trip and see some sights. We
chose one having a route going to Cable Beach (which I remembed as being a rather "ritzy" neighborhood) and
climbed aboard. This is a wonderful way to see the city. The bus was a new 21 passenger Toyoto fully air
conditioned and very comfortable. We chatted not only with the driver but other passengers onboard and the time
went very quickly. The round trip took slightly more than an hour and the fare was $3.00 - for the two of us!! 
 Frances liked this so much she wanted to take another public bus and this time we chose the "Foxhill" route.
This went in the opposite direction from the Cable Beach route and also was very enjoyable. Once again we were
lucky enough to get a front seat on the bus and talk to the driver. He made an excellent tour guide as he drove
along his route and pointed out some of the damage still remaining from hurricane "Floyd". This ride also took
about an hour and the cost the same - $3.00 for the two of us.

By the end of the second bus ride it was getting
really hot in town so we decided to return to the ship. We caught a cab on Bay Street and headed "home". For the
benefit of future passengers who may be coming to Nassau for the first time it should be noted the taxi fare from the
ship into town is $3.00/person. We are due to sail at 6pm for Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, so Frances
and I decided to take it easy until it was time to dress for dinner. At 6pm sharp there is an announcement over the
PA system. "Attention all passengers, the ship will now sail at 10pm tonight". So 37 hours in port has to be a new
record!!. At 7pm we went up to dinner and the dining room was all abuzz about the delay in sailing. No
one ever found out (at least not to my knowledge) as to why the ship was delayed. Diane Childers told us she had
heard that some of the passengers wanted to play in the Atlantis Casino on Paridise Island a bit longer and the
Captain delayed the ship to honor their request. Of course I said nothing but just smiled! The show
tonight is another comedian billed as "British Television Star" LENNY WINDSOR and Victoria. It turns out Victoria is
his wife and this is some show!! Not only did Lenny Windsor have his own television comedy show on BBC he was a
writer for the late, great, Benny Hill until Benny Hill died a few years ago.

Without a doubt Lenny Windsor was the
shining star of the entertainers this cruise. For 60 minutes he kept the audience spellbound with his non-stop one
liners and has us almost rolling on the deck with laughter. Part of his act was an audience participation segment
which was also halarious. The segment I enjoyed most was the "lost diary" routine. I will not go into details as it is
always possible someone reading this review might see Lenny Windsor on some cruise ship or a nightclub act in
Florida. He is very much in demand on both cruise ships and nightclubs and his bookings are handled by the
William Morris Agency in New York. I will have more to say about Lenny Windsor on DAY 6 of this review. As usual
Frances and I called it a day after the show and retired to our cabin.

DAY 4 - FREEPORT (10/1):
This is our first visit to Freeport so there is no thought of staying aboard today. We arrived at 8am and will be
sailing at 5pm for Key West so our time in port is back to normal. The tours here consist of Golf, Snorkeling, and a
Freeport City Tour - all of which left the ship rather early and none of which we found attractive. So After breakfast
on deck Frances and I decide to head out on our own. After landing ashore from the gangway we find there is a 9
passenger van-taxi waiting to take passengers to the Princess Casino; once the van is loaded off we go - fare is
$3.00/person. As mentioned earlier Frances and I live about one hour north of Atlantic City so this casino
held no special interest for either of us. It is rather small actually - compared to some of the mega-casinos in AC -
so we soon left. We checked out some of the shops and the International Bazaar on the casino properties but found
nothing there either. Not being sure what to do we decided to take a taxi into town to check that out. The
"town" consist of a shopping mall (Winn-Dixie Supermarket the major attraction) and a few other stores scattered
here and there. We did see a public bus terminus (similar to the one in Nassau) so we decided to do another "public
bus tour". There were several destinations to chose from so without rhyme or reason we selected the town of "Eight
Mile Rock". We thought that to be a rather quaint name for a village so I suspose that is why we took the bus going
there. The scenery was far from spectacular - mostly scrub pine trees - but the trip out and back was pleasant
enough. As usual, we talked to the driver (a lady) and she informed us the bus was owned by her daughter so it's
nice to know that free enterprise still flourishes.

The fare was $4/round trip which is certainly reasonable
enough. After getting back to the shopping center from our "Eight Mile Rock" tour we decided to return to
the ship - it was so hot!! Frances and I both tend to be a bit adventure minded and with plenty of time to spare we
made inquiries and discovered that another bus route would take us fairly close to the ship but not to the gate. It
seems the taxi association (or some such body) fought to keep public busses from going directly to the ship's piers.
 And so boarding another bus we set out. The bus route was long and winding, thru many neighborhoods,
and finally we were told by the driver we should get off and walk to the pier. He pointed to a thick jungle of trees and
said "just follow the path through the woods for several hundred feet and you will come out on a road". We alighted
from the bus and set out through the jungle. God but it was rough going. The path was narrow and barely visable in
some spots, muddy in others, and very slippery from all the rain of hurricane Floyd. Finally, finally, we saw a
clearing up ahead and pretty soon we were on a paved road that led to the main gate of Freeport Harbor. Seeing
the stack of the "SeaBreeze" in the far distance gave us heart and we did make it back to the ship none the less for
wear. But never again!!.

The rest of the afternoon aboard was uneventful and we did sail at 5pm on
schedule. Dressed for dinner early today as there is a "happy hour" (5pm to 7pm) in the Carmen Lounge. Drinks
are $2.75 and hot snacks to be served. Not exactly the Captain's Cocktail Party but better than nothing. We had a
couple of drinks then went into dinner shortly after 7pm as usual. The menu tonight is one normally served on
"Formal Night". Prime Rib, Chateaubriand, Baked Alaska, and all the trimmings. Also the waiters put on a great
show. It's a shame the "Formal Night" was held in Nassau and not tonight. We enjoyed our usual conversations at
dinner and got ready for the show at 9:30pm. Tonight's show was suspose to have been another comedian by the
name of Bobby Kosser but for some unknown he did not make the ship and so the song and dance team, "The
Music Makers" filled in. With the fast, high paced act they have, I don't see how they lasted for 60 minutes but they
are young and full of energy. At 10:30 Frances and I, as usual called it a day to await our arrival in Key West
tomorrow morning. DAY 5 - KEY WEST,FL (10/2): Arrival in Key West at 9am is uneventful and
this will be our last full day aboard ship. The last cruise Frances and I made also included Key West as a port of call
and we tied up right on Mallory Square and a short walk to Duval Street. This time we docked about 1-1/2 miles
from the square but Premier Cruise Line did provide a free shuttle bus every 10 minutes or so. The tours here are a
Catamaran Sail and Snorkel Tour, Old Town Trolly/Conch Train Tour and a Bike Tour. None of these appealed to
us and since both Frances and I have been to Key West several times (she once lived in the Miami area for five
years) and because it is so hot ,we decided to stay aboard once again today. We enjoyed the quietness
of the ship. From 11:30am to 1pm we had lunch on deck to the the "Tropical Sounds of Island Magic" "Island Magic"
is the steel drum trio and very good. In the afternoon we dropped by the library where the photos taken during the
cruise are on display. We saw four we liked so bought several sets for family and friends back home. The time
slipped by very quickly and before we knew it, it was time to dress for dinner once again. We dressed a bit
early again today as there is a "Sunset Sailaway Party" on the after deck featuring "Line Dancing, Limbo, and
Libations" along with music by the steel drum trio. This to be followed by a Disembarkation Briefing at 5:30pm in the
Carmen Lounge hosted by the Cruise Director Merideth Miller. Incidentally this was her first cruise in this new job
and she did just great! The briefing was over by 6pm - just in time for a little pre-dinner jazz with the "Cool Cats of
Jazz" and a couple of drinks. As usual, we went into dinner shortly after 7pm for our last dinner with our
wonderful table mates. This is always a rather sad, bittersweet, time for me knowing the cruise is coming to an end
which means goodbyes to all the wonderful people we met during the past five days, but cruises' do end and life
must go on - mostly for the basic reason of planning the next one!! The show tonight is another "Legends
In Concert" performance with the same Jerry Cunningham and Stacy Ann Curry we had earlier. Tonight Jerry
Cunningham will perform as Jimmy Buffett (of Key West) and Stacy Ann Curry will perform as Shania Twain of
Nashville fame. Both did a very good job and the show was highly enjoyable. There were other activities following
the show; action in the piano bar, "The Newlywed Game" in the Carmen Lounge, Farewell Buffet, to name a few but
as usual we passed this up for turning in early. We have to pack tonight and leave our luggage outside the cabin
for pick-up. Green Tags for our deck. Also we have to "hit the deck" very early tomorrow morning. 
DAY 6 - FORT LAUDERDALE,FL (10/3): This morning we will be saying our last good byes to friends made
during the cruise and disembark. At the briefing yesterday Merideth told us to expect to be getting off the ship at
approximtely 9am and this is about par for the course. Frances and I went up to breakfast at 6:30am in
the dining room for the first time and was delighted to see our table mates were already there. We enjoyed the
experience of talking about the various aspects of the cruise. Art and Diane Childers will be going on another cruise
(aboard this ship) in three weeks. They cruise several times a year. At 8am we went into the Carmen
Lounge for a drawing of the "comment c

Name: Jonathan Golaner
Email: golaner@umbi.umd.edu
Age: 39
Occupation: Univeristy Administrative Management
NumberOfCruises: 20
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Dolphin-Seabreeze
SailingDate: 11/07/99 - 11/14/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: inside
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 75
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 75
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 70
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 70
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 70
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess: 50
ExerciseFacilities: 50
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 16 Nov 1999
Time: 11:25:22
Remote Name: guest1.umd.edu
Remote User:

Comments

This was my 20th cruise, 1st with Premier.

The good:

The Dining Room food and service were outstanding. Ample size portions, displayed very attractively. Water and iced tea
glasses never reached the half way point before being refilled, good job Premier! Midnight buffets were also very eye
pleasing with a good variety for everyone, desserts played a special role at the midnight buffets. The cruise director
Meridith and assistant cruise director Garrick were both excellent, trying to keep over 600 passengers happy. Our Cabing
Steward, Chris did a great job of keeping our small cabin clean. Premier has started something they call **7 star service**.
I am not exactly sure what this implies but some items featured usually not associated with a cruise at this level include
dessert prepared every evening table side, nice medium weight robes for your use and to take home with you FREE of
charge, nightly turn down service with Godiva Chocolates, and a deluxe shampoo/conditioner/ lotion packet for each
person. **Island Magic** the steel band that performed one evening after dinner in the Carmen Lounge are A+++, do NOT
miss them, they are the special!!

The so - so:

The ship is old, over 40 years old, and she does have probably 80 coats of paint in places, and unfortunately is does
show. You could say one of two things in this case, call it a charming ship with character that does not look like a Las
Vegas Condominium, or say it needs some remodeling, the choice is yours. There is one main lounge, the Carmen
Lounge, that is used for most all major envents. This room is used often, and it also shows, it needs fresh
upholstery/furniture/decorating. At times the A/C was freezing, other times barely working, or did I have a Belvedere Vodka
too many??

The not so good: Our ship was about 75% full, the cabin next to ours was larger and empty. I went to the front desk to ask
if we could switch. I was NOT asked what level cabin I had or would like to switch to, I just received a flat "no" to my
question of switching. I thought that was a bit odd, maybe even uncaring? The elevators (both of them) are small and
slow. Part of the problem could be due to the rude passengers that insist on shoving as many as possible in an elevator
that clearly states **5 person maxium**. Don't they realize the sign is there for a reason??, the ship is old, the elevators
are old! Of NO fault to Premier we missed 4 of our scheduled ports due to poor weather conditions, I do not have any
problem at all with such changes. Premier has zero control of weather conditions, and I actually admire the fact that they
rate the safety of passengers and the ship higher than visiting a scheduled port. What is strange is that we received a
50% discount coupon for a future Premier Cruise. I went to my favorite spot again, yes, you guessed it, the front desk to
get the **skinny** about this coupon. The coupon discount is for 50% discount off BROCHURE RATES, in other words
WORTHLESS! I am not sure why, but the water in the 3 hot tubs had a brownish tint, this was also true of the water in our
cabin. Are the ships water tanks rusty? The hot tubs and pool were rarely used. One last item, the bar waiters are a bit
aggressive, more aggressive than I like. I enjoy hot tea, and water, when I am sitting on the desk with a cup of hot tea and
you can see the steam, or a large glass of ice water clearly visible, don't visit me every 10 minutes and suggest I purchase
the **cocktail of the day**, come on guys, turn it down a notch or two.

Conclusuion: Again, I always say VALUE is ONE of the best ways to judge a cruise. Considering our cost was less than
$500 per person for cruise and port charges, the cruise was great! The ship is small, and cozy, it is easy to find your way
around. The staff are professional, have spotless uniforms, and do a great job. She needs some remodeling here and
there, and it appears they are working on such items. Go for the Dining Room Food alone, it was superior! Just do not
expect the Carnival Destiny, be understanding, go to one end of the outside decks and look down the ship, be grateful,
appreciate the style, line, and curve of this classic liner, smile, and have fun!

I would be happy to answer any questions. Next cruise Costa Romantica Christmas/Millennium

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