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Festival Cruises

MS Bolero

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Matt Dubuc
# previous cruises:2
Date of Trip: March 24, 2001
Itinerary: Caribbean - Southern

Cruising is obviously a great way to see a lot of ports over a short period of time. To this end, the Bolero excels. It is one of a few ships that is in port every day, unlike the mega-cruise ships which are so large they often cannot reach the smaller ports. If interesting ports of call are your thing, and not just "cruising" around the ocean, than the Bolero is a perfect option.

The public areas were very well maintained. You could often find crew members cleaning hallways, maintaining the cleanliness of the ship. The Starlight Cabaret was nice, although not very large. The Reflections lounge mid-ship offered some nice activities like karaoke, but because smoking was allowed, it was unpleasant for those who are sensitive to cigarette smoke. The two pools were nice, however quite small. But because they were not used extensively, this did not become a problem. The casino was small, but again not very busy, so size was not an issue.

Both the food and the service on board the Bolero were excellent. Although I spoke to some cruisers who were not impressed about variety and portions of the meals, I did not share this view. Presentation and taste of the dinner meals were fantastic. Our dinner table waiter and busboy were extremely prompt, polite and helpful, and all the while providing service with a big smile. Breakfast and lunch service in the main dining room were better than buffet service on deck, which was always the same thing.

Like I expected, the size of a well appointed walk-in closet. The fact is, you don't spend much time in there. There was ample room for two people. The bathroom was small, but again unless you picked up a stomach problem while visiting one of the islands, you shouldn't need to use it much. The shower was fine for an adult. The only caution I would make is that because the ship is smaller and a little older, if your cabin is in the aft and on a lower deck, engine noise while preparing to enter port can be annoying.

The shows were cute, however more amateur than most big ships. The entertainment people did a good job of trying to vary the shows, and for the most part, did a good job entertaining the guests.

On board, the aft deck is nice for relaxing. All the ports had something to offer, which you were in every day!! By far, the nicest ports were St. Lucia and St. Maarten. There was a small health club, and a children's club which seemed to be enjoyed by many of the kids on board.

Unfortunately, this is where the cruise was less enjoyable. The mix of cruisers was 75% French and 25% English. For this reason all activities and shows were bilingual, however much was catered to one group or the other at times, making it difficult to understand what was going on. Our dinner table guests were fantastic, lots of fun. We met some great people on board that we are planning to meet up with.