Sirena Review
Almost, just almost, as nice as Riviera (12/2021), though we didn't get to St. Kitts (sick passenger emergency, yet again!)
Rating by category
Additional details
Wish I could give this a 4.5 rating overall. We chose this cruise to experience a good variety of the E. Caribbean. Sadly, our first scheduled stop, St. Kitts, was cancelled because we had to drop off a sick passenger in Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) on the 2nd sea day. Used up about 4 hours trying to use our lifeboat to take him/her to shore. Apparently, the captain didn't want to try to make up the time or go there with a reduced time in port, so, I missed Brimstone, the UNESCO world heritage site. (We had to get a sick passenger off near Key West on Riviera, too, last year. Too many passengers really shouldn't be cruising. All those walkers and even motorized scooters in the restaurants!) My wife and I had great times exploring all that Kingstown (St. Vincent), Roseau (Domenica), Gustavia (St. Barts), San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) had to offer. We used our time for our own walking tours and excursions (e.g., to Black Point and the tunnel on the east coast of St. Vincent). I enjoyed walking the barrios off the tourist paths in daylight. Felt safe and the people were friendly. Shops in San Juan a sight to see on Black Friday sale afternoon! Whether crowds to feed pigeons or line up for gelato & ice cream. And I came back from each main port with a nice plethora of both interesting overproof rum (e.g., 84.5% in St. Vincent!), wonderful local cervezas, and Cuban cigars. BUT we did feel YOUNG and I'm 59. I'd guess the average age of our approx. 610 passengers was in the mid-70s. It showed. Yet, they were a friendly group as always and we met so many wonderful people. Whether 35 or 75. We enjoyed the comics. I enjoyed our guest lecturer, attending all 5 of her lectures. Plus the Cruise Director let me self-host the Veterans' gathering, which she publicized over the PA the morning and afternoon before our 1500 hour in Martinis. Wish Baristas wasn't so low on deck 5! The POOL is TINY. You can walk, more than swim (5'6" max depth). Food was uniformly amazing! We still prefer Waves in the AM and the Terrace Cafe in the PM, eating outdoors with the wind & view in the AM and the stars in the PM.
Cabin Review
Veranda Stateroom
We were pleasantly surprised that our B2 Veranda (Port, forward 6012) was nearly as comfortable, quiet, roomy and functional as our A4 Concierge Veranda on Riviera in 2021. We did NOT experience anything serious noise-wise even though we were directly above the Lounge. Thankfully the productions there only run from 2130-2230 hours. Again, the bed and pillows and sheets were AMAZING. AND I was able to quickly figure out how to efficiently and effectively use the smaller shower by working the 2 swinging doors and properly positioning myself. I'm 6'2" about 180 pounds and the shower just didn't bother me by the end of the cruise. (Now my wife wishes she still had the bathtub as in the A4 on Riviera!)
Port Reviews
San Juan
We spent 7 hours walking nearly everything in the Old Town! From fort to fort and everything down and around and in between. But what a joy to see the locals come out in force in the early afternoon on Black Friday! Packed area on Fortaleza St. where they were feeding pigeons and lining up for gelato and ice cream. (A few riot police near the city hall, La Fortaliza, in case of protests.) Found the nice grocery store on Cruz St. that sold inexpensive cervezas and the 151 overproof rum.
St. Barts
Being French territory, this place is CLEAN. Surprisingly, the people are FRIENDLY. It is EXPENSIVE, but had a cup of French coffee and a delightful baked good at L'atelier de Joel Robuchon To/Go for just Euro 7.50. Sadly, Fort Oscar is used by the Gendarmerie, but I snuck up most of the way and took some pictures. The view from what was Fort Karl is amazing! And we had a blast in the afternoon on Shell Beach. There were a couple topless women, but this is France.
St. Vincent
We walked off the ship and thru the tourist area past some tour buses, vans and cars. Our seeming willingness to not pay the going rate ($150 total for us 2) to get to Black Point and its tunnel and back got us a discount offer of $100 which we took. Miss Coffee was amazing and worth the tip. Later, what can I say but that we walked 2 miles from the ship up the STEEP hill to Fort Charlotte in the heat. Great views. Some drunk men having a party in the early afternoon were a bit rowdy briefly but we didn't say anything as we walked by. A local bus stopped for us on the way down and we paid $1 each for that A/C ride. We then walked to the Botanical Garden and all over the city. People were very friendly. I made sure to get back to the ship right at sundown, even though I could've stayed about 2 more hours. NOT that kind of port after dark. Just not that much to see or do for nightlife. Safety first.
Dominica
The whale watching excursion was a complete bust, but we enjoyed the boat ride and the banter of the tour guide & boat pilot. Later we walked all over the town of Roseau, of course seeing the cathedrals. The people were FRIENDLY but the place was a bit dirty. Fort Young, by the pier, fascinating, as it is now a hotel. The abandoned ruined Anglican cathedral nearby interesting, too.