This was my first cruise. We choose American Cruise Lines since we wanted a small intimate cruise line, and weren't sure how we would handle the larger ships or seas. Also living in Florida, we only had to drive to St. Augustine to catch this cruise, which had as its itinerary, the major southern ports and cities, arriving at Charleston.
We certainly made the right decision. The ship was perfect for our needs. There were 85 passengers on board, all with various and interesting backgrounds: congress persons, state senators, foreign service officers, actresses, etc. which made for most interesting dinner and other social interactions.
Our cabin was very spacious. I had heard that cabins on ships were small, but this wasn't the case. The bathroom was also ample with walk-in shower, commode and sink. But the best part of the cruise other than the ease of getting in and out and off of the ship at the various ports, was the helpfulness and friendliness of the staff. They couldn't be more accomodating to your every need.