This is going to be tough. Embarkation was a nightmare, we stayed at the cruise line recommended Holiday Inn on 58th St. The bus was late in picking us up. When we arrived at the pier we had to wait for another bus to unload before we could park. Usually when we show up after 1230 the check in is nearly deserted not this time. There must have been over 1000 people still in line and there were more behind us. When we finally got on board the atrium was packed. We took the path of least resistance to the rear of the ship not realizing we couldn't reach deck five from the aft stair. We decided to have lunch in the Grand Pacific dining room. Seeing as how it was bout 1415 I tried to ask the hostess if we could still have lunch. I was ignored, twice. Well once we did find we could still get lunch and were seated, service was slow for the few people that were there. When we finally got our food, after 1500 we had to choke it down because the safety drill was at 1530 and we still haven't found our cabin.

I will give the crew and staff credit they did do a great job of making the cruise enjoyable. I was surprised, the shows were some of the better ones I've seen over the past four times I've cruised. Was worried because it seems that every cruise line has done some version of World Beat over the past two years. It was pretty good. Cabin was a little on the small side. I did like the glass shower, was nice not getting mugged by the shower curtain for a change

Food was the poor spot of the cruise. Grand Pacific lunch - Cesar Salad was swimming in dressing, could have dressed another salad with what was left in the bottom of the plate. Sail away BBQ on deck 12 chicken was blood raw. French Onion Soup you were lucky to get five slices of onion and three strands of cheese, didn't taste good. Caprese Salad in La Cucina, tomato wasn't full ripe still hard. Had the salmon in a number of different restaurants and it tasted fishy/old. Cagney's Steak House and Teppenyaki had by far the best food. Read more