background info: Late 30's couple on first cruise without children. We flew into Fort lauderdale at 10:40 a.m. We had been told that we wouldn't be allowed to board ship until 2:00 p.m.. We were concerned what to do with this extra time. We decided just to take a cab ride to the ship as soon as we got our luggage and wait there. We were extremely happy that while we arrived at the port around noon, we quickly had our luggage received and zipped through check in. We were on the ship by 12:15 p.m.

It was a bit overwhelming when we first got on the ship. You are pretty much left to yourself to figure your way around but after a couple of days of exploring we knew the lay out pretty well. Our cabin was on the seventh floor all the way in the aft. Our comfortably large balcony faced the back of the ship. The view was awesome! You could see everything. We were not limited to a one side view like the balconies on the side of the ship.

This was a trip designed for relaxation. We never went to the dining room for dinner. Had breakfast there on our first morning and decided it was too crowded for us. We ate at Portofinos and at Chops Grill and both were excellent. Well worth the $20.00 per person fee. Tables are well separated so you can enjoy your privacy if thats what you wish for. The decor in both were beautiful and the service impeccable. My favorite was Portofinos but my husband adored Chops Grill. Our only complaint was that children were allowed in Portofinos during our reservation. It clearly stated on the compass that children under 13 were only allowed at their 6:00 reservation and ours was at 8:00. Screaming kids can put a damper on what you expect to be a quiet romantic evening. Read more