QUICK SUMMARY: This review is for the experience on the Rhapsody ONLY and not Royal Caribbean in general. This cruise was worth every penny we paid. We got a bargain and the product and services were a good deal. If you are used to formal and fancy and will be disappointed with less, book a more expensive cruise. This is not a cruise for the gourmets. This is PERFECT for first time cruisers, young cruisers and those on a budget.

BACKGROUND: Little Sis and her husband and my husband and I booked our cruise 3 weeks before departure: took advantage of a Royal Caribbean "Hot Deal." Sis did her own booking on-line. We booked by calling Royal Caribbean and our travel advisor, Patricia Simpson, was great! We will be working with her again - she was friendly and efficient and I liked having a "contact" with the company. (As you probably know, she can book for RCCL and Celebrity.) It was a true bargain, ocean-view rooms on decks 2 and 3 for less than $500 pp. Our companions, in their mid-20swere on their 3rd RC cruise in 12 months. We are in our mid-40s and it was our 5th cruise, 1 w/Norwegian, 1/w RC, and the rest and most recent with Celebrity. Also of interest - my sister and I come from a professional food family.

TRAVEL TO EMBARKATION/HOTEL/PORT CITY: We drove from Oklahoma City to Galveston the day before the cruise. Left early and planned our drive to get through Houston by 11am. Good idea - the traffic was manageable and traversing the labyrinths of highway is confusing enough without adding thousands of speeding vehicles. We drove straight to the sea wall in Galveston on arrival and had lunch at Benno's. The Cajun seafood plate was good. Avoid the crabcakes. It was a pleasant place to watch the happenings on the seaside blvd. and beach. There was a rowdy beach party that consumed the area so we checked in at Avenue O B&B. We had adjoining rooms: 1 very small-full-size bed-was fine for the skinny young ones ($58.00), and a king-size bed in large room w/large balcony looking into lush backyard ($175.00), w/shared bath-Jacuzzi for 2, shower, vanity and sink, etc.). It was only blocks from the sea. Spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Strand, had drinks and dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. Perfect place to have a cocktail and watch the harbor, but do dinner elsewhere. Food only soso. Read more