Here goes: my review of our trip on MS Noordam March 21st - March 31st, 2007 departing New York, Eastern Caribbean. Sure that lots and lots of reviews already exist on both ship and route but I was so thrilled I feel the need to share, so bear with me (I have a feeling that this review might get a bit long) ;o)

If you take nothing else from this review here's the best tip I have to offer: get involved in Cruise Critics, write on the boards and go to the meet and greet. If one has not yet been organized for your trip, organize it - it just might save your cruise - it certainly made ours!!!

I went on this cruise with my mother. For both of us it was our first cruise ever. We're 30-something and 60-something, both from Germany. Being "aliens" made our embarkation procedure very easy. We arrived by taxi at the pier, were met by a porter who took our suitcases from us curbside and we could just walk right through security and check in. There are two lines for check in - one for Americans and one for foreigners. There were only three people in front of us in the line for foreigners, so that we were on board within half an hour of arriving at the pier. Read more