We have travelled once before on RCL, also on Princess and our first cruise was on Carnival. We enjoy RCL and like the traditional set dining, although with 8.15 second seating found that we were eating late on nights when we docked at 7 and 8 am the next day. We were travelling over spring break so anticipated a busy ship with lots of kids. We were travelling with one of our teen sons and 6 other families, a total of 14 adults and 14 kids (mainly teens). We chose a balcony cabin on deck 8 and once again found that we love having a balcony. We were lucky to get an extended balcony near the elevators - so managed to fit 20 people on the balcony for pre-dinner cocktails one night. Our son shared an inside cabin on deck 3 with a couple of friends - whose parents were in the cabin next door - so he was more than happy to be a few decks away from the parental gaze.

Embarkation Very smooth - we arrived at the dock at around 12.30 and were in a line of 10 people, so we were on board very quickly. We had a slight problem with the reservation clerk who was concerned that our son was checking in to a cabin far away from ours, but this was soon straightened out. We were on board by about 1.15pm and the lunch buffet was ready and waiting for us as were most of the rest of our party.

Cabin 8102 was a lovely cabin - nice and quiet - we took advantage of the extra long balcony with nice lounge chairs - meant we didn't have to fight for a lounge chair on deck. Our cabin steward, Jesus, was quiet, efficient and eager to please. We received nice fluffy bathrobes without asking. Cabins still have the overlarge TVs (how soon we get used to flat screen LCDs and plasmas!) but we didn't spend much time watching TV Dining Ate almost all our evening meals in the dining room - second seating - our wait staff were great - particularly as our group had 3 tables and we kept moving places each night - they had a hard time keeping track of us all and the wine bottles. Food was good, but not excellent. Steaks were never that good. Food was plentiful, but not always imaginative. Portofino's - ate dinner at Portofino's one night it was superb, well worth the extra charge. Buffet - most of our lunches on sea days were eaten in the Buffet - it was fine - not much change in the menu - but ok. Breakfast - either the buffet or room service. Once again plentiful but nothing special Read more