Embarkation in Ft. Lauderdale was a terrible disappointment. Rather than assigning guests a number, or somehow identifying the order of arrival, guests were simply crowded into a small space where seating was limited. While everyone was aware that boarding time was 2:00 p.m., no one expected that at 2:05 they would simply open the door to the security area and allow the crowd to rush into a very unorganized and pushy queue. It would have been so simple to have assigned numbers and board in an orderly manner. Once through security, the remainder of the check-in procedure was orderly and painless. We were welcomed with a glass of Prosecco and then directed to a table where we turned in our passports and received our boarding cards. Next we had our identification photos taken and then we were escorted to our suites, where a chilled bottle of Pommery champagne was waiting.

Suites We booked a verandah suite. It was beautifully appointed and quite spacious. In addition to the large bathroom with double vanity sinks, tub, and separate shower, there is a large walk-in closet with plenty of space. The sitting area includes a sofa, small table, a large writing desk which housed the refrigerator and some additional shelving and drawers, and two chairs. The verandah, while not large, is certainly comfortable. There are two chairs which recline and a small table. The decor is very pleasant and the colors (ours was in blue tones) were quite relaxing.

While we had made our preferences known prior to sailing (via the pre-cruise information request form) relative to pillows and how we would like our refrigerator stocked, no notice was made of our request. However, after meeting our stewardess on the way to dinner we made our requests known and she changed out the pillows and stocked our mini-bar to our liking. Our verandah door was off the track and would not open or close. We would have expected that our stewardess was aware of this. It took 2 phone calls to reception to finally get someone up, but it was fixed within the first few hours on board. However, it had to be repaired several additional times during the voyage. Read more