The process of getting on the ship was smooth, but we weren't 20 minutes on board until we were at the purser's desk asking how we could get off and get our money refunded. This proved a waste of time. They did not try in any way to make amends for the poor conditions we found. We had a choice to risk loosing our money or stay and endure the trip.
As we boarded the ship, we noticed the smell of sewerage. Tacky, yellow caution tape had been used to rope off the only seating area available to passengers in that area. This made a terrible first impression. When we finally made it to our cabin, we were happy to discover that we had two-portholes. But, to our disgust, both beds had numerous strands of black hair (not ours, of course). They eventually sent someone to change the beds, and we settled in after our luggage was delivered at 6:30. The beds were comfortable and the cabin was larger than expected.
Trying to sleep the first three nights was extremely difficult. Kids kept running up and down the halls and at 5:00 a.m. the first morning, a general announcement was made over the intercom that two missing passengers should report to their cabins. Turns out they had slept in another cabin without telling their parents, and the whole ship had to be awakened to find them.