My wife and I flew into LGA, took a limo to the dock, got into line (we're only Silver), and waited and waited and waited. We arrived at 1PM and finally boarded the ship at 2:20, an ominous beginning which, fortunately, was the low point of the trip.

STATEROOM On the 12th deck was very nice, lots of storage, and I didn't have to lift the bed to slide a suitcase underneath it. Bathroom had real tiles, not plastic, and the shower was large enough to accommodate my 6"5". 230# body with no trouble. The steward was like a phantom, rarely saw her but always had a neat and clean room, freshly made up.

FOOD we ate in the Britannia Club due to our cabin selection. Very nice as it's a single sitting. At times we would arrive at 6:45 and leave after 9. The food was OK, some meals actually were excellent, but the "lobster" is,as usual on a ship, crayfish, overgrilled and I don't recommend it. Cold soups were always excellent and the desserts actually had some flavor to them, a surprise on a cruise ship. We ate one night at Todd English and I highly recommend it, even with the additional $30 p/p cost. If you order wine by the glass there, be sure to inquire about its cost. I didn't and would up with a $21 French pinot noir which was no better than my wife's $13 American pinot noir. Serves me right. The Britannia staff was very attentive, especially the maitre d'hotel. Being recognized by name upon entering is a very nice touch and I appreciated the staff's accessibility without their being too chummy. The Golden Lion Pub is very good and very crowded. Try it on a port day for a more relaxing experience. Read more