We are a couple in our 50's and have cruised more than a dozen times on several lines (Celebrity, RCCL, NCL, Princess, Carnival). We both love cruising. My husband likes live music and I like to read and look at water. Not much into activities, very low key and spontaneous.

Since this particular cruise was leaving from L.A. and family members had the time off together, we decided to "go big" and invite our extended family of 8 adults and 4 kids to come along - on on what would be their first cruise. Many families were on board - that perhaps influenced a lot of what was so different about this experience for my DH and me - we have no kids, and tend to be late-birds, so we weren't accustomed to being in the public areas at the high-traffic hours, but this time we were traveling as a big family from 2-75.

The ship was coming out of dry dock two weeks prior, and had some remodeling. Now there were some new venues as well as the separate "haven"-type area reserved for higher-paying customers on top deck. Disco now part of haven, I think? (Not sure about this, since we didn't have access...) Read more