With only one other cruise under my belt, I am really not qualified to compare this ship and cruise with similar choices in its class, but considering the ridiculously low cost of a most enjoyable seven-day vacation - a mere $1,770 for a family of three - I do have one comment. Who cares?

We have never spent so little and received so much. The 185 sq. ft. room with a private balcony, totaling 220 sq. ft. of living space, had every amenity one would expect in a decent hotel room, including loads of closet space and innumerable drawers and shelves to keep even a teenage daughter's mess out of sight. The unexpected presence of CNN in the room was highly appreciated. The auto industry got its bailout, the Illinois governor promised to explain why he was not a crook, Barack Obama's cabinet choices kept getting favorable reviews even as his campaign swagger seemed a little tame under the enormous weight of the problems that awaited come January. Being out of touch with all the troublesome developments back home is no longer acceptable in this day and age.

The private balcony with two deck chairs, plus a million dollar view, gave the wife and I lots of opportunities to grab some quality time away from the hustle and bustle of the poolside decks. We were so tuned out most of the time that we never got around to discussing a couple of personal projects we had brought along. If spending a few hundred dollars more per person is not a problem, then I would strongly recommend a balcony stateroom even if you believe the popular notion that you won't spend much time in the room. Just leave the drape wide open at night - no peeping Toms within a few hundred miles of your balcony - and wake up every day to the most gorgeous view nature has to offer mankind. Read more