It's very nice to take a cruise when not relying on airlines. We(My husband and I, in our 50's) drove to the Manhattan terminal, which was easy to find, and parked adjacent-pricey, but convenient. We were there early so check-in was quick and easy. We looked at our room quickly but the steward had a few things to finish so we left and toured the boat. As it was our second cruise we knew what we wanted find-dining, fitness room, theatres. I do not like that some of the activities have a cost(like bingo). One of the most interesting things was the Behind the scenes tour-also at an additional expense. I do not like waiting in crowds for tenders to the islands, although once we were there I was happy. The entertainment was good. The Fat Cats Club had good entertainers, but frankly, the lead singer was creepy, hitting on all the women! The different bars are inconsistent in their drink preparation. The best drinks are on The Spice H20 deck. We had the beer/wine package included, and can't understand why they don't have a better system for keeping track of their inventory. For every drink, we had to sign a piece of paper. The meals in Taste, Savor and Manhattan room are all very good. LeBistro was also very good. We happened to go there without any reservations and got a table. My biggest complaint is the Casino in the middle of the boat, with smoke reeking all around it and above and below. I came home and promptly became sick from the second hand smoke I had inhaled the last night(I have asthma). The Casino should not have smoking and if it has to, be separate from the main walk through the boat. I did enjoy the cruise, despite these comments. Our steward was extremely friendly and made it a point to chat with us every day. Most of the wait staff always had a smile on their faces. I liked having a small balcony and we had plenty of room. We did the walk off for disembarkation and that was easy. We booked and got a good price, but with the excursions and activities spent several hundred more.