The check-in process seemed to be much more confusing than usual. After passing through security the boarding process was haphazard. The lines were longer, at times movement was rather confusing and the folks directing traffic were not as efficient as we’ve come to expect. Jan and I carried our bags on board and were able to go right to our cabin #5000, all the way forward at the end of the hall. Though the cabin is located on the deck beneath the main theater we never heard a sound from that source.

About the cabin. During the cruise we were occasionally able to hear waves lightly slapping against the hull but the sound was regular and rather soothing. What was annoying was a broken fan like sound that would begin slowly, get progressively faster and louder and then stop, usually within a few minutes. Wasn’t enough to wake us up so we ignored it.

A major disappointment was the four hour delay leaving the dock for sail-away. We got some amusement from watching the frantic activity as the ship was being loaded, but by the time we began to move it was dark so we couldn't see the sights as we sailed the several hour trip down the Mississippi to the Gulf. Read more