This was our second cruise, the first being on Solstice of the Seas in the Mediterranean almost seven years ago through Celebrity (RC's high end line). The ship was very impressive and the staterooms a pleasant surprise for size, cleanliness and amenities. Our attendant was outstanding but then again we aren't very high maintenance. There was plenty to do onboard and the ports were all enjoyable, our favorite stop being St. Maarten. Both the impromptu taxi across St. Thomas to the beautiful Maagen's Beach and the prearranged excursion with TriSport for kayaking and snorkeling and a potent complimentary rum punch at the end were well worth it. I would recommend signing up for the excursions several weeks ahead of time, however, as many of them were full one weak prior to departure. The out door cafes with a view of the bay and the ships, plus entertainment from the locals along Front St. In Phillipsburg were unforgettable.

The food included with the price of the cruise was fair at best, closely resembling standard college dormitory fair. The extra cost menu was, however, excellent. The staff looked miserable except for our main dinner staff who were overly pleasant and constantly trying to push their opinion as to what we should order, even refusing to let me get salad as an entree one night. Every dinner they asked us to give them a "10" on the wait staff review (because of that I would not rate them so high - they only needed to ask once). They tended to pay more attention to those they thought might tip higher or order more wine ( they were mistaken and so cut their profits as it is often those who do not put on Aires and are less demanding who have more to spend). We traveled with a large group that was split into two tables at the last minute resulting in two teams of waiters. Our wait staff far exceeded the staff at the other table as far as timeliness and sense of humor. At one point they were told to slow our service down to match the other table's even though the other table had special dietary needs and ordered multiple entrees per person.

The ship's best kept secret was the juice bar on the sixth floor in the Vitality Spa. It cost extra but was still less than an alcoholic drink. Alcohol was very heavily pushed all throughout the cruise but the quality of the drinks and the bartender service varied a lot. The On Air bar had the best drinks, the Irish pub on floor 5 had great entertainment and ambiance (then again, I'm from Boston), the Champagne / Martini bar was terrible service. Read more