First of we flew in the Long Beach airport the night before the cruise. This airport could not be easier to navigate if they tried. 2 sides, something like 4 or 6 gates, 2 baggage belts, taxis and shuttles galore to anywhere you want. The taxi cost us 60.00 from the airport to the doubletree Inn. And took about 20 minutes to get there. We stayed at the doubletree Inn because we read that it was very close to the port. We were really disappointed. We were in the marina, and paid extra for a view of the Marina, when booking the room and checking in we asked if we would be able to see the cruise ship from our balcony. We were told yes on both occasions. Wrong. We used binoculars and could see the lit up blue anchor on the ship. But not what we wanted and were told. So we would NOT stay there again. The embarkation process was extremely easy. The hotel shuttled us to the pier, a porter took our luggage, we were in the terminal and on the ship in less than 20 minutes!! We arrived at about 10:45 am, and we were on the lido deck by 11:10 am. The ship was beautiful. Very clean and well kept. I did take issue with the carpets on some of the stairwells, and in our rooms though. They need to be cleaned. I really think the best view can be had from the womens restroom on the lido deck though. Man it was really nice!! Some of the deck chairs are in need of repair. Strapping missing or broken, but for the most part, it was really perfect. I really enjoyed all the public areas and really thought everything was very well kept. Crew were very professional, very nice, and bent over backwards to accommodate every wish. I found this to be true from the room stewards to the windjammer staff to the bar tenders and the guest relations. The only rudeness that I encountered was from the people taking the pictures of you when you first board. The seapass pictures. VERY snotty and rude. I told the greeting people on the way in that those people did not make a very nice impression of RCCL. I was told they were new, and I replied to that then they should be trying extra hard then! The other rude person I encountered was the international ambassador. What a jerk to put it lightly. Unfortunately for him, he sits at the desk next to the next cruise desk. I didn't realize there was a difference between his little desk and the next cruise desk. I asked a question about next cruise and he just stuck his nose up in the air and proceeded to tell me that he has nothing to do with that, it was the other desk, and I would have to come back when they were there. I asked if he knew when that was and he said "there is a sign on that desk". An went back to playing computer games or something on his computer. Well the people at the next cruise desk are at that desk the same time everyday! He couldn't have just said that? What an idiot!! But with the exception of those 3 people, we always enjoyed the crew. So nice!! Nicky in the windjammer was exceptional I think. Abe was a pretty good CD. Nothing to write home about, but OK. It was very clear that the CD staff were still working out the kinks of being on the west coast in the entertainment. But they will get it worked out, and it will be fine!! Debarkation was just as easy and embarking! 30 minutes and we were on our way to the airport!