Background: We are a family of 5 and were first time cruisers. We booked two adjoining balcony cabins. We traveled with friends who had cruised before with RCL. We flew down early and spent the two nights prior to the cruise in Bal Harbor and enjoyed this pre-cruise time immensely.

Embarkation: We arrived at the port in our rental car and dropped off all of our luggage with the porter. My wife and kids waited at the terminal while I returned the car to Alamo and then came back to the port via their shuttle. Once I returned we were only about 15 minutes from check in to on board with a glass of champagne in hand. Based on previous posters' advice, we went to the Venetian dining room for lunch.

Food and Entertainment: I don't know what the people who complain about food are used to, because I had absolutely no complaints at all. We ate in both the Venetian and the Aqua dining rooms. Both were nice, but we seemed to prefer the Venetian with the large windows providing a nice ambience. The wait staff were very good and we never waited very long to get seated or get our food. Most days we had breakfast in the buffet. They will make omelets or fry eggs for you and it was quick and easy with the kids. We went to the Venetian one morning and I really enjoyed the eggs Benedict. Blue Lagoon was very good as well. We stopped there a couple of times for wings, and I did have the fish and chips one day. It was not as big an area as I had envisioned, but we were able to get a table any time we were there. We went to Cagney's one night and it lived up to the previous billing that I had read on cruise critic. Definitely worth the $20 up charge. The chicken, hot dogs and burgers served around the pool were very good and very convenient for lunch. Read more