Embarkation was about as welcoming as a Qantas desk on a bad air day. No-one to greet you on boarding, or to take you to your cabin. We found our own way. Cabin itself seemed rather cramped, even though it was "Superior". Furnishings were fine, though drawer space inadequate - not one drawer big enough to take a folded shirt. Bathroom OK, with the cheapest possible toiletries. Good beds and linens. Surprisingly, kettle and mugs for making tea (but not coffee!- see later).
Getting about - where was the Guide to the Ship, Deck Plan - or similar? None. Just a multi-lingual generic book for all RCI ships full of dos and don'ts - specifying in great detail all the reasons RCI could have for kicking you off the ship. Great. Day 1 Cruise Compass was in the cabin: it said "Farewell Sydney" . We were in Perth. By this time (Hour 2 of our 18 day cruise) we were already forming an impression of RCI - and first impressions, as everyone knows, are important.
So off we went to explore the ship: without guide or deck plan, we were relying on the signage around the ship, which turned out to be so discreet as to be almost useless. Only on day 17 did I notice there were little notices on each side of each lift lobby saying "port side" or "starboard side" - made in transparent glass with lightly etched, almost invisible, lettering. No prominent red/green color coding, which seems the obvious, nautical, way to do it. RCI obviously want you to forget you are on a ship.