This was our first cruise and we aren't very picky. However, it doesn't take a lot of experience to be able to recognize cleanliness, organization, and good service.

The ship: The ship was fresh out of dry dock, and had been fitted with new carpets, new paint, and general repairs. For anyone worried about old smelly carpet or a worn out looking ship, don't be. It's well maintained and very clean. The bathrooms in public areas are updated with new flooring, modern sinks, and mosaic tile. I saw reviews that mentioned smelly halls and diesel fuel. I am very sensitive to smells, and only noticed that a few times. Here's the thing... people's bathrooms are the closest thing to the hall. When over 2,000 people are together, it's pretty hard to keep that under complete control. The only place I ever noticed it was briefly in the hallway- never in public areas and never in our stateroom. The diesel smell was noticeable when we were maneuvering in port, but that's it.

The food: It was fine. Nothing amazing, but certainly decent. Our servers remembered our names and drink preferences and worked very hard to please us. No complaints. We got the drink package. Since we were traveling without our kids and drink mostly mixed drinks, it was worth it. The piña coladas are awesome, and so are the coco locos on Cococay. Read more