Like many posters I was originally put off by negative reviews, but luckily a friend had just travelled on Marco Polo & enjoyed, so I thought in for a penny! The fact it would cost me more (as a solo passenger) to do a 7 night cruise with another line to Norway in an inside cabin, (I had an oceanview) probably swung it for me.
My embarkation slot was @ 11.30 & I arrived 11.25, having stayed at a nearby hotel overnight, my luggage was whisked away &, after stopping off to book my AI drinks package, I was straight into the queue to check in. It did seem at first a v long queue, but took no time at all to get to a desk. I was on board (obligatory photo not withstanding) & being escorted to my cabin at around 12.00.
My cabin was at the very back of the ship, the view being of the ships wake, with a queen bed. It was a reasonable size with plenty of storage & the usual amenities. The shower room was also a good size, the shower itself powerful & I didn't have the problem some seem to encounter with the curtain (& let me say here, I'm no Kate Moss). There were 2 dispensers in the shower, I never worked out which contained shampoo & which body wash, but as I had my avon with me, didn't try too hard. Once the lifeboat drill was out of the way, reasonable efficient considering the amount of people wandering around not knowing where they were, I finished unpacking & headed off the Captains Lounge to begin my holiday with a Margarita, I like to start as I mean to go on.