We were interested in taking either a land tour or a cruise around the Baltic. We opted for a cruise because of the appeal of not having to lug suitcases and pack and unpack every day or two. We liked the itinerary of the Serenade of the Seas and Affordable Tours gave us a nice ship board credit.

The embarkation went well, but the disembarkation was amazing--well-organized and hassle-free, much to our surprise. We had expected problems because we were going to a hotel in Stockholm, rather than to the airport. Luggage was handled beautifully on both ends.

As this was our first cruise aboard a ship of this size and with RCL, we weren't sure what to expect. The crew was very helpful and efficient, not to mention patient. Our steward was very attentive, although we probably didn't tax him much. The first night, my time dining was chaotic and there was a long wait. After that, MTD went smoothly. We did not eat at any of the specialty restaurants and did not purchase a drink package. We were surprised that there was no free WiFi. We purchased Voom for one day and found it to be very slow and erratic--not worth $19.99 for the day. Read more