We are Diamond Plus cruisers and couldn't be happier. We were hesitant to book this cruise because of the negative reviews but are so HAPPY we listened to our gut feelings. We wanted to see and experience all the technology and share this with our son and wife (ages 31 & 29). We had a Royal Sky Grand Suite for ourselves and Junior Spa Suite for them. Both were amazing! We had two very tiny issues with our Grand Suite and that was the huge glass rectangular coffee table we thought looked great but was a hazard for possibly bumping into or tripping over at night (easy remedy; it was moved against a wall), and not having a magnifying makeup mirror (which I got used to in most suites; so I stopped taking my magnifying mirror). It was hard to see to put my makeup on without glasses LOL but I did it. (I did check in the gift shops bur the only one they had was way too small. So, just made a note to pack that next time.)
We usually book Anytime Dining but booked the Classic Dynamic and had absolutely no issues with it. We ate at Coastal Kitchen (for suite guests) for breakfasts, lunches and 1 dinner (to avoid Windjammer crowds). There is a full time Chef assigned there so the food was top notch. We ate at Chops (always perfect) and Jamie's Italian (good; but I liked Chops better). We NEVER felt crowded at all and we got all the shows we wanted. Just be sure to BOOK way ahead before you leave. We were unaware of this (travel agent did not tell us nor did RCI) so when I saw the tip on CC I tried to book ASAP (about 1 month ahead) and couldn't get all we wanted and that bothered me. I called C&A and they said 75% are booked ahead an they keep 25% for onboard booking so as SOON as I got on the ship I looked around and found a table and stood in line to get our shows and North Star times booked. It all worked out but it was a little stressful until this was completed.
The ship is absolutely beautiful and the staff were so friendly. I also found the cruise passengers just delightful and a good diversity represented on board. If you have had doubts ERASE them and book this ship! You won't regret it. Oh, I took off one star VALUE for Money because it was a tad expensive but oh so worth it. Be sure to book Spectre and We Will Rock You....The Gift was different but again I liked it as well! Be sure to try North Star even if you have a fear of heights as I do; you won't regret it!
It was very nice having a tub with a slip proof bottom and grab bars and DEEP enough to really enjoy. The 2 sinks were on separate walls which was nice. The living area was cramped with the rectangular coffee table which to us was a hazard (so we moved it). I liked having the private bedroom area (just like 2 real rooms) but it was a tad of a tight squeeze to get around the corner of the bed and TV wall when heading to bathroom. I loved having my makeup table next to the closet where I dressed and my husband's in the other room. Our son and his wife had the Spa Junior Suite which had a tub AND a shower and because it wasn't closed off from the living room seemed much bigger. All in all I think I would get the Spa Junior Suite next time, but then again you don't get those special perks like a Grand Suite gets. Either room choice would be fine as far as comfort. We had 2 huge flat screen TVs in our Grand Suite with 3 telephones! The location of our room made it easy to get to froward and aft easily and the elevator was nearby. It was totally sound proof.
Embarkation as a breeze! We completed our Set Sail Pass with PHOTOS online before sailing along with our luggage tags. And being a suite guest got to go through pretty quickly.