I have been on both the Allure of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas now, and I think on the whole I really prefer the smaller ships. Large as the Independence of the Seas class is as large as I like - too much bigger and there's no point to cruising. You don't really meet anyone else on board, it's too crowded (the buffet was so constantly crowded there were lines, and you were encouraged to leave as soon as you were finished eating - never had that happen on a cruise before).

I was also disappointed in the quality of the bedding - the pillows were hard and extremely uncomfortable. The drink packages were HUGELY overpriced, particularly when compared to the deals we got the last two years on Celebrity ships. It was cheaper to just buy individual drinks, or the "ten drinks for $70" card.

But the entertainment was top-notch (especially the production of "Cats"), and the food was the best I've had on a Royal Caribbean ship, the desserts were excellent. Central Park 150 was amazing, with some of the best lamb ever tasted, and superior service. Read more