For my first ever cruise I took a 10 night cruise from Bayonne, NJ to the Caribbean and back. I chose this cruise on Explorer of the Seas, Royal Caribbean because it was departing from NJ. Here are my general impressions.

The ship is huge (over 3,000 guests and 2,000 staff) and beautiful. From my stateroom and balcony to the center promenade to the multilevel dining rooms, to the solarium, it all presents a lovely image.

Service was prompt, pleasant and efficient. The food was good and plentiful. I had read a negative review on the food, but I found it good. I was pleased to find fresh, well-prepared fish on the menu every night. I chose traditional, assigned seating for dinner and for a solo traveler it provided a nice respite to be able to have some pleasant conversation for a couple hours. Read more