Took this same cruise in 10/2005. Boarded this time with our two children, 11 & 8. Booked a balcony cabin this time as opposed to an inside. I was wary of constantly comparing this cruise with the previous one. I was also curious as to cutbacks considering the economy and the fact that I didn't pay much more for this cruise despite the better room and 2 more passengers. Here's how I saw it.

Embarkation:Still very swift and organized. They still do early embarkation at 11:30 even though they don't advertise it. Tip:If you take a taxi or a private car, ignore the line that is forming down the boardwalk. The driver will be able to go in and drop you off in the front. We made the mistake of getting out by the line because we didn't want to walk all the way back. Turns out, the cabs can take you right in. We used Greenride from our hotel, $12.50 plus tip for private town car up to 4 people.

Ship:Looks exactly the same. The cabins have some wear, but it's from people slamming and banging thier luggage into the walls. Some changes have been made for the better. Movie theatre, new coffee bar and library, and culinary arts center have been added. Read more