PRE CRUISE: We arrived on Saturday evening and had the Cruise package at the Holiday Inn Express at SEATAC. Finding where the shuttle picks you up was rather confusing and after a second call to the hotel we were instructed to go up one level in the terminal take the walkway over to the parking garage and then go down one level to the shuttle pickup area. After the short ride to the hotel we were promptly checked in and given our vouchers for the shuttle to the pier and return vouchers to the airport for after the cruise. The first "non-smoking" room we were given reeked of smoke (I'm a smoker but don't smoke indoors and my wife is a non-smoker). After a call to the front desk the clerk quickly brought us up a key to another room which was nice and actually smoke free. Overall a very nice hotel with a great cruise package rate ($129 plus taxes for a room with king size bed and transfer to the pier and to the airport upon return). There was a little bit of confusion with the shuttle to the pier but overall a good experience with the hotel. Just a brief note that there is only 1 restaurant within walking distance from the hotel but they do offer a free shuttle ride to and from area restaurants.

CHECK-IN: This had to have been the easiest/quickest cruise check-in we have ever had. Our shuttle driver dropped us off at the terminal shortly before 11:00 and within 20 minutes of arriving we were walking onboard and dropping our carry on bags in our stateroom. It doesn't get much better than that.

CABIN: We had booked a BB aft cabin on Caribe deck 18 months in advance (Cabin C753) and we couldn't have asked for anything better (well maybe the full suite next door, but that's about it). The cabin itself is your typical size with a queen bed and plenty of storage space, but having the balcony on the rear of the ship is terrific to hear the sound of the wake and enjoy the great views from your deck. Read more