This was the first cruise for both my husband and myself, and we were not sure what to expect. I have to say the ship, cruise and experience highly exceeded out expectations and we will definitely cruise with royal caribean again. Boarding was swift, and lunch was waiting when we boarded around 1pm. We went to the stateroom first and were quite pleased with it. we went for an inside cabin, as we didnt intend on spending too much time, being more interested in visiting the ports and chilling on the beach. We found we made a very good choice with an inside cabin, It was still spacious and comfortable with plenty of storage. Would probably go for an inside cabin again. The ship itself was beautiful and well maintained. It never felt crowded and we never felt there were noisy kids running around. Excellent gym and spa, although I found the spa prices quite expensive. Also, i felt the gym could have more classes which did not require extra payment. The only classes they had which were free were very early in the morning,and I think having some classes around sail away time would have been great and mroe beneficial, as generally many guests, especially those dining later, would have have been able to attend the classes then.Fun mini golf,ping pong tables, pool tables were all available. The pools were not huge, but then we were not too bothered by this, as we preferred to swim in the gorgeous caribean waters. we didnt use the solarium very much, and even when we did, we noticed there were quite a few kids there, when it is supposed to be an adult zone. Restaurants were always clean and nicely decorated with fresh flowers. The food in Windjammer was really excellent. A great range to suit everyone. I think those people who complain about the food have to be very fussy. Food was different everyday, was always readily available at all meal times, even the really busy times. The open area at the back of Windjammer is simply fantastic. Its a great spot to have lunch and breakfast. You get panoramic views over ports and the sea, and you can also catch some sun while eating.Drinks - lemonade, ice tea, normal teas and coffees were free. we didnt get any soda package as all the free drinks were enough for us. Cocktails and beers were reasonably priced. Didnt drink any wine, as we are fussy with what wine we drink, and felt that the stuff we would want to drink on board was really overpriced.We were on my time dining, and had a very good experience in the Reflections dining room. We never had to wait too long for a table, and service was flawless. Our waiters - Melroy and Francisco were truly remarkable. Friendly, smiling and always took time to chat to us every night. They were very well versed about the food each time. The service was very personalised. The food in Reflections was generally delicious. We were rarely disappointed. We particularly enjoyed the night where all the dining room staff danced for the guests and then invited guests to dance with them. They also sang on another night, and it just contributed to the whole experience.there were 2 formal nights during the cruise, and people really dressed up and we really enjoyed that everyone made the effort. On the formal nights, we made the effort to take some professional photos. There is no obligation to buy, but in the end we bought 2 photos. I think there is a bit of overkill with the photos everyday, but since u dont have to buy them, its fine. The shows onboard were nice, if nothing too spectacular. The highlight for us was the stand up comedian Phil Palisoul, who we found to be hilarious! we wanted more of his shows, but he only performed twice. otherwise, the royal carribean singers and dancers did a good job. Ricky the cruise director was funny and really entertaining. The love and marriage game as well as the quest game were very funny and enjoyable. There was always live music in the Centrum or by the pool, and this was greatly appreciated as well.we had an excellent time in Vortex, the ship nightclub. Music was great and we danced the night away until 2am. It was never crowded as most people didnt really come to the club. But it had a good atmosphere, a cool revolving bar and excellent latin music.Excursions - we didnt book anything with royal carribean, as their excursions and tours were ridiculously pricey. We simply walked off the ship, spoke to the local tourist information ( which were always helpful), and then just took taxis to the beaches or booked our own private tours with a local guide. taxi prices were always fixed and published and there were many guides to choose from. We tool tours in Dominica and Barbados, but other than that, we did our own thing and went to the beach on the other islands we visited ( St Maarten, St Kitts and Tortola). Overall, an excellent cruise, with beautiful ports of call. we only had one day at sea, which suited us perfectly. It was nice to have the day to relax and unwind. I would highly recommend the Serenade of the Seas to anyone.