After ten cruises with various lines I decided to try Royal Caribbean. I wanted an 18 night cruise from Fremantle and tried to get a cabin at the last minute. I asked Royal Caribbean to put me on their wait list as they said the ship was full. I was annoyed to find after I had bought 'the last cabin' at a huge price through Vacations to Go that Royal Caribbean in fact had cabins available much cheaper, but they hadn't bothered to contact me. I found myself each night in the dining room sitting next to someone who had bought exactly the same sort of cabin through the same company (Vacations to Go) in the same month, but at half the price I paid. So no wonder I was a little grumpy.

Embarkation was disappointing. We got on board to find they had cancelled Esperance as a port of call, the only port on the trip I hadn't been to. And they were sailing a day late because of the Qantas strike. Unlike other companies, they did not offer any rebate or future discount.

Starving after hours of trying to get on board I headed for the burger section and was given the most disgusting hot dog I have even eaten. Read more