Part I - Precruise
A. Inception
We are avid Caribbean cruisers. Last year, we spent Christmas and New Year's in the Caribbean on the Celebrity Mercury (which, sadly, sailed for the last time under that name in February 2011) and we wanted to do it again. We looked at all cruise lines, but settled again on either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity (the only lines we have cruised on) because of their itineraries and schedules.
Cabin was very quiet, centrally located (just between the mid-ship and forward elevators). There was no noise from above, below or sides.