We booked this cruise about a year and a half in advance, so as to get the best price. When we found about three weeks before the sail date that the price had dropped over $500 from what we paid, we contacted Royal Caribbean, but all they said was "too bad, so sad, our policy (of price guarantee) changed in 2010. So we ended up paying more than a thousand dollars more than we needed to. Needless to say, that left a bad taste in our mouths from the get-go.

Also, we have had 100 shares of RC stock for years, but they no longer allow the $100 onboard credit if you have received any other onboard credits. "Not valid with other offers?" Please. As if that's an "offer." If they had wanted to allow it, they could have. So it appears RC is less these days about "delivering the wow" and more about "delivering the moolah." We will adjust our behavior accordingly.

The ship itself, and the crew, did not disappoint us, fortunately. So much to do, so little time! Try as we might, we were unable to check off everything on our list. The thing that came to our mind often as we wandered the ship was "attention to detail." We never saw any indication of cutting corners. From the flow riders to the helipad, everything was spic and span, in good working order and with no evidence of wear. Read more