Embarkation was amazingly easy. We'd booked transfer service with RomeLimousinePlus for 22 euro each for a group of 8. Francesca, our driver, was ontime and professional. We arrived at Civitavecchia around 11:15, had lunch in the empty Oceanview Cafe, and were able to enter our staterooms around 1:30.

We booked a CC gty. The room size is the same as all veranda cabins on Solstice class ships, but the CC amenities include large towels, a bottle of sparkling wine on embarkation, afternoon canapes (we requested a cheese plate instead, and were pleased as not only cheese was presented, but grapes, pecans and dried apricots) and fresh flowers. The extra credit we received for this cabin category will bump us to select. Our room attendant Arnel and his assitant were excellent. We were portside on deck 10 and could see the bridge from our veranda. I liked that we had no lifeboats below us.

We tried Select dining for the 1st time. Would not choose this option again as having a consistent waitstaff who learn your preferences and cater to them is a major advantage to set dining, imho. Read more