When we are traveling without the family, we prefer the all inclusive lines like Regent. But we were intrigued by the "world's largest cruise ship". This is an incredible ship. The atmosphere on the ship is more like that on a Carnival ship as opposed to Holland (as just an example). While it might not be for everyone, if you are cruisers like us, it is worth it one time just to experience the ship. We probably won't do it again, unless the whole family with grandkids is along. This is a great ship for families with lots of venues for kids and the children's programs seemed very well managed.

Ship/Cabin: The ship truly is amazing. We were there during a holiday week, with every cabin booked and lots of families but the only night it actually felt a bit crowded was Thanksgiving night. For such a large ship, is actually very easy to get around. Keep in mind, however, this ship is huge and it is a quarter mile from bow to stern. If walking is a problem for you, consider booking a cabin near one of the two elevator banks, which are at opposite ends of the ship. We had an oceanview/balcony cabin. Nice, but nothing fancy. The bathroom was small, but functional. Don't expect any extra amentities. Shampoo and soap was all that was provided. The closet, however, was very spacious with lots of hangers. Balcony cabins open either to the outside or to an interior "Central Park" area. We were glad we had a seaview balcony. There didn't seem to be a lot of privacy for the cabins with interior balconies and after the first couple of nights, you rarely saw anyone sitting on their balconies and most cabins kept their drapes closed for privacy. Internet is available throughout the ship and was the best we have ever seen on a ship. And there was always someone available to help. In fact, staff throughout the ship was very helpful and exceedingly well trained.

Embarkation/Debarkation: We checked in on line, which undoubtedly helped. But from the the moment the cab dropped us at the curb to the point when we actually stepped foot on the ship was no more than 15 minutes. Tip: We got there about an hour after they started embarkation and that may have helped miss the first rush. If you can carry your luggage off, you can debark between 6 and 7:30 a.m. They mean this literally - don't ask for help with your luggage. None is available and there are no luggage carts available. But with even large bags on wheels, many families, including us, took advantage of this option. We had a leisurely breakfast, collected our bags from our cabin, and 15 minutes later had cleared customs and were in a cab headed for the airport Read more