We cannot say enough about our beautiful room, large comfortable bed and granite counter built-ins and desk/vanity area, pillow menu and the very spiffy spa bath (loved that shower!) We enjoyed the daily amenities from the bottle of champagne and fruit plate waiting on our arrival, to daily herbal iced teas/bottled waters, afternoon canapes; the over-sized towels and upgraded toiletries were appreciated, as was the balcony with table/chairs and reclining chairs with foot rests. We took advantage of the complimentary access to the relaxation room and Persian Room in the spa area, and enjoyed the heated tile beds, aromatherapy and sauna rooms, tropical storm and rain forest showers. Our room steward, Mauricio, had our room ready and every request was met cheerfully. He made our trip feel special and elegant. We also enjoyed dining in Blu and never waited for a table(service and staff were incredibly attentive, engaging, and food was excellent.)

The ship was decorated for Christmas in an elegant, understated way, that complimented the lovely rooms and open areas. It's a gorgeous place to wander around, we loved the art: paintings, sculptures and more, very well done. We did dine in Qsine, a specialty restaurant that is truly unique and worth the $40 each -- it's a dining experience of creativity and sharing, and a must-do experience if you only choose one specialty restaurant. We were wait-listed but made it in, as the restaurant books quickly, so do book before you cruise, if possible. On this cruise, the ship itself was the lure, as we need to unwind and relax over the holiday week. We also loved the adults-only pool area, though we usually opted to go back to our own balcony for snacks or a beverage and to watch the glorious sunsets. We did eat breakfast occasionally in Blu (and it was yummy, with extras not available in other restaurants like blueberry walnut pancakes and fresh fruit smoothies), but we also enjoyed the buffet style options for breakfast and lunch in the Oceanview Cafe, with round the world offerings like Asian, Indian, Italian, subs and gyros, classic hot meals with sides, salads, desserts and more. We waited a fairly long time one afternoon for burgers and dogs at the outside grill, but the one guy working was zipping along with a cheerful attitude, and the food was great!

The shows were better than most cruise ship fare, particularly loved the Silhouette cast when they did a circus style show with lots of acrobats, visuals, lighting effects -- very cool. We also loved a special guest vocalist, Christina Bianco, who did a fantastic diva impersonation show that earned a well-deserved standing ovation. Read more