This cruise was nice in the fact that we didn't have to fly to the initial port. The only problem was that when we arrived at the Naval Business Center in Philly, I thought the luggage crew was very slow in unloading cars and keeping the traffic moving. We waited at least 45 minutes if not longer in sweltering heat. Embarkation went quite smooth after this though.
The cabin was what we expected. We have cruised before and know that the rooms are small. It was clean and had many storage areas for our belongings. Let's face it, you don't spend much time in your cabin so it was great for what I needed it for. The beds however, were not very comfortable and were a bit on the low side...a little difficult for a tall or elderly person to get in and out of. Our cabin steward was fantastic and always kept our cabin neat and tidy and was quite adept at making those towel animals (a different one each night I might add).
The meals onboard were nothing short of amazing. We ate dinner in the dining room each night and our waiter and his assistant met our needs quickly and efficiently. The entire dining room staff were friendly. The dining room itself was a lovely sight, very elegant. I was most impressed with the Windjammer buffet. The crew went to great lengths to make sure it was well stocked with a variety of foods to please all. This was possibly the neatest and best buffet I have ever seen!