We set sail from Tampa on 3/15/03. We arrived at the port at noon and since we had registered for immigration online at the HAL site, there was no line at all for Express check-in.

We were given a #3 card for embarkation. They started boarding at exactly 1:00 PM by deck number. Upon entering the ship there was a steel drum band which really put us in a cruising mood right away. We were escorted immediately to our cabin by the cabin steward. The cabin was of a nice size and was on lower promenade deck #338. this location was close to the atrium, elevator, and exit to the outside deck. There were up and down escalators on this deck going down to deck 2, but unfortunately they were out of commission all week. An officer told me that kids on the previous week cruise were using them for slides and they did not have the part to fix it.

The decoration of the ship was beautiful and the objects de art were fabulous. I kept finding more tucked away in different parts of the ship. There were many small lounges throughout the ship which made it pleasant to sit and relax. Read more