This was our first cruise EVER! This was our "delayed honeymoon" since we (my husband and I) were married 4 days after 9/11 and did not get one initially. We were very excited! We drove the night before and stayed in Galveston to make sure we made it and had a chance to relax. Got to the terminal early (1ish) parked at the Port Authority lot. After we went through the check in process (which was long but not that bad) and actually boarded the ship, I was in tears. It was more beautiful than any pictures! It was polished and ever so elegant! The staff was ever so helpful and smiling all the time except I did notice one purser who looked like she had been sucking on a lemon, other than that no complaints!
ROOMS Our room was a large stateroom and was quite small but sufficient. Only complaint about the room was the bed, it had a mattress that looked like something from camp, very thin and very hard. Next time we will bring an air mattress to compensate. Attendant was GREAT and our room was always clean with the ice bucket full and clean glasses.
FOOD/DRINKS The food in the windjammer was okay and convenient. I was not that impressed with some of the dinner choices as they were a little "foreign" to me. Different spices than I was used to. I would have preferred a little more of a selection, perhaps a mexican night, italian night, seafood night, etc...Breakfast was okay but eggs were watery and cold a couple of times. Nice selection of pastries! Did not spend much time with the group assigned to us for the dining area, not our kind of crowd although I am sure they were nice people. Had only one meal there and it was pleasant. The drinks at the bar upon arriving were very enticing but don't be fooled by the RUM toppers (it was 40 proof) and pricey on the 9th deck. We preferred to hang out at the Schooner's Bar where the drinks were good and the atmosphere was relaxing. GREAT SERVICE! Viking lounge was also very nice. Witnessed a VERY drunk person on the 9th deck (pool lounge)on the 2nd night, who all but passed out at a table later in the evening. Found out he was there to work on the coffee machines....they dropped him off at the first port and sent him home.....no surprise.