I purposely waited a week to write this review to give me some time and perspective from the amazing feeling of being part of the Mariner of the Seas fantasy land. Now, 7 days removed, my family and I continue to talk non-stop about the wonderful experience we had. So much for objectivity! Still, I will try to summarize the major areas to be as helpful as possible.

Embarkation - Galveston is a nice city on the Gulf but we did hit long lines to get on the ship. Maybe being first time cruisers we really didn't mind. We met a bunch of very friendly people and kept up a conversation as the line crawled forward. This is the only part of our trip that we did not rate 5+. Getting off seven days later was much better and faster. Maybe 15 minutes in line to get through customs.

The Cabin - We originally were going to choose an inside room but found a great deal for a large outside window cabin. The cabin was roomy enough for the four of us and the service was top notch! Dwight our attendant was always friendly, helpful, and ready to make us feel at home. We asked for ice once but he kept the bucket filled for 7 straight days. The towel animals made us smile as they seemed to enjoy using our sunglasses and reading material for props. I was also pleasantly surprised at water pressure and hot water available for showers. Read more