You definitely won't find a trashing review here. I find it amazing what "critics" are "critical" about when it comes to cruising. You don't take a Carnival cruise and expect "gourmet" cuisine, or 5 star accommodations. You get a nice vacation for a good price and get to see some really nice places, while spending a nice time with your family. I would say our experience was very good. It was me, my wife, and 4 year old, and let's say that as long as he's having a great time, we're having a great time.

Embarkation - a breeze. Took the train into Penn, $20 cab ride (lots of traffic that morning, otherwise it's typically $10-$12 for the 2 mile or so ride). Left bags with porter for couple bucks each, were handed as Group 4, were on the ship by 12:15PM. Very well organized and top notch service by the embarkation staff across the board. They made it a happy experience to get on the ship.

Ship - nicely appointed but definitely "Pink" as other reviewers have written, but you get used to it by the 2nd day. Not my taste, or that of many others. Not sure really what they were thinking with the way overdone kitschy art-deco. Picture the Flamingo in Las Vegas, but even more pink and deco than that. And frankly, the ship's beat up as the back to back cruises have begun to take toll. Scratches, worn out rugs in spots, clean but not the spic-n-span clean you're used to from the past, especially Princess. In fact, huge difference from Princess. Let's be clear...it's not FILTHY or DIRTY...just not the lustry clean you're used to or might expect from the past. More on that later. Figure a 3 1/2 star to sometimes 4 star experience throughout. Read more