We were first time cruisers, never thought too much of the sport but we were curious and made a last minute choice which turned out to be good overall. We got what I would consider a very fare total price for 3 people (2 adults and a 12 yr old). The booking agency explained everything well (although he has nothing to do with the cruise line, i knew what to expect cost wise with gratuities, etc).

Room was good, food was good and cost of booze was no different than our normal dining back home in tampa with $6 20oz pints of premium beer and decent $37 red wines....as said, no different than anywhere on land. Buffet Eating has never been my idea of fun therefore any discomfort the buffet food gave me may have come from any location as it always makes me feel like a herd of cattle....you have to remember that people are different when hungry,,,,it does not bring out the best in our race.

Enough shallow talk, the staff were forced pleasant and they could not seem to shake the drudgery of continuous service for extremely modest pay, irrespective of the country of origin. Service was a task they had to perform, not of any freewill....i can understand that and will say, it was "honest" service. Read more