Yesterday I arrived home from my first ever cruise, I couldn't have been more sad to leave, not only was this my first cruise, but it was my first 'big' family holiday, which made it all the better. Everything about the cruise was perfect, I do not have one complaint, the service and looking after you will receive is outstanding. Dinner especially was one of my personal favourite times, you are given your table which you will sit at every night, with your two allocated waiters, who are also outstanding.  Rocky and Alfredo were my table waiters, they were extremely kind and attentive, but also funny and made the time even more enjoyable. You'll be given a drinks waiter too, ours was Elvis. And, if your like me and have special dietary requirements etc. someone who specialises in this, will give you the menu for the following night each night, so you can order early and they have time to discuss with the chef if there is any ..(for me I have a nut allergy) in your chosen meal. The food is amazing, I enjoyed my dinner every night, there were so many amazing choices to chose from it was great! The entertainment in the evening it brilliant, you have lots of choices, there are many bars, for eg. There is a bar called carmens, which there is a show preformed every evening, (but there's also a theatre which is brilliant if you want a proper sit down show), there is a bar called champions, which is a sports bar and since the World Cup was on when we were there, we Spent a fair amount of time in there, there's a bar called Masquerades, which is like your after hours 'night club' if you like, no one under the age of 18 is allowed in after midnight. There's also many others, some that are quieter or more formal, but we didn't visit them often, for no reason other than personal preference! If you go with kids, Aurora is great too, the have a kids club on during the day, everyday, called Jumping jacks, this is for 5-8 year olds I believe but there lots of clubs for lots of ages (including a teen club), but my little cousins loved jumping jacks, then at night time each night they do a 'slumber party' where the kids go in the pjs and watch movies etc, and can stay until 11pm (but like I said there's lots of different clubs that will have different times). The off ship days are of course amazing append will be different for everyone that goes so I won't go into much detail about that. But personally our family really loved the on ship days, there are three main pool ares, the crystal pool (which a roof can be closed on, on days the weather may not be great), the riviera pool, and the terrace pool which is located right on the back of the boat and is were the sail away party's are located. Our family stayed in the crystal pool for the majority, not because the weather was bad, although a couple of days it wasn't great, but on the 35 degree heat days we stayed there too, because the roof was off. All pools are great family pools and also have hottubs in crystal and riviera, which are lovely! You have food served basically all day in the main restaurant, that's were you tend to have your breakfast and lunch, unless you book to go somewhere else, like Marco Piere Whites which we had lunch in for a special occasion. There is also a spa on board that is supposed to be amazing we didn't visit it, for no reason other than we were too busy doing other things! There is lots of lovely shops to visit, they open around 5pm ish, you have clothing stores, makeup stores, perfume, jewellery (especially high end watches), then a kind of general needs store you could say, which sells toiletries, meds and sweets! Your rooms will be lovely and clean no matter which type, we had a bath/shower balcony room, but my cousins had a room without a balcony that was very large space wise and all rooms are cleaned to the highest standard, you will also have your own cabin steward, who visits your room twice a day, once in the morning before 12pm, to make your bed and give you clean towels etc, and once in the evening when you have gone to dinner, to roll down your bed, and removed the towels you have used. Both embarkation and disembarkation are very fast and simple, a lot easier than flying. OVERALL, this is the most perfect holiday, for ALL ages, I will keep the memories of it forever, it is an experience not to be missed.