Everything is relative, and my cruise experience was a relatively good-great experience. I paid a very reasonable price, even with the compulsory additional $140 for gratuities.

I chose to try the specialty restaurants, because I felt that the price (after 8:30 pm) was a reasonable amount. I like to eat later, since I like to sleep in and also nap in the afternoon. (I like the interior rooms for this reason.) I stay up late, so 8:30 was fine for me. $5- $10 per person was not unreasonable for the great service, and the slightly better quality food. I was happy to leave an extra tip for the great service I received.

Reading some of the other reviews had me worried, but this cruise experience was as good as most of the other 5 I've taken. One can always focus on that less than perfect meal, but the crew is absolutely doing the best they can. It's just not possible to have a home cooked quality meal when you have over 2,000 people to serve. It's also not possible to compare with restaurants charging $20-$30 or more for the entree alone. Dining out can easily cost $100 for dinner for 2. So, all this considered, this cruise was great value. Read more