PURPOSE This was my gift to my parents in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary. They insisted I cruise with them since this was their first. I've cruise RCC once before in 2000 and was a bit hesitant. But the lure of the new ship full of amenities not available with the other lines was too much to pass up....glad we did it.

EMBARKATION We flew into Miami late Friday evening and stayed at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami -- highly recommend this hotel. Not your typical Holiday Inn. GREAT location with view of the port in the morning. Be sure to register with their loyalty program online before making reservation.

We headed to the port at 11:00. No lines. Had to wait about 15 minutes before they began boarding. Was on the ship by 12:00. In the room around 1:00 and luggage was already waiting on us. Parents went crazy at the Windjammer buffet. I warned them that they needed to pace themselves. They ate so much that that they needed a nap before the "drill". Read more