This was our second family cruise on a Royal Caribbean vessel. Thus, we had not only other cruise lines to compare this cruise to, but also another vessel in the RCCL (Monarch of the Seas) stable.
The embarkation procedures are very efficient and getting past the initial phase of signing on and getting your vessel cards went smoothly. However, having to show the card to get past the entrance gate, again less than 100 feet away, and then a third time at the gangway entrance was a bit of overkill. I know they want to be sure that only passengers embark, but not in the space of 100 yards of enclosed access controlled space. I had to get two additional keys so that I would have one to my spouse's cabin and my daughter would have one to our children's' cabin. This is due to RCCL's requirement of an adult on the booking in each room. Made no real sense, as we did not stay in the kids' room at all.
As always, watch your use of the card for all purchases that you make on the vessel. If you have a limited budget, it may sneak up on you. They are easy to use and you do not have to carry cash around with you onboard (not even in the casino).