Let me start by saying that for those of you that simply browse through these reviews, let me give you the Cliff Note version in 10 words or less,... "My family experienced a magnificent vacation that we will truly cherish for the rest of our lives!" ... OK, so that was really 17 words, but you get the idea!

Now, for the details...

ARRIVAL AND EMBARKATION: We chose to fly into Hobby Airport in Houston the day before we were to set sail. We spent the night in Galveston (which is another treasure that we would like to explore more someday), and called a taxi to take us to the terminal. We were traveling in a group of 10 which made it difficult to travel together in cabs, but we all easily met up again at the terminal. By the time we all arrived, it was about 11 a.m., a porter appeared before we even had time to think about locating one, and our bags were out of sight. We stood in a number of lines for security, photos, registering, etc. Honestly, the lines moved quickly, and we were on the Lido deck by noon, eating lunch and reeling at the amount of luggage being loaded onto the ship. Our rooms were ready by about 1:30, and the luggage was at our doors by the time we finished dinner. We got on the ship dressed in casual resort wear - we looked fantastic for that picture they take as you board the ship, and since we had the 5:45 dining time, we also looked great for the first night in the dining room. Piece of cake! FIRST TWO DAYS AT SEA: My husband would argue this point, but I honestly enjoyed the first two days at sea. It gave us all time to explore the boat, take in a number of shows, and get used to the comfortable, relaxed atmosphere on the ship. The usual caution that strangers typically exhibit was thrown out the window when our fabulous cruise director, Wee Jimmy, reminded us that it was perfectly OK to talk to each other on the elevator. How can you ignore the wise words of a guy named Wee Jimmy, right? Our two boys, ages 12 and 15, were able to meet some new friends in those first two days through a number of age appropriate activities. We were never really worried about our youngest - he's always been very outgoing and eager to meet new people. He actually hooked up with a small group of kids on the very first night, and they spent the next two days swimming, dancing, and just plain talking to each other. I'm not sure those kids would have had a chance to bond without those first two days at sea. The test came with our oldest - very shy around new people. He went to the orientation, but we continued to encourage (or NAG if you were to ask him) his attendance at some of the teen activities. Irregardless of the oldest boy's hesitation, what a terrific experience for both boys! The husband and I traveled from one lounge to the next, listening to a variety of musicians, watching the shows, and exploring the boat. We quickly discovered that you could stay as busy as you wanted by attending shows and participating in the numerous activities artfully organized by Wee Jimmy, or simply sit and watch the world go by. Read more