PASSENGER PROFILE: There was an older crowd than we expected - more like Holland America than Royal Caribbean or Princess. There were some children, but not a lot. Many different countries were represented.

EMBARKATION: It was pretty painless: we boarded at 12:20 p.m. There was a seating area inside so we had no standing in line. Check-in was pleasant. There was no covered parking in Ft. Lauderdale for the Solstice. I'm not sure if that is because the ship is new or what. The parking lot was very close, though, and easy to get to. It was just a bit of a disappointment that it wasn't covered.

As we boarded, we were served champagne, which was a great way to set the tone. The cabins were not available yet, so we went straight to the Oceanview Cafe, which is on Deck 14. This is a good segue to the food category below. Read more