First and foremost, if anyone is taking a cruise from NY and is looking for the least expensive way to get there, consider valetanywhere.com I found them by sheer luck on a google search, and no one I knew had ever heard of them. The least expensive taxi from Long Island to the cruise port was going to easily cost me $125 one way (tip included), and I didn't know if I could do better than $250 round trip. Then, I stumbled upon ValetAnywhere. I drove my own car in. They met me when I got there, took my car and that was it, easy as could be. The same when we got back. Plus, I parked for a 10 day cruise, with tips for both drivers, for $180. Yes, you read that right....$180 for 10 days of parking and two tips!!!!! I don't know where they put my car, but it came back in the same condition I left it in and it was as easy as could be. This company is great! I highly recommend them! Now, about the cruise itself......

It has been over 20 years since I've been on a cruise, and quite a lot has changed. While this was an great cruise, I labeled it as "almost perfect" because there were a few things that really, in my opinion, could use change.

My main pet peeve is the "premium" restaurants. When you pay as much as you do for a cruise, and we all know they are not inexpensive (especially at holiday time when the cost is triple what it would be the rest of the year), it bothers me that there are restaurants on the ship that you would actually have to pay more for. When I last cruised, there may not have been as many dining location options (and my last cruise was on NCL), however, ALL food was included in the cost. I just don't like the feeling of being nickeled and dimed and to me, asking me to pay more for italian food or french food or sushi gives me that feeling. Read more