I have travelled quite a bit, but have never been on a cruise. I always hesitated because I had this pre-conceived notion that there would be a lot of waiting in lines/for food/drinks, etc....which I hate. However, I was thankfully surprised! Our boarding process was quick and smooth, and everyone was friendly and accommodating. Our cabin was clean and we were glad we upgraded to an oceanview and had that extra bit of room with the windown. Our cabin steward introduced himself and was friendly and sweet. A few things I learned:

1. If you get the upgraded dining, be sure to make reservations if you have more than 2/4 people. We were unable to get into Teppanyaki because it was always booked. The crew did however accommodate our big group of 12 in Cagneys, even though they only had 8 spots open.

2. On the days at sea, if you want a seat by the pool, you need to get there early. It was windy on our days at sea, so the upper decks were too windy/cool. Read more