I chose Royal Caribbean because of the great reviews it received from both professional travel writers and customers. I was a little worried that the ship might be too frenetic with its water slides, zip lining and bowling alleys, etc. so chose a slightly older ship that was still packed with amenities but incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I loved the elegant dining rooms and the adult pool. My seven year son had fun in the kids pool and arcade, mini gold and met lots of friends.

I really loved the ship - the gorgeous mall, the views from the 12th floor deck -- and the staff was lovely and helpful.There were plenty of bars with a ton of entertainment options. The dining was nice and there was one restaurant open 24/7 for breakfast and snacks, etc.

We chose a cabin with a balcony and loved waking up each morning to see the ocean. The bed was a dream - great mattress. My son slept in a pull down bed - it was large by cruise standards and very comfortable. Read more