I am writing this review a couple months after our cruise but I am assuming things haven't changed that much. We are a family of 4 ( 2 boys 11 and 13).and cruised for the very first time. Admittedly I am a little high maintenance and enjoy some of the nicer things in life. That being said, I was leery of going on a cruise because of all the people, cattle call lines, average food, etc, etc. I read almost 100 reviews prior to going on this trip and I was making myself crazy ( 50% were good 50% were bad). If you are reading these reviews there should be no surprises at all when you get on this cruise. Here are some highlights:

- Embarked at 1 pm. Entire process from getting out of the cab to getting to our room was approx 30 minutes. Can't complain at all. Pack a carry on bag because our luggage did not get to our room until about 6 pm. You'll want bathing suites, etc. Not sure why others had an issue with this. Maybe its just the luck of the draw.

- We had a family mid-ship mini suite with a large bed, a couch that turned into another bed and a Pullman that dropped from the ceiling. We were on the 13th floor. Yes- rooms are small compared to everyone's Mcmansions but you are on a cruise ship people! This isn't a hotel sitting on 100 acres of land. Bathroom was decent sized and provided a large walk in shower with nice body sprays and water pressure. These are HansGrohe ( higher end) fixtures. Plenty of storage. I'm sure the people that are complaining about it are the same people that come on with 3 large suitcases a piece. Pack appropriately and you'll have no problems. Balcony is large enough to hold 2 chairs and a small table. You can fit a family of 4 out there to watch the world go by but everyone can't sit. Hint- There is an ottoman in the room that I pulled outside to use as an extra seat or to have something to put your feet up on. Read more