This was our fourth cruise - our fourth ship, and our shortest cruise. Our previous cruises had been 7+ days each. We were in a balcony stateroom on the Lido deck (9280). Staterooms are forward of all of the Lido bars, pools, restaurants, etc. While we were just a few doors from the forward elevators, there was no noticeable noise at all when we were in our stateroom. We had read many reviews and viewed all the videos of the cleanup, renovations, and updates following the power loss and problems of a few years ago; and went aboard with our ears, eyes, and noses open. While we never wandered down to the lower decks, we did speak with folks who had cabins on the second deck and they said there were lingering sewage odors in the air all week. We didn't detect any in our stateroom or in the passageways on our deck or any above the lobby deck.

Embarkation was smooth - We had FTTF, arrived during our selected time, had no lines at any point. Received our S&S cards, were directed to the FTTF seating area, and within about 30 minutes or so, after the diamond & platinum had boarded, were allowed to board. As the elevators were running, and they were directing everyone to the Lido deck, we followed suit, and then simply went to our stateroom. Our luggage was waiting, and the room was ready, so having eaten breakfast ashore before we boarded, we unpacked and got settled.

We chose "our time" or "anytime" dining, so didn't have to bother the Maitre de; so we wandered about familiarizing ourselves where all the eateries were located, and scored our first drinks of the cruise. We had pre-purchased the "Cheers" program after much discussion, and while we didn't come out ahead on it throughout the entire cruise, we did the math, and by selecting the drinks we ordered, actually beat the daily amount without getting alcohol poisoning or having to stay up all night! Pay attention here: Pre-cruise purchase of Cheers is $57 per day, including the 15% gratuity. So, intelligent drinkers simply have to "beat" the $57, and not worry about the 15 drinks. My wife, for instance, drinks a certain California Merlot, which is $10.50 per glass. If she ONLY drank the wine, she'd exceed the $57 per day rate after 6 glasses. However, having a Bloody Mary in the morning with breakfast, followed by perhaps a Mojito or drink of the day (in a regular glass) mid-day, or a second one mid-afternoon, and three glasses of wine in the evening, she easily beat the daily rate. I'm a Scotch drinker, but add a Bloody Mary, a Ginger Beer & Rum or two during the day to my rations of Scotch, and I also left the $57 daily rate in the rear view mirror. Neither of us ever had more than about 8 drinks spread out over a 10-12 hour period, and we always exceeded the 'per day' Cheers rate. Of course, on in port days, the program wins!! Read more