This was the first leg of our back to back cruise, first the Western Caribbean and then the Eastern. Overall, the ship was well maintained and clean except the continuing problem of the dresser drawers falling apart or being in disrepair. I agree with other critics that the food quality was average in the buffet. There does seem to be a big push for specialty restaurants on this ship and it must be working because I heard from several people they were not able to get a reservation to Muranos late in the cruise. I did enjoy some of the breads and the cronuts (pastry type donut dessert served at dinner time).

But my biggest complaint is the inconsistency in the bar drink preparation and the lack of bar server staff. It used to be you were offered drinks multiple times during a meal. With the offering of the drinks packages, I was often standing at the bar to get a drink and I think I was only offered a bar drink 2 times while eating in the buffet during the entire cruise, once on the pool deck and the bar service in the restaurant at dinner was a one time offering. It appears to me that there is much less incentive to be a bar server then in the past where they were compensated by the tips on what they "sold". As for drink quality, a drink taste totally depended on the bartender with more than one of my drinks being left partially finished. Had I not had the Classic Drink Package where drinks were "free", I would have been very unhappy.

The Persian Garden is big compared to other ships--about 16 heated lounge chairs, sauna, steam room, aromatherapy room and my first ever "cold" room (icy cold). It was not at all crowded the afternoon I ventured in. One last thing, there is very little for a tween/teen to do on the ship. No zip line, climbing wall, miniature golf, flow rider, etc. The only thing to do beside the pool are the arcades ($$), jogging track and a basketball 1/2 court. There were kids clubs but I don't know exactly what they offered. Another ship might be in order to keep children entertained.