This was our first cruise and we really enjoyed it. My wife and I chose Royal Caribbean from the recommendations from our frequent cruising friends as well as the travel agent who booked the cruise. They all said if you want a high-class cruise with not as many kids running around, Royal Caribbean would be the one to choose. With it being our first cruise, the only comparisons we can give are to the reviews we read before the cruise. We can say that all of the positive reviews do match what we experienced. There was always something going on to keep you entertained. The service was remarkable. Everyone seemed to want you to have a good time. With over three thousand travelers on board, I thought things would be crowded and there would be long lines for buffets and drinks. However, the ship is so large and things were spread out so precisely on the ship, that you rarely had a feeling of being around 'tool many people'. Also, the kindness of everyone aboard helped this as well. We have already booked a cruise for next year with Royal Caribbean. I do have to give one point to watch out for and that is the money spent on beverage packages. Before going, we heard and read so many mixed reviews on these packages. We found that we did lose money with purchasing the package. We did not drink as much to match the amount paid for the package. Will the package be a value or not is just something that you have to determine.