I usually don't write a review, just enjoy reading. This review is mostly for Diamond members to understand what has changed for them on the cruise. The most hurtful change was loosing the concierge service, which we were notified just before the cruise. We loved the flexibility to go have any drink we wanted it and be assisted there with all our tickets and excursions. Sadly that service is now only available to suite passengers and Diamond Plus. We now are offered a special seating for breakfast in the dining room (which I never eat breakfast in) and speciality coffee. There is a cocktail hour from 7 pm to 9 pm in the Dragon's Lair. Wine and Champagne are free but any other drink is only 25% off. We never made it down there, with a late seating at dinner it was just too time limited. Gifts for Diamond members was a pin that they wanted you to wear to show you were a Diamond member and the staff could recognize you. This seemed a bit silly to me and I understand there were 500 Diamond members on board but I saw only one person wearing the pin...guess they thought it was silly too. Oh and we did get a very nice pen...... You still have a Welcome back party and early departure. We were told the changes were made because there were too many Diamond members....so we are on punishment now???

OK enough of complaining here are the new and very good things that have changed. Diamond members are now given the opportunity to meet with the chefs and they demonstrated some of their cooking skills. We bought the cook book that is currently on sale. Part of the money goes to the Make a Wish Foundation and we were able to have the book signed by the chef. Afterwards we were allowed to tour the galley. That changed my loud grumbling to a low murmur. It did make up for some of the changes.

The ship is currently trialing Chefmakers on board. This is a cooking class that can teach you all you want to know about knife skills like the professionals, pastry cooking, small bite food for parties, Asian Fusion dishes or the one I took all about chicken. The class was over 3 hours long. We took a chicken apart like a butcher, made 5 fantastic dishes. There were only 10 people in the class and we had almost one on one interaction with the chef and his assistant. The chef teaching the class worked as a chef at Disney world for the last 10 years and was very proficient and great personality. He actually gave us his email and cell phone number for future cooking emergencies. The great part is if you are in the Los Angeles area you can continue your classes. They are located in the LA area. I would guess this is going to be very popular so I suggest you get in one of these classes before the class size grows, it was a great way to make friends on board. Read more