We sailed on the Great Barrier Reef cruise in March/April 2018. Overall, it was a great experience. Since we were in a suite, we had access to Luminae which delivered some of the best food I've tasted on a cruise. The service all over the ship was top-notch and we loved our butler Jacky. We thought the ship was well-maintained with plenty of outdoor areas to enjoy. The nightly entertainment was fun and varied. We also appreciated the daily music trivia games.

Our room on the ship would've been amazing except for one huge factor - the noise from the dining room above. I noticed other reviewers complaining about it, but I thought "how bad could it possibly be?" Turns out, the noise from the rolling carts is awful. I can only liken it to a) a loud clapping thunderstorm or b) a freight train without the horn. Earplugs did little to stifle the sounds, which occurred at all hours and regularly jolted me out of my sleep. We brought along our Brookstone background noise-maker, which also did nothing to curb the noise from above.

I guess some 12th floor suite rooms are below a carpeted area and far less noisy. Ours was not. I wish I knew there was a difference when booking. Avoid these rooms if you're a light sleeper. Read more