My husband and I just returned from a 7 day Southern Caribbean cruise on RCI's Serenade of the Seas. We were looking forward to several snorkeling venues. The boarding process on the ship was uneventful and efficient. We had booked a cabin on Deck 2. Although the description online had mentioned that the outside cabins on Level 2 had portholes instead of windows, we were disappointed by the small size and recessed location of the porthole, which was very difficult to see out of. It did let some light into the cabin, but there was no view to speak of. The location on Deck 2 was quiet. However, there were a number of days when there was a distinct odor in the passageway, which smelled like the septic tank was immediately underneath. The cabin itself was comfortable, with an excellent shower, quite a bit of well-organized storage, and a small sofa.

There were several nice aspects of the layout of the ship. The Shipshape gym and workout area was excellent, and was never crowded. The deck in front of the gym had chairs that offered shade an an unobstructed view of the ocean ahead of the ship. The pool offered bars on two levels, so it was usually easy to order drinks. The Miami Vice was a good drink, as were Mojitos.

It rained the first day, when we arrived at Tortola BVI. Our snorkeling shore excursion offered a refund, which we accepted. We made a beeline to the atrium and located lounge chairs inside, but near the atrium pool, right after breakfast, knowing that the ship would be full all day. This provided a peaceful place to read and relax. Read more