My day began with an early drive to Galveston. I arrived at 12:30 pm, along with pretty much everyone else going on the cruise. Since so many of us arrived at the same time, the line was very long. It took about an hour and a half to get through, but by a little after 2, I was enjoying a late lunch on the Lido deck. My stateroom was available immediately, and my luggage actually beat me there. I was impressed, although I did hear later that a family member didn't get luggage until after dinner.

My stateroom was an oceanview on the Main deck. Engine noise never bothered me, since I was on the forward end. I spoke to a few people who had Main deck staterooms on the aft end who said that the noise was really bad. I would be happy with my room again. The layout was either twin beds or a queen, and there was a fold out couch that could have been used for a third person or a couple of kiddos. The bathroom was small, as expected, but perfectly adequate for 7 days.

I had early dining, and the food was excellent every night. I enjoy seafood, and there was something interesting to choose from at each meal. Desserts were wonderful for the most part, although I would not do the Chocolate Melting Cake again. I know that this dessert is a big hit for a lot of people, including my tablemates, but I thought it just tasted like a chocolate cake that was not fully cooked. Not my favorite. My waiter, Rhoderick, was a lot of fun, and we really got a kick out of him when it came time for the waiters to do their entertainment. He was a really good dancer! Read more