First off, there were a lot of good things, but my wife and I both feel the Royal Caribbean PR Team deserves a standing ovation, for they "sold" this to be a lot better than what was actually experienced. Realize that what you see in brochures and on TV/online advertisements paint a picture that just doesn't live up. (Yes, most of what they show IS possible, but a lot of sacrifices - time and financial - will have to be made.)
I'm going to hit briefly on a lot of things... I hope you find the information to be helpful.
Months/Weeks prior to your trip: