We chose this cruise because it was the newest and largest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, and the hype surrounding the ship was exciting. Our expectations were high and things started off well with the new Royal Caribbean terminal in Miami. Embarkation was quick and very easy. The cabin appeared nice at first, until I realized that the view of the balcony, from the bed, is blocked by the side wall of the closet. The other couple we were traveling with had the cabin next door and their's was the opposite configuration. The view of the balcony from their bed was unobstructed. In the dining room, our waiter and assistant waiter were a great team. They were very personable and most accommodating. Unfortunately, the food was not good at all; probably the worst quality we've had on any cruise line we've been on, including Carnival. Also, the menu selections we extremely weak. There were nights when it was actually difficult to choose what to eat. On one night, the head waiter decided to show up due and when she noted our dissatisfaction, she offed us premium meals the next night from one of the specialty restaurants. Two of us took advantage of that and the food was undoubtedly cooked, then re-cooked, because it was horrible. On one night we decided to try one of the specialty restaurants, figuring it had to be better than the dining room. This time, not only were we disappointed after one of us had to send food back twice, but we were also out $64 per person. The buffet was just ok, again, very weak. The entertainment was lacking. There were very few venues for our age group (60's). There was a great Latin bar but it was small and always crowded. There was a piano bar but the piano player played the same songs night after night and while he asked for requests, he never seemed to know those particular songs. There was also a jazz bar that was pleasant. Unfortunately, there was no main area for dancing and general entertainment. Everything seemed to revolve around the Promenade but after walking though it and past the stores once or twice, it got tiresome and boring. There is a Central Park area that is very nice and if they had more frequent entertainment, and comfortable seating which they didn't, then it would have been nice. The ice show was excellent, as always on Royal Caribbean. Hairspray was good, but dated, and Hiro, the water show, had lots of talent, but was very boring. For our taste, the ship was way too big and very hard to navigate. We also found that there was a distinct smell of sewage in the hallways. Also, prior to the cruise, we read somewhere that due to the high cost of this ship, Royal Caribbean had to cut some corners. Whether that's accurate or not, we certainly felt that vibe. Small thing, like no pens in the staterooms. I asked our steward for a pen and he said the company doesn't provide them anymore. Same with standard toiletry items. All in all, it wasn't a welcoming atmosphere. I have never been on a cruise before where halfway through, I couldn't wait to get home. We will not go on this cruise line again.