This was my first cruise in several years, after having taken a "break" to fulfill other travel goals. Previously, I had been on a number of cruises spanning 5 different cruise lines (RC, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian and Holland America), mostly sailing to Caribbean destinations. Despite not having cruised in a bit, my husband & I were able to distinctly see how the cruise lines seem to be cutting more and more corners. However, we took this particular cruise purely for the itinerary (the chance to visit Cuba!), so we weren't necessarily "let down" with our experience on the ship itself.

Embarkation was a breeze - but I think this is because we arrived relatively late in the afternoon. Turns out, that's the perfect time to board a ship for a pleasant embarkation experience! It's not like we were itching to eat in the buffet, like many other people seem to want to do!

The ship is nearly 30 years old and very "petite." If you are boarding this vessel expecting a myriad of activities, you will be vastly disappointed. It's also not the most pleasant-looking ship in the world. For lack of a better phrase, it is "old-school!" I was worried about feeling more movement on a smaller ship, but we were blessed with smooth sailing throughout (except for one somewhat rough evening). Read more