This was a large-scale family vacation - we had 8 people on board, occupying 4 cabins. Of the 8, 4 were newbies to the cruise industry, and 1 had been on 2 prior cruises. For the people in my immediate family, I would qualify us as "seasoned cruisers." In saying this, I mean that we know what to realistically expect, having been on approximately 10 cruises, across all of the major family lines. I will break this down into 3 sections - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

THE GOOD: The featured entertainment was terrific. We attended 3 shows in the main theater. While dance shows are not necessarily my thing, Burn the Floor was a very solid production. The dancing was terrific, and the featured musicians (guitar, bass, percussion) were all exceptional. The production of Priscilla was Broadway quality in production value, costume, acting and singing. Mind you that this is coming from an individual who lives in NYC, and is comparing it to real Broadway productions. The "Epic Beatles" were sensational. We had the opportunity to sit front row at their show in the Epic Theater, and it was fabulous. I regret that we could not see other shows in the Cavern Club because it was IMPOSSIBLE to get in. The Dueling Pianos (Howl at the Moon) were also terrific.

THE BAD: Some of this has already been said, but it needs to be restated. The layout of the room (we had a "suite") is just strange. The shop only has 2 elevator banks - fore and aft. Any large ship we have ever been on in the past has 3 banks. This led to extended waits for the elevator. The main pools are way too small for a ship this size. Factor in that twice during the cruise one pool had to be shut down, and it amplifies the situation. There was way too much smoking on board, both in the casino and on the pool deck. Unless you had prior reservations, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get a seat at ANY of the "specialty" dining or show experiences. This included all of the restaurants, the "Cirque Dreams and Diner", and the "Escape the Big Top" event. Read more