We were looking for a relaxing cruise with new and interesting ports for our family of 5 over the holiday season, and this was a great itinerary on a fantastic ship. There were a couple of hiccups and problems but otherwise it was a solid, fun, relaxing option.
1. Ship. The Serenade is not one of RCCI's new mega ships, but it's a well-laid out, charming space that punches above it's weight. We loved the public spaces which had a lot of lovely nooks and crannies for sitting around with a drink or a project and looking at the ocean. Embarkation and disembarkation were very smooth and easy on both ends, and we had access to our cabin immediately.
2. Cabin. We had two next door balconies on deck 9 for our family of 5, which was lovely. Guest Services were able to give us a key to the room where the kids were staying so we could get in and supervise when needed, which was much appreciated. We loved having a refrigerator and there was plenty of storage -- I didn't need my shoe organizer or hooks at all. The bathroom was tight, but had plenty of hot water and storage as well.
This was by far our favorite port -- We explored independently, bought emeralds and learned to make chocolate at the Chocolate Museum, which was fascinating and so much fun!
Be aware that if you're planning on getting a taxi into town, you'll need to have cash before you leave the ship -- despite the enormous entertainment complex they've got set up, there is not a single ATM between the dock and downtown.