We chose the ship for its itinerary, but we could hardly have done better the other way around. The Navigator of the Seas is no longer the biggest ship in the RCI fleet. At 138,000 tons, I think it comes in tied for fourth now. But despite that, it lacked for nothing...except one elevator wasn't working (out of 16). Having done the Western Med several years ago on the Grandeur of the Seas, we did have something with which to compare this trip. We've also sailed on Princess, NCL, and Carnival. Each line has it's strengths and weaknesses, but I think Royal Caribbean is pretty much our favorite. As for the Navigator as compared to the Grandeur, the Navigator is bigger, which makes it better in my eyes. Beyond that, it's beautiful, inside and out with an art collection on a par with anything afloat. In fact, the whole ship is a work of art.

Thanks to online registration, check-in was quick and efficient, despite a rainy day in Rome. My walking-adverse wife was even supplied with a wheelchair for the lengthy trek from the dock up nine decks to our stateroom. We boarded about eleven, cooled our heels for a bit in the Cafe Promenade, then satisfied our hunger in the Windjammer, which opened an hour early just for us. :-) By that time, our balcony stateroom was ready.

The service aboard the Navigator, in every department was exemplary. The food was good...sometimes great, once or twice, downright spectacular. I will never forget the look on my wife's face when, at Chops (alternative restaurant--$25 cover charge) they set before her a humongous 16 oz. T-bone steak. She ate every last morsel...though little else, as I recall. In the main dining room, third level, we had a table for six, though we never actually dined with that many. Our table mates were a lovely British couple slightly older than we. They were delightful to talk with. Every evening we lingered over coffee for more than an hour after the meal (second seating--8:30 p.m.) sharing cultural differences, travel experiences, and lifetime achievement awards. The service staff just kept pouring (warning, dining room coffee is a bit on the strong side by American standards). Some of the main courses were a little too haute cuisine for my tastes, but I always found something delicious to eat and even tried a couple items I'd never had before. I was never disappointed. Desserts were great, though never big enough :-). I could have had seconds but I would have been too embarrassed to ask. In general, food portions were reasonable--never wasteful. The Windjammer offering was quick and varied, though the breads in both dining rooms were inevitably crusty. Is that a European thing? We've noticed it on other cruise lines too. The Windjammer was great for breakfasts before early morning excursions. On sea days, I had Eggs Benedict and fresh-squeezed orange juice ($3.95 extra) in the main dining room. Read more