First, let me say I've been a loyal Royal fan for 30 years and am a Diamond member. While I have sailed on other lines as well, Royal has been my number 1 by far. We chose this cruise as a last minute getaway as it was close to home.

Embarkation/Debarkation: It’s hard to complain when you leave your house at 11am and are eating lunch onboard at 1pm. Gone are the days of long lines and paperwork. Its all electronic and fast. They did however make people wait outside in the NJ cold so be prepared for the elements if you are early. There were no separate lines for Diamond, Suites, Pinnacle, etc. Debarkation was a breeze – under 10 mins from cabin to curb, especially if you carry off your own luggage.

Weather: I mention this because weather can make or break a vacation. Weather was exceptional – especially for March. I was concerned that the first and last sea days would be too cold, but that was not the case. It was a little cool on deck at times, but in the sun it felt great and for the most part it was clear blue skies and pleasantly warm. I’ve sailed from NY metro several times and its usually pretty choppy on the way down and back, but not this time – very smooth sailing. Read more