EMBARCATION - Very efficient. We were scheduled for 10:30 - 11:00 AM and arrived on time. Went upstairs and there were at least 20 clerks to check us in. There was only 1 person in front of us. We then waited in the big room for our group to be called. The PA system wasn't very clear where we were sitting until they started calling the group numbers. It was about 30 minutes after check in before they started calling the groups. After getting on board we were right next to where our muster point was so we went there and were checked off the list.

CABIN - We had an inside room on deck 9 midship. Typical inside room which we like because it makes sleeping so easy with the total darkness. Shower is a little small but is actually slightly larger that ours at home. Our room attendant was a young lady from Vietnam, but after a couple of days she was replaced. We didn't find out why - sick ? who knows. I think her workload was split among the others since our room seemed to be cleaned later than normal.

DINING - We ate all the breakfasts and lunches in the buffet. We had dinner there the first 3 nights then the wife wanted to try something different. I hadn't liked the slow service we had experienced on a previous cruise in the MDR. However the service was prompt in the Palace MDR and we ate there 3 nights. Our specialty dinner was in Cagney's. Dinner food was uneven in the buffet. The first night the prime rib was WELL DONE while on the last night is was medium rare - medium ( AS IT SHOULD BE ! ). On the steak and shrimp night the thin steaks were like shoe leather while the grilled shrimp was excellent. MDR meals were fine. Cagney's was fine with the ribeye and prime rib weighing at least the described 16 ounces. Read more