This was the fourth cruise for myself and my wife. Previously we had sailed on Carnival & Holland America. We flew into L.A. and were transported to the dock by RCI with no hassle. They weren't completely ready to embark yet so we had to sit in the terminal for about an hour. We went on board about 12:30 and went immediately to our room which was ready for us.
We had room 7152 which is an outside aft cabin (all the way in the back on the right side). The room was very nice but the balcony was fantastic. Instead of the normal balcony which is very small, the aft balconies on either side of the ship wrap around and are easily three times the size of the regular ones. Everyone we told about our room was envious of our balcony. We had cocktails there the first night as we pulled out of port.
The ship itself is very nice and the service is both friendly and efficient. However, the food left a lot to be desired. Neither my wife nor myself are picky eaters but the food in the main dining room ranged in most part from mediocre to bad. The soups were awful. The lobster bisque, onion soup & New England clam chowder were all very bad. The only good dinner we had was the second formal night when they served lobster (very good) & shrimp (the size of salad shrimp). Even the desserts were lacking. Breakfast & lunch menus in the main dinning room never changed. We found it better to eat these meals in the Windjammer. Of the four cruises we have taken this one by far had the worst food. It was very disappointing since we enjoyed most every other aspect of the cruise.