First time cruisers, decided to jump in the deep end & go for the biggest cruise in outside USA.... WOW its MASSIVE , from looking at it from the Holiday Inn @ Southampton (best hotel for convenience)

The worst part of the holiday was the boarding - not RC's fault - just the bad management of the port-side people - this ship carries 4000 passengers yet it seemed like a cattle market trying to get into the terminal. Finally after the 2 hours of queing, we boarded the IOS ..... its amazing, a decor straight out of a 5-star hotel & so,so,BIG ! . We were advised to go to the Windjammer restaurant which is a 180-degree open plan,fully windowed array of every food you can think of. We decided to tour the top decks & see where our Stateroom was. The "welcome" tv in our room was informative saying the luggage would be with us by 9pm (it got there by 7.30) . We then met our "Stateroom Attendant" Julia, who was lovely - polite,friendly & informative.... its here where i'd like to say EVERY ONE of IOS'staff were always smiling,friendly & polite - fantastic people.

The evening meals were always at the same table where hopefully you had a nice group (5 or 6 people) on it - apart from some arrogant Yorkshire-man who decided everything was wrong (he was the minority of 1 !!). The food was superb, good choice & very well presented. Read more