A great experience for a first-time cruiser, or someone like me that had "special" circumstances. I booked this cruise as a gift to my 2 daughters, both 40's adults, as a chance for them to get away from the kids and husbands, spend quality time with each other and their mother. They had a GREAT time. One girl was on her first cruise, and the other has been out twice before. I needed a short (i.e. 5-day) cruise within easy driving distance of NC and central Georgia. In addition, I wanted to port at Key West to visit my sister, who lives on her sail boat in Marathon. This cruise fit the bill perfectly! (And the price was reasonable)

I booked late (November) and got the last balcony cabin, a good thing because my wife will not go unless we have a balcony. The girls got an inside cabin a few doors away. My cabin had 2 fold-down bunks on the walls, which took up space, and prevented one from propping up in the bed to read/watch TV.

Boarding was the easiest and fastest I have experienced, BUT we apparently came too early. They said boarding began at noon, but by the time we got on board at 12:30, there were hundreds, if not a thousand, already there. Since you can't get to your cabin before 1:30, everybody was in the Coconut Grove Grill for lunch. Read more