My wife and I are very experienced cruisers, having been on most of the primary lines multiple times. Although we definitely prefer Celebrity, particularly for its dining experience and more thought provoking programs, we chose Adventure of the Seas because we were sailing with our children and grandchildren. We chose Adventure of the Seas for its activities, children's program, itinerary, and value. We have never been on a cruise that we didn't enjoy and this one was no exception. This cruise also marked our return to RC after many years and many cruises on other lines. We found our RC experience to be a definite improvement in some areas but a continuation of some concerns that have kept us off this line in the past. Note: If something is not mentioned in this review, it is either because we did not participate in the amenity or we found it to be comparable to other ships and lines. Any negative comments are provided solely for your review and should not be misconstrued into the false belief that we did not enjoy the cruise, which would not be true.Adventure of the SeasOverall, we were impressed with the appearance of this ship. For the most part, it is less glitzy than our previous RC ships. This is a definite improvement. The main dining room is very elegant, one of the most attractive we have seen. The cabin was very efficiently laid out and would also rank at or near the top of cabins we have used in the past. The lounges are also very nicely done.The show room, however, was a disappointment. Although very functional, its design lacked any kind of interest or excitement. This is one place where you want a WOW factor and there was none. This surprised us. The entertainment in the showroom was OK. We thought a ship that size would command something a little better. We were wrong. The ice show, on the other hand, was excellent. It is highly recommended!The Windjammer (buffet area), although attractive, was one place where you knew you were on a mega ship. It was often very crowded. We even heard an announcement telling the passengers not to linger since other passengers needed their seats. That was a first on any ship we've been on. With that said, crowding wasn't an issue anywhere else with the normal exception of the pool area.Regarding food, RC has not changed much over the years. Its serving sizes remain large and uninteresting. The food ranged from just fair to good, but never very good or exceptional. Our party of ten all felt our best meals were clearly ashore. The crew on this ship was absolutely excellent. We participated in many very well attended trivia contests, which were hosted by really likeable cruise staff. Everyone felt the crew could not have been better.The promenade (read shopping mall) was impressive to view for the first time, but we lost interest in it in a hurry. It is really just a collection of the normal assortment of shops on any ship and a few of the lounge areas that RC chose to congregate in a single area. In reality, the shops were not particularly good in comparison to other ships and lines. The promenade was also used for the formal night receptions, which was not an appropriate use. Most passengers dressed up for the two formal nights, which shows that most passengers enjoy the activity. Putting everyone in a very long, narrow space with very limited seating was not in keeping with an elegant location. Further, people in various states of undress walked through the same area. This shattered the illusion of a formal night.One particular area of frustration, shared by many, many passengers, was the Internet cafe and Internet services in general. Anyone who uses Internet on a ship knows that the service is slow and expensive, which was the case on this ship as well. What was different here was that the Internet cafe had no crewmember present to assist you. In addition, the pc computers provided were in various states of disrepair. The normal free airline confirmation service and printing of boarding passes was a pay only system. RC should be ashamed of this operation, especially in light what other cruise lines provide, including their own Celebrity Cruises.The itinerary of this cruise, Curacao, Aruba, Dominica, St. Thomas/St. John, and San Juan was excellent. On this itinerary, be sure and book on the port side so you will face land when you dock. We rented a 12 passenger van on Curacao through Avis and toured Christoffel National Park (wonderful) and went to the beach at Playa Porto Marie (outstanding). We rented the same type of van on Aruba through Royal Car Rental and went to Baby Beach (very nice). Driving on Curacao is very easy, but you will need to be able to drive a manual transmission on the big vans. Aruba is also easy, but a lack of signage may confuse you on the way to Baby Beach. Renting your own van is extremely cost effective compared to tours provided by the cruise lines. We toured privately with Bumpiing Tours on Dominica. They were excellent. We did St. John on your own through the ship and went to Trunk Bay, a very special place. In summary, book Adventure of the Seas if you want a very friendly, competent crew, nice cabin, fairly good children's program, a great itinerary, a beautiful dining area, and a relatively good value.Think twice about this ship if you expect really good food and entertainment.Do NOT book this ship if you are dependent on using Internet services in their Internet cafe. You will truly regret it.