Embarcation was smooth and fast. The ship is huge and very wide, but somehow it always felt manageable. There are easy to use touch screen maps prominently displayed. Our cabin was very near the back of the boat, but it was just over 100 paces to the elevator, an easy walk as the elevators are at the front and back third rather than midship. The cabin bed and bedding were extremely comfortable. We slept well almost every night, better than at home. There was ample storage and closet space; the bathroom was fine.

DINING: We had fixed late seating. We found the meals in the Main Dining Room to be very enjoyable. We particularly liked the hot and cold soup selections and the Caesar salad. Desserts were generally OK but not their strong point.

The Windjammer, as has been noted in other reviews, was disappointing. The tables were too crowded; the food selection was generally unappealing. We only went there after boarding for lunch and another time for breakfast when we were running late for an excursion. On the other hand, the Solarium Bistro was outstanding. They had a delicious selection of healthy foods - vegetables, wraps, salads, fish, flavored waters. We wish that we could eat that way all the time. The Central Park Cafe also had a really nice lunch selection including salads assembled for you, a varied selection of sandwiches, and probably the best roast beef sandwich on the high seas. We also enjoyed breakfast in the MDR. Our children treated us to dinner at 150 Central Park for our anniversary. This turned out to be one of the best meals we ever had. The 7 course degustation menu was superb, as was our service from Natalia. There was a bowl with 6 different salts to try, and yes, one tasted like egg salad. The cucumber martini, a signature cocktail of theirs, lived up to the hype. Just remember you can ask for free tap water rather than the bottled water they offered. At $40 a person, this meal was a steal. Read more