I come from a family of long time cruise enthusiasts. They had invited me to accompany them on trips before, but I always turned them down. Now, I'm kicking myself!

Let me tell you first off that I traveled with my mother, my brother and sister-in-law and my two nieces. I was a first time cruiser and didn't really know what to expect so I kept an open mind about everything. These are just a few of my impressions. Please excuse the length of this post.

GETTING THERE: Unless you live in southern California, make plans to spend the night before the cruise in one of Long Beach or San Pedro's fine hotel/motels. It'll cut down on the stress of getting down to the port terminal. Read more