My husband and I went on 9 day cruise to New England & Canada, sailing from Bayonne NJ on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. We drove to NJ and stayed in Newark the night before. Hotel offered free parking during cruise, but we needed to pay additional $40 each way for driver to transport us to/from embarkation location. Process was easy and uncomplicated. Boarding ship was orderly and quick. Be prepared with boarding paperwork and ID in hand to help avoid delays. Also, baggage tags should be on luggage before arriving at port since baggage handlers will quickly collect your bags from the shuttle bus or taxi.

Lunch was readily available and plentiful once on ship. We managed a window seat without much effort, but it is nice to finish and allow others a chance to enjoy window once you're done with the meal. Food was hot, appealing. Not very exciting selection, but adequate to get everyone fed in due order. We were able to go to our staterooms early which was great. Until emergency drill, travelers can explore ship, but then must report to assigned muster areas. Info is announced over loud speakers as well as on boarding paperwork. If there are questions, room stewards are available and assisting with process. If you do not want to deal with stairs, use elevator early to reach your assigned area. Exercise is not very long, but you must stand out on open deck while being given emergency instructions. It happened to be pouring rain during our drill, but only the crew was getting wet since they had to stand out by railing.

Free beverage selection was limited on this cruiseship. There was coffee, tea selection, hot chocolate, weak lemonade, water, unsweetened tea, and a not-so-pleasant vitamin water offered during buffet meals. Off hours, free beverages are located on the Promenade ... but it took us a couple of days to locate it, unlike Carnival cruises. There was also no lemonade or vitamin water off hours. Read more