Having read some reviews that stated this ship was too big, we found this NOT to be the case for us. My husband & I arrived at the ship terminal at 10 AM and the embarkation process began shortly thereafter. It was a very well organized procedure that went quickly & efficiently. Although our suitcases would not be delivered to our stateroom until around 1 PM, we were free to walk about & dine anywhere. After enjoying a little lunch at the complimentary Solarium Bistro,we toured the ship from 'stem to stern'.We were amazed at the beautiful garden setting in Central Park. Here,there were seating areas & benches nestled among tree-lined walkways and statuary among lush planted areas. Park cafe is another complimentary lunch area found here offering custom-made salads and various panini sandwiches--yumm! Specialty restaurants in this area had alfresco dining options with a tropical view. The glass-domed seating areas were amazing architectural structures. This whole park setting is transformed in the evening with garden lanterns & other lighting offering a serene place for a moonlit stroll.

For a complete change of scenery, the Boardwalk neighbourhood offers something for all ages & is especially family oriented. The focal point at the entrance is a beautiful Carousel.Surrounding this are various eateries and carnival-type amenities.There are also rock-climbing walls, a Zip-line and the Flo-rider for the more adventuresome.At the far end is the Aqua Theater offering impressive entertainment performances. Oasis of Dreams is a breathtaking Cirque-du-Soleil type performance with professional high-divers & acrobatics.The fountain show is OK for on a ship, but cannot compare to the one at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

The Royal Promenade presented more 'eye candy'. It has an alternating light canopy creating an ever-changing atmosphere. The Rising Tide bar was another unique attraction here among others.There are plenty of venues for the shop-aholic in every price range. Various sales throughout the week were fun for the bargain hunter. However, we were quite disappointed with one experience in particular. This was a 1-hour special on boxed watch sets by Cote d'Azur. They were marketed as $100. watches on sale for $20. Soon, there was a crowd of hundreds of people who shoved & trampled over others, grabbing armloads of boxes. We managed to get one, but soon discovered that,'You Get What You Pay For'.These are very cheaply made watches, some with non-functioning buttons & no instruction manuals. Beware of this!!! Other kiosks on the promenade were selling quality watches at higher yet affordable prices. Read more