This was our first cruise, and we booked an expensive junior suite in order to be able to have a balcony from which to enjoy the ocean and the fresh air. I did not even think to check on the line's smoking rules aboard their ships, as I just foolishly assumed that vessels departing from and returning to the US would pretty much be smoke-free, just like airliners. Well, we did have drifting smoke from other balconies in the vicinity, driving us indoors on several occasions. Worse, most of the public areas of the ship were smoke-filled, as was the hallway leading to our cabin. Yuck! Smoke often gives me migraines, and it certainly makes things very uncomfortable all the way around. And I forgot our comment card in the stateroom, so I am not sure whether anybody at Royal Caribbean will see it. I may give them a call still, and give them a piece of my mind.

The ship in general seemed old and in dire need of a thorough overhaul. The furniture (both in the cabin and in the restaurants) was old and scuffed, the carpeting in the hallway had a hole in it (at least that served as an alert that our cabin was coming up). Information given by the cruiseline was spotty, very incomplete, on the website as well as at check-in and on the ship. We never did get the information package that we were supposed to get automatically, and even when I sent an e-mail reminder two weeks prior to the cruise, still nothing came. The drain in the bathroom was apparently clogged, resulting in having the bathroom floor flood with every shower. We reported it, and supposedly someone had come to fix it, but it didn't help. Employees at guest relations were rather unhelpful and rude. And there were constant attempts to sell you this, that, or the other trinket, drink, photo or what-have-you. Surely rather unpleasant.

On the bright side, the food was good, and the steward was nice, was was the assistant waitress in the dining room.

I would like to try another cruise, so I was searching for smoke-free ones, but only found this site. So I guess no more cruising for us. Shame.

Kristina Moeller