About your reviewer

I always think it helps to know your reviewer. About me...

• I go on a lot of cruises. I have been on over a dozen cruises since 2003
• I'm detail-oriented and fussy. A chipped teacup or dirty teak may not upset me, but I will notice

There were ten of us aboard, including my husband, our in-laws and some close friends. As you may know (if you know us), we were celebrating a special occasion.

What I was looking for:

• A short cruise. Except for my husband and me, this was the first cruise for everyone in our group. People felt comfortable committing to a 3-night cruise
• A refined atmosphere. Cheap and cheerful may be fun with my gal pals, but with family aboard I wanted everything just so... Zero tolerance for smarmy service, chain-restaurant dining or dirty dishes lying around
• An intelligent experience. We watch the Discovery Channel and play family trivia on the internet. Updates from the Navigator and a good enrichment speaker are more our style than pool games or rock walls

So did we find it? Read on...