After sailing on the Ruby and the Emerald, I had great expectations for this ship, but was very disappointed. Yes, the Atrium is grander and the addition of Alfredo's pizza/Italian restaurant is good, but the Wheelhouse bar with that 1930's look with all the leather etc is now gone and replaced with a much tone down version, in the open, next/included to the Crown Grill - and of course Sabatini is now on deck 5 instead of the grand location on the top deck on the stern. The well appointed martini bar next to Sabatini's on Ruby and Emerald, is also gone and replaced by Bellini's on deck 6 - smaller with little or no character.

The biggest problem we found was that anyone who had a cabin anywhere in the mid-ship section was stuck to take the elevators - there were no stairs. If you were lucky to be on the stern or bow sections, you could at least leave the congestion and walk forward or aft to the other elevators but mostly the unused stairs. We were on deck 9 and would leave the Symphony Dinning Room and go to deck 7 and walk down to the stern stairs. We heard stories of individuals having to wait up to 10 minutes to get an elevator that they could board.

In general, the crew were great and quick to respond to all our concerns - especially the cabin steward (see below). Read more