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Royal Caribbean’s ICON OF THE SEAS This was my first cruise ever and it exceeded my expectations. I traveled with my nephew and his in-laws (6) who are all big RC cruisers. I was not prepared for the quality of the staff, the food, the accommodations, the activities, and nightly parties at The Pearl (One Hit Wonders was WICKED BRILLIANT as was the Disco Party! Your entertainment rivals that of Broadway & Vegas in every way, I promise you. I have never seen an organization run more efficiently than RC from the second you make your reservations, step on the ship up to the minute you leave. We were "Key" holders and our staff in the Coastal Kitchen was top notch. Our Maitre'd, Suresh, our head waiter, Edwin and our mixologist, "Dr. Indy Jones" were all like welcoming, old friends. The food was exceptional, and the service far surpassed that. I was most impressed with the productions of The Wizard of Oz, The Aqua Show and the Ice-Skating production all blew my mind. As one of the country's first and top Plus Size designers and models from 1980-1998, I know design and those costumes and sets rivaled any production I’ve ever seen anywhere. Each venue was spectacular in its own right and each breathtaking, to say the least. I know the work that goes into those productions and couldn't find fault with anything. I even had a special leg treatment at The Spa by Susan (Kenya) that was incredible and wish I had visited her sooner for a much needed mani and pedi. Having been a hairdresser and salon owner in my younger days, I know full well what's involved. She's excellent at what she does, passionate about RC and just the kindest person ever. We took the exceptional All Access Tour of the ship. Our guides, Therrie and JuJu (Brazil) were very passionate about the ship, RC and everything they do, also. My favorite was visiting Cap't Loy on the Bridge. Being a former Private Pilot and amateur race car and race boat driver, I was particularly interested in how the Cap't steered that behemoth! Now I know. Cap't Loy was kind enough to give us a more thorough tour than want is the norm and I loved every second of it. As far as I'm concerned, there is no other cruise line that can even come close to comparing with Royal Caribbean and the Icon of the Seas. PS: Two things I do have a beef about: not enough regular electrical outlets in the cabins and the Pet Accessories Sale items were ordinary at best. I also designed and manufactured Canine Couture for my company, Snob Hounds (SnobHounds.com), for many years, so I know exceptional and unusual when I see it. I volunteer to be RC's buyer for that venue! Great idea, not great execution. Just sayin'. I could go on and on and on about my wonderful experience with RC's Icon of the Seas, but suffice it to say, Royal Caribbean is THE Icon of Cruise lines. I promise you. I was totally blown away by the entire experience. (However, St. Kitts is less than we expected. ) And if I had my little, 8-pound, Service Dog with me, I could stay on that ship for an extended tour! Most sincerely, Laura Dion-Jones Casey

My wife and I are going on the Navigator OTS soon and we are doing an excursion, the Dolphin Push, Pull & Swim Experience in George Town, Grand Cayman. Has anyone done this excursion that has any tips, advice or experiences that they would like to share? It’s hard to find reviews and we just want to know what to be prepared for. All I know for sure is to not bring a camera. Is there a safe place to store your items while you are in the water? Thanks for any responses!