i have been cruising for 40 years and have experienced most of the cruise lines. I now travel with HAL exclusively because my experiences with them have always been wonderful. If you have an issue, get it resolved while on the ship. You can see your bill daily. Read up on what you are buying before making a payment including the deposit. Know that for all cruise lines, itineraries may change. Finally if you can't afford the daily rate, save up for another year until you can. Those people work hard and deserve the tips.