This was my 17th Monarch cruise in a little less than 13 years...she was my first Royal Caribbean ship and this was number 62 with that company.  I will admit that she is not the fanciest ship afloat, nor the largest - and the cabins are SMALL.  What draws me back is her crew, warm and friendly and welcoming.  For me, they have become family and I am treated like family each and every time.  <br /><br />As a diamond plus member, embarkation is easy.  I was almost the first person in the line ( Joey came on right after me ).  We were quickly processed and went to the diamond-platinum lounge ( coffee, tea, juice, cookies and petit fours ) to await our priority boarding call.  We were on the ship quickly and greeted with a warm hug in the atrium of the Monarch by Danney League, the loyalty ambassador and friendly greetings from a few of the folks at Guest Relations.<br /><br />Our next stop was at the Windjammer - not too crowded when we got there so we didn&#39;t have to do the long circle to find a place to get into the line...and it wasn&#39;t hard to find a table....of course, we also had Werner Zurcher, the Food and Beverage Manager join us - not that I haven&#39;t always had excellent service but Werner&#39;s presence makes it even more so&#33;<br /><br />We were allowed into our cabins at 1PM.  I was in 3608 - great location midships, near the elevator, with a small porthole, not a real window ( need deck four for that ).  It was fine - and my spectacular dozen roses, my requested diamond plus amenity were there, along with a bottle of Chateneuf du Pape ( a gift from my friend, Wilson Philip, the Indian cellar master. <br /><br />I had an excellent cabin steward, the room was always spotless, ice replenished, wine glasses changed every time I drank out of them, and he loved crazie.  <br /><br />I rarely spent time in the room.  Was mainly at Boleros Bar with Charlie Dean and Michael, two Filipino bartenders who are just the best in the world and who I have known for years.  I was so pleased to have Joey meet them ( he knew Charlie from previously ).  There was an incredible group from Argentina singing in Boleros - Carina was the singer and she had three young musicians - late in the evening - great Latin dance music and, earlier, there were big band tunes.  Late night, I&#39;d usually go to the disco - not to dance - god forbid, the music was LOUD - but to see my friend, Indian DJ,<br />Terry Fernandes and his beautiful girlfriend, Nicole.  They always tease me that I&#39;m the &quot;American crew mother&quot; of half the folks on the ship.  <br /><br />I usually ended up back in my room about 2AM but, once I stayed at Guest Relations till 4AM, chatting with the nicest young man from Macedonia.  I tell you, the Monach has the most terrific employees, from housekeeping on up the ranks&#33;<br /><br />I only saw one of the shows - one put on by the Royal Caribbean singers and dancers.  It was nice - not outstanding, though.  <br /><br />The food, as always, in the dining room was very good.  No lobster - goodness, I don&#39;t see how one could expect that from a four day cruise that basically costs about &#036;400/person.  The prime rib was excellent and so was the lamb shank.  I missed the escargot because it wasn&#39;t offered on the hotel director&#39;s menu ( boo hoo ).  We dined once with him and the F &amp; B manager and, another night, the F &amp; B manager had a table with Joey, Claire and I.  We were very indulged, to say the least.  <br /><br />The afternoon, in Ensenada, I was invited, by my Indian crew friends to a local Chinese restaurant where they are allowed to comandeer the kitchen and prepare Indian food.  There were about twenty of us and ten of them cooked - we had four different dishes - shrimp, pork, fish, and lamb in wonderful sauces, with rice - quite spicy - washed down with Dos Equis.  I tried to pay my share but, of course, no one would hear of it.<br /><br />There is no question - in terms of beauty, the Radiance class ships, with all their glass and glitz, outshine the little Monarch in terms of beauty and modern styling - but in terms of old fashioned hospitality and warmth, this lady reigns supreme, in my opinion.