Writer Andrea Miller based this independent review on her 4-night Mexico cruise departing from Los Angeles, California.

Party or pool? What a choice! Fortunately, Monarch of the Seas lets you do either – or both – on a quick-and-easy short trip out of Los Angeles. Some of the 20- to 40-year-old crowd brings its own party; others cuddle with their honeys or bring along the family reunion. This recently refurbished ship has all the amenities one would want in a short cruise: A host of theme bars and lounges to whet your whistle, sassy song and dance shows, a high-gloss casino, plenty of chaise lounges by the pools, duty-free shops, and more.

Heard on the deck (from one young partier to another): “I plan to not remember this cruise like I don’t remember the last one!”

Why Monarch?

• Short Itineraries: 3- and 4-night cruises are sure to hook first-timers.
• Passengers: You’ll find all types, from college kids on short breaks to happy honeymooners to large family reunions. Lacking friends? Just speak up over a cocktail and you’ll find some.
• Relaxed feel: Go to the spa. Read a book. Have a cocktail. You won’t find pushy cruise directors or many scheduled activities here.

Who should go
This cruise is great for first timers who want to test-drive a cruise, and partiers and quiet couples who are turned off by organized activities during the day but like nighttime entertainment.

Who shouldn’t go
These are short cruises, so those who want to “rest” might want a longer itinerary. Monarch also isn’t the best option for those desiring a large variety of planned daytime activities.

Hits and misses

• Don’t miss: The poolside Mr. International Sexy Legs contest, from big and brawny to hairy and scrawny, men of all ages compete to win 1 of 5 prizes in this contest that draws big crowds and even bigger laughs
• Best part of the ship: Viking Crown Lounge to catch all the poolside action
• Best experience: Dinner in the main dining room with songs and dancing by the waiters
• Best shipboard activities: Adult Scavenger Hunt, where passengers come ready to spare anything, whether that’s gum, jewelry, or even a little clothing; and singing along with the mischievous lads of Dueling Pianos in the Latin-themed Boleros bar
• Needs improvement: Classes and singles mixers, too few and disorganized
• Activities to skip: Midnight chocolate buffet, unless you don’t mind fighting the crowd for a taste (close second: the unnecessarily difficult crafts class)

How to meet the captain
Though your chances of dining with the captain are slim to none (check with the maître d’), you can meet him, and be photographed together, at the captain’s reception on formal night. Don’t forget to pick up a glass or two of free champagne.

Main dining rooms: Claude's and Vincent's
Dining is a show as waiters two-step their way to tables in the middle of the meal, gathering along the staircase and belting show tunes. If you remember to look at the menu, you can see that dining options are incredibly varied. The food itself is sometimes excellent, if not always stellar. The seafood selections provide the most taste, while other entrées are slightly bland. But meals are about more than food; you can even have your picture taken with a pirate -- presumably before walking the plank.

Windjammer Café
Monarch’s secondary restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, all buffet-style. Dishes are varied, from eggs in the morning to fresh salads at noon to dining room entrées in the evening.

Other dining options

• Seattle’s Best and Ben & Jerry’s – Mochas and lattes and ice cream, oh my! As well as fresh pastries, cookies, and waffle cones, all for a small fee (but worth it),
• Jade Sushi Bar – This “pay by the piece” sushi restaurant serves good sushi but offers little ambience. Great views are wasted by the “open for dinner only” policy.
• Sorrento’s Pizza – Open all day, Sorrento’s is popular with kids, but the most buzz is at night when the bars are emptying.
• Room service – Breakfast is limited to fruit and cereals (no eggs). All-day items include hamburgers, chicken, and pasta dishes, with no main dining room options offered during dinner. Delivery is slow.

Best dining

• Dish: Shrimp Scampi Imperiali
• Dessert: Sugar-free options, simply for their surprising tastiness
• Restaurant: Main dining room, hands down, for its entrée selections, waiter floor show, and conversation
• Food seminar: Wine-tasting seminar, with 4-5 samples for $10

How to…

• Get a table for two: Visit the maître d’ on embarkation day (don’t get your hopes up; there are very few tables for two onboard this ship)
• Celebrate a birthday or anniversary: During dinner, tell the maitre d’ or head waiter about your event to receive a special dessert and possibly a song from the wait staff
• Change seating: Visit the maitre d’ stand immediately upon boarding
• Dress for formal night: Cocktail dresses for women, and suits and ties for men (very few tuxes)
• Dress for casual night: Jeans, skirts, or pants with nice blouses and shirts

Inside and oceanview cabins offer plenty of room for two people to move around and store items, however the same size cabins hold 3 and 4 and would be pretty tight if you had a packrat in your party. Beds and pillows are extremely comfortable and cushy and make sleeping late easy. Each cabin has a hair dryer, pool towels, ice delivery, and nightly turn-down service, where sometimes towels are transformed into animal-shapes, such as a giraffe and swan. There are no extras in the bathrooms. No hand lotion or nice shampoos, though shampoo and conditioner dispensers are in the shower.

Bars and lounges are large and inviting during the day when they are occupied with quiet activities. You’ll see people reading a book or playing Mah Jong in Boleros Bar, or catching up on the latest Cosmo quiz out by the pool while sipping a cool cocktail concoction.

Bars, lounges, and casino
In the evenings, things get rowdier as the cocktails flow and people start dancing and singing -- sometimes even to music. The casino takes up a quarter of a deck with its array of slots and table games, though the crowd is generally small.

Weddings and vow renewals
With no chapel on board, weddings and vow renewal ceremonies are performed in the Circuit dance club. Guests must generally plan their ceremony before they board.

Looking for…

• Quietest spot: Viking Crown Lounge
• Liveliest spot: Boleros, when the dueling pianists are in action -- most nights find a large crowd of passengers singing along to their favorite songs
• Best view: Viking Crown, for its sweeping ocean views
• Best drink: Always the daily special -- check the Cruise Compass for each day’s drink (and be sure to hit the art auction and Captain’s Reception for freechampagne)
• Best show: Don’t miss the Production Show, a tribute to the great Broadway classics; another great show is the ‘70s/’80s musical review, with odes to Footloose, Flashdance, and Saturday Night Fever
• Best activity: Hanging out at Schooner Bar for pre- and post-dinner drinks -- catch the bartender’s amazing feats (for late-evening entertainment, Boleros is most in demand; and if it’s late-night dancing you want, head to the Circuit Dance Club, and be sure to head to the back, where large crowds are often hidden)

Tip: If you plan to gamble, bring cash. The onboard ATM charges a $5.50 service charge per transaction.

Spa and salon
Monarch’s spa and salon provides all the offerings you could want: Facials, manicures and pedicures, and massages, all available from early morning until late evening. Spa specialists are friendly and cognizant that their clients need that vacation pampering, though it would be nice if you could wait for a treatment room somewhere more relaxing than the busy lobby. And the products, such as nail polish, seem a little inferior; you might ask for the best they have. Be prepared… prices are higher than you would see on land, but how often do you get a wave-enhancing massage?

Fitness areas
When looking for a workout, head outside the spa to the rock-climbing wall where muscles bulge as climbers inch their way up the wall, a highlight (literally!) of the fitness area. Novices and experienced climbers sign up early to use the wall, which can get crowded. But there’s a large fitness room where you can stretch while waiting, and a spa for that post-climb massage. The fitness center is large and offers plenty of stair steppers, treadmills, and bicycles with great views. Exercise classes include Pilates, stretch and tone, indoor cycling, yoga, and relaxation, and each charges a $10 fee. Facilities are generally open 8 AM–8 PM, with the least busy times early in the morning or after the 5 PM dinner seating. An outdoor walk/run track is used heavily each morning, often by the same early birds.

Tip: Head to the spa soon after boarding to get the best time slots; they fill up quickly. Also ask about any specials as sometimes they’re not advertised.

There’s plenty of shopping to be done when the ship is at sea. Items sold onboard include sundries, liquor, cigarettes, island wear for the entire family, high-class and costume jewelry, and gold by the inch. Specials are offered throughout the cruise and often include “$10 Table” nights and jewelry sales. If you plan to shop in port, attend the first day’s seminar. While only a limited number of stores is discussed, walking directions and maps are given for each port, which comes in handy if you don’t want to cab it everywhere.

Tip: If you can hold out, wait until the last night’s 2-for-1 sales to make your onboard purchases.

Monarch offers excellent children’s facilities including a separate dance club called Fuel and plenty of classes and fun things to do during the day. The little ones even get to become pirates for a night, complete with face paint and a parade around the ship. During school breaks, there are usually around 600 children onboard; don’t expect nearly as many when school is in session. The children’s center is open to children 3-17, with the 12-17 crowd in a separate area.

Monarch’s popularity is mainly due to 3- and 4-night Mexico itineraries from Los Angeles -- great sampler cruises and weekend getaways for West Coasters. She sails out of L.A. every Friday and Monday, stopping in Catalina Island and Ensenada, plus San Diego during the week.

• Cruise line - Royal Caribbean
• Ship name - Monarch of the Seas
• Type of cruise - Casual
• Total cabins - 1178
• Private balcony cabins - 63
• Decks - 14
• Total crew - 822
• Passenger capacity - 2350
• Ship size - Large
• Officers nationality - BNorwegian
• Year entered service - 1991
• Year refurbished - 2003
• Registry - Bahamas
• Ship length - 880
• Tonnage - 73,941