Pat, it's Eric, not Steve, but you're correct, you can see the mirror in a few of the pics -- just not clearly (probably because I was trying to avoid taking a photo of myselt taking the photos!) It is the full height of the cabin, and probably at least 3 feet wide, maybe more. For anyone who likes to have a full-length mirror, you have one in this cabin, so you won't be disappointed.

Gatowoman, the soot I'm sure has nothing to do with volcanic activity and everything to do with exhaust from the ship's smokestacks. Again, these are tiny particles, not big flakes of soot. I guess there is some small particulate matter in the exhaust from the four generators which power the ship, and although you can see some smoke rising out of the towers and blowing behind the ship, there must be some tiny particles which fall out of the exhaust and onto the rear of the ship. I never noticed it when walking on the rear of Deck 8, which is wide open, or Deck 6, which has a small open area behind the restaurant -- possible because every area gets hosed and/or wiped down daily. So do the stateroom balconies, which is why it seems no big deal to me. I suppose if you are concerned about going outside int he morning in white clothes, take a towel and give the chairs a quick wipe -- although as I said,my wife and I never even noticed anything until it was pointed out to us.

-- Eric