I haven't sailed the Splendour yet, but I can vouch for the Rhapsody as super friendly, with outstanding customer service. I think the main difference is that the Splendour offers mostly four and five day cruises, while the Rhapsody is almost exclusively seven day cruises, sailing out of Galveston every Sunday evening.
I have written a review about our Transatlantic cruise in november 2005.
You can find it on cruisereviews or on our website: www.oppermann-wuppertal.de
Take the link Atlantik 2005 and you can choose the english version. You also find some pictures about the Splendour, but only on our website.
I just finished reading your review and it was very detailed. On your next cruise enjoy the ship as I think you must be a author as you detailed so much.
I cruised on the Splendour last year out of Tampa.