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Did you like anything about this cruise?

I'm having a really hard time with this review since you claim you have been on 31 cruises and three prior cruises on Princess. I'm seeing complaints about everything from excursions that are clearly marked on their physical activity at the time of booking to the fact that they didn't call in the Coast Guard because some boat was too close for your comfort level. You complain about having to bring Formal Wear yet you also complained that the lines were too long in the food court during formal nights. For someone that has cruised so much, one would think that you would be well aware of the fact that the cabins are not available to the passengers as soon as boarding has begun. The staff is still cleaning the rooms from the previous cruise. So are you entitled or you just don't care about the rules? Clearly you have Ship Mate available to tell you all about the ship, including when the ship was built. Why in the world wouldn't you check that out before you book the cruise? Normally I would say that you need to find another cruise line but I honestly don't think any of the cruise lines are suited to make you happy. Perhaps a long land trip to Ireland so you can kiss the Blarney Stone.

Firstly I have cruised with a few lines snd personally prefer Princess. A cruise is what you personally make of it...a holiday at sea. If you wanted to board first msybe you shouldve booked a suite which has priority boarding. It makes perfect sense for waiting staff to wait until the table is full.....dont want to wait for others request a table for two. We do never had a problem. Finally when getting on or off a shop it makes perfect sense to assist those who need assistance once the crowd had gone. It is safer and allows the staff to devote the time to you with distractions...much safer.

I am disabled too (two strokes) and I have found that embarking later is my best bet. I am the disabled one. I certainly don't expect the sea to part for me. My husband and I have cruised for 20 years. We started cruising when I was not yet 30. We have used other cruise lines and picked princess (using their Visa perks) we enjoy a free cruise once every three years. On top of the others we take. We haven't yet been on a ship that is younger than 8 years. As long as it's clean....gets me to the destinations I have paid for...I'm happy. My husband and I enjoy formal nights. It makes the cruise so much fun to see people all dressed up. However, you don't have to dress up....its not like it is madatory. As far as the buffet....we have cruised enough to understand that many cruises cater to people who don't like spicy dishes or different dishes. Also they must take into account many common foods people are alergic too. I don't find the buffet much different than what I would find at a buffet type restaurant in my own home town. I prefer to eat in the dining room but sometimes.....I just am too tired to wait for all the formalities. Waiting to take orders when the table is full just makes common since. I don't think I have had to wait longer than 10-15 minutes. What you must realize is that there are 3,000 other passengers whom they must try to please.... not just you. Like anything, how you look at the experience makes all the difference. (Is the cup half empty or half full?) Do you know how many people can't afford to take one cruise? My husband and I sometimes do our own thing....at ports of call as we do get a bit edgy being one of many. We do our research before we go on any cruise. Its how we knew not to do the whole stone thing. We were told the lines were enormous. We chose to do something else. One port in Ireland had just opened a new Titanic museum and Princess didn't have it on their excursions so we did our own thing. Honestly, the museum was a tourist trap. Other than seeing the orginal slips that the ship was built on....it was nothing but a bunch of pictures we had seen before. That was the excursion we planned and it was a bust. We had more fun walking around the town and having a pint of ale. Most excursions we have taken through Princess have been wonderful. Once you have been on enough cruises you can see the excursions meant for a tourist and the ones meant for people who want a real experience. This past March we did a carribbean cruise as we have done many times....we went snorkling. The company that too us had this obnoxious loud mouth....try to keep us in such a tight quarters....people were kicking each other. We made it clear that this was our vacation and that we would complain, all over the internet, how awful this excursion was....if she didn't shut her gob, stop screaming at everyone (as she hadn't shut up from the moment we got the water with everyone doing what she asked) and just let us enjoy looking at the fish!! While I know they want to keep people safe, this lady was out of control. Then they tried to ply us with rum and punch not allowing us off their little boat until we gave them a glowing review. On top of It all they manipulated us for tips. Not too many people were smiling when we finished the excursion.It was awful being kept hostage. We refused to fill out anything. Yes, we did complain but not really at the cruise people but when we arrived home you can bet we were all over the internet. It's not like the old days where your complaint was kept silent. Every time that company is researched.....our complaint along with others pops up too. Enough complaints and Princess will find another company to do their snorkeling for that excursion. I am sorry that you find your experience so disappointing. In the 20 years of our cruising....we are amazed how far the ships have come....they just keep building them nicer and more accomodating. No vacation is perfect but I am thankful I get to take a vacation when so many can not.

Oh by the way I have been on over 50 ( lost count)cruises on my life, I'm 53. I do know the cruise lines.

Princess has been on the Carnival Corporation for over 15 years. Each line operates individually. Formal night is one of the reasons why we cruise. I feel it is enjoyable to dress up and see others dressed up. I have cruised with Princess and many other cruise lines since the 70's as a child. If you do not like the age of the ship you should have not booked on her or told your agent you want only a new ship that does not do formal nights. All cruise lines have cameras so they can see every public place including balconies. We cruise on Princesses once a year, did you know the average employment is 20 years with Princesses, please tell me any other company with that type of record.

Guess you should find another cruise line. I love the formal nights and if you are disabled you should probably talk to the cruise line prior to book.

Sorry for your bad time but i as do others appreciate the formal nights. .if it is too much to pack then don't do them or switch to a line that doesn't have them