We were wanting to get away to a warm climate in the middle of winter and really liked that the Western Caribbean had four ports of call in interesting places. The ship was large but was not packed. There were only a few times when we felt overcrowded. Mostly the ship was large enough and spacious enough that we could not feel overwhelmed by too many people. Princess has an older crowd and appreciated that there was not loud music nonstop and some quiet areas on the ship. Loved the ease of getting on and off the ship and the professionalism of Princess cruise.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We went at 1:30 pm and it was a breeze embarking on the ship. It was probably a lot busier earlier but since we were relatively late, we practically walked right onto the ship with no wait at all.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We opted for anytime dining and went five of our nights to the Coral dining room. After 7:30, you can line up and if they are busy, they can seat you at a group table. You can also make reservations a little ahead and get a private table. We ate the breakfasts and a couple of dinners at at the buffet. The food was not as good as the dining room but there were always a lot of different options. Breakfast can be very crowded but they opened the overflow area so we generally could get a table.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Enjoyed the Zumba classes on sea days. Also used the gym but for some reason the treadmills are not available until 8 am. That caused some issues with crowding around the few other machines that were allowed to be used. They need to allow the treadmills to be used when the gym opens in the morning. My husband used the pool to swim in the morning and had it mostly to himself. Later in the day, the pools get a little crowded but there are enough pools that usually that is not a problem.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The shows were ok. I thought the sets were beautiful and the costumes lovely but the acoustics made it sound like the singers were screaming at times. The comedian was good. The magician was somewhat boring. Almost fell asleep during his act. Loved the movies under the stars. Such a great bunch of movies.
Children's Programs
no kids
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone working on this ship earns his or her pay. Our room steward was outstanding and so pleasant to deal with. We had outstanding service in the restaurant and buffet. And everyone has a smile on his or her face even though they are very, very busy.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
It was immaculate on the ship. And appreciate all the places to wash hands to keep disease from spreading.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was fine for two people. We appreciated its cleanliness and the amount of storage for our personal items. We had a leak in the bathroom sink and our cabin steward had maintenance repair it as soon as he could. The bed was extremely comfortable.
Ship tip
Prefer mid ship rooms on higher floors. They are most convenient for getting to the top of the ship and less bumpy than rooms in the front or back of the ship.
We liked Grand Cayman. It was very clean. But don't think beyond the beach and diving or snorkeling there is that much to do. Fine for a day. It seems to be a lot of shopping. Enjoyed our excursion around the island to the turtle hatchery, Hell, and rum factory. We also boarded the submarine that traversed the ocean floor area. Was gorgeous and a lot of fun.
Roatan is such an interesting Port. Our excursion took us around the island and then on a boat to see dolphins and wildlife and then snorkel. This was a fun excursion.
Enjoyed Belize but our drive to the ruins was almost two hours. Loved seeing the ruins but the drive was a little too long. We went to a fun restaurant for late lunch on the way back from the ruins that provided great local food.
Our time in Mexico was fantastic. Would love to have had another day to explore the cenotes. Our excursion to Tulum was fantastic. The highway is so nice and fast. We were with a small group and our guide was so knowledgeable. We loved the ferry from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen. It was super modern, air conditioned and smooth. Very impressive excursion.
It was so easy. Just put out one of our large bags night before and carried our other one off at our appointed time. Because they were running ahead of schedule, we got off a little earlier. We had a lot of time at the airport so was not in a rush to disembark but am sure Princess needed us off the ship to get ready for next cruise that same day.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
