This was our first cruise, and it definitely 'set the standard'. In talking to many other passengers, we found that Princess has a reputation for: Beautiful ships, great food, great entertainment...yet, it's less 'chaotic' than other cruises. We found this to be true. It was exactly what we were hoping for.
We did, however, find that the communication wasn't great. For example, in all our prep for the cruise, we never heard about formal nights, and we were still confused about 'included' vs. 'extra' costs at restaurants, etc.
We met lots of people, and have connected with some of them--across the country--since then!
The wifi was great, the drink package was great, overall, we loved it!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Smooth, but a little confusing for first-timers. We simply didn't know what to do, but the staff was very helpful.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The buffet was incredible--so many varieties, and such quality! The main dining rooms were nice also, and even the Salty Dog grille and the pizza oven by the pool were excellent!
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We LOVED the shows we went to--amazing 'Broadway quality'! The pools were nice, but quite chaotic...kids running and jumping (despite signs to the contrary) made it 'unfriendly' for adults. No enforcement or supervision. The energy around the main pools was great, but at times too much--too loud. It made it difficult to simply relax and read a book.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Oh my GOODNESS! The Rock Opera and the Spotlight Bar were incredible! The quality and skill of music, vocals, dance--wow!
Children's Programs
Didn't bring our kids! :)
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Your staff worked constantly, and were almost always very friendly, warm, and welcoming. They genuinely seemed to enjoy their work, and it showed! They were very much appreciated. Our room steward--Edgar--was wonderful!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Beautiful ship...was well maintained and 'fresh' looking. When in port, we could see the obvious difference between the Princess ship and the other cruise ships--Princess looked like it was freshly painted, cleaned, etc--the attention to detail definitely showed! The layout was a bit confusing for us, even with the maps--but that's just because we are cruise 'Rookies'.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was actually bigger than we envisioned it. the bed was very comfortable, the bathroom was more than adequate, and the closet was plenty--with plenty of hangers. We were very pleased. We did use the balcony several times a day, and we simply had to stand up to look over it--but we really enjoyed it!
Ship tip
There's always stuff to do...but you don't have to do it all. Relax and enjoy!
We simply flew in to there a day early, and embarked/disembarked from there. Really didn't see much. The hotel and the restaurant we went to were good, however.
Welcome to cruising! Princess is great but so are other lines. I encourage you to try them all. There is lots of info on YouTube and in reviews that can answer all cruise questions but it’s also fun to explore, discover, and experience yourself. It’s a whole new world!
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