One of our least favorite cruises.

Item: Island Princess
Rating: 3
Author: APutman

Island Princess Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

APutman

Contributor Level: Second Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 9

Helpful Votes: 123

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

14 Night Panama Canal - Ocean To Ocean Westbound (Ft. Lauderdale To Los Angeles)

Sail date: January 05, 2023

Ship: Island Princess

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: C415

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

We have traveled on 12 cruises with Princess over the years, but this might be our last. Cruise line is going down hill in a hurry since bought by Carnival Corp. Food gets worse every year with food overcooked or undercooked. Service used to be a priority, but not now. We have been on over twenty cruises and changes have to be made and we understand. You don't have to give up things that draw passengers, like QUALITY & SERVICE.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

One of last to arrive so embarkation was smooth.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

The Providence dinning room has now made my list of worse dinning in my 20 cruises taken. The service was terrible and took about 2 1/2 hrs to eat each dinner for 14 nights.

Wheelhouse Bar

4 out of 5

Good place to relax, drink, conversation, and listen to good singing and instruments.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Typical deck activities.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Comedy was good and singers were also very good.

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

One of our best room stewards. Waiters were pretty much nonexistent around the pool area most days. We had a lot of sea days and crowded decks.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

This is our second time on the Island Princess, and she is getting old but still clean.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Comfortable room with large balcony. Could use more sitting furniture.

Ship tip

Princess is becoming more like Carnival each day. No attention to high end cruises any longer.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

4 out of 5

Cartagena, Colombia

3 out of 5

Panama Canal Transit

5 out of 5

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

2 out of 5

Long pier and not much there.

Thumbs Up 0

Huatulco, Mexico

4 out of 5

Went ashore walked around had a drink. Nice friendly port but small.

Thumbs Up 0

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

3 out of 5

Walked around shore but did not do much. Nice place and has a Walmart.

Thumbs Up 0

San Pedro (Los Angeles), California

3 out of 5

Our plane did not leave until late so we did an excursion to Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier, then to airport.

Thumbs Up 1

Disembarkation

2 out of 5

Long walk, had to stop and get wife a wheelchair to finish.

Traveler Photos

Venice Beach with temperature at about 60 degrees

6 Comments

willwork4cruz 1 year ago

Sorry you could not enjoy your Princess cruise but your complaints sound the same as your last couple Princess reviews and you have two more Princess cruises booked so I wonder if you really don’t like them. Carnival purchased Princess, 20 years ago. You apparently have never cruised on Carnival so how would you know if Princess is becoming more like Carnival?

Thumbs Up 1

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Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Oops

Thumbs Up 0

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almtsbb 1 year ago

Island Princess is a Medallion ship. They expect you to place your poolside orders through the Princess app then they deliver to your location.

Thumbs Up 0

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AuntPinkie 1 year ago

Sorry you were disappointed.

Thumbs Up 0

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javawoody 1 year ago

Sorry but I disagree with your assessment, also carnival and princess merged in 2003.

Thumbs Up 2

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RetiredRay 1 year ago

Glad the Emerald does not fit that description.

Thumbs Up 1

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