This was our "delayed" 40th Anniversary Cruise, and was well worth the wait. We enjoyed every moment from arrival in Ft. Lauderdale to the end in San Francisco! We only wish we could have stayed onboard for the next cruise (which went on to Hawaii!). Late in the cruise there were a small number of announced COVID cases between crew and passengers, but it never really caused a problem other than having to wear masks indoors for a few days.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We arrived a bit earlier than our assigned group designation, but with all of our health materials and medallion handy, got checked in quickly and were onboard with little delay!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Overall the served meals at dinner met with our high expectations for Princess. We chose to eat at the same time and table each evening, but that was not the case with many passengers. With people arriving and being seated throughout the evening, that seemed to be more challenging for the waitstaff to deal with, but we felt like they were very attentive anyway. The food in Da Vinci dining room was great. As for Horizon Court, we felt that it was a step down from pre-COVID, as they were doing their best to pre-portion items like fruit and vegetables, which took extra space and somewhat limited the selection from before. The quality of the food there was very good - just a more limited selection from what we've seen in the past.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We didn't go to many shows since most were solo performers (comedian, soloist, magician), but we did enjoy the entertainment in the bars. There were only two production shows during this 15-day itinerary, both toward the end. They were good (singers and dancers), but we would have liked to see them spread out more during the cruise. We like to relax anyway, but it seemed like the available activities were scaled back, which could have to do with the ship carrying only 50% capacity of passengers. They did have an expert onboard that presented on several Central American ports and the Panama Canal itself, which was very informative and a highlight for this trip.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The entertainers that frequented the bars were a good mix. There was a pianist/soloist, guitar/soloist, jazz group, and a couple of others (which we didn't get to see). A lot of these folks were on their first cruise since COVID, so everyone was grateful just to be performing again!
Children's Programs
No kids
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
From our stateroom steward to the barista in International Cafe, we were delighted at the service we received. Ordering drinks and other food items and having them find you (based on your medallion location) worked pretty well, but it wasn't perfect. It was always wise to look for a lost-looking waiter that was carrying your drinks to flag them down!
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
They were always wiping down railings and other spaces during less busy times. One thing that got annoying for my wife, who is an avid walker, is that they were frequently shutting down sections of the exterior promenade deck during they day for one reason or another. This prevented walking a full lap without navigating a detour on the interior spaces of that deck. In full scope this was a MINOR issue, but did seem consistent throughout the trip.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our mini-suite was excellent, and we feel really spoiled with the space it gave. We especially loved the full-length sofa so that we could spread out and relax in our cabin as desired. The sizable balcony was also very nice, especially during the Panama Canal transit. This cabin was more aft and on Deck 9 (Dolphin). It was very quiet and any rocking was very gentle and soothing during this particular trip.
Ship tip
At this point of the "return to cruising", we found it helpful to plan for a relaxing cruise and set modest expectations. The crew did a stellar job and appreciated some patience on the part of passengers.
The dock was very long, and excursions had buses picking up passengers right at the ship. Upon return, passengers were dropped off right at the ship as well. We toured the old town area, which was very enjoyable as we had an excellent guide.
This was a "don't miss" experience for us! We transited the new canal, and learned a great deal about both old and new locks narrated by an onboard expert that used to live in Panama.
After tendering into the marina, we enjoyed an excursion seeing various areas of Panama City, both old and new. There were many other excursion opportunities seeing more of the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake, which we did not have time to do.
Our excursion went up into the mountains to see the botanical garden, however it was not the best time of year to see color there. Some of the views were very nice, and we saw numerous native birds that you wouldn't see in other areas.
Had ample shopping opportunities and scenic viewing on the "Best of Cabo" excursion. Had a great guide and saw elements of San Juan del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, as well as the glass blowing factory. Very enjoyable!
This had to be one of the fastest and easiest disembarking experiences we've had. We got to the lounge and immediately headed off the ship to collect our luggage.
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