Came to this cruise with some pre-expectations. It had been over 10 years from our last Princess cruise so we did expect a more refined cruise, an older crowd, and thus more subtle entertainment choices. While the first two were true, especially leaving from the UK, we were blown away how good the entertainment was. The two Princess production shows (Rock Opera and 5Skies are probbably the best I've seen at sea). There was great music every night as well thanks for the onboard bands. Food was a bit tailored for the English taste but we found it to be of great quality, though sometimes small portions. Restaurants were all excellent, including Alfredo's pizzeria. If we had any gripes on the food it's the minimal hit food selection for room service. Our mini suite was spacious and comfortable, and most of the crew was friendly and helpful. Bars though can be a bit overwhelmed with orders when the Princess app lets you order from anywhere in the ship, well, if you can get it to work properly ;) .
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Due to being unable to upload all the required documents through the buggy Medallio Class App, the majority of people were put through the same queue line and it took longer than it could have.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Fantastic food quality, albeit sometimes smaller portions in the MDR. Crown Grill was fantastic nevertheles.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
As with a more premium line, activities were offered but on a more refined level. Bingo, some pool games, and enrichment activities were offered. Fitness center is smaller and oddly sepparate from the spa, but well equipped. Pools were plentiful but only the adults pool was calm, and oddly only 3.3 feet deep.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
This was the biggest surprise. Our last Princess cruise was almost 10 years ago and we expected a much more lax atmosphere. Although the crowds were a bit older in age, the shows were unforgettable (Rock Opera and 5Skies) and the nightly entertainment was fun and lively throughout the ship.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Overall great service with some random "ok" encounters but cannot complain. Our room steward even offered us champagne upon arrival.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Mini Suite was well appointed, comfortable, and a good value. Gotta love the tub in the bathroom which makes it even more comfortable. The balcony was sadly small-ish and standard sized when compared to a regular balcony. Beds were very comfortable.
Ship tip
If you are able to get all your documents uploaded successfully, you will board sooner. If you to the "my time" dinning then make çreservations" for what time you want to eat.
We didn't get to see much of La Rochelle, but rather we went to Saintes and Cognac. The towns were charming though simplistic for tours. La Rochelle port area however gives you a negative first impression as it is further from town and in a very industrial area.
We did Santiago de Compostela, which was an experience on it's own, but it also allowed us time to explore the city of "A Coruña" and it was wonderful. Many small alleys with tons of shops, restaurants, and bars. You could also make it a beach day if you'd like.
Guernsey was charming. Once you get ashore (have to tender in) you can easily explore the town by yourself. We took the little train which does give you some history facts but the ride was rather short. We saw Castle Cornet from.the outside and enjoyed the scenic views. As other spots, there are many shops and restaurants too.
Even though the city center was about 25 mins via a bus, it was a beautiful region to explore. Very impressed. We toured around Bilbao and the noethern coastal towns.
We were shuttled into La Rochelle earlier this year, yes we drove through an industrial area but once in town it was very rewarding, we would have loved a tour of the WW2 German submarine pens or just a stop to look at them but this was not an option.
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