For once, embarkation was easy. We were on the ship in no time at all. This was perhaps the highlight of the voyage. I booked a cruise and I got a floating hospital.

I went to a port lecture and all I heard in the theater were wet hacking coughs in surround sound. I couldn't take it anymore and I left after 20 minutes. I ventured back for a few shows, same ubiquitous sickness, and never stuck around longer than a few minutes because of it. The public areas were all the same way. People were vomiting in the dining areas. I thought, being on vacation, that my HazMat suit could stay at work. Silly me. We later discovered our cabin steward wasn't changing our towels, replacing our glasses, or anything else they were supposed to be doing. These unsanitary conditions led to half my family get sick. One of them even got reinfected thanks to our steward's giving the appearance of a clean cabin rather than cleaning the cabin. If this is a new practice of Princess, it's no wonder there were so many sick people onboard.

16 hours before we were due to disembark, our steward took it upon themself to rearrange our personal effects to begin the turnover process. New sheets and robes showed up in our stateroom as well. Because I'd already packed my robe, I wore one of Princess' the final night. I apologize to whoever got the room next because they're wearing the robe I wore. It wouldn't surprise me if we received items used by the prior occupants as well. Our room was only properly cleaned on one night, the final night of the cruise. I think our steward drowned it in bleach because the smell was so strong it was nauseating. Read more