You know how it is: you go on a really good vacation & afterward everything comes to a pleasantly dazed halt. And even though I've come back to a lot of office complexity and the school semester starting, I still feel that refreshingly meditative halt having taken place.

OVERALL VALUE & CABIN

Even after all these journeys, this was perhaps the best cruise yet. There is news of the new upcoming ship, the Royal Princess everywhere you turn. OK, so maybe the Captain's Circle party now being basically a Royal Princess press video "op" is maybe a little over-the-top, but everyone is all abuzz about it. While the price of a few things has inched up (Chef's Table is now $95), on balance I still think Princess gives the best value for the travel dollar, for the time being. Of paramount importance to the quality of the cruise, in my immaculately appointed port-side balcony cabin, I enjoyed the excellent service of one of those older, very traditional cabin stewards who made my study-life at sea heaven for 8 days. Read more