Embarkation -- It took approximately 30 minutes to get to the desk that gives the room key, then more time waiting in line to get into the boat (more if you wanted to get on the boat around noon).

I chose the single share program, since the people I was traveling with were couples. What a mistake! First of all, they changed my room at the last minute, and while they were changing things, also changed me from the late sitting at a table with my friends, to "anytime dining." When I got to the room it was set up as one bed, instead of two. That finally got fixed sometime after 9 p.m. The woman I shared a room with was a married woman more than 20 years older than myself. . By the way, I was told if fares went down, I could change over to a single room, not true. If I had waited to book I could have had the room all to myself, for less.

Back to the onboard experience. When I got to my room my key card didn't work, I had to wait at the Purser's desk to have that corrected. I told them my concerns about the roommates age difference and that my cabin had been changed from the middle, to the front of the ship. The purser did not call until the next afternoon to say they couldn't help. Since I has horribly seasick (as were about 40% of the passengers, according to reports from other passengers) I did not have the inclination to "go down to the Purser's desk" to discuss the problem. And if you want a second "Princess Patter," don't bother asking the steward. I was told to go to the Purser's desk if I wanted another one. (I spent a lot of time down there during the course of this cruise.) The Jr. Assistant Purser told me I could come down everyday for another one. When I told him that was unacceptable, he said he would need to contact the housekeeping supervisor, but that we was not encouraged to do that unless absolutely necessary. Yes, I did finally get the second Patter delivered. Read more