+ This is a monster size review with most of the space going for general notes near the end. What to pack has a section under Rethinking the Kitchen Sink. This was our third Princess cruise and it was the best. Our other cruises were to Alaska on the Sun and to Mexico on the Diamond. We didn't once have to go to the purser's desk and ask for a tip reduction, but this was also the only cruise that we didn't ask for a tip envelope either.
We made our own flight arrangements, but used the Princess transfer services. Since we pack to the max, the transfer service to the ship was great, from the ship to the airport was another story: more on that later. We did not stay in Denmark before or after the cruise, I would suggest to anyone doing this cruise from the States to stay pre and post cruise.
We had Express check-in and embarkation and disembarkation went unbelievably fast. We were at the dock at about 14:30 and in our room 20 minutes later. Luggage showed up about 17:00.