We embarked on our cruise on 2/17/06. The process was very efficient and painless. The ship was the largest weve been on to date and the first Princess line ship. It well kept and nicely appointed. Our room seemed smaller than others weve stayed in, but were comfortable. Our Cabin Steward Billy Mateo was very thorough and thoughtful throughout the cruise. Always a cheerful hello and calling us by name when we saw each other during the day.

The entertainment was very good to excellent. The ships dance troupe was excellent and they did a fantastic job with the Broadway show (and that from a person who isnt a big Broadway fan). The comedian was good, and the juggler/comedian had me laughing till I cried! All musicians on the cruise weather from the band or the piano lounge were top notch. While we normally have hit and miss experiences with the entertainment, I can honestly say that none disappointed. A nice mix to satisfy everyone from kids to older adults.

The food on the Grand was good and well presented. Everything from burgers and buffet to lobsters and filet mignon were fresh and served with quality in mind. Overall we didnt find much ZIP in the menu&didnt get wowd by many of the meals/offerings. (The kitchen needs to be taught that there is a difference between a shrimp and its bigger cousin the prawn&.and not try to call the former the latter to spice up the menu). My kids who have fairly simple tastes didnt find a lot of things they loved, but did find a few things that they liked and ate often, particularly at dinner time in the formal dining rooms. Scrambled eggs at the breakfast buffet were a bit bouncy/plasticy, but I found the omelette-du-jour tasty enough. Breads and muffins were fresh and flavorful. Nice variety of meats and cheeses at all buffet meals along with a good selection of cultural dishes. A good variety of fresh sushi was also available a couple times during the week. Again, nothing wrong with the food&just nothing special to write home about. Our wait staff in the Botticelli dining room (Edgar and Olano) were very pleasant and attentive, always remembering small details from previous dining encounters (quick refills of cokes for the kids, lemons for my water, etc). Aside from the occasional push to sell coffee cards, princess recipes, and other commission items, which I personally dont like during my dinner, Id give them top scores for service. Read more