This cruise started off with a bad omen – two days before we were supposed to leave for the cruise Princess sent an email advising us there had been a high incident of Norovirus the previous week and embarkation would be delayed in order for the ship to be sanitized. With this wonderful news, we wondered if we should continue or not but, since the cruise was paid in full with no possibility of a refund AND this was the first week of a two week back to back cruise, we headed to Houston.

We were able to get a nice nonstop flight from RDU, leaving around 9 am and arriving in Houston around 12 pm (due to the hour time change). After claiming our luggage, we boarded a Princess shuttle to the terminal. The port of Houston – Bayport, is some distance from both airports. We flew into Hobby and it took about an hour to get to the port from the airport. It wasn't a very scenic drive – lots of oil refineries, oil storage, and industry along the way.

Once we arrived, we checked in and moved to the Elite waiting area. We boarded around 2 pm and went to have lunch at the International Cafe. Our room was on the Plaza deck – Deck 5. It was a great location. Read more