For years we were the most loyal of Princess customers. However, when Carnival took over several years ago, we saw the immediate deterioration of a wonderful cruise line. We stayed away until this year when friends convinced us to travel with them on the Royal Princess.

I will net out our experience: The food in the main dining rooms and on the Horizon Deck was the worst we have ever encountered on any of our 35 cruises among several lines. In the main dining room, food arrived late and cold and had to be returned. On the night that they served lobster tails, they were so salty that people were constantly sending them back.

As to the buffet, the arrangement in the Horizon Court was so frustrating and so illogical that it would take several minutes to navigate the several steam tables and lines that were set up. The menu was repeated every day and the quality of the food was one step above a fast food restaurant. Read more