Embarkation at Seattle was well-organized and relatively painless. We were efficiently transferred from the airport on a Princess transfer, arriving at the airport about 11:30 a.m., and in the stateroom by 2:00 p.m. Our luggage was waiting on us at the stateroom.

Cabin was an outside mini-suite with balcony on Dolphin deck. Plenty of room for two, and plenty of storage space. The two twins pushed together for a queen-sized bed had the predictable hump in the middle, and both the beds and the sofa loveseat had seen their share of heavyweights, as they all sagged noticeably in the middle, and were uncomfortable. The cushions on the sofa were so crushed, they had lost their form and had become useless, sinking into the mattress compartment instead of remaining on top. Henry, our steward, was excellent.

The ship overall was clean and well maintained. The food was, on the whole, phenomenal. We opted for anytime dining, and both the Bernini and Donatello dining rooms were well-staffed with efficient and friendly crew members. The only bad experience was the worst steak I've ever had (overcooked and badly flavored), which certainly seemed to be an anomaly. The buffet was always too crowded to find a place to sit. Read more