This is my 19th Princess cruise and there were many things to like about the cruise. As an Elite member, I do appreciate, use and enjoy the perks associated with that level of Captains Circle membership. I also particularly love the evening happy hour in Skywalker's, but alas, it appears that Skywalker's will be no more after this spring's dry dock.

While I will continue to sail on Princess, I did notice some cutbacks on this cruise compared to my previous one last spring. For one, pool towels are no longer in your stateroom; not a big issue except I kept having to remember to go up to the pool deck to get one before going on my snorkel excursions. For another, we didn't get the traditional card in our stateroom asking what fresh fruit we wanted delivered. In speaking with other seasoned Princess passengers they didn't either. Thirdly, the afternoon music by the pool is now a DJ or really loud pre-recorded music instead of the nice Caribbean melodies by a band. Lastly, I went down this morning to get a basic cup of coffee at the International cafe and was told I had to have a coffee card for this? It wasn't even a latte, espresso etc, just a plain cup of coffee. I guess with the lowered prices some services have to be cut, but it's disappointing that such basic things have to be cut from the services we've come to expect.

It won't keep me from sailing Princess again, but I noticed it and so did others. Oh, btw, others mentioned such things to me as no hors'deuvres at the Elite/Platinum Captain's Circle party, no parmesan base for the Fettucini Alfredo, and no monogrammed napkins. I can't confirm the above, but like I say, seasoned Princess cruisers notice the cutbacks.