Caribbean Princess Review
Rating by category
Additional details
After several cruises, we decided to go for a transatlantic one and see how we would like so many days at sea. We liked it a lot!
We live in Florida and rented a car through Budget for drop off near the cruise pier. This worked real well and the Budget shuttle was a good one. Since we would be flying home from London, leaving our car in parking was not an option. I would recommend Budget for everyone thinking of driving to the ship for a transatlantic.
Princess had notified us that the sailing was delayed so we did not get to the pier early. When we arrived, there was a reasonable wait before we were allowed to check in. Given the circumstances, embarkation could have been a lot worse. I did find out there was a bomb scare on the ship while it was in dry dock. The loss of a day probably caused the delay in the cruise and explains why there were a number of glitches in the condition of the ship.
Cabin Review
Mini-Suite with Balcony
Cabin was nice.
Very quiet, no noise from above or below.
Good amount of storage space.
Balcony was roomy enough for 2 persons to sit comfortably.
Rommel was our room steward and he was excellent.
Didn't like the new bed. It was uncomfortable.
Port Reviews
Falmouth
This port was before Paris. We hired Cornwall Tour for a day trip and they were very good. We saw some nice sights and villages on the way to Lands End and back.
You should avoid Lands End. This was totally set up for tourists and the only redeeming value was the view from the tip.
King's Wharf
We went to Horseshoe Bay Beach which has been rated as one of the best beaches in the world. If you go, make sure you walk all the way to the top left of the horseshoe configuration of the beach, then follow the trail to one of the very secluded small beaches that you cannot see from the main beach. Water and sand are beautiful.
We also shopped at King's Wharf and this is not a bad experience.
Cobh (Cork)
Took the excursion to Blarney Castle. The wait to kiss the Blarney Stone was 2 hours but this did not deter my wife.
I decided to explore the gardens and paths and this can keep you occupied for quite some time. Very beautiful. Don't miss taking a picture of the Blarney House.
There is plenty of shopping in town and hopefully you will have time for a scone with clotted cream and a pint of Guinnness.
Southampton
Hired a van to take us to London with stops at Salisbury Cathedral, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court. All this was very informative. If you need a ride when you get to Southampton, I highly recommend Silver Fleet. They are the best!