This was our first TA and we had chosen the Crown Princess because we had been on the Caribbean Princess at the end of 2016. That experience was only okay, but we got a good price for our accommodations based on a "Hugh" onboard credit, and had hoped that the dining and entertainment would be better because of the length of the cruise. We were on board for 14 days, ending at Southampton, UK. What we found was that this cruise did not even live up to our Caribbean Princess experience.
The buffet experience was horrible, with much confusion in the cramped spaces in the serving lines. This is the same layout as our previous experience, and we never deliberately eat where there is a "sneeze-guard" but on excursion days we had no choice but eat there are eat nothing. The International Cafe simply cannot accommodate the number of guests trying to get breakfast before early disembark when in port. Never did we have anything except COLD food. The warming lights did not keep food warm. I had a made to order omelet twice, and one of those times I got someone else's order. Not having enough time to order another one, I ate what I got.
Dining room experiences were disappointing too. We ate mostly at DaVinci. It took way too long when we sat with 3 other couples, taking more than 2 1/2 hours, One time my Romaine lettuce in my Caesar salad had rotten pieces in it (only 4 days into the cruise). The matre d came and took it away, and made a big deal about the chef wanting our stateroom number, but they never even sent a note, much less a complementary upgrade meal. The menu was well below the standard of our previous cruise, with the "beef" choice on the left side of the menu being a "hamburger" of the day, instead of a true "beef" choice. The best hamburgers were on deck. Why would anyone want a hamburger at the sit down dining room. Also, we observed the Matre D speaking condescendingly to both employees and to guests.
This was sail away. Departure was rescheduled for 7pm for some reason never given to guests