I chose this cruise because Princess was supposedly rated the number one cruise line to Alaska 10 years straight, apparently, no one else was rated or the bar is set very low. This was my third cruise on Princess, second on Ruby, however, for the money spent, it was not worth it.

Our first port was Juneau and for anyone with an excursion, it was a nightmare getting off the ship. We had to stand in line going from the elevators on deck 7 in the Piazza across to and thru the casino, a turn thru a narrow hallway and back through the casino to the elevators. So many people would walk off the ship, then they would stop us to wait for everyone to clear the gangway, then another group would be allowed off. I have been in a line for a tender and it moved faster. Of course it was raining and cold in Juneau as we returned from our excursion, once again, a long line to return to the ship. There was one line going back onto the ship, and as people would come off on scooters or wheelchairs, everyone ready to come back to the ship had to stand in the wind and rain until the crew brought the passengers on scooters off the ship, now why was there not another gangway opened, well it was, but we were not allowed to go up e second one, only the first one. It was unorganized at best. We talked to several people that missed their tours. One couple had to get really loud with the people on the tour desk because they were refusing to refund their money, after speaking with them later, they did get their money back, but not until jumping through a few hoops and going several rings up the ladder of management.

The food was nothing to write ho,e about. One group of people, non-Americans, were extremely rude, always breaking the line and thinking it was okay, they didn't have to wait as we did. In the end, they could have it because there was nothing on the buffet to run anyone over for. They had the same food everyday on the buffet, Mac and cheese in water sauce, mashed potatoes, something they called a stew with gravy. The best thing in the buffet was the fresh fruit. This is the first cruise I didn't come back 10 pounds more than I left with, as a matter of fact, I lost a few pounds. The crab shack was good, so I guess for a good meal you pay an up charge. As for asking for a table for two for anytime dinning, you may as well ask for a table to 10. Because that's what you get. A long sofa with individual tables and a chair across. They place you so close to the other couples that you automatically become a part of their conversation and they in yours. The menu in the MDR left much to be desired. We are in there three of our 7 nights, and the only meal I remember is the meal on the second formal night, lobster and shrimp. Read more