We traveled by vehicle to board the ship,arriving in FLL the day before embarkation. We stayed Sat night at the Hyatt Place South in Dania Beach which offered secured parking for the week and shuttle service to and from the port.($8.00 per person each way,or in some cases vouchers were given for free shuttle service). Arriving at the port sometime between 12:30-1:00 p.m., we were able to get through security and processing very quickly. Personnel in the terminal area were very pleasant and accommodating. Once on board,we found our interior cabin which seemed a little on small side for 3 people,but worked out a-ok as the week went on. Beds were just as hard as has been described on the CC boards,but we were prepared with polyester mattress toppers we'd purchased on-line and put into Space Bags and our luggage to bring on board.We were very thankful during the next week we had gone to the expense and added luggage etc to sleep on those toppers! Originally, we'd faxed request to Princess for their foam egg crates which were supposed to have been in cabin upon arrival but never showed up the entire week,but we didn't pursue the issue since we had brought along a much better solution.

Met our cabin steward,Juan, who was not any too friendly upon that first meeting. This was first cruise we were ever on that the steward didn't go out of his way to be friendly and helpful upon that first meeting and going forward!

(not off to good start re service!) We explored the ship and found it to be beautiful. Our one concern during the whole cruise was the attitude and lack of friendly,good service among many of the crew. It appeared to us that ship was understaffed and crew thus overworked in the dining rooms, buffet areas and cabin steward areas. We witnessed Cafe Caribe manager, Peter, berate and discipline 2 different employees in front of all the pax which displayed very poor management training. In one instance, he grabbed a girl's arm and dragged her a distance ! Read more