Arrived two days early due to fear of bad weather. Usually plan only one day in advance. Stayed at Embassy Suites, however, would not choose them again. Very expensive (asked other travelers who had much cheaper rates at nearby hotels, and all of ours included transfers from ship to hotel, to port, to airport (though may have been the deal from Princess, breakfast also included. In any case, the suite is large, but very dated, and the rug was disgusting....many, many stains....ick. They did offer to move us, but we wore our shoes...the rooms were clean, however.

Long lines to board, but went quickly and on the ship pretty early (dropped off at the 12:00 time, so expected it.

Ship was prepared....did have to be served our food in line, possibly to prevent novovirus which might have been on cruise before. In the buffet, for two days, and had to ask for salt, pepper, and had to use the gell to clean hands, but if it stopped us from getting the flu (and it did) I was grateful. After two days, went to serving yourself. The food was very good the entire trip...we did not eat in the main dining on formal nights, since my husband did not bring a long sleeve shirt, which they enforced. With 10 nights, didn't make a difference to us...the Caribe buffet was great and fancy, too. Read more