We had taken a sabbatical from Princess for quite a few years, but not intentionally. Sailing dates and other itineraries kept us from them since a U.S. West coastal cruise on the new Star in 2002. Having sailed for the first time in 1992 on the Island Princess ( Love Boat twin) out of Papeete, and having taken several other of their cruises, we were familiar with the line's product. We did not scrutinize the ship for signs of wear and tear as some have reported, and we noticed none. The ship was beautiful in all respects to us.

Pre-Cruise

A one night stay at Long Beach's Queen Mary hotel was a great way to start the trip. This way Texans sailing with Canadians were assured any flight glitches would not interfere with our plans. The history and celebrities who crossed on her can only be left to the imagination. The hotel/ship seemed spruced up compared to a few years ago, and onboard lunch and dinner venues were both outstanding. Notable were the Fish and Chips in their Promenade Cafe. The fries have remained excellent over many years. Read more