We are a professional couple with a lot of crusing experience on RCCL, HAL, MSC, NCL and now have Platimum status on Princess. Our last cruise was on the Emerald Princess over New Year's. General comparison: the New Year's cruise had more entertainement, more of a party atmosphere, an extra "special" diner night (new year's eve diner)in the dining room, and far more kids on board. This cruise was more casual and laid back - which was exactly what we were looking for - with lots of honeymooners to keep the average age down.We drove down from Ottawa and stayed an hour outside NY on the Wednesday night. Thursday morning we stocked up on wine at TotalWine in Orange, NJ (placed our order on-line ahead of time - it was boxed and ready to go when we arrived), fought NY traffic to Brooklyn, dropped off the luggage and parked steps away. Security checked to make sure our wine wasn't hard liquor. Otherwise embarkation was a breeze, and we were on board by 12:30. Room was ready, dropped off carry-ons and signed up for the chef's diner. Went to the dining room for lunch...menu was limited but was very good, and the soufle was excellent - one of the best desserts we had on board. In the evening, checked the dining room menu, and decided on the seafood buffet - which proved to be a good choice. In fact, we choose the diner buffet in the Caribe a number of nights when hey had international cuisine - e.g. Indian, Chinese. Generally we have found that the dining room choices have become less appealing every cruise.Our room steward was efficient and friendly. Staff generally throughout the ship were friendly and accomodating.Sabatinni's - changed the menu, and not for the better overall. You now choose your appetizers, which have virtually all changed (except for the fried calamari, which was still great), as have the deserts. As for the main course, the sea bass we loved from the old menu is gone. The lobster 3 ways was underwhelming (a regular-sized tail that you would get in the dining room, a lobster risotto that was too much like paste, and a small secondary claw). Although OK overall, nothing really special, so we won't be going back. Chef's Diner - we were accepted for the second of three they held this cruise. Absolutely by far the best meal we had on the ship. The appetizers served in the galley were numerous and to die for, served with generous amounts of champagne. After being seated in the dining room for the rest of the meal, they served white wine with a seafood appetizer, red wine with the main course- which was three grilled meats served with a variety of accompanyments - and an icewine with a magnificant chocolate desert which was as much sculpture/art as food. Bermuda - bought the day pass for loal transport at the dock ($12 PP) and then took the ferry to Bermuda, shopped a little (not cheap in this port), took the local bus to Horeshoe Bay (absolutely beautiful - climbed the big rock for a great overview of the bay) and then cabbed it back to the Dockyards in time to see the end of a glassworks exhibition. Love this port - could spend a few days here.San Juan - arrived about 1:00 p.m. Shopped downtown until about 4:00, and then took the ship's tour to the Bio-luminescence bay. According to our guide there are only 5 of these in the world, and 3 are in Puerto Rico. Due to traffic it was about a 2hr. bus ride to the point where we picked up our 2-person kayaks for the 30 minute row to the bay. This was a very special experience. The water glows when you put your hand in it, an oar in it, or even watch the glow follow behind your neighbour's kayak as they moved. The only real downside of this trip is the 30-minute row back through pitch-black mangrove channels. The bus-ride back was only an hour, so we got back to the ship just at the departure time - we were the last ones back on board (reason for takig this tour from the ship).St. Thomas - we had to be back on board at 3:30, so we had to make a decision - shop or tour. We shopped.Grand Turk - this was our beach day (OK afteroon - the ship arrived mid-day). Great beach just off the pier. It could have been better if the sun was shining, but it was warm, it wasn't raining and the drinks were cold. Debarkation: fastest customs we've been through. Lots of staions, no lines. Only downside was that we had to lug our luggage all the way to the parked car (unless you got a porter to do it for you), as the entrances were reserved for those being dropped off for the next cruise.New York - don't get there very often so we stayed at a boutiqe hotel (with early check-in and late check-out) just steps from Times Square, took in diner and a Broadway play Saturday night, and toured the Statue of Liberty on Sunday morning (be warned - book your tickets ahead of time if you want to enter the pedestal. Book months in advance if you want to also enter the lady's crown - only 300 per day are allowed in. We managed to get tickets to enter the pedstal but not the crown.) And then we drove back home on Sunday to face reality....and start dreaming of going on another cruise.