Island Princess Review
Panama Canal Cruise was a fabulous vacation
Rating by category
Additional details
My husband and I chose this cruise to celebrate our 50th and 55th birthdays on board. We had been on one other Princess Cruise and had a wonderful time and were expecting no less from this cruise.
We found the staff to be very friendly and helpful in all areas of the ship. I do find it makes a difference if you say good morning and please and thank you when you are asking someone to do something for you. Our room steward was wonderful and asked us constantly is there was anything he could do for us. I do have to admit, we tip our room steward and waiters extra because we feel they really can make a difference in your cruise experience and they work really hard. We give them some money the first day and again on the last night.
The food in the dining room and at the buffet was not bad but wasn't great either with the exception of a few particular dishes. It was just good, but not memorable. I guess when you are serving 12,000 meals a day, it's kind of hard to make all the meals extraordinary. We did eat at the Bayou Steakhouse one evening and that meal was wonderful. We also had the great fortune of going to the Chef's Table one evening. It was one of the best meals we have ever had!! If you have the opportunity to participate and don't mind paying the $95 up charge, do it.
Cabin Review
Balcony
We were in cabin B330. This was a balcony stateroom on the port side. The room was a typical rectangular room with the two beds pushed together to make a queen size bed. There was ample storage space which we didn't completely fill. The bathroom is very tiny and almost impossible to share unless someone is in the shower while someone else is at the sink.
The shower is truly tiny making it difficult to turn around much less shave your legs.
This room had the ability to sleep 4 people and there were 2 bunks recessed into the ceiling, which we never saw.
The room would be pretty cramped with 4 people's stuff but it certainly could be done.
The furnishings, bedding and floor were all well maintained and the only wear I saw was some of the linens had worn spots.