We booked our air from FLL to BCN with Princess on Delta at a reasonable price and then booked our own hotel in Barcelona for a couple of nights prior to embarkation. A short cab ride took us to the terminal. Boarding in Barcelona was quick and easy which set the tone for what could have been a great cruise. never The security process getting on the ship after each port call was difficult. I have had both hips replaced and each time I boarded I would tell them but they would send me through the metal detector anyway and then express exasperation that someone had to pat me down. I would be directed out of the way of other boarders while my belongings languished on the conveyer belt until someone could find the time to do the pat down. That became burdensome after the first couple of times.

I never feel overwhelmed on a large ship because seldom are that many people congregated at one place at one time. The ship was easy to learn and to get around on. I spent most sea days reading on the 18th deck in the Sky Walker lounge or watching the sea from the panoramic windows there. There were several lectures daily on various topics related to the cruise itinerary. There were also numerous other activities available from trivia to bingo and learning Spanish.

I had traditional second seating dining. Our waiter and assistant seemed responsible for a number of tables over a pretty large area of the dining room and our service was FAR slower than it has been on any other Princess ship. They did learn our preferences, however, and quickly brought items that we always requested. One diner had gluten intolerance and her needs were addressed daily when the Maitre d' brought the next day menu and let her choose her dishes so the kitchen could prepare her preference gluten free. Food was good although occasionally a dish seemed to lack any seasoning and steaks were often tough and chewy. The waiter gladly brought another entrée when the first one proved unsatisfactory. The wine list had a number of bottles around $30 that were good and had others that ranged upward in price. The markup compared to local pricing seemed to be about 300% and bringing one's own bottle cost a $15 corkage fee. Read more