Welcome aboard the Super Bowl Special! I have cruised with several lines from NCL to Crystal and wanted to try Princess as it appeared the standard was high. We stayed in Miami the previous night and then got the Tri Rail to Fort Lauderdale. A quick taxi ride ($14) took us to the port and we arrived at about 1.30pm. Embarkation was really quick and we were on board in no time. Went to the Horizon Court for a buffet lunch and then to our cabins. The ship seemed busy and we went to the small pool at the back of the ship to sunbathe. This is where it hit home we had booked the wrong cruise.
The area soon became very noisy with people drinking and shouting (generally always the same loud mouths). Want a conversation with someone who is 100 yards away? No problem, just shout and they can shout back! We leaned that 1300 Super Bowl fans from Ohio had joined the ship for this cruise. They were there to have a good time and I have nothing against that at all, but Princess should have designated this as a super bowl cruise and informed other passengers. We would not have booked this cruise had we known. The group basically monopolised the pools and the bars and drank like there was no tomorrow. Once again that is fine, I like a drink myself, but it was not what I wanted everyday. One day there were sections closed off just for them. On the day of the game itself, they showed it in the theatre and as it overan, the entertainment was cancelled! Not sure that this group is about as no Ohio team was in the final anyway.
First port of call was Princess Cays. This was like being on a crowded beach in a downmarket resort with people drinking and shouting and stuffing their faces, so we didn´t stay that long. Next was Curacao where I have been before, then Aruba which is always nice, followed by 2 sea days.