This was a first for my wife and I. I am a travelaholic and love the states and being active so a cruise was the last sort of thing that I thought would suit me. However as it was our 25th wedding anniversary I took the plunge and boy was I glad I did. We booked through a local agency and flew from a cold, windy Newcastle on the 2nd, transit through a dirty Heathrow(this is the most unwelcoming airport in the world surely) and on to a sunny Miami.Customs was a tad slow and slightly unfriendly but we were soon into the sunshine and after a 60 minute wait off to the Hotel Intercontinental in West Miami.This was a superb one night hotel and after an evening at the mall we were off to the ship on the Sunday.Embarkation was a breeze and soon we were in our balcony cabin, this is well worth the extra as the view and extra space is fantastic. We were on anytime dining but craftily booked our tables for different restaurants as soon as we were on board. Sterling steakhouse was superb and the Coral dining room just perfect. We booked one excursion and it was really nice although it was not like it said in the brochure. Horse riding in ST Martins at $99 a head. you only get 45 minutes and not 2 hours!!! however the princess cays day made up for it as we hired a hobie sailboat and headed off.

i thought that at $40 an hour it was great value but i should maybe have had a lesson as we were halfway to Cuba before i sussed out how to turn the damn thing around!!!!. what a hoot. overall the whole experience was fantastic although a small cake for a 25 th wedding anniversary was a touch on the tightwad side by princess. good tips are to take wine and sundowner drinks in your main luggage to save on traipsing up to the bar-nothing finer than a shower, a clean towel and a jack and white with ice on your balcony watching the sunset before dinner!!!! also buy a soda card as this is a godsend when you fancy a quencher. the people we dined with were all lovely-bob and sandy from pinehurst, NC and amelia and the gang from Tennessee at the quiz, also our numerous dining companions who said my wife and i looked too young to have been married 25 years-woohoo- friends for life. i will definitely be back although i may try another line. to anyone who remembers us-the last kingdom-NORTHUMBERLAND- is still the most beautiful place on earth.