This was our first cruise, and the information I learned from Cruise Critic was invaluable - so thank you everyone! We had a great cruising experience and made some great friends through Cruise Critic. We had 2 get togethers - one at sail away and one the next morning in the Wheelhouse Lounge where Princess put some space aside for us and provided us with bar snacks. Some of us really hit it off and spent a bit of time together either at dinner, having drinks, or out and about on the ship.
Travel to Vancouver Easy for us - we flew down the a.m. of embarkation, from northern British Columbia. We lived in Vancouver for 16 years, so we didn't need to do the tourist thing there.
Embarkation Very smooth. We arrived at the terminal a little after noon and were in our room with ½ an hour.
Excellent cabin. Quiet, close to the "secret deck" on the bow, tons of storage. Very comfortable.