This was our 3rd cruise on Caribbean Princess, so we knew what to expect. I found a deal on mini-suites in December and booked it. The ship is looking dated. They are updating some interiors, but the newer technologies on Royal and Regal Princess need to be shared with Caribbean.
Embarkation was a breeze. We arrived at 1:20 and were on the ship by 1:45. Luggage arrived promptly and we were settled in before muster drill.
Food quality in the MDR was excellent, but the other venues were average, at best. I was very disappointed by the reduced options for room service breakfast.
The extra room is really noticeable with the room extending deep enough for a full sized couch, more room in the closet for storage, more room in the bath room to move around, and more storage in the cabin. The 2 of us had tried to pack light, so we really had a lot of unused space. I may book this type room again and take our grandson along. The folks next door had 2 small children and they still had plenty of space.
Loved the beach! Having not been there before I did not know what to expect. The facilities were great - enough shade for those of us who worry about sun exposure and good food and drink available whenever you want. The fact they have no locals hawking their wares on the beach was wonderfu.