This review is one of my most difficult. Up front I must say that the cruise wasn’t in any way, shape, or form, bad. But neither was it particularly good. It was, I suppose, boringly average. This was our 19th cruise, but our first with Princess Cruise Lines. It will, most assuredly be our last with Princess. The ship that is the subject of this review is the Caribbean Princess, sailing the week of January 3, 2016 out of the Port of Houston. Ports of call were Cozumel, Roatan, and Belize. These are all ports that we have visited many times in the past and I will not cover them in any great detail.

The Port of Houston Cruise Terminal is modern, efficient, and unfortunately, doomed to failure. Its location necessitates a three hour trip up one of the busiest and most finicky ship channels in the world. It is subject to whims of nature such as fog, shifting currents, heavy traffic, and high winds. These factors combine to make its inability to compete with the Port of Galveston glaringly obvious to anyone that cruises from Texas. Fuel and Pilot costs alone assure its fate. That being said embarkation from this terminal was quick and trouble free.

The Caribbean Princess is soldiering into its 12th year and it does show its age. The ship, however, does appear well maintained and the Captain makes a point of keeping his crew busy with routine maintenance and repairs. The ship simply needs a bit of sprucing up. Carpets are stained and colors are tired. The ship rides reasonably well, but does have a constant shudder that is most apparent in the aft areas of the vessel. The one shining spot about this ship is its crew. It has been many years since we have encountered a crew that was as friendly, or as pleasant as that of the Caribbean Princess. Their greetings did not seem contrived and they always seemed willing to be of assistance with a smile. This really is a big plus for this ship. I want to also note that the mandatory emergency drill prior to departure is one of the most thorough and well-presented that I have ever seen. Shopping on board is limited with very small shops located in and around a three deck atrium at the ship’s center. Read more