Some recent reviews of Emerald Princess have been very critical, so I will try to be as impartial as possible when writing this review, in the hope it will be of assistance to others considering a cruise on this ship. Comparisons are made with similar cruises in the last 18 months on Celebrity Reflection, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. In addition to these cruise lines we have cruised with Azamara (brilliant) and P&O (standards on downward spiral). In total we have now been on 21 cruises over the last 14 years.

On this particular cruise it would appear that Princess were trying to rival their sister company, P&O, to see how many wheelchairs, electric scooters and mobility aids they can amass on one ship. To be fair, anyone with mobility problems will always favour cruises out of Southampton, instead of enduring flights, transfers and all the associated hassle.

With so many wheelchairs etc. on board is the space taken up in the relatively small lifts. There were also the those with electric scooters who drive them straight into the lift, thus blocking the doorway and preventing the really disabled, in wheelchairs, from entering. Otherwise, with a large ship like Emerald Princess, there is plenty of room for everyone. Read more