This was an eighteen day cruise. We've been on six cruises on different companies. We rated our experience on Princess in the Orient at the bottom of our list.

Service was unexpectedly poor. The wait staff in the buffet Horizon Dining Room was marginal. Most performed adequately but several among them, perhaps as many as one in five, were rude. The overwhelming impression is that the wait staff employees are trained but not motivated. They didn't seem to accept the idea that their contribution was essential to the success of the cruise. The angriest of a disenchanted minority behaved as though they were indentured servants. Yes, it was that bad at times. Some complaints must have been registered because service improved significantly about halfway through the cruise.

The quality of the food, particularly the meat, was substandard. The meat throughout the cruise was tough. The filets, Strip steaks, and Chautebriands were difficult to slice. And portions for all dishes were unbelievably small at the onset of the cruise but increased in size towards the end of the cruise. I must state that we normally eat very small portions and frequently share meals. Read more