Our third cruise with Princess - the first was to Alaska in 2006, the second, last year, was of the Baltic.
Embarkation was a breeze - got to the Brooklyn terminal at about 1:30 p.m., in our room by about 2:30, up to the luncheon buffet shortly after that. Didn't get sick this time (came down with food poisoning that knocked me out for a few days on the Baltic cruise), so that's a big plus.
Our cabin, on the Aloha deck, was tiny, but that's no shocker. Room steward was very affable and helpful. Had a great view of the City skyline and Statue of Liberty leaving and returning to New York, ironically, more or less in the rain both times.