This review is from a first-timer on Princess. I notice that others on this same cruise really smoked the service, food, etc., so I won't get into that too much. Suffice it to say that my ratings of each category that received a low rating by others are my own and I won't elaborate to justify said rating. Enough said on that.

So here's some random musings on this cruise: Lido deck is the topmost cabin deck, with great convenience to topside facilities ... we slept with the balcony door open each night, very relaxing ... jogging deck is directly above most of the balconies on Lido, so you may hear some pounding ... nothing extraordinary, probably just some kids running by ... cabin stewart Merdaro was outstanding! ... I would take another cruise anywhere if he were guaranteed to be our steward ... balcony came with two plastic upright chairs and table set ... I explained I was recovering from back surgery, and he fixed us up with one full chaise lounge and one recliner chair ... balconies on Lido are too small for 2 chaises ... bottom balcony deck (Dolphin) is completely exposed to topside, with next deck up (Caribe) about 2/3s exposed to topside ... not only no privacy, but bigtime sun exposure ... Sabatini's had excellent food and service, but meal was semi-rushed, in and out in about 95 minutes ... it seems like wait staff served all tables in their area at same pace, somewhat fast ... meal will stuff you, though ... no trouble in getting table for two at 6:00 ...

Brought WAY too many clothes, power suit for formal night, wore twice with dressy T-shirt for the second night ... best advice for guys is to bring one formal outfit, a pair of khakis, and a couple of aloha shirts ... you'll live in your shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops ... wife also brought way too many clothes ... we never wore 80% of the clothing we brought ... the lines for pictures during formal nights get really crowded past 6:30 or so ... we arrived for pictures before eating at 6:00 and only had to wait maybe 5 minutes ... after finishing dinner the lines snaked around the block ... everyone and their brother tries to pick up their pictures on the last night at sea, so be ready for that ... agree with other cruiser's assessment of indifferent bar staff service, especially if you flash a soda sticker (no 15% added to that) ... disagree with other assessment of pizza, it's the best outside of New York City and I told the baker just that :)) ... James "The Kid" Martin was funny as hell, I'd pay to see a concert with him as headliner ... one bedside lamp in cabin has a dimmer ... we brought a 25 watt red light bulb and used it ... as Don Ho used to sing, "tou jour l'amoure, tonight for sure" ... try it, you'll like it! ... Read more