We drove to Port Everglades to find the Ruby Princess in the normal Princess terminal. We found Crown Princess on the far side of the port directly across from the new Oasis of the Seas (I'm just not sure if I want to sail on something that big). Checking in was fine, although, I think Princess needs to further separate their Platinum and Elite members from the Gold members as we all were put in the same line and it took a little longer than usual. No big deal, though. We took the obligatory boarding photo and we were on the ship.

Oh, the Crown Princess is beautiful. While the design of the Piazza (atrium area) is similar to the Grand Class ships, the decor is quite different. Deep, rich colors, lots of iron work, and changes in the flooring make it a lovely place to congregate. On the bottom deck of the Piazza (deck 5) is the International Cafe. We had lunch there several times during the week. Small paninis and several salad choices as well as lots of dessert choices made the International Cafe a favorite stop for me and my husband. The portions were just right and we never ate too much like we would have it we had gone to the buffet. Another highlight of the Piazza is Vines wine bar. They have sushi and tapas that can be paired with Wine Flights. It, too, has lovely decor. While my husband took advantage of every chocolate delight he could find at the International Cafe, I would have a light snack and wine tasting at Vines. Throughout each day there is entertainment in the Piazza right in front of these two spots. It was one of my favorite places to be throughout the week.

We had a balcony cabin on Riviera. If you want balcony privacy, you have to book on Lido, Riviera or Aloha. Below these three decks the cabins get a little bigger and the balconies start sticking out further and further. From the decks above, you can see onto the balconies below. There was ample storage space in our cabin and the suitcases slide easily under the beds. It was perfect for our needs. Read more