We drove from the SF Bay Area and stayed the night before in San Pedro. We got a great deal at the Crowne Plaza, including parking for 15 nights. We expected the town to be a dump, but were pleased to find a cute little town with a great restaurant scene. We even got free breakfast and a welcome drink at the hotel.
On Sunday morning, we bypassed the mob scene for the shuttle bus at the hotel, and had our cousin drop us off at the port (2 mins away). We arrived at about 12:15 and found no lines. We were on board within 15 mins. Once on board, the cruise staff greeted us at the door and then we entered the Piazza atrium where they had carolers dressed up in old English costumes (nice touch!). The ship's common areas had recently been upgraded and they were beautiful.
We then checked out our room. Unfortunately, it hadn't been remodeled. There was a big coffee stain on the carpet and the bedspread had definitely logged the miles. But there was ample storage space for our two weeks of clothing and the double-sized balcony was great. Our cabin steward, Emmanuel, greeted us upon arrival. He told us that this was his first cruise, but you would have never known it. He was so well trained, and we needed for nothing. Emmanuel was delightful. Everytime he saw us, he made us feel like that was the best moment of his day. He learned our names, he would ask about our day, and he genuinely seemed interested in our activities. He would even give us the tip of day.
C202: Oversized balcony, though not very private (terraced) and had smokers nearby. The location at the front made it a bit choppy, and difficult to sleep at first. The cabin was extremely quiet. There were stains on the carpet. Nice, flat screen TV and good lighting. Plenty of storage space.