Embarkation in SF: Wonderful experience. We are local to the area so we used a parking structure within walking distance to the pier, dropped our luggage with a porter, and made it very quickly through security and into the terminal. Check-in was a breeze and personnel were friendly and helpful. Boarded almost as soon as we checked in and since rooms weren't ready yet (we boarded before noon), we were free to explore the ship/have lunch.

Alfredo's: One of the first places we checked out on embarkation day and we loved it! Pizza was delicious and service was wonderful. We visited frequently over the course of our cruise. Only downside: if you order wine or beer, be prepared for it to take FOREVER to get your beverage...I'm assuming they don't have a dedicated wine/beer fridge and have to go across the ship to the closest bar to fulfill drink orders. On one of our visits it took longer to get the first beer I ordered than it did to order the pizza, have it made, then brought to the table.

Room: An announcement was made over the PA system that all staterooms were ready at 1PM on embarkation day. We meandered our way up to our room (Caribe 514 balcony) and were pleased to find all of our luggage waiting outside the door. Things went downhill from there. Upon entering the room, I immediately noticed there were small pieces of trash/paper and pistachio shells all over the carpet. No luggage mat(s) on bed(s). Walked out onto balcony and noticed patio furniture was covered in paint splatters and/or bird droppings. As we began to unpack our luggage, our room steward came in and the first words out of his mouth were, "I haven't vacuumed yet!" (while I was relieved that he hadn't vacuumed and he was apologetic about the mess, it still made me wonder what else may not have been done since the room all-clear had already been given by the cruise director). He never introduced himself, the only reason I knew his name at all was because later that night when he knocked on the door, I read his name tag aloud and asked if I was pronouncing his name correctly (either I was or he was being polite). The next day we asked that our patio furniture be either cleaned or replaced due to the unknown stains on the chairs, but our room steward advised that the stains were permanent (not bird droppings, but unremovable paint/other substance) and there were no replacement chairs available. We didn't spend too much time on our balcony this trip (for other reasons outside the ship's control, e.g. loud neighbors regularly playing card games on their balcony, someone on a nearby balcony above ours that insisted on cutting their fingernails and/or toenails outside on an almost daily basis, etc.), so the stained furniture ended up not being a huge issue but definitely not ideal. On one of the few afternoons that we did sit on the balcony, I saw what appeared to be a dried chicken/animal bone (perhaps from a chicken wing) just under the balcony railing. I wasn't about to touch it so can't say for sure, but again, not ideal. Mattresses seemed worn; way too soft for our taste and no support. Flat sheets were used in place of fitted bottom sheets so everything came untucked quickly every evening and (if you move at all while sleeping) became wrinkled and bunched uncomfortably while sleeping. Pillows were feather (or down alternative) and offered no support whatsoever. We didn't get a good night's sleep any night of the cruise. On a positive note, the mattresses, pillows, and linens on Princess ships will give you a newfound appreciation for your own bedding at home! There were rusty screws hanging out of the cabinet facing around the refrigerator; I tightened them by hand so as to not snag our clothes or legs (it's one thing to get Montezuma's Revenge while in Mexico but I didn't want tetanus too!). Room steward was efficient throughout the cruise; other than the patio furniture, we made no special requests but he cleaned our room well every day and supplied us with plenty of towels and ice. Space in shower and bathroom is serviceable and comparable to other ships (i.e. not large). Plenty of hangers in closet/wardrobe area and lots of shelving for folded clothing. TV was tiny, not many choices, remote worked only intermittently or only if standing right in front of TV (and battery cover was sloppily taped on), and no on demand or PPV options (I realize this is tricky while at sea/depending on satellite reception, etc.). Room slept hot every night, air conditioning (if you can even call it that) basically non-existent; no specific temperature control in room (only "warmer/cooler" adjustments could be made, but even on the lowest "cooler" setting, room was stuffy and warm at all times). Read more