We enjoyed trying the larger Royal ship, which was beautiful, especially the large atrium, and the Medallion system made the experience better. One nice surprise was that the excellent speed of MedallionNet allowed us to watch the new episode of Game of Thrones on a tablet. The only crowd problems were at the Princess Theater, where you had to arrive at least 1/2 hour before showtime to get a decent seat although it was easier for the later 10 p.m. shows, at elevators, and at the gangway to exit the ship when only one was being used. Speaking of shows, comedian AJ Jamal was absolutely hilarious at both shows during the week. Cruise Director Matt O was exceptionally entertaining and seemed to be everywhere; don't miss him when he is in charge of games in the Princess Live room. We thought the production show Colors of the World was just okay, but really enjoyed Encore.

Our A-327 mini-suite was nice but the room attendant was just okay.

Anytime dining at the Symphony Dining Room ranged from very good to average. Some favorite meals were beef medallions, pork,fried chicken, and the available everyday salmon. For the second Princess cruise in a row, the lobster tail during the second formal night was not that good. Breakfast here was not nearly as good as at the Horizon Court buffet, although sharing a table was a plus. One side of the huge buffet area always offered more dishes than the side more forward on the ship. Sabatinis had excellent service and food, definitely a cut above the MDR; we loved the artichoke souffle, pot roast pasta, lobster 3-way, veal shank, and tira misu. The Crown Grill was a disappointment, being adjacent to the busy and noisy Wheelhouse Bar. Although the service, lobster tail dinner, side dishes, and dessert were excellent, the rib eye steak was very thin and not particularly tasty. The International Cafe was excellent for coffees, desserts, and small plates. The casino allows smoking in one side section, resulting in the entire room and adjacent areas outside smelling. Read more