This was my 7th cruise, 3rd on Princess, and I'm in my early 50's travelling with my wife. My daughters are in university and they are required to pay half the costs of that, so they were a little salty about being left behind in Vancouver to work. Life lessons!

We had a wonderful cruise, with the highlights being a sunny day in Glacier Bay, the best buffet we've ever experienced at sea, and an outstanding crew that really delivered on a great customer service experience. That said, the rest of this review will cover personal thoughts and preferences about the ship, the new medallion system, one way vs round trip cruising, alcohol packages, and anytime dining vs set time. One thing I've learned about reading cruise reviews for years is that everyone has their own tastes and to each their own, but these are the topics I look for in other reviews.

The Royal Princess is a beautiful ship. She looks great, nothing looked worn, she hardly moves at sea, and the 'Love Boat' themed ship's horn blast was an absolute highlight as it blew just as we passed under Lions Gate Bridge to begin the cruise. On the con side, for a newer mega ship it doesn't possess the amenities you'd expect from other lines; it is the basic Princess formula, everything the same only more people on board. I have sailed on the Oasis before and I think it spoiled me for the range of activities and dining options available. No, I'm not going to zip-line, skate, or flow-ride on a ship every day, but I like knowing that I can do it if I want to :) Read more