We booked our cruise just one week ahead of departure, as we weren't sure if we could actually go or not. We had made our airline reservations well in advance, though, as flights from Ohio to Florida during Spring Break are impossible. We knew we would have several choices of cruise lines out of Ft. Lauderdale that date. We decided on our first choice, Princess, as they offered us a great deal for an inside cabin.....we spend as little time as possible in our cabin anyway, so why spend more for an outside room with a balcony that we're never going to use? I'd rather spend our money on drinks and excursions. The ports of call was also our first choice, as we wanted to swim with the stingrays in Grand Cayman.

On the Crown Princess you will find a well-appointed ship and outstanding service. Crowds, too, as our ship held 3,200 passsengers that week, but that's what you should expect during Spring Break....a full ship. You just have to plan your time accordingly to avoid the crowds: eat early, and head for the shows early. There are never enough deck chairs in the prime spots for everyone when the ship is full, but we always found two together somewhere. We didn't mind getting away from the music by the pool....the live band was so loud that it wasn't enjoyable anyway. Too bad, because I love the live music everywhere. Our favorite spot was the adult pool on the back of the ship, with a bar right there. Of course there were the rude, or just ignorant, parents that brought their children, who swam until we told the pool attendants to ask them to leave. Happened every day!! The food is always plentiful, and most of it is very good. We always hit the Horizon Court buffet for breakfast and lunch, for the speed and variety, and we looked forward to a nice, relaxing dinner in the dining rooms, chatting with new friends. If you want to be picky about the food, you can always find something to complain about. But there is plenty of great food, too, so enjoy!

The entertainment was great all week, with much variety. Wish we could have gambled a little, but the casino is still "Smoking", so you can't even breathe in there. Hope they change that rule before we cruise again next year. Read more