I have sailed with Princess many, many times and am at the highest level on loyalty classification. I have been spoiled by my last sailings on the Royal and Regal for my last three times. We chose the Panama Canal transit since we haven't done that recently and was going to stop in ports that we have been before. I knew that the Island Princess is much smaller that Royal or Regal, but was looking forward anyway to a smaller ship experience.

First disappointment - at dinner on the first night I showed my coffee card which I had from my last cruise in 2018. The jr waiter said they didn't accept them anymore. What? I thought maybe she misunderstood. Until the next day when I went down to the La Patissere and the waiter there explained that these cards were discontinued in August of this year. I spoke to numerous people on board and friends at home who knew nothing about this issue. You would think this would be communicated via email to people with high loyalty status. Of course they were pushing a beverage package that contained coffee, soda, beer with a significant fee per day. No - not interested.

Second disappointment - the air conditioning on this ship needs to be re-evaluated. The dining room was FREEZING. You had to bring a jacket or a sweater (who packs a sweater on a Panama Canal transit). The Explorer Lounge was FREEZING. Our cabin was a little warm - spoke to our Room Steward who said it was fixed - but it wasn't. As long as the ship was moving it was bearable. Once the ship docked - it was extremely warm. Don't know why they include duvets in the cabin - never used it and folded it down every night. Read more