Emerald Princess Review
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This was the seventh cruise for my husband and me, the fourth with Princess. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves. We knew the weather would be hot and humid, but were not prepared for how exhausting it would be. (Of course, I'm not implying that this was Princess's fault!) We were glad to have all the sea days to recuperate!
Embarkation in Ft. Lauderdale was chaotic, to put it mildly. We have never had to wait so long to board. It was 2:30 before we finally got on board. By that time, lunch was over in the dining room. The buffet was packed, of course, and the lines for the pizza and burger places near the pool were extremely long. It seems that on embarkation day the dining room could be open longer.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 10, and it was just what we expected. Our room steward was pleasant, courteous, and very efficient.
Cabin Review
Port Reviews
Fuerte Amador (Balboa)
Scenic Drive and Walking Tour of Colonial Panama. A lot of walking on very uneven surfaces. The guide's estimates of distances left a lot to be desired. When he said six blocks, it was more like ten. Don't really remember much because I was so concerned about breaking an ankle on the cobblestones.
San Juan del Sur
Granada, Masaya Market and Volcano. Saw musicians in a marketplace. Masaya Volcano was interesting, but couldn't get a very good view.
Huatulco
Highlights of Huatulco. Guide gave a good background about the town. Stopped at a local restaurant for snacks and beverages (no charge, even for beer) and heard a local musician. Stops at scenic overlooks and in the cathedral square.
Puerto Vallarta
Skip it. Over-commercialized and overrated. Filled with shops that sell made in China trinkets.