We chose this cruise because we had already been onboard for 30 nights and we just couldn’t face packing and going home, plus we wanted to take another stab at exploring Manzanillo and getting ridiculously good tacos at Tacos Gardenias in Cabo San Lucas. This proved to be an excellent strategy.

The trip was similar to the sailing of 12/17, but with the advantage of fewer guests and new and improved guest entertainers and enrichment lecturers. Further, as a result of a Princess corporate mandate, all indoor smoking was banned, including in the casino and cigar lounge. Fresh air is a good thing and being able to play a few fruit machines without smelling like an ashtray makes for a nice diversion.

Precautionary isolation of some highly-visible crew members did happen, including the cruise director. His very talented entertainment director filled in, however, and one might never be the wiser. The cruise staff filled in with karaoke instead of the missing pop band, who was de-isolated for the second half of the cruise. Read more