Emerald Princess Review
Rating by category
Additional details
I have been on Princess cruises in the past, before Covid, so will detail the differences brought about by Covid precautions.
This cruise took place at a transitional point in the post-Covid/Omicron resumption. There were about 1600 passengers on board, half of the normal capacity. Three days into the cruise, per a change in CDC recommendations, the rules changed from masks required in all public spaces when not eating or drinking to masks required in the theater and casino only, and recommended in congested spaces. I would have preferred that the required spaces still included the elevators. At half capacity, the theater and dining rooms were not too crowded, except at bottlenecks in the buffet. Elevators did get crowded despite signs suggesting a maximum of six passengers, but at least waiting for elevators was usually not as long as it had been with a full passenger load.
The crew remained masked at all times, except for entertainment - performers and lecturers.
Cabin Review
Balcony
The cabin was the usual well laid out, functional design I expect from Princess. The only chair was the desk chair. One change since my last Princess cruise back around 2012 was that the tube television in the corner of the room above the mini-fridge has been replaced with a much larger wall mounted flat screen opposite the bed. The shelf the old TV had sat on became a handy place to put things used daily like face masks, sunscreen, hats, backpack, etc. Possibly more useful is the electrical outlet the old TV used. It is one of only three in the room (not counting the shaver-only outlet in the bathroom) and the only one that accepts a phone charger cube without partially covering a light switch. Because of Medallion Class, another change since 2012, you now use your phone while onboard and need to charge your phone.