Being a long time Princess Cruise customer I was astonished by the relaxed attitude aboard the Island Princess. Rating it against other Princess cruises I have been on I would think each to be of the same energy. However, it soon became clear that the energy level of Island Princess was a bit below the other vessels I've been on. First to notice was the lack of presence of the cruise director. Pretty much the only thing I saw of him was the wake show. Not much in the way of announcements or presence at what events there were aboard the ship. Next thing to notice was that some of the drinks advertised were not actually available. Some siting a supply to the bar problem. But this seemed to be a problem throughout the bars on the vessel. One server even said that someone was off ship to purchase more. I guess that mission was a failure. It should also be noted that we left an hour late when the cruise started because they weren't done loading supplies onboard. Next was the entertainment. Entertainment was good but should be noted that some shows ended earlier than they were suppose to. For the buffet..... it appears they serve the same thing everyday in a small buffet area. So if you're on a full ship good luck finding a table and making it through the mayhem of people filling their plates. I recommend eating in one of the dining rooms where it's less hectic. Plus they seem more attentive there. Lastly and important to me is the Fitness center. Yes they have one. But prepare for some disappointment. The equipment is old and questionable. I like to exercise but I also like to keep my limbs intact. Plus if you like a view there is none there. It is all enclosed (no windows). The only positive thing I have to say is that the excursions are great. So if none of what I said prior to the excursions doesn't bother you then yes this cruise is for you. If you got a discount price then prepare for discount service. If you paid full price then my heart goes out to you. So if you're looking for the full circle package.... you might want to try another cruise line if you're looking to do Panama Canal. As for myself I plan to steer clear of Island Princess from now on. Good luck on your cruise search and I hope it to be everything you expect!