My wife and I just returned (May 30, 2011) from a 10-day Alaskan cruise aboard the Sea Princess. This was our 10th Princess cruise. We have also cruised with Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Overall, we were disappointed. 1) The ship is getting a little long-of-tooth. For example, some shabbiness is apparent, and the internet cafe has such poor bandwidth that internet access is extremely slow and difficult. If you are paying for this service, you won't be happy. 2) Service gets worse with every Princess cruise we take. It's not that the staff doesn't work at it, but management sets the bar too low. The "Carnivalization" of Princess some years back started it all off. The automatic tip program encourages mediocrity, and has taken much of the incentive away from staff to "go the extra mile". Unreplenished tissue and missing towels were repeatedly a problem; personal property was damaged through carelessness. 3) The food is getting really bad. There has always been a big difference between the quality of the food in the "Lido Deck" (buffet) and the dining room. Now the quality of the food in the dining room is mostly fair-poor, and the quality of the food in the buffet is mostly poor-bad. Approximately 35% of the food served is inedible (stale, hard, dry, etc.), and an additional 45% is just of poor quality and taste. That only leaves about 20% of the food as acceptable. A few items within that 20% are quite good, but there are few of those. I have included in these categories breads and deserts. They tend to be in the 20% category...that is, unless they are among the "left-overs" from the previous day...which does seem to happen. For example, we both enjoyed eggs benedict one morning in the dining room. Two days later, we saw a tray of eggs benedict at the buffet. My wife, who is braver (or more foolish) decided she wanted to repeat her positive experience with the eggs benedict; well...it was not to be. The muffin was cold and hard, I saw her crumble it with her fingers. The egg was hard and plastic. The Hollandaise sauce was crusted and stuck-on. It was a horrible change of quality from two days previous . . . a good example of the current policy of utilizing "left-overs." The Alaska passenger-compliment was quite elderly. Perhaps for that reason, almost all the food was bland. The few exceptions were usually in the "quite good category" (pepper-pot soup, fresh chicken curry, etc.). The beef, lamb, turkey and pork were all quite tough and mostly tasteless. On our trip home after the cruise, we stopped for lunch at a chain-cafe we like. My wife and I each ordered green salad and hamburgers. The food was excellent. Much better than anything we had eaten during our 10-day cruise...our meat actually tasted like beef! 4) The mattresses (or some of them) need replacement. Not only are they 2nd rate in style (what, no pillow-top?), but they, like the ship, are a little long-of-tooth. 5) Ship sanitation...what can I say, Sea Princess was hard-hit by Norovirus this trip. My wife and I had never experienced the "adventure" of this illness before. I would rather not again. My case was quite mild, by my poor wife really suffered. The "haz-mat" folks were in every cabin-corridor. The doctor did show up promptly after we called (in response to a public-service announcement); but of course, he charged for the treatment. My wife was confined to her cabin for 24 hours on penalty of abandonment at the next port. Staff then modified some of their public practices to help prevent infection...crew members handled food-service utensils at the buffet, alcohol-rub was "mandated" (but poorly so) before we could enter the dining room or buffet, etc. Shouldn't this be the default? My wife started calling it the "poison buffet"; somewhat vitriolic, yes...but she is entitled to her opinions. Public restrooms were sometimes neglected and poorly stocked with toilet paper and such (especially the ones in the vicinity of the theater). And those got quite a workout with so much Noro on board! While awaiting luggage return and departure, my wife saw two large trucks delivering additional medical supplies to the ship. Prudent of course; but would you want your family aboard on the following voyage? 6) The ship's itinerary was known ahead of time, of course; but HoonahVillage/Icy Point...really? And only a few hours in Victoria? Of course, to those suffering from Norovirus, the ports of call were somewhat irrelevant. While we love to cruise, Sea Princess did disappoint.Some further thoughts:Regarding Norovirus: One suggestion I would/will give Princess is to implement Norovirus prevention techniques 100% of the time. Whether the virus was previously on board (as the lightening-fast spread of contamination may infer), or brought on board with new passengers, this is a predictable issue for any ship. In my opinion, passengers should never be allowed to handle food-service utensils. Using known anti-noro procedures aboard every-ship, every-time, would be a good business practice; and go a long way towards prevention of illness...and it's certainly little enough to ask of a cruise line like Princess.Princess was "reported" to the CDC about this issue.Regarding the food: Bountiful buffets, fabulous food, and regal restaurants are reasons some folks choose to go on a cruise. Depending on your point of view and life-style, you may or may not be disappointed with current cruise practices. Gone from Princess are the midnight buffets with the fabulous decorations and special chef creations. And, sadly, gone is most of the tasty food. This seems to be an industry trend, we have noticed the steady degradation of food-service and food-quality for several years. Once-upon-a-time, there were "fabulous midnight buffets". These buffets contained ice-sculptures and food-sculptures made from icing, fruits, and such. Passengers were treated to artistic displays of sea-animals and fish, prepared by creative chefs using food and garnish. Passengers were strongly encouraged to come to the buffet to photograph the art, even if they weren't hungry. The food and displays were all edible, and all good. That devolved into plastic sculptures with paste... moulded to look like food. These "food-sculptures" were apparently stored and then dusted-off and reused for each succeeding cruise. I recall one cruise on Royal Caribbean where the fellow in front of me licked the paste-sculpture...yuck! Princess used to do a "baked Alaska" march in the dining room one night during each cruise. The dining room lights would dim, and the waiters, assistant waiters and maitre d' would proudly parade though the dining room carrying actual flaming baked Alaska deserts. Immediately afterwards, the baked Alaska would be a desert choice. On this May, 2011 Princess cruise to Alaska, the "baked Alaska" carried (in a lack-luster, desultory fashion) by a reduced complement of waiters, etc., was clearly not food. Perched on top was what appeared to be a battery-operated orange light-bulb to simulate flames. Care to partake?Like caviar? I don't, but my wife does. Don't look for it anymore on Princess. Time was when Princess offered 3 kinds: red, black and golden. And for "free", with every meal. Early on, Princess dining included Maitre d' table-side cooking of pasta, caesar salad, etc. We still talk about the pasta quattro formaggio we enjoyed on an early Princess cruise. It was great! Not available anymore.It used to be that cruise lines would offer free escorted ship tours of the "working areas", including the bridge and kitchens. No longer on Princess. Pay-to-view only; and since I did not participate, I cannot critique the tour.There is also an increasing trend to "nickle-and-dime" passengers for many services and food-items that used to be free. The main-theater entertainment is now usually repeated two-nights running, instead of being fresh daily. Small, but distinct differences.Back in the day, the stateroom steward would see my wife coming down the corridor from a day-ashore shopping. The steward would rush to open the door for her and help with packages. Remember the folded-towel bunnies? Artfully arranged pillows? Don't look for those cute touches any longer.Don't get me wrong, cruising is still a "good" experience. It allows you to plop your stuff in one place, and have the ship transport you to your chosen destinations. Just be aware that what you experience may not be as "magnificent" (cruise lines like to use that word to describe their product) as it once was. My first Princess cruise to Alaska (this was my 3rd) was far, far different...and need I say, better.Will I cruise again, sure...but with increasingly reduced expectations. Bon voyage! Oh, one other thing about the Norovirus. Some folks are just not going to report their sickness. I called on my wife's behalf. I didn't mention my symptoms to the doctor, because while present, they were very, very minor. I am not even 100% sure that I actually had noro, perhaps I just had "food poisoning" (but, boy did my wife get it!!). And the doctor was already treating my wife. Maybe passengers don't report because they don't want to be confined to their cabin, or maybe because they don't want to pay for the doctor. Once you're sick, there's not that much they can do for you. And, of course, the folks who got sick after arriving home aren't likely to report. This situation (becoming sick after returning home) argues that the norovirus (according to the CDC, the incubation period for norovirus-associated gastroenteritis in humans is usually between 24 and 48 hours) was "alive and well" far into the cruise. This means Princess sanitation practices were less than perfect. At the very least, Princess should re-examine their sanitation procedures...don't they owe that to their passengers? My wife and I have cruised many times, and I cannot recall ever posting a review anywhere before. This time, I'll use more formatting!Regarding Norovirus: One suggestion I would/will (comments are apparently solicited by email) give Princess is to implement Norovirus prevention techniques 100% of the time. Whether the virus was previously on board (as the lightening-fast spread of contamination may infer), or brought on board with new passengers, this is a predictable issue for any ship. In my opinion, passengers should NEVER be allowed to handle food-service utensils. Using known anti-noro procedures aboard every-ship, every-time, would be a good business practice; and go a long way towards prevention of illness...and it's certainly little enough to ask of a cruise line like Princess.Regarding the food: Bountiful buffets, fabulous food, and regal restaurants are reasons some folks choose to go on a cruise. Depending on your point of view and life-style, you may or may not be disappointed with current cruise practices. Gone from Princess are the midnight buffets with the fabulous decorations and special chef creations. And, sadly, gone is most of the tasty food. This seems to be an industry trend, we have noticed the steady degradation of food-service and food-quality for several years. Once-upon-a-time, there were "fabulous midnight buffets". These buffets contained ice-sculptures and food-sculptures made from icing, fruits, and such. Passengers were treated to artistic displays of sea-animals and fish, prepared by creative chefs using food and garnish. Passengers were strongly encouraged to come to the buffet to photograph the art, even if they weren't hungry. The food and displays were all edible, and all good. That devolved into plastic sculptures with paste... moulded to look like food. These "food-sculptures" were apparently stored and then dusted-off and reused for each succeeding cruise. I recall one cruise on Royal Caribbean where the fellow in front of me licked the paste-sculpture...yuch! Princess used to do a "baked Alaska" march in the dining room one night during each cruise. The dining room lights would dim, and the waiters, assistant waiters and maitre d' would proudly parade though the dining room carrying actual flaming baked Alaska deserts. Immediately afterwards, the baked Alaska would be a desert choice. On this May, 2011 Princess cruise to Alaska, the "baked Alaska" carried (in a lack-luster, desultory fashion) by a reduced complement of waiters, etc., was clearly not food. Perched on top was what appeared to be a battery-operated orange light-bulb to simulate flames. Care to partake?Like caviar? I don't, but my wife does. Don't look for it anymore on Princess. Time was when Princess offered 3 kinds: red, black and golden. And for "free", with every meal. Early on, Princess dining included Maitre d' table-side cooking of pasta, caesar salad, etc. We still talk about the pasta quattro formaggio we enjoyed on an early Princess cruise. It was great! Not available anymore.It used to be that cruise lines would offer free escorted ship tours of the "working areas", including the bridge and kitchens. No longer on Princess. Pay-to-view only; and since I did not participate, I cannot critique the tour.There is also an increasing trend to "nickle-and-dime" passengers for many services and food-items that used to be free. The main-theater entertainment is now usually repeated two-nights running, instead of being fresh daily. Small, but distinct differences.Back in the day, the stateroom steward would see my wife coming down the corridor from a day-ashore shopping. The steward would rush to open the door for her and help with packages. Remember the folded-towel bunnies? Artfully arranged pillows? Don't look for those cute touches any longer.Don't get me wrong, cruising is still a "good" experience. It allows you to plop your stuff in one place, and have the ship transport you to your chosen destinations. Just be aware that what you experience may not be as "magnificent" (cruise lines like to use that word to describe their product) as it once was. My first Princess cruise to Alaska (this was my 3rd) was far, far different...and need I say, better.Will I cruise again, sure...but with increasingly reduced expectations. Bon voyage! Oh, one other thing about the Norovirus. Some folks are just not going to report their sickness. I called on my wife's behalf. I didn't mention my symptoms to the doctor, because while present, they were very, very minor. I am not even 100% sure that I actually had noro, perhaps I just had "food poisoning" (but, boy did my wife get it!!). And the doctor was already treating my wife. Maybe passengers don't report because they don't want to be confined to their cabin, or maybe because they don't want to pay for the doctor. Once you're sick, there's not that much they can do for you. And, of course, the folks who got sick after arriving home aren't likely to report. This situation (becoming sick after returning home) argues that the norovirus (according to the CDC, the incubation period for norovirus-associated gastroenteritis in humans is usually between 24 and 48 hours) was "alive and well" far into the cruise. This means Princess sanitation practices were less than perfect. At the very least, Princess should re-examine their sanitation procedures...don't they owe that to their passengers?