Arrived in Seattle the day before the cruise, and of course, went to Pike's Place Market. Seattle is a great city, and I enjoyed my time there. Arrived at the pier at 11:45 and was in my stateroom by 12:30. This was my first cruise alone, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Had traditional dining, and was lucky enough to have great tablemates. Our waiter and his assistant were very attentive, and we never had to ask for anything. My stateroom was kept clean, ice bucket kept filled, and clean towels provided. I don't ask for anything more from my cabin steward. I really don't need or care if I have towel animals on my bed. Enjoyed all the ports. Did the helicopter tour to the Mendenhall Glacier. I also did the train ride tour with Chillkoot tours, and it was great. Our guide, James, did an excellent job of giving us historical tidbits, showing us some wildlife, and was a font of stories that kept us entertained. Not enough time in Victoria, but the Monte Cristo coffee in the Empress Hotel was worth the trip. Now the ship - While the ship itself was clean and well-kept, some things have gone downhill since my first Princess cruise 6 years ago. Entertainment - I only went to 2 shows, mainly because there wasn't much variety. The entertainment staff didn't seem to have much enthusiasm. Most of the day-time things (flower arranging/cooking demo and galley tour) are mainly opportunities to sell stuff. On my last cruise, even the Captain's Party was all about pushing more Princess cruises. I didn't go this time. Staff - Most of the staff I interacted with were very good. One bartender didn't seem very interested in providing service, but she was the only one I encountered with that attitude. Food - My biggest disappointment was the food. In the main dining room, there was not much on the menu to spark an appetite. One night, my waiter even apologized because my entree was so small. It was good, but there wasn't much of it. The Horizon Court buffet was almost a joke. The original buffet area was split it half, with the same food on both sides. Breakfast wasn't too bad, but the one night I had dinner there, nothing even looked appetizing. I am not a picky eater, but most of the food looked like it had been sitting there all day. The cheeseburgers and the pizza were good. On my last Princess cruise, I noticed a change in the quality and quantity of the food, but didn't think much of it at the time. However, this seems to be the trend they're taking. All in all, I had a great time. I will cruise with Princess again, if only to give them another chance. If it isn't any better (or gets worse), I'll switch to another cruise line. Personally, I think that if you're lucky enough to be on a cruise, you're lucky enough. If you're looking for something to complain about, you'll find it; but if you go with a good attitude, you'll probably enjoy yourself, no matter what.