We choose this cruise to get to the sunny warmer weather out of our cold snowy north. And we chose Regent since we had never sailed on her and loved the idea of everything included like drinks, excursions, wifi on four devices and specialty restaurants and all said to be upscale! In spite of some bumpy weather which they very nicely and adroitly changed two of our ports for our safety it was a great cruise! And they certainly cannot control the weather but they handled it very well. We actually loved our free excursion in Martinique(a substitute port) to the beautiful rainforest gardens. And who does not like St. Thomas for shopping?! The food was above any I have ever experienced....and we have cruised many. Oceania was my top one for food before and this beat them out too! The service was great too....if any problem they were wanting to fix. We were not in a Penthouse Suite we were in Concierge so had no butler and we still loved our service. And the cabin itself....bigger than any before and I loved the walkin closet and the bathroom with both bathtub and walk in shower. And the balcony....I lived out there on the chaise lounge and the size of the balcony we could have had a party out there. Room service was excellent too; right on time and delicious. I loved the aromatic steam room in the fitness center area and did the workouts and then the steam room and then the showers....sitting out by the Infiniti Pool was great at the back of the ship too! The special restaurants were like going out to an elegant restaurant with so many selections. And even in the Compass Rose the main dining room you could almost have any type of entree you desired...you could actually build your own meal instead of just picking from a few. I like this alot! And the food was excellent. We liked our Champagne and Lobster excursion, also the Whale and Dolphin Safari, and the Garden Rainforest mentioned above. These were all free! So comparing to my previous 25 years of cruising this was over the top. By the time you add up all that you are getting for free including the hotel Conrad in Miami precruise, the excursions, the wifi, the premium drinks, the restaurants....it might be a tad more but it was a totally different experience. I loved it. I also liked the block party where you met your neighbors and had champagne, apps and the captain and some of the crew swept by too.... Read Less

We went down on the 10 day To Barbados as a nice warm area there. We liked the time of year in January to escape the snows at home. Princess has good reviews and the cruise and food was great! We ate one night in the steak house and it was great and only cost an extra $28. Apiece and an excellent meal! All of the dinners in the main dining room were great every night! A good menu with a wide variety of selections and every night a new menu was very nice! The dining service was superb by our waiter Joel! Don’t buy the bar drink package it is overpriced at $700. Apiece and you can’t share it. No way could we have drank the 15 drink a days it offered! Our whole bar bill for 2 of us was less than that! And do bring on your own case of water and 2 bottles of wine for your room. I don’t like paying $2. Plus for bottles of water 5x a day! The spa was great I had several massages and Mildred the masseuse is the best! The daily lectures were very good to by staff. The fitness center was great and Igor the trainer was great! Very few come to the classes and it was really worth buying the class card as you get individual attention and training! The fitness center and spa are very clean to! The stateroom was very clean and twice daily service was very nice! Our steward Joel on the Emerald deck was great and the best ever! Since our cruise could not stop at 3 ports due to bad weather then Princess gave everyone a 35 percent credit off next cruise to use within a year. I thought this was very nice of them! I will definitely cruise with Princess again the service and food was superb! Read Less

Went with my spouse and really enjoyed the new ship. This was out third Celebrity cruise, first on the Edge and probably about 7th or 8th trip on any line. Check-in was a breeze but traffic in the port was probably about fifteen minutes once you turned off the main road. We got stuck behind someone at the guard shack who forgot their license and they had to call over a trooper to verify the details of his identity so that was likely a large part of the delay. The cabin was nice. We had the infinite veranda and loved it, though I could see how if it was hot outside it might not be as comfortable. The hottest it got was about 85 and in the sun, it felt a little like a greenhouse by the window. The pull down shade is tops and eliminates the heat problem, as well of course any view. One problem we had with the room was there was a noisy panel by the window that would creak and pop in the seas. We asked the attendant about it and he was like, "Yeah that's not normal" and someone from engineering came about n hour later but we were already in port and he couldn't locate the noise. A couple days later on the last sea day he came in and was able to drive a screw into the panel between the outside and inside window which stopped the clicking sound so if you have what you think is a noisy cabin don't wait like we did, and ask right away for help addressing it. I gathered we were not the first to get the screw in the window treatment. The nightly entertainment shows were great. The theater is probably the coolest theater I've seen on a ship and the entertainers were top notch singers and dancers. The costuming was at times a little weird to me and the Midsummer night show was just confusing and hard to follow (but mostly about the dancing and performing anyway so still enjoyable). Read Less

There was a lot of gray hair on this cruise, including my own. The ship was prepared for the cruisers with the selection of music played throughout the ship, both live and canned, were age appropriate . There were two levels of adult only pool areas, one free and for a fee. The best part was the minimum announcements. Due to location, we have cruised mostly with Carnival, but no more. The Carnival CD's (and those on RCCL and NCL) make too many sales pitches under the guise of information. The food on Lido was very good including my favorites Indian and Mexican. The bread/rolls were also excellent, hard on the outside and soft in the middle. Entertainment included only one comedian, wished for more, and a Beatles Mania show. Both were great, Come early to get a seat. The stateroom, beyond the usual, had a 46" LCD TV, not only that, it had live TV shows and recorded TV shows and movies for free! After a hard day of eating and lounging in the sun, it was a pleasure to be a couch potato for a few hours. Service was excellent, keep up the great job Denchai, our cabin steward. Embarkation and disembarkation smooth and at least 40 minutes ahead of schedule. Read Less

The wait for this ship was worth it. You definitely will not feel claustrophobic on the Encore. Getting on the ship in Miami was a breeze. We were welcomed by the crew with sparkling smiles. We headed to the dinning room for lunch, Taste. Service was good and the food was presented beautifully. We then explored the ship. Went up to the Observation deck which was unbelievable. They have comfy sitting areas with couches, lounge couches and chairs. There is a beautiful bar that makes a darn good drink. They also serve snacks in the daytime and light breakfast in the am. It’s a very quiet place for relaxing with beautiful views of the ocean. There are many venues for entertainment. The Cavern, Q(Country Western) Atrium, Mojito Bar, BrewHouse, and more. Kinky Boots was a show not to be missed, along with Choir of Man. We didn’t eat in the Buffet that often, but when we did it was always clean and servers willing to help in any way. I will say we thought the desserts on the ship were weak(nothing special). We did have breakfast and late snacks at the Local. Great breakfast options, warm pretzels and cheese dip, chili salads hot dog etc. We also ate at LeBistro, Ocean Blue Los Lobos, Q and Cagney. My least favorite was Q and my favorite was LeBistro. The Pool area does get congested and there are plenty of chair hogs. I did see security remove towels from chairs that were not occupied for a while. We looked at Laser at Tag, Virtual Gallery and the Race Cars, but did not do them, but looked like much fun. Go see Bong at the Mojito Bar, he makes the best Raspberry Guava Mojito ever. Three cheers for the Hotel Director Marc. The ship was beautiful then entire staff was amazing. Have been on many NCL cruises and by far I think this is my new favorite next to the Escape. Want to cruise again on the Encore. Read Less

The prospect of visiting South America and cruising the Chilean Fjords was something we had on our bucket list. This was our second cruise on the Éclipse and fourth Celebrity cruise. Embarkation: took a Port transfer with Vasalfa Turismo from our hotel the 4 Points Sheraton in Providencia, Santiago to Valparaiso for a tour and then onto the Port of San Antonio. Our guides Christian and Ashton were excellent and ensured our personal safety and our luggage was secure. Check in was quick, note all passengers had to surrender their passports at check in. Passports were returned to all passengers later in the cruise. The Port of San Antonio and Celebrity need to design another gangway, as this one was too steep and supported by sea containers as a base. Ports : Puerto Montt, Chile is a tender port. Tendering was ok overall. Booked our own tour at the Pier, went to Petrohue Rapids and the Chilean Lake District with a stop in Puerto Varas. Two sea days were next where we cruised through the Chilean Fjords & The Straits of Magellan. A third sea day was added due to inclement weather conditions in the South Pacific Ocean, which resulted in the cancellation of our next Port of Punta Arenas, Chile. The ship rocked and swayed all night as Captain Michael let the storm system pass ahead of the Éclipse. Cruised past Glacier Avenue at 0430 am. Our stateroom was on deck 8, port side and were treated to scenic views of the Glaciers as daylight started at 0425 am. Arranged a private tour of Tierra Del Fuego National Park. Cruised around Cape Horn at 0600 am under cold, windy grey conditions. Cruise Director Alejandro and guest speaker Alan Riles narrated our passage and the history of Cape Horn. After another sea day we docked in Puerto Madryn, Argentina. Took a Celebrity excursión to Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery. This is a 2 1/2 hour coach ride each way through the rugged Patagonian country side. Because of the cancelled port we docked in Montevideo, Uruguay over night. Explored the city on foot and took taxis with no issues. Our final port was Buenos Aires, Argentina where we over nighted. The ship docks about a 15 minute coach ride to the cruise terminal. Dining : Ocean View was very busy on sea days and ran out of items towards the end of the cruise. Cafe Al Bacio is good spot to relax and chat, ran out of speciality teas by day 10. Moonlight Sonata main dining room was ok, a good option for lunch on sea days. Celebrity should update the menus ad we had the same items on two Med. Cruises . The chefs also need to cut back on the heavy use of salt. Main of note was the lamb in pastry, best of the cruise. The Kobe beef meatloaf ranks as the most unappealing main we have been served, grey thin slice of something soft and mushy, I took a small bite and ordered another main. Service in the main dining room was off overall. Premium drink package was good ad was the wine and beverage service. Cabin Attendant Alfred got to know our schedule and took care of us and our requests. Overall staff were attentive, polite and greeted passengers through out the ship. Entertainment was good, the high light was the Tango show on our last night. Cruise Director Alejandro was funny and active through out the cruise. Tip: take clothing for 80F to 40F, warm socks, toques, layers, comfortable foot wear, rain gear. Only about 25 percent of male passengers wore jackets on Chic Nights. Disembarkation went smoothly and orderly. Read Less

This is the second time we have travelled on Celebrity Solstice, and again, we had a faultless experience. We travelled with another couple, so we experienced both the suite and a balcony cabin. Accommodation: The balcony cabin was big enough, with enough storage space for everything, the bathroom was compact but storage space was good. Everything in the cabin was pristinely clean and well maintained. The suite was excellent, spacious, well maintained and better than the suites we stayed in on 2 other cruise lines last year. Food: We could not fault any of the food, we ate in the buffet and found there to be an excellent selection of various cuisines. We went there a few times as there was a great variety, and we enjoyed everything we ate. Breakfast can be very busy, also lunch, choose your times and there won't be an issue. Again, compared to the other 2 cruise lines we travelled with last year there was no comparison, the other cruise line buffets we ate at were dreadful and we simply couldn't eat there. Interesting to read other reviews where people complain of the food on the Solstice, not sure if they were even on the same ship. Sushi on five was great, we tried a lot of things on the menu and really enjoyed everything we ate. The ramen noodles were the only thing that we found not to be outstanding, however the broth was delicious. Murano is our favourite, and we went there twice, the food is excellent, the ambience and the wait staff there are also excellent. Petit Chef is a new concept which you really have to experience to understand it. It is a set menu with the whole table being animated, and an interactive dinner experience. We all loved it and were pleased we went. Food was also excellent. Crew: Everyone on board was fantastic, nothing was a problem and everyone we encountered was professional, friendly and efficient. Shore excursions: We did our own thing; however, the tendering was extremely efficient and again we were very impressed. The ship: Beautifully maintained, everything is kept looking good, we were surprised as other reviews differed in this respect. Not sure what people are expecting, but we found it excellent. Our friends had not been on a cruise before and loved everything about the ship, service, food etc. We were discussing on our last night what faults we could find, and there were none. There are loads of places to hang out, we spent a lot of our time on the lawn club. Yes, this is real grass on the top deck, lovely to sit on, watch movies, have a drink and just relax. The shows we went to were great, the comedian, the illusionist and the show on the last night was fantastic. This is a well-oiled machine, and anyone with complaints I would seriously wonder what the issue is. We did meet one guy on the cruise who didn't enjoy it, because another passenger didn't greet him in the lift. Wondering if people bring their own issues with them and take it out on the cruise line. Comparing the experience we had with some of the reviews, doesn't corelate at all. As previous, we travelled with 2 other cruise lines last year, been on 3 Celebrity cruises, and would not cruise again with anyone else, as nothing is comparable. The food, the suites, the service, everything is outstanding with Celebrity and the Solstice is a beautiful ship. So will we go again? Absolutely! Read Less

This was our second trip to the Mexican Riviera. As before, Princess offers superb service to everyone. Our excursions were great, and I must mention that we visited Salsa and Salsa in Mazatlan for the second time and it was great again! We don't get excited about the singing and dancing shows, but the Brent and Sarah magic show was good and A. J. Jamal was hilarious both nights. We could have seen his show every night. The piano crooner was not as good as before (A. J. Clarke is phenomenal), but Crooners bar has excellent service. The Cruise Director, Marcus, was a hoot and was readily available for questions, a quick chat, or a friendly wave. Very high energy. Embarkation and disembarkation were both highly organized and quick. Very classy ship, service, and meals. Our waiters were also phenomenal and we missed them as soon as we left. We would definitely go again, and we will always choose Princess. Read Less

My husband and I had a GREAT time on Carnival Vista. We set sail the first week in January, after New Years. I had heard quite a few things about Carnival being dirty or being the ships that get people sick; I'll address these further below. TIP - Our overnight stay at the Harbour House in Galveston was lovely. The location allowed me to watch the Vista come in to port that morning! I'm a very excited cruiser, so I was tracking it all morning and LEAPT out of bed to watch it pass. It passes VERY CLOSE to the hotel and what an epic view! Highly recommend Harbour House! Embarkation was very smooth. LOVELY people working at the Galveston Terminal. We were 20 minutes early for our 1-1:30 boarding time, so we got in that line and didn't wait on anything except for a few minutes to get our carry on bags scanned by security. We were on the ship in no time! You enter into the atrium and yes, it is underwhelming. It's just very closed in and that thing in the middle with the videos playing on it is a little lame. Our rooms were ready right away, so we went to 7459 - a Havana aft wrap balcony. GREAT room. Several large windows, plenty of space, good closet size and your average bathroom. My only complaints are that it is difficult for two people to get into the closet area at one time and there are no outlets near the bed on either side. From the balcony we could see our exclusive access hot tubs and pools. This is WORTH every penny of the upcharge. About my earlier dirty comment, the only dirty thing I saw on the ship were the panels in the guard rails along the Havana hot tubs and pools. I had dreamt of lounging in the pool and looking out into the gulf, but these see through (plexi-glass, glass?) panels were quite filthy and tinted which obstructed the potentially epic view. Service in the Havana is fantastic, the drinks are great, there are Havana towels in your room AND at the pool. Plenty of seating but the best lounge chairs did fill up early. The pool was never quite warm enough, but thats what I get for leaving from Galveston in January. My husband and I took this trip for both of our birthdays which are the same week. On our first full sea day, my birthday, we did EVERYTHING. There is so much to do on this ship that we couldn't believe it was only the first day and that we'd have more to do the rest of the week! Our last cruise was on the Norwegian Bliss and while it was very beautiful and relaxing, compared to the Vista it was boring and absolutely lacking a cruise director presence. Schwartz is the best! Fun, relatable, hilarious and EVERYWHERE. Works so hard and loves what he's doing. Overall, food was quite good. I LOVED Blue Iguana, Guys Burgers and the steakhouse. Just OK was the pizza and main dining room but both better than I'd expected. The buffet on the other hand was awful. We tried to eat there twice and gave up after just a few bites. This brings me to the sickness point. People, wash your hands before you touch tongs and serve-ware that other people coming behind you are going to touch. I watched the majority of passengers just walk right by hand sanitizer and the hand washing station. On Norwegian, this area was monitored by a very friendly person who sang you a song about the importance of washing on a cruise ship, and I'd say 95% would wash. On the Vista, washing is an afterthought as evidenced by the very few actual washing stations vs hand sanitizing stations. My husband and I played quite a few table games and entered tournaments in the casino, both winning invitations to the next round on a future cruise! We had a great time at the tables with Nikita, Richmond and Lucas especially. In the Red Frog Pub, Shakira was excellent. Our room steward, Ron, was a delight and quick. Service overall was pretty good. Shore excursions... eh. We found our own way in Mahogany Bay to a monkey sanctuary. There we got to play with a few monkeys, see other monkeys, birds and butterflies and... HOLD A SLOTH. The sloth was adorable and so huggable. Other than that, MB is a lackluster port. In Belize we went to see the ruins - great experience. Getting to the ruins is a haul (over an hour bus ride, 30 minute boat ride) and the tour guides were slightly annoying in the way they explained what we were seeing, asking rhetorical questions often and slowing down getting to the point. The ruins themselves were spectacular. In Cozumel we had another ruins tour scheduled but after doing it the previous day and not wanting to spend a huge amount of time on a bus again, we switched tours for a catamaran sail and snorkel plus beach party. GREAT EXCURSION. The crew on this catamaran were top notch. Beer and margaritas were free on the boat and at the beach. On the boat, the crew were constantly making sure your cup was full. It was a very party atmosphere with drinks, music and dancing. The snorkeling was very refreshing and the water and fish were beautiful. The beach party was relaxing and fun with many water obstacles to slide down and jump off of, and more drinks. Food was extra, but we did not partake having had lunch at the port earlier. Cozumel was by far the most fun, party vibe port. Debarkation was a bit of a cluster but mainly due to people not understanding or paying attention to the system and announcements. We weren't in a rush so we waited on deck 10 with a pizza and soft serve! I would absolutely cruise Carnival again in the Havana AND with Schwartz! Read Less

We booked this cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary. We have cruised with Princess before, and again ,we were not disappointed. This ship was absolutely beautiful , the entertainment was great, and the service was second to none. We really enjoyed Eating at the complimentary Alfredo’s Pizzeria ,sit down restaurant, There were many delicious food options to choose from at the Horizon Buffet , and the dining room experience is always our favourite. The piazza provides a perfect area to relax and enjoy some live entertainment while enjoying a sweet treat or drink . Using the ocean medallion was very convenient and we enjoyed this option. Embarkation was much easier and faster using this option. We found that The crew were friendly and very helpful. They were very efficient ,especially considering how new this ship is, We enjoyed everything about this ship ! We would certainly rebook a cruise with this ship. Read Less

Two years ago Windstar announced the plan to stretch the Star ships increasing the guest capacity from 210 guests to 310 guests. We love the small size and hope that the increase in size doesn’t change the friendly atmosphere on the ship. We looked forward to another small ship experience before the scheduled stretch. Ship is still beautiful. The gorgeous woodwork, marble bathrooms, and spacious suites are exquisite. There are some signs of wear. Most annoying was the missing sun umbrellas on decks 7 and 8. On previous cruises, there were lots of umbrellas to provide shade. This cruise had only one. We were told that the umbrellas blew away or broke. They are to be replaced. Certainly hope that there will be more shade areas on the stretched ship. Service was superb. Food was delicious. We chose to sit at same table each night for dinner. Our waiter, Melkih, remembered us from previous cruises on the Breeze. He was excellent. We enjoyed the BBQs, beach parties, music by the duos, excursions, etc. we enjoyed the yacht club. Still wish that the yacht club would serve coffee/tea after dinner. The ports were mostly small islands where the big ships don’t go. There wasn’t any big shows. The crew show was fun. Cruise was relaxing. We had a great time. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we had not visited most of these ports yet and Princess is our primary cruise line. We also wanted to experience Sky Princess, since it's the newest ship we have ever cruised. We enjoyed it greatly. It's a beautiful ship. We had hired Victor Rosales of Mahahaul EcoTours for a day of birding in Costa Maya. We went to several different areas and saw some colorful species that were new to us. Victor also included a delicious lunch at a little beach-side cafe in Mahahual. He is well-trained, educated and experienced and speaks fluent English as well as his native Spanish. He also does other types of tours as well, specializing in small groups. I would be happy to use Victor again anytime. While in Cozumel, we took the Princess excursion to Tulum. Our tour guide, Marco Polo, was great and quite informative. While in Roatan, we contacted Jensen Wesley and he drove us to the Carambola Gardens as well as Sandy Bay where I was able to do some great snorkeling. We enjoyed being off the beaten track there so it was not crowded with people. Jensen was very helpful and we were lucky to connect with him. Sky Princess is a bit larger ship than we usually book but it did not feel crowded most of the time. However, anytime dining did have long waits if one went to dinner after about 6:00pm, which we usually do. Food in all venues was excellent. We did not use the specialty restaurants. Our balcony stateroom was super and even though quite forward, ship motion was very minimal. Captain Tuvo of Sky Princess is a real treat too. The fitness room is well equipped. The casino is good and has a computerized Texas Holdem table that made for some good poker games. The Medallion system worked well on board although we did not download the app for use on our phones. The ship's internet was the fastest we have ever used on a cruise. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we had been on a Viking River Cruise the previous year and really enjoyed it. Viking had the best ratings. Almost everything about the trip was wonderful. The ship was beautiful, staff was super friendly and helpful. The stateroom was exceptionally comfortable and well designed so that there was plenty of closet and drawer space. The ship was also very clean and well maintained. The food at all the restaurants was also excellent. With the Chef's Table being the best. Even the buffet restaurant was the best we tasted anywhere, compared to other ships on which we have sailed. What was lacking was good entertainment. The cruise director, Brensley, did one excellent show. She had a beautiful voice. There were four other singers who did shows, and they were very amateurish. The resident historian was very knowledgeable, informative and interesting. The tours were interesting also, but we would have liked a little more time on our own in each port. All in all, it was a very enjoyable trip. Read Less

We travelled to Raja Ampat on Aqua Blu during January 2020 and it was the most magical holiday. My husband and I travelled on Aqua Aria a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and we were very excited when we read about the launch of Aqua Blu travelling through Raja Ampat as it has been on our bucket list of travels. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our holiday on Aqua Blu. The yacht was beautiful, the cabins were spacious and tastefully decorated, the daily meals that were prepared were delicious (the chef was very accommodating), the daily excursions were fun and the staff were friendly and hospitable. The daily snorkelling was spectacular and snorkelling with Manta's is a highlight. Our journey was a truly beautiful and memorable holiday of a lifetime. We look forward to doing a few more holidays with Aqua Expeditions and visiting Komdo Islands. Read Less

I think the empress of the seas is perfect for anyone looking for a smaller ship with a great itinerary. I think the only way you could be disappointed being on the empress of the seas is if you expect the big ship amenities. The ports of call were great food was amazing and shows were fun to watch. We stayed 2 nights in Miami Beach before the cruise and took an uber over to the terminal the morning of. Easy embarkation process. Really love the new app to help with embarkation and to explore the daily itinerary. The staff was some of the best I've ever gotten to cruise with and the ship was very well kept up for being the oldest ship in the fleet. The ship is small compared to any other ships I've been on however since its size there are fewer guests onboard so it all evens out. The ship shows its age and size in my opinion in some of the walkways in the dining room and theatre. They are very tight and not as accessible for older cruisers. We stayed in cabin 8167 which is an inside room. It was very small which is to be expected but It honestly was one of the most comfortable rooms I can remember being in. We really enjoyed the cabin. In all even though I do enjoy some of the features found on bigger ships we LOVED the empress of the seas. We always found a place to sit by the pool, dining room and at a show. I loved the small ship feel. The ship did feel old but It was never an issue. Read Less

Carnival Miracle did a great job and this was one of our favorite cruises. We've been on Royal Caribbean several times,and 5 on Carnival.The negative reviews made me weary,YET,they were proven to be sooo wrong. Embarkation was smooth. Service in all areas was great. Balcony Cabin was very clean,very comfortable beds,good towels. Food was awesome!! Main Dining Room did a fabulous job! Public areas were very clean and well maintained.Very cool decor thru out ship. Casino was fun and very large. Spa-The best massage ever had.(didnt go into port,so pampered myself all day) Good choices for music areas for which you can choose from. New Years Eve was sooo fun and festive-champagne was served,hats,etc,Live Music ! We will go back on the Carnival Miracle.(She'll be in dry-dock in Feb) Kudos to Carnival! Note-We love to cruise and fell blessed to be able to enjoy cruising. Ignore the negative reviews-so not fair,especially since we had over 15 to compare to. Hubby isnt easy to please,and was extremely content with all aspects of this cruise,and insisted I write our review. Read Less

So incredibly nice to leave from San Diego! We had a very relaxing time. If you are looking for negative you will find it. Staff was so nice and helpful. Food was good, we ate in dining room and buffet. We both found plenty to eat that we liked and a few things we did not. We enjoyed the salad bar and the pizza was delicious! My husband thought the gym was the nicest he has experienced on a ship.Embarkation was simple, organized, and efficient, debarkation was very quick as long as you listened to instructions and were patient. Cabin was nice, balcony for us was key to relaxation! We would definitely go with Carnival again. Variety of activities available onboard for all ages. We walked around Catalina and did not exit ship in Ensenada. Fun to watch people who did though! Yes, the ship was showing some wear and tear but the crew was working hard everyday to keep it clean. We have cruised Disney, Princess and Holland America. They all have pros and cons. I hope Carnival and other cruise lines continue departure from San Diego. OH if you like to have a straw with your cocktail you need to pack your own! ( or pay $6 for five straws ) Read Less

After cruising Alaska on Princess Cruise with friends many years ago, we (myself&Hubby)decide to take another opportunity and cruise again in December 2019 over the new year to cross the Panama Canal and start the new year and decade celebrating life onboard Island Princess. And glad am I, we did!!! Our experience was a 5star journey from the beginning ‘til the end. I will start with the embarkation in FortLauderdale where everything was well organized and we didn’t have to wait a minute(even if the cruise was fully booked).A tip to my fellow travelers:if you can, get to the port early to avoid crowds and long lines.We felt like VIP’s since we board the ship in less than 5minutes.Once we got to our room, everything is history because 10days have been filled with happy moments and great memories we will remember and share for a lifetime. For new year eve, all guests were spoiled with fine dining experience and later on the captain come down to greet and wish everyone onboard a Happy new year! and the champagne was flowing like a river.The party moved from inside to the deck outside where we did the countdown into the new decade together.Happy new year!!! Read Less

My husband and I booked last minute for this cruise. We literally had the last outside Jr.Suite. The room was clean and too comfortable:) We were greeted at IAH by the Carnival transfer represented (very pleasant) and organized. Comfortable one hour bus ride(took a nap). Arrived where our luggage was taken promptly to the ship. The smoothest check in no hassles. We were greeted with champagne as we boarded. At check in the representative advised us that the cabin and our bags will be ready the latest 3pm. While wait we could get lunch and more champagne.So many places to eat on board and all of it was great! Adinta Yulinda / team head waitress always had a smile on her face that you can tell was genuine. She is so personable and treated us with such kindness. We could wait to see her at dinner time her smile was so infectious. She has such a personality. Tinton Apriyanto Wijaksono / team waiter would swoop in and make sure we had what we needed from the bar and always with a warm smile. My husband enjoyed talking to him. He is a really nice person. Last but not least Manisha Pradhan/ asst. team waitress she completed the team. Simply an asset to the Carnival crew they worked seamlessly together. They made us feel that we were the only ones they were serving in a very busy dining room. The entire wait staff put on a dance performance in the dining that also included the guest everyone had a great time! Mario / Maitre D went out of his way to make sure he set my husband up with his beloved buttermilk every morning and evening with Nyoman Widyanata “Nata” for short at the Blue Iguana Catina. Mario always checked on us at dinner. We enjoyed exchanging stories of his culture and family. They made us feel like part of their family. TJ/ cruise director was so funny. The Punchliner Club was hilarious. The best comedy on land or sea. Not sure if this good or bad, but bartender knew my name and my drink, lol. Loved the specialty coffee shop (every morning and evening) did not miss Star****s at all. The 88 show dedicatedto Billy Joel was outstanding. I loved the Serenity area and adult only jacuzzis. I am really hlad we bought the “cheers package” really convenient. We also had the opportunity to meet Sylvia/ beverage operations supervisor. She is so knowledgeable and super individual. I am not a whiskey drinker, but my husband is. Sylvia invited us to the Mixology class and it was so much fun. I really enjoyed the class. The excursions were well worth it. We did the VIP Beach Escape in Cozumel definitely recommend it. In Belize we did the Mayan ruins and cruise that was a lot of fun and the guides were very informative. Lastly, in Mahogany Bay, Honduras we went to French Key Private beach. I would highly recommend this it was so relaxing with water sports if you wanted to do it or absolutely nothing. It is so beautiful. The crew was so welcoming. The cruise and crew are outstanding. This is not my first cruise and I am ready to book next year. Read Less

I’m new to cruising, so Princess was the 4th different line I’ve tried out, and it was by far my favorite I may be easy to please, but the medallion class is now my preferred way to cruise! The touchscreens near the elevators were easy to use and understand, I sincerely enjoyed being able to find my shipmates anywhere on the ship without having to keep cell phones on us. I was able to find out what activities were going on easily and make my selections. The shows were wonderful, Broadway quality, and we enjoyed four different shows during our cruise. Being able to order drinks poolside and have them delivered to us, rather than standing around waiting at the bar was also a great experience! The room service was excellent, and the cabin steward was terrific also! All around, this was my favorite cruise after having been on MSC, Carnival, and Holland America lines. Read Less

Sailed this cruise for New Years and loved almost everything about it. The morning that we boarded in Galveston there was a super dense fog that delayed our boarding by about five hours, which didn’t set a fantastic tone for starting off on our first cruise, but this event turned out to be the only negative comment that I could muster up from the entire seven day voyage. The free food onboard was excellent, the entertainment was fantastic, and I don’t have enough time to describe how incredibly hard every crew member worked to make it the best cruise possible. The team that cleaned our cabin knew me by name and so did the waiters for the suppers every night. Our cruise director (Schwartz) did a seamless job of making sure that all of the events happening were fun and interactive! It was by far the best vacation that I have been on yet! I will definitely be sailing with Carnival cruise ships in the future! Read Less

This was our 12th ocean cruise (Seabourn, Cunard, Celebrity, HAL, RC) and first on Princess. Our expectations for such a large ship during the New Years week were not real high and I am pleased to say Princess exceeded them by day 3. The ship sparkles and everything works (except the Ocean Ready app). Embarkation was remarkably smooth given the passenger overload (3900+ with 600 kids). We quickly found our way around. The only snag was late delivery of one bag, but it made it before the first seating. Nice cabin (Caribe deck balcony, C521) on the small side as expected. Good storage, some bedding blocking under bed storage but 2 large bags did fit. Bathroom spotless and smallish. Cabin steward rarely seen, but she did an excellent job. We selected traditional dining, early (5 PM) seating. Our alcove has space for a family of 40 and a table for 2 (us). I feared we would need to request a seating change but our neighbors were thoughtful and pleasant. We enjoyed their company! Seating is always a bit chancy of course, so we lucked out. Service staff average to good. The buffet service staff was exceptional! Really, they were attentive, efficient and pleasant. The ship was crowded, but we had no trouble with clean seating. Breakfast, most lunches, one dinner (late excursion) were all good experiences. The Bavarian buffet on our late excursion day was excellent with plenty of variety and good food. They could improve their spelling (Barbarian meatloaf - LOL). Marichi trio was excellent and they played easy listening, dancable tunes beyond classic Mexican fare. Other groups were okay, except one piano player's voice - she was grating to the ears. Production shows were okay, but we don't cruise for the shows. The comedian (2 nights) had some irritating mannorisms. Despite that, I was in tears the second show! We had to move around a great deal to find suitable ballroom style dancing, but we enjoyed all seven nights in multiple venues with different groups. The DJ drove us out of one venue because he played the music way too loud - Don't they all these days? OSHA would require ear protection... We generally don't review shore excursions, but our Cabo whale watching was fantastic. For 2 hours, 12-15 blows every 15 minutes, one about 30 feed from the boat! I don't think I would find such intense watching ever again, so won't even try! The ocean Ready app was very poor. I was constantly logging back in. It may have been better if we had purchased internet, however for a 7 day trip we want to escape and don't bother. Only significant low point is the breakfast room service menu. Only entree option is the Princess version of an Egg McMuffin! Shame on them! Getting off the ship was a breeze. Would we do it again? We put down a future cruise deposit, so the answer is yes. For the right itinerary and dates, Princess is on the list for future trips. Read Less

I am a former cruise staff with two other cruise lines. Have spent four years at sea working on ships. My wife and I discovered MSC in 2016 for our Honeymoon. We have sailed on the MSC Divina twice and this is our second cruise on the MSC Seaside. We will sail again on the Divina in March. We have loved our three previous cruises with MSC and this, our fourth, exceeded every expectation! And, not only was this a New Year's Eve Cruise, but we also celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. And, everything was perfection! As Aurea guests, we enjoyed priority embarkation, which saw us in the front of the line the morning on Miami day. The previous cruise's disembarkation seemed a bit longer than we have experienced, but we were still on board by noon. We enjoyed a light lunch, made our massage and specialty restaurant reservations, stowed our gear in the spa locker room, and headed to our favorite hot tub. The perfect start to our cruise. The first and second days of the cruise were lovely, full of shows, activities, fun, and wonderful food! The third day, we made it to San Juan in the evening and enjoyed exploring the city at night, something we have not yet been able to do. We found the coolest place to hang out, the Hotel Casablanca, and highly recommend going there for drinks and a visit to their roof! You will love the views! The fourth day of the cruise, we went to St Thomas, but chose to ferry to St. John. We had a lovely day at Honeymoon Beach snorkeling and enjoying the sun and had the best hoagie at the North Shore Deli ever! When you go to St John, you have got to go to this deli! But, we took the ferry back to St Thomas, cab back to the ship, and were on with time to spare. That night, we celebrated the New Year with the entire ship out on the pool deck. The NYE Party was out of this World and so much fun! Everyone was in such good spirits, the champagne was flowing, and the crew were fire! A perfectly incredible way to ring in the new year. Day five found us back at sea and celebrating our Anniversary. I worked with the wonderful Alessandra, International Hostess, and the Events Manager to surprise my wife with the Martha Stewart Anniversary Package at our sea day brunch at Butchers Cut. The look on my wife's face was worth the price of the cruise alone! We had an absolutely lovely day celebrating our Anniversary and enjoying more of the ship. Day six we were in Nassau Bahamas. We have been to Nassau a number of times so we take that day to do a tour of the pools on board. As Aurea guests, we enjoy the Top 19 for laying out most of the cruise. But, Nassau days are perfect days to visit all of the other pools on board. That night was also the White Party, which is my favorite party of any MSC cruise. It did not disappoint! What a great night! Day seven found us in Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. We have been dreaming of visiting this island since first hearing of it two years ago. Ocean Cay is beautiful! There are great shops to get those perfect souvenirs including a shop for the MSC Foundation that you must visit and support. The beaches closes to the ship were gorgeous with great wave action. The lagoon was calm and perfect for snorkeling! We even say rays and nurse sharks! And, the beaches opposite the ship were great for laying out and swimming in the ocean. The bars served us speedily and the food trucks were awesome! Best burger I have had in a long time! And, the lighthouse light shows at night with the beach parties were out of this world! Best day ever!!! On the best cruise ever! Day 8, we were back in Miami with joy in our hearts and feeling so rested and loved after another cruise with MSC. Disembarkation was super smooth. We got our luggage in the black ticket area for Aurea, quickly went through customs, and Ubered back to our hotel for a lovely post cruise day, capped by a fun visit to South Beach. The food was outstanding this cruise, with even steak and lobster in the MDR on New Years Eve. And, they have added a Classics section to the menu with things like French Onion Soup, Steak, etc. for folks that enjoy those simpler, yet delicious meals. Our Captain Francesco Di Palma was friendly and engaging and evidence of his wonderful leadership was evident across the ship. The Cruise Director Sinan was incredible! And, officially, our favorite MSC Cruise Director now. Alessandra was a great help the entire cruise and just a delight to be around. Yamila Monte, dance instructor, was great once again. We love cruising with her! The Entertainment team of Carlos, Graham, Rebekah, Eugene, etc. we all wonderfully engaging and so much fun! It is very evident to see why MSC Cruises won the award for Best Night Life this year! Ralph, Jayson, Made, and Maya took such great care of us at the bars. And, Richard, was exceptional in our stateroom. Marvin was wonderful in the Seashore Restaurant as well. We enjoyed the Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle on the morning of the first sea day and also had a fab time at the Welcome Back Cocktail party for Voyagers Club. Overall, the MSC Seaside was once again the sparkling jewel of a ship that we remembered her to be. The crew are continuing to take such great care of her! She is spectacular! MSC Cruises remains the perfect destination for the "curious traveler and sophisticated voyager!" And, this, our fourth cruise with MSC, was the best by far! We can't wait to be back on the MSC Divina in March! Read Less

Selected cruise for its Hawaiian ports and warm weather plus sailing on the Grand via San Francisco. Amazing cruise, amazing service by Grand Princess staff, and beautiful islands. Highly recommend Grand Princess for its world class service, wonderful and warm staff, and clean ship. Though it's an older ship, staff work hard to maintain the Grand Princess, and officers and staff were present throughout the ship 24/7. Had an excellent cabin steward and professional and wonderful dining room wait staff. Amazing trip onboard the beautiful Grand Princess! Like our waiter, Jonel Bola said, "The Grand Princess is known for #1 service out of its entire fleet of 18 vessels." The entire dining room staff was amazing and wonderful to all its dining passengers. The food was good, plenty of desserts to choose from, and staff are generous with service, extras/portions, drinks, and smiles! All staff throughout the ship were kind, courteous, warm, and provided consistent service and were very hard working. Service throughout the ship was consistent and amazing! Ship Captain, JP Bryant, was very nice and courteous and always greeted passengers pleasantly. This was a 16-day cruise! Have done shorter and longer cruises, but a 16-day is a perfect amount of time for a winter getaway! I highly recommend the beautiful Grand Princess! Others might be concerned that it's an older ship but I find it to be quaint, comfortable, has character, beautiful, has internet service, and has excellent and consistent customer service. I've sailed on the Grand 6 times and each time I've experienced consistent customer service! And, if something wasn't right, staff will work quickly and very hard to make the problem right! No complaints when I'm on the Grand! Read Less

I have never been on a cruise before and, I have to admit that I will never forget this experience. The embarkation and disembarkation went very smoothly. Our mini-suite room was great: comfortable bed, air-conditioned, safe box, minibar, movies on demand and the ensuite bathroom that was small but pleasant. Anytime dining was just amazing. Lots of quality food options were available - Mexican, Italian, French, vegetarian. My favorite place was BAKERY :) The room service is so quick and there were no separate charges. It was a 12-nights on the cruise and has no boring moments because the cruise has a wide range of entertainment programmes throughout the day. Also, it was so big that you will find a new place every day when you explore it. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The events organized by cruise were fabulous :) Fully recommended this ship to all age group of people. Read Less