I traveled alone on this cruise because I wanted to spend some time in Portugal and Rome before the cruise and this cruise departed from Rome. It also stopped in two ports I had never visited so another bonus. This is a very small ship with only 672 passengers so the experience was totally different from the BIG ships. The elevators were very fast and almost always, I was the only passenger on the elevator. And the only time I encountered a line at any venue was on the Mexican Sunday Brunch extravaganza. So, unlike every other cruise I have been on, the aggravation level each day was greatly reduced. Far and away the most beautiful library I have have ever seen on a ship. An incredible amount of books and lots of comfortable seats and tables. And there a table specifically for puzzle lovers who worked them each day. There is a very small entertainment venue but I never encountered it completely full. And the chairs were very comfortable. Not theater chairs but really nice free standing chairs. The buffet, while quite small in comparison to most of the big ships had very good food and one of the best dessert selections I have seen on buffets. If you are someone who likes sampling the specialty restaurants this is probably not your cruise ship. There are two specialty restaurants on board, an upscale Italian, Sabatini's, and a steakhouse, Sterling Grill. I did sample each and the food was very good along with exceptional service. But they alternated openings so only one of them was open each night. Read Less

I had been nudging my spouse to make a trip outside the western hemisphere and get some new passport stamps. This cruise was available at a good price two weeks prior to sailing so we jumped at the opportunity. So glad we did. We spent two nights in Rome prior to sailing at the Hotel Quirinale. The staff was very accommodating from storing our luggage prior to check in, preparing a sack breakfast when we had an early tour scheduled, to providing directions and calling taxis. The included breakfast was quite nice. The room was small but lovely and fit all of our needs... clean and comfortable. We took the 7-hour Rome in a day tour from the Tour Guy. If you have limited time, do this. We saw the major sites, skipped the lines, and our guide, Maria, shared a wealth of information and was able to answer all of the questions presented to her. Embarkation could not have been easier. There was not a line and we were on board in under 10 minutes, and our luggage beat us to our cabin. As noted in prior reviews, a small ship is the way to go to avoid lines. Disembarkation was just as easy and not crowded. Had we chosen to, we could have disembarked 30 minutes prior to our assigned time, but we had no plans and a long wait for our upcoming flight so... The on-board entertainers are outstanding. Very talented and personable people, and they all work hard leading other programs, dance, guitar and origami classes or ping-pong, Wii, and mini golf. The Dancing with the Crew performance was not to be missed. I was not as impressed by the visiting performers; they were not as talented as those I've seen on the larger Princess ships. The venue does not lend itself for viewing a performance unless you happen to get a front row seat; the majority of the seating is at one level. The food was delicious in the main dining room, buffet, and pub lunches. We especially enjoyed the sushi and Mongolian grill. We too encountered the wait for the Mexican brunch, but it was worth it! Every crew member was friendly and helpful. Gustavo waited on us at breakfast. He not only remembered without prompting how my husband prefers his oatmeal, but he also offered travel information for his native country. Pompeii is not to be missed whether you book it through the cruise or an onshore vendor. Pictures and documentaries do not do it justice. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The information shared by the guides is fascinating. I loved Palermo! We shared a taxi and 3-hour tour with another couple. We went to the top of Pellegrino, the Cathedral, the royal house, four corners and even crashed a wedding. So much history to see. Compared to Rome and Naples, the city is clean. No graffiti, trash and homeless. Gibraltar and Cadiz were both great for walking. We took the tram to the top of the rock and walked our way down. I got in over 9 miles. Guard your gear from the monkeys! They like to take glasses, hats etc. FYI, if you visit the Siege Caves, there is no exit at the end. You must retrace your steps uphill. It's not that far but worth noting. The parks in Cadiz were beautiful. We walked to the fort and enjoyed the beach. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife we took the ship excursion to the Volcanic National Park. The views are incredible. You'll want to wear your seat belts! Our driver covered those winding roads competently, but very quickly. If you like sea days as I do, you can't go wrong on the Pacific Princess. There were numerous activities scheduled for entertainment or wonderful locations for relaxing. Read Less

We chose the 17 day Renaissance Explorer from Civitavechia (Rome) to Fort Lauderdale. This gave us the opportunity to spend four days in Rome before boarding the beautiful Pacific Princess. We booked an obstructed Oceanview guarantee and were booked in cabin 6036, which luckily had a view between two lifeboats and was a beautiful cabin. We are "old style" cruisers, enjoying the smaller ship experience, set dining times with the same waiters and table-mates each evening (second sitting), formal nights and smart casual for the dining room, and no amusement parks on board. Princess has the best entertainment at sea and we enjoyed wonderful production shows, incredibly talented musicians and singers, and interesting and educational speakers. No hairy chest contests here! Fun game show formats, trivia several times a day, guitar lessons and dance lessons. My husband is a musician and for the first time in many years of cruising, he had use of a Princess guitar which he kept personally for the entire 17 days (calluses were kept intact and his daily practice regime was possible). I am a retired dancer. choreographer and director - I loved the talks with the entertainers where we could hear all about the hiring and rehearsal procedures, and life on board as a professional entertainer. The service was excellent. In fact, every crew and staff member on board was friendly - we felt like one big family by the end of the cruise. We also enjoyed all of the ports, and the sea days were especially wonderful with so many events and activities available. Embarkation and debarkation were a breeze - no wait at all! There were very few children on board and the ones that were on board were delightful and well behaved. The food was excellent - always new items on the menu every night with a wonderful selection of favorites. Made to order omelets and eggs available in the lido buffet with a great outdoor table section facing aft. We definitely hope to sail on the Pacific Princess once every year. Read Less

We chose this cruise as it was a small ship (660 passengers), was visiting places we wanted to see, and was when we were in Europe visiting other countries. Firstly our cabin was obviously designed for twin beds but the turned it into a double. What this meant was that when your pillow was in the wrong position it hit the light switch and turned all the cabin lights on. This happened several times over the 12 days. Also we were on the 4th floor above the gangway on the 3rd floor, every time we docked we were awoken by banging, crashing, and even one morning by an angle grinder as they prepared for disembarkation in port. One excursion we got absolutely soaked getting from the ship to the bus and had to sit for seven hours in wet squelchy clothes- not good. As it was a small ship you had only one choice of entertainment each night and it was hit and miss as to quality. The acoustics in the dining room were so noisy that my poor father, who wears hearing aids, couldn’t have them turned on so missed out on conversations in the end we had buffet dinners. Also when did you go to a fine dining restaurant and have Purcel squirted into your hands as you entered??? No free bottled water??? Even on the trains in Europe you get a free bottle of water, also free in every hotel - no Princess wanted USD $7 for a bottle of water !!! We have decided that as a family we are never going on a cruise again Read Less

From the moment we arrived we were made to feel special. The embarkation process was simple and easy. Our room was ready as requested and our cabin steward was personable, attentive and learned our habits and likes. Our room was always returned to impeccable. The MaîtreD, Alberto, was beyond amazing and welcoming to everyone in the dining room. He was attentive and ensured the dining staff was as well. He made us feel special. Jude, the Casino Bar bartender, was amazing. He looked at my card once, memorized my name, billing code and drink preference and remembered for the entire 12 days. He was amazing. The staff on board were so pleasant and kind and paid a lot of attention to the passengers. There was a significant contingency present at the disembarking wishing us well. I have cruised with a lot of lines but Princess is my first choice. I must return to enjoy it more but leave with great memories. Read Less

I took this cruise for The Suez Canal and the Arabia countries for their culture and religion and also a time for a good memorable vacation for me and which I’ve got from this cruise. I liked the entertainments in the theater also the lectures on destinations by Debbie. I still have more on my bucket list to go through yet. I was hoping on this cruise could’ve helped me make a quick decision on my next cruise but the future sale and captain circle staffs were always too busy and not warm to help us to achieve that goal. Disappointed! The conditions of sapphire really needs a update. It’s sanitary conditions is not updated. There are many leaking water stains or even wet spots in the hallways with strong moldy smell which I think is the main cause for the many people being sick with the flu like symptoms. I was happy that the dinning room head waiter attended to my dietary needs. Loo Hua Jiang from customers service desk helped me solved my airline booking problem with great effort and patience. The excursions were very good and the buffet lunch at movie-pic and the tea at the KingsBury hotel were good. I wish there would have had a lunch scheduled for our excursion in Malaysia. It was a long time after our early breakfast and our excursion ended At 2 PM by the time we return to our cruise was close to 3. Overall we had a good cruise and now we’re safely home and time to start planning our next cruise. Read Less

DECEMBER 6 , 2019 This report is about Our just completed Maiden Voyage on the SKY Princess This is going to be a 21 days cruise from rome to ft. Lauderdale Lets begin with my and my wife big expectation for this special cruise as we never took a maiden voyage but we are elite on princess and we look forward to this experience , we board the ship in the port of civitavecchia near rome , driving up to the ship she look wonderful to me not knowing what was waiting for us , the check in process was fine , the cabin was fine the worst was just around the corner . 1 ) the first evening dinner the food is terrible , presentation sucks , food looks like is been seating around , i order tagliatelle al pesto , over cook on the pasta and the pesto is from a cheap jar i' m thinking we just left and they do not have some fresh basil and some olive oil and fresh garlic ? We are in trouble left the dining room and go up to the buffet same story up there and by the way the food is cold what's with that ? I ask the server if they have a power problem he just shrug off , he does not seem to care . 2) next morning my wife wants a latte at the coffee bar , she is served a latte in a paper cup with a paper lid that as she starts drinking from it the top start falling apart in her mouth , we ask the barista what with this he says princess is going green so all there cups are paper but we see myriad of plastic gloves every where what's with that ? 3) this ship does not have any cover pools or jacuzzis , so it is very cold on this cruise we saw nobody until the left few days , they spend millions for pools that can't be used unless you are a polar bear . 4) lets talk about the food in general breakfast , lunch or dinner is terrible , i have to say this is the first cruise i lost weight 7 pounds to be honest , presentation terrible , looks and taste terrible , food is cold , my god the cold cuts like prosciutto , coppa , salame needs to be cut thin and it has to be kept cold and don't put olive oil on top , i came to the conclusion that if you are from india or china you are probably ok with this food , lots of spices similar to currie but the majority of this passengers are from north america and by the info i got they where over 1500 of elite passengers , this is terrible. The desserts are boring and taste bad , also no donuts , this is the first cruise i actually was left with eating jello can you believe that ! 5) princess theater , what a bust , the first production show was terrible too dark , over the edge this are seniors lets stuck to the classics , the second show was not any better , in the 7 days while crossing the atlantic there was nothing going in the theater , no movies on the big screen what a bust. The piazza music basically sucks , same quartet very depressing music and same over and over i ' m asking myself where can i escape ? 6) the cabin is no better , the steward not cleaning the room , mirrors have spots from the moment we got on board until we completed the cruise , the corners of the carpet area never been vacuum , for a new ship this is very depressing , i also noted on my balcony and i taken a photo above my head there is a bracket that supports a drain hose from the above balcony that is missing the big bolt but someone did paint over , i wonder how many bolts are missing thru the ship . 7) another big problem , every port in spain we loose the satellite signal so can't watch any tv and also limited channels , offer additional channels for a fee if necessary , very boring for this being the highest tech ship and going for seven days and nothing to do , give me a break. 8) room service is terrible , is either short staff or they do not care , the only day that i call i sat for 24 minutes with a recording , i hung-up call passenger service and they said the only way was to e-mail them and to be waiting they would call me but never did . 9) on the 19th day on the way to malaga i got norovirus symptoms major vomit and diarrhea never before i got this sick and talking to the crew we find out the ship was been sanitized for exactly a outbreak of norovirus the week before we boarded the ship but nobody said anything about that to us . 10) the breakfast in the morning we like to order room service , the food is old , the juices are water down and as to top it off as elite they offer room appetizers in the afternoon , we order one time it was terrible , we did not touch any of it . 11) on the 25th we got offer a steak dinner by the casino host , we went to the crown grill , a total disappointment , i order the scallops appetizer those were the smallest scallops i have ever seen , the steak was to tough that i only could eat the fillet side and my wife order the lobster and actually that look like a very large shrimp , will not ever go back , ty. 12) now at the end of our cruise there was the thanksgiving dinner , i thought they will have a wonderful meal as this being a food base celebration but no , turkey dinner was equal to a frozen microwave dinner or similar but cold and this in the dining room , so we left and went up to the buffet and for our surprise same horrible experience up there so i just give up. So to recap , i will never cruise on the sky princess and i might not cruise on princess large ship again and if i cruise on princess i want to know who the chef will be and who is the food and beverage director is or for sure it will not be for more then 7 days . Read Less

We always wanted to take a TA and be on a new ship very early after launching and this trip fulfilled our desire. There are not a lot of negative comments about the ship or crew that can be made. Yes it has its creaks and groans as we sailed into the Atlantic but none that kept us up at night. WE booked an inside cabin that is fore and aft and are sleeping that way so the gentle rocking helps. We have booked on the TA for the Enchanted as well and expect to experience the same type of ship experience in 2020. Princess has stopped providing after dinner mints and toothpicks using the excuse of environmental issues, others on the cruise think it is a cost cutting issue. All I can say is we miss them. The ship seems to be much more open in the public spaces due to the additional width of the ship. The piazza has not increased in size so dancing can be a challenge. Princess theater is much bigger and some shows are standing room only. The production shows are ok, but the specialty performers are much better. The food is good but the desserts are ho-hum. We were able to walk right on the ship when we boarded and the medallions are a time saver. Internet continues to be a challenge and the IT staff has been very helpful. We don't like not being able to link more than 1 cruise at a time on Ocean Medallion. Read Less

We sailed on the Sky from 11/10/19 - 11/17/19. The ship is beautiful and huge. Cabin: Our mini-suite was roomy (for a cruise cabin). There were several outlets (both US and Europe) so we didn't need our extension cord with extra outlets. There are also USB outlets in the lamps.The issue that we had with the cabin (E202) was that we could hear music. We were not sure if it was from the theater, piazza, or somewhere else. Food: There is a large choice of restaurants (several for an extra cost). We did not care for the buffet food at all, but we were glad to see that they had 3 sinks at each entrance to the buffet and that staff was enforcing that passengers washed their hands before entering the buffet.Not one case of norovirus reported on our cruise. The food in the MDR was good but not great. I would have expected great like our other Princess cruises. The really bad part was the speed of service. Every dinner in the MDR was over 2 hours because the wait for food and drinks was extremely long. I am not certain what the issue was. The servers were extremely nice though. The Crown Grill was superb! We could not have been happier with our meals. Food and service were excellent. And believe it or not, took less time than in the MDR. Like on all Princess ships, we loved the International Cafe where we could get light snacks and specialty coffees. The pizza and appetizers at Alfredo's were very good, but again the service was slow. Spa: The services and the personnel at the spa were great. Again, noise was the issue. During my massage and during my wife's facial, we could hear music. I never experienced this on any other ship, let alone Princess.This may be because the spa was on deck 5 when I remember always seeing it on the higher decks. Shore Excursions: There were a huge amount of shore excursions. The ones that we booked were good. Entertainment: Take 5 lounge is great. Very relaxing place to sit and have a drink and have some conversation. The main shows were somewhat underwhelming. The escape room which we were looking forward to was not open yet. All in all, it was an OK cruise but not great. I would almost say that it was a great Carnival cruise at Princess prices. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the wonderful Mediterranean and Adriatic itinerary which began in Rome. For 21 of our 28 days we sailed into great ports and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The last seven days we relaxed as we sailed back to Fort Lauderdale. A dream trip to be sure. We have been home for almost three weeks, and have had time to reflect on our experience. The ship is lovely because it is new, but the layout is mostly tried and true. It is almost exactly like the Regal and the Royal. Nothing innovative that we could see, but there's nothing wrong with that. Both those ships are terrific. The food, as other reviewers have expressed, was indeed a real disappointment. On this ship, the food served in the dining room, was merely okay. From temperature to quality, sadly something is wrong. We never eat in the buffet so can't comment on that venue. The pizza near the pool was greasy. Alfredos was fine but the ovens broke down for a period of time. We found the food in the International Cafe to have been significantly downgraded from previous Princess ships. Sad. Our standard balcony cabin has only one chair and very little counter space. Other than that it was great to be on a new bed. We couldn't get into most of the shows in the theater. Our preferred dining time wouldn't allow us to get to the theater at least a half hour before a performance. There was entertainment in the piazza. The positives. Clean new cabins. A staff that is eager to serve. One will never go hungry as there are choices. In conclusion, for 28 days we enjoyed the magnificent ocean and the services the ship offered. Would we do it all again? Definitely yes. Read Less

What a pleasure it was to be aboard the Sky Princess. As a solo traveler, I planned this cruise 18 months in advance and at no time was I disappointed, Embarkation was a little delayed due to the novo virus and the sanitisation of the ship, however we all had a seat to wait comfortable in the port of Rome. Not such a big deal, but there is always that 'I just want to get on' feeling. Rooms were not ready when we boarded, however the salty dog burger and bud light from the bar filled the gap nicely for an hour or two. Disembarkation was perfect, no issues at all, however I have been to the port may times and know the layout and where to get the shuttles to hotels etc. I booked a hotel for two nights as the airports and airfares were horrendous due to the thanksgiving weekend. It was no hardship to spend two nights in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale though before my long flight back home to Australia. The ship itself was spotless and the crew cared for it every day, from the decks cleaners, to the room stewards. It was perfect. I like the layout of the ship and as a long time cruiser only with Princess, I did not miss crooners at all and in fact loved the fact that the piazza was 'the place to be' after dinner for a spot of dancing. No partner required. My stateroom was a BB balcony and I loved it. Again, spotlessly clean and maintained by Jeffrey whom I wished I could bring home with me. The bed was super comfy and the linen was good quality. I always travel with my own pillow, however I ditched it in favour of the wonderful pillows in my stateroom. The balcony was excellent and I enjoyed several 4pm beverages either ocean gazing or port gazing. Some cruisers felt that it was difficult to identify which side of the ship you needed to head to when getting out of the lift. The carpets on each side are very slightly different - worth checking that out early. One side has a swirl of gold and the other side has a swirl of orange. Once you find it, no more criss crossing to find your stateroom. I generally dined in the MDR, always no share solo for breakfast and lunch so I could catch up on some work, but always a chance to quick chat with the couples beside me. Again, no disappointment for me with any meals. My breakfast was generally lovely plate of fresh fruit of my choosing and and delicious freshly made omlette. Both were well prepared and just the ticket to get me going for the day. Lunch again in the MDR and again always at the same table. The waitstaff, particularly Tatiana, were exceptional. Christina at the door always greeted me like a long lost friend. Dinner was traditional at the same table every night and I love that aspect of 'catching up with friends' over a delicious dinner. I have no complaints about the food - there were one or two dishes that were not to my taste, but I chose the wrong option - not the food. I did not catch any shows at all in the theatre, however I did enjoy the enrichment lectures albeit at 9am in the morning so the dancers could practice. I did miss the fact that there were no movies in the theatre during the day time, again, due to the dancers practicing. I also did not participate in the activities, however I was a watcher and the cruise director was generally very visible and friendly. Captain Laakonen, was wonderful and more visible than any Captain I have seen on any of the princess cruises. His noon broadcasts were filled with information and good humour. Loved the Elite cocktail parties. The service was outstanding by all member of the crew and staff. I have nothing but high praise for the efforts they put in to help us guests enjoy our holiday. Even though Novo was an issue for them and the extra workload was immense on them. Some have mentioned the hand washing before the buffet: On my 28 day portion, there were staff located there and everyone washed their hands prior to entering. (even though I was only going in for a cup of tea LOL) I went on shore excursions through princess for each of the ports. Yes, I find they may be a little more expensive but really, it is a drop in the ocean and for a solo traveler it is peace of mind and I saw some wonderful sights. None of the excursions were a disappointment to me. I did not shop at the shops, I felt they had gone very very upmarket and I chose to shop in the ports. I cruise for a holiday and therefore not particularly interested in the entertainment side - I love just reading and enjoying the ambience. For solo travelers who are considering, just do it. You can be alone if you choose, or you can chat with others. Cruisers are very friendly people. Yes, you do pay more, but you get the holiday you want and how wonderful to go to a restaurant every morning and lunch and read or catch up on work. Nap in the arvo if you want. Finally, A huge thank you to: Jeffrey my room steward. All the staff in Vines for keeping me supplied with Champagne for my pre dinner beverage of choice. Tatiana in the MDR for my breakfast and lunch service. Ben and Armando in the dining room for Dinner service, my table mates and I struck gold with you two. Would I cruise with Princess again, You betcha, I have five cruises lined up ready go in the next two year. Read Less

We sailed on the third cruise of Sky Princess, 7 days in the Med. This was our 19th Princess Cruise so we do have a basis of comparison. I echo the sentiment of a previous reviewer about the inadequate elevators. The forward bank of elevators, outside of the Princess Theater, had only three of the four elevators in operation for the entire cruise. This is one of the busiest locations on the ship. The operating elevators through out the ship were extremely slow. Or was it too few elevators for the number of passengers? The earlier reviewer didn't mention the Nora virus. The second cruise was plagued by the Nora virus, passengers and crew members. Between the second cruise and third cruise boarding there was additional sanitation of the ship, which delayed boarding, room availability and embarkation. During our cruise the Captain reported several times a day about the enhanced sanitation required. Between 9 - 14 passengers "reported" being ill during our 7 day cruise. As a result, enhanced sanitary procedures took place everywhere. This was most notable at the buffet where everything was served. Passengers were not allowed to touch serving utensils, dishes, glasses, etc. This was an additional burden on the crew as well as passengers. This was our first experience with the "Medallion" and it worked most of the time. Several crew members complained about them. There was a learning curve to their usage. Food was very good and there were a number of new, for fee, dining locations. Sabatini's menu had changed, no steak and several other item changes.. Ship shops were definitely up scaled, more expensive and we had just been on the Sapphire Princess the week prior. We watched rehearsal for a new "production" show but the Sky Princess offered only one "production" show for the trip...Rock Opera. The show received a standing ovation but others complained later about how loud it was. Read Less

My husband and I were on the 28-day Grand Mediterranean Adventure on the Sky Princess, the fourth in the line of Royal-Class Princess Ships. The cruise was early of the inaugural season, and it wasn’t without some bumps, but overall, we believe the Sky Princess is a good ship that offers something for everyone. Overview: The Sky Princess is an exquisite addition to the Princess Cruise Line’s Royal-Class ships. Returning guests will find many well-loved familiar features, such as the multi-story Piazza Atrium, International Café, the Vines Wine Bar and an expanded Princess Live. There is also a new gathering spot, Take Five, a large jazz club that offers a terrific location for those seeking a cocktail and some quiet jazz music. It’s worth noting that this was a somewhat controversial move; Take Five supplanted Crooner’s and the Wheelhouse. Perhaps in response to the outcry from passengers, the Enchanted Princess, the next in the Royal Class line, will offer both Crooner’s and Take Five, according to the cruise line’s website. The ship also features an all-new Phantom Bridge escape room, although it was not ready when we boarded. We heard it would open during December 2019. Service: We were told on several occasions that the staff for this inaugural cruise was “hand selected.” If that’s the case, they selected well. Throughout the ship, service was, as far as we are concerned, five-star. Yes, guests will be asked to wait for a table during peak times for Anytime Dining, but that’s to be expected. We found the table service in the Main Dining Room and the Specialty Restaurants to be outstanding. Captain and Cruise Director: Captain Laakkonen was among the best we’ve experienced on the Princess Line. His noon briefings from the bridge were always entertaining, and we were impressed with the number of appearances he made throughout the day, including a Cruise Director Q&A that was informative, entertaining and humorous. Our Cruise Director, Alex Yepremian was also among the best we’ve experienced on Princess. He was thoroughly involved in guest activities and maintained an upbeat presence 24/7. We’ve never seen a Cruise Director who was so visible, and guests seemed to love it. Cabins: We love the new softer, and more spa-like, look of the cabins. In addition to the traditional plugs, the lamps feature USB plugs for charging computers and smart devices. Our balcony felt slightly larger, but we can’t fact check that. We did enjoy our time on the balcony, which featured two lounge-like chairs that recline as well as a small dining table. Unfortunately, the extra interior chair and table has been removed from the cabin, leaving only one desk chair. At times when we ordered room service, we moved the balcony chair into the cabin. It is also possible to request a larger “dining” table for a meal, but it made for crowded service. Bathroom: We were happy with the bathroom. The shower, while small, was serviceable. We were particularly impressed by the water pressure, which was outstanding. Others have noted the odd placement of the toilet roll under the vanity, but that area offers additional storage if you prepare for it. We brought a tray that we bought at Target (Dimensions - 13.78 L x 10.24 W x 2.4 D) that quite coincidently fit perfectly under the vanity. I stored my make-up there and moved it to the desk/vanity area when applying make-up. Gym: The gym on this ship is enormous, with something for everyone. We were particularly pleased that, while crowded, we never had to wait for a treadmill. On the other hand, we were extremely disappointed that the treadmills, while brand new, did not offer any fan feature whatsoever. This, combined with the stale air frequently found in a crowded gym, made for an uncomfortable experience. Otherwise, the gym was five-star. Dining: We really enjoyed the menus in the Main Dining Room. Because we were onboard for 28 days, there were several “repeat” menus, but there was enough variety that we were typically quite happy with our options. Buffet: The buffet is enormous and well stocked with a variety of International foods. We don’t tend to eat at the buffet, but on the occasions that we did, it seemed that there was something for everyone, although clean and available tables could be hard to come by. Speciality Restaurants: Bistro del Mar: Bistro del Mar was a major disappointment for us. As background, we had not heard great things about the specialty dining restaurant, but we like to try things for ourselves. The escargot fried balls appetizer was greasy and almost inedible (and we love escargot). My husband’s duck was serviceable, although he admitted that he makes better duck at home. I ordered the fish and chips, which presented more as fish sticks just a bit larger than French fries. Overall, a big disappointment. But the most disturbing aspect of Bistro del Mar is its placement. It’s an on the Promenade Deck 7 overlooking the Plazza. There are no doors or any form of soundproofing to separate activities occurring in the Plazza. That would be fine if the Plazza were featuring a string quartet (as it often does), but on the night we dined, they were hosting some sort of disco trivia night. To add insult to injury, in addition to ambient sound, they actually broadcast the disco trivia festivities into the speakers in the restaurant. We left before dessert in frustration. Sabatini’s: In the past, Sabatini’s has been more of a “chef’s table” experience, where most courses are preselected for you and you have a choice among a few items. The new menu offers more choice, but we found it slightly less satisfying. The fondue was actually more of an overly rich soup, although the pasta dishes were (as always) absolutely delicious. The main dishes were quite good, but, overall, we prefer the “old” Sabatini’s. Ocean Terrace: We loved the sushi bar, which features something for everyone (even those who don't like sushi.) Prices were outstanding there and they offer nice appetizers with purchase of a drink. The Ocean Medallion Experience: This is where Princess will (eventually) shine. They are currently treading a thin line because a portion of their guests are older and would prefer to leave their smart phones (if they have them) at home. We, however, loved it, and look forward to the day when it adds more functionality, including daily menus, a full listing of program activities, etc. Currently, our favorite Medallion features include the “find a shipmate” feature that allows you to locate friends on board, as well as the feature that allows your Medallion to open your door upon arrival. We found the feature that allows you to order a drink delivered to your table to be overly difficult to use. We did figure it out, but it was glitchy during our voyage, and often didn’t register the orders. In the end, we mostly opted to stand in line at places like the International Café, although it’s easy to see that this feature will be terrific once it gets worked out. Shops: It appears is much more space devoted to shopping, a trend we’re seeing more often on cruise ships. We don’t shop in the stores – they tend to be overpriced and we’d rather spend our money ashore – but it did seem that folks were enjoying the shopping experience. Library: The ship no longer offers a library, much to the disappointment of many guests. There was, however, a “mobile library” that featured a range of new best sellers. Guests found this difficult, because the mobile library was available only during brief times. Cruisers on the Sky (or other future Royal ships) would be well advised to bring their own books, or download them to their smart devices. Production Shows: Seeing a production show requires advance preparation (the Princess Theater does not offer adequate seating), so guests must try to get to their seats at least 30 minutes in advance. We’d heard great things about a new show called “Five Skys,” so we arrived at the theater an hour prior to showtime and were among the last to get a seat. We were blown away by the costumes, dance, singing and staging. The storyline for “Five Skies” is odd at best. It’s built around a gamer (yes a gamer) who is trying to reach all the “fifth sky.” I’m not sure why Princess thinks there will be gamers in the audience, since they make up a small and very specific portion of the population. Coincidentally, my husband is a serious gamer (he loves international travel because he can collect unique Pokémon characters), but even he found the premise for the show ridiculous. Storyline aside, though, it was thoroughly entertaining. Medical: Unfortunately for me, I had an opportunity to experience the Medical Services on board the ship. I had contracted an acute upper respiratory infection that required treatment. I found the medical professionals on board the Sky to be top notch. They triage guests efficiently, and treat all with respect. Because I had a fever, I was put into isolation until my fever was normal for 24 hours. It took 48 hours, during which time I discovered that those in isolation can order room service off the Main Dining Room menu, which is a nice touch for those who want it. Lotus Spa: Shortly after being released from medical isolation, I decided to treat myself to a hair styling in the Lotus Spa. While the wash and blow dry was fine, I must say the tactic of “hair shaming” – pointing out dryness, lack of body, etc. – in an attempt to upsell to a conditioning treatment to be tasteless. I’d have had no issue with an offer to add a conditioning treatment, but my stylist talked throughout my blow dry session about the quality of my hair. It was extremely unpleasant and I made a note not to return. Enclave: The Enclave is a favorite spot for us during sea days. It’s pricy, but if you have sufficient on-board credit (as we did by combining a $1,000 OBC Landmark Sale with $300 in Future Cruise Deposit dollars and a $250 Shareholder OBC), it is, in our opinion, a terrific expenditure of dollars. It should be noted that the Enclave is a very different product to the Thermal Spa on pre-Royal class ships. The Thermal Spa is nice, but does not in any way compare to the luxurious offering of the Enclave, which includes 12 hot loungers, steam showers, three spas and a large hydro pool. In the past, we were told passes were limited to 40, but we’re not sure that they were as limited during our voyage. It was, at times, quite crowded, with people having to wait a bit to get a hot lounger, which is “home base” during a visit to the Enclave. Read Less

This was a seven day mediterranean cruise I took with my two sisters. We chose this ship because we were limited to this specific week and there weren't that many choices for a seven day cruise in November, plus we were excited to be on a new ship, the Sky Princess had just launched a few weeks prior. Overall, we had a great time, the ship was new and clean, staff were helpful, excursions were fun and mostly the food was very good. I've been on Celebrity, HAL, NCL mainstream lines as well as Crystal. I was looking forward to the Princess brand, having heard good things and thought it would be on par with Celebrity and HAL. I was somewhat disappointed and would probably choose the other two over Princess in the future unless the itinerary was what I really wanted. I'm not saying that Princess was bad, just a little below what I expected. For a brand new ship I was expecting some wow or surprises, but everything just was average and the same. This was a medallion cruise and that was the major innovation encountered. Not sure if it added that much to our trip other than not having to scramble for a card when needed. But it did help when ordering, as we had the drink package the bartenders did not have to verify anything and the ordering on your cell phone was pretty cool when I tried it, it worked for drinks but food was slow and came cold. Also, there are some privacy issues with medallion such as your default photo comes up as you pass the interactive screens throughout the ship as well as the full names of all the individuals in your cabin are listed on the screen outside your door. Other things I was underwhelmed with were the shower curtain still being used on a brand new ship, the specialty seafood restaurant we tried was no better than the main dining room, there were few occasions of rude staff both to me and observed to other guests, and I found the other guests in general to be more pushy and rude than comparable lines - not everyone of course- but more than there should be. Some issues may have been due to noro being on this cruise when we boarded and despite the crew's best efforts it was never fully eradicated causing so much extra work for a new ships crew (those touch screens throughout the ship may not be the best to avoid noro). Embarkation was delayed several hours. Our cabin steward was great and always cheerful, but it was obvious the poor guy was exhausted, as were much of the staff. So maybe these combined issues contributed to some of the issues we observed. We ate most meals in the main dining room and Alfredos, these were mostly very good. We tried the buffet once, but there were long lines due to the noro and the fellow passengers were pushy and rude. As noted the specialty restaurant was fine, but not special. We only went to one show with the singers and dancers, it was quite good. We didn't do any trivia or similar activities. As a port intensive cruise, we were not on the ship during the day much, but the one sea day was fun to spend on the outside loungers of which there were many to spare. The Princess excursions we took were either good or very good. I wished there were more enrichment activities, I didn't see any on the dailies (only port talks which were at inopportune times). Overall a good time, maybe my expectations were a little high. Read Less

The ship is new. We got a Norovirus alert the day before we got on. Yes hard to believe a new ship with Norovirus. The crew was diligent and worked hard so that by the time we completed the 14 day cruise everything was back to normal. Nonetheless it still prevented us from doing the galley tour as part of the Chef's Table. The staterooms are nicely appointed but with light colored carpet in the hallways the carpet is already starting to show stains. More importantly the elevators are in a word "screwed-up". They seem to trying different "solutions" for the elevators but for some reason the "solution" is evading them. Doesn't seem like rocket science. The staff is sketchy. Our steward Leonardo was excellent. The service staff in the common areas and dining rooms however lack experience and often are not attentive- it was hard to get a drink. Likewise the food is uninspired. Lastly, this is a new Medallion Class ship. What a pain. The process to get online requires tech expertise most cruisers lack. Likewise the app interface is not intuitive and awkward to navigate. Moreover the app promises access that it fails to deliver eg. the ability to order a drink online! Read Less

Chose this cruise because of great port diversity: Rome, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Athens, Santorini, South France, Barcelona, Morocco and more. And Because we always have enjoyed Princess and specifically the Emerald. Room was great, see below. cabin steward outstanding. Ship has been updated nicely. Service in main DR was outstanding. Unfortunately the food was terrible! which was a big disappointment for my three travel companions and me. I have been on 48 Princess Cruises, and the reason we have gone so many times over the last 30 years was because we always loved the cuisine. Princess always had a good amount of Italian influence in the menus and food prep, now it appears to be influenced by English and Australian chefs. Menus were unappealing. Beef in the DR was very tough. Marinara sauce for Pasta and Pizza was terrible, so that knocked out choices we normally would have liked. Sent several meals back which is not something I have done in the past. Many dinner choice felt like they were a lunch choice. I feel like Princess is trying to attract new clients with their new menus and themes, but may loose their solid base, if the food continues in this direction. Waiters were outstanding, but the food they could not do anything about. Ports and shore excursions were great. Two production shows were great, two were boring. Comedians and Vocalists average other then Steve Kellwodd who was great. Love Lado strings duo in atrium every day. Enrichment lecturer was very good. Have a few more Princess cruises booked, hope to see an improvement. Read Less

Grand Mediterranean cruise and TA from Barcelona to Florida. Almost too many ports for us seniors. Fantastic ports except Morocco. Princess shore excursion was awful. Tour guide went on a political rant and brought us back 2 hours early. Princess gave us 25% non refundable onboard credit. Remodeling of buffet was very good. Hand washing stations, more selections, better layout. Never congested. Back areas had specialty breakfast and lunches. Evenings back areas were a low cost specialty restaurant. Or overflow seating. New tables and chairs. Rooms and public areas had new carpets. Wall mounted tv. Shelf where tv used to be had an outlet so we used it as a charging station and storage. Room still had small table and we were able to get barrel chair. Chair Appeared to be brand new. New pain and varnish on patios. Good overall maintenance on ship. Food in dining room was unchanged. Menu repeated after 2 weeks. On Mediterranean leg, 2 restaurants were anytime dining, but on TA cruise one dining room was anytime and second became anytime at 7:30. Great waiters. Fairly fast service. Morning staff in buffet was often minimal in back areas. Often took 10 minutes to get coffee and juice or table cleaned. Pizza area much improved with larger selection Planks meat restaurant was $12, tons of food, good desserts. Crown Grill was very good. Only went there because we had so much OBC. Princess has cut entertainment staff. On cruise a year ago there was a cruise director, assistant, 4 junior, and activities director. This time cruise director, 3 junior, no evidence of activities director. Seemed like lots less activities. Teen center was opened afternoons on TA due to no kids on cruise. Very popular. Would live to see it continued. Production shows were all repeats even though it was 18 months since last cruise. Good variety of entertainment. Kory was very popular in crooners. Elite access for tenders was very fast. Don’t know about regular travelers. Took private tours mainly, so can’t evaluate tours except Morocco, very poor, azores very good. Had electrical problem in room and repaired quickly. Elite laundry took 3 days due to large number of elite. Done very well with no damage. Recommend both itineraries even though almost too many ports, especially on Europe part and when the 2 are combined. We had 6 days of ports in a row. Booked as 2 cruises to get more OBC Read Less

This was a great cruise, with fascinating ports. And a good season to travel, good weather. The service was top notch, best cabin steward and waiters. Really no complaints except for front desk people who were a bit rude. We tried the Share restaurant and it was fine, something new and tasty. entertainment was fine, except for too loud in the theatre and piazza. I don't like to be deafened. We just had a fine time, and the transatlantic portion was very relaxing. I would have used the gym if I knew it was free, they never say. The main problem we had is that many excursions are not very handicapped accessible. Lots of steep steps to get in buses. None had a wheelchair lift, so some people stuck on the bus most of the time. I wish they had more handicapped options. So many of the people used canes, and we are not considered much. Read Less

We did a 40 day 3 back to back cruises from Rome To Los Angeles. The regular Rome to Barcelona, Reposition Barcelona to Ft Lauderdale, then Panama Canal Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles. We did a Princess excursion at each stop. Overall weather was perfect, we did have rain in Greece, and a stop in France was cancelled due to winds and rain, but overall given the time of year we were very lucky! The ship did list one morning in high winds off of Europe. We originally chose Any Time Dining, but liked our waiter Roberto and assistant Maria so much this was changed to Fixed for the last 2 cruises. They were very good to us each night, many nights we were the only diners they had (apparently not busy at 5PM seating, noticed lines at 7). Had coupons for the Curtis Stone Restaurant, service was good, food was so so, and apparently they serve the same food each night. Went to Crown Grill 2 nights, and enjoyed our meals there. We had a balcony room, but they moved us at Ft. Lauderdale, we tried to see if room could remain changed, but apparently someone else booked it before us. Both rooms were quiet, one on 15th fl, front of ship, the other 10th fl (Aloha) rear of ship. Both were very quiet. Cabin attendents on both were good, the first was much better than the second, but I think it is a personality thing, as everything got done. Food was good, but seemed to get much better on the Panama Canal Cruise for some reason. Embarkation in Rome was good, embarkation in Ft Lauderdale was terrible. In Ft. Lauderdale all passengers had to disembark for authorities to check the ship. Princess started checking in passengers, and went to lounge, but ship was not cleared to board yet, causing the passengers to be literally crammed in the lounge after check in for at least an hour before boarding. We did all the Princess excursions, and liked all of them except the city tour in Mexico. Read Less

We loved the small ship! The size was just right for us and we didn't miss all the bells and whistles and thousands of other passengers on the huge other ships we've sailed in the past. Embarkation in Civitavecchia was the fastest and easiest we've ever had. Our cabin, 7088, was in the perfect location--just a few doors down from the laundromat and close to the elevator. Disembarkation and transportation to the Venice airport arranged by Princess was quick and easy. The food was amazing. I never disliked anything we had and there were so many choices in the main dining room. Every server and bar tender we encountered on the ship was excellent, friendly, and efficient. We loved the entertainment including Dan & Elliott (The Cruisetones) in the Casino Bar, Walker Black in Pacific Lounge, Paul Barton in the Casino Bar, and the very talented singers, dancers, and performers in main showroom. The ports of call were wonderful and all the tours we took with Princess and the ones we arranged on our own were great. The recently refurbished decor was very pleasant. We've never slept better on the most comfortable bed and bedding we've had on a ship. The temperature was easy to adjust in the cabin and the balcony was a good size. Our steward kept everything in tip top shape. We'd happily sail again on the Pacific Princess. Read Less

Pacífic Princess is the smallest ship in the entire Princess fleet. It’s size allows passengers to meet others and form new friends, on a first name basis! The relaxing ambience means it is unlikely to be pushed by other passengers, which is an awesome feeling. The nightly entertainment is outstanding and the Cruisetone group, consisting of two men, who play jazz and other tunes is captivating. There are activities throughout the day, at times it’s hard to decide which one to attend. The captain is a young super tall man who hails from Italy. He’s so gracious with the passengers and comes out daily at breakfast to say hello, surveilling the ship as he’s walking about. This was a 12 day Mediterranean cruise, 9 days in port. Personally, I’ve learned to enjoy the sea days more than the port days. I made two ports additional sea days. The ADA inside cabin, 4035, is a quiet room with no neighbors. There was never any noise from the Medical Center which neighbors this cabin. The only downside of this room was the small size and placement of the TV and the size of the refrigerator. I would have loved it if they would have mounted the TV on the wall opposite of the bed. It is offset of the bed and odd to view at the angle it’s mounted at. The closet area where the refrigerator was at was odd, because of the head from the refrigerator nothing could be placed on top of it. It’s a small refrigerator that I wish could be larger... as if I could bring more snacks to put inside of it. There are so many relaxing pool chaise lounges available, with nobody dragging them or saving them for others. There are large pool towels and blankets available should anyone need one. I noticed new teak sofa type furniture, pillows and a coffee table have been added in the grill area. I loved sitting there to hear the outside band play poolside. The gym literally had nobody working out so it was awesome to have the space to oneself. The jogging/walking track seldom had anyone using it. The ping pong table gets a lot of use, mainly if there is anyone less than 30 years old onboard playing. The internet could use some beefing up with their satellite system. It was completely down for close to 1.5 days. Most of the time it was consistently slow. It has not been converted to the Medallion Net. I’m wondering if it ever will be! As an Elite loyalty passenger, I got 250 free internet minutes plus I used my husband’s 250 free minutes. LOL The Pacific Princess is known for older passengers cruising, occasionally, there are a handful of kids, maybe because parents failed to investigate what types of children activities/play areas were available before they booked the cruise... there are none available, nor any babysitters. It’s the only ship where Princess doesn’t provide children’s activities/play areas nor services. The food choices are good, as well as the quality and taste. A passenger is easily spoiled by their awesome staff, who are hard workers, always ready to help make your cruise the best you’ve ever had. I doubt anyone lost any weight while onboard. It’s my fourth cruise on the Pacific Princess in the last 18 months. Needless to say, it’s my favorite ship. I’ll be back onboard two more time within the next six months. Definitely for the World Cruise in 2020! I’m saddened that the Pacific Princess will not be doing the World Cruises as of 2021. I hope that Princess reconsiders and puts it back on this intimate cruising ship. I’ve cruised on many other Princess ships but none can compete with the cruising experience of the Pacific Princess! Read Less

Great destinations - Rome, Athens, Valletta, Kotor, Corfu, Corsia, Naples, Palermo, Santorini, Barcelona, Katalolon, Dubrovnik, Sete and Nimes. This cruise had it pro's and cons. Very nice ship with excellent dining rooms. Theres a full walk around deck (deck 7) and sports facilities on deck 19. The Casino is well laid out, even though we don't use it and the Princess Theatre is a large and impressive venue for major performances. The Piazza was smaller than I expected, but served its purpose well. There's also a nice range of additional restaurants including the Crown Grill and Share. The shops and boutiques are what we'd expect on such a ship. Not much for them - except some expensive watches and sports cameras. Perhaps these Princess could add items and apparel more for men. The buffet style dining on LIDO deck was disappointing with poor quality food. I've been on three previous Princess cruises and the buffet on LIDO was very impressive. Not on this cruise. Allowing passengers to handle ladles and food one after another is also unhygienic and an invitation for a gastro outbreak - which is exactly what happened. We avoided the buffet dining after a forgettable experience on our first day. I'm thankful I and my wife had the good sense to abandon the meal and discretely dispose of the first bites. As it would turn out, the ship copped a wave of severe stomach virus (gastro) affecting and quarantining over a hundred passengers and some crew. We were lucky, avoiding the indignity, discomfort and agony of those affected passengers confined to their rooms - even on port days. An incident where the ship travelling at speed though the straits of Messina suddenly changed course, listing at 6% starboard, causing me to lose my footing towards an open balcony door on Riviera deck 14. I could no longer see the sky and with only the ocean looming towards me and being unable to stabilise my balance, this incident was extremely distressing. For a moment I thought it was all over. There was substantial damage to the food buffet areas as trays, plates, tables and chairs went flying. Pools were emptied and it was a very serious incident. A request for details of the incident was never provided by passenger services, who to our dismay denied the incident even happened. Food and crew in our dining room were amazing - 10/10 ! A wide variety of courses - something different every day in Club Class. High fives to MaitreD's Nazram and Daniel, to Cinta, our welcoming lady, our super fantastic waiters Mark, Ryan, Jelenna, Siti, Miriam, Dieri and Yongli. You made our dining an enjoyable experience and we can't thank you enough for your fine service. Entertainment: Again, pro's and cons. There were almost zero attraction shows in the Princess Theatre. Why, I don't know but no explanation was given. Very poor effort Princess ! However, amazing violinists "The Lado Duo", comic Richie Minervini and Hypnotist David Knight are superb! Look them up. "The Lado Duo" deserved their own showcase in the Princess Theatre - an opportunity lost by the entertainment director. Also, bing a mostly baby-boomer cruise, having main shows at 10.15pm is too late. Have one show at 9.30pm and the Princess Theatre will be full house every night. Malta was impressive and an unexpected surprise and our highlight. Italy stunning as were Greek destinations Athens, Plaka and Santorini. The Acropolis was busy and despite the crowds, easy to navigate. Take care on a wet day so you don't slip on the marble. Naples on the Italian mainland and Palermo in Sicily offer a journey you must experience to appreciate. You'll either love them or not but try to take in the tortured history of these places. If you can't see it in the buildings and streets, you'll see it on the faces of locals. Both these locations are close enough to the port to walk. Corsica, Corfu Montenegro and Dubrovnik offered amazing views, food, walks and historic sites. Barcelona didn't excite me as I thought it would - but it was Sunday. That said it was worth the stop over to visit the Sagrada Família church. This has to be seen to be believed. The fresh food/produce of the Port market in Corsica, just 50 metres from the ship is sensational! It's only open in the morning so go early and have breakfast. I'm of Italian background and honestly, the pizza I had here is the BEST I've tasted. Sooooooo fresh! Southern France reminded me of Tuscany and Northern Italy. The ancient Romans had much to do in France and oddly we saw more Roman influence than French, especially in buildings and wineries (mostly originating from Italian vines and owners). The Arena, located in Nimes, is a smaller cousin of Rome's 'Colosseum', again built by the Romans. Perfectly preserved and adjacent to the Roman temple, one would be excused for thinking they were in Italy. Just a heads up for diners who love seafood - some of the seafood on some islands are imported from Spain, such as muscles. Ask the restaurant if their seafood is local or imported or a mixture of both. Preservatives can set off allergic reactions, as so happened to my wife. Back on the ship, the so-so attitude of some crew at the front desk (passenger service desk) left much to be desired. Again, not all the crew but some seemed 'disinterested', kind of like the passengers were 'bothering them'. I've never experienced this on our previous Princes and MSC cruises and granted some passengers can be difficult but we are very respectful and didn't expect poor service from the desk. Our Stateroom was exceptional, on the Riviera deck and kept immaculate by Robelito, our stateroom steward. Embark/Disembark was flawless and smooth as was getting on/off during port days. Princess are very good in these areas. Internet is pricey but we had excellent coverage. The gym is very good as is the Lotus Spa, pools and general amenities. The medical staff are fantastic, helping my wife through 2 emergencies, one severe swelling due to an allergic reaction to a dinner on shore and another to help with a minor chest infection - thanks medics! One thing of importance - this 22 day cruise was two eleven day cruises back to back and Princess could have made a better effort to provide more variety like in room movies/TV shows and most certainly improve acts in the main Princess Theatre. If Princess want to join 2 cruises then please freshen up in-room entertainment at the start of the second leg. All up though, this cruise had its highlights and its horrors. We've done 5 cruises, the first 4 on Princess and one with MSC. Would I recommend Princess? Yes, of course but seriously, they need to move quickly on the issues I raised to keep their reputation intact. We'll be booking 3 new cruises over the next 18 months and if this is the new norm at Princess, then we'll be looking at another liner. Read Less

I chose Princess mainly because of the itinerary offered in the dates we preferred. I have cruised the Mediterranean before, but Princess offered some new ports I had, yet, visited. This trip was special, as it was eleven nights with my two grown daughters, neither who had ever visited any of the countries included. It was wonderful- great service,, attentive staff, and excellent excursions offered. We visited seven ports and took advantage of an excursion at each stop we made. We also enjoyed the dining and service provided ar each meal. The menu was good and varied. One daughter is a pescatarian, and she was a bit concerned about what the offerings might be, but she thoroughly enjoyed the choices provided and there was never an issue. Because there were three of us, we had a mini suite. I think I would upgrade to a full suite if I were to book again, just to give us that much more space. Though we managed just fine, accommodations were a bit tight. All in all , a most pleasant experience, and I would consider Orincess again if I were thinking of another cruise. Read Less

Staff was unfriendly and rude across the board. Bar staff seemed put out and irritated when I ordered drinks. ON top of that they had gratuity added onto every drink. It was not an option to leave less than 15 or 18%. Beyond irritating. When I passed staff on the ship they never said hi or smiled. They were over it. Upon boarding the ship I saw a crew member near the pool in the smoking section having a cigarette. So gross. This ship needs new leadership from the top down. High end restaurants had bad service. At one dinner we paid $39 extra per person. The waiter neglected us and took no responsibility for the bad service. Another restaurant blamed the scheduling system for the poor service however they didn't greet us after 10 minutes of standing in the entry. This ship missed the ball on so many levels. I'll never sail with Princess cruise lines again. Read Less

We have cruised with other lines before and decided to try Princess based on a recommendation from our travel agent due to the specific ports we wanted to visit. We did a 14 day cruise with Princess Cruise lines. Never made it to Mykonos due to a storm. Food was average but nothing spectacular. Too many starchy foods. Not enough vegetables and fruits. Entertainment was just okay. Not enough planned activities accept pushing bingo games and paper airplane races. Don’t buy a drink package. If on Dolphin Deck, the tinder boats are under you and when they are launched at 6 am, you will be knocked out of bed by the noise. Gym was sub par. Two standard stationary bikes for the whole ship to use. The Sanctuary area is a joke. Don’t waste your money for $80 a day. The art auction staff must all be new as they didn’t have full knowledge on the artist they were selling. Overall staff were not as friendly as on other cruise lines we have travelled on. I honestly do not believe we will ever cruise with Princess in the future. Read Less