3/26/05

By Qcruiser

• February 18, 2007

Took the family on a much anticipated cruise last week and it really was everything we expected and more. My twin 10 year old boys stayed with Nana in an inside cabin accross the hall from our balcony cabin on Aloha deck. Embarkation was a breeze, arriving in San Pedro around 11:00 and getting to our staterooms by 1:15 or so, and our luggage was there already. WE loved our balcony cabin and will only sail with one in the future... once you have one I don't think you could go to a closed box. There was however plenty of space for everyone to stow their stuff... the bathrooms are small as you've heard, however they are quite adequite. We loved the huge ship, even though it is enormous it's very comfortable. Princess has a style and elegance to her ships that is very nice. Our cabin stewardess, Viktoria, was delightful and catered to all of our needs, we tipped her extra.

We had the first seating in traditional dining room, and our wait staff, Jose and Richard, made each meal a wonderful experience. If we couldn't make up our minds on a dessert or entre he would bring it all... Alka Selzer time. WE enjoyed having the same staff at meals as they knew to bring the decaf during dessert, and all the little touches that make the dining expeirience so much nicer. I think anytime dining would miss that. Our only regret was that we missed extra pool time and any sunsets by being in the dining room at that time each day. One day we passed up early dinner, (just let them know), and we ate in the Pacific Moon at 8:30 pm by just walking up. I still ordered from the regular menu though, couldn't pass up the rack of lamb... We took on board our own wine and I tipped our staff the second night and never got charged the $10 corkage fee all week.

My kids didn't do much in the Pirateer's program, I set it up so they could sign themselves in and out but they enjoyed having the independance very much. Ports were great, we did the Puerto Vallarta Beach Break and it was very nice. They take you to a new resort just opened and it is quite nice. Watch out for the timeshare pitches in Mazatlan... they are all over you when you get off the tram from the dock. We bit on one and it worked out after all, we got free transportation through town, a stop on our return trip to shop, and our driver drove around so we could take pictures on our way back, tipped him $10.

WE snorkeled in Cabo and it was too cold for my kids to stay in very long, about 68 degrees... the water gets cold after November, when it is 80...all in all we loved everything, we deposited for our next cruise already. Piano Man show is great, as is the comedian juggler, don't need to see UnderCover... I got many great tips on these forums, I want to say thanx... The best was the card lanyards and the carpet color difference between port and starboard on the ship. It's so easy to get turned around on this big ship. Can't wait till our next cruise!