If I could interject another opinion. David and I have very little cruising experience, having only done less then 20 days at sea so far. We have done HAL twice. The first time was awesome, it was on the Ryndam. Service was immaculate never wanting a thing, the bartender Roman in the crows nest would great us every evening before dinner. It was Great. Then we went on the Oosterdam and had a less then pleasant time. The Same Bartender who was now on the Oosterdam (his wife worked in sick bay) but his enthusiasm to serve had vanished. The difference in the two voyages came down to the realization that somewhere in between they left behind what made them special, the "no tip necessary" policy. I noticed that once the crew knew they didn’t have to provide the greatest service and would still get their tip the whole moral of the ship was lost.
We now have moved on to Celebrity, I doubt very seriously whether or not we will give Carnival Corp. another one of our travel dollars, although I would like to experience Princess, but from what I have read on other boards she may have already sold her corporate image to the devil .
The worse thing COULD happen I could run out of cruising options ..nah could Never happen ..I’m on Celebrity.. Right!?
Always,
<]