Having read (and written) many cruise reviews, I've decided to take a different approach and cover issues I didn't find in many reviews......as well as some of the usual stuff. Grab a cup of coffee and be prepared to be here a while.....guess I got carried away LOL

BACKGROUND: This was our 9th cruise, first on Princess. I had put together our little group of 10 (6 adults, 4 kids, 5 cabins total) in May, just 2 months from sail date. It was right after the Homeland Security threat level was raised, so corresponding rate drops found the Caribe balcony cabins just under $900 pp and the inside cabins across from them were just under $700 (I found that the kids could have their own cabin for less than putting them with the adults in the balcony cabins). We opted for a mini-suite as we wanted the extra room and the bathtub. Everyone was very pleased with their cabin arrangements. The 2 balcony cabins on Caribe were side by side, so they opened the balcony up. The corresponding kids' cabins were directly across the hall. This arrangement worked out great for all of them.

One of the families had cruised with us last year on the Triumph from Charleston, SC to Bermuda. The other family had one RCL cruise under their belts. Throughout the planning, I often emailed them with cruise tips, packing tips, port tips, etc. About a month out, we all got together for dinner and then booked the Captain Marvin's excursion immediately afterwards. Read more