My wife and I recently completed a 7-day cruise on the Caribbean Princess (May 31 to June 7). We spent over $4,000 on the trip and were part of a group of 10 people, including several longtime Princess cruisers. According to the experienced Princess travelers in our group, this was the most disappointing Princess cruise they had ever taken. As first-time Princess guests, it unfortunately left a poor impression.
The biggest issue throughout the voyage was the service. Wait times for drinks and casual dining were consistently excessive. On multiple occasions, I waited more than 30 minutes for a drink and over 45 minutes for simple food items like a hamburger. Many bars and quick-service venues appeared understaffed, which made it difficult to relax and enjoy the ship.
That said, two crew members stood out in a very positive way: Joyce from the Philippines and Ismail from Morocco. They were consistently friendly, attentive, and professional, and they helped make the experience better whenever we interacted with them.
The ship also seemed to struggle with air conditioning in several public areas. Places such as the casino and Skywalkers nightclub were often uncomfortably warm. Thankfully, our cabin remained reasonably comfortable throughout the cruise.
Another recurring issue was a persistent sewer-like odor in various public spaces, particularly near restroom areas and some dining locations. It was noticeable throughout the week and detracted from the overall experience.
Food quality was generally acceptable, and Sabatini's was a highlight. However, our final dinner in the main dining room was extremely disappointing. Despite arriving early, our group waited nearly two hours for food. Some meals never arrived, several guests left before being served, and my entrée was undercooked when it finally appeared.
Our cabin steward and room service team were excellent. The cabin was kept clean, requests were handled quickly, and the mini-suite was comfortable despite showing its age.
One concerning incident occurred when the ship temporarily lost power. Air conditioning, lighting, and restroom systems were affected. While the outage was eventually resolved, it was unsettling and raised concerns about safety and reliability.
Overall, we enjoyed our ports of call and encountered some excellent crew members, but the combination of long service delays, maintenance issues, odors, heat, and dining problems significantly impacted the trip.
For the price paid and the premium reputation often associated with Princess, we expected a much better experience. Based on this sailing, my wife and I are unlikely to choose Princess again, and anyone considering Caribbean Princess may want to research recent experiences before booking.
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