15 Nights Spain, Portugal & France Passage Cruise

Above and beyond- full marks for the Team

Where to start: This was our first cruise ever, and after reading several reviews about Princess Cruises, our expectations were high — and we were not disappointed! We boarded the Emerald Princess in Southampton, England, and were pleasantly surprised by how swift and efficient the entire check-in process was. From receiving our Medallions to being called up for security and finally stepping onboard, everything went flawlessly. A great first impression. When we arrived at our stateroom, we found our luggage neatly lined up in the corridor, ready to be placed inside. The room itself was spotlessly clean, with no faults, scratches, or maintenance issues. Everything felt fresh and well cared for, including the bathroom. A perfect start to our journey. Our first dinner was at the buffet on the 15th floor, buzzing with energy and full of smiling, happy passengers. One thing that stood out (and made perfect sense, especially as first-time cruisers) was that it was mandatory to wash your hands before every meal — a small but important detail that made us feel cared for and safe. Over the 14 days on board, we never encountered a single staff member who was anything less than polite, professional, and accommodating. The entire crew worked together like clockwork, making every aspect of the cruise feel well-organized and seamless. Depending on future cruise destinations, we will definitely consider sailing with Princess again. The Emerald Princess lived up to its name — a true jewel in the crown — and gave us an unforgettable first cruise experience. A few staff names to mention: Noli - cabin steward Oliver, Jessica, Almira, Madhu, Dennis - Service team, Sous Chef & and his team - World Market Buffet Thank you, Princess Cruises!

Our Excellent Experience on the Emerald Princess

My wife and I had a wonderful time on the Emerald Princess during our recent Scandinavian Baltic Cruise (May 8-22, 2025). We were very impressed with the crew members willingness to assist us whenever we needed help or seemed to need help! One place we would like to mention was their Pop-up Restaurants: Steamers Seafood and Planks BBQ. The Beef Brisket was amazing, very tender and flavorful. The other Pop-up Restaurant, Steamers Seafood, was excellent too. We would like to thank the following Pop-up Restaurant crew members for their excellent service: Massimo, Rhea, Rona, Jovanni, Edison, Catherine, and Lee (number 10). If we didn't mention the cooks, our hats are off to you! Thank you for your excellent cooking, meal preparation and service! Our Cabin Steward, Ramir was awesome. Our room was clean and orderly. He visited two times or more a day. Ramir was very friendly and helpful when we needed him or not. Thank you, Ramir!

Awesome first cruise experience.

This was my first cruise with my wife (DINK) so I found everything to be excellent. Plenty of activites between going to shows, information sessions, art auctions, hanging out poolside, ping pong, walking the promenade, eating, drinking and watching open air movies. The service was outstanding. I am not used to be waited on. I usually put my dishes and garbage where they belong so I found it uncomfortable just leaving my dishes and glasses. Otherwise, the staff were always pleasant and easy to find. We had an interior cabin which was fine. The decor was dated, but otherwise in good condition or a well earned patina. Our room steward was the great. It always seemed he was just around the corner, out of sight and waiting for us to leave so he could empty our trash, or top up toiletries. The 50" tv seemed enormous in the cabin. Dining, as our water in the main dining room said, "the best part". He was referring to the dessert menu, but I felt the same about almost all the food on the ship. Everything was fresh, plenty of whole, real food. I missed the food almost immediately after disembarking. Disembarking was a little chaotic, but please, I wish people didn't walk off with their luggage. Let the crew handle it and we can all get off the ship smoother. The entertainment was great, more than enough to distract you. I preferred lounging top side in the fresh air and daylight. The Movies under the stars was awesome. My only dislikes were beyond the control of the ship and crew. Lets just say there are some really entitled people out there, certainly they are more important than everyone else. I did not have any personal interactions, but I have to give the crew credit for having to deal with these people. Especially the bartenders, shaking, blending and pouring drinks 30 at a time and someone didn't get their lime.