Our first cruise was in Aug of 2004 on Caribbean Princess and was a dream come true. Again, we decided to try Caribbean Princess but take another rout and different islands. This time we were on the mailing list and receive notice from Princess that they were running a "deal/special" for guests that had traveled with them before. I thought this was great! what a great perk! So, this time we booked our vacation with Princess instead of going through the travel agent we had used for out first cruise. We were told by the agent with Princess that at the time we were booking this that there were no inside or outside rooms available so we would be automatically upgraded. I explained to them that I wanted to request being in the back or middle of the ship due to having had back surgery and still having chronic back pain. This would place me on he ship closest to the eatery and main pools. I was assured this would be considered. When we received our booklet for the cruise I noticed that they had placed us in a room at the very front of the ship, on the lowest floor (deck 5) which was the total opposite of what I asked for. I contacted Princess again to explained by physical limitations and was told that the ship was now completely booked and I would have to go to customer service when I arrived on the ship to request a change in rooms. I did request another room and it took them 2 days while on the ship before they delivered a denial letter to my room. I did go back to the guest service desk and again explain my physical disabilities to them and was told there was nothing they can do as they had every room on the ship occupied. I later met some employees who expressed that they had received nicer rooms this time while working and were placed in balcony rooms located on higher decks in the middle of the ship. Other employees told me that the cruise line had over booked their employees and had to place them in rooms that guests would normally have. They also told me that deck 3 is for employees only and when they need more rooms they use rooms on deck 5 in the front of the ship. I ask you, do you think a guest who is paying for this cruise be bumped from the guest rooms and placed in rooms that they would normally use for employees?

Not only that, they say they will accommodate physical limitations but actually seem to make things as difficult for you when u have a disability. Take a look at the layout for Caribbean Princess. They placed me on deck 5 in the front of the ship and the main pools are on desk 15 along with at least 4 buffet's. I spend most of my time in my room. By the time I would walk to the theater, pool of buffet I was in so much pain that I had to go back to the room and lay down. Sitting and walking make the pain worse. I will never book a trip with Princess again and look forward to traveling with Royal Caribbean next time.