Caribbean Princess 11/10-17/2012 Review

[KangarooCruiser]

Awesome pics and review, you mentioned that the Sanctuary eventually booked out, any idea when that occurred? Example, within 2 or 3 hours?

 

Tony

[eastoftheboston]

Thanks for the great review!

 

I do have a couple of questions - how early did you get to Sanctuary, do you remember? Also, you mention suite/elite embarkation, disembarkation lounge, and the special drink area - do those not also include platinum members?

 

Sounds like you had a great time!!

 

I was one of the first 20 people on the ship, and literally sprinted to the Sanctuary, so I was there immediately, and by the time I had my passes, there were four or five other couples waiting in line, so it was fast.

 

And yes, the embark/debark/drink specials are also for platinum members. Since I was in a suite, I just defaulted to calling them suite perks. Sorry about that!

[eastoftheboston]

Awesome pics and review, you mentioned that the Sanctuary eventually booked out, any idea when that occurred? Example, within 2 or 3 hours?

 

Tony

 

I'm pretty sure by three hours, the weekly passes were all taken. I think the daily passes also sold out on the first day, but don't remember for certain.

[eastoftheboston]

Thank you for your review. It was great. You've convinced me that I must do the Sanctuary when cruising the Caribbean.

 

Michelle, you clearly didn't read my review. I said it wasn't worth a penny. Don't waste your money! EVERYONE (except me) STAY AWAY FROM THE SANCTUARY!!!! PLEASE DON'T BOOK IT (unless I already have my lounger reserved). STAY AWAY!!!! :D

[TinaLee]

Michelle, you clearly didn't read my review. I said it wasn't worth a penny. Don't waste your money! EVERYONE (except me) STAY AWAY FROM THE SANCTUARY!!!! PLEASE DON'T BOOK IT (unless I already have my lounger reserved). STAY AWAY!!!! :D

 

I agree - everyone should STAY AWAY! :D

[karabear15]

Regarding being platinum/elite traveling with non p/e...I've been informed by both my travel agent and princess that if they are traveling in your group, they are able to board with you. Two years ago all I needed to do was show my boarding pass to the guys at the door and they asked who all was in my party and he led us to the priority boarding area. Things may have changed, but this was my experience.

[caribill]

I have an unusual question. My husband and I are Platinum so we get priority boarding - so we will be on ship early and can head up to the Santucary right away. However we are traveling with another couple who do not have priority boarding. Is there anyway we can make reservations for us and for them at the same time.

 

If they cannot board with you (as suggested by the previous poster), I think you can reserve for them, but it will go on your cabin account since you will be using your cruise card to make the reservation.

[monkeybench]

Regarding being platinum/elite traveling with non p/e...I've been informed by both my travel agent and princess that if they are traveling in your group, they are able to board with you.

I think it depends on who's working because we got conflicting information all the way on to the ship. I was gold sharing a stateroom with two platinums.

 

We walk into the terminal to get into the check in line and they split us up. I could not wait with the platinums, the platinums couldn't wait in my line. The platinums checked in, tried to get the lady at the desk to allow me to check in at the same time, and got denied. I waited, waited, waited, waited some more. The platinums tried to stay in the queue area so we could go through security together, and Princess personnel wouldn't let them stay. I waited, waited, waited, and waited some more, until I finally got to my check-in desk where I was told we were all supposed to check in together.

 

My traveling companions were waiting outside of security for me, but Princess wouldn't let them do that either so they went through and were escorted into the "platinum lounge". One of them was watching for me and tried to come out when he saw me come through the security checkpoint, while the Princess employee tried to body-block him in. We were given two different boarding groups as well. Communicating this while a Princess employee is trying to keep the platinums in their "lounge" and me out was not easy.

 

When it came time for boarding, we'd had enough of this. They told me to try boarding with them and I was let on along with them. Two employees out of the dozen or so we interacted with let us stay together as a party, the rest were hellbent on keeping us split. Hope your experience goes better because it was a pretty crappy way to start the cruise. I should add that when I complained to Princess about this, they told me the platinum travelers could have waited in my lines. That was not our experience, however. I'd have to conclude it's up to employee discretion.

[caribill]

I'd have to conclude it's up to employee discretion.

 

Or poorly trained contractors.

[beshears]

Once again, thanks for your wonderful review and pictures.

 

I appreicate your reply to my questions too.

 

I really hadn't checked out how many decks Caribbean Princess had, so I was amazed when you said the buffet was on deck "15." I'm used to most ships having about 13. We are to be on deck 8, so I was wondering how far it was from us. That will give me "plenty" of exercise walking up there and back down.:)

 

I am "excited":) about checking out Curacao, as I LOVE pastel colors, and want to take several pictures.

 

Do you know if they had the Newlywed game/show on your cruise?

 

You say Princess's pizza is the best, well I'll have to check it out, as I have always said Carnival's was the best.

 

Since you had such a "ROYAL" room to stay in and I'm so HAPPY for you, more than likely you won't know this. Maybe someone else can inform me of this. I have cruised on Princess a few times and their beds are so HARD:mad:, and I was wondering if they are still that way? They say you can ask for an egg crate, but I don't think that helps too much.

[eastoftheboston]

Once again, thanks for your wonderful review and pictures.

 

I appreicate your reply to my questions too.

 

I really hadn't checked out how many decks Caribbean Princess had, so I was amazed when you said the buffet was on deck "15." I'm used to most ships having about 13. We are to be on deck 8, so I was wondering how far it was from us. That will give me "plenty" of exercise walking up there and back down.:)

 

I am "excited":) about checking out Curacao, as I LOVE pastel colors, and want to take several pictures.

 

Do you know if they had the Newlywed game/show on your cruise?

 

You say Princess's pizza is the best, well I'll have to check it out, as I have always said Carnival's was the best.

 

Since you had such a "ROYAL" room to stay in and I'm so HAPPY for you, more than likely you won't know this. Maybe someone else can inform me of this. I have cruised on Princess a few times and their beds are so HARD:mad:, and I was wondering if they are still that way? They say you can ask for an egg crate, but I don't think that helps too much.

 

If you count Skywalkers, I think there are 18 decks on Princess. At least when you're walking up, there is no Deck 13 so it's one less to deal with!

 

Not sure if there was a newlywed game. I would be in the Patters, which I provided a link to a couple of posts up. I have to admit I didn't read through all the patters, just scanned and posted them.

 

Our bed was really soft, and it had some kind of pad on top of it, so really no complaints about the bedding from me.

 

I've cruised Carnival, Celebrity, and Princess, and I would say Princess has the best pizza, followed by Carnival, with Celebrity in third.

[TahitianVirgin]

I agree the PIZZA was GREAT!

[KKB]

Thanks! (for the patters, too)

We also love Princess pizza (& burgers, too)

We used to love Embassy Suites but they priced us out...we usually stay next door at the Hyatt Place for much less--and can still get our sodas, etc. nearby.

Sanctuary sounds a bit like the adults only Solarium on Oasis/Allure of the seas...which is free, but you certainly don't get quite the service. We are travelling w/ children, but it might be fun for an afternoon!

[boca7]

I have an unusual question. My husband and I are Platinum so we get priority boarding - so we will be on ship early and can head up to the Santucary right away. However we are traveling with another couple who do not have priority boarding. They really need the Santuary reservations since the husband has cancer and can't spend a lot of time in sun. Is there anyway we can make reservations for us and for them at the same time. I'm worried that by the time they get onboard the week passes will be all gone[/q Just bring them along with you, should be no problem.

[Roxymax]

Thanks for the awesome review and pics. We sail her in Jan for our 10th anniversary. My mind is not on Christmas but on the cruise.

[kgbinco]

Thanks for the great review! Do you remember how much the weekly Sanctuary pass cost ...

[cruiseclues]

Thanks for the very enjoyable photo review...the great photos..the downloadable Caribbean Princess Patters PDF's...the Nevis Suite Photos & Perks info...including the Suite Door Hanger Breakfast Menu...a great review. :):):):)

[Keith1010]

Thanks for posting the review.

 

Keith