Caribbean Princess review 4/6/13

[tweety33]

We sailed Caribbean Princess 4/6/13 out of Fort Lauderdale. I am going to give a sorta review and some comparisons. I’ll focus in on what I read a lot of people asking about on the boards before I sailed. This was our 13th cruise, 3rd on Princess.

 

We took cab from Hyatt place, the meter said $7.30, but driver made us pay $12. Still cheaper and lot faster then shuttle, but made me mad.

 

 

We arrived at terminal #2 at 9:30am. We were first standing in line to enter the terminal. They opened the doors to enter about 10am, right after they opened the other door for the elite passengers. They scanned our carry on, we checked in swiftly got #1 ticket for boarding. We sat in the waiting area until we boarded by noon. I watched the scanners and they did not stop anyone’s bags during that time. All forms of alcohol sailed right thru including the checked luggage.

 

 

We went straight to our ready room, dropped off our stuff, met our nice cabin dude Alfred and headed to the Coral dining room on deck 6 for a sit down lunch. We were not impressed with our table mates who were short & snappy, & demanding at the waitress, this was the case after 3 sit down meals, so we then requested tables for two.

 

Our room was Aloha deck 416 inside cabin. It was a perfect location. Center of ship just around the corner from the elevators, no noise. There was 6 elevators which went right down to the atrium and 2 decks up to the Lido deck pool. We spend such little time in cabin, the extra money for a balcony is not worth it to us. Usually we have been low in the ship, but being up on deck 12 we did feel more ship movement. But I liked that, rocking me to sleep.

[Colo Cruiser]

The driver made you pay $12? :eek:

[tweety33]

Coffee; I like the coffee, I wished I had never heard of syrup coffee from the boards, just the thought got to me a little, and my husband didn’t like it, I am sure only because I told him it was syrup. I found the coffee to be very good. We tried 1 coffee for $1.25 at the café, and neither of us thought it was worth it. DH said it was just a new form of nasty.

 

Food: was the best we have had on any cruise. Yes it was true they do have the best pizza at sea. You can actually pick it up & eat it with out grease running down. Some pizzas could only be eaten with fork & knife on other ships. We only had breakfast in dining room once because the buffet was so much better. So many varieties of eggs all made, scrambled eggs were not watery or salty like on Carnival. Bacon that was actually fully cooked & crisp. Everything you can think of for breakfast.

 

I started every day with a chocolate croissant, lets just say OMG were they good, never seen them before on a ship. Wish I could have filled my zip lock bags with them & bring them home.

Finally a ship that serves ceaser salad with out anchovies.

Free ice cream,soft serve, or scoops, & toppings, on deck 15

DH loved the shrimp cocktail each evening.

Best mashed potato at sea.

 

 

They patrol the entrance to the buffets & have you use purell before entering. They have plenty of staff bringing & refilling, coffee, iced tea, milk, coffee, oj once you sit down or you can go get it yourself. Nice touch. They also patrol the exit to the buffet in case you want help with your plate or just finding a seat. We never had a problem.

 

We never waited in a line at the buffet and never had a problem finding a seat, and did not find the layout confusing as many had warned about.

 

There was one bad food, the hamburger/hotdog grill is on deck 15 way front of ship, and odd place away from the main pool & horizon court but I see why now. It is so nasty. Grosses hamburgers at sea, we couldn’t eat them, & heard others say the same thing. But you can go there and get a bowl of yummy French fries. The Pizza place is right next to it, and tended to be open until midnight.

 

We had anytime dining, it was listed to open at 5:30 but often opened at 5. You had to be there prompto if you want a table for 2 with out a wait. We got there at 5:15 and there was 26 waiting in front of us, so we did share table that night. All nice wait staff. Being early was the only way to make it to the 7pm show and then have time for all the other activities.

 

 

 

You do not give your cabin # or anything when you enter the dining room, so they don't know your name or preferences when your seated, like on Carnival.

 

 

 

Popcorn, cookies & milk are brought around to you in the evening if you are watching movies under the stars. They put cushion covers over the chairs, and give you blankets. We did this on the last night. It was fun.

[tweety33]

The driver made you pay $12? :eek:

I wish I had more time to argue more, I did for a bit or find a cop & see if this was legal. He kept pointing to the window that says $10 min. but still 12 I don't get it. Needless to say, No tip for him. I didn't want to make to much tado because he dropped us in front of the luggage takers, & I didn't want them to "loose" my luggage if the were crooked together.

 

Same thing on our ride back to the airport. The meter was like $13.30, and he made us pay $16. No extra tip for him eithor. I think they got a racket going.

[tweety33]

We had a great cruise, nothing ruined our time, great weather, met nice people, great food, great service, nice ports. I will write more later. DH wants to use the computer.

 

p.s I Truly miss the towel animals. Princess please bring them back, it was a small extra touch to cruising. But I know I can get them when I cruise Carnival.

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the review!

 

We had one last year try and take us the long way from the airport to the Renaissance saying there was construction and detours, needless to say I know my way around there and he tried to hit me for $25. He got $12 and I kept calling him by his name which I got off the herdic license. After that he slinked back to his car and left. :rolleyes:

[Clutterlady]

Sorry you didn't like the burgers. Think they are great compared to Carnival....:)

[CRLess]

Thanks for the review!

 

We had one last year try and take us the long way from the airport to the Renaissance saying there was construction and detours, needless to say I know my way around there and he tried to hit me for $25. He got $12 and I kept calling him by his name which I got off the herdic license. After that he slinked back to his car and left. :rolleyes:

 

Pretty funny Keith! We were on the same cruise as tweety and I had left my SUV at the Hyatt Place during the cruise. The cab driver loaded us up and turned on the meter and said "where to". When I told him Hyatt Place, he got pissy with me, turned off the meter and said...."$20". As we were driving, I asked where in Lauderdale he lived (I knew because he was Haitien) and he said Lauderdale Lakes. I said, "Oh, our son is a Broward County Sheriff and works in Lauderdale lakes". The meter was turned back on!

[Colo Cruiser]

Pretty funny Keith! We were on the same cruise as tweety and I had left my SUV at the Hyatt Place during the cruise. The cab driver loaded us up and turned on the meter and said "where to". When I told him Hyatt Place, he got pissy with me, turned off the meter and said...."$20". As we were driving, I asked where in Lauderdale he lived (I knew because he was Haitien) and he said Lauderdale Lakes. I said, "Oh, our son is a Broward County Sheriff and works in Lauderdale lakes". The meter was turned back on!

 

Ha Ha!! Thats funny. :D

What a scam they have going.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Any taxis to/from Port Everglades or FLL do have a $10 minimum, and luggage is an additional charge. He wasn't trying to rip you off; that's just the way it is, and it is posted on the windows of the cabs.

[warb]

How was Hyatt Place ?

[CRLess]

How was Hyatt Place ?

 

Excellent...2nd time we stayed there and we only live an hour from the port! Depending on when you cruise, they allow you to park there for free or $5/day.

[OhioDogLover]

We were on the cruise with Tweety.

Hyatt Place was really a good value. Thanks again, Tweety, for letting us know about it.

Cabs in Ft., Lauderdale, don't get me started on that one. We didn't use any this time, but we have been around the block on that before and I am not referring to a posted minimum, either.

Tweety, thanks for the review. I'm glad I stayed away from the hamburgers. I must disagree with you about coffee though. I don't like either the syrup or the fresh brewed. But then, we make it strong with freshly ground beans at home, so I guess we are particular. That being said, it is only a week or so and you can get another kind of coffee when you stop in ports if you like. I can handle the syrup for that amount of time.

It was a ploeasure to meet you on the ship. The Irie tour was fun and a good value.

 

Ohiodoglover

[dsawyer]

Hamburgers had a distinct flavor that cried out "processed". Whatever frozen burgers they used on this cruise was budget quality.

 

Food overall was fine but 2 cruises in a row, the prime rib was not for me.

 

We gave our taxi driver $12.00 including the tip for our trip from the Hyatt Place. He was gracious in accepting it. :)

 

I usually am able to interact with management on a Princess ship but these guys left me cold especially in the dining room.

 

Overall, it was an okay cruise.

[58Piano]

We are going on the 20th same ship.

Is Bert Stratton on board?

What are the MUTS showing? Which ones are at night?

What was your favorite shows and entertainers?

Thanks for any information.

[tweety33]

We are going on the 20th same ship.

Is Bert Stratton on board?

What are the MUTS showing? Which ones are at night?

What was your favorite shows and entertainers?

Thanks for any information.

Bret Stratton was the singer & piano Entertainer playing on board this cruise.

 

MUTS in the evening was:

Pitch perfect ( we watched this the last evening)

Life of Pi

NCAA Basketball championshipPremium Rushskyfall

Breaking Dawn 2

Skyfall

NCAA Basketball

Karaoke under the stars

 

Our favorite entertainment was the one and only comedian for the week.Al Jamal not to be missed, he was so funny, we were in tears & loud laughing.

 

 

Have a great cruise we did.

[margeg]

Hi thanks for the review.

We have been on the Caribbean Princess 3 times several years back.

We were thinking of doing the Canada cruise in the fall.

What is the condition of the ship? I think she had a rehab not too long ago.

[tweety33]

The ship had a good layout. On Deck 7 was the majority of all the entertainment. In the evening you can easily walk from one club to the next.

 

Up on deck 18 is skywalkers nightclub. It is a disco like club with DJ. It has a fun escalator to ride you up to it. It is at the back of the ship and up high, where you do feel lots of movement. We went there each evening.

 

 

Nice layout of the different pools, across the upper decks of the ship. Adult only pool on each end.

 

On the first day there is a scavenger hunt like, where you go to about a dozen spots of the ship and get your paper stamped, put it the box next day at sail away on deck, & they draw lots of prizes, must be present to win. I won a casino polo shirt.

 

No special prices on drink. An occasional Cocktail of the day but still no special price & Very weak.

 

 

Tip on maneuvering your way around the cabins. Look at the carpet. Even numbered carpets have red, odd numbered cabins have blue lined carpet. If you come off the elevator & get turned around just look at carpet color to know which side to go to.

 

During the scavenger hunt they give you a free Bingo card, to be used for a certain game, then if you loose, you change it for another card for the next day. Point is we got total of 3 free bingo game. Bring your own pencil or they will charge you to buy a bingo stamper for the numbers.

 

Comedian was really good. There was 2 nights of magic shows, then singers & dancers, but you can only see so many of them, though they were all good. We prefer the entertainment on Carnival, which has comedian clubs every night, from rated G to X. Personally I’d like to see more comedians & some country music at night for dancing, and I don’t mean just the line dancing that they do a lot of on Princess.

 

They do not have cartons of milk you can get with your meals. Other ship always have small cartons of skim, whole, low fat & chocolate, you could pick up a the buffet. I had to ask for a glass, which sometimes they went out back to get, once they dumped it from the coffee area, milk for coffee.

 

 

Hot tubs do not have bubbles, but sometimes jets, sometimes barely warm, sometimes nice & hot just the way we like them. We only swam in the pool at the sanctuary area for adults only and it was fresh water, it also has one of them lap things, where you swim in place & go no where, kinda cool. It was not on the first time we swam. Very quiet place for a late night swim. There pools stay open late, which was a nice treat, since Carnival always closes theres very early.

 

 

The safe was very easy to use. Just pick a 4 digit pin, turn knob.

 

 

Thats it for tonight.

[tweety33]

Hi thanks for the review.

We have been on the Caribbean Princess 3 times several years back.

We were thinking of doing the Canada cruise in the fall.

What is the condition of the ship? I think she had a rehab not too long ago.

There was a lot of talk of that before I went. I read people have opposite opinions. Had I not purposely looked I would have said no wear. But.......... it is showing wear in alot of areas for example.

 

Out side bar tops are chipped, peeling & look old, white rails are chipped with paint, the carpet in our room was rolled or bunched up on the edges.

We were sitting at the pizza place, looking down the isle of the ship and the support post beams, decorative poles or what you call them, are not all standing even, some are tilted, so I hope they are not truly support:eek:

If your looking for wear you will see it around, but if your not looking, the ship looks great.

[tweety33]

How was Hyatt Place ?

Hyatt place 17th street convention center is great. All rooms are suites, free hot breakfast. Lots of Shopping & eating all with in walking distance. Very close to airport and cruise port. Very friendly & helpful at the front desk. If you book it thru value trips dot com, it is only $99, This was our second stay there, and I would book it again.

[lovevacadays]

Thank you for your review. Sounds like overall you had a great cruise. Sorry to hear you didn't like the hamburgers at the Trident Grill. I rarely eat hamburgers at home but always go to the Trident Grill at least once for a hamburger, fries, and my brought onboard Dr. Pepper. I typically really enjoy it.!

[Colo Cruiser]

Thank you for your review. Sounds like overall you had a great cruise. Sorry to hear you didn't like the hamburgers at the Trident Grill. I rarely eat hamburgers at home but always go to the Trident Grill at least once for a hamburger, fries, and my brought onboard Dr. Pepper. I typically really enjoy it.!

 

We like em too, I always get them to make me a double cheeseburger med rare! :D

[dsawyer]

We like em too, I always get them to make me a double cheeseburger med rare! :D

 

I always liked them before but not the ones they had on this cruise. I wondered why there was no line the day I got mine and found out with the first bite. :rolleyes:

[mafig]

I'm so very disappointed to hear about the waits for dining on this (and other Princess) cruise(s).

 

We haven't been on Princess for several years but I remember one of the things we really liked was how well anytime dining worked.

 

What happened? Did it work too well and somebody had to mess with it?

 

:(

[tweety33]

I always liked them before but not the ones they had on this cruise. I wondered why there was no line the day I got mine and found out with the first bite. :rolleyes:

I always liked them on my other Princess cruises as well, and your right, we never saw a line there at all. Your right it only took one bite for each us to trash that thing. Fries were very good though, escpecially getting a bowl full to during Movies under the stars:D