Tell me about the Pacific Princess??

[mapsmith]

Looking at the Pacific Princess at the End of August for Alaska.

Smallest ship we have been on has been the Carnival Paradise as our first cruise and about 1600 passengers.

 

What is it like on a ship with about a thousand?

 

Since it appears the Pacific Princess is being used for an extended World Cruise, how do people that have been on board for a month or more interact with us peons that would only be on for a short time?

 

Would I be proper in assuming that the continuing passengers would be more of the retired age range? (I am not that far away myself, but wondering about the two of us at mid 50's being among the younger?

 

What is the service, and entertainment like aboard the smaller ship?

 

I have heard that there are plexiglass panels along the promenade that can interfere with views (Glaciers,etc). Are they also on the upper decks where they would also interfere with views? How about the views from the staterooms?

 

Just considering at this point.

[thyme2go]

See answers below:

 

Looking at the Pacific Princess at the End of August for Alaska.

Smallest ship we have been on has been the Carnival Paradise as our first cruise and about 1600 passengers.

 

What is it like on a ship with about a thousand? If you count everyone on the ship crew + passengers you may hit 1000. It is a small ship and you will recognize people quickly and make friends.......it's a great atmosphere IMO.

 

Since it appears the Pacific Princess is being used for an extended World Cruise, how do people that have been on board for a month or more interact with us peons that would only be on for a short time? We were on the Pacific just before a world cruise, but met people who were continuing on. Never had any hint of attitudes or peon treatment.........nice people on the ship!

 

Would I be proper in assuming that the continuing passengers would be more of the retired age range? (I am not that far away myself, but wondering about the two of us at mid 50's being among the younger? On the cruise we were on there was a wide range of people, but certainly not many young people with children......mostly couples.

 

What is the service, and entertainment like aboard the smaller ship? The service was very, very good. The entertainment is 'intimate' and if you need a lot of stuff going on 24/7, then this ship won't work for you.

 

I have heard that there are plexiglass panels along the promenade that can interfere with views (Glaciers,etc). Are they also on the upper decks where they would also interfere with views? How about the views from the staterooms? No Plexiglass on the promenade deck unless they installed it in the last year... there are wonderful loungers with cushions to relax. Very old school promenade, but it's limited to each side of the ship. Staterooms? The views are like any other ship except you will not be so high in the sky because it is a smaller ship.

 

Pacific and Ocean are our favorite ships.......wish we could be on them all the time!!

 

 

Just considering at this point.

[caribill]

The Pacific Princess is a twin of the Ocean Princess.

 

For pictures of the Ocean Princess (when it was named the Tahitian Princess), see http://fp.caribill.com/

Edited April 19, 2014 by caribill

[Pam in CA]

What is it like on a ship with about a thousand?

 

Since it appears the Pacific Princess is being used for an extended World Cruise, how do people that have been on board for a month or more interact with us peons that would only be on for a short time?

 

Would I be proper in assuming that the continuing passengers would be more of the retired age range? (I am not that far away myself, but wondering about the two of us at mid 50's being among the younger?

 

What is the service, and entertainment like aboard the smaller ship?

1. There will be fewer than 700 passengers, quite different from even a ship with 1,000 passengers. What is it like? It's like going to a small Mom & Pop store vs. a supermarket, a small college vs. a university. It takes less than five minutes to walk from one end of the ship to another, you see other passengers frequently and get to know them, ditto for staff, entertainment staff double to help the CD and shore excursions so they are accessible and visible.

 

2. People interact far more on these ships than the large ships, whether they've been onboard for weeks or months. At first, after you board, they're the ones who know the staff but you will, too. It's not unlike taking a 2-week Med cruise and hundreds boarded the previous cruise for a B2B. I've never noticed cliques.

 

3. The small ships attract fewer young people. These ships also tend to have longer cruises which younger people don't book as often. The result is an older demographic.

 

4. Because staff gets to know you, service is more personal... and better.

 

5. Don't know about the balcony since I've only been in it seen oceanview cabins on these ships.

 

I have to laugh because I can't tell you how many times I've been in the disembarkation lounge and thought, "I've never seen any of these people during the entire cruise." So easy for that to happen on a large ship. Doesn't happen on the small ship.

 

Cruising on a small ship is a unique experience. Some people like it, others don't. There isn't Anytime Dining, not as many entertainment options, etc. My BIL hated small ships because he loved to play bridge on a cruise and he felt there weren't enough bridge players to make it interesting for him.

Edited April 19, 2014 by Pam in CA

[paul929207]

We love the small Princess ships. You really get to know the staff and the other passengers. Unlike the big ships, you see people a second and third time. Everything is close by. Service is great. Even in the buffet the staff quickly learns your preferences.

[flamomo]

I was just on the Pacific about 7 months ago, and she is a delightful little lady.

The decor is more traditional, with dark woods and "parlor" style furniture. I believe her capacity is listed as about 670 passengers.

Because of her small size, getting anywhere on the ship takes just a few minutes. Also in the more intimate atmosphere of a small ship, getting to know your fellow passengers and the crew seems so much easier.

Every cabin, including insides have a sofa. The bathrooms are larger for all categories of cabins than on the larger Princess ships.

The buffet is all the way aft, and there is a wonderful outdoor dining area .... one of my favorite places for breakfast and lunch, and occasionally dinner. It's also a great location for taking photos and viewing the scenery.

I'd love to be getting back aboard her, or her sister, the Ocean, soon.

[Mapu]

We were on the PP for two weeks at the end of December. We have been on all of the small Princess ships and enjoy the intimacy and ease of getting into smaller ports. The ship was very worn when we were on the end of December, I believe it is scheduled for a 7 day dry dock for "freshening" but it my opinion it needs more then "freshening".

Edited April 19, 2014 by Mapu

[shredie]

My favorite! The decor is just lovely, and it gives you that old time cruise liner feel. The buffet is glorious! Such views! The forward lounge also has magnificent views. The balcony cabins have a little love seat just inside the balcony doors, and it is so relaxing to sit there. I saw some of the best wildlife I have ever seen on a cruise, watching the whales in Alaska where the balcony was a little closer to the water. The casino is dinky, so that might bother some people. The specialty restaurants do a revolving schedule, so both are not open on the same night. There is no Piazza, so to speak, but the lobby is beautiful, and the staircase there makes for great pictures. Our first time on her, DH was playing bridge all the time, and he seemed to know everyone on the ship when we disembarked. I keep waiting for the right itinerary so we can sail her again.

[Wehwalt]

If you go outside on the Lido deck, during early dinner, you might well be the only one there. It is rare that things are crowded.

 

That being said, very often there is not a lot to do. Plusses and minuses. I've done 76 nights on the Pacific Princess and 30 on the Ocean.

[Jim Avery]

My favorite! The decor is just lovely, and it gives you that old time cruise liner feel. The buffet is glorious! Such views! The forward lounge also has magnificent views. The balcony cabins have a little love seat just inside the balcony doors, and it is so relaxing to sit there. I saw some of the best wildlife I have ever seen on a cruise, watching the whales in Alaska where the balcony was a little closer to the water. The casino is dinky, so that might bother some people. The specialty restaurants do a revolving schedule, so both are not open on the same night. There is no Piazza, so to speak, but the lobby is beautiful, and the staircase there makes for great pictures. Our first time on her, DH was playing bridge all the time, and he seemed to know everyone on the ship when we disembarked. I keep waiting for the right itinerary so we can sail her again.

 

This is really good to hear. We board her May 13th!:D

[MGnut]

This is really good to hear. We board her May 13th!:D

 

Lucky You! :)

 

We have to wait until July next year :(.

 

We've been on her twice when she was the Tahitian, and can hardly wait to get back! :D

 

Howard

[mapsmith]

Thanks all, This makes my leaning toward the PP a little easier to convince the wife. We really don't care about the casino. We both prefer Late Seating so not having ATD also is good. (On our last Princess Cruise, we had to enlist the help of my sister who was on about her 5th or 6th Princess cruise to help us convince the Maitre 'D to change us to the Traditional Dining room since we hated not knowing our tablemates from one night to the next. Entertainment is good to know about, but it will be an Alaskan Cruise so entertainment quickly falls aside.

 

Any comments about food? Quality, deliciousness, flavoring?

[rdsqrl]

I think the food is dependent upon who's in the kitchen. If the same executive chef is in charge for your cruise as was for mine in December, you'll eat well. I thought most meals were very good, with just a few things not to my taste (on the bright side, that gave me some ammunition for snarky comments in my Live. I live for those moments . . .). Your menus on a shorter Alaska cruise will vary from mine on an 18-day cruise, but I'd be remiss not to warn you upfront about Burnt Rhubarb Napoleon! On the other hand, if you see Tarantina pizza in the buffet at lunch (it's the day when the lunch theme is Italian), definitely try some. Fantastico!

[Alaska0799]

We are considering late June 2014 RT Vancouver Alaska cruise (will be our 8th Alaska cruise). Our priority is wildlife viewing so we enjoy the ships with forward viewing decks and a promenade deck (preferably one that circumnavigates the ship). We also enjoy cruising Alaska with an onboard Naturalist. Would we find the Pacific lacking? We appreciate all input!

[shredie]

We are considering late June 2014 RT Vancouver Alaska cruise (will be our 8th Alaska cruise). Our priority is wildlife viewing so we enjoy the ships with forward viewing decks and a promenade deck (preferably one that circumnavigates the ship). We also enjoy cruising Alaska with an onboard Naturalist. Would we find the Pacific lacking? We appreciate all input!

 

We had a naturalist on our Alaska cruise on the PP. He was all over the ship. He had lunch in the buffet with other pax most days. At the Captain's party, he showed up in "tails," fake racoon tails pinned to the back of his jacket. He was great.

[Alaska0799]

Love that! A naturalist with a sense of humor! Thanks for the input.

[PescadoAmarillo]

I thought most meals were very good, with just a few things not to my taste (on the bright side, that gave me some ammunition for snarky comments in my Live. I live for those moments . . .)

 

I knew I liked you! Honest reviews with just a bit of snark...that's entertainment!