Caribbean Princess info needed

[GloriaF]

We sailed CB when it came out, the initial Princess mega ship, and there were crowding problems that were addressed on later mega ships. Wondering if the new 'fixes' to this problem have now been incorporated into CB?

 

Also, just out of curiosity -- does Princess still have the Seafood Buffet on embarkation day?

 

Since Princess is now offering Caribbean cruises during the warmer months and only CB is available. I would be most appreciative to hear any info tidbits y'all wish to share!

 

Thanks

[NRWPA]

We sailed CB when it came out, the initial Princess mega ship, and there were crowding problems that were addressed on later mega ships. Wondering if the new 'fixes' to this problem have now been incorporated into CB?

 

Also, just out of curiosity -- does Princess still have the Seafood Buffet on embarkation day?

 

Since Princess is now offering Caribbean cruises during the warmer months and only CB is available. I would be most appreciative to hear any info tidbits y'all wish to share!

 

Thanks

 

I'll try to remember to let you know once I get back from my b2b starting next Thursday. I have heard Princess no longer offers the seafood buffet, but always forget to check for myself on embarkation day. Really unfortunate since I enjoyed the crab legs WAY more than the lobster tail on formal night.

 

Nancy

[RNGALNG]

We sailed CB when it came out, the initial Princess mega ship, and there were crowding problems that were addressed on later mega ships. Wondering if the new 'fixes' to this problem have now been incorporated into CB?

 

Also, just out of curiosity -- does Princess still have the Seafood Buffet on embarkation day?

 

Since Princess is now offering Caribbean cruises during the warmer months and only CB is available. I would be most appreciative to hear any info tidbits y'all wish to share!

 

Thanks

 

The only crowding I have ever experienced on any of the Princess ships in the past 5 years (and I have sailed on the CB) is on embarkation day in the buffet. But that is on all ships. So, we now go to the main dining room for lunch upon boarding. Much more 'civilized.'

 

The seafood buffet is gone. Sadly. . .I did enjoy that too. There are some meals in the buffet that will have chilled shrimp and they always have at least one fish entree every time I have gone.

 

I do not know of any other issues with crowding or the food. I am sure you will enjoy sailing with her.

 

A cruise is as good as you make it! Enjoy your time onboard!

[whataboutport]

On the second formal night they had a lot of seafood at the buffet. Lots of fish and shellfish, no crab legs. Didn't see any lobster either.

[Colo Cruiser]

Mega ship? Not really. The designs of the newer Grand class ships are the same through building of the Ruby so nothing addressed as far as I have seen. New placement of Skywalkers moved forward instead of the shopping cart handle. All the builds after the Caribbean have the additional Riviera deck which adds 500 more passengers. Adds for the IC/Crown Grill/window suites/relocation of the casino. etc.

 

No more sailaway seafood buffet. It was eliminated many years ago.

[USAF Retired]

The Caribbean Princess has a Riviera Deck as I have sailed on her and stayed on that deck. Did not experience any over crowding other than the buffet on embarkation day. Will be sailing on her for a B2B this year.

[caribill]

 

Since Princess is now offering Caribbean cruises during the warmer months and only CB is available. I would be most appreciative to hear any info tidbits y'all wish to share!

 

 

Main tidbit I have is that we were on the CB this February for a week and had a great cruise.

 

Ship is in very good condition and crew is first rate.

[SeagoingMom]

We sailed CB when it came out, the initial Princess mega ship, and there were crowding problems that were addressed on later mega ships. Wondering if the new 'fixes' to this problem have now been incorporated into CB?

 

Thanks

We just returned form a 7-night western Caribbean cruise on Caribbean Princess. I am interested to know what the crowding problems and subsequent "fixes" were that you are referring to. Though we have no other experience on Princess (nor on any ship this big) to compare it to, we found a lot of crowding issues focused on the Centrum. There was a good deal going on there all the time, and the venue was often filled with people standing around on the stairs and on all the levels, jostling each other and craning their necks to see. The volume of the activities was often annoyingly loud, so much so that I could not hear the folks at the Service Desk, which overlooks the Centrum, when they attempted to answer a question. I remember being shocked one evening to see people sitting on metal folding chairs (!) in the corridors near the Centrum, apparently there to hear the entertainment, but not able to be seated in the surrounding bars because of lack of capacity. (I don't remember ever before seeing a folding chair on a cruise ship -- certainly not in a public area.) We found there to be entirely too few seats in the vicinity of the International Cafe, as well, and particularly few that had a view of the sea. Also, waiting lines to the Anytime Dining venues tended to block traffic in public areas. Restrooms were hard to find, and some, surprisingly small. We thought the Princess theater was entirely too small.

 

The elevator lobby had lots of elevators, but I don't think there was ever a time when all of them were working, and those that did work held too few people. Many of the stairways were wide, but some were quite narrow, and some were steeper than others. The corridors in the cabin areas were quite narrow, and the passageway into our mini-suite was so tiny the room service waiter had trouble carrying a tray through it. Our cabin was plenty large, but the balcony relatively small. We also found the exterior areas of the ship to be crowded and confusing -- there seemed to be stairs leading to various dead-end decks, and in general we found the ship's layout to be choppy and hard to navigate.

 

Are these the sort of issues you were referring to?

Edited May 10, 2014 by SeagoingMom

[Gluten-Free]

We just returned form a 7-night western Caribbean cruise on Caribbean Princess. I am interested to know what the crowding problems and subsequent "fixes" were that you are referring to. Though we have no other experience on Princess (nor on any ship this big) to compare it to, we found a lot of crowding issues focused on the Centrum. There was a good deal going on there all the time, and the venue was often filled with people standing around on the stairs and on all the levels, jostling each other and craning their necks to see. The volume of the activities was often annoyingly loud, so much so that I could not hear the folks at the Service Desk, which overlooks the Centrum, when they attempted to answer a question. I remember being shocked one evening to see people sitting on metal folding chairs (!) in the corridors near the Centrum, apparently there to hear the entertainment, but not able to be seated in the surrounding bars because of lack of capacity. (I don't remember ever before seeing a folding chair on a cruise ship -- certainly not in a public area.) We found there to be entirely too few seats in the vicinity of the International Cafe, as well, and particularly few that had a view of the sea. Also, waiting lines to the Anytime Dining venues tended to block traffic in public areas. Restrooms were hard to find, and some, surprisingly small. We thought the Princess theater was entirely too small.

 

The elevator lobby had lots of elevators, but I don't think there was ever a time when all of them were working, and those that did work held too few people. Many of the stairways were wide, but some were quite narrow, and some were steeper than others. The corridors in the cabin areas were quite narrow, and the passageway into our mini-suite was so tiny the room service waiter had trouble carrying a tray through it. Our cabin was plenty large, but the balcony relatively small. We also found the exterior areas of the ship to be crowded and confusing -- there seemed to be stairs leading to various dead-end decks, and in general we found the ship's layout to be choppy and hard to navigate.

 

 

We recently returned from a southern Caribbean cruise on the Caribbean Princess. I agree with all your comments, especially those about navigating around the decks and interior areas. Better signage could help. Also concur with crowding in public areas. We frequently couldn't find a place to sit. This was our first Princess cruise - our tenth cruise, and it ranks at the bottom of all our previous cruises, no contest. This ship is badly in need of a complete refurb. Worn carpet, outdated colors and furnishings, tarnished metals. Food was well-executed and presented, but taste was average or below. I think the dining staff did the best with what they had to work with. Crew seemed demoralized and even surly at times. The worst feature was the navigation system around the main buffet area. Entrance and exit only at specified place, narrow cramped spaces between serving areas. The whole system encouraged chaos and long lines at busy times. I have never experienced such problems with the main buffet on other cruises. And I very much missed having an area where cruisers could sit outside at a table, drink, snack, and watch the ship sail from the rear. There was an area like this, if you can count the tiny area with a tiny pool and bar and where smoking was allowed; which I wouldn't count. Was definitely ready for this cruise to be over.

[Coveguy4]

Gosh, I just got off the CB last Saturday and did not have ANY overcrowding issues at all. My times in the Atrium area were just fine, I always managed a seat when I went to the International Cafe, Crooners,Vines,.... I guess I didn't do Peak Hours, lucky me and the 12 other friends who were also on this cruise. We ate late in the Anytime Dining, but we knew that with so many of us that would be easier. My mini suite did have a narrow entry, but not a big deal, morning deliveries of coffee and rolls made it in just fine if I stayed out of the way...lol ! Oh and elevator service was always fine except on embarkation when they always close some for luggage delivery and man some to facilatate those coming onboard.

[CenTexGal]

Helpfully, the elevator issues will be addressed while the CB is in dry dock. We were on her in October and again in March and the elevators were an issues both time, but not a huge problem. The buffet on The CB is just not a good set up, in my opinion. Too small for such a large ship causing overcrowding at times. The little bit of overcrowding we encountered was not a deal breaker by any means. We loved sailing the CB and would love to see what she looks like when she comes out of dry dock!

[Gluten-Free]

Gosh, I just got off the CB last Saturday and did not have ANY overcrowding issues at all. My times in the Atrium area were just fine, I always managed a seat when I went to the International Cafe, Crooners,Vines,.... I guess I didn't do Peak Hours, lucky me and the 12 other friends who were also on this cruise. We ate late in the Anytime Dining, but we knew that with so many of us that would be easier. My mini suite did have a narrow entry, but not a big deal, morning deliveries of coffee and rolls made it in just fine if I stayed out of the way...lol ! Oh and elevator service was always fine except on embarkation when they always close some for luggage delivery and man some to facilatate those coming onboard.

 

I should have qualified my overcrowding remarks. It was in the atrium area and surrounding public seating areas where there was crowding. The International Café, was always packed. We had no problem with any of the bars being too full. Elevators were no bigger a problem on this ship than on my previous cruises, meaning you must be patient or take the stairs.

[GloriaF]

We are Princess elite, so know the generalities about Princess.

 

It was 2004 when we were on CB, and at that time it was considered a mega ship. I realize that in the last ten years, many larger ships have been built by other lines.

 

The overcrowding i spoke of was due to the added 500 pax from the addition of the Riviera deck --- since CB was the first ship with this design, there were some crowding issues that were later addressed on subsequent Grand class builds. The crowding was in finding tables in buffet/Caribe grill, finding loungers on deck and having to climb onto them from the foot because they were so close together, and the theatre seating.

 

I read on CC a few years back that the issues had been addressed for CB in one of the scheduled refurb drydocks, but have not been back on board to check for myself. I will assume that all issues were addressed since most of the replies were positive and more recent.

 

Again, thanks for the replies!! and have a wonderfully Happy Mother's Day!!

[Colo Cruiser]

The overcrowding i spoke of was due to the added 500 pax from the addition of the Riviera deck --- since CB was the first ship with this design, there were some crowding issues that were later addressed on subsequent Grand class builds. The crowding was in finding tables in buffet/Caribe grill, finding loungers on deck and having to climb onto them from the foot because they were so close together, and the theatre seating.

 

I read on CC a few years back that the issues had been addressed for CB in one of the scheduled refurb drydocks, but have not been back on board to check for myself. I will assume that all issues were addressed since most of the replies were positive and more recent.

 

 

I don't know what they could do onboard to eliminate crowding.

Other then the adds that I mentioned in my post above there were no other changes. To us sailing the CB does not seem any different then the other Grand Class ships built after her with Rivera deck. ;)

[SeagoingMom]

We recently returned from a southern Caribbean cruise on the Caribbean Princess. I agree with all your comments, especially those about navigating around the decks and interior areas. Better signage could help. Also concur with crowding in public areas. We frequently couldn't find a place to sit. This was our first Princess cruise - our tenth cruise, and it ranks at the bottom of all our previous cruises, no contest. This ship is badly in need of a complete refurb. Worn carpet, outdated colors and furnishings, tarnished metals. Food was well-executed and presented, but taste was average or below. I think the dining staff did the best with what they had to work with. Crew seemed demoralized and even surly at times. The worst feature was the navigation system around the main buffet area. Entrance and exit only at specified place, narrow cramped spaces between serving areas. The whole system encouraged chaos and long lines at busy times. I have never experienced such problems with the main buffet on other cruises. And I very much missed having an area where cruisers could sit outside at a table, drink, snack, and watch the ship sail from the rear. There was an area like this, if you can count the tiny area with a tiny pool and bar and where smoking was allowed; which I wouldn't count. Was definitely ready for this cruise to be over.

Our first Princess cruise as well - won't be back (although I might consider a smaller Princess ship, if the itinerary and price were right...) I, too, found the buffet particularly inconvenient -- besides the traffic flow problems you mentioned, there were issues like having only one set of serving tongs, even though the food was (theoretically) accessible from both sides of the center islands --you literally had to walk around the island to reach the tongs if they had been left on the opposite side you were on -- and the signs describing (well, naming) the food items were on one side only, so you had to walk around to find out what the foods were -- and the side the sign was on was not consistent during the cruise! We found the buffet particularly inconvenient on embarkation day (when everyone was eating there) because we had to wait in a long line to have a crew member personally hand every passenger a plate and silverware, rather than being able to pick them up ourselves. And we, like you, very much missed outside seating near the buffet area!

 

You and I seem to have had pretty much the same experience on CP, although I can't say I was anxious for our cruise to be over, as, in spite of issues with the ship, we had a lovely time and very much enjoyed the itinerary...

[Working 2 Cruise]

Our first Princess cruise as well - won't be back (although I might consider a smaller Princess ship, if the itinerary and price were right...) I, too, found the buffet particularly inconvenient -- besides the traffic flow problems you mentioned, there were issues like having only one set of serving tongs, even though the food was (theoretically) accessible from both sides of the center islands --you literally had to walk around the island to reach the tongs if they had been left on the opposite side you were on -- and the signs describing (well, naming) the food items were on one side only, so you had to walk around to find out what the foods were -- and the side the sign was on was not consistent during the cruise! We found the buffet particularly inconvenient on embarkation day (when everyone was eating there) because we had to wait in a long line to have a crew member personally hand every passenger a plate and silverware, rather than being able to pick them up ourselves. And we, like you, very much missed outside seating near the buffet area!

 

You and I seem to have had pretty much the same experience on CP, although I can't say I was anxious for our cruise to be over, as, in spite of issues with the ship, we had a lovely time and very much enjoyed the itinerary...

 

I think that no matter what cruise line you choose, nothing will be perfect. 98% of all passengers who posted their reviews were very pleased with their cruise. Crowding can and will occur on many ships but not so much on smaller ships. But be prepared to pay a premium for the privilege.

[SeagoingMom]

I think that no matter what cruise line you choose, nothing will be perfect. 98% of all passengers who posted their reviews were very pleased with their cruise. Crowding can and will occur on many ships but not so much on smaller ships. But be prepared to pay a premium for the privilege.

Pay a premium for sailing on Coral, Dawn, Island, Sea, Sun...Princess' "smaller" (not smallest) ships? This is the size we like best. If we have to pay a premium for these, we'll definitely not sail with Princess again. We'll stick with HAL.

[GloriaF]

It's all in what you want from a cruise combined with what is available for the price you're willing to pay.

 

We personally like and feel comfortable on Princess overall, and we do prefer the smaller ships. The smaller ships often have the more interesting itineraries, so if they cost a little more the cost is offset by the itinerary. JMHO.

[caribill]

Pay a premium for sailing on Coral, Dawn, Island, Sea, Sun...Princess' "smaller" (not smallest) ships? This is the size we like best. If we have to pay a premium for these, we'll definitely not sail with Princess again. We'll stick with HAL.

 

It is the Pacific and the Ocean that usually cost more, not the ones you listed.

[Pam in CA]

Pay a premium for sailing on Coral, Dawn, Island, Sea, Sun...Princess' "smaller" (not smallest) ships? This is the size we like best. If we have to pay a premium for these, we'll definitely not sail with Princess again. We'll stick with HAL.

Coral and Island "smaller"? You do know that they are longer than the CB, right?

 

I've been on the CB and never felt it was crowded. The only Princess ship I've ever been on that felt crowded was the Golden and that was because it was very cold outside, too cold to even use the covered pool area, and the CD had very few activities planned so people literally camped out in the buffet and Atrium area for the day, making it impossible to find a table to eat at.

[Coral]

It is the Pacific and the Ocean that usually cost more, not the ones you listed.

 

I somewhat disagree. If you look at prices in Alaska right now, the Crown is dirt cheap and the Coral and Island are much higher.

[GloriaF]

OK, Coral, I know you and I trust what you are saying about prices in Alaska. I did not go to check fares. BTW, HI!! :)

 

I would still choose Coral Princess, given that option for any itinerary. My favorite ship so far --- but I look forward to sailing on Royal and Regal eventually, and they may become my favorite ship(s).

[Coral]

OK, Coral, I know you and I trust what you are saying about prices in Alaska. I did not go to check fares. BTW, HI!! :)

 

I would still choose Coral Princess, given that option for any itinerary. My favorite ship so far --- but I look forward to sailing on Royal and Regal eventually, and they may become my favorite ship(s).

 

Hi Gloria! It has been awhile since we sailed together! I had been looking at prices at Coral and Island are filled and Crown is wide open (thus prices are very cheap on Crown) to Alaska. Hope all is well!

[caribill]

Hi Gloria! It has been awhile since we sailed together! I had been looking at prices at Coral and Island are filled and Crown is wide open (thus prices are very cheap on Crown) to Alaska. Hope all is well!

 

With 1108 more lower berths to fill, it is not surprising that the Crown has many cabins left.

 

Even if it sold as many lower berths as the Coral and Island, it would still be only 64% full.

[Coral]

With 1108 more lower berths to fill, it is not surprising that the Crown has many cabins left.

 

Even if it sold as many lower berths as the Coral and Island, it would still be only 64% full.

 

Correct - it does show that people are not jumping at the "newer ship" as one would expect the newer ship to sell out first.

Edited May 12, 2014 by Coral