Island Princess Nov 25-Dec 5 Cruise Synopsis

[plantlady104]

This is a summary review of the Partial Transit Panama Canal Cruise of IP Nov/Dec 2015. Overall a very nice cruise with good weather and good shore activities for Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rico, and Jamaica.

 

DR fixed early seating: Food excellent and great wait staff. Lunches and breakfasts were also very good, with attentive service. Horizon Court was typical buffet choices, with one line open till at least midnight for late snacking. Food was temperature correct and good, depending upon food preferences. Desserts and drinks located toward the middle front, with food lines on both port and starboard. I believe recently renovated. Also ate at Bayou Steak House, which served excellent steaks and large lobster tails. Hamburger grille, pizzas, and soft serve ice cream all very good too. We were in a group of ten, and no one complained.

 

Stateroom was forward Baja in a mini suite. Very nice space with bathtub, and the dreaded shower curtain. Ship condition dated in a few places, but overall nice and clean. Female public bathrooms seemed to need a bit more cleaning and attention than to what was provided. For jewelry lovers, the onboard Effy store is a must. Lotus atrium pool area was relaxing and not difficult to find chairs. More crowded at the outdoor lido pool as always.

 

Entertainment was mixed, with need of some better comedians. The production show Back on the Bayou was excellent with high energy and colorful sets/costumes.

 

Only drawbacks were the casino and ship stability. For casino lovers, this is the worst designed and stagnant casino of any ship that we have been on. Casino is too small due to having a hallway and staterooms on the starboard side preventing additional space normally present for a ship casino. No craps table for those who like that game of chance. Ship does not have stabilizers, so bounces and rocks more noticeable than other larger cruise ships. Persons prone to seasickness should be prepared.

 

While we had a great time with friendly staff and delicious food, we still prefer the Ruby Princess as our favorite Princess ship.

[TracieABD]

Thanks for the review! What did you do in each port?

[johnandlinda]

No stabilizers?

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the comments.

 

Yes the ship as stabilizers.

They only address only roll........

 

Ship stabilizers are fins or rotors mounted beneath the waterline and emerging laterally from the hull to reduce a ship's roll due to wind or waves. Active fins are controlled by a gyroscopic control system. When the gyroscope senses the ship roll, it changes the fins' angle of attack to exert force to counteract the roll. Fixed fins and bilge keels do not move; they reduce roll by hydrodynamic drag exerted when the ship rolls. Stabilizers are mostly used on ocean-going (blue water) ships.

Edited December 8, 2015 by Colo Cruiser

[Kamloops50]

This is a summary review of the Partial Transit Panama Canal Cruise of IP Nov/Dec 2015. Overall a very nice cruise with good weather and good shore activities for Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rico, and Jamaica.

 

DR fixed early seating: Food excellent and great wait staff. Lunches and breakfasts were also very good, with attentive service. Horizon Court was typical buffet choices, with one line open till at least midnight for late snacking. Food was temperature correct and good, depending upon food preferences. Desserts and drinks located toward the middle front, with food lines on both port and starboard. I believe recently renovated. Also ate at Bayou Steak House, which served excellent steaks and large lobster tails. Hamburger grille, pizzas, and soft serve ice cream all very good too. We were in a group of ten, and no one complained.

 

Stateroom was forward Baja in a mini suite. Very nice space with bathtub, and the dreaded shower curtain. Ship condition dated in a few places, but overall nice and clean. Female public bathrooms seemed to need a bit more cleaning and attention than to what was provided. For jewelry lovers, the onboard Effy store is a must. Lotus atrium pool area was relaxing and not difficult to find chairs. More crowded at the outdoor lido pool as always.

 

Entertainment was mixed, with need of some better comedians. The production show Back on the Bayou was excellent with high energy and colorful sets/costumes.

 

Only drawbacks were the casino and ship stability. For casino lovers, this is the worst designed and stagnant casino of any ship that we have been on. Casino is too small due to having a hallway and staterooms on the starboard side preventing additional space normally present for a ship casino. No craps table for those who like that game of chance. Ship does not have stabilizers, so bounces and rocks more noticeable than other larger cruise ships. Persons prone to seasickness should be prepared.

 

While we had a great time with friendly staff and delicious food, we still prefer the Ruby Princess as our favorite Princess ship.

 

Yes the ship has stabilizers. If the rocking is a corkscrew motion , stabilizers can't help the ship. They don't help if the a bow to stern movement . There are may ships in the last 15 years that don't have stabilizers.

[thecruiselover7]

I was also on this cruise, and I was very pleased. Although the productions shows were lacking, the piano player/singer in the Crooners Bar was great. I spent all my evenings in there listening to him. This was my first princess cruise, and I would probably go back to them.

Edited December 8, 2015 by thecruiselover7

[reedprincess]

Seriously, no craps table in the casino? That's a big disappointment. Guess Princess will not be getting our cruise donation to the casino this next sailing. On a positive note, that's money saved for us. What a "crappy" move though. Darn.

[Colo Cruiser]

I was also on this cruise, and I was very pleased. Although the productions shows were lacking, the piano player/singer in the Crooners Bar was great. I spent all my evenings in there listening to him. This was my first princess cruise, and I would probably go back to them.

 

 

We enjoyed him on our Med cruise last month. :)

[jc7292]

Does the casino have table games? 3 card poker, let it ride?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[plantlady104]

Casino does have the other common table games, but only one table of each. Was very happy to clear over $100 at the 3 card poker table. Casino staff nice.

 

Regarding ship motion, irregardless if has or not stabilizers, most of the movement was the bow to stern "hull slapping", with also some left/right movement. Certainly was noticeable to those onboard.

 

Excursions on Aruba was the beach; Cartagena was the old city tour, Panama was the ferry thru all the locks; Costa Rico was the combo tour of canal ride, walk, and banana plantation; Jamaica was shopping and hanging out at Margaritaville. All fun for each day.

[kac0426]

This is a summary review of the Partial Transit Panama Canal Cruise of IP Nov/Dec 2015. Overall a very nice cruise with good weather and good shore activities for Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rico, and Jamaica.

 

DR fixed early seating: Food excellent and great wait staff. Lunches and breakfasts were also very good, with attentive service. Horizon Court was typical buffet choices, with one line open till at least midnight for late snacking. Food was temperature correct and good, depending upon food preferences. Desserts and drinks located toward the middle front, with food lines on both port and starboard. I believe recently renovated. Also ate at Bayou Steak House, which served excellent steaks and large lobster tails. Hamburger grille, pizzas, and soft serve ice cream all very good too. We were in a group of ten, and no one complained.

 

Stateroom was forward Baja in a mini suite. Very nice space with bathtub, and the dreaded shower curtain. Ship condition dated in a few places, but overall nice and clean. Female public bathrooms seemed to need a bit more cleaning and attention than to what was provided. For jewelry lovers, the onboard Effy store is a must. Lotus atrium pool area was relaxing and not difficult to find chairs. More crowded at the outdoor lido pool as always.

 

Entertainment was mixed, with need of some better comedians. The production show Back on the Bayou was excellent with high energy and colorful sets/costumes.

 

Only drawbacks were the casino and ship stability. For casino lovers, this is the worst designed and stagnant casino of any ship that we have been on. Casino is too small due to having a hallway and staterooms on the starboard side preventing additional space normally present for a ship casino. No craps table for those who like that game of chance. Ship does not have stabilizers, so bounces and rocks more noticeable than other larger cruise ships. Persons prone to seasickness should be prepared.

 

While we had a great time with friendly staff and delicious food, we still prefer the Ruby Princess as our favorite Princess ship.

 

I was on this cruise as well and overall was incredibly impressed with everything, from food to entertainment to the crew. I've cruised 8 times previously but this was my first with Princess and they exceeded my expectations. I definitely hope to cruise with them again.

 

To echo what others have said, the ship definitely had stabilizers. While the seas were a bit rough in places (30 mph winds and 10 foot waves will do that), overall it was not too bad. With no stabilizers, there would have been a lot more seasickness I can promise you!

 

I personally loved the comedians, but I respect that everyone's tastes are different. The ventriloquist, Patrick Murray, was especially impressive.

 

I read a review just now from someone (not the OP) who was on the Island Princess last month who said the ship was the worst he/she had been on. It was actually one of my favorites. It just goes to show that everyone has different preferences and opinions. I, for one, could not have been more pleased with this cruise.

 

Anyway, sorry to hijack the OP's thread; just wanted to chime in with my thoughts as well for anyone considering this ship or itinerary.