Caribbean Princess concerns.....

[floridalover5623]

There have been some who have complained about overcrowding on this ship. They added the riviera deck some years ago which

Means there are 500 more passengers on this ship than other Grand Class Ships.

 

If the ship is full,3100 passengers you may find the public areas overcrowded . You may need to get to the shows at least a half hour early to get a seat.

 

Many of have said overcrowding is not a problem. I am looking at a 2 week cruise next year. Probably would take a chance as I like the itinerary

 

If you can find an itinerary on another ship that has not been modified,I would do that.

It's been that way on almost all the Princess ships for many years. Sure there are times when you can arrive 10 minutes before showtime & get a seat if you don't mind setting in the very first row or off to the ends in the lower section if you don't mind those seats. I always make it a point to arrive early & read or watch a movie while the wife takes her time to meet me 10 minutes before the show begins.

After all, what else can you do before the show? Might as well get decent seats & relax. :)

[jasbo49]

I'll just address three things.

 

Weather: We cruised out of FLL last December and had some of the worst rain I've ever seen. We were in Lauderdale and Key Largo Dec. 3-5 and my impression was of a fuzzy, gray place with slanted lines across it. On our drive from FLL to Key Largo, people were pulling over to the side of whatever "expressway" we were on because they couldn't see one single thing in the deluge. Of course everyone said this was highly unusual.

 

Christmas decorations: My guess, based on our December Panama Canal cruise, is you'll see some when you board, but they'll continue to add touches throughout your cruise. The next cruise will see more, and so on. The morning we disembarked, Dec. 20, they had added all new areas of Christmas decorations.

 

Itinerary: Roatan was our hidden gem. Just a pretty little island with beautiful bays and wonderful people. We took a private tour with Victor Bodden Tours and spent the day with our guide who grew up on the island. She took us to some places tourists rarely go, like the local grocery where she shops. We bought a mess of great stuff, including some rum and coffee beans, for $12. Belize was fun because we went on an excursion to some ruins. Cozumel? Well we've been there twice now and can't find much to enjoy. Most, if not all, the beaches cost money. Just rubs me the wrong way.

 

Jim

[floridalover5623]

I'll just address three things.

 

Weather: We cruised out of FLL last December and had some of the worst rain I've ever seen. We were in Lauderdale and Key Largo Dec. 3-5 and my impression was of a fuzzy, gray place with slanted lines across it. On our drive from FLL to Key Largo, people were pulling over to the side of whatever "expressway" we were on because they couldn't see one single thing in the deluge. Of course everyone said this was highly unusual.

 

 

Jim

Unfortunately you hit the last rain of the winter season. We had the driest winter since I can remember. I had to even water my trees to keep get them through the dry spell.

The rainy season has returned.

[drewscruise79]

We're on the same cruise, for us it's the second half of B2B, and while not as young as you are in our 30s. We did an Eastern Caribbean cruise last year around the same time and it was a good mix of age range from honeymooners to young professionals. Fewer families with young kids but a few.

 

I found the roll call page for the first half of the cruise but not this leg, do you know if there is one?

[AgouraTraveler]

Just returned from a May cruise circling Great Britain and found the ship to be fine, but not excellent. Yes, we did have a problem with our toilet (it would flush, thankfully, but then the valve wouldn't close and water would overflow into the bathroom). It took repeated complaints and days for the valve to be replaced. A couple of other issues were inconsistent service in the MDR and buffet; sometimes excellent service, other times couldn't find someone to replenish drinks, and don't order chicken or pork (they overcook it and the MDR manager simply said passengers had to expect that for their own food safety. The entertainment ranged from excellent in the main showroom to a mix of good and poor performers in the Atrium and lounges. Be sure to arrive at the main showroom at least 1/2 hour early for the first showtime or the seats will be filled. We only heard a few port speakers and were disappointed. One spoke of ports we had already visited, one was selling the audience on their shore-based tour company, and another was an elderly gentleman who was confused.

 

Now that's out of the way, the ship was otherwise excellent. Cabin attendants are top notch. Don't miss the wonderful MDR dinner with lobster tail and shrimp. Also, look for and don't miss the seafood theme dinner in the buffet; crab legs, multiple style of shrimp, fish, etc. (they didn't serve this in the MDR during our cruise). Desserts in the MDR are great and you can always find something good at the buffet, where they hand you a platter instead of a plate. The International Café in the Atrium is always open and had excellent sandwiches, coffees, pastries and desserts. The casino is smoke-free except for one corner. Shipboard activities were typical. We were onboard more for the itinerary with interesting ports than to be overwhelmed by a fancy ship.

 

As has been said, if you are intent on enjoying your cruise, you will. If you spend all your time looking for things to complain about, you will miss a good experience. My guess is that newer cruisers will find the Caribbean Princess to be wonderful, and those who have been on dozens of cruises will have had better ships.

[BM64]

Just returned from a May cruise circling Great Britain and found the ship to be fine, but not excellent. Yes, we did have a problem with our toilet (it would flush, thankfully, but then the valve wouldn't close and water would overflow into the bathroom). It took repeated complaints and days for the valve to be replaced. A couple of other issues were inconsistent service in the MDR and buffet; sometimes excellent service, other times couldn't find someone to replenish drinks, and don't order chicken or pork (they overcook it and the MDR manager simply said passengers had to expect that for their own food safety. The entertainment ranged from excellent in the main showroom to a mix of good and poor performers in the Atrium and lounges. Be sure to arrive at the main showroom at least 1/2 hour early for the first showtime or the seats will be filled. We only heard a few port speakers and were disappointed. One spoke of ports we had already visited, one was selling the audience on their shore-based tour company, and another was an elderly gentleman who was confused.

 

Now that's out of the way, the ship was otherwise excellent. Cabin attendants are top notch. Don't miss the wonderful MDR dinner with lobster tail and shrimp. Also, look for and don't miss the seafood theme dinner in the buffet; crab legs, multiple style of shrimp, fish, etc. (they didn't serve this in the MDR during our cruise). Desserts in the MDR are great and you can always find something good at the buffet, where they hand you a platter instead of a plate. The International Café in the Atrium is always open and had excellent sandwiches, coffees, pastries and desserts. The casino is smoke-free except for one corner. Shipboard activities were typical. We were onboard more for the itinerary with interesting ports than to be overwhelmed by a fancy ship.

 

As has been said, if you are intent on enjoying your cruise, you will. If you spend all your time looking for things to complain about, you will miss a good experience. My guess is that newer cruisers will find the Caribbean Princess to be wonderful, and those who have been on dozens of cruises will have had better ships.

 

 

Do you happen to remember what night the seafood buffet was?

[caribill]

Do you happen to remember what night the seafood buffet was?

 

It is not a seafood buffet. It is a seafood themed dinner with waiter service called the Crab Shack and held in a section of the buffet seating area.

 

On our May British Isles cruise it was held on the sea day between Greenock and Kirkwall.

 

There is a cover charge of $20/person.

Edited June 18, 2016 by caribill

[idahospud]

It is not a seafood buffet. It is a seafood themed dinner with waiter service called the Crab Shack and held in a section of the buffet seating area.

 

On our May British Isles cruise it was held on the sea day between Greenock and Kirkwall.

 

There is a cover charge of $20/person.

Crab Shack is now $29/pp.

[flamomo]

You should have told then about the problem & requested another muster station. ;)

 

 

I cannot even imagine what Princess was thinking when they designated Churchill's ..... a cigar bar, of all places!!! ..... as a muster station!! Of course it would reek of nasty residual cigar smoke odor. That stinks ... NO pun intended.

 

It should have been reported to the Captain's Circle Host.

[floridalover5623]

I cannot even imagine what Princess was thinking when they designated Churchill's ..... a cigar bar, of all places!!! ..... as a muster station!! Of course it would reek of nasty residual cigar smoke odor. That stinks ... NO pun intended.

 

It should have been reported to the Captain's Circle Host.

 

After seeing that location I would have refused to go. Just give me another station to go to.

[spyro1952]

I have TA cruises booked on the CB in WS. Love the WS because they are right next to Churchills.

Window suites are great so any cruise I can book on the CB or the Grand and get a WS is a no brainer. Don't care about shows etc just bring enough books to last me for 2 weeks and I'm a happy camper.

[traveling psych nurse]

We were on the Caribbean Princess for a B2B March into April for 18 days. It was our 4th. and 5th. cruise on her. The ship was clean. No problems encountered. I would be happy to sail on her again.

Have a wonderful trip.

Diana

Edited June 18, 2016 by traveling psych nurse

[jsmac3]

Do you happen to remember what night the seafood buffet was?

 

I checked the patters and the seafood buffet was the evening of the Edinburg (Queensferry) stop . . . in the patters it is called Neptune's Buffet. It is in the Horizon Court from 530pm until 11pm - no charge and self-serve.

 

We ate there instead of the MDR because the only thing that interested us on the MDR menu that evening was the goat cheese soufflé.

[Talks to Strangers]

It looks like Caribbean Princess is going in dry dock early next year - end of January or beginning of February. Is that correct?

 

Never mind. I found the answer to my question. Apparently Caribbean Princess will be in dry dock in March of 2017. Sorry to interrupt the thread....

Edited June 22, 2016 by Talks to Strangers

[idahospud]

I checked the patters and the seafood buffet was the evening of the Edinburg (Queensferry) stop . . . in the patters it is called Neptune's Buffet. It is in the Horizon Court from 530pm until 11pm - no charge and self-serve.

I don't recall it being on the Caribbean itineraries.

[jsmac3]

This was my 12th Princess cruise and this was the first time I've seen a seafood buffet. We were surprised to see it offered and went up there to look before opting out of the MDR that evening.

 

I seem to recall (from Cruise Critic) that when the Caribbean Princess was new, it featured a seafood buffet in addition to the regular buffet . . . it was to the rear of the horizon court where the crab shack is nowadays. The seafood buffet went away fairly quickly and I'm not sure when the crab shack began operating.

[OCruisers]

Café Caribe is used for the Crab Shack. It's available for dinner some evenings at an extra charge. Think it's now $29 pp.

[elliair]

We were on the CB in April and it was fine! Our room was clean, no problems with the toilet ( but then we don't flush anything but toilet paper!) the shower was clean, our "stewart" was awesome, food was good, everything like it was expected to be! There were some very rude older passengers... The entitled type who are better than everyone else... And i am 66 so i am not being ageist!! Being older entitles you to nothing AND it is not a free pass to be rude!

Anyway back to the subject... There are some rust spots but then it is salt water! We would go again tomorrow if my husband would spend the money! Have fun!

 

Out of curiosity, how do these rude older passengers act? What exactly are they entitled to where they think they are better than everyone else? I'm not 66 but I need to avoid whoever these older passengers are.

 

We'll be on the Caribbean Princess in October. We are looking forward to this trip as it will be totally new scenery for us.

[floridalover5623]

This was my 12th Princess cruise and this was the first time I've seen a seafood buffet. We were surprised to see it offered and went up there to look before opting out of the MDR that evening.

 

I seem to recall (from Cruise Critic) that when the Caribbean Princess was new, it featured a seafood buffet in addition to the regular buffet . . . it was to the rear of the horizon court where the crab shack is nowadays. The seafood buffet went away fairly quickly and I'm not sure when the crab shack began operating.

 

What items did they have?

[jsmac3]

What items did they have?

 

As I remember, crab legs, fried shrimp, fish, scallops, smoked salmon, a couple of seafood salads, and I believe they also had crab cakes.

[snapdragon7]

I checked the patters and the seafood buffet was the evening of the Edinburg (Queensferry) stop . . . in the patters it is called Neptune's Buffet. It is in the Horizon Court from 530pm until 11pm - no charge and self-serve.

 

We ate there instead of the MDR because the only thing that interested us on the MDR menu that evening was the goat cheese soufflé.

 

If you don't mind me asking, were the formal nights on the two sea days?

 

Thanks!

[jsmac3]

The first formal night was the second evening - the day of the Guernsey port call, the second formal night was the evening of the first sea day.

[snapdragon7]

The first formal night was the second evening - the day of the Guernsey port call, the second formal night was the evening of the first sea day.

 

Thanks! :)

[chong67]

As I remember, crab legs, fried shrimp, fish, scallops, smoked salmon, a couple of seafood salads, and I believe they also had crab cakes.

 

Last month I cruise on Norwegian Escape and they had a seafood buffet on the 2nd day at dinner. It was big crab legs. We had oysters for a few days. Big grilled and fried shrimp. Every morning there was smoke salmon.

[caribill]

Last month I cruise on Norwegian Escape..... Every morning there was smoke salmon.

 

Also available on Princess every morning.