To anyone who has been on Pacific Princess

[KevintheIrishDJ]

Hello everyone - I've wondered about the Pacific Princess and doing a lot of planning as my husband and I are getting ready to retire next year.

 

Is there usually live music and a place to ballroom dance in the evening?

 

Thanks for any insight you can offer!

 

Little if any ballroom dancing.

[PescadoAmarillo]

While the ballroom dancing is certainly more limited than on the larger ships, the band often plays in the Cabaret Lounge with its wooden floor between shows, and there is dancing on the wooden floor in the Pacific Lounge every night also. I've even seen dancing in the Casino Lounge though it's not especially set up for it.

[JimmyVWine]

You can almost touch the entertainers when they perform.

I tried that at the Kit Kat Klub. Almost spent the night in jail. ;)

[trbarton]

I was on the Pacific Princess in December for the 50th Anniversary cruise & loved it.

 

Some suggestions...If you want to see the show at night with the Princess singers & dancers get there early & get a seat in the front to be able to see things better. Some productions have the performers so close you could almost reach out & touch them. Ballroom dancing, yes you can dance the night away on deck 10 in the Pacific Lounge. Although there are not as many venues as on a larger ship we had a great time. There was many times music before the show where you can dance.

 

Since the Princess performers also help around the ship you get to know them & that was nice.

 

Please post your experience on the ship when you return.

 

Tom😀

[muggo11]

On Pacific Princess from Rome to Ft. lauderdale and echo all the praise. Just a note, tho, NO ATM. odd, really.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[anteaters]

I was on the Pacific Princess in December for the 50th Anniversary cruise & loved it.

 

Some suggestions...If you want to see the show at night with the Princess singers & dancers get there early & get a seat in the front to be able to see things better. Some productions have the performers so close you could almost reach out & touch them. Ballroom dancing, yes you can dance the night away on deck 10 in the Pacific Lounge. Although there are not as many venues as on a larger ship we had a great time. There was many times music before the show where you can dance.

 

Since the Princess performers also help around the ship you get to know them & that was nice.

 

Please post your experience on the ship when you return.

 

Tom😀

 

Thanks, Tom! On most ships, since we like front row seats (I'm short so its nice having no one in front of me), we usually go about a half hour early with a book and just read or talk to neighbors. With your advice, we'll set out early on this cruise too. By the way, I was also wondering if there are two shows each night or only one chance to attend. Also, if anyone remembers the times of the show(s)? I know, I'm asking a lot now ;) .

[DougH]

Every outside cabin on the Pacific I've been in has also had a sofa. I love it :)

[anteaters]

By the way, we are very happy to be elite and get our free laundry. Does anyone know if it's a fast laundry or a 3 day wait like sometimes on big ships?

[anteaters]

Oh, if anyone is still coming on and sees this, I have still another question! It will be November and we'll be mostly in Greece and Croatia, cool weather to say the least. There is one pool. Is there any reason at all to bring a swim suit i.e. the pool indoors and heated or nice hot tubs? Or should this be a no swim suit cruise? Thanks.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Oh, if anyone is still coming on and sees this, I have still another question! It will be November and we'll be mostly in Greece and Croatia, cool weather to say the least. There is one pool. Is there any reason at all to bring a swim suit i.e. the pool indoors and heated or nice hot tubs? Or should this be a no swim suit cruise? Thanks.

 

We are taking just one swimsuit each. I enjoy a hot hot tub on a cool day, and hope that that is what we'll encounter.

[msmoger]

Just disembarked on Sunday. We had a fantastic cruise (Scotland, Iceland and Norway). All the praise previously heaped on is well deserved. There's an amazing feeling of camaraderie between the passengers and crew. We previously sailed on the Ocean Princess and had the same experience.

 

A few notes from previous posters. The showers in the balcony cabins are actually a little larger, not smaller than on the larger ships.

 

Also, there is an ATM on Deck 4 across from the passenger services desk.

 

We weren't on a segment of a World Cruise, however we never experienced any snobbery, just outwardly friendly folks.

 

Although subjective, both on this cruise and the Ocean cruise, we found the food to be very good, perhaps a step (or half a step) above the larger ships (we haven't sailed yet on the Royal or Regal). The MDR selection was just as abundant as any we've experienced on the larger ships. We actually very much liked the Curtis Stone Pot Pie. ;) My steak at the Sterling Steakhouse was better than any I've had at Crown Grill (and I'm a Crown Grill fan). The buffet is smaller but still managed to have a good selection.

 

The walking track on Deck 10 is very good.

 

Although we very much enjoy the larger ships also, the small ship experience is very special and we certainly hope to sail on her again.

 

Tell Oscar the Maitre'd Michael and Anthony say hello (he's great and quite a hoot) and have a wonderful cruise. I'm sure you will. :)

[AJs Grandpa]

By the way, we are very happy to be elite and get our free laundry. Does anyone know if it's a fast laundry or a 3 day wait like sometimes on big ships?

 

We consistently had one day service in the British Isles this summer.

[anteaters]

Thanks, everyone. Every time I come on and read new replies, I feel happier! Now I'd better lower my expectations so as not to be disappointed ;) .

[partybarbie]

Oh, if anyone is still coming on and sees this, I have still another question! It will be November and we'll be mostly in Greece and Croatia, cool weather to say the least. There is one pool. Is there any reason at all to bring a swim suit i.e. the pool indoors and heated or nice hot tubs? Or should this be a no swim suit cruise? Thanks.

 

I've did a 30-day TA on this ship a couple of years ago. It was warm enough to lay by the pool on the crossing in December. Temps varied from about 20 F (and a light dusting of snow) in Venice, to 80 F in Bermuda. Bring your swimsuit.

[gotta cruise again]

You asked: "Can you tell me what other "usual" things will be missing from this cruise that are found on all the other Princess ships...".

 

I truly enjoyed our cruise on Pacific and agree with all that's been said.

 

One of the "usual" things that will be missing from Pacific are the "normal" hair dryers. Oh, I know, many have complained about the hair dryers on the other ships and often tell folks to bring their own from home. But you haven't experienced a hair dryer like the ones on Pacific!!! I have no problem with the dryers on cruise ships and prefer bringing another pair of shoes than I would my own hair dryer but Pacific's dryer, should I get the opportunity to sail her again, makes me rethink my dryer vs. shoe policy!!

 

It's in the bathroom (in our balcony cabin) as a very large unit hung on the wall to the side of the mirror. It has a long hose that gets really hot so be careful. I had shorter hair on my cruise and was able to manage just fine but it really is an archaic beast!!

 

I'm sure someone will be able to supply a photo to help you decide if you want to bring your own dryer or not!

[Bently57]

I was wary of the Ocean Princess for our cruise to Italy. Not the Pacific Princess, but it was its twin. Was it our favorite ship? No. Did we have a phenomenal trip? Yes.

 

But there are a lot of people who like, no...LOVE the intimacy of a smaller ship. I would not be able to say whether you'd like that or not, simply because I don't know you and you haven't stated what makes a cruise for you.

 

The negatives for us were so minor they are not worth mentioning. Seriously.

 

The pluses were that we never had to wait long to get on or off the ship, and we made friends more easily, as we kept running into the same group over and over at each port.

 

In the end, we just learned that we like a bigger ship while at the same time having a wonderful experience. My advice (especially since you've already booked it) is this: go with an open mind and enjoy every second of it.

Edited September 13, 2016 by Bently57

[MISTER 67]

We sailed on the Pacific Princess on a Greek Island cruise back when she was brand new in 1999 and was called the R3 with Renaissance Cruises. Renaissance built 8 identical 30,000 ton ships naming them R1 through R8. She was a lovely ship decorated with some touches of the Titanic. You won't find many bells and whistles on her but it has some really lovely public rooms and lounges, no 2 tier show room but no problem seeing the shows. I went online and saw some pictures as I was curious to see what changes Princess made, they did make a few but not much.

Edited September 13, 2016 by MISTER 67

[anteaters]

How funny! I would have never thought about a hair dryer problem. I'll just get my usual short haircut right before we go because we can't waste space on bringing our own.