Crown Princess: Thought and Comments

[FlaParrotHead]

OK - here it is, we are Carnival cruisers for the last 25+ years (with a couple scattered NCL/RCCL sailings) and looking at a 14day Med sailing on the CP for the fall of 2018. Im asking here (and that other site) for the good, the bad, and the ugly of Princess and the CP in particular, especially from anyone with years on the "other" line. We'll likely be up on the Dolphin Deck and pull out all the stops for this one.

[joeyancho]

You will be pleasantly surprised. Princess is a step up in every way. The food is better and more available. The buffet stays open continuously from 6am to 11pm. The IC open 24 hours and has great offerings. Room service has a more expanded menu including hot food. The MDR food is better and more adventurous. The Norman Love desserts are amazing.

The entertainment is good. The shows are more elaborate. There is entertainment all around the ship.

The service is terrific. Everyone will remember you name when they greet you. Your room will be made up twice a day.

The Crown is a lovely ship. It's decor is stylish without being in your face.

After taking around 20 Carnival cruises we finally took a princess cruise. We have vowed to never go back to Carnival. Hope this helps. Bob Voyage.

[OCruisers]

While we cruise on Carnival from time to time because Charleston is very convenient for us, we MUCH prefer Princess. :D

[CRLess]

We love the ship and have 2 cruises booked on her within the next year. I haven't been on Carnival since the days of the TSS Festivale, so cannot compare to any of the current ships. I bet you will find it to be more low key and not so glitzy. We are big fans of the smaller venues to get cocktails, like Vines, Crooners and Adagio, and love Crown Grill and Sabatini's, as well as the Gastro Pub offerings.

 

For future reference, Princess' official code for the Crown Princess is KP, not CP (Sea Princess)

[NorbertsNiece]

Hi,

 

I've been loyal to Royal and Celebrity for many years and jumped ship to sail on the Crown last month due to the itinerary.

 

My room was lovely and I had excellent service from my room steward and the Head Waiter in the Main Dining Room with my Gluten issues. I did not like the Main Dining Room layout (very low ceilings) and decor (on the dark side) nor the buffet layout..... I much prefer an open space with stations rather than one where you are channelled through if that makes sense. The food was on a par with that on RCL. The tendering process needs looking at really badly. Everyone in a group had to be present to get tickets which caused crowds and sometimes friction. Pierside presence at tender drop off was meagre. I like the way RCL has points of reference throughout the ship as to where you are and what is on. The Princess@Sea app is very useful if you don't mind carrying your mobile phone with.

 

Am still writing up the blog in my sig below. I never did get the post cruise email survey despite asking for it.

[flamomo]

I've been a loyal Princess cruiser since 2004, with only one brief family cruise on Carnival a few years ago. Needless to say, I like the way Princess does things! I love feeling pampered and appreciated.

A few years ago I did a 26 day back-to-back on the Crown, and another 16 day the following year, and really liked the ship. I'd book another cruise on her without hesitation if I found an interesting itinerary.

 

By the way, there is a map in every alcove showing where one is in relation to the entire ship!!

[hightownCO]

I've done a lot of cruising on Carnival over the last few years but cruised Princess before that. Plus went back to Princess last year and two booked for this year. There are things I like about both lines. Here's what I really like about Princess:

• Buffet food is much better has longer hours. You don't have to get your own beverage. Someone will come to your table to ask what you would like. Tables will have silverware there for you.
  
• Coffee card. Unlimited fresh brewed from International Caf? plus 15 punches for specialty coffees. If you don't use all the punches, they can be used on your next sailing.
  
• I like they way movies are rotated through different venues, ie one night on MUTS, next night on your cabin TV.
  
• Buy one, get 2nd for $1 drink specials at certain times and bars. Usually twice a day.
  
• Truly crew are great on both lines but on Princess they seem more willing to chat and joke.
  
• Silent disembarkation beats heck out of Carnival and usually no line to get off the ship.
  

I like Carnival OV and Bal cabins better as there's a sofa in the room but if you are in a mini suite, you'll have one. Minis are nice.

 

Princess does have lots of entertainment options but some of it is not to my taste. I'd rather have rock and roll or pop band at the casino bar or Ocean Plaza than chamber music in the atrium but that's just me.

 

You'll have a wonderful cruise.

[iancal]

We have cruised in Princess several times. We did a February 1-15 cruise on Crown.

 

We were somewhat disappointed. The cruise fell below previous Princess cruises. Food and entertainment was Ok. Steward was perfect.

 

MDR service was poor-mediocre -most especially in the morning. On board communication was poor. Tendering was a disaster. At one port we waited over two hours to get a tender and ninety minutes to get back. We spent as much time waiting as we did ashore.

 

In hindsight we regretted making a Crown decision instead of a Celebrity Infinity decision.

 

Keep in mind every trip is different so yours may be perfect. Ship and cabin were in good condition.

[Thrak]

OK - here it is, we are Carnival cruisers for the last 25+ years (with a couple scattered NCL/RCCL sailings) and looking at a 14day Med sailing on the CP for the fall of 2018. Im asking here (and that other site) for the good, the bad, and the ugly of Princess and the CP in particular, especially from anyone with years on the "other" line. We'll likely be up on the Dolphin Deck and pull out all the stops for this one.

 

 

Just a small point but... CP is the designation for Sea Princess. Crown Princess is KP.

 

Check out Adagio up on deck 16 (Sun Deck). Great venue. Quiet. Access to a small outside deck with great aft view.

[easyboy]

I have been on Crown before. We enjoyed it very much such that we are again booked on the Crown this March 25th. Since booking, I have monitored posts regarding others' experiences on her. While there were some negative comments, I found them subjective and not a deal-breaker for me.

[capriccio]

We have cruised in Princess several times. We did a February 1-15 cruise on Crown.

Keep in mind every trip is different so yours may be perfect.

 

Truer words were never written!

 

 

We were on the Crown B2B December 4 - January 4 on her first cruises of the South America season. While our steward was rather lackluster (getting ready to retire after 37 years with Princess!), we had excellent wait staff in the MDR and in Adagios and Vines (we had the AIBP so spent more time in those latter 2 venues than usual :D).

 

 

I would always avoid tendering if I could but then I would miss some of the most interesting ports in the world. We had no tendering issue other than long lines returning in the Falklands since all the excursions to Volunteer Point arrive at the dock at more or less the same time. We did hear about an issue with one of the morning tenders (maybe also in the Falklands) that broke down and created disembarkation problems.

 

 

I can understand why Princess gives out tender tickets only when the entire party is present as a means of control. If they give out, for example, 100 tickets per tender and some passenges in a group are missing when called, the tenders will go out partially filled. When those that missed their tender show up, the count is off for the next group. Sounds like a recipe for even more problems.

[NorbertsNiece]

Me again.

 

With regards to tendering. If one person shows and takes the specific tickets for the group and the tender is called they fill that tender with the people with that tender number. If there are spaces left on the tender then they just take the next in line for the next tender. That's how it works with RCL. It's not rocket science. Really it isn't. x

[FlaParrotHead]

Great comments so far, very informative. We have a hold on a cabin, just need to decide to push the button or not.... KP may be in our 2018 plans. Thanks, keep the comments coming. B&B

 

 

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[FlaParrotHead]

Booked! Thanks folks. Time to follow more threads here and on the "other" site for tips and hints. Pushing the purse strings for Club Class!

 

 

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[riclop]

Thanks for your thoughts.