Grand Princess - Pros and Cons?

[trvlwrld]

We have been on the Crown...she is fine, but shows her age...is the Grand pretty much in the  same boat?

[Sea Hag]

Well, she does show her age somewhat, but she's a really great ship. She's got the window suites, which Crown may have as well. There're a few premium ocean view cabins on lido that have floor to ceiling large windows. We like the covered balconies on Emerald deck forward. She's got that wonderful full wrap-around promenade deck that I'm sure Crown has as well. The food's always been as good on the Grand as on other Princess ships we've been on. I would cruise on her again like a shot.

[toescat]

I love the Grand and have sailed her a few times.  She is a very comfortable ship and am disappointed that I will not be sailing on her on upcoming3. cruise to Alaska. I would sail on her again in a heartbeat!

[snoozecrooze]

30 minutes ago, trvlwrld said:

We have been on the Crown...she is fine, but shows her age...is the Grand pretty much in the  same boat?

Given that your question is asking strictly on "age," I would say yes, Grand definitely shows that. And she looks comparably older than Crown due to the fact that she's literally about a decade older than Crown. What I would not say is that Grand looks worn out and is tired beyond repair; Grand was refurbished in spring 2019 and was ready to launch with the Medallion around the time COVID struck, so the company's clearly been giving the ship some TLC. I personally don't think there are huge substantive differences btwn Grand and Crown, other than the fact that there will be more people on Crown due to having the Riviera deck.

[cr8tiv1]

She has shown her age before she went into dry dock.  She has some misfortunes on her trip to Hawaii one year.  She did have water leaks (buckets everywhere).  But she is still one of my favorite class ships.  The casino is on the "wrong" deck (6).  It makes it very crowded when Princess Theater shows let out.  Rebuilds after that (Golden) moved the casino up to deck 7 making deck 6 wide open and enlarged.  No Skywalkers (removed for structural integrity).  Replaced with OPUS 1?  I think .  Still has the Vista Lounge for additional performances.  Covered swimming pool.

 

The Grand and Caribbean (with one extra deck/think Crown) that still have Window Suites.  The Crown does not.

 

She has Alfredo's Pizzeria.  

 

Her Plaza Deck inside cabins behind the Art Auction department is a great location.  If you choose the starboard side (I think), there will be a dead end hall....no local traffic.

 

 

 

 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

11 minutes ago, Sea Hag said:

She's got that wonderful full wrap-around promenade deck that I'm sure Crown has as well.

 

Uh as I recall the promenade on the Promenade Deck "ended" at a staircase and you had to go up to the Emerald Deck to continue promenading. Do I have that wrong?

[Steelers36]

18 minutes ago, scottca075 said:

 

Uh as I recall the promenade on the Promenade Deck "ended" at a staircase and you had to go up to the Emerald Deck to continue promenading. Do I have that wrong?

All the Grand/Crown class have the stairs forward on Deck 7 to go up to Deck 8 and then back down.

 

Or how about this - All ships older than Royal Class, except for Island and Coral, have the elevated bow section of Promenade that is at Emerald Deck level.  Deck plans on Princess.com indicate this information.

[Papa Yoda]

 

We love the Grand and once we got to sail in the Princess Suite RT Hawaii with whirlpool tub on the balcony with a cool curved glass door into the bedroom, loved it.  Downer is no Thermal Suite and the sauna/steam rooms are out by the Lotus Pool.   

[Sea Hag]

51 minutes ago, scottca075 said:

 

Uh as I recall the promenade on the Promenade Deck "ended" at a staircase and you had to go up to the Emerald Deck to continue promenading. Do I have that wrong?

No, that's correct. You do have to manage the stairs on each lap, but we don't mind that. That forward part of the Promenade deck after you go up the stairs is actually my favorite part of the ships that have it.

[cr8tiv1]

Yes, the Grand has the middle inside stairways to nowhere (crew access only).

 

Yes, bummer, no thermal suite.

 

Yes, to walk around the entire promenade deck you will have to ascend/descend metal steps forward/bow.  At lease she still has a promenade deck....hee hee...Royal Class ships.  Someday, I've always considered getting a cabin in that location.  At night, they rope off the stairs and. you have your own private balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[need2cruisesoon]

My advice is don't. I thought for sure princess would've had her beached in Turkey.

Edited July 5, 2021 by need2cruisesoon

[mtnesterz]

Been on the Grand twice and one more booked. Skywalker's is our favorite hangout on a ship and the Grand's One5 is not the same experience. It was removed from the Grand for weight several years ago. 

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

We miss the Skywalkers,  and are not fans of the one five, but the Grand is still one of our favorites.

[AF-1]

We just booked the Grand 5-night Cabo cruise for Oct 4th.  Look forward to sailing this ship.  To me any ship is fine.  

[JF - retired RRT]

13 hours ago, Sea Hag said:

She's got the window suites, which Crown may have as well. 

I wish, but nope.

[AF-1]

21 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

I wish, but nope.

what do you like about the window suite on Grand?  Would you pick a window suite over a clubclass mini suite which has balcony?  Thanks

[rhblake]

7 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

what do you like about the window suite on Grand?  Would you pick a window suite over a clubclass mini suite which has balcony?  Thanks

By all means. YES YES YES Absolutely!

[AF-1]

6 minutes ago, rhblake said:

By all means. YES YES YES Absolutely!

Thank you for your reply.  Appreciate it

[JF - retired RRT]

50 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

what do you like about the window suite on Grand?  Would you pick a window suite over a clubclass mini suite which has balcony?  Thanks

Haven't experienced... yet. The one we had booked was cancelled at the beginning of the shut-down.

[Sea Hag]

52 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

what do you like about the window suite on Grand?  Would you pick a window suite over a clubclass mini suite which has balcony?  Thanks

Honestly, we've not stayed in a window suite. Had one booked a few years back and had a change of plans of some kind. Had one booked again last March, and we all know what happened with that.

 

I'll still keep trying for one of these, for a few different reasons. They're a novelty - haven't stayed in a cabin like that. We usually book cabins as high up in the ship and as far forward as we can, since we like the motion. But we do like the view from a window far down in the ship, so the window suites on would fit the bill there. We spend a lot of time just walking laps on the Promenade, and the window suites are handy for that. They're also conveniently located for a lot of other things.

[mreasier]

We love the Grand and would take it any day over the Crown.  We have sailed twice on both ships.

 

Grand advantages:

• 15% fewer passengers with essentially the same amount of public space.  The ship is less crowded.
• Covered pool - especially valuable on cool days
• Covered Conservatory above the covered pool - great warm place to relax
• Window Suites

Grand disadvantages:

• No central staircase above deck 7
• Smaller closets (we did a 49 day cruise on the Grand and did not need the larger closet)

Crown advantages:

• Adagio lounge
• Skywalkers - The One5 on the Grand just does not compare.

Someone posted earlier that the casino in the Crown is on Deck 7.   The casino on both ships is on Deck 6.  The Fiesta decks on both ships are almost identical except the Grand has the Window Suites. 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2021 by mreasier

[AF-1]

3 hours ago, Sea Hag said:

Honestly, we've not stayed in a window suite. Had one booked a few years back and had a change of plans of some kind. Had one booked again last March, and we all know what happened with that.

 

I'll still keep trying for one of these, for a few different reasons. They're a novelty - haven't stayed in a cabin like that. We usually book cabins as high up in the ship and as far forward as we can, since we like the motion. But we do like the view from a window far down in the ship, so the window suites on would fit the bill there. We spend a lot of time just walking laps on the Promenade, and the window suites are handy for that. They're also conveniently located for a lot of other things.

Thanks for your feedback.  Have a great day and all the best

[XBGuy]

Alfredo's is the best.

 

We are eager looking forward to our next cruise in January on the Grand Princess.

[cr8tiv1]

5 hours ago, AF-1 said:

what do you like about the window suite on Grand?  Would you pick a window suite over a club class mini suite which has balcony?  Thanks

 

Here are my reasons for picking a window suite over a club class mini:

 

1.  Location - Deck 6.  One up / one down full access to Piazza.

2.  Club Class dining room feet away.

3.  Usually, Window Suites are priced lower than CC Minis

4.  I do not miss a balcony since the Promenade deck is one deck above.

5.  Private hallway.

6.  21 drawers / 3 full size closets.

7.  Suite bathroom with 2 sinks (no wet bar like other suites) / glass shower/jacuzzi tub.

8.  Twice (+) the size of a regular stateroom.

9.  "Guest" bathroom down the hall near the Princess Theater.

10.  Location, location, location.  You can stop at your room after dinner before entering Princess Theater.

11.  Large windows / lots of light/lots of outlets.  Fun watching the ocean break against bow.

12.  Full size living room (with small sofa, coffee table, and "barrel chair").

13.  2 desks / 1 television / long counter.

14.  Usually an orchid plant and flower in the bathroom.

15.  Location, location, location:  Midship/low deck/no extreme motion.  Sometimes you will hear the stabilizers or other mechanical balancers.  

16.  You might hear runners on the Promenade Deck (they aren't suppose to use Promenade for running).

17.  Grand is not my favorite, but will have to do since they got rid of the Golden.  

18.  Suite breakfast (not included with CC mini).

19.  That awful champagne splits upon arrival.

20.  Daily delivery of water bottle.

21.  Two mini bars if you are Elite

22.  Two Cruise Credit points that are a moot point now.

 

[AF-1]

cr8tiv1

  Wow that is some great feedback.  My wife wants the balcony and I want the Window Suite. We have only sailed in regular suites on Royal, Norwegian, and now Princess.  DW  thought since this was 5 night going to Cabo we would sit on balcony during the sea days and sit out there when in port.  On your item #22.  What do you mean a moot point now?  Thanks again.