Would you sail on an older Princess ship?

[MauiLvrs]

The list of reasons too sail the older ships and not sail the new ships is LONG ...

 

NO promenade deck 🤯

No Explores (most people agree Princess Live sucks in comparison)

No Wheel House

No Crooners (on most of them)

No Pizza and Cones (on one or more of them)

No Skywalkers (or any other replacement venue)

A BUNCH of extra people

Deck 7 is mostly pay extra places to eat

There is a Good Spirits but some idiot put it next to the Casino so unless they added a magic way to keep the smoke in the casino it is probably useless.

Most of the balconies on the Royal class ship suck as they are TINY!

 

The dislike list is LONG — the like list SHORT

 

The Royal class ships are the worst Princess has set to sail😕

Do have a Skywalk and Alfredo’s

Do have more places to pay extra to eat 🙄

 

The best sailing are the Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princesss

[mtnesterz]

3 hours ago, Ombud said:

So it's vastly different from Skywalkers on the Ruby?? (Haven't been on Grand since 2014 so my memory is fuzzy)

I know you like fleet history. Here is the video of the Skywalkers removal.

The Grand was too heavy at the stern. Later Grand class ships used more aluminium, lighter.

https://youtu.be/lFGrWMug9sA

 

[Ombud]

10 minutes ago, mtnesterz said:

I know you like fleet history. Here is the video of the Skywalkers removal.

The Grand was too heavy at the stern. Later Grand class ships used more aluminium, lighter.

https://youtu.be/lFGrWMug9sA

 

Thank you!! So cool. Just too heavy. Guess there was no way to economically re-create it on the lower deck. 

[mtnesterz]

6 minutes ago, MauiLvrs said:

The list of reasons too sail the older ships and not sail the new ships is LONG ...

The best sailing are the Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princesss

Was watching videos today of failed resorts and theme park projects.

Disney, especially, has made many blunders anticipating what customers want. 

I believe this new Sun Princess will be a failure... Too much of what nobody wants.

There will be some that only care if something is new. Like those that trade in a car rather than change the oil. But those who love the things you mention plus the Princess hallmark of classless cruising will stay away.

 

[Ombud]

15 minutes ago, MauiLvrs said:

The list of reasons too sail the older ships and not sail the new ships is LONG ...

 

NO promenade deck 🤯

No Explores (most people agree Princess Live sucks in comparison)

No Wheel House

No Crooners (on most of them)

No Pizza and Cones (on one or more of them)

No Skywalkers (or any other replacement venue)

A BUNCH of extra people

Deck 7 is mostly pay extra places to eat

There is a Good Spirits but some idiot put it next to the Casino so unless they added a magic way to keep the smoke in the casino it is probably useless.

Most of the balconies on the Royal class ship suck as they are TINY!

 

The dislike list is LONG — the like list SHORT

 

The Royal class ships are the worst Princess has set to sail😕

Do have a Skywalk and Alfredo’s

Do have more places to pay extra to eat 🙄

 

The best sailing are the Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princesss

Enchanted and Discovery have a great Princess Live, Crooners is huge, there's soft ice cream at Swirls, hard ice cream with all the toppings in the Pastry Shop, and gelato in the piazza. 

 

Princess Live:

Take 5:

[dckmusic]

I've been on Carribean twice, Crown and Ruby and we're booked for Ruby again in a few months. The occasional maintenance issues that have cropped up haven't really impacted our enjoyment and we were even credited some OBC for a couple issues that really didn't bother us.

Edited October 13, 2022 by dckmusic
Misnamed ship

[2 cruises a year]

4 hours ago, Ombud said:

So it's vastly different from Skywalkers on the Ruby?? (Haven't been on Grand since 2014 so my memory is fuzzy)

Youtube of One5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTUE57w4bzk

 

[GonzoWCS]

On 10/12/2022 at 7:23 PM, njsmom said:

Would you sail on an older Princess ship? One built more than 10-12 years ago? I've been on an older ship on Carnival and it was awful. I was so scarred from the experience I'm afraid to try older ships on other cruise lines. Please share with me your experiences, since some itineraries, ports or dates only offer older ships. 

Yes

 

Cheers

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, MauiLvrs said:

Emerald is effectively an older ship

 

Yes, I know but I've seen posts by a number of folks who don't like Emerald. Of course they also don't like Crown or Ruby because of the "extra" passenger deck.

[helby]

On 10/12/2022 at 5:56 PM, NownZen said:

 We also sail with Oceania  (which has the old Pacific Princess as the Sirena). 

I haven't read the whole thread so some one may have already posted this.The Pacific Princess is now the Azamara Onward. I think Sirena is the former Ocean Princess

[Samkitty1]

I like the older ships...have sailed the Crown Princess 4 times and Carribbean Princess twice...Regal once. I liked them all but actually found the cabin and layout of the older ships more to my liking.  Maintainence issues can occur on the newer ships just as much as on the older ones

 

[Coral]

I prefer the older ships. I also prefer smaller ships.

[Sigyn]

14 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

When I clicked submit, your post showed up. I tried to edit, but I guess you still got the email.

Maintenance on Carnival has been mentioned by others, but it is just that. Not related to age.

What you mention, finding something low key and the passengers is more down to marketing. I think everyone is shocked by the violence on ships lately, Carnival has been mentioned there more than once. It's a quieter crowd on Princess for sure.

You mention the Crown's problems. This month, the Crown went for major dry dock. Possibly engine replacement. That should take care of the issues. The Royal is too big for the inside route to Alaska. If going to Alaska, smaller is better. Which these days, usually means older. 

Based on what you write, just my two cents, look at Oceania to Alaska.

I did see an appealing Oceania cruise. I forgot about that!

[pris993]

Yes, my two favorite ships are the Grand and the Ruby.

[paradiselivin1]

On 10/13/2022 at 4:30 PM, Ombud said:

 nice size but does the IC have a lot of seating? 

@Ombud I guess that's all relative to the size of the ship. I don't recall ever having a problem finding seating.

[cruisingrob21]

The Caribbean, Crown, Emerald and Ruby can feel more crowded than the Royal class ships, especially in the buffet and the lack of choice on balcony cabins is annoying (standard vs deluxe on royal class ships is nice)  I think these are the only reasons I wouldn't choose an older ship.  But nearly every other attribute that I value would have me sail an older ship.  They would be the following advantages

 

• Promenade deck (although narrow in spots, its still nice to have access to)
• many lounges around the ship to watch the ocean, both on the lower decks and on the top (skywalkers, adagio)
• The aft terraced pool (granted, the Coral and Island don't have a great aft pool, the Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery might have it better in this regard)
• Better gym views
• more pools
• more hottubs per passenger
• more elevators per passenger (although we mostly take stairs)
• The grand, island, and coral still have climate controlled pool area
• MUTS is in a better location and easier to see on the Grand class ships - its nice to keep one pool area relatively quieter.
• more intimately sized atrium - royal class ships almost is too large.
• Explorers lounge is better than Princess Live in my opinion
• oceanview cabins, both obstructed and unobstructed
• lower deck cabins (deck 5 and 6) for some of our travel companions that get seasickness easily

 

After sailing 3 voyages on Royal Class ships since 2020, it was really refreshing to sail on the Crown in late September.  

 

However, I will say that the Vista ships of Holland America have grown on me as they offer many of the things above.  The Pinnacle class ships (Koningsdam etc) are closer to an "Evolution" of the grand class than the Royal class is, in my opinion.

[StrawberryHill]

Coral is the BEST      Island was second until Princess butchered it   Not Ruby / Crown / ? is second best

[NownZen]

On 10/13/2022 at 6:47 PM, helby said:

I haven't read the whole thread so some one may have already posted this.The Pacific Princess is now the Azamara Onward. I think Sirena is the former Ocean Princess

I am between the point of acknowledging my mistakes and just making everything up. You are right. I should be particularly aware of this as we have a cruise coming up on the Sirena.

[koreakruiser]

On 10/13/2022 at 1:06 PM, MauiLvrs said:

The list of reasons too sail the older ships and not sail the new ships is LONG ...

 

NO promenade deck 🤯

No Explores (most people agree Princess Live sucks in comparison)

No Wheel House

No Crooners (on most of them)

No Pizza and Cones (on one or more of them)

No Skywalkers (or any other replacement venue)

A BUNCH of extra people

Deck 7 is mostly pay extra places to eat

There is a Good Spirits but some idiot put it next to the Casino so unless they added a magic way to keep the smoke in the casino it is probably useless.

Most of the balconies on the Royal class ship suck as they are TINY!

 

The dislike list is LONG — the like list SHORT

 

The Royal class ships are the worst Princess has set to sail😕

Do have a Skywalk and Alfredo’s

Do have more places to pay extra to eat 🙄

 

The best sailing are the Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princesss

I was going to say yes for a couple of reasons, but I like your list better.  Thanks  🙂

[SinbadThePorter]

5 hours ago, StrawberryHill said:

Coral is the BEST      Island was second until Princess butchered it   Not Ruby / Crown / ? is second best

 

Just got off Coral last Thursday. Still a wonderful ship. She does everything you want a cruise ship to do.

 

My next favourite is Diamond, followed by the late Sun and Sea. I'd like to catch up with Sapphire one day.

 

Ruby was good. Far better than Majestic which I did not like.

 

The Royal Class ships may float on the sea, but you would hardly know it. Unless Princess start producing new ships that feel like cruise ships rather than hotels I won't be travelling on them.

[john watson]

On 10/13/2022 at 2:55 AM, CineGraphic said:

You will quickly find out that the older ships are favored by many of us.

Our faves are Coral, Caribbean, and Ruby.

 

This is almost exclusively because of the size and layout which they have.

 

Regards John

[GUT2407]

Of the current crop Diamond would be our pick I think.

[CalTexCruiser]

On 10/13/2022 at 5:44 AM, njsmom said:

For more information, it's a July 2023 Alaskan cruise I'm considering, and the ships that work for us with timing are the Crown Princess and the Royal Princess. And then the brand new Discovery Princess. We could possibly do the Ruby Princess, but that skips Seattle or Vancouver and my husband would really like to visit that area before or after the cruise. But if the Ruby is the best of the ships, then that might be a good tradeoff. 

 

I read reviews on the ships, and the Crown has a lot of negative reviews. The Royal Princess has better reviews. Of course the Discovery is new, but some people don't like it, either. I don't like the itinerary as well, either.

 

So, thoughts on the Crown and the Royal are of most interest to me. The Royal isn't really what I consider older, having come out in 2012. But the Crown is from 2005. So I'm curious if it's still viable. 

 

So we've sailed on the Ruby and the Discovery.  The problem with the Ruby when we sailed back in Apr 2022 was that there was rust everywhere along the balconies.  Felt a bit rundown due to the rust.  But the interior of the ship was fine.

 

Discovery is nice and new and more modern decor and lighter colors, if you like that sort of thing.

 

We have no problems with older ships if well maintained but we try to book newer ships.

[Kay S]

Maybe I missed it, but which old Carnival ship scared you?

[1965]

If the itinerary & price are what we want, we don't mind an older ship.