Princess reviews

[JordanF]

I have taken a fair number of cruises on a fair number of lines, and am a long-time regular user of Cruise Critic.  I have noticed the the reviews in the "Review" section of Cruise Critic tend towards the negative, while the criticisms in the threads are more constructive and mixed with the positive, and just plain old information.  I have sailed on RCCL, Celebrity, Princess and NCL, and have never had a bad cruise.  Yes, I have had things that were not great on pretty much every cruise, but I guess I just love being on cruises.  

 

We recently decided to go on a Caribbean cruise next February, and for personal reasons wanted to leave for Fort Lauderdale.  Princess was simply more affordable than RCCL and Celebrity.  We love those lines, but booked with Princess because we think we will get a comparable experience for a better price.   

[TBfrPH]

@cruiseaholic777 You took 10 Princess cruises, so you must have enjoyed much of what Princess does.  If your last Princess cruise was some time ago, then please know that things may be different now. 

 

We have cruised mainly with Princess over the past five years because of its terrific live music program.  We have seen Princess' other entertainment (theater shows and game shows) multiple times, so they are no longer the main draw. We never really cared for the food, but we go with our expectations in check.  We don't need/like to be coddled, so good service to us simply means that we're not getting the attitude from staff.  All of the above benchmarks have gradually been deteriorating in our opinion, especially over the past year. Music bands have been downsized from quartets to duos.  Live music during the day has been replaced with "family games" and street performers.  The food is now no better than mid-grade hotel convention fare (yes, on some nights you can still get a well-executed dish with some refinement, but those are the exceptions). Some college cafeterias are probably serving better food than the Princess buffet.  On our most recent cruise on the Crown Princess last month, the wait staff at the buffet all looked like they just had an argument with their spouses.  Getting two glasses of water was a real chore. But if you wanted to upgrade your drink package there would be someone to do it for you immediately with a smile.

 

Princess is going after a younger customer base and people with families (i.e. kids).  So it's trying to be like the mega ships of RCL, instead of sticking to what sets it apart.  It is building bigger ships with more cabins, replacing music lounge space with slot machines, eliminating amenities that don't generate alcohol or gambling revenues.  The new Sun Princess is Exihibit A, and I get the feeling that soon the other ships will be "refreshed" to be the same. 

 

Overall Princess is engaging in a race to the bottom with the other mass market lines, but you may still find enough of its old self to satisfy for now.  I remind myself often that it is still a vacation. One just needs to manage expectations a little more than before.  

[qoap24]

Most of my cruises were with NCL, but in 2018 we decided the food was so bad (to us) we couldn't cruise on them anymore. I have cruised a couple of times on HAL and Royal and I have no desire to go back to Royal. Honestly HAL has been my favorite, but we have only sailed twice and it was on the same ship. My last cruise was with Princess last year on Regal and honestly my family and I said we would never cruise with Princess again. There were a lot of little things that happened before our cruise and some during our cruise that rubbed us the wrong way. We were in a suite and the concierge gave us each $200 fcc and we were like, thanks but we will never use it. But now I am booked on 2 Princess cruises this year (Enchanted in August and Discovery in Oct). The problems we had with Princess had nothing to do with food, entertainment or the ship. For the most part the food was good, most of the staff were amazing, the concierge tried his hardest to fix all the wrongs we had experienced. I say give them a shot again, the issues that bothered us, may not happen to you or bother you. I think everyone's expectations are different and although reviews can be helpful, you can't take them as fact. I know I will never sail on Royal again, but some people love Royal. 

[cruisermsoon]

Having cruised with many lines over the years, I have of late concentrated my searches to three lines: Princess, Holland America & Azamara.

Holland America definately betters Princess in the food department, with their buffet food very much better. Also, although the ships on both lines are getting bigger, Holland America is still mid-sized, wheras Princess, with their Sun class, is starting to get into the mega field.

Azamara, although more expensive, is another class entirely. All-inclusive [drinks and tips included] and the smaller 650 passenger ships and port intensive itineraries make for a very special experience, as long as you can do without the big brassy shows and glitzy surroundings.

[Cruisemeister2002]

Hi all, my next cruise aboard Sky Princess will only be my second Princess cruise. My first was back in 2003. In between we have done around 16 other cruises on P&O, but due to a less than satisfactory cruise last year on Ventura we decided to change allegiance and try Princess again in the hope it is hugely better than our last P&O experience. We have taken out the Plus Package which is a first for us as we are not big drinkers so we may or may not regret taking that option. We do however like specialist coffee's and a bit of cake and I look forward to the desserts but maybe not two a day ? The feedback on Princess food like most cruise lines is mixed. Some good, some bad and some in between. With the Plus Package you get two Casual Dining times and I have booked one time on the Speciality Restaurant. May book more subject to what the food is like in the MDR. If it's o.k. I don't see the point in paying more out. 

[Globaler]

6 hours ago, TBfrPH said:

@cruiseaholic777 You took 10 Princess cruises, so you must have enjoyed much of what Princess does.  If your last Princess cruise was some time ago, then please know that things may be different now. 

 

We have cruised mainly with Princess over the past five years because of its terrific live music program.  We have seen Princess' other entertainment (theater shows and game shows) multiple times, so they are no longer the main draw. We never really cared for the food, but we go with our expectations in check.  We don't need/like to be coddled, so good service to us simply means that we're not getting the attitude from staff.  All of the above benchmarks have gradually been deteriorating in our opinion, especially over the past year. Music bands have been downsized from quartets to duos.  Live music during the day has been replaced with "family games" and street performers.  The food is now no better than mid-grade hotel convention fare (yes, on some nights you can still get a well-executed dish with some refinement, but those are the exceptions). Some college cafeterias are probably serving better food than the Princess buffet.  On our most recent cruise on the Crown Princess last month, the wait staff at the buffet all looked like they just had an argument with their spouses.  Getting two glasses of water was a real chore. But if you wanted to upgrade your drink package there would be someone to do it for you immediately with a smile.

 

Princess is going after a younger customer base and people with families (i.e. kids).  So it's trying to be like the mega ships of RCL, instead of sticking to what sets it apart.  It is building bigger ships with more cabins, replacing music lounge space with slot machines, eliminating amenities that don't generate alcohol or gambling revenues.  The new Sun Princess is Exihibit A, and I get the feeling that soon the other ships will be "refreshed" to be the same. 

 

Overall Princess is engaging in a race to the bottom with the other mass market lines, but you may still find enough of its old self to satisfy for now.  I remind myself often that it is still a vacation. One just needs to manage expectations a little more than before.  

I couldn’t agree with you more. I was just on the Sun Princess and they appear to be having a “brand crises”. The are struggling with staying loyal to those who have been loyal to them, attract families and be cool and/or hip.

[Boku]

a leading UK review site recently rated 23 cruise lines based on customer reviews and Princess Cruises came 23rd! Despite that I like cruising with Princess but only have P&O to compare against.

[loge23]

We think the reports of significant decline on Princess have been greatly exaggerated on a wholesale basis. I am pretty sure however that isolated incidents of a bad cruise experience do receive much greater attention than those of the majority's experience - so there's that.

My opinion is based on literally dozens of cruises on Princess, with multiple cruises on several other lines - including the smaller ship higher-end lines. Always remember the old consumer adage: you get what you pay for.

With that in mind, Princess delivers a very nice product for a large-ship cruise.

We're on one now - on the seemingly (based on this website) much-maligned Emerald Princess, a ship that we've sailed for many of it's 17 years with months of total nights on onboard. 

We're having a wonderful time: delicious, well-presented dining, more entertainment than we can possibly go to, a gracious crew, and should that we feel very comfortable and safe on. 

We feel that we've over-payed on some of our higher-end cruises.

[cruiseaholic777]

Thank you for your help.

[BamaVol]

Bear in mind that with 15 ships of various sizes, designs and ages, you have a choice of experiences.  We just got off the 4 year old Enchanted.  It was the right choice for a family vacation with our daughter and her family.  I would not have chosen her, especially in June for a trip with just my wife.

 

I’m getting ready to book our next cruise. My choice is between Ruby, Grand and Coral. I’m leaning towards Grand, but not ruling out Coral. Old doesn’t have to mean decrepit.  I worked in older manufacturing facilities that were properly maintained and know that a 20 year old ship should still have functioning a/c and flushable toilets. And comfortable beds, shiny railings, lights without burned out bulbs, etc.

 

I have never been less than delighted in 3 cruises with Princess crew members. The food is to my liking. It’s not high end Michelin, but it’s way beyond a college cafeteria (my sister ran one for 15 years. I know what I’m talking about). We prefer the low key lounge entertainment, but were impressed by the production shows.

 

All I’m saying is that you should choose your ship wisely. Find an itinerary you like, look carefully at the deck plans, ask questions here. Best to take the cheerleaders and crabbypants complainers with a grain of salt and look at what folks in the middle are saying. And then set your expectations low enough that you can be delighted if nothing goes terribly wrong.

[memoak]

18 minutes ago, BamaVol said:

Bear in mind that with 15 ships of various sizes, designs and ages, you have a choice of experiences.  We just got off the 4 year old Enchanted.  It was the right choice for a family vacation with our daughter and her family.  I would not have chosen her, especially in June for a trip with just my wife.

 

I’m getting ready to book our next cruise. My choice is between Ruby, Grand and Coral. I’m leaning towards Grand, but not ruling out Coral. Old doesn’t have to mean decrepit.  I worked in older manufacturing facilities that were properly maintained and know that a 20 year old ship should still have functioning a/c and flushable toilets. And comfortable beds, shiny railings, lights without burned out bulbs, etc.

 

I have never been less than delighted in 3 cruises with Princess crew members. The food is to my liking. It’s not high end Michelin, but it’s way beyond a college cafeteria (my sister ran one for 15 years. I know what I’m talking about). We prefer the low key lounge entertainment, but were impressed by the production shows.

 

All I’m saying is that you should choose your ship wisely. Find an itinerary you like, look carefully at the deck plans, ask questions here. Best to take the cheerleaders and crabbypants complainers with a grain of salt and look at what folks in the middle are saying. And then set your expectations low enough that you can be delighted if nothing goes terribly wrong.

Agree with sticking to Grand class and the Coral. The sizes are right. We only book Royal class if it is an itinerary we can’t do on the others. The way the venues are all stacked up around the piazza makes all of them way too noisy

[Boku]

Generally people only do reviews or go on forums to complain. I have only done one Princess cruise on Sky and loved it, so much so that we have booked two more. 😀

[Globaler]

5 hours ago, Boku said:

Generally people only do reviews or go on forums to complain. I have only done one Princess cruise on Sky and loved it, so much so that we have booked two more. 😀

I have done some reviews and mainly do it because I was told mgt really does listen.  I know for a fact that reviews of the Sun are being closely followed because there are many things that need to be addressed. I was told that it will go into dry dock sooner rather than later.  Also, the Star has been delayed to incorporate learnings from the Sun.

[BamaVol]

8 hours ago, memoak said:

Agree with sticking to Grand class and the Coral. The sizes are right. We only book Royal class if it is an itinerary we can’t do on the others. The way the venues are all stacked up around the piazza makes all of them way too noisy

I met with my TA this afternoon and booked Grand Princess for next April.

Edited Saturday at 12:51 AM by BamaVol

[beshears]

I have not read any of the postings here, but this is MY opinion. I believe I had cruised many years ago on Princess, and we (8 of us) decided to do the Regal in February this year. We had NO clue what to expect with the medallion, packages, etc., but as one of my sons said, he was tired of being nickled and dimed, so we just got the package, and for the most part, it was worth it to us, especially if we USED everything that was with the package. Actually my family is so happy with the way Princess was, we are booked for February next year on the Enchanted.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

3 hours ago, Globaler said:

I have done some reviews and mainly do it because I was told mgt really does listen.  I know for a fact that reviews of the Sun are being closely followed because there are many things that need to be addressed. I was told that it will go into dry dock sooner rather than later.  Also, the Star has been delayed to incorporate learnings from the Sun.

What issues need to be addressed on the Sun Princess? 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

3 hours ago, BamaVol said:

I met with my TA this afternoon and booked Grand Princess for next April.

I’m looking forward to your review. 😊

[MsSoCalCruiser]

18 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

We have taken out the Plus Package which is a first for us as we are not big drinkers so we may or may not regret taking that option. We do however like specialist coffee's and a bit of cake and I look forward to the desserts but maybe not two a day ? The feedback on Princess food like most cruise lines is mixed. Some good, some bad and some in between. With the Plus Package you get two Casual Dining times and I have booked one time on the Speciality Restaurant. May book more subject to what the food is like in the MDR. If it's o.k. I don't see the point in paying more out. 

I rarely drink alcohol but I usually purchase Princess Plus. I do drink specialty coffees, bottled water, mocktails, and soda along with the occasional Malibu Rum and Coke so I feel like I get my moneys worth with Princess Plus. I also like not worrying about what I’m spending each time I place an order. Unfortunately, I am allergic to dairy products so no cake or special desserts for me 😭. Enjoy! 

[KKB]

On 6/26/2024 at 11:30 PM, cruiseaholic777 said:

We cruised with Princess 10 of our first 12 cruises. Then they raised prices so we tried other cruise lines. Now that they are back inline with the prices, I have heard some bad reviews about everything. From the food to the entertainment. Are the reviews legit or just a few people that love to complain?

I find that complainers seem to be more likely to post than those that were pleased.

I look for patterns tho--if it seems many are complaining about the same thing, I avoid that ship or line. (I should have listened to those MSC reviews...)

Have sailed Princess 9x in the last 3 years, 28 days on the Regal in April. 

I cannot think of anything major to complain about on any of those cruises.

Had a great time on each one.

And the food on the Regal was the best MDR food overall we have had in over 40 cruises in 30 years! 

[KKB]

11 hours ago, Globaler said:

I have done some reviews and mainly do it because I was told mgt really does listen.  I know for a fact that reviews of the Sun are being closely followed because there are many things that need to be addressed. I was told that it will go into dry dock sooner rather than later.  Also, the Star has been delayed to incorporate learnings from the Sun.

Interesting.

BIL & SIL just sailed the Sun last month & said it was great--gorgeous ship, great service & food, enjoyed the music around the ship.

Edited Saturday at 11:41 AM by KKB

[Globaler]

2 hours ago, KKB said:

Interesting.

BIL & SIL just sailed the Sun last month & said it was great--gorgeous ship, great service & food, enjoyed the music around the ship.

I’ll write a full review next week but - a few observations:

- they don’t have enough employees ( not enough crew cabins)

- the flow of the ship causes you to walk through cabin halls (dodging cleaning carts) when going from one area of the ship to another 

- food is really not up to Princess standards

- Guest Services is in a coat closet and the cue line is in the hall between elevators

- most of the bars are walk throughs

more later

 

 

 

[KKB]

2 hours ago, Globaler said:

I’ll write a full review next week but - a few observations:

- they don’t have enough employees ( not enough crew cabins)

- the flow of the ship causes you to walk through cabin halls (dodging cleaning carts) when going from one area of the ship to another 

- food is really not up to Princess standards

- Guest Services is in a coat closet and the cue line is in the hall between elevators

- most of the bars are walk throughs

more later

 

Agree the crew to passenger ratio is a bit less than other Princess ships.

Odd flow is a quirk of Princess...Carnival too...now NCL Prima class seems to have joined in. 

BIL & SIL said food was great & they are very picky, so I suppose that is subjective.

Guess Services being off by itself I suppose leads to this. But it has 4 areas for crew, about the same as other ships. I've certainly seen very very long lines at GS on many ships.

 

I don't understand the bar comment. Pretty much the same main bars as other Princess ships: Princess Live, Wheelhouse, Good Spirits, O'Malleys, Crooners & Bellinis, each with quite a bit of seating around them. Crooners & Bellinis do open to the Piazza, but they typically do. 

 

Edited Saturday at 04:36 PM by KKB

[Trouvailless]

4 hours ago, KKB said:

I find that complainers seem to be more likely to post than those that were pleased.

I look for patterns tho--if it seems many are complaining about the same thing, I avoid that ship or line. (I should have listened to those MSC reviews...)

Have sailed Princess 9x in the last 3 years, 28 days on the Regal in April. 

I cannot think of anything major to complain about on any of those cruises.

Had a great time on each one.

And the food on the Regal was the best MDR food overall we have had in over 40 cruises in 30 years! 

 

[Globaler]

Just now, KKB said:

Agree the crew to passenger ratio is a bit less than other Princess ships.

Odd flow is a quirk of Princess...Carnival too...now NCL Prima class seems to have joined in.

BIL & SIL said food was great & they are very picky, so I suppose that is subjective.

Guess Services being off by itself I suppose leads to this. But it has 4 areas for crew, about the same as other ships. I've certainly seen very very long lines at GS on many ships.

 

The bar comment is odd. Pretty much the same main bars as other Princess ships: Princess Live, Wheelhouse, Good Spirits, O'Malleys, Crooners & Bellinis, each with quite a bit of seating around them. Crooners & Bellinis do open to the Piazza, but they typically do. 

 

The piazza is becoming a major focus for entertainment so it drowns out anything near it. Also I have mentioned before that I think Princess is in a brand crisis - they are trying to be loyal to those who have been loyal to them, families and being cool and/or hip.

[KKB]

Just now, Globaler said:

The piazza is becoming a major focus for entertainment so it drowns out anything near it. Also I have mentioned before that I think Princess is in a brand crisis - they are trying to be loyal to those who have been loyal to them, families and being cool and/or hip.

Who are they being loyal to? Again confused about this comment.

All cruise lines are trying to find that balance between pleasing their loyalists (who tend to be older) & to bring in new fans as well. Design & entertainment offerings are going to reflect this.

I love the changes I see--sleek modern design, waterfront dining & bars, pools on lower decks.