Questions about Crown Princess:

[trajan]

Hi,

 

We plan to be celebrating our honeymoon on the Crown Princess in May 2007. I have read many reviews here and would like to say thank you to those who have taken the time to provide this very valuable resource.

 

I've seen it mentioned in passing in some reviews but want to ask specifically is cigarette smoke in the public areas much of an issue? Neither of us is allergic but it does bother us.

 

Also we are trying to decide between anytime dining and the scheduled meals. Our main concern is that we want to wait in line as little as possible but do not want to sacrifice any quality. Is the dining experience in the anytime dining areas comparable? Did anyone try both as I understand it is possible to change during the cruise?

 

Thanks for any replies! Before I post the same questions to many different threads just thought I'd ask in a new thread first.

[debbieinct61]

The only place I could really smell smoke & or stale smoke was in the casino. It seemed Skywalkers? niteclub smelled a little of stale smoke when I popped I head in during the day for a look, but I thought it was non-smoking, that's why I noticed. There is a cigar club off the piazza indoors, but it was enclosed & seemed very well ventilated. Hope this helps.Smelled a lot of pot walking the hallways though.

[LALAFRANCE]

Unfortunately there IS smoking in the nightclub..quite alot actually. Club Fusion and Explorers was limited to a small area so not as bad. The casino VERY VERY smoky, we didn't last more than 15 min at a time. I think they should have made an adjacent room for non-smokers.:(

 

My husband and I had anytime seating and we loved it! We NEVER had to wait! As you walk in the dining room (Da Vinci was the BEST) they asked if you'd like to join a table or if you'd like a table for 2..we did both... at all different times never a problem.

 

We just ended our cruise 10-27 so I know you will enjoy whatever you choose.:D

 

-Patti

[azdmelani]

The only place I smelled a lot of smoke was in the casino, as the other posters said. Compared to other ships i have been on it was not bad at all.

 

Just as an FYI the port side of the ship is smoking and starboard is nonsmoking.

 

Anytime dining was great. We ended up liking our waiter and sitting with him all week at assorted times. Never had an issue getting a table

[sunprincess]

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.

I hope you enjoy the Crown even 1/2 as much as I did. (I do have a review posted, along with 2 webshots albums)

 

I did not spend any time in the casino. But, did smell smoke while in Skywalkers.

 

As for dining you can have it so you do not spend time on line waiting with either option really. If you want greater flexibility go for the anytime dining, as traditional locks you in to the same time & table every night.

 

This cruise we fell in love with our 2 Georges (waiter & Jr waiter) from the start & stayed with them same time & table everynight with Anytime.

 

Good Luck with your planning.

[AbbeyGr]

We are honeymooning on the Crown in May too! Congrats!!!!

[trajan]

Thanks for the advice and the sentiments!

 

Sounds like smoke will not be an issue for us. We are not too interested in the casino so no worries there. And we have settled on anytime dining.

 

Now we just can't wait to get going!

 

And congrats, have a great honeymoon AbbeyGR! :)

[Leafpeeper]

We sailed Crown Princess last month and loved it. I am very sensitive to smoke and felt this was the best ship for controlling smoke. Some smokers were complaining about the restrictions on them.

 

Club Fusion, where kareoke, bingo, and horseracing is held, has one side smoking and one side non-smoking. I never smelled any smoke on the non-smoking side. Very good ventilation. Casinos are always a problem. Daytime is the best to avoid smoke in the casino because it is not crowded.

 

Try the anytime dining. The only night we had to wait for a table was on formal night. I would recommend making reservations for that night. It was only a fifteen minute wait, so we had a glass of wine and then our table was ready. Some nights we ate at 6pm and port nights we ate around 8pm. I liked the ability to eat when I wanted to and not at an assigned time. You can ask for a table for 2 or ask to be seated with other people. That's why they call it "personal choice dining."

[KAWS]

Just as an FYI the port side of the ship is smoking and starboard is nonsmoking.

 

Does that go for the cabins too?

 

Kim

[Cruise Raider]

Club Fusion was so smokey that it was almost unbearable. Guess it depends on your fellow passengers. Nobody on our Sept cruise was aware of the smoking and non-smoking sides of the ship / rooms and the staff was unlikely to tell them. Balcony rooms were surrounded by smoke. Again, just depends on your fellow passengers. The best bet was the Adagio lounge and Crooner's martini bar was pretty smoke free...oddly enough.

[TinaLee]

Just as an FYI the port side of the ship is smoking and starboard is nonsmoking.

 

I believe this is only in clubs that have smoking and non-smoking areas in them. It does not apply to cabins. You will notice that the tables on one side of the room have ashtrays and the other side does not, and sometimes has the little non-smoking symbol on the table itself. (haven't been on Crown personally yet, so cannot attest to that for sure)

 

To OP - your statement that it is possible to change from traditional to personal choice dining during the cruise is not exactly correct. You can request to be changed from traditional to personal choice if it is waitlisted, but if you are personal choice you cannot dine in the traditional dining room and if you are traditional you should not dine in the personal choice dining rooms, as you have a table waiting for you in the traditional dining room each night. Of course, both choices have the option to dine at the specialty restaurants and the Cafe Caribe anytime should they choose to do so. :)

 

Enjoy your cruise, your honeymoon, and many long years of happily wedded matrimony!

[trajan]

your statement that it is possible to change from traditional to personal choice dining during the cruise is not exactly correct.

 

Ahh, ty, good to know. "Personal choice dining" all the way then.

 

 

 

Enjoy your cruise, your honeymoon, and many long years of happily wedded matrimony!

 

Ty! That is the plan. :) :)

[bickee]

I AM JEALOUS! I honeymooned last October on the Caribbean Princess and it was my best cruise ever. Not JUST because it was my honeymoon either. ;) The ship was perfect, our waitstaff was THE BEST, we dined with great people. I'm dying to try the Crown. We actually did traditional dining...we're afraid to try personal choice because we love dining with the same people/waiters every night! I don't want to go through the trouble of re-introducing myself to tablemates. Just me though. I'm sure I'll try it eventually! Have a wonderful time.

[1bigsexy]

Thanks for sharing. Myself and 2 of my girls are allergic to smoke, plus we know the dangers of second hand smoke. One of the things I didn't care for on our last cruise (Royal Caribbean) was the smoke in the hallways leading to our state rooms.

 

I think it's funny when a room has smoking and non smoking sides.. does the smoke not still end up everywhere :cool: