Is Princess the cruise line for us?

[dance4fun]

Pretty broad question, but I'm hoping to get lots of readers and feedback. We are considering an Eastern Caribbean from NY (9 days) for summer 2008. We are mid 50s couple who like to dance! Not great and not one style of dance (we like east coast swing, cha-cha, waltz, rock and roll, twist, hustle,...), we are looking for a cruise that has a dance band playing preferably every night in a lounge with a dance floor.

 

We also enjoy theme evenings - formals, 50-60s, disco, you name it we participate (except hairy chest contests). We look forward to 2 formal nights on the cruise, if we choose Princess.

 

Had a great time in mid 90s on RCCL Song of America's Oklahoma lounge in which they had dancing every night till about 2 am and a couple of afternoon ball room dancing sessions on a big dance floor, in addition to the disco for the 20 somethings. The ship also had a variety of theme nights - country western, formal, pirate night. We took the same cruise two years later and it was the same. (also it was the last cruise for SoA as RCCL ship). Many passengers participated in the themes and dancing. Energy level on ship was high.

 

(Fast forward through kids in college and we have money to cruise again)

 

Also had a very good time last year on HA Westerdam, but the band generally played only a set before dinner and a set after dinner in an area with a dance floor. Other (jazz) bands played in a different location, but the jazz bands don't really play a variety of dance music. However, the energy level on the ship was low - we were generally joined only by a couple of other folks for one or two dances. Only one theme night was disco era in the disco. While people danced, few dressed in disco style.

 

This summer we took Carnival Victory to Canada. Liked the dance band alot, but the dancing "area" was the intersection of two hallways by the casino -- not a dance floor and people walking through either fore-aft or to the casino. While most passengers were very nice and let us dance, it did not encourage others to dance. They had ballroom dancing only on the first night AND at the same time as the second dinner seating. The disco played primarily to a younger crowd. The two lounges with dance floors were never used by a dance band. However, we did enjoy the cruise because of the energy on the ship.

 

Judging from the passengers response, it is easy to see why cruise ships have apparently de-emphasized dancing and theme nights. Few people participate. But is this self-fulfilling, if there is no dance floor, people won't dance. (Enough soap box)

 

Tell us about Princess, particularly the Caribbean cruise. What venues had dancing, and was it a real room or just a hallway? We read something also about a 50-60s night in one old review. Even if not on this ship, we'd like to hear other peoples views on dancing and theme nights.

 

PS we read about big band cruises. Any feedback? Our issue with land based "big band" events that we have attended is that they play limited styles of music and they tend to outdraw the available dance floor space. We wonder if the cruises suffer the same issues?

 

Thanks for reading and your feedback!

[emileg]

Been on 5 Princess cruises, 3 Holland America and 1 Cunard. The QM2 has absolutely the most beautiful and largest ballroom at sea. The Queen's Room has a live orchestra every night. Every single night there is ballroom dancing with different themes each night. For example, there is a black and white ball, a pirate ball, the captain's ball and a masquerade ball. It is very festive. The Queen Victoria is also supposed to have a nice ballroom.

 

Check out this picture:

 

http://www.02cruise.com/lines/cunard/queen%20mary%202/photos/queen%20mary%202%20queens%20room%20dancing.jpg

 

Princess has smaller dance floors in several lounges. Some are disco and some are jazz. Don't get me wrong. Princess provides a wonderful cruise experience and is overall our favorite cruise line. But if you are looking for traditional ballroom dancing, the QM2 is the way to go.

[dance4fun]

Thanks for the quick reply! Did your Princess cruises have dance band as well as jazz?

[cynbar]

Princess definitely has dance bands playing every night in the Wheelhouse Lounge, a very pleasant space with a dance floor, leather couches and chairs, and pictures of the the old P&O ships on the walls.Sometimes you see this also in the larger Explorers Lounge. However, participation has varied a great deal on the ships we've been on. For our Diamond Princess cruise a couple of years ago, there were many ballroom dancers on board who obviously dance regularly. It wasn't a group, either, because it was clear that they didn't know each other. However, on other cruises, this space has been quiet. Of course, I've always been amazed at how the demographics can vary from week to week, even at the same time of year. Princess does have a 50s-60s dance party every week with contests, dancing, etc -- it's a lot of fun.

[dance4fun]

Thanks, cynbar. 50-60s dance party sounds like fun!

[vmom]

There are theme nights, however in my experience on both Princess and RCCL, only a very few people dress for a theme night, with the possible exception of Caribbean night in which many people wear tropical prints.

 

When I cruised the Song of America years ago, many people dressed for the theme nights. In today's world, many people don't want to lug all that extra luggage. also they want to get away and relax rather than trying to put together theme outfits. The themes are more reflected in the music that is featured for the night and/or the menu that is featured for the evening.

[happy cruzer]

We enjoy dancing too. I would compare the dancing venues on Princess to the ones on HAL. On the longer voyages we have taken on HAL (usually with a fairly large European presence) the Explorer lounge was jammed and yet the Crow's nest with the larger dance floor would be pretty quiet.

 

Princess has dancing mainly in the Wheelhouse and it compared to the Explorer lounge in our experience. At night there is usually not always a duo/trio playing in one of the other lounge/showrooms that have a bigger floor but again fewer people dancing.

 

We just study the daily schedule and dance every chance we get.

 

Oh yea, Princess does have more organized dance classes available. Always enjoy getting a refresher and seeing a different instructor.

[Times Prince]

We love dancing and find the Wheelhouse bar the best venue for us, although the bands do not play until 2, like on your other cruises. We really love the bands they get there, and they are usually open to requests.

 

For big band, there is often 15-30 min in the Vista Lounge before some of the shows - watch for that opportunity.

 

If you are a Captain's Circle member there is also an opportunity at that party - arrive early !

 

There are discos and more modern venues almost every night.

 

Happy Dancing !

[ggprincess2004]

My first husband and I were serious ballroom dancers and enjoyed the Song of America in the early 80's. The bands really catered to the ballroom dancers and we did often dance most of the night away.

Older now, and with a black belt, not a ballroom dancer, I can tell you that there are bands on the Princess ships that will be happy to keep ballroom dancers happy. Sometimes I really miss not having a dancing partner these days. I don't think they go until all hours of the morning, but I couldn't do that anymore either.

If you choose anytime dining, you can have the flexibility to maximize your dancing time.

Not to worry - when DH retires in a few years, it's ballroom lessons for us together so were can cut a rug onboard!

Happy cruising and happy dancing.

[dance4fun]

ggprincess, Times Prince, happy cruzer, emileg, vmom, cynbar - Thank you so much for your feed back. Along with Smoothdancer from the Celebrity board, the recommendations are for Princess, if you can not afford the QM2.