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Ship Details
Began service:
April, 2004
Guest capacity: 3,114
Total staff: 1,142
Length: 950 feet
Passenger decks: 14
CDC
inspection score: 100
Caribbean Princess Overview
The Caribbean Princess cruise
ship departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Throughout
the year, she offers ocean cruises to Eastern Caribbean
and Western Caribbean. Check dates and
prices for cruises to Eastern Caribbean
and Western Caribbean.
Dining
There are three traditional-style cruise dining rooms; one
was set aside for those who'd requested a "set tablemate, same
time" experience. Two others were "open seating." The
system worked well, though open seating diners should know that during
peak times, there may be a wait to be seated. In the open-seating
restaurants of Coral and Island
the food was well prepared, service efficient and personable.
What's more exciting, though, is the ship's alterative eateries:
Cafe Caribe offers Caribbean-inspired buffet
fare at linen-topped tables (waiters serve drinks and clear tables).
Wine and beer service is available, and lobster is available here
more than once.
Sterling Steakhouse offers
a Mortons of Chicago-type steakhouse experience. The steaks and prime
rib were delicious though we experienced better side dishes in other
cruise lines' steakhouses. There's a $10 per person charge to eat
at Sterlings. Note: the restaurant has a bar (and you don't have to
pay a cover to sip a cocktail).
Sabatini's Trattoria offers an awesome seven course
dining experience. You only need to order a main course -- your server
will bring bite-sized samplers of everything else on the menu, from
appetizers, to salad and soup, to pasta and pizza, and then a hot
entree. Let us offer a tip to the faint of heart (or stomach): You
can request just a course or two. The fee is $20 per person (whichever
option you choose) and the service and atmosphere were top notch.
Note: Best nights for primetime booking -- first two evenings of your
cruise; otherwise plan ahead and make reservations. The place generally
is sold out through most of the voyage. Another note: Sabatini's
is open for lunch on sea days -- and it's nearly deserted!
The Horizon Court offers breakfast and lunch. The
menu items typically mirror that which is served in the dining room.
Other options include a pizzeria, burger-bar, and Scoops
ice cream parlor.
Room service is no charge. However, it is recommended that passengers
tip the wait-crew member who delivers their order.
Caribbean
Princess offers an "ultimate" in-cabin dinner service.
For $50 per person (and only available to passengers whose cabins
have verandahs), staffers will serve a lobster dinner for two, complete
with a bottle of champagne, flowers and a photo by one of the ship's
photographers.
Entertainment
Princess has developed Caribbean-centric entertainment for this Caribbean-centric
ship. In the main theater, one new stage show is "Caribbean
Caliente," which features music from the Caribbean islands.
One evening per cruise there's "Island Nights,"
a pool-deck sail away bash that features food, music and special cocktails.
Princess has maintained its once-a-cruise Champagne
Waterfall. Typically held on the last formal night close
to midnight, the waterfall is set up in the atrium -- amidst a pyramid
of champagne glasses. Everyone present is offered a complimentary
glass o' bubbly.
Princess has extended its Scholarship@Sea Program
to the ship; offerings include daytime cookery demonstrations, and
subjects including photography, computers, pottery making and personal
finance. Extra fees usually apply and vary.
Fitness & Recreation
Caribbean Princess
is the testing ground for the Lotus Spa. Princess
is the first line in mainstream cruising to operate its own spa,
rather than farm it out to other companies. The spa is created
by in-house experts and feels a bit like a resort spa. Prices
are comparably less than those on most other cruise ships. The
fabulous costumes (we hesitate to say uniforms) worn by all the
staffers were created by L.A. designer Sue Wong and they're distinctly
Asian -- so gorgeous we only wish they were sold in the boutique.
Treatment menus were unique, and included numerous offerings geared
solely to men and to teens. They also offer advance-cruise spa
bookings via its web site.
The facilities area has been expanded so it's larger than those
on the Grand-class ships. It features floor-to-ceiling windows,
plenty of equipment, and a big exercise area.
Beyond the spa pool, there are three main pool areas, each with
whirlpools. Neptune's Reef is the main pool area
and home to pool games and live music. Calypso
Pool, overlooked by the movie screen, is a bit
more low-key. And tucked away under Skywalkers
is another small pool area with shady spots.
There is dedicated-sports area where you can play basketball,
paddle tennis and ping-pong. The ship also has a Princess
Links mini-golf facility.
Public Areas
Many of Princess' lounge mainstays include Skywalker's,
the ship-top disco, the Wheelhouse Bar, and Explorers'
Lounge. We loved the evolution of Churchill's Lounge,
the one-time sports bar.
Club Fusion, which
we mentioned earlier, is a new concept for Princess. Replacing
the Vista Lounge, Club Fusion is a multi-purpose area with a curved
bar, secondary stage for activities like 50s night (there's room for
dancing), in-table slots, and high-tech lights and sound.
Other key Princess public areas include the three-deck-high
atrium, the main destination for all "administrative" functions
(shore excursions, pursers' desk, and shops that didn't offer anything
even remotely tempting). Three standouts in this area are the library,
a handful of Internet-connected terminals, and fabulous leather chairs
with audio units inside. The coffee-bar, Crooner's,
is a great spot for people watching (and sea watching) during the
day, and at night, the liveliest place on board, thanks to its fabulous
entertainer-pianist.
The Grand Casino was designed for passengers with
disabilities in mind -- and have included lower-than-usual games tables.
The Internet center was an airless (occasionally
completely non-air-conditioned) room filled with rows of terminals.
At 35 cents per minute, Princess offers the best bargain
-- but the connection worked so slowly, if at all, that it wound
up costing more money rather than less. There was no Princess-assigned
"expert" to answer questions or solve problems.
Kids
Princess' Kids Club
facility offers separate rooms for four different age groups: 3 to
5, 6 to 9, 10 to 13, and teens, all supervised by a trained staff.
Princess offers group babysitting services only.
Expert Caribbean Princess reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Eastern Caribbean and Western
Caribbean.
Caribbean Princess cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to
unannounced CDC inspection. Caribbean
Princess Score: 100
Cruise
Critic: Caribbean Princess
The Cruise Critic gives Princess' Caribbean Princess a 4-ribbon
rating.
Web links
Princess
Cruises
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Princess
Cruises at the company's official Web site.
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