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Do You Like Princess Cruises?

Pat H

Pat H

TUG Member
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I've only been on NCL & RCCL. Princess has a good price on a Caribbean cruise in Nov that I'd like to take. A friend who has been on many cruises recently went on Princess for the first time but didn't care for it. I'm not sure why. What are Tuggers' opinions? And yes, I know I can check it out on Cruise Critic but I'd rather hear your thoughts.
 
We have been on 3 Princess Cruises- and enjoyed them all- nothing is perfect, but we have enjoyed the itineraries, the crew, and the ships. rlb
 
I was on princess for an alaska cruise and liked it. I have been on princess, NCL and carnival cruises before. I like the option of dine anytime on princess and ncl but carnival staterooms are bigger.
 
My MIL and FIL sail Prinecess exclusively and swear by them. We have a friend who has sailed RCCL twice and recently sailed Princess to Alaska this summer without any complaints.

We have sailed RCCL exclusively because of their loyalty program. With the recent cutbacks they've made to their loyalty program and other service cutbacks, cruising for us now will come down to who competes best on cost while providing adaquate service. Princess, NCL and HAL are the lines we're most likely to try but Carnival could be a possibility if only because they're often the least expensive and they have newer ships.
 
We sailed Princess to Alaska. My wife loved it.

The highlights of the trip to me were the days we got off the ship.

If the highlights were the days off the ship why get on in the first place?

Haven't taken a cruise since.

Sterling
 
We were on Coral Princess for two weeks to Panama Canal. Our room was spacious and bathroom adequate. Food was very good. Activities plentiful. This is coming from someone who HATES cruises but was pleasing her DH. :)
 
Kauai Kid said:
We sailed Princess to Alaska. My wife loved it.

The highlights of the trip to me were the days we got off the ship.

If the highlights were the days off the ship why get on in the first place?

Haven't taken a cruise since.

Sterling
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You sound like my late father, he only cruised with myself, mom and sister once.

His comment was "if you don't like it you can't get off."


Princess is by far my favorite(sailed with them twice to Alaska, even way back in the day on the original Love Boat).

in order of preference, Princess, RCCL, Cunard, NCL and Carnival(which would be my last choice).
 
YES!

Took Mom to Alaska on the Diamond and it was fantastic. Many people will disagree with me, but I think they do Anytime Dining quite well. I was glad we opted for that, as pulling out of Juneau in the evening, there were whales to watch. Had we had fixed seating, would have missed the entire show.

Have only been on RCCL and Princess and they are similar. Loved having a naturalist on board for Alaska, and were not pummelled with sales announcements.

Have not cruised enuf to be a member with benefits but would continue with either cruise line. In fact, we expect our next cruise to be W. Carib and will take RCL out of Galveston.
 
You should also go to the www.cruisecritic.com overview of Princess and overview of the RCCL, etc. That will give you the differences. I have not sailed Princess but have friends who love it. We haven't as we usually go with friends who pick the cruise and ask if we're "in". I have found, also, that different ships in each line can make the difference re food, crew, etc.
 
Pat, I've sailed Princess 12 times. I've done Royal Caribbean 3 times, and not done NCI at all. I love Princess. They have many activities, and there is a lot to do. They have good (not great, but good) food. There are Las Vegas type shows, but also comics and plenty of dance and listening music. There are dance classes everyday. They also have Spa specials on days they are in ports, which you might like.

If it is one of the newer ships, they have MUTS, which is movies under the stars, which is a huge screen up by the pools. You either like it or you don't. The newer ones also have an International Cafe in the lobby near the coffee bar with various gourmet-type sandwiches and good salads. They also have hot cookies around the clock.

They have both assigned seating times and anytime dining.

Fern
 
Everything sounds positive. Travelocity is offering some onboard credits if you book by 8/31 so I think we will go ahead and book the cruise. Thanks for your help.
 
Hi Pat,
I have sailed NCL, RCCL and most recently Princess (Caribbean Princess). I loved all of my cruises. There are good and bad in all......I thought the Princess staff were exceptional and our cabin had plenty of room. Of the three, it is probably my favorite line.....but itinerary also has much to do with your enjoyment of a cruise....and so it would be hard to top my RCCL Eastern Med. cruise last year.....
Go for it....I cannot believe the deals out there!!!!
 
Cathyb said:
We were on Coral Princess for two weeks to Panama Canal. Our room was spacious and bathroom adequate. Food was very good. Activities plentiful. This is coming from someone who HATES cruises but was pleasing her DH. :)
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Pat, here is one more Tugger that likes Princess cruises. Cathy, we are booked on the Coral for 2 wks to the Panama Canal Jan. 21/2010.

Elli
 
I've run into a problem. In order to have 3 in a room and not have a pulldown bunk, we would need to get a suite. Those are rather pricey so we may end up on Carnival. Same itinerary but I do know it's not the same quality.
 
Pat H said:
I've run into a problem. In order to have 3 in a room and not have a pulldown bunk, we would need to get a suite. Those are rather pricey so we may end up on Carnival. Same itinerary but I do know it's not the same quality.
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I haven't been on a cruise with my kids, we would need a suite or at the min. connecting cabins.

Then I look at the numbers :eek: and do something else.
 
I've sailed Royal Caribbean(6x), Holland America(2x), and Princess (2x). Holland America was the best, followed closely by Royal Caribbean. Princess was easily the worst. Service and Food not up to par. Will never sail with them again.

P.S Maybe I just happened to unluckily catch two bad sails. I hate to bash on anyone.
 
Pat--We have cruised on Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, Royal C, and Holland. I really can't say one was better than the other. I think they have all had to "dumb down" because of the economy and low prices they now charge. Considering that, I am amazed that they can still give you a great cruise for the price. We have enjoyed Princess and Holland to Alaska. We are going back again in Sept 2010 on a Carnival ship because the price was so low and we get some onboard credits. We had a balcony on Princess, followed by an inside on Holland. The balcony was nice, but we had just as much pleasure from the inside. After breakfast each morning, we took a mug of coffee and a book and planted ourselves in a nice warm upper lounge at the front of the ship with a 180 view and stayed til lunch unless it was a shore day. We plan to do the same next time.
 
I have sailed on Princess, Royal Carribbean, and Holland America. I had a great time on all three of them. Pick your destination and have a great time.
 
Right now it looks like it will be the Carnival Legend out of Tampa. The interesting port of call is Roatan, Honduras. Anyone been?
 
Pat H said:
Right now it looks like it will be the Carnival Legend out of Tampa. The interesting port of call is Roatan, Honduras. Anyone been?
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No, but, the W.Carib itinerary via RCCL we've been eyeing (for a couple years) includes it and I have looked forward to it.

take a look-see at Cruise Critic ports of call. I will not trust my memory, but I thought there were some ruins to see there?
 
geekette said:
No, but, the W.Carib itinerary via RCCL we've been eyeing (for a couple years) includes it and I have looked forward to it.

take a look-see at Cruise Critic ports of call. I will not trust my memory, but I thought there were some ruins to see there?
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I didn't see any ruins on the shore excursions. There are ruins excursions at the stop in Belize but I've already been to Altun Ha. We did book the Carnival Legend. We get 15% off excursions thru portpromotions.com. Has anyone used them?
 
Pat H said:
I didn't see any ruins on the shore excursions. There are ruins excursions at the stop in Belize but I've already been to Altun Ha. We did book the Carnival Legend. We get 15% off excursions thru portpromotions.com. Has anyone used them?
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Pat, I read on Cruise Critic re our Panama Canal Cruise that people have used portpromotions.com and liked them. Will be interesting if any Tuggers have used them and their experience.
 
We have done both Princess and NCL a number of times. Princess is more formal, NCL is relaxed. I like both and would do either again.
 
We've done 8 Carnival and 3 Princess. Loved them all. The quality of food was higher on the Princess. On all our cruises, NCL-Princess-Carnival, the food in the dining rooms went down after they put in the "specialty restaurants". When we went with Carnival, lemonade and punch were free all day. It's been awhile, so I can't say they still do it.
 
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