Just back from the Emerald Princess

[cruisebuddy]

You may want to read my review if you're booked on or thinking of booking the EP. All in all, it's a beautiful ship, but there were some elements that we didn't like. In short, the breakfast buffet is not very good, the theater seating and layout is WAY screwed up, but the cabin was the best we've ever had. Hey, everyone is a critic, I know. Email me if you have questions, concerns or perhaps disagree.

 

[Gary Wilson]

I'm on EP in January so glad to hear cabins are great.
How did they seem to deal with wine, liquor and beer being taken on board/

 

[Gayle V]

Hello Cruisebuddy, Thanks for the review. We'll be on the Emerald in February wth the Great ESCAPE group. I have a few questions, if you don't mind.

I'm wondering what kind of cabin did you have? and what made it better than usual?

Did you try the Sanctuary? and was it worth the cost? And is entire deck area, near the Sanctuary, all part of the Sanctuary, and reserved only for those who pay? or is part of that open for others. And is that Lotus Pool also only for people who pay for the Sanctuary, or for spa services? or is it open to all?

Thanks for any answers you can remember.

 

[cruisebuddy]

I'll try to answer both of the previous emails:

Gary - we didn't take anything on board, so I really can't answer your question, sorry.

Gayle - our cabin was an ocean double with balcony (caribe 727). The balcony was twice the size of a normal balcony, meaning that instead of two chairs and a little table, there were four. The balcony above could look down on half of our balcony, but it wasn't a problem, just kinda freaky. The balcony below us had nothing over it, was the usual balcony size, and stuck out under ours. Again, kinda weird, but ok. I wouldn't recommend the balcony cabins on deck 9 because of that, but that is minor.

The bed was very comfy. The closet was a real bonus. The wall that separates the bed area from the bathroom was the closet on the other side of the bed, facing the bathroom. It's hard to explain, but it was almost like a walk in, and we've never had that much closet space before with any cabin we've ever had. Lots of room for all of the clothes we packed!

We didn't try the Sanctuary, but it was an intersting idea. Problem is, if you're at sea, you know how windy it tends to get on the upper levels of a ship, and it was pretty windy up there. We don't usually sunbathe, so it wasn't our cup of tea, and I'm not sure I would want to spend $10 to be there. But it was nice. Yes, it is only for those who pay for it.

If the Lotus pool is the one near the Sanctuary, it was somewhat private, but kind of small. It looks like a real big bath tub, and I'm not sure what they were trying to accomplish with it. There were a couple of people in it at the time we toured the area, but it looked to be more of a place you could go to get away from commotion and kids, but our cruise didn't have too many kids on board to begin with.

Hope that helps. Anyone else, let me know. I know many of you are going in Feb and I hope I can anser your ?'s as best I can.

 

[juggles]

I've been in the Sanctuary and if you pay the $10 you get a thick mattress on the sunbed and partitioned off from the non-paying passengers. The pool can be used by anyone...if it's the one in the sanctuary(I can't recall its name) It has a wave machine and is quite fun. There are sunbeds at the otherside of the partition ...quite a lot. It is nice and peaceful if you pay but there's only about 8 sunbeds, you have to book.
I can't believe you didn't like the breakfast buffet. There was absolutely every which way food dishes one could imagine plus fruit i.e. strawberries, banana, kiwi, mango etc etc. Just a vast choice!!!!!

 

[cruisebuddy]

Yes, the choices were vast, but the food (taste and quality) wasn't that good. Must be my tastebuds. When you think breakfast, what is the first thing that comes to mind? OK, besides coffee. Eggs! The so called scrambled eggs could not have been eggs. Maybe they were powdered, but they were horrible. When I actually ventured to have an omelette made, it did take a few minutes (which I expected), but it came back dry every time. The pancakes and french toast were bland and the syrup was always cold. The bacon was usually crisp (which I like), and the sausage (and bangers!) was ok. The hash browns tasted like they were made fresh the day before, and there was NO biscuits and gravy. I will give you that the fine array of fruits and pastries was good, but those are supposed to accent breakfast, not be breakfast (for me anyway). Perhaps I am spoiled by other lines I have cruised, and I admit that I am an eggs/bacon/hash browns kind of guy, but the Princess buffet was bad.

The buffet did redeem itself during lunch and dinner. It was actually better than I expected.

 

[juggles]

I had scrambled eggs and it was delicious. I don't know if you're from the UK, as I am, but here, the syrup with pancakes etc is always cold.
Maybe a different set of chefs/cooks were on your cruise than mine but I literally had a feast and there wasn't anything I tried, that I didn't like.

 

[belgique]

The Lotus Pool is open to anyone - you don't have to pay unless you want one of the fancy lounge chairs in the Sanctuary. There is a nice deck area a few steps above the pool.

What I liked most about the pool is that it is rarely crowded and there is a resistance machine that you can swim against and get a really good workout in a lot less time than doing laps.

I spent a lot of time on the Sports Deck (the one above the Lotus Pool) and never had any problems with wind.

Loved everything about the Emerald!

 

[Andycat]

Just returned today from Emerald Princess. I did not use the Sanctuary. As mentioned previously, it had only about 10 sunbeds in the sun. It was practically empty throughout our 10 day cruise. I personally think it's a waste of real estate on the ship.
The Sports deck (aside from the Sanctuary) was uninhabitable during the first 2 days of the cruise (both days at sea) due to winds. Elsewise, the Sports deck was great...very quiet.
As posted previously, I can confirm that the Movies under the Stars pool and the other main pool "compete" with different loud noise.
DON'T, I repeat, DON'T sit in the upper section behind the Movies sunbeds. You'll be killed by the competing noises!
The Terrace pool is good. Get there early to claim your place.
Sorry to get off topic here.
Best,
Mike

 

[Einstein]

I tend to agree with Andy that while the Emerald is a beautiful ship there are a LOT and I mean a LOT of wasted space areas on the ship of which one is The Sanctuary. IMO another area that is a waste is the MUTS or Movie Under the Stars. I certainly do understand the concept BUT 14 hours of MUTS a Day is WAY too MUCH and especially when the shows are repeated EVERY 3rd day.

By the midpoint of the cruise this area was vacant and limited to a couple of people. Due to the noise factor this area while it contains the MOST loungers poolside gets used minimally and therefore there ALWAYS seems to be a limited amount of loungers available. Princess should REALLY examine there use of space because it is seriously cutting into their outside public areas. If they continue down this route they may as well build a Promenade inside and copycat RCCL. =shrug

As for the food I NEVER really get into the critique mode in regards to it because it is SOOO subjective. One persons food likes are another persons food dislikes. I actually thought the food offerings were fairly decent although I have to admit I NEVER tried the eggs as we tried to follow are at home eating habits as closely as possible and that entails a lite breakfast.

As for the theatre seating and layout I actually thought that the layout was one of the BEST I have seen in the cruise industry. It certainly and NO obstructions and it was easy to get into and out of the theatre with multiple entrances and exits. As Joe said though we are ALL critics to a certain degree and we ALL certainly have a right to be. If we ALL liked the same things then it certainly would be a boring world we live in.

.

 

[Ell_Dunn_16]

what kind of buffet food was there? And what type of cabin did you have? I am going on that ship this summer

 

[juggles]

The sanctuary is really busy/full when at sea for a full day, otherwise on other days, passengers are busy out on land trips.
The quietest part of the ship is aft and through the Adagio bar. There's a pool/bar that no one seems to discover until the last day of the cruise.

 

[NellieB]

[quote juggles]The quietest part of the ship is aft and through the Adagio bar. There's a pool/bar that no one seems to discover until the last day of the cruise.[/quote]

Thank you, juggles! Now we will know about this the very FIRST DAY!

 

[rotts]

Aft pool was packed as just got off the emerald.
Get up at 7am for lounges and no problem...