Talk to me about Princess

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bostongal

Guest
I am considering a cruise with Princess and would love to hear from all of you about this line. I have sailed previously with NCL, RCCL and HAL.

What are the things that you love about Princess?

How is Princess different from the other lines?

How is the food (I was disappointed overall on our last RCCL cruise with the food so I would love to hear honest opinions)?

thanks!

Meg
 
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sailboat

Guest
We have sailed with Princess several times. The ships are pretty and the feeling is warm and friendly. We have always chosen an inside cabin and found it to be roomy enough and well equipped with TV, refrigerator, and plenty of storage space (including under the beds where the luggage goes). The public spaces are very nice, tho things sometimes get a little confused in the Horizon Cafe when a lot of people show up at once. We love the on-board art auctions. You can get some nice limited edition framed pieces for a reasonable price and the auctions are fun. Food was good. I think that cruise ships in general cannot always compete successfully with a landside restaurant that can shop for the freshest ingredients on a more regular basis and offer seasonal specials. The ships have to load for a week and on some items, I am sure they are loading weeks in advance. That said, I found the food on Princess to be very good. There's a cozy, ship-themed bar aft on the Dawn that was a favorite gathering spot for martinis before dinner. The atrium is also very pretty with a beautiful staircase and glass enclosed elevators. We've been on the Dawn twice and would go again if the itinerary looked good.
 
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Cruise cutie

Guest
Cannot compare with other lines..only been on Princess!!!..never had a bad cruise..nor missed a port sailing for tender problems..will not get off in Jamaica again and that's them not Princess.I am not a big spring break person and our kids are grown and do their own thing.Kids numbers are limited on Princess and since we go the first 2 weeks of February it's a Valentine's week..very nice!!..the decor is elegant and soothing.no jarring colors..I like the ship to be elegant and not bonk me on the head with decor,The food with Italian chef staff is EXCELLENT..I can say this being Italian and very picky on food..never had a bad meal yet!!Cabins..inside,outside,window and suite so far..they have all worked for me..took the mini-suite for the Panama canal and it was primo!!I love to dress up and go dancing..DH Mark and I love the very Formal Atmosphere on Princess.the waterfall night is one of our favorites..I adore the fresh water pools and the casinos have been extremly kind to me..first cruise in '94 hit progressive slots for 3000.00 in cash!!!on last night of cruise..Not getting pestered for drinks works for me ,we drink occas, and if we want it someone is always available..not into art auctions..they are there.the photos for buying are wonderful and no pressure..just a very positive why ruin it and risk changing my cruises and be miserable experiences cruise line..Good luck with research!!!..We shall not be changing till after 2009.for our every other year planned cruises in Feb...next on the docket.2007-15 day Hawaii on the Island Princess after the Golden!!!...:)..Joanne
 
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kruznut

Guest
We've only sailed on Princess so i can make no comparisons, but we have not had a bad cruise or experience with them so far. We've been sailing with them since 1994. We are very pleased with Princess and what i say is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" :dance :dance
 
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seagarsmoker

Guest
>>>What are the things that you love about Princess?
Great service! 24 hr buffet (real handy when you come back from an island mid afternoon and miss lunch), 24 hr fresh water pools, 24 hr hot tubs are excellent for the late evening dip!

>>>How is Princess different from the other lines?
From the other cruises we've been on, nothing compares except for Celebrity.

>>>How is the food (I was disappointed overall on our last RCCL cruise with the food so I would love to hear honest opinions)?
Pretty good. Like every cruise we've been on, we've had excellent meals, average meals and not so good ones. The only night I do not look forward to is French night, so we end up in Sterling Steakhouse that evening. I think Princess does a pretty good job with most of the meals in the main dining room. 24 hr buffet is decent, although I think the deserts are generally excellent. Pizza is usually very good and is the grill by the pool. Room service food is the best we've had from any cruise line.
 
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kruznut

Guest
Of course every person is entitled to their own likes and dislikes so its just a matter of what works for you. In my case, I love the soft elegant decor on Princess ships. I'm not a glitzy person. I think the food is good as well as the activities and entertainerment. We've never had a problem with room service or any other services on these ships. That is our honest take on Princess Cruise Line. I think there are many other excellent cruise lines, but Princess is just to my personal liking. =coolsign
 
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PEB

Guest
I pretty much agree with kruznut. I have been on Carnival, NCL and Celebrity. On Princess it does feel elegant to me but warm and friendly. I have never had a bad meal of Princess and the entertainment is generally very good. I do enjoy the 24 hour freshwater pools. I have been known to use them late at night especially in Alaksa.
 
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ljeanbrown

Guest
Celebrity was always my favorite but it is about to be a tie with Princess. Princess offers very good customer service, food, and entertainment. The pools are the best we have seen on our 18 cruises, they are open 24 hours and are freshwater. I love the Grand Class ships they have 4 pools and 8 hot tubs on the Grand and all are spread out so you never feel crowded. That is another thing the ship never felt crowded because of the way they set up the public space. There are quiet places to sit and relax. Room service food is also good. They are a class act :thumb
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
Been on RCI, Carnival and Princess and although I prefer RCI's ships and upbeat and anxious to please crew members, I also appreciate Princess' laid-back casual elegance. Their cruises are calm, romantic, have a slightly sophisticated feel and are very intimate.

The food has always been great for us, but we're not real picky.

I love the 24 hr. buffet and fresh water pools, like those have posted before me.

With Princess, no one seems to care what you're doing, wearing or saying. Everyone seems to mind their own business and just enjoy themselves. It's a very different atmosphere than any other cruise line I've been on - "intimate" is the way I'd describe it.
 
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Princess Pat

Guest
We've only sailed on Princess, about 11 times. It's the people who sail on Princess that we like the most. We enjoy the service, the entertainment and the food too. Only once in the South Pacific was the food so-so, but we took to eating on the Lido for our evening meal and it was fine--met some real nice people up there also.

Pat
 
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bostongal

Guest
Thanks everyone for your feedback! I truly appreciate it. I am happy to hear about the 24 hour buffet and the pools/whirlpools. I too like to take a dip before bed at night. We are quiet, keep to ourselves people who are not real picky but both work in the gourmet food industry so although I don't expect 5* cuisine I like to have food that tastes good - not flat. I also have many years in restaurant service and appreciate what the cruiselines do to feed so many at once so I allow for that as well. I am happy to hear that the food is good on Princess and I look forward to the Diamond in April.

Thanks again!

Meg
 
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