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 & Prices for cruises to Eastern
Caribbean and Western Caribbean.
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, the fourth in Princess
Cruises' Grand-class series of ships, is the first modern cruise
ship to ever replicate a drive-in movie scenario. It has a fantastic
screen that's clear-as-day in the daytime, and is complete with special
lounge chair covers, wool throw rugs, and at-chair service of drinks
and movie snacks. We also loved the variety of flicks; there were
the second-run evening films, 6pm shows for families, and a sing-along
to "The Wizard of Oz."
Cabins
Cabins come in all the usual categories. The Grand
Suite (1,279 square ft.) and Suites (461
- 689 square ft.) come with separate living and sleeping rooms. Mini-suites
(324 square feet) are spacious with sleeping and living areas separated
by an archway. All have two television sets, roomy closets, vanity
areas and balconies. Bathrooms range from huge to roomy -- all come
with various shower and tub configurations.
Standard
balcony (233 square ft.), outside (158 square
ft.) and inside (163 square ft.) cabins are small,
but well equipped and laid out. Some have seating areas. Bathrooms
are pretty compact, with shower only.
All cabins are equipped with mini-fridges (ours was empty to load
up with our own juices and sodas), and TV with a variety of movie
channels and CNN.
Note: verandahs on the ship's Dolphin Deck jut out
of the superstructure and have no roofs -- which renders them little
privacy. Those on Caribe Deck have balconies that
are half-covered. The rest are typical style verandahs.
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. CalypsoPool,
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
