Which ship best reflects cruising Princess style?

It has been a long time since we last cruised on a Princess ship. It seems that every cruise line has made significant changes over the past ten years but we wonder which ship might best reflect the Princess approach to cruising when one sort of remembers past experiences. We have experienced ten Princess cruises from the UK to Alaska but like the onboard experience more than the itinerary. Your insights will be vey helpful.

Having cruised with Princess for 25 years (and 51 cruises) I would suggest the Pacific Princess, followed by the Coral Princess.

At the moment I would say The Coral Princess is the most still like the classic Princess we remember.

Crown/Emerald/Ruby are our favorites! :)

Coral is also a wonderful ship!

I think one of the things I like most about Princess is the uniformity of style and service across the fleet. I'm not a fan of the new Royal and Regal; but I feel right at home and very comfortable on all the Grand Class ships and Island and Coral Princess.

I second Crown/Ruby/Emerald. But previous poster is also correct. When you're on a Princess ship, no matter which one, you will get that Princess feeling. They do have great uniformity. Except maybe the super tiny ships which I've never tried. Coral was my smallest. Enjoy, whichever you choose.

I have enjoyed the Princess experience on each of the ships I've been on.:D

I think one of the things I like most about Princess is the uniformity of style and service across the fleet. I'm not a fan of the new Royal and Regal; but I feel right at home and very comfortable on all the Grand Class ships and Island and Coral Princess.

+1

Srpilo

Coral/Emerald/Ruby

Pacific is, and probably always will be my favourite ship, but just back off Diamond and really liked it.

Pacific is, and probably always will be my favourite ship, but just back off Diamond and really liked it.

I will be on the Diamond in March, first time. I think it's very like the Sapphire, which I have cruised. That was a nice ship. My favorite is the Pacific Princess (and I'll be on her in about a week!) but I also like the Coral. Of the bigger (not "big") ships, I currently like the Ruby. I would say any of the Grand class ships would give a true Princess "experience." I haven't even seen the new big girls yet.

I will be on the Diamond in March, first time. I think it's very like the Sapphire, which I have cruised. That was a nice ship. My favorite is the Pacific Princess (and I'll be on her in about a week!) but I also like the Coral. Of the bigger (not "big") ships, I currently like the Ruby. I would say any of the Grand class ships would give a true Princess "experience." I haven't even seen the new big girls yet.

Lucky you for years PP was the only Princess ship Downunder and our intro to cruising, simple love her.

I must say though that the only real complaints I had with Diamond was that she was far too big for some Ports.

You can't dump nearly 3000 PAX in a town of 4,000 without some negative impact, it also made the tender process a bt iof a struggle especially when they only used 3 tenders

While Crown/Emerald/Ruby are our favorites, we would pick Coral for a Panama Canal or Alaska cruise. :)

LuLu

OP asked which ship best reflects cruising Princess style. I'm sure this will be open to discussion but this is my list of Princess style items since the launch of the Grand Princess:

Skywalker's

Covered Pool

Movies Under the Stars

Sanctuary

International Cafe

Vines w/Tapas and Sushi

Crown Grill

Sabatini's

Trident Grill

Prego Pizza

I believe that the only ships that tick off all of those items are the Golden and the Star and they have the original "shopping cart handle" Skywalker's as a bonus. The Sapphire has the additional benefit of Alfredo's Pizzeria but no tapas or sushi at Vines and it appears that the Trident Grill might have been replaced by the Lobster Grill. That is just MHO. Flame away [emoji4]

Have been on all but two of her ships and think that each exhibits Princess style cruising in its own unique way. It would depend if you are looking for a small ship experience, (Pacific), want to cruise big, shiny and new (Royal or Regal), or somewhere in between. Research is key and these boards are a great help. To us, the essence of Princess style is what we feel every time we embark: that we are home again!

My own personal choices :

Most classic princess ships- sea and the sun. Smaller and more intimate, with a more ocean liner appearance.

Followed by the Grand and the Golden

The ships that represents the brand the best in my mind, are Ruby and Emerald, Up to the arrival of the regal and royal. the largest of the flleet and at one time the largest cruise ships afloat. They had all of princess's bells and whistle well represented in their design.

I have not sailed on the new class ships. They look well designed and thought out. Call me an sentimental, But I will miss the promenade deck and taking my daily walks while gazing and listening to the sea.

For us, the Coral and Emerald:)

Thank you for all your responses.

Many years ago we sailed out of Venice on the Golden. It was a memorable voyage for the blown out windows as we skirted a hurricane in the Atlantic and our late arrival in New York.

We sailed on the old island Princess around The UK and the newer Island halfway into the Canal Zone

However our last experience was on the Sun Princess in the Caribbean and we found it was just OK, not worth repeating.

It seems every line has had some significant changes and we are looking forward to coming back.

Many years ago we sailed out of Venice on the Golden. It was a memorable voyage for the blown out windows as we skirted a hurricane in the Atlantic and our late arrival in New York.

We were there with you in 2002. If the 3-day storm had merged with the hurricane it would have been the all-time "Perfect Storm". I loved that cruise and Captain Andy and the Golden.

I have often wondered how they got the replacement windows installed for the next voyage. Took her again in 2008 to Hawaii.

Steve

Here's another vote for Coral. Sailed her for a Panama transit (Vancouver - Fort Lauderdale) in 2013. After years on larger ships, took us right back to 2005 and our first cruise on Sun. (Mean that in a GOOD way.) And, unlike some of the other older ships, it has a proper International Cafe!

Here's another vote for Coral. Sailed her for a Panama transit (Vancouver - Fort Lauderdale) in 2013. After years on larger ships, took us right back to 2005 and our first cruise on Sun. (Mean that in a GOOD way.) And, unlike some of the other older ships, it has a proper International Cafe!

I'm curious why you say that. Most people I've talked to don't like the Coral IC because it's adjacent to the casino.

I'm curious why you say that. Most people I've talked to don't like the Coral IC because it's adjacent to the casino.

Because some ships I've been on haven't had a dedicated IC. You get your coffee at a bar. Yes, the physical location isn't optimal, but it's a full IC. And the casino was never so busy as to be a problem (for me anyway, YMMV). And the server I mostly dealt with was the best! I'm an early riser, and by the third morning, she'd see me coming down the deserted hall and have my coffees waiting.