Has anyone sailed the Sea Princess lately?

[janacin]

We're considering the Sea Princess 27 day San Francisco to Sydney. The Sea Princess seems smaller than most Princess ships we have been on. Is there enough to keep us busy and entertained for all 27 days?

We love sea days ordinarily but there are quite a few. Is the Sea Princess in good shape? The schedule shows nothing for her after the April 2013 sailing. Is she being transferred to P&O?

[K-Roo-Zers]

Hi Janacin,

 

In March this year, DH and I did the Cherry Blossom cruise for 42 nights to Japan.

 

I notice that you are from LA, and are probably used to American based Princess ships.

 

We have done quite a few American based Princess ships including Golden, Diamond, Sapphire, Island, and Pacific and whilst we found Pacific too small for our liking, we definitely prefer the American based ships.

 

We believe the food is better and the onboard prices are also less, as are the duty free prices. We also enjoy the International Cafe, and we always purchase a pass for access to the solarium and use the hot beds.

 

We found the Sea Princess to be in good condition and fellow cruisers who did the Dawn Princess the early prior as part of the world cruise commented that the Sea Princess was in better condition.

 

We are an active couple and were always walking or running around the deck. In between, we played trivia two or three times a day, we swam in the pool when it was warm enough, we used the hot tubs, we watched movies, we were always on the go, and most days there wasn't enough time to participate in a lot of the activiities!!

 

Quite a few people commented on how ordinary the food was, and we agreed, but it didn't worry us as there was always something we were happy with. It also did us good to have a few "easy days". Our systems were happy for the rest!

 

The entertainment was up and down. The good was good and the ordinary was very ordinary. Once again, if it didn't appeal, we walked around the deck, and observed the sea. It was fantastic and so relaxing.

 

The crew were terrific as usual - something Princess prides itself on.

 

We always have a great time on a cruise. We don't get caught up in the small and trivial problems. If they worry us, we sort them out.

 

Tomorrow we depart, on Sun Princess, for a 104 night world cruise and are looking forward to it, despite all the negative things being said about Sun Princess.

 

We intend to go and meet wonderful people, visit exciting cities and have fun!! The state of the carpets or the small cabins etc will not in any way impact on us having the time of lives and spending the childrens' inheritance!!

 

Hope this helps and if you do cruise with Sea, have a wonderful time.

 

Best wishes

Nicki

[2ferfun]

Hi Janacin,

 

In March this year, DH and I did the Cherry Blossom cruise for 42 nights to Japan.

 

I notice that you are from LA, and are probably used to American based Princess ships.

 

We have done quite a few American based Princess ships including Golden, Diamond, Sapphire, Island, and Pacific and whilst we found Pacific too small for our liking, we definitely prefer the American based ships.

 

We believe the food is better and the onboard prices are also less, as are the duty free prices. We also enjoy the International Cafe, and we always purchase a pass for access to the solarium and use the hot beds.

 

We found the Sea Princess to be in good condition and fellow cruisers who did the Dawn Princess the early prior as part of the world cruise commented that the Sea Princess was in better condition.

 

We are an active couple and were always walking or running around the deck. In between, we played trivia two or three times a day, we swam in the pool when it was warm enough, we used the hot tubs, we watched movies, we were always on the go, and most days there wasn't enough time to participate in a lot of the activiities!!

 

Quite a few people commented on how ordinary the food was, and we agreed, but it didn't worry us as there was always something we were happy with. It also did us good to have a few "easy days". Our systems were happy for the rest!

 

The entertainment was up and down. The good was good and the ordinary was very ordinary. Once again, if it didn't appeal, we walked around the deck, and observed the sea. It was fantastic and so relaxing.

 

The crew were terrific as usual - something Princess prides itself on.

 

We always have a great time on a cruise. We don't get caught up in the small and trivial problems. If they worry us, we sort them out.

 

Tomorrow we depart, on Sun Princess, for a 104 night world cruise and are looking forward to it, despite all the negative things being said about Sun Princess.

 

We intend to go and meet wonderful people, visit exciting cities and have fun!! The state of the carpets or the small cabins etc will not in any way impact on us having the time of lives and spending the childrens' inheritance!!

 

Hope this helps and if you do cruise with Sea, have a wonderful time.

 

Best wishes

Nicki

 

Have a wonderful cruise! I am so jealous! :)

[jeffstew]

We're considering the Sea Princess 27 day San Francisco to Sydney. The Sea Princess seems smaller than most Princess ships we have been on. Is there enough to keep us busy and entertained for all 27 days?

We love sea days ordinarily but there are quite a few. Is the Sea Princess in good shape? The schedule shows nothing for her after the April 2013 sailing. Is she being transferred to P&O?

 

Sea Princess is a great ship. I sailed on her in April 2011- the very last of the Caribbean cruises from Barbados. In May 2013 she does a 104-day world cruise and then does Australia/New Zealand cruises through April 2014. You'll have a great time. Go for it.

[Treven]

I've been on the Sea Princess, May 2010, was supposed to sail on her last Sept (had to cancel - medical), will sail on her the first of June. Yes it's a smaller ship, but look on the bright side, on a lot of the new ships, the bow will be in one time zone and the stern in another; or you'd need a taxi to get from one end of the ship to the other.

[caribill]

Yes it's a smaller ship, but look on the bright side, on a lot of the new ships, the bow will be in one time zone and the stern in another; or you'd need a taxi to get from one end of the ship to the other.

 

The Ruby is only 95 feet longer than the Sea Princess

[Crystabel]

Last October my husband and I sailed from SF to Sydney on the Sea Princess. Yes, she's smaller than the mega ships being built these days, but she was in good shape and the crew was wonderful. We felt that there was plenty to do during the sea days. You won't be disappointed. Have a wonderful cruise!

[dfields1814]

The Sea Princess is not my favorite ship. There is nothing wrong with her but I perfer the larger ships.... any of the larger ships is better than the Sea Princess. However, I have sailed to Alaska on her twice and had greet cruises both times.

 

The food, staff, service and all that are equal to the other Princess ships. My problem is with the basic structure of the ship. The balconys' are cut from into the hull. They are smaller than the larger ships. I think the cabins may be smaller as well but that just might be me. The theater is smaller and had a smaller cast for the production shows. The casino is also smaller, but we never had a problem finding a machine. There is no Explorers Lounge. They have the Raz Ma Taz which is not as large or as nice.

 

If given a choice on the same cruise between the Sea Princess and a larger ship i would certainly take the larger ship. If the Sea Princess was the only ship available I would not hesitate sailing on her again.

[CruisinChris]

Love love love (and miss) the Sun/Dawn/Sea/Ocean (now Oceana). I would sail any of them again in a heartbeat. Best pool areas, never crowded, beautiful! When the Sun was launched in 95 she was the largest passenger ship in the world! She didn't hold that title long but worth mentioning!

[shepp]

The Sea Princess is not my favorite ship. There is nothing wrong with her but I perfer the larger ships.... any of the larger ships is better than the Sea Princess. However, I have sailed to Alaska on her twice and had greet cruises both times.

If given a choice on the same cruise between the Sea Princess and a larger ship i would certainly take the larger ship. If the Sea Princess was the only ship available I would not hesitate sailing on her again.

 

I'm totally with you there. Since none of the Princess ships features cavernous spaces or overwhelming crowds, the Sea didn't seem any "cozier," just slightly less well equipped. I figure I'll be doing yet another SFO-AK cruise sometime soonish, and won't be sorry if it's on the Grand instead.

[wineglass]

My wife, her Mom & myself took that cruise this past September, 29 days SF to SYD. We loved it. Didn't want to get off in Sydney. The sea days were relaxing, but not boring. There were several lecturers on sea days that were very interesting. The weather was mostly good, only bad seas were 1st day out of SF, and sailing south from Auckland the 1st night, but nothing sickening or frightful. I'd take that cruise again in a heatbeat. Only port that was so so was Fiji, but the people were very nice. I especially liked the wide promenade deck with enough room for full wooden deck recliners. I read several books in those chairs with the warm south sea breezes wafting by. I think you will love it, unless you hate sea days and tendering.

[lhall85917]

We just got off the Sea Princess Sunday after a 29 day cruise from Sydney to San Francisco. The itinerary is amazing, but the ship is just ok. It was obvious that it needs a little refurbishing such as new carpets, etc. and that will happen in September. Food (very subjective, I know) was disappointing but we certainly didn't starve. The crew wasn't overly friendly, in fact several times we received a "look" when requesting a table for 2 alone at dinner. Some nights service was well-paced, other nights it was quite slow.

As far as activities, we had several sea days especially from Tahiti to Hawaii then from Hawaii to San Francisco. Most days there was trivia, a movie in the theater in the afternoon, port lecturers, and more. The cruise director asked for ideas at the beginning of the cruise and used a couple of them on sea days and they seemed to be very successful. This included Dancing with the Stripes where dancers from the theater teamed up with a crew member for a dance competition one evening and a Project Runway type event where passengers formed groups and made an outfit from sheets.

I would definitely go on her again if it was a great itinerary; however, we tend to like ships that are newer.

[chloe kitty]

We just got off the Sea Princess Sunday after a 29 day cruise from Sydney to San Francisco. The itinerary is amazing, but the ship is just ok. It was obvious that it needs a little refurbishing such as new carpets, etc. and that will happen in September. Food (very subjective, I know) was disappointing but we certainly didn't starve. The crew wasn't overly friendly, in fact several times we received a "look" when requesting a table for 2 alone at dinner. Some nights service was well-paced, other nights it was quite slow.

As far as activities, we had several sea days especially from Tahiti to Hawaii then from Hawaii to San Francisco. Most days there was trivia, a movie in the theater in the afternoon, port lecturers, and more. The cruise director asked for ideas at the beginning of the cruise and used a couple of them on sea days and they seemed to be very successful. This included Dancing with the Stripes where dancers from the theater teamed up with a crew member for a dance competition one evening and a Project Runway type event where passengers formed groups and made an outfit from sheets.

I would definitely go on her again if it was a great itinerary; however, we tend to like ships that are newer.

 

I guess you can be on the same ship and see it quite differently!!

We agree that it does need to be refurbished. As for the food, we found it to be delicious. The service was wonderful. We found the crew to be very friendly and helpful. Our cabin steward was the best we ever had on any ship.

We too prefer a larger ship, but there are some benefits to a smaller ship. It was nice running into people we met frequently. On the larger ships, we don't seem to see the same people over and over again. Not on this cruise, but in some ports, it makes a difference on docking close in or an hours drive out (such as Hong Kong, or Shanghai).

Great ship.

 

chloe kitty