small princess ships vs large

[Irish-Girl]

How does Ocean Princess (670 passengers) compare with the larger Princess ships(3000 passengers) ?

[ggprincess2004]

IMHO it is a totally different cruise experience, primarily because there are far fewer options - dining, entertainment, relaxation - on the little ladies. That being said I see you are booked for the Baltic cruise on the Ocean. If Dh and I were ever to sail on the little ladies again, it would be on a very port intensive itinerary, as you have booked, since being gone ashore all day going flat out on tours and coming back really tired works well for life onboard the smaller ships. But that is just the way we cruise.

 

Also, you see more of your fellow passengers, and get to know the staff a little better since it is a much smaller ship. And they are pretty ships.....

 

Bon Voyage!!!!

[paul929207]

There are advantages and disadvantages to the smaller ships.

 

We love the little girls. You get to know the other passengers and the crew. It only takes a minute or two to get anywhere. Tender ports, the ship will empty quickly. In some ports, the small ships can sail close to the main town, while the larger ships are an hour or more away.

 

Cons - less choices. No Anytime Dining

[Mommypig]

We spent 63 days on the Pacific Princess. The small ship experience is just lovely. Very relaxing. You really get to know the staff very well. We had a month between our 51 day and 12 day cruises, and when we got back on the ship many of the staff welcomed us back "home". Hoping to do a world cruise on one of the small ships in the future.

 

Linda

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Kenswing]

We did a Tahiti cruise on the Pacific Princess and loved it. That being said, if we were on a cruise that wasn't as port intensive I don't think I would enjoy it as much as a larger ship that has more dining and entertainment options..

[Pam in CA]

Very different experience. I liken it to the difference between a Mom and Pop grocery store and a major supermarket or a small college vs. a university.

 

The large ships are like a big hotel with large dining rooms, lots of people, a variety of amenities, a wide variety of entertainment, but also impersonal service. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a lounge waiting to disembark and looking at my fellow passengers, think, "I've never seen these people before!"

 

The small ship is like a boutique hotel. Smaller dining rooms, a lot fewer people, not quite the variety of amenities, not as many entertainment options but also more personalized service, a friendlier atmosphere as you see the staff and fellow passengers constantly. People get to know each other, staff greets you by name, the entertainment staff doubles to help the CD's and shore excursions staff, etc.

 

The basics are there but no IC, MUTS, Alfredo's, Sanctuary, aft pool, etc. The library on the small ships is the best at sea. Large and beautiful.

 

If you want to avoid people and be by yourself, then the large ship is probably the better option. Here is a link to John Heald's review of the Pacific Princess from several years ago. He's the senior CD for Carnival Cruises. http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/06/25/pacific-princessa-day-onboard-a-5-star-country-inn/

 

The small ships aren't for everyone. My brother-in-law didn't like the small ships because there weren't as many people to play bridge. To each his/her own.

[Lanwood]

IMHO it is a totally different cruise experience, primarily because there are far fewer options - dining, entertainment, relaxation - on the little ladies. That being said I see you are booked for the Baltic cruise on the Ocean. If Dh and I were ever to sail on the little ladies again, it would be on a very port intensive itinerary, as you have booked, since being gone ashore all day going flat out on tours and coming back really tired works well for life onboard the smaller ships. But that is just the way we cruise.

 

Also, you see more of your fellow passengers, and get to know the staff a little better since it is a much smaller ship. And they are pretty ships.....

 

Bon Voyage!!!!

 

I totally agree with ggprincess2004 for our part. We would be very happy and probably prefer an R-Class for a very port intensive type Itinerary, say a Mediterranian Itinerary, or one with lots of tendering. But the R-Class would bore us to tears for an Itenerary with lots of at sea days. We would much prefer the Grand Class for the longer or less port intensive Itenerary's (and generally). We also have friends who disagree and prefer the "intimacy" and other Pro's of the smaller ships regardless of Itinerary.

[Bimmer09]

Very different experience. I liken it to the difference between a Mom and Pop grocery store and a major supermarket or a small college vs. a university.

 

The large ships are like a big hotel with large dining rooms, lots of people, a variety of amenities, a wide variety of entertainment, but also impersonal service. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a lounge waiting to disembark and looking at my fellow passengers, think, "I've never seen these people before!"

 

The small ship is like a boutique hotel. Smaller dining rooms, a lot fewer people, not quite the variety of amenities, not as many entertainment options but also more personalized service, a friendlier atmosphere as you see the staff and fellow passengers constantly. People get to know each other, staff greets you by name, the entertainment staff doubles to help the CD's and shore excursions staff, etc.

 

The basics are there but no IC, MUTS, Alfredo's, Sanctuary, aft pool, etc. The library on the small ships is the best at sea. Large and beautiful.

 

If you want to avoid people and be by yourself, then the large ship is probably the better option. Here is a link to John Heald's review of the Pacific Princess from several years ago. He's the senior CD for Carnival Cruises. http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/06/25/pacific-princessa-day-onboard-a-5-star-country-inn/

 

The small ships aren't for everyone. My brother-in-law didn't like the small ships because there weren't as many people to play bridge. To each his/her own.

 

Pam thanks for the John Heald article- he has a very warm witty style to his writing and I am always interested to hear what he says. As I have a ticket to sail on the Ocean Princess this year I am very interested in the small Princess ships and no doubt a review of monumental proportions will follow in October. Can't wait!

 

Norris

[caribill]

As I have a ticket to sail on the Ocean Princess this year I am very interested in the small Princess ships and no doubt a review of monumental proportions will follow in October. Can't wait!

 

 

For pictures of the Ocean Princess experience (from when its name was Tahitian Princess), see the bottom links at http://fp.caribill.com/

[Widebay]

Only having cruised on NCL Pride of America, Sun Princess & Celebrity Millenium, I am not sure if these classified as "small" or "large" or in between?

 

DW & I never had any problem in "having time to ourselves" with other cruisers. We got involved in as many activities as possible, eg. excercise classes, lei making, wine appreciation, etc, etc, however, we always found time to be on our own most afternoons at Bar above the pool, where we my wife would have one cocktail, and myself one beer, and we would discuss the days activities. Then in the evening, we were on the same table each night, with a lovely group of persons, from Australia and USA. Even though we enjoyed their company, we occasionally would not attend the main dining room, and go to a small speciality restaurant, which we often had to ourselves sometimes - so it was romantic.

 

I know this might sound strange, but we never get involved in Meet & Greet

as we like to be on our own sometimes,and other times, we like meet people out of the blue on the ship.

[flamomo]

I am fortunate to have had the experience of cruising on both of the "little ladies", and really liked everything about it. It's definitely a different cruise experience, but to me, it's a good one.

 

I don't need to be entertained when I'm on any cruise ship, so I did not miss the bigger variety of entertainment options offered on the larger Princess ships. However, attending shows in the Cabaret Lounge is way different than going to those in a Princess theater. In the Cabaret, the performers are not above you, on the stage, they are on the same level as the seating and they are right there in front of those sitting in the front row! Kinda fun!

 

All I need for entertainment on a cruise is a place to sit with a view of the ocean, feet propped up, breathing ocean scented air, and a good book in my Kindle! Paradise!

[dorisis]

It is difficult to compare the small ship experience to the large Princess ships and even harder to compare it to the mega RC ships. I would prefer doing all my cruising on Oceania, Azamara or the 2 princess R ships. It is a matter of finding the right fit at the right time with the right itinerary.

 

What I like about the R ships is the elegance of their traditional ambiance. But I like the WOW feeling of the Allure and Oasis. I could never limit myself to just one Line or one class of ship anymore than I would limit myself to one itinerary. Variety IS the spice of life.

[Bimmer09]

For pictures of the Ocean Princess experience (from when its name was Tahitian Princess), see the bottom links at http://fp.caribill.com/

 

Bill I have spent a great deal of time viewing your excellent photos on that link but will go back again!

 

She's a beauty!

 

Norris, 115 days to go

[Jim Avery]

Just recently had our first voyage on Pacific Princess. Prior Princess cruise was on Star Princess. Both nice cruises but we much prefer the Pacific. The ease of embarkation/disembarkation, the lack of crowding anywhere and the far better quality of the food and service were right up our alley. If you are used to larger ships you might find the entertainment lacking. While there is a fairly varied small casino area on Pacific, it is nowhere like the Grand class casinos. Additionally, the Aft Suites on Pacific are far nicer than on Star. As always, just our opinion.:D