Thoughts on Island Princess

[Jeter02]

Would love to hear thoughts on the island princess, from those who have sailed on it. How was the condition of the ship?

[PMGS247]

Curious to see responses.  Island in December will be my first cruise on something other than the grand class.

[reedprincess]

Its our least favorite ship in the fleet. We found the renos back in 2015 really chopped her up. The the removal of so much public space for the additional cabins was quite noticable. We don't like the super small casino, the lack of a nightclub, etc. And she's never had an International Cafe, and the La Patisserie is a poor substitute.

Have we enjoyed our cruises on her? Of course! Would we sail her again? Only if she was the only ship doing a particular Itinerary, out of multiple cruise lines. 

She's just not for us.  

She's in great shape, no worries there 

YMMV

[2pbears]

My feelings pretty much echo reedprincess.   We sailed her a couple of years ago.   The ship seemed to be in good condition but we just did not care for the layout.   Hated the small casino and the lack of an international café is a big deal.   We sailed her sister ship, the Coral, and loved it.  Too bad they felt a need to dismantle the Island.

[geoherb]

I had a great time on my back-to-back cruises on the Island this summer. We also sailed on it in 2011--before the refurbishment that added all the cabins to the detriment of public spaces. While I did miss the Universe Lounge, I did not feel that the ship was too crowded most of the time. There were lots of areas for viewing glaciers for those of us without balcony cabins--and that's my main priority for Alaskan cruises. I especially loved the staff. I had one of the best cabin stewards, great waiters, and almost never encountered anyone who wasn't eager to serve (other than the internet manager).

[RSF Cruiser]

The Island is our favorite ship - the staff is great and I love the size. The aft suites are the best we've stayed in - with the remodel they updated the furnishings and the bathroom has two sinks.

[Jeter02]

18 minutes ago, 2pbears said:

My feelings pretty much echo reedprincess.   We sailed her a couple of years ago.   The ship seemed to be in good condition but we just did not care for the layout.   Hated the small casino and the lack of an international café is a big deal.   We sailed her sister ship, the Coral, and loved it.  Too bad they felt a need to dismantle the Island.

I clearly did not do my best research job on this ship. Looks like my cabin hold may be cancelled. No international cafe 🤦. That's my go to on older ships when the buffet has nothing to my liking. 

[Steelers36]

If I could go on a Princess cruise and choose my ship, the Island would likely be near the bottom, but that isn't necessarily all negative.  For us it is about the journey and we had a fantastic cruise around S.A. which we will never forget (I'd even consider doing most of it again).  Did doing it on the Island impact the enjoyment?  Not at all.  Could quibble on some areas, but we did not feel over-crowded (other than you had to be smart for getting to the theater in good time for popular shows/times).  Great staff.  Yes, casino is quite small and one section allows smoking, no IC (but Patisserie has a few small things out), the Lido buffet was great (very nice layout and lots of open views forward and to sides).  Princess beds.  

[LeeW]

Have sailed on Island five times, two after the update.  Pretty much the same ship as before.  If you don't use the IC on ships, you won't care.  Still great enclosed pool area with great loungers there.

 

The one downside is the way they handle Anytime Dining.  Since there are only two dining rooms on Coral and Island the Anytime gets to share with first seating fixed dining.  That eats 1/2 of the Anytime room until around 7:30.  Plus Club Class now eats half of what is left for the entire evening.  So if you want to eat early you get to show up 1/2 hour before the dining room opens and there are four "lines" to get in the door.  One for Fixed, one for Club, one for Anytime with reservations (very hard to get) and one Anytime.  had one guy in reservation line who normally dined First Seating and was permitted to use Club but wanted to sit with other folks.  So each person in his cabin was taking up three seats in the dining room.  Club Class is usually pretty empty but they have to save seats in case someone shows up.  After 7:30 Anytime is pretty easy to get into.

[AliceS]

On 7/15/2019 at 4:07 PM, steelers36 said:

If I could go on a Princess cruise and choose my ship, the Island would likely be near the bottom, but that isn't necessarily all negative.  For us it is about the journey and we had a fantastic cruise around S.A. which we will never forget (I'd even consider doing most of it again).  Did doing it on the Island impact the enjoyment?  Not at all.  Could quibble on some areas, but we did not feel over-crowded (other than you had to be smart for getting to the theater in good time for popular shows/times).  Great staff.  Yes, casino is quite small and one section allows smoking, no IC (but Patisserie has a few small things out), the Lido buffet was great (very nice layout and lots of open views forward and to sides).  Princess beds.  

 

 

i keep seeing you post and,  being from Pittsburgh, I have to know the Steeler connection.

Beyond that, I am on the Island Princess in 2011.  Help?

Edited July 16, 2019 by AliceS

[Colo Cruiser]

Have sailed the Island many times both before and after the butcher job

The Island would be second to last (Grand) on a choice for a cruise.

Won't go into detail again as there a lots of threads on the Island/condition/refit etc etc, even a recent extensive one on this very question from last month.

[voljeep]

5 minutes ago, AliceS said:

 

 

i keep seeing you post and,  being from Pittsburgh, I have to know the Steeler connection.

Beyond that, I am on the Island Princess in 2011.  Help?

NICE !

 

The Wormhole Activating and Bridging Automatic Computer (or WABAC, pronounced wayback)

[Steelers36]

2 minutes ago, AliceS said:

 

 

i keep seeing you post and,  being from Pittsburgh, I have to know the Steeler connection.

Beyond that, I am on the Island Princess in 2011.  Help?

Hi, Alice.  First, I assume you mean 2021, so at least a WC segment.  We booked one as well (but I cannot get the one I really want so far, and I think we will probably defer the trip to a future year due to other plans).

 

Next, I have been a Steelers fan for about/almost 50 years.  I am from the metro Toronto area in Ontario.  Have been to the 'Burgh some times, including three games there.  Also seen them live in three other cities.  Not much I know, but it is a trip.

 

[Colo Cruiser]

7 minutes ago, AliceS said:

 

 

i keep seeing you post and,  being from Pittsburgh, I have to know the Steeler connection.

Beyond that, I am on the Island Princess in 2011.  Help?

I think the ship sailed already.

[PMGS247]

On 7/15/2019 at 4:52 PM, LeeW said:

Have sailed on Island five times, two after the update.  Pretty much the same ship as before.  If you don't use the IC on ships, you won't care.  Still great enclosed pool area with great loungers there.

 

The one downside is the way they handle Anytime Dining.  Since there are only two dining rooms on Coral and Island the Anytime gets to share with first seating fixed dining.  That eats 1/2 of the Anytime room until around 7:30.  Plus Club Class now eats half of what is left for the entire evening.  So if you want to eat early you get to show up 1/2 hour before the dining room opens and there are four "lines" to get in the door.  One for Fixed, one for Club, one for Anytime with reservations (very hard to get) and one Anytime.  had one guy in reservation line who normally dined First Seating and was permitted to use Club but wanted to sit with other folks.  So each person in his cabin was taking up three seats in the dining room.  Club Class is usually pretty empty but they have to save seats in case someone shows up.  After 7:30 Anytime is pretty easy to get into.

 

Good to know about the anytime dining.  This would be a problem on a longer itinerary.  I'm doing the little oddball 4-day obvious time-killer Dominican itinerary on December 16th out of FLL.  I'm guessing they threw this little 4-day run in to push the next 10-day to start on the 20th to be a better date for the holiday than having the day after Christmas be Disembarkation, which it would have been if they immediately ran another 10-day on the 16th.

 

I'll be hitting Bayou, Sabbatini's, and Lido stuff.  That's fine for a few nights.  I don't dislike all MDR food but experienced enough to know now that it can be hit or miss, and often comes up short of being worth the time & occasional headache.

 

I've never considered such a short itinerary in the past but the price is right and it's just a total bonus vacation in December.  Sounds like this is a sail for the itinerary type ship, which for me rather than Alaska or Panama is just a few days escape in the sun, bonus breather from Pittsburgh Decembers.

 

Yes, another Pittsburgh connection.  I live about an hour south of the city and type this from work in Canonsburg about 20 minutes outside the city.  Not really a steelers fan though....Northern VA/Washington DC born & raised.

[Jeter02]

25 minutes ago, PMGS247 said:

 

Good to know about the anytime dining.  This would be a problem on a longer itinerary.  I'm doing the little oddball 4-day obvious time-killer Dominican itinerary on December 16th out of FLL.  I'm guessing they threw this little 4-day run in to push the next 10-day to start on the 20th to be a better date for the holiday than having the day after Christmas be Disembarkation, which it would have been if they immediately ran another 10-day on the 16th.

 

I'll be hitting Bayou, Sabbatini's, and Lido stuff.  That's fine for a few nights.  I don't dislike all MDR food but experienced enough to know now that it can be hit or miss, and often comes up short of being worth the time & occasional headache.

 

I've never considered such a short itinerary in the past but the price is right and it's just a total bonus vacation in December.  Sounds like this is a sail for the itinerary type ship, which for me rather than Alaska or Panama is just a few days escape in the sun, bonus breather from Pittsburgh Decembers.

 

Yes, another Pittsburgh connection.  I live about an hour south of the city and type this from work in Canonsburg about 20 minutes outside the city.  Not really a steelers fan though....Northern VA/Washington DC born & raised.

I was booked for about 24hrs in this very same exact cruise. The joys of living in FLL and popping into a ship. It would also mesh up with my holidays sailings bon the sky. but thanks to all the lovely people on here for commenting and informing me about the island. I decided to go a different route and ended up switching that booking which is a fantastic price over to a Thanksgiving Cruise on Regal instead. Almost booked the 5 day cruise on Sky princess but I would prefer 7 days. And the price is a better deal daily on Regal. Just when I thought I had the last hurrah on my Regal back in spring, before switching over to the sky and enchanted. All good. Love that ship!!!!

Edited July 17, 2019 by Jeter02

[PMGS247]

13 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

I was booked for about 24hrs in this very same exact cruise. The joys of living in FLL and popping into a ship. It would also mesh up with my holidays sailings bon the sky. but thanks to all the lovely people on here for commenting and informing me about the island. I decided to go a different route and ended up switching that booking which is a fantastic price over to a Thanksgiving Cruise on Regal instead. Almost booked the 5 day cruise on Sky princess but I would prefer 7 days. And the price is a better deal daily on Regal. Just when I thought I had the last hurrah on my Regal back in spring, before switching over to the sky and enchanted. All good. Love that ship!!!!

Sounds great.  The Eastern Carrib on Regal would be way more than double the cost for us and we just did that exact itinerary this past May.  I always enjoy 7 day more and our primary vacation each year is always a 7-day, but this is a pure bonus and can only be away for so long during the holidays. The disadvantages of living in Pittsburgh, you might say.  Have a great cruise!