What sets Princess cruises apart from the others

[MikeNKim]

We are looking for a cruise in 2007. We would like a southern Caribbean. Princess Cruises seem to have the ports that interest us.

 

However, being new to cruising, I have not heard much about them. I have cruised on Disney and am doing a Carnival cruise in October but that is it.

 

What makes Princess a good cruise????

 

Thanks

 

Kim

[Dreamer333]

What makes Princess a good cruise????

 

What I like about Princess is that it has an elegance to it, but is not overly stuffy! I love being able to have proper afternoon tea and then hit the night club and dance the night away!

[Druke I]

Very broad question.

 

We think Princess has the best range of itineraries, particularly their Exotics.

[GloriaF]

I've only cruised Princess, I keep going back because I've been pleased with the overall product. As Dreamer mentioned, it has a certain elegance that I've heard others like Carnival lack. I especially like the attitude of the staff and crew on every Princess ship Ive been on, they are always very friendly and efficient and smiling.

[mr green]

We are looking for a cruise in 2007. We would like a southern Caribbean. Princess Cruises seem to have the ports that interest us.

 

However, being new to cruising, I have not heard much about them. I have cruised on Disney and am doing a Carnival cruise in October but that is it.

 

What makes Princess a good cruise????

 

Thanks

 

Kim

 

You asked " What sets Princess apart from the others?"---

Two things. 1. Dine anytime, and or formal seating. 2. Princess offers more options regarding 'shore excursions'. Having said that, the merits of Princess may be discussed for ever, in comparison to other Cruise Lines. Imay prefer Princess, but not to the extent of refusing to go to a different line, if I liked the itinerary, and the price was fair. john

[Toto2Kansas]

One word describes why we continue to return to Princess time after time.

'Consistency'

No matter which ship, which crew, which itinerary, Princess seems to balance the great aspects of cruising. Compared to some of the other cruise lines we have sailed on where the food, service and entertainment seem to vary greatly from ship to ship.

[swooldri]

I have been on 49 cruises with at least 10 cruiselines. Currently I am booked on 3 future Princess cruises having completed 3 with Princess. The reason I am currently staying with Princess is driven mainly by 2 things. 1) The price is very good for the product delivered and 2) their diverse port of calls. On top of these reasons, their ships are very nice, service has been great and the food good to very good. Happy Cruising.. Steve

[Dreamer333]

Another thing that separates Princess from most other cruise lines is that it has fresh-water swimming pools!

 

I also love the incentive to book your next cruise while aboard a Princess cruise because it requires only a $100 deposit, and you receive shipboard credit.

[toescat]

I have sailed mostly on Carnival and loved every cruise. Last year was my first Princess cruise because our son was getting married on board and this was the cruise line he chose. We were on the Diamond Princess and we felt the entire time on board that we wished we were on Carnival. We both felt the food was much better and the staff a lot more friendly on Carnival. We also felt there was a lot more to do on Carnival. But we still enjoyed the cruise very much. The one thing I really liked on the Diamond was the adult swim pool, that was really nice. Princess does go to different ports than Carnival in fact we will be on the Princess Dawn in April leaving out of San Francisco for a ten day cruise. My aunt has traveled many different cruise lines and she too had a great time on each and every one. Its what you make of your vacation that counts.

[mozfoz]

The dark chocolates on the pillows are what swayed me.

[Princess Chatterer]

For me cruising on Princess is like staying at the Marriott Courtyard. I know exactly what to expect and everything is so comfortable and familiar from one cruise to the next. I've not seen any national media stories about folks getting wasted in the Princess casino and then going missing. Allow me to be totally politically incorrect. Carnival can keep their party all night nude sun bathing crowd, R.C. can keep their cabin drapes being clipped to the curtain rod with safety pins, Celebrity can keep their snooty officers, Norwegian can keep their dirty tenders and Holland can keep their past their prime crowd. I'll take Princess - my yuppie ship - the best cruise value for my money period.

[JimnKaren]

I have sailed Carnival four times and I believe that they have successfully done away with the "party crowd" mentality that they had many years ago. They are serious about not allowing under age drinking and all the stuff that kind of activity centers on. I think that their food preparation is good, but I don't care for all the glitz in their dining rooms.

 

We do keep coming back to Princess though because of the service. Celebrity is close with the service, but Princess has them beat.

 

Itineraries are always a determining feature, so if it is between Princess going down the west coast of Mexico call at three ports, or Celebrity, or Holland America, or Royal Caribbean, or Carnival all calling at the same ports, then Princess gets the nod. I know what will happen and feel comfortable being aboard a Princess ship.

 

Jim

[LuAnn]

This is TOO funny...and really right on! LuAnn

[tispwisp]

1. The understated elegance of the decor

2. Personal choice dining.

3. Diversity of ports.

4. Freshwater pools open 24/hrs day

5. Chocolates on the pillow

6. Good value

7. Great service

8. Their dessert souffle's ;)

9. Their wonderful passengers - like me! :D

 

That being said, we also had wonderful cruises on the Carnival Glory and the Brilliance of the Seas. We do plan on trying other lines in the future, but more than likely they will be interspersed amongst our Princess cruises!

[Cruisin' Rookie]

We did not do the Carribean, but Alaska. However, Princess is Princess wherever she goes. We had great attentiveness from our stewards and other staff members. Although our ship was BIG, there was always quiet spots and you had a small-ship feel. Enjoy your time on Princess. There are great on-board and on-shore excursion choices.

[magnumcoog]

I have been on Disney 3 times, but will not go back, nothing against Disney, but their prices for an inside cabin you can almost get a mini-suite on Princess.

 

The balcony cabins on Princess are smaller than Princess, and the bathroom set up on Disney is much nicer. The rotating dining room on Disney is also a nice touch.

 

On Princess, Grand Class there are 4 pools, many nice bars, a casino, food is better. Ports are better I do believe, there is much better range of choices on cruises that is for sure as Disney only has 2 ships.

 

Night life is better on Princess, Skywalkers is a blast. On board service is just about even.

 

Princess has much better perks if you book another cruise on board or just put down a deposit for a future unknown cruise to be booked within 4 years. $200 deposit per cabin can not be beat.

 

Oh, I do like the ship's horn better on Disney, and the announcing of passengers names and where they are from when you first board is a nice touch.

 

Princess, is not stuffy and filled with old people. I am 52 and I guess could be considered old-LOL. There is just the right mix.

 

Email me if you have any other questions.

[iancal]

We have only been on one Princess cruise. Selected it for the itinerary. Previous cruises on Celebrity, RCI, and Crystal. We were on the Sun last Feb. Nice ship, nothing spectacular, food comparable-entertainment terrible. It was a 10 dayer. Lots and lots of over 70's. Can't really say we found it especially elegant (certainly not the trickets and trash that came out before dinner as we entered the dining room) Going on Norwegian in a weeks time to give it a try.

[mariakitty]

My husband and I took our first Princess cruise last September, and we are SO sold on Princess that it would take a lot to get us to go to another cruise line anytime soon. We love the elegance of the Princess, from the impeccable service to the beautiful ships. With the exception of the photography, we felt that we weren't being gouged with fees and overpriced drinks as on Carnival and NCL. Drinks seemed quite competitive with land prices - the martinis are cheaper on Princess than our favorite local eatery and just as good if not better. :)

 

We never felt rushed on Princess, never felt like a number, and Movies Under the Stars is a HUGE selling point for us. The last Carnival cruise we took was a disaster and was definitely a party cruise - this was 3 years ago and college students were have contests on who could throw their luggage the furthest down the hall! Staff did nothing, and I even nicely asked them to stop as I was underweather and they still didn't stop. I hope that their party cruise reputation is something of the past, but I haven't seen that for myself just yet.

 

Didn't mean to write a book here - you will love your Princess cruise and they do have very interesting itineraries. We can wait to be back on Princess in July!

 

Maria

[Cruise Dreams]

I have sailed on Princess seven times, and Royal Caribbean twice. I generally book inside cabins, unless a super deal comes up in another category. My last cruise was just three weeks ago on RC's Monarch. Here's what I missed most.....and what I think sets Princess apart (at least from RC).

 

Prices

Cleanliness

Consistency

Pool towels and bathrobe delivered to my stateroom upon request

Banana Bread at the breakfast buffet

Several pool areas

Fridge and safe in stateroom (even in an inside cabin)

Being able to bring wine and champagne onboard

Slightly bigger staterooms

Entertainment (Shows)

Onboard Activities

24hour buffet

Did I mention the banana bread?

 

Happy Cruising---whatever you decide.

[GloriaF]

I was reading an article on the Ritz Carlton and what they expect from their employees, and I kept thinking "Princess does that" over and over.

 

The basics are smile, greet and call the client by name, move heaven & earth to please the client, go above and beyond the expected service -- basically do whatever is necessary to warrant a good experience for the client and a return visit. I have to say that Princess does all this.

 

My husband and I have often said that the first thing Princess must teach their staff is to smile, smile, smile, and always say "how is your cruise, are you enjoying yourself?" It must be very hard to keep smiling when you are doing menial tasks all day long, but they manage it.

[Coral]

Did I mention the banana bread?

 

I have to laugh at this comment. When I am home, I never think of Princess's banana bread. And generally I don't eat at the buffet on Princess but since I am an early riser and eat breakfast at 7 in the dining room, often by 9 or 10 am I need a little snack and I often walk through the buffet and grab their banana bread. I often do this daily and you are right, they have great banana bread - but I would never have thought to list this as one of my favorite foods on Princess but I do seek it out on almost a daily basis when on a cruise. Maybe I should start listing this on my favorite list :)

[middy]

The reason we chose Princess last November was down to price and ports of call. Would sail with them again for that reason. Although some facilities were superior to my usual cruise lines the service did not match.

Middy.

[NitaBcruising]

I have cruised all the major lines, and like Princess about best. Good itineraries and prices, for an overall quality experience.

[Fuzzyape]

I have been on 2 Princess cruises with my DW. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but after the first I was hooked. I might try other lines, but right now we can only do this every other year. Maybe when it gets to every year or more I will be willing to try other lines. Here's why I was so amazed on the first cruise.

 

Every night after dinner, our servers (I know they have a more professional name) would ask if I wanted a drink after dinner. The amazing part is that they always asked if I wanted the drink I had the first night (so the answer was always yes). It made me feel like a king.

 

On the first cruise we had problems with our patter disappearing, brought it to the attention to the steward, from then on the patter was on the pillow each night. It was that attention to detail that made me love the line.

 

Can't wait for the next cruise, make mine Princess!

[Abavus]

Very broad question.

 

We think Princess has the best range of itineraries, particularly their Exotics.

 

I agree with this one. We took Princess for our first cruise seemingly at random, but have fallen in love with the idea of some of the worldwide itineraries. Lots of lines do Caribbean and Alaska, but to add Tahiti, Hawaii, Australia, Asia, and Europe all one one line is what is bringing us back.:cool: