Live from Diamond from ex-Carnival cruiser

[kymburley]

Hi Everyone-

 

I just wanted to make a post about Princess through my eyes only. My previous 3 cruises have been on Carnival. I booked on Princess this time because of a not so great experience on my last cruise. I'm 41 now and don't like the party atmosphere anymore, although I have an 11 year old and still wanted a good kids program.

 

I booked a Penthouse Suite and had some pretty high expectations, some of which have been met, but many have not. I'm a pretty simple person and don't usually complain about ANYthing. This is my first vacation since my last cruise in 2004, so I'm pretty simple and am thankful I'm on vacation at all.

 

I was expecting priority embarkation. We arrived San Pedro around 11:45 or 12. We were checked in fairly quickly since I did it online. All they had to do was swipe my cc and look at our passports. They gave me a number of 13. Boarding hadn't even begun by the time we were done. I felt like we were in a meat market sort of. We were hearded into a room to await our number to be called. I didn't like this, and thought being a suite passenger that there was priority embarkation. I searched for the priority suite embarkation and couldn't find one. Finally I asked one of the security guys where it was, they said if you're an owner's suite passenger they'd just whisk us on. I'm like, dude, come on, I paid $6k for this room... He let us go on then.

 

We got to the room and it was fabulous!!! No gaudy colors at all! Nice decorations... No 20 something bar closers... No people running up and down halls at all hours of the night. The room is just amazing! The suite life is sweet! However, 2 decks above some loser was smoking a cigar and flicked his ashes all over our balcony, get this, while we were out there! The cabin steward didn't want to get involved (I don't blame him) and told me to go to the pursers desk to complain (I hate complaining... ) Just wish people would be considerate. Ashes are still out there now (24 hours later!).

 

Somehow I missed the champagne embarkation thing... didn't see any canapes yesterday.. do I have to ask for them? Dunno... sort of expecting them to automagically show up.

 

The bathroom is bigger than my bathroom at home.... The beds are too hard for me, but since being on cruise critic knew to ask for the egg crate the second I met the steward. He put them on sometime while we were out. The pillows suck! Definitely glad I brought mine from home.

 

I think the thing I notice more than anything is the food. I usually eat whatever I can find.. think subway, mcdonald's, starbucks, etc.... I rarely cook, so there is no chance of me having a gourmet taste. The food is bland!! It's as if they are cooking for diabetics, heart patients, etc. because there's no flavor at all. The pretty multi nut rolls they serve with butter had no flavor at all. How odd! The food is pretty and the cold soups are very neat. The first night the pina colada soup was served in a glass with a straw. Very cool! I had some other cold soup tonight and it was very tasty. I didn't care for breakfast, lunch was ok, and dinner was yuck! Oh well. The tea was served in suite today and was cool. I brought my own tea because who does Lipton or Bigelow for afternoon tea (actually, this is more of a high tea... )?

 

Since I'm in a suite I get unlimited free internet, so ask away... I tried to answer some of the questions I can actually remember having.

 

The ship is in nice shape & I love the more relaxed atmosphere. Maybe because it's been so cold outside. The neat thing is the ship is full, yet I don't feel crowded...

 

Kim

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the live from the Diamond post. :)

[Happy5804]

Hi Everyone-

 

I just wanted to make a post about Princess through my eyes only. My previous 3 cruises have been on Carnival. I booked on Princess this time because of a not so great experience on my last cruise. I'm 41 now and don't like the party atmosphere anymore, although I have an 11 year old and still wanted a good kids program.

 

I booked a Penthouse Suite and had some pretty high expectations, some of which have been met, but many have not. I'm a pretty simple person and don't usually complain about ANYthing. This is my first vacation since my last cruise in 2004, so I'm pretty simple and am thankful I'm on vacation at all.

 

I was expecting priority embarkation. We arrived San Pedro around 11:45 or 12. We were checked in fairly quickly since I did it online. All they had to do was swipe my cc and look at our passports. They gave me a number of 13. Boarding hadn't even begun by the time we were done. I felt like we were in a meat market sort of. We were hearded into a room to await our number to be called. I didn't like this, and thought being a suite passenger that there was priority embarkation. I searched for the priority suite embarkation and couldn't find one. Finally I asked one of the security guys where it was, they said if you're an owner's suite passenger they'd just whisk us on. I'm like, dude, come on, I paid $6k for this room... He let us go on then.

 

ALL SUITE PASSENGERS ARE ENTITLED TO PRIORITY EMBARKATION, NO

MATTER WHICH PORT AND IN L.A., ALL YOU HAD TO

DO WAS GET IN THE PLATINUM/ELITE LINE; THAT WOULD BE THE SAME

DIFFERENCE.

 

We got to the room and it was fabulous!!! No gaudy colors at all! Nice decorations... No 20 something bar closers... No people running up and down halls at all hours of the night. The room is just amazing! The suite life is sweet!

 

WE JUST GOT OFF OF THE GOLDEN A WEEK AGO. WE TOO HAD

A SUITE, BUT A LOT OF THE AMENITIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO

COME WITH IT WERE NON-EXISTENT. i.e., WE WERE NEVER

OFFERED A DVD MENU THAT I'VE READ ABOUT IN THEIR INFO;

THE PRIORITY ANYTIME RESERVATIONS WERE NON-EXISTENT. WE

TALKED TO MAITRE 'D ABOUT IT AND NO ONE SEEMED TO BE AWARE

OF THIS.

 

WE LOVED THE ROOM THOUGH.

 

 

Somehow I missed the champagne embarkation thing... didn't see any canapes yesterday.. do I have to ask for them? Dunno... sort of expecting them to automagically show up.

 

THE CHAMPAGNE SUCKS. WE REFUSED THEIRS AND BROUGHT OUR OWN

FROM HOME. LOL.

 

ALSO, EVERY NIGHT WHEN YOU TURN IN, THERE SHOULD BE A LIST

OF CANAPES ON YOUR PILLOW, ALONG WITH YOUR BREAKFAST MENU

CARD, AND YOU FILL OUT WHICH CANAPES YOU WANT. YOU CAN

CHOOSE FOR THEM TO BE DELIVERED FROM 4 P.M. TO 10 P.M.

WE THOUGHT THEY ALL SUCKED, EXCEPT MY HUSBAND LOVED THE

STRAWBERRY TUXEDOS

 

The bathroom is bigger than my bathroom at home.... The beds are too hard for me, but since being on cruise critic knew to ask for the egg crate the second I met the steward. He put them on sometime while we were out. The pillows suck! Definitely glad I brought mine from home.

 

I DID LIKE THE HARDER BEDS, BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE BEDS IN

THE SUITES ARE WAY NICER THAN THE ONES IN THE ORDINARY CABINS.

THEY GAVE US FEATHER PILLOWS WHICH I PROMPTLY GAVE BACK

BECAUSE OF ALLERGIES!!!

 

I think the thing I notice more than anything is the food. I usually eat whatever I can find.. think subway, mcdonald's, starbucks, etc.... I rarely cook, so there is no chance of me having a gourmet taste. The food is bland!! It's as if they are cooking for diabetics, heart patients, etc. because there's no flavor at all. The pretty multi nut rolls they serve with butter had no flavor at all. How odd! The food is pretty and the cold soups are very neat. The first night the pina colada soup was served in a glass with a straw. Very cool! I had some other cold soup tonight and it was very tasty. I didn't care for breakfast, lunch was ok, and dinner was yuck! Oh well. The tea was served in suite today and was cool. I brought my own tea because who does Lipton or Bigelow for afternoon tea (actually, this is more of a high tea... )?

 

HOPE THINGS IMPROVE FOR 'YA!! EVERYONE IN OUR PARTY LOVED

THEIR DINING ROOM FOOD, BUT THOUGHT THE BUFFET WAS SUB-PAR.

OTHERS IN OUR PARTY HAVE TRAVELED PRINCESS SEVERAL TIMES

BEFORE AND THOUGHT THE BUFFET FOOD REALLY SUFFERED ON

THE LAST TRIP

 

Since I'm in a suite I get unlimited free internet, so ask away... I tried to answer some of the questions I can actually remember having.

 

The ship is in nice shape & I love the more relaxed atmosphere. Maybe because it's been so cold outside. The neat thing is the ship is full, yet I don't feel crowded...

 

Kim

 

JUST REMEMBER, ANY CRUISE IS BETTER THAN A CARNIE CRUISE!!!

[momthecruisedirector]

You can ask for other tea - they will bring some around for you to choose from if you ask them too.

[mommykim]

Thanks for the live from thread. How is your 11 y/o enjoying the kids program compared to Carnival?

[ms.sunburn]

I, too, had only sailed on Carnival until my first Princess cruise last week on the Diamond.

 

Things about the Diamond Princess I loved:

 

Anytime Dining.

We ate at a different restaurant every night. Only had to wait for a table for 2 once. I much prefer this to traditional dining.

 

Entertainment.

I went to quite a few of the shows. I thought they were a cut above anything I've seen on my other cruises.

 

My Caribe Deck Balcony.

The balcony was HUGE. Even though it was only half-covered I never felt like I was on display.

 

The soundproofing in the cabin.

I only ever heard noise from the hallway and the heavy sliding glass doors blocked any noise from outside

 

Things about the Diamond Princess I didn't love:

 

The Horizon Court Buffet.

Too cramped for the size of the ship. It was the only area that ever felt crowded. No trays! I need a tray for all that food!

 

The Itinerary.

After sailing the Caribbean this was my first big trip to Mexico. I got really tired of being hassled at every port. I must have said no thanks a thousand times. Just really got tired of it. I also didn't love LA. I prefer a city I can navigate on foot or with public transit, although I have to say I thought the people I encountered were very friendly and helpful..odd for such a big city.

 

The Atmosphere.

I don't know what it was...it just felt like the Diamond Princess was a bit uptight for me. I know what you're thinking..I cruised Carnival therefore I party which isn't true at all. I just felt they were more relaxed in general.

 

I felt everything else (e.g. cabin steward, dining room staff, etc.) was more or less the same on both lines--excellent.

[denims]

Thanks for the honest review!

 

Keep 'em coming!!!!!:D

[Little Annie]

Great to read all the comments! We are on Diamond in November, our second Princess cruise (the first was on Sea); prior to that we cruised with P&O, so I am very interested to hear people's thoughts on the ship. We've booked a Caribe deck Balcony cabin and I had heard some negatives about the balconies because they are half open so really pleased to read a positive comment too. Just six months to wait!

Ann

[Seal]

There are pillow CHOICES--I like the feather ones myself, and they also have the ones that are normally there--first words to the steward--I'd like 3 of the soft pillows and a lot more hangers--a tip before these things happen and then perfect forever

 

Nancy:D

[Umbarger]

JUST REMEMBER, ANY CRUISE IS BETTER THAN A CARNIE CRUISE!!!

 

You obviously havent been on NCL then. :D

 

By the way, have you been on a Carnival cruise? Sorry, but alot of Princess cruisers bash Carnival and have never even cruised with them. :rolleyes:

[denims]

You obviously havent been on NCL then. :D

 

By the way, have you been on a Carnival cruise? Sorry, but alot of Princess cruisers bash Carnival and have never even cruised with them. :rolleyes:

 

Hi L!

 

How hope that you still have a cow named after me even though I had to switch cruises!:D

 

Larry

[kymburley]

JUST REMEMBER, ANY CRUISE IS BETTER THAN A CARNIE CRUISE!!!

 

I don't think there's any such thing as a "bad" cruise. I was just giving my comparison's between the two lines that I notice.

 

Today the sun is finally out & we don't have to wear jeans/sweatshirts. Actually had breakfast on the balcony. We had some kind of granola, almond, banana cereal (was ok, not what I was expecting, but I ate all of it) and 1/2 lox & cream cheese.

 

Here's what's weird. I bought the coffee card and ordered cappuccino at dinner last night & they didn't punch the card. Then I ordered cappuccino w/breakfast this morning brought to the balcony & they didn't punch the card. I hope I get my $27 worth out of this card!

[kymburley]

You can ask for other tea - they will bring some around for you to choose from if you ask them too.

 

Didn't know this before, so I brought some from home. It all works since they bring a big pot of hot water...

[kymburley]

Thanks for the live from thread. How is your 11 y/o enjoying the kids program compared to Carnival?

 

Hi Kim -

 

Here's another "difference". There are only 7 kids on board in the 8-12 range. My daughter, so far, has opted out. She wants to play some Playstation and was hoping it would be available to her in the room. I don't want that junk in there, so am glad it's not there. If she decides to check it out I will let you know. But - I have seen NO kids on board, although I hear one (3 or 4 years old) on the balcony somewhere near my room.

 

Kim

[kymburley]

I, too, had only sailed on Carnival until my first Princess cruise last week on the Diamond.

 

Things about the Diamond Princess I loved:

 

Anytime Dining.

We ate at a different restaurant every night. Only had to wait for a table for 2 once. I much prefer this to traditional dining.

 

We haven't tried this yet. We might tonight, don't know. I think it's a neat concept though, we didn't have this alternative on any of my previous cruises.

 

The soundproofing in the cabin.

I only ever heard noise from the hallway and the heavy sliding glass doors blocked any noise from outside

 

I love this too!

 

Things about the Diamond Princess I didn't love:

 

The Horizon Court Buffet.

Too cramped for the size of the ship. It was the only area that ever felt crowded. No trays! I need a tray for all that food!

 

The Horizon Court is not the slightest bit appealing to me! I have a germ phobia & this room scares me!

 

The Itinerary.

After sailing the Caribbean this was my first big trip to Mexico. I got really tired of being hassled at every port. I must have said no thanks a thousand times. Just really got tired of it. I also didn't love LA. I prefer a city I can navigate on foot or with public transit, although I have to say I thought the people I encountered were very friendly and helpful..odd for such a big city.

 

Me too! We went to Century City and stayed at the Hyatt. Highly recommended!!! Especially if you can pull off a military rate. My dh is in navy and they honored the rate w/o him being with me. I should have stayed here both nights. The weird thing though is it takes forever to go 4 miles. Tried to get to The Grove for American Girl Place and it took nearly an hour. The next night we stayed at the Hyatt in Long Beach. The hotel was more expensive and not nearly as nice and the service was not even close to the Century City hotel.

 

The Atmosphere.

I don't know what it was...it just felt like the Diamond Princess was a bit uptight for me. I know what you're thinking..I cruised Carnival therefore I party which isn't true at all. I just felt they were more relaxed in general.

 

I've cruised Carnival in the past because of sheer affordability. They give a military rate too - something like 15% off + whatever the travel agent is willing to give. But as my kids got older I didn't want them around the spring break atmosphere. I am getting older too & don't want to put up with it anymore. I don't find Princess to be uptight, I find some passengers to be that way. I could have slapped a woman yesterday (older, snobby type) who pushed Krystina out of the way & didn't even say excuse me. Where's the manners of some people?

 

I felt everything else (e.g. cabin steward, dining room staff, etc.) was more or less the same on both lines--excellent.

 

I wasn't sure about my cabin steward the first day, but I LOVE him!! We asked for an extra pair of slippers for Krystina (the 11 yr old) and he brought them right away. We asked for an extra fluffly pillow for Krystina. He brought her 2 or 3 more... He knows all our names. When he hears the door open he's all of a sudden there asking how we're doing, is everything good, where do you want to go, do you want more dvd's? I like the attention!

 

By the way, I'm in C420.

[kymburley]

Thanks for the honest review!

 

Keep 'em coming!!!!!:D

 

For all you internet people (I am one! :D ), the internet was the speed of dsl yesterday. It's a bit slower today... more like a bogged down cable connection.

 

Also, it was much slower when I connected my mac to the wireless...

[kymburley]

Great to read all the comments! We are on Diamond in November, our second Princess cruise (the first was on Sea); prior to that we cruised with P&O, so I am very interested to hear people's thoughts on the ship. We've booked a Caribe deck Balcony cabin and I had heard some negatives about the balconies because they are half open so really pleased to read a positive comment too. Just six months to wait!

Ann

 

Nope. I think this is the best of both worlds! My daughter takes after her dad's very ivory Irish side and needs the shade, I'm southern Italian and thrive in the sun. The only time I could see the half exposed/half shaded to be a problem is if you and significant other want to do some hanky panky out there... :D

[kymburley]

There are pillow CHOICES--I like the feather ones myself, and they also have the ones that are normally there--first words to the steward--I'd like 3 of the soft pillows and a lot more hangers--a tip before these things happen and then perfect forever

 

Nancy:D

 

Maybe I'm a pillow snob :eek: , but I found none of the pillows to my liking. Feathers have those hard things in them & the hypoallergenic kind are fluffy til you put your head on them and the other kind are too hard. I'm just particular & knowing that decided to bring my own. I have had a marvelous nights sleep the past 2 nights.

[kymburley]

Actually my daughter found it is the indoor pool! Made yesterday much more enjoyable for her. There are 2 hot tubs and a pool under the glass top. Not too many people in/around that pool either.

 

The gym is neat. They have those spinner bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights. It's at the very front of the boat above the bridge (a floor or two). All the machines are in front of the windows and each machine has it's own tv. There is an aerobics floor where they do yoga, aerobics, and maybe some other stuff.

 

I haven't found the Thermal suite yet, but figured when I break down and do some exercise then I'll do the search.

 

The champage art auction is today and so is the wine tasting I signed up for. I'd like to go check out the art auction, but don't want to be around any cigarette smoke (not sure if it's there or not - will post about that later).

 

So far, the only place I've noticed strong odors are near the boutiques (the casino is at the forward end [maybe it's the aft end.. who knows? who cares? it's just nearby] of boutiques) and there are restrooms where the ships photography center is - very strong odor there yesterday.

 

Speaking of ships photos - they make my head look wider... My SIL said the same thing about her. They somehow distort the photo when printing on photo paper and you look a bit wider than you are.

 

There is the Survivor thing today - I might watch, but no way am I participating...

[ms.sunburn]

So far, the only place I've noticed strong odors are near the boutiques (the casino is at the forward end [maybe it's the aft end.. who knows? who cares? it's just nearby] of boutiques) and there are restrooms where the ships photography center is - very strong odor there yesterday.

 

Someone had a messy "accident" in the photo area outside the lounge on our cruise last week. They cleaned it up immediately but maybe that's what's causing the odor???

[mommykim]

Someone had a messy "accident" in the photo area outside the lounge on our cruise last week. They cleaned it up immediately but maybe that's what's causing the odor???

 

Princess usually moves in with the bio hazard team and cleans these up pretty darn fast. There should be no smell from that. In fact it was one big difference I found between Princess and Carnival. On my Pride cruise earlier this month I saw a woman get ill in a planter in the hall on the way to my room. I called the pursers desk to tell them and described exactly where it was. I called them again the next day and then showed my room steward on day 3. It finally got cleaned up on day 4.

[kymburley]

Someone had a messy "accident" in the photo area outside the lounge on our cruise last week. They cleaned it up immediately but maybe that's what's causing the odor???

 

It smells like sewage. At first I thought it was dirty diapers, but the odor is very strong with a urine component to it. Kinda gross!

[kymburley]

Oh my gosh! What a difference here!

 

I finally decided to check out the FREE Thermal Lounge, it is very cool. I was not sold on anything. As a matter of fact I would have been annoyed if I was the poor guy standing in line trying to spend $300 when SIL and I walk in. The girl asks us if we're here for an appt and we said no, just the Thermal Lounge. She said you have to pay, I said we're in a suite & they dropped that guy like a hot potato. I felt so sorry - I hate it when I get treated that way just because someone else walks in and appears to be a heavy spender... bummer!

 

The lounge area is cool with 5 benches that are made of ceramic something or other and they are heated. You lie on those for 20 minutes, then we proceeded to the sauna rooms. One has lavender or eucalyptus or a combination. At the end we jumped in the Tropical Rainshower thing. It was neat. We will be back. I enjoyed it, but doubt I would spend any extra money on it. If they had nature music playing I might have been able to relax more & then it would be worth the extra fee.

 

Here's a note about the pools. There are 2 adults only pools. One of them is just below the Children's pool. It's amazing how many people can complain that there is a child in the adult only pool, but I saw far more adults in thongs & drinking alcohol in the children's pool. Tacky and wrong!!! Where are all the manners???

 

So far, Princess is the better cruise, except for the food. Always, always loved the food served on Carnival. My last cruise was in 2004. Has the food changed on Carnival since then too? Just curious if Carnival is better food-wise, or if the whole Carnival family has flavorless food now?

[MiamiSky66]

Kym,

I have four friends on your cruise. I believe they are in c123. Sheila and Greg. She is about 6ft tall and he taller. They are with Andrew and Mary Chavez. Mary about 5'3". I don't know their cabin number. I am sure the purser would tell you.

Well of course this sounds stupid but if you see anyone that matches all four descriptions, just tell them Marvin says hello.

I am sure it will blow their minds.

Thanks.

[GoodAsGold]

Not so, Happy! I've loved my Carnie cruises just as much as my Princess sailings. There are positives and negatives with both lines. Even more with the individual ships. My motto is" Just remember, any cruise is better than NO cruise". :D

 

 

JUST REMEMBER, ANY CRUISE IS BETTER THAN A CARNIE CRUISE!!!