A Tale of Two Ships...

[ccrain]

A Tale of Two Ships

 

We sailed the Star Princess on a Western Caribbean (Ocho Rios, Grand Caymen, Cozumel) on 4/21/07 arriving back on Saturday the 28th, going to a hotel for the night and boarding the Caribbean Princess for an Eastern Caribbean (St. Martin, St. Thomas) on 4/29/07.

 

There were several reasons for these particular cruises. The first was a substitute for a cancelled 15 day Hawaii cruise on the Island in April. Judy gets very motion sick and after the December Dawn Mexico trip and its rough seas, I decided to go back to the relatively calm Caribbean rather than risking 8 days in a rough Pacific crossing. (The largest sea encountered on these cruises must have been around 10 inches!) The second was to SCUBA, SNUBA and snorkel. But a ruptured eardrum 2 weeks before sailings messed up that idea. The third was to do a 7 day on the Caribbean Princess (CB) and determine if we could stand a Super-Grand class ship. The Emerald will be doing 10 day Caribbean cruises and Princess is ordering more of the Super-Grands, so we might as well try one now.

 

This review will be divided into several different sections that compare the two ships from our point of view and our experiences during the cruises.

 

From the outset, let me say that we enjoyed the Star cruise overall more. It was a near perfect cruise. The only less than perfect part of the Star cruise was our room steward. He was competent and adequate, but did not perform nearly as well as the room steward on the CB. No eggcrate mattress, forgot the 2nd patter on various days, dirty ice tongs – nothing really big, just not as good as John on the CB. But, the overall food, food and beverage service on the Star simply could not have been better.

 

The CB may have been a very good cruise, but really suffered in comparison to the Star.

[ccrain]

The Star is a 1st generation Grand Class ship with about 2600 people on board. It and the Golden have not been upgraded with MUTS, like the Grand, so they are in original configurations. The Caribbean Princess is what I call a Super-Grand class with the extra Riviera deck of cabins and some other configuration changes in the public spaces. We had around 3400 passengers on the CB at sailing. Never did find out how many were on the Star.

 

There are some interesting differences between the two. The two primary differences are Club Fusion on the CB, as opposed to the Vista Lounge on the Star and the addition of Café Caribe on the CB at the end of the ship. Other differences include a different gym and Sterling Steakhouse layout on the CB. Plus MUTS of course which takes away the covered pool area on a Grand class ship.

 

Let’s put it this way, if the Grand Class (without the extra Riviera Deck) had the same layout as the CB, it would be a perfect ship. I really like the Café Caribe concept, although execution on this cruise was suspect, and I really like the Club Fusion concept.

 

Café Caribe is carved out of the Outriggers bar area and the back end of the HC table area. It’s essentially a 3rd buffet line with two entrances, one port and one starboard. Both sides are not identical – or symmetric. Each side will serve different dishes and there appears to be no rhyme or reason to the order. Green salad on one side, prepared salad and fruit on the other. Go figure! They key is to enter one side with one plate, enter the other side with another plate and then hit the dessert bar in the center with two more clean plates.

 

Club Fusion replaces the Vista Lounge concept with a multi-LCD screen sports bar motif. This does eliminate Club Fusion for most entertainment shows – on the CB they go to the Explorer’s Lounge, but it does make for a great activities venue such as theme dance nights, karaoke, trivia shows, horse racing and Bingo. Sean on the CB really used the multi-media layout well in several trivia contests. We really enjoyed the Club Fusion concept.

 

The Gym on the Star and the CB are the same size, but the layout is different. The wall into the aerobics area is gone on the CB and the entire forward section of the Gym is lined with additional treadmills and elliptical machines. The CB has the best selection of elliptical trainers – Precors. The Star has the worst – StarTraks. Both have free weights and weight machines that are modern and provide a good workout. I really liked the jogging track on the top deck above the Gym, but I especially liked the Promenade. I had never been up the stairs before and around the bow. I still prefer the wider Promenade of the Sun class and the wrap around single level, but a little narrower Promenade of the Corals, but the Grand class Promenade provides a great place for a long walk. (But keep in mind that the traffic flow pattern is counter clockwise north of the equator and clockwise south of the equator.)

[ccrain]

We had a BA Balcony cabin on both ships: C311 on the Star and C602 on the CB. Our last cruise was an 11 day in a BC balcony on the Dawn and the Grand class balcony cabins are huge compared to the Sun class. The shower is even bigger than I remember. Plenty of room for everything and the Caribe deck balconies are simply enormous. Although, quite frankly, we never got a chance to really fully enjoy the large balcony, on a scenic cruise it would be priceless. The balcony came with two lounger and ottomans on the Star along with a small table and two chairs. The ottomans were missing on the CB balcony. On the other hand sitting out on the balcony lounger under a fool moon listening to the water whisper by can be an enjoyable experience in itself.

[ccrain]

The Food and Food Service on the Star was absolutely top rate. Albuquerque, our head waiter whom we knew from a previous Star cruise, plied us with standing reservations, top notch service, special appetizers, special pasta, special entrees and special desserts. It was the best dining room experience in the past 11 cruises - period. This treatment went over and above anything we’ve ever experienced in the dining rooms before and was simply incredible. The menu selections were tasty, spicy, hot, or cold as appropriate, and service was quick and efficient.

 

Choices in the Horizon Court were not as plentiful as on previous cruises, but the food was tasty and the service in the HC was quick and efficient. My only complaint in the HC was the scrambled eggs in the morning. It appears that no one knows how to cook scrambled eggs anymore on Princess. Our last 5 cruises have been with eggs that really appear, and taste, to have come from powdered eggs. I have tasted better eggs from MRE packets.

 

The CB dining room and Café Caribe food was pretty bland and the service was so-so in all the dining venues save the Pizza and the burgers. (The Pizza is just darn good and the burgers are quite tasty when fresh.) Because of the Code Red, we could not season our own food, and by the time you signaled the waiter for pepper, then salt, your food was cold or your salad warm.

 

Both the HC, Café Caribe and the main dining rooms suffered mainly from bland tasting food, it needed a little spice and salt, and from slow or non-existent service. I enjoyed the 3 seafood buffets at Café Caribe, especially the lobster claws – Judy didn’t care for them – she’s a lobster tail person. Once you figured out the secret, they came out easy and were very good cold or hot, as were the shrimp. One can’t complain too much about unlimited shrimp cocktail!

[ccrain]

Here again the Star shined over the CB. Hesitancy to serve water or cokes was almost non-existent. Only 1-2 drink servers were a problem, which was then immediately corrected by another server who happily brought around water and cokes. He then got a large drink order and all of our drink orders in the Vista Lounge from then on.

 

Most of the male CB drink servers were hesitant or never showed up again when you ordered water or a free coke. However, most of the female servers on the CB were happy to deliver water or cokes (Tatiana in Club Fusion for one and her roommate in Crooner’s). I started to use the water and diet coke order as a test. If it was brought quickly and efficiently with a smile, a drink ordered usually followed. If not, another more friendly server got the order or I simply went to the bar and ordered. Bar service at the bar on both ships was pretty friendly, but the overload of passengers on the CB showed at Outriggers. The crush of orders from the deck area and in the HC and Café Caribe simply overwhelmed the two bartenders at peak times – although Sheldon always had a smile.

 

Next Installment Tomorrow...Cruise Activities

[Tina G]

Hi, Charles! House is still on the market.:( Don't know when we'll make it out to CO. Sounds like you two had a great time! How many lobsters this cruise?

[julia]

Terrific recap and comparison of the two ships. My husband will be so pleased to hear about the ellipticals in the gym!

 

Thanks for the review!

[ccrain]

Hi, Charles! House is still on the market.:( Don't know when we'll make it out to CO. Sounds like you two had a great time! How many lobsters this cruise?

 

We had two friends with us on the Star on lobster night. We had coordinated this with Albuquerque before inviting them and he went all out to impress them. He started with a fantastic brushetta appetizer, angel hair pasta in fresh cherry tomato sauce with green jalapenos and finished off with a ice cream ball dessert rolled in powdered cocoa.

 

Quite frankly the lobsters just didn't matter...Judy had only two and I had the beef wellington.

 

On the CB we went to Cafe Caribe, we just didn't feel like dressing up, and I enjoyed a pile of the lobster claws - but the beef wellington was so-so and they did not have lobster tails - so Judy was disappointed.

 

So the record of 20+ tails still stands...

[coka]

Hi Ccrain! Welcome back! I enjoyed meeting you and your wife! I like the back2back comparisons. Keep it coming...brings back good memories!

Coka

[spongerob]

It's like deja vu all over again!

 

Someone brought up the very last post in this entire database this morning - it was an announcement that CB had arrived in Florida for her very first cruise. I re-read my review of that cruise. And noted the fact that we had immediately gotten off CB, and back onto Golden Princess. In most respects, your comments here comparing CB and Star parallel my old review. Only yours is better written and more informative. Still...it's a bit eery.

[mommykim]

Thanks for the wonderful review. The Star is one of my favorite Princess ships so it's always nice to hear good things being said about her!

[ccrain]

It's like deja vu all over again!

 

Someone brought up the very last post in this entire database this morning - it was an announcement that CB had arrived in Florida for her very first cruise. I re-read my review of that cruise. And noted the fact that we had immediately gotten off CB, and back onto Golden Princess. In most respects, your comments here comparing CB and Star parallel my old review. Only yours is better written and more informative. Still...it's a bit eery.

 

Great minds think alike...

[ccrain]

Once again, we couldn't do it all...

 

We had a lot of fun on the Star, We did track down Billy London (the CD) and got to talk to him for a while. CDs, at least on the Grand classes, simply not as available as in the past. Both Billy and Tim (on the CB) were hardly ever around except for main events. According to the cruise staffs on both ships, paperwork is now consuming the majority of the CD’s time.

 

We jelled with more of the cruise staff on the Star. Kez (line dancing), Winnie (Ballroom Dancing), Adrian (Polish Cowboy) and Romeo (a little of everything) to name a few. Country night was exhausting and a lot of fun – its been a long time since we danced until 1:30 am.

 

But we also had a lot of fun on the CB as well. Lauren (Ballroom Dance) and Sean (Sr Asst) were the two we most got to know. Lauren did a great job of teaching four basic ballroom dances during the week (Merengue, Cha Cha, Swing, Waltz). The really neat thing is that we learned a new step in each of the dances. Sean did a little of everything – line dancing, multi-media trivia and hosted a lot of the shows.

 

Tim’s morning show on the CB was a lot more crazy than Billy’s on the Star. Tim reminds me a lot of Richard Joseph, an English version of course, and he does the best fairy in “If I Were Not Upon the Sea” since Trevor Bradford. We refer to Billy as the James Bond of the CDs, especially in a tux. A sophisticated English gentlemen.

[ccrain]

Star –

 

The BMW Trio in the Wheelhouse for Ballroom Dance was great. They take requests and do a good job of telling you the type of dance for each song.

 

Cary Long was a good comedian. We’ve seen him before and talked to him after the show. A nice guy.

 

Motor City is a new production show and we liked it a lot. It’s set in the Vista Lounge and has good music. They did need to raise the singers mike volumes a bit.

 

CB –

 

Don Sauro Trio in the Wheelhouse for Ballroom Dance was great. We spent a lot of time there practicing ballroom dancing.

 

Steve Morris – This guy was good. Funny and full of energy.

 

A side note – Al Katz was on the Star and we missed his show. He was also on the CB and we caught his show. Not bad, but afterwards we ran into him in the hallway and he’s simply not a nice person at all (there’s a particular apt description for this type of person) – blamed the audience for not getting his jokes and couldn’t wait to get one more show over with so he could go home. Not approachable like Steve, Cary, Kevin Hughes or most of the other comedians and performers we have talked to on other cruises.

 

MUTS – We Like It. We were out under a gorgeous moon watching Casino Royale, eating popcorn and drinking drinks, having a blast. It was fun. The only downer, was again service. We had to go get our own popcorn and our own drinks. The service staff was too busy having a conference around the popcorn machine. But its a feature we liked a lot. We even sat through a couple of movies during lunch. It was fun.

[ccrain]

On our first grand class cruise in December of 2004, I swore off sailing on a Grand Class and especially a Super Grand. Not any longer. The extreme crowding experienced on that sailing was simply not duplicated on the Star this time or the CB because of Anytime dining. We had late seating on the prior cruise and experienced large crowds everywhere we went. Not this time.

 

By eating early (530 to 6pm) or off the peak times, and getting to shows early enough to beat the crowds allowed us to see any show we wanted.

 

The only large crowds we encountered were outside the Explorers Lounge with the changing of the crowds. Too many people, to little hallway.

[ccrain]

Overall:

 

We didn't mind the CB cruise. Yes, compared to the Star it was not as good and compared to our previous cruises it does rank lower than most. But it had its bright spots and there were no real issues or problems. It was a good vacation and a good cruise. The Star was simply a fantastic cruise.

 

Grand and Super Grands:

 

Given the right price, we'd sail the CB again and would not be afraid of the Emerald, Crown or Ruby - primarily because of MUTS BTW. We have the Golden booked in September, so we're going to do Grands again as well.

 

Caribbean Cruises:

 

I thought we were pretty tired of the Caribbean, but not really. Seeing that brilliant blue water makes we want to go back again and SCUBA/SNUBA and snorkel. So it looks like the Emerald is a go when she takes over from the Sun.

 

Internet:

 

Yep, I kept to my word and did not use the internet at all. Judy was extremely grateful for Princess eliminating the unlimited internet access - I took her dancing instead.

[spongerob]

Great review. Thanks for the effort.

[Missybud]

Hi Charles,

 

Have to admit the Star is a better cruise. Three times for me and if we should do our party cruise next Spring we decided to go on her vs. the CB.

 

Have booked the Emerald for 1/25. Why don't you and Judy join us? BTW, you two do a beautiful Cha Cha. Definitely your dance! Lana

[TorontoTL]

Excellent and well written review. I would like to make one small point. The Caribbean Princess is not the same as you know as the newer Crown, Emerald and soon to be Ruby Princess ships. I have sailed the Star, Golden, Caribbean and Crown and can compare them. The changes made to the newest super Grand class ships are significant in terms of the spreading out of passengers and interior design and decor. I think you will find if you sail the newest super Grand class ships that you would be very pleasantly surprised at how well you cannot tell there are more pax than on the Grand class ships. The new decor and design also lends much more elegance and class to the ships as well.

[ccrain]

Hi Charles,

 

Have to admit the Star is a better cruise. Three times for me and if we should do our party cruise next Spring we decided to go on her vs. the CB.

 

Have booked the Emerald for 1/25. Why don't you and Judy join us? BTW, you two do a beautiful Cha Cha. Definitely your dance! Lana

 

But we've booked the Island in February for a Grand Panama. The Island is our favorite ship and I just have to do the whole canal once in my life. We still need to book our fall 2008 cruise and the Emerald will be high on the list of possibilities.

[ccrain]

Excellent and well written review. I would like to make one small point. The Caribbean Princess is not the same as you know as the newer Crown, Emerald and soon to be Ruby Princess ships. I have sailed the Star, Golden, Caribbean and Crown and can compare them. The changes made to the newest super Grand class ships are significant in terms of the spreading out of passengers and interior design and decor. I think you will find if you sail the newest super Grand class ships that you would be very pleasantly surprised at how well you cannot tell there are more pax than on the Grand class ships. The new decor and design also lends much more elegance and class to the ships as well.

 

What did they do? I am aware of the sanctuary, but I didn't know they changed it that much.

 

But that's really good news from a future cruise point of view.

 

I did find that the Anytime Dining did allow us to eat earlier and make more of the shows than our late dining traditional did on the first Star. I think I'm rapidly becoming a big fan of anytime dining.

[Coral]

I just wanted to thank you for your comparison.

[margord]

Thanks for taking the time to do the review.

[TorontoTL]

To answer your question yes the Sanctuary was added, that is significant in that it added space for adults that was only used in the past for the sports deck. The sports deck for paddle tennis and the running area are now up on the funnel and the roof of Skywalkers. This is space that was never used in the past. Very good idea giving more space for people. Also on top of Skywalkers is the minigolf.

 

The repositioning of Sabatini's to an upper deck at the back of the ship in space that was basically the children's area also moves many passengers to an area of the ship during the evening that never really had passengers before. This along with the addition of Adagios was an excellent idea.

 

The Piazza with the International Cafe and Vines also gives you a reason to be in the atrium unlike other Grand Class ships where other than in the morning for coffee and when there were events really wasn't being utilized that well.

 

I'm sure there are other things but those are the main ones that come to mind in terms of how much better thought out the Crown and Emerald are compared with the Caribbean Princess. I really felt that passengers were better spread out on the newer super Grand ships.

 

In terms of decor, I think the photos that have been posted speak for themselves. The Piazza really is much more elegant and interesting than the Atriums of the Grand Class. I really preferred the new classy look of the Piazza.