Stuck Between RCCL Radiance & Island Princess - HELP!

[Pusniski]

We're in our early 30's and our son will be 14 at the time of sailing. We're looking at mid-late June sailing. I know not to choose base on just the ship but I've always wanted to try RCCL and want to be happy while I'm onboard my floating hotel. With that in mind we're struggling with making our decision between these two ships/itineraries. At least I can say that I've gotten this far. :) I chose southbound to be able to do our own land stay pre-cruise.

 

 

Radiance = More land time pre-cruise (an extra day or two), more recoup time when we return home b/c of holiday weekend, trying a line I've always wanted to, our son would most likely take advantage of their rockwall, I can get a Grand Suite for not much more than Princess's mini-suite. The room isn't driving our decision, but it is something we take into consideration. The downside to us is that they do not include Glacier Bay.

 

Island Princess = Definitely has an edge with naturalists onboard and Glacier Bay. Worried about service since we weren't thrilled w/our Caribbean Princess Cruise (anytime dining room service, how they handled our stateroom maintenance issue, maintenance showing up for an issue we weren't aware of at 10 p.m. unannouced, a few rude staff). We understand it's a different ship and there were things we liked about our CP cruise. Really, I don't mean to sound so harsh. My husband liked having our own table in anytime dining. If we do Anytime dining I would find a server I like and get a standing reservation. I will not let my husband have a say in it. :rolleyes: We had a lot of fun in the casino. We are not basing our opinion on this line soley based on one experience. We're definitely open to sailing Princess for Alaska. We both understand it could've been one of those cruises. KWIM?

 

 

Quick question for Princess cruisers. Is the disgusting brown sludge they call coffee the same on Island Princess/cruiseline wide or was this just a Caribbean Princess thing?

[Wanderbug]

I just got off of the Radiance last week. I love that ship!!!!! The staff and crew were excellent.

 

Since you seem to care about the coffee, I'll mention that the Radiance serves Seattle's Best.

 

They did have a naturalist giving a running commentary on the way to Hubbard Glacier. (Just don't try to sit in the Viking Crown room during that time because they had an art auction. That was my only complaint about the cruise. They should have the art auction at either a different time or a different location.)

 

The buffet in the Windjammer is set up in small islands so it flows very smoothly. It's the best buffet setup I have seen on any ship.

[admiral nelson]

I can't comment on Princess, but we're just back from southbound Royal Caribbean Radiance with some thoughts:

Hubbard Glacier was absolutely a highlight of the trip. The captain got us very close and the calving was unbelievable. I haven't seen Glacier Bay, but I've done Hubbard twice and been impressed both times. Buy a balcony or elbow pads, as the crowds on deck are brutal.

One of our tablemates was a 12-year-old boy who came with his grandmother and he loved the activities they had set up for teens. He had dinner with us most nights, but they had parties, dances etc. for the kids after that and grandmom said she often didn't seen him until 11 p.m. or so. She felt quite comfortable letting him go with them. They kept him busy on sea days, too.

We also liked the staff and crew. On the next-to-last night I saw a wonderful map of the Inside Passage in a display case outside the shops. They were sold out but the store manager ended up giving me his own copy. VERY nice.

The food was passable but not exciting. And if you really like coffee take your own (a one-cup Melitta and boiled water from the Windjammer would be my recommendation). The stuff on board was awful.

[Coral]

I have done the Radiance and the sister to the Island Princess (Coral) and IMO - Princess did a much better job. The 2 ships (Island and Radiance) are very close in size.

 

Southbound trips on Princess hit both Hubbard glacier and Glacier Bay - 2 excellent glacier days!

 

Princess will have a naturalist all week. Princess will have more "Alaska activites" through out the week - such as Libby Riddles onboard and other speakers. RCCL just seemed to go through the motions and stopping in ports on my sailing. The only Alaska talks we had was about shopping.

 

There can be problems on any ship - my worst service was on RCCL. Not to say that service is worse on RCCL - I am just saying that there are good and bad things that happen on every cruise line.

 

The space ratio on Island Princess is much better then the Caribbean Princess - I think the Island has an excellent layout, much better then the Caribbean Princess.