Dawn vs CP, Golden or Grand

[karenandgoose]

We have been on the Caribbean Princess,
Golden and Grand and are thinking of taking a cruise on the Dawn.
Could we please get some input on the pros and cons of a smaller ship and how they compare in service and activities.
Thanks
Karen and Goose

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Caribbean Princess

[srphnx]

I am generally a bigger is better kind of guy, I like the Grand class A LOT, see my current obsession with Diamond below. The Sun class has never left me feeling cheated and I think there is the same level of activities perhaps in 3 pool areas rather than 4 but so what. I think it is common sense that nearly 1000 few pax makes it easier to feel cozy with staff so all other things being equal, there should be a tiny nod for service to the Dawn.

Now the real question is, what causes you to look at her, the route, the price, chances are you have an edge there or you wouldn't be looking at all.

Life is at it's best when your address floats
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[BJS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I think there is the same level of activities <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>We have been on the Dawn and her sister the Sun Princess and only have been on the Grand once. We loved the Dawn and are going again in Nov. after taking another grand class ship, the Star, for 24 days so might have a change of opinion.

I felt there were many more things going on while we were on the Grand. There were more choices of things to do and many more activities planned. Having said that, you can only go to one activity at a time BUT there were more selections. More pools mean less crowds at the pools which can be important if you are sailing during periods of the year where there are more children and teens. There was more going on later at night with more people attending on the Grand because of having more people. That is not to say you wouldn't find the same on the smaller ship but the ratio might be quite different.

The Dawn's size does make it feel "cozy" where the larger ships you can feel like "a small drop in a large bucket". She has plenty of space and it is easy to learn the layout rapidly rather than days later which might be the case on the grand class ships. There was definitely a different atmosphere on each of the ships but that could also have been because of the difference in the passangers. Just by comparing the deck plans of the two class ships you will get a feel of the difference.

On both ships we have had excellant service, found the crew friendly, and menus the same.

We choose our cruises mostly for the itinerary and then price and then ship. I don't think you can make a "wrong" choice.

Future cruises:
5/04 HAL-Amsterdam-Alaska
9/04 Star Princess-Med.x2 Venice to Barcelona/ Barcelona to Rome
11/04 Dawn Princess-Southern Caribbean
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess-Mexican Riviera
July 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Aug. 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess- Southern Caribbean x2
03 Grand Princess-W.Caribbean
03 Sun Princess -Mexico
03-Tahitian Princess-Tahiti/ Cook Islands
03 Royal Princess-x2 British Isles & Norwegian Fjords/ Iceland
03 Island Princess-Panama Canal
01 HAL Ryndam x 2-S. America San Diego to Valpariso/ & around Cape Horn to Rio
00 Sky Princess-China/Orient
79 Sitmar's Fairwind- Caribbean/Panama Canal

[WendyG]

BJS-how big is surprise? My grandmother lives there! Never heard of it until she moved there.

I was on the Grand (had a blast) on the Golden (had more of a blast) and was on the Sun (and was totally bored)
I think alot had to do with the cruise director (had Graham for the first two) and Simon somebody for the Sun, but that was my LEAST favorite cruise. There just didn't seem to be anything to do and that was a 10 day.

There was never a dull moment on the grand class ships though...I'm looking forward to the Caribbean Princess in July (will have Graham again) YAY! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

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Sovereign of the Seas 8/98
Premier Seabreeze 4/99
Norwegian Wind 4/00
Norwegian Majesty 4/01
Holland America Volendam 11/01
Grand Princess 4/02
Carnival Fascination 5/02
Costa Atlantica 11/02
Golden Princess 3/03
Explorer of the Seas 7/03
Sun Princess 11/03
Caribbean Princess 07/04

Just off the Sun, I would pick the Sun or the Dawn over the Grand or Caribbean in a heartbeat. Better service, smaller ship, better mini suites. On the Sun I felt like a guest, on the Golden, just one of the crowd searching for a deck chair.

[karenandgoose]

Thanks for your replies.
We have only taken 7 day cruises and would like to take a 10 day next so that limits us to a smaller ship. Our other option is a back to back cruise on the grand class.
We've loved all the activities on out cruises and have no complaints at all.
I spoke with a pax who was greatly disappointed in the Grand after sailing on the Dawn and here we were having the time of our lives! I just wanted some other opinions from some experienced cruisers.
Thanks

[spongerob]

The Sun-class ships are really quite nice. In some ways I like the layout more than the Grand-class ships. The central atrium is quite impressive, and public areas are accessible from the atrium on several decks. It makes exploring the ship fun and interesting compared to the rather linear layout of the Grand.

The only slight drawback is that the cabins aren't quite as big as what you might be used to. The balconies are cut-outs in the hull, so some of the space in the cabin is sacrificed. If you are used to the mini-suites on the Grand-class ships, you'll definitely notice the change.

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[karenandgoose]

Hi Spongebob

My brother lives in Edmund OK. He's the best, we live in Fl. Miss him dearly. Have read alot on the boards and always enjoyed your input.
Thanks
Karen

[shuksan7]

I've not sailed Grand-class, but was on Ocean Princess twice. And the Sun-class ships have far and away the best outside pools of the 4 cruise ships I've been on. The aft pool-spa complex has shade/bar/grill in its multi-level layout. The central pool is simply spectacular, with a marvelous bar on the top deck overlooking all.

I long to sail on the Sun or Dawn in the tropics.

Rick

Ocean Princess 9/01
Veendam 12/01
Ocean Princess 5/02
Zaandam 12/02
Island Princess 5/04

[kendon]

We've been on the Grand twice, and just got off the Dawn last month. The biggest difference noticed is that entertainment on the Dawn was lacking, almost boring. Not much to do on sea days as some of the activities were cancelled. In the evening it was a bit dead, and one night they showed movies instead of a show! It seems that all of Princess's energy and effort goes to the bigger ships. As far as size, the ship is still very large, so you surely won't feel cramped if that's what your worried about.

[Druke I]

Just off the Sun, sister to the Dawn, and liked it very much. The mini-suites are as big as suites on some of the other ships.

Had been on the Golden 8-02, and thought it very big, but well laid out. Booked on Sapphire 3-05, Sydney to Bangkok.

I personally prefer the size and deck plan of the Sun/Dawn class to the Grand/Golden class, but both classes are nice ships.

Michael

[woodofpine]

Full 360 degree teak promenade decks with fine deck chairs, a more Lounge-y and taller atrium, nicer cosy water view library, abundant indoor and outdoor forward viewing points... (yes - nicer mini-suites too if you're splurging)

I'm a big fan of the Sun class ships and I think the foregoing MORE than makes up for lack of an in-door pool. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif