On-Board the Crown Princess - Some Commentary

[Paulmj]

We're onboard the Crown Princess, Quebec City to New York City. This is our 26th cruise, the first since 2006. We usually cruise Princess, Royal Caribbean and/or Celebrity. We've never split hairs as to which is "better". They serve the same market and in our view any differences are slight.

Some general comments that cruisers may find helpful:

1. The on-board internet access is very good, perhaps 75% of the speed of our broadband service at home. We access using a laptop from our cabin. Wireless connectivity from our aft-balcony cabin is also very good. Cost if ~ 70 cents/minute, but they have packages available. a $100 package gives you 250 minutes, or 40 cents / minute. We are Platinum frequent cruisers, so my wife an I each get a $100 package for free. We haven't tried the internet cafe because getting online from our cabin works so well.

2) The Crown Princess weighs 113,000 tons and carries more than 3100 passengers. As far as I know, this cruise is close to a sellout. Most of the passengers are quite old (as am I): about 60 at a minimum and ranging upward from there. There are exceptions of course. No school-age children at this time of year.

3) You really notice the crowds, unlike previous cruises we've taken on somewhat smaller ships. Princess does a good job dispersing people throughout this big ship, but there's only so much they can do with so many people. Embarkation in Quebec City was a disaster. Hundreds of people there around noon (checkout time at most city hotels) and waiting for well over an hour. Even with preferred boarding because of our Platinum status, it took an hour and a half to get on board.

4) The food service is very good. Each meal, while not the best you'll ever have, is at least as good as what you would get when going out at home to celebrate a special event. The dining room menu is fine and varied. The Horizon Court buffet, while crowded, is also quite good in the choices available. Not a cafeteria arrangement, but food court islands, which we prefer. They have a lot of places to sit down, but you have to wander around for a few minutes to find an empty table. They no longer use trays, but have a large oval plate instead. Beverages, including water, are served to you after you sit down.

5) Getting a reservation in the two upscale restaurants aren't difficult, but arrangements should be made as soon as possible after boarding. Sabatini's has a $20 PP cover charge, and the Crown Grill is $25 PP. The Grill also has a further $9 PP lobster charge if you choose to go that route.

6) Two formal nights on this 10-day cruise. As on other ships, the formal nights are on the first (and only) sea day and on the next-to-last night on-board the ship. It has been our experience that while many people dress in formal clothes, doing this is far less commonplace than it used to be years ago. Otherwise, people dress nicely, and that's good enough. We decided to go to the upscale restaurants on the two formal nights. They don't require formal dress even though the main dining room does ask for it.

7) Cocktails are quite inexpensive. A premium beverage (I like Crown Royal) costs $5.75. A mixed drink (my wife likes a sour apple martini) costs $6.50. A 15% gratuity is added to any drink order. A beer is ~ $4.

8) The cruise lines are getting evermore aggressive in trying to sell you things. The picture they take when you board the ship used to be a 4" x 6" print that cost less than $5. Then it went to a 5" x 7" which cost a little more. Now, it's sold only as an 8" x 10" and it costs $20. They used to let you tour the bridge or the galley for free. That stopped years ago, supposedly in the interest of security. Now they let you do it again as part of a $150 package that takes you into all the nooks and crannies of the ship. They offer classes on computers, ceramics, scrap-booking, and a myriad of other things. A 50 minute class costs $25 and more.

9) The big ship rides in the water very well. We sailed through 35 knot seas last night. There was a little motion, but not much. There's no reason anyone should get seasick, because the motion is less than what one would experience onboard an airplane is light turbulence and no one gets airsick anymore.

10) The newer ships just going into service are built with many aft cabins, because they are very popular and sell out quickly. We've come to prefer an aft cabin whenever we can get one. The view is more expansive and there never is any wind.

Any questions, just ask.

[FTLAUDER]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. I just visited your beautiful state of AZ, and enjoyed it very much.
One question on the aft cabins, do you get any fuel smell on the balcony?

[hightownCO]

Just wondering which aft cabin you're in? I'll have my first ever aft on my next cruise.

[caber]

Thanks for that. It was very interesting. We are on Crown, 23rd October in an aft cabin. Your comments are very welcome.

We join the ship in Quebec so will have to rethink when we board.

These threads are very helpful. Thanks again.

[Druke I]

Thanks for you interesting comments.

For what it is worth, the 113,000 tons is NOT what the ship weighs, but is a measurement of interior space.

Passenger ships are usually listed with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), a measurement of interior space, while carge ships are usually listed with Displacement Tonnage.

Naval ships are sometimes listed with Deadweight Tonnage, but usually with Displacement Tonnage.

A very confusing, and to many, a disjointed system.

[Paulmj]

No fuel smell in the aft cabin. Even though the propellers are aft, the engines are closer to mid-ships. Also, no vibration to speak of.

[Paulmj]

Originally Posted by Druke I

Thanks for you interesting comments.

For what it is worth, the 113,000 tons is NOT what the ship weighs, but is a measurement of interior space.

Passenger ships are usually listed with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), a measurement of interior space, while carge ships are usually listed with Displacement Tonnage.

Naval ships are sometimes listed with Deadweight Tonnage, but usually with Displacement Tonnage.

A very confusing, and to many, a disjointed system.

The figure I used is what Princess says it is. If it's technically inaccurate, so be it.

[5fathom]

Be sure to visit the International Cafe, one of the best spots on the ship !

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the review.

[mek]

We're going back on the Crown next month. Are they still doing the seafood buffet on sailaway night?

[sunsetbeachgal]

Have a great cruise...enjoyed your mini-review!

[Shogun]

Hi There paulmj,


we board in two weeks approx,

is Neil the CD, do you know when he leaves.

Have a great cruise

yours


Shogun

[Paulmj]

Originally Posted by mek

We're going back on the Crown next month. Are they still doing the seafood buffet on sailaway night?

That's right.

[Paulmj]

Originally Posted by Shogun

Hi There paulmj,


we board in two weeks approx,

is Neil the CD, do you know when he leaves.

Have a great cruise

yours


Shogun

Neil is still the CD. I have no idea when his term is up.

[brenderlou]

Thanks for all your comments!!!! We will be on the Crown in November. Can you tell me where & when the seafood buffet is?
Also, can you tell me a little about the main pools? From pictures I see there is an edge that goes around the pool with the deep end in the middle. Does the edge have water, ankle deep or so, like a wading area?

Thanks

[Paulmj]

Originally Posted by brenderlou

Thanks for all your comments!!!! We will be on the Crown in November. Can you tell me where & when the seafood buffet is?
Also, can you tell me a little about the main pools? From pictures I see there is an edge that goes around the pool with the deep end in the middle. Does the edge have water, ankle deep or so, like a wading area?

Thanks

The seafood buffet is in the Horizon Court on sailaway day. I can't tell you about the pools, because it's been cold and raining and nobody is using them.

[jimpod]

Glad to hear you're having a great time. We were on the Crown for the Transatlantic crossing - left Southampton 5th September. Spent most of our evenings in Crooners. If Garry is still the bartender pass on our good wishes to him. He's a tall guy from South Africa. Thanks, James and Pauline.

[cat26]

Thanks for your reviews, we sail on the Crown in January.

[Shogun]

Hi there,

Main pool has a shallow shelf all the way around is only about 100mm in depth.

The spa pool has a shelf but this is around 100cm so is quite deep.

yours Shogun

[mek]

Originally Posted by Paulmj

The seafood buffet is in the Horizon Court on sailaway day.

Thanks, glad to hear it's still on.