Caribbean Princess Cruise Review (Dec 15-22)

Pre-Cruise Travel

For all of our previous cruises, we have arrived at the cruise port on the sailing date. Flying out of Minneapolis in the winter makes this a risky proposition. But even with the occasional delay, we have always arrived at the ship with a little time to spare. Getting older and more risk averse, we decided this time to schedule our air travel a day early. In so doing, we were refreshed for the start of our cruise and were able to board the ship earlier than we ever had before. This will most likely be our practice from now on.

We arrived in Florida on Friday afternoon, landing at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Apparently this is one of the fastest growing airports in the country, probably because of the increased number of cruises leaving from that port. The airport is less than two miles from the Port Everglades cruise port, and we were told that construction will soon begin for a direct tram between the airport and the cruise port.

The hotel we chose for our overnight stay was the Extended Stay America Fort Lauderdale Cruiseport Airport Hotel (Wow - that’s a long title!) located on the 17th Street Causeway. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service from the airport and to the cruise port. We learned the next day that it is actually only two long blocks around the corner from the cruise port, so I suppose it could be considered within walking distance. We had a spacious, clean and comfortable room, and the staff were very gracious and friendly. We chose this hotel because of the great rate (after checking other hotels in the area) and convenience to the airport and cruise port. The quality of our room, the service, and the staff will definitely bring us back here again.

We had a fabulous dinner at a restaurant next door, Carrabba’s Italian Grill. This delicious meal was the perfect beginning to a cruise vacation, and we went to sleep that night with satisfied tummies!

In the morning the hotel provided grab-and-go breakfast items including varieties of instant oatmeal packages, assorted granola bars and oatmeal-to-go bars, packaged Otis Spunkmeyer muffins, oranges, apples, bananas, coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate. For a more substantial breakfast, the Harbor Café next door serves breakfast and lunch starting at 6:30 a.m. and there is an Einstein Bagels in the strip mall across the street. For any convenience items that may be needed, a Walgreen pharmacy is down the block on the corner.

After checking out of the hotel, the shuttle driver whisked us over to the cruise port in matter of a few minutes.

Port Everglades

Since welcoming its first cruise ship in 1931, Port Everglades has grown to become one of the busiest cruise ports in the world with 42 cruise ships from 13 premier cruise lines, featuring some 2,000 different cruises and over 3.5 million passengers annually. The port has a total of 11 modern cruise terminals, boasting more waiting area and air-conditioned baggage space than any port in the world. It is also the only cruise port in the country located directly adjacent to an international airport.

The Caribbean Princess was docked at Pier 2. Five other cruise ships were also in port that day. If our memory is correct, they were the Grand Princess, Carnival Freedom, Celebrity Eclipse, Holland America Eurodam, and Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas.

Embarkation

The published boarding time for our cruise was 12:30 p.m. but when we arrived at 11:30 a.m. the check-in process was underway. As we approached the terminal, we discovered the first of our perks as newly-minted Platinum cruisers (after 5 cruises). We were able to pass a long line of passengers waiting outside the terminal and go right inside to the security check point, where our carry-on luggage was passed through an x-ray scanner. We then proceeded to the express line with our cruise boarding documents to check in with the Princess Cruises staff and receive our cruise cards. The entire process took only a few minutes. All checked in, we were led passed countless passengers in a large waiting area and up the escalators to the special waiting area for Platinum-level passengers. (Elite-level passengers with a minimum of 15 cruises had a separate waiting room behind a closed door.) Within a very short time we were allowed up the gangway and we boarded the ship at about 12 noon.

Our first stop before stepping foot on the ship was a quick and easy security procedure. The cruise card we were issued when we checked in at the terminal had encoded on it all of our cruise information, such as stateroom number and credit card information for onboard purchases. As we entered the ship, a crew member using a handheld device scanned the information from our cards, took our digital photograph, and then encoded that on our cards as well. The process took less than a minute.

In no time at all we were heading to our stateroom to drop off our bags, and then off to lunch.

Our Stateroom

After being welcomed aboard by some of the ship’s crew, we took the stairs from Fiesta Deck 6 where we entered to Riviera Deck 14, and then down the port (left) side to our stateroom R614. (The hallway carpet on the port side is trimmed in red, while the starboard side is trimmed in blue – very helpful in keeping us from going down the wrong hallway!).

While the 163 square feet of the standard inside cabin had always been quite adequate for the two of us, on this trip we splurged and reserved a cabin with a balcony. (When we booked the cruise, we selected the lowest priced balcony cabin and later received a four-category upgrade!)

The two twin beds in the room had been put together and made up with an “egg crate” foam mattress topper, queen size sheets, and bedspread. We think this is actually better than one queen size bed because when one person turns while sleeping it doesn’t disrupt the adjoining bed. We found our beds and pillows to be very comfortable, and we slept great every night.

The stateroom was nicely furnished and plenty spacious for the two of us, with enough storage space for all of our things. The bathroom and shower were small but adequate for us. Princess also provides the little extras you find in the best hotels — evening bed turn-down, chocolates on the pillow, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner.

Our stateroom was well maintained by our very pleasant steward. He was like some sort of ninja -- we would step out briefly, only to return and discover that our room had been cleaned, bed made, and towels replaced! We are always amazed at how efficiently, and without disruption, the stewards perform their jobs. With the number of staterooms each steward is assigned, they most definitely earn our respect and appreciation – not to mention our gratuities.

Our First Balcony

Our travel agent warned us: Once you go balcony, you’ll never go back inside. She may be right. The balcony itself was only about 5’ x 10’ (furnished with two chairs and small table) but it seemed to create a much larger and more open living space for us. Even with the sliding glass doors closed, we were constantly treated to the beauty of expansive ocean vistas. Our cruise was all the more relaxing because we did not have to search for chairs on the open decks, but could enjoy the private tranquility of reading books while enjoying the sunshine, sea breeze, and salt air only a few steps from our bedroom! Our stateroom was R614 on Riviera Deck 14, so the balcony was covered. That may not suit everyone, but we liked it because we didn’t want to spend a lot of time in the direct sun – there was plenty of it in the late afternoon. Located on the port side, we enjoyed sunrises every morning for the first half of the cruise, and sunrises every evening on the return portion of the cruise. Although we were below the Lido Deck, our cabin was situated beneath the carpeted Horizon Court and we did not notice any annoying noise at all (such as might be experienced under the pool area when chairs are moved around on the wood deck).

Sail Away

The “muster drill” was scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Before the ship leaves port, all passengers must attend a general emergency exercise at their designated General Emergency Stations. This exercise is a requirement of law. At the start of the exercise, alarms were sounded and broadcasts made, calling us to our Muster Stations as indicated on the notice on the back of our stateroom door. Passengers were asked to carry their life jackets with them but not put them on, and to be sure to have their cruise cards with them as well. We proceeded to our station which was in the photo area on Promenade Deck 7 between Club Fusion and the Wheelhouse Lounge. As we lined up in the hallway, crew members with the handheld devices scanned our cruise cards to make sure everyone was present and accounted for. Safety instructions were then given, along with a demonstration of how to put on the life jackets. In a few minutes we were finished and on our way back to our stateroom.

The Caribbean Princess was the first of the five cruise ships to leave the port. As we stood on our balcony with drinks in hand, across from us on shore people in the condominiums waved, shouted greetings, waved flags, rang cowbells, and blew air horns – making for a fun send-off! Following behind us were the Grand Princess and the Carnival Freedom.

The Caribbean Princess

This was our sixth Princess cruise and the third on the Caribbean Princess. We found the layout of the ship to be very easy to navigate. Although it is a large ship, 19 decks high and longer than 3 football fields, it was cleverly designed to be broken up into many smaller more intimate venues. In addition to spacious public areas, there are also quite a few more cozy spaces and out-of-the-way areas. The décor of warm woods, brass, and glass with beautiful carpets and interesting works of art give the ship an elegant feel.

The heart of the ship is a dramatic three-story atrium spanning Decks 5, 6 and 7. It features a spacious foyer, glass-sided marble staircases, panoramic glass elevators, and specially created artwork. Located in the atrium on Deck 5 is The Piazza with the Vines Wine Bar and the International Café Bistro, where we could get delicious sandwiches, salads, and desserts – all complimentary and available 24 hours. Occasionally throughout the day there were musicians performing in The Piazza. Tucked away in a corner is an Internet room and a small-but-cozy library with a nice selection of books. One of the benefits of our platinum-level status is that we each had 150 free minutes of Internet time. Connections, however, were often very slow. Up on Deck 6 are the Passenger Services Desk and Shore Excursions Desk, along with gift shops.

The entertainment venues are located along Promenade Deck 7, making it convenient to stroll from one to another. Crooners is a 1960’s-style piano lounge. Explorers Lounge was designed to evoke the wonders of the Far East and Africa. The Wheelhouse has a private club atmosphere and is filled with the company’s maritime history and nautical memorabilia. Club Fusion blends the atmosphere of a New York-style night nightclub/cabaret with a touch of Las Vegas-style games and excitement, featuring high-tech capabilities and appearance with 42 high-definition video screens throughout. All the way forward is the Princess Theater where the large production shows take place each evening. What’s interesting about the 750-seat Princess Theater – and it’s only two decks high – is that there are absolutely no obstructions. Every seat in the house has a great view of the stage and the acoustics are superb. The theater itself is elegantly simple in red with wood trim. Far more complex is the operation of the backstage area, scenery, and stage, which we discovered during a fascinating backstage tour.

Show Time!

We enjoyed some excellent stage shows which were written, costumed and choreographed exclusively by Princess. They included “Do You Wanna Dance” (a musical journey highlighting the many styles and forms of dance), “Caribbean Caliente” (a dance party show highlighted by music from the Caribbean islands), and “Born To Be Wild” (presenting classic rock-and-roll). The thirty-three-minute shows are presented three times each night, starring the Caribbean Princess Singers and Dancers with the Caribbean Princess Orchestra. Three other shows throughout the week featured The Unexpected Boys, a musical tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, a hilarious comedian Glenn Hirsch, and an illusionist.

In the smaller entertainment venues (Wheelhouse Bar, Explorers Lounge, Club Fusion) there were a variety of bands for our listening and dancing pleasure. A highlight each evening was to head over to Crooners to be entertained by piano man Tom Franek. This very talented pianist and singer drew overflow crowds of enthusiastic passengers every night, so we made sure to get there early.

Movies Under The Stars

The Caribbean Princess was the first modern cruise ship to ever replicate a drive-in movie scenario with what they call M.U.T.S. “Movies Under The Stars” (or “Movies Under The Sun,” depending on the time of day). This concept, which has become an iconic offering for Princess Cruises and is now offered on other ships, came about from seeing the giant video screen in Times Square. When it was first introduced, some people thought the cruise line was crazy, but they made it happen with phenomenal success. Day or night, the image on the screen is clear and brilliant. And with marvelous engineering, the surround sound that fills the viewing area doesn’t carry over into the other areas on deck. For the evening movies, the deck crew sets out special padded coverings for the lounge chairs, with blankets on cool evenings, and offers complimentary popcorn.

During our cruise, movies included “Moonrise Kingdom,” “The Proposal,” “Overboard,” “Premium Rush,” “Big,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Dirty Dancing,” “The Bourne Legacy,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” and “The Hunger Games.” Also shown on the big screen were episodes of the classic “Love Boat” television series, several NFL football games, and concerts by Bon Jovi, U2, George Michael, James Taylor, The Killers, Billy Joel, Genesis, Stevie Wonder, and Pavarotti.

Staying Healthy

As we traversed the ship, we took the stairs and avoided the elevators whenever possible, figuring that over the course of the entire cruise the extra exercise would be helpful. And usually we got to our destination more quickly than waiting for the elevators. We also took the opportunity for some brisk walking outside on the Promenade Deck and tried to be disciplined enough to regularly visit the Fitness Center up on Sun Deck 16. That’s a great place to work out, with floor-to-ceiling windows, cardiovascular stations, spinning cycles, and weight-strength training stations. We avoided touching hand rails and were religious about washing our hands and using the sanitizers. Whether by luck or common sense, we have never suffered any illness on any cruise.

Dining

We enjoy the Anytime Dining feature because it allows us more flexibility in our dining schedule. We aren’t limited to eating at a fixed time, and can enjoy eating alone or with others. On this particular cruise, we chose to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day in the dining room. It was wonderful to indulge in gourmet cuisine, served in an elegant, comfortable setting. We had the pleasure of dining with different people at each meal and enjoyed the variety of conversations. We had several different servers throughout the cruise, and every one of them was professional, gracious, and witty – making for a delightful dining experience each time.

At dinner time, five of the evenings were designated smart casual, when passengers were asked to dress as they would for a fine restaurant back home: skirts or dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies; pants and open-neck shirts for men. There were two evenings for formal attire (Monday and Thursday). What constitutes “formal” can be a controversial subject on these message boards, which prompted us to pay attention during one of the formal nights. There seemed to be a variety in men’s attire. For instance, of the four men at our table one wore a tuxedo, one had a dark suit, one had a sport coat with no tie, and one had a shirt and tie with no coat. Everyone seemed comfortable with his own attire, and no one at the table was concerned with what the others were wearing. Conversation was lively and pleasant, and we all enjoyed a great meal together.

Ports of Call

There were three ports of call on this particular cruise itinerary The first was Princess Cays, a private beach exclusively for Princess guests on the tiny island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The Caribbean Princess anchored off shore and passengers were brought to the island on the tenders (the orange and white “lifeboats” fastened to the sides of the ship). Guests could partake in water sports, beach activities, or simply laze away the day in a lounge chair on the beach or beneath the tall palm trees. A delicious barbecue lunch was served on the island.

The other two ports of call were Curacao and Aruba. Located just off the coast of Venezuela, these islands have a definite Dutch flavor as they have been closely tied to the Netherlands since the 17th century. Both ports have piers that can accommodate large cruise ships. In Curacao we docked at Willemstad, the capital city of the island, and we enjoyed exploring on foot: the waterfront, historic buildings, interesting alleyways, and colorful outdoor markets. In Aruba we enjoyed a delightful four-hour tour of the island with Sonny Binns.

Disembarkation

In the early morning hours of Saturday, December 22, the Caribbean Princess docked again at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. We were actually awake at the time and enjoyed watching from our balcony as our ship pulled into port. After we finished packing, we enjoyed our final served breakfast in the Palm Dining Room (which was available from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.). We took advantage of the Express Walk Off option, which meant that we simply carried our own luggage off the ship. At 8:00 a.m. we gathered our bags from our stateroom, proceeded down to Fiesta Deck 6, had our cruise cards scanned and exited the ship by the gangway into the terminal. From there we rode the escalators down to the main floor of the terminal and followed the lines of passengers going through the U.S. Customs checkpoint. By 8:30 a.m. we were on the curb outside the terminal. There was a company selling rides on a shuttle bus to the Fort Lauderdale and Miami Airports for $19 per person. But right across the street was a row of taxis lined up and their fare to the Fort Lauderdale airport was only $14 for the both of us. About 10 minutes later we were walking into the airport.

Thanks for part 1 of your review! :)

Janet

Excellent review Kerry&Luann! I am glad you enjoyed the cruise.:)

Great review! Glad you had a good time.

Enjoying part 4, nice review, thanks for posting.

Enjoying part 1 of your cruise review.

Enjoying part 3 of the review of your cruise.

We board Saturday so always interested to hear others' perspectives.

We did not mind that the nightly shows in the Princess Theater had been reduced to 33 minutes (so they could schedule 3 shows each night). Not only did that allow more people to enjoy the shows, it allowed us more time each evening to try out several entertainment venues.

The night we saw the commedian, however, he went on for about 45 minutes. He was hilarious!

Stateroom location on the ship seems to make a difference on the open seas. On a past cruise we were forward up on Lido Deck 15 and could feel the rocking motion more than this time on Riviera Deck 14 located more mid-ship.

This was the first time we arrived the day before the cruise, but we will definitely do that every time from now on. It was a much more relaxing way to begin our cruise vacation.

Would love to read your review, but do you always use such small type? I feel like I need a magnifier:(

Thanks for your great review. Even though we have been to Aruba and Curacao, we are thinking about doing this cruise in 2014. We enjoyed them before and wouldn't mind going again. It's between this one and the Eastern. We have time to decide, however.

I really enjoyed your review, My wife and I have never been brave enough to fly into port the same day we board the ship, glad to hear it has worked out for you in the past. We will be on this same route at the end of March so hopefully flying out of Minneapolis at that time the weather will not be an issue. This will be our second time on the Caribbean Princess and our second Southern Caribbean cruise but our first time in Curacao. We plan on doing a lot of snorkeling and soaking up the sun.:cool:

Likely the airport cab fee was $24- total. As that is the standard rate from the cruise pier to miami airport.

Likely the airport cab fee was $24- total. As that is the standard rate from the cruise pier to miami airport.

No, from Port Everglades to FLL is only $14 for a taxi, not $24. The airport is much closer to the port than it is in Miami. You can see the runway while still on the ship, docked.

Would love to read your review, but do you always use such small type? I feel like I need a magnifier:(

Hold down the Ctrl key and hit the plus sign key to enlarge the type. Ctrl and the minus key will make it smaller again. :)

LouAnn

Do you get to go to your cabin right away?

Also, who is sonny Binns. Is this an island private tour?

Thanks for the review. It is good to find one that isn't finding and listing all of the negatives. We, my DW and I, are booked on a 4 day sampler cruise next November when the CB repositions to Houston for the fall western Caribbean cruising. It will be the first time on a ship her size.

We have found that the balcony is the only way to cruise. Gives you a private space to just relax away from the crowds. We also always fly in the day before the sail-away day just to make sure that we have not flight problems and it gives us a nice rest before the embarkation evolution.

She will be the fifth Princess ship we have cruised on. We will be on the Island this spring for an Alaskan cruise-tour which will be our fourth on the Island. We like that ship.

 

Do you get to go to your cabin right away? On Princess when boarding begins all cabins are available.

 

Also, who is sonny Binns. Is this an island private tour? He is a private tour guide on the island.

see above in red

LouAnn

 

Do you get to go to your cabin right away?

 

Also, who is sonny Binns. Is this an island private tour?

We arrived about 1pm for that same cruise and our stateroom was ready. I have to give kudos to Princess, for the other 2 (once on the Emerald for a Baltic cruise and once on the Crown for a Carribbean Cruise) I have taken the stateroom was always ready when coming on about 1. Another positive of this is it frees up space at the buffet :D. Some other cruise companies I had to wait as long 4pm.

Hello Kerry&LuAnn!

We were on the Dec 15-22 sailing with you and also took the tour with Sonny. Thanks for such a thorough review.

Vacationers: My husband and I thought that Sonny did a wonderful job with the tour. It was our first time to Aruba, and we got a good feel for the different parts of the island.

Holly