New Info on Crown Princess Food

[cws]

Today I saw the 2006 Princess cruise answer book. In the dining section, where they list all of the food options for each ship, there are several mentions of the new Crown Princess. It's not much info, but here's what I saw in the guide:

1. The Crown Grill will have a $30 charge

2. The International Cafe in the Piazza is open 24 hours, and some/all of the food will have a charge

3. The Wine & Seafood Bar in the Piazza, also with some items for a charge, will be open 11:30a-2p and 5p-10p

An interesting note is that the pizzeria is open from 11a-5p and 6:30p-12m like on the CB. But the burgers and hot dog grill is only open from 11a-5p (on the CB it is also open 6:30p-12m). Perhaps this was a typo.

[Laurab23]

I'm grateful for any info we get on the Crown.Thanks!

Laura

[Coral]

I am interested in the International Cafe... Hopefully it won't have too many items that they are charging for.

[TorontoTL]

I guess it was too much to hope that those places in the new Piazza would not charge for food items.

[firstcruise05]

Is this very different from the other ships in the same class?

[Tak8]

Thanks for the info. I'm a little surprised the Wine and seafood bar isn't open later at night. It seems like that would do a decent business after the last show.

[cws]

Originally Posted by firstcruise05

Is this very different from the other ships in the same class?

Although it's another Grand-class ship, the all-new Crown will have some fairly significant differences from its sister ships. You can read about most of them in this Princess press release:


9/13/2005
Crown Princess to Serve Up a Feast of New Culinary Options
Sidewalk-style Cafés, Steak and Seafood Grill Just Some of New Choices to Debut Next Summer

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (September 13, 2005) - Whether savoring a seafood appetizer paired with a glass of wine in the sidewalk café-style atrium, taking in the expansive top-deck views during an Italian extravaganza in Sabatini's, or gazing at the open kitchen as a chef custom-grills their steak, passengers aboard the new Crown Princess will have the opportunity to sample a variety of innovative culinary offerings when the ship debuts next summer.

Princess has long been known for its array of alternative dining opportunities, and Crown Princess will take the line's Anytime Dining concept to new levels with the addition of new casual and specialty dining venues.
A brand new feature aboard Crown Princess is the piazza-style atrium, designed to be the bustling hub of the ship with a street café atmosphere. With Italian-inspired décor, this charming street café environment will be an inviting venue throughout the day for those passengers seeking a more casual dining option. The International Café will feature a rotating menu based on time of day. The Vines wine and seafood bar will cater to passengers with a craving for light fare, such as ceviche, escabèche, shrimp and oysters, with the perfect accompanying glass of wine.
Additionally, Princess' hallmark Sabatini's has been expanded, and relocated to the scenic aft end of the ship, providing diners with a multi-course Italian dining extravaganza and a view. The line's popular Sterling Steakhouse has evolved into the Crown Grill, a steak and seafood house with a theater-style performance kitchen.
"This ship will truly offer anytime, anywhere dining, raising the culinary options for our passengers to new levels," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "And in all three of the new dining venues -- International Cafe, Vines wine and seafood bar, and the Crown Grill -- passengers will be able to watch artisan chefs and pastry chefs prepare the various delicacies, underscoring Princess' commitment to using the freshest products available and to individual attention to our passengers."
Crown Princess' new culinary options will include:
International Café (Atrium, Deck 5) - Serving up rotating themes throughout the day, the International Café is the place for an ever-changing array of snacks. Passengers might find freshly baked croissants or beignets in the morning, crêpes or bonbons in the afternoon, and chocolate fondue or desserts in the evening. It will also be the perfect spot for pre-dinner tapas or after-dinner petit fours.
Vines (Atrium, Deck 5) - A wine and seafood bar will tempt passengers in the evening with an assortment of fine wines by the glass as well as chilled seafood "cocktails" - appetizers including salmon, caviar, sushi, gravlax or other treats from the sea. The venue will also host an extensive menu of wines and food tastings paired for a completely different experience.
Internet Café (Atrium, Deck 5) - Table service from both the International Café and Vines will be available in the Internet Café, for those passengers who like to snack and surf the Net at the same time.
Crown Grill (Deck 7) - An evolution from previous ships' Sterling Steakhouse concept, the ship's Crown Grill will feature a brand new menu offering seafood as well as traditional steakhouse fare. This showplace eatery will entertain passengers with an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare steamed shellfish-- such as lobster, scallops, clams and mussels -- and cooked-to-order steaks and chops. Passengers can choose to sit at the kitchen's eat-up counter and watch the show as they dine. Larger than the previous steakhouse venues, this 160-seat restaurant will feature rich décor, leather appointments, wine display cabinets and the privacy of booths as well as tables and counter seating.
Sabatini's (Deck 16) - Princess' famed Sabatini's Italian trattoria moves to a new top deck location aboard Crown Princess to offer fine dining with a view. The expanded space will allow more room for diners to enjoy this intimate, eight-course Italian extravaganza. The stunning new venue offers views on three sides with dramatic vistas overlooking the wake of the ship. The new adjacent Adagio Lounge offers a cozy venue for Sabatini diners to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and relaxing piano music while taking in the breathtaking views.
Crown Princess will also offer Princess' many dining options that passengers have come love on other Princess vessels. The 24-hour Horizon Court serves up round-the-clock buffet fare, while the adjacent Café Caribe will offer unique Caribbean specialties in a deluxe buffet setting, with a focus on a different island or region each night plus seafood extravaganzas on formal evenings. Princess continues to be the only line offering a choice in the ships' main dining rooms between Traditional seating and the restaurant-style Anytime Dining, and Crown Princess' three dining rooms will again offer this seating option. Passengers can also enjoy poolside treats with a hamburger and hot dog grill, pizzeria and ice cream shop. And Crown Princess will serve Princess' trademark traditional afternoon tea.
The 113,000-ton Crown Princess is scheduled to debut in June 2006 and will sail round-trip from New York on a series of nine-day Caribbean and Bermuda voyages. In fall, the ship moves to San Juan for a season of Southern Caribbean cruises. Additional information about Crown Princess' first season of cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting www.princess.com.

[CaroleLee]

Originally Posted by cws

Although it's another Grand-class ship, the all-new Crown will have some fairly significant differences from its sister ships. You can read about most of them in this Princess press release:


9/13/2005
Crown Princess to Serve Up a Feast of New Culinary Options
Sidewalk-style Cafés, Steak and Seafood Grill Just Some of New Choices to Debut Next Summer

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (September 13, 2005) - Whether savoring a seafood appetizer paired with a glass of wine in the sidewalk café-style atrium, taking in the expansive top-deck views during an Italian extravaganza in Sabatini's, or gazing at the open kitchen as a chef custom-grills their steak, passengers aboard the new Crown Princess will have the opportunity to sample a variety of innovative culinary offerings when the ship debuts next summer.

Princess has long been known for its array of alternative dining opportunities, and Crown Princess will take the line's Anytime Dining concept to new levels with the addition of new casual and specialty dining venues.
A brand new feature aboard Crown Princess is the piazza-style atrium, designed to be the bustling hub of the ship with a street café atmosphere. With Italian-inspired décor, this charming street café environment will be an inviting venue throughout the day for those passengers seeking a more casual dining option. The International Café will feature a rotating menu based on time of day. The Vines wine and seafood bar will cater to passengers with a craving for light fare, such as ceviche, escabèche, shrimp and oysters, with the perfect accompanying glass of wine.
Additionally, Princess' hallmark Sabatini's has been expanded, and relocated to the scenic aft end of the ship, providing diners with a multi-course Italian dining extravaganza and a view. The line's popular Sterling Steakhouse has evolved into the Crown Grill, a steak and seafood house with a theater-style performance kitchen.
"This ship will truly offer anytime, anywhere dining, raising the culinary options for our passengers to new levels," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "And in all three of the new dining venues -- International Cafe, Vines wine and seafood bar, and the Crown Grill -- passengers will be able to watch artisan chefs and pastry chefs prepare the various delicacies, underscoring Princess' commitment to using the freshest products available and to individual attention to our passengers."
Crown Princess' new culinary options will include:
International Café (Atrium, Deck 5) - Serving up rotating themes throughout the day, the International Café is the place for an ever-changing array of snacks. Passengers might find freshly baked croissants or beignets in the morning, crêpes or bonbons in the afternoon, and chocolate fondue or desserts in the evening. It will also be the perfect spot for pre-dinner tapas or after-dinner petit fours.
Vines (Atrium, Deck 5) - A wine and seafood bar will tempt passengers in the evening with an assortment of fine wines by the glass as well as chilled seafood "cocktails" - appetizers including salmon, caviar, sushi, gravlax or other treats from the sea. The venue will also host an extensive menu of wines and food tastings paired for a completely different experience.
Internet Café (Atrium, Deck 5) - Table service from both the International Café and Vines will be available in the Internet Café, for those passengers who like to snack and surf the Net at the same time.
Crown Grill (Deck 7) - An evolution from previous ships' Sterling Steakhouse concept, the ship's Crown Grill will feature a brand new menu offering seafood as well as traditional steakhouse fare. This showplace eatery will entertain passengers with an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare steamed shellfish-- such as lobster, scallops, clams and mussels -- and cooked-to-order steaks and chops. Passengers can choose to sit at the kitchen's eat-up counter and watch the show as they dine. Larger than the previous steakhouse venues, this 160-seat restaurant will feature rich décor, leather appointments, wine display cabinets and the privacy of booths as well as tables and counter seating.
Sabatini's (Deck 16) - Princess' famed Sabatini's Italian trattoria moves to a new top deck location aboard Crown Princess to offer fine dining with a view. The expanded space will allow more room for diners to enjoy this intimate, eight-course Italian extravaganza. The stunning new venue offers views on three sides with dramatic vistas overlooking the wake of the ship. The new adjacent Adagio Lounge offers a cozy venue for Sabatini diners to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and relaxing piano music while taking in the breathtaking views.
Crown Princess will also offer Princess' many dining options that passengers have come love on other Princess vessels. The 24-hour Horizon Court serves up round-the-clock buffet fare, while the adjacent Café Caribe will offer unique Caribbean specialties in a deluxe buffet setting, with a focus on a different island or region each night plus seafood extravaganzas on formal evenings. Princess continues to be the only line offering a choice in the ships' main dining rooms between Traditional seating and the restaurant-style Anytime Dining, and Crown Princess' three dining rooms will again offer this seating option. Passengers can also enjoy poolside treats with a hamburger and hot dog grill, pizzeria and ice cream shop. And Crown Princess will serve Princess' trademark traditional afternoon tea.
The 113,000-ton Crown Princess is scheduled to debut in June 2006 and will sail round-trip from New York on a series of nine-day Caribbean and Bermuda voyages. In fall, the ship moves to San Juan for a season of Southern Caribbean cruises. Additional information about Crown Princess' first season of cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting www.princess.com.

Thanks for the info- does anyone know if dinner reservations can be made prior to boarding? Anyone on Crown 7-11 sailing?

[Brad1185]

This is extremely disappointing info. I want meals included and not at an extra charge.

[naragonl]

Originally Posted by CaroleLee

Thanks for the info- does anyone know if dinner reservations can be made prior to boarding? Anyone on Crown 7-11 sailing?

Yes, Please come join our Roll Call for the Crown on 7-11-2006.
It's been slow but appears to be picking up a bit.
I'm pretty sure this Food News might stimulate some conversation...
at least it's stimulated my stomach growling!

[cjskids]

Thanks for the info as well. Makes me glad that I changed my cruise on Royal Caribbean southern caribbean in Sept and waited for the 11/4 sailing on the Crown.

[firstcruise05]

So these new eateries with charges are brand new for the grand class ship....not current eateries that are free on other Princess Grand ships?

For instance. On RCCL they have Johnny Rockets which was free on the first 2 or 3 Voyager class ships....they started charging $4 a person to eat there on the latest Voyager class ships, but it was still free on the older ships.

So, in other words the The Crown Grill, The International Cafe in the Piazza and the Wine & Seafood Bar in the Piazza are all new eateries...not on current Grand Class ships?

[melissa_bel]

From I understand, the Grill is an extension of the "Stirling Steakhouse" concept but the Cafe and the Wine and Seafood Bar are new. What's new too is the pub fare available in the Wheelhouse and I think it will be free of charge.

I'm actually quite lookign forward to the Crown as it is going to be different from the other Grand Class.