Will we like the Star Princess Halloween cruise

[trish1c]

Hello all -- this is my 1st post on "your" board. My female friend & I are thinking about the Halloween cruise on the Star to the Western Carribean & I'd like some more info about her & the line in general.

We're 30 something, single, fun-loving, professional women. We've both cruised RCI & enjoyed it. I have cruised NCL & loved freestyle dining. If we take this trip we'll be booking with a group and so will chose the dining option recomended by the group organizer. An explanation of PC dining would be welcome though.

Any insights you could offer on the following subjects would be greatly appreciated:

1. basic OV cabin size & bathroom / shower size

2. dress code -- We love to dress but does formal mean floor length gown or just sparkley / better than Sunday best?

3. nightlife -- do people go to the bars/ disco / casino or does everyone go to be before midnight?

4. quality of shows -- are there magicians / comedians etc. or just musicals & dance troups

5. on board activities -- will we miss the rock wall, ice skating etc.? We don't play bingo or care about the art auction. Are there classes / lectures? Is there a wine tasting?

6. CD's -- neither of us are fond of the crazy / wacky CDs who insist that everyone must play whatever game they are organzining at that moment; we both hated Quest & karaoke; on sea days we like to sit by the pool & not be bombarded by repeated announcments

7. general flavor of the ship / staff; what you liked, what could be improved; any secrets etc.

Thanks in advance.

[gambit57]

My experience isn't very current so I don't think it'll be all that helpful. But, I'm prolly going to be on the same cruise as you. I wonder if they do Halloween related stuff or decorations?

[CariBlue]

The Star has everything you requested. You will have a blast. People go all out for Formal Night and is it ever a great time. Put on your sparkly best and strappy heels!

 

They do have a Halloween party. Go Adult Trick Or Treating: Get your shotglass and go knock on all the doors (or bars!) and get your treat!

[tbag124]

Adult trick or treating w/ a shot glass?! Now that sounds like a fun Halloween!! Now I'm jealous!!! ;)

[trish1c]

Are you serious? People go from cabin to cabin? What happens if you don't have a "treat" for anyone who knocks on your door?

[UKLady]

I just come back off the Star princess and formal night was a huge mix of dresses.

 

I personally went all out and wore a full length ball gown as did some other passengers, others had sparkles, some black (long and short) dresses, and some just didnt bother at all.

 

I'd say go with whatever your comforable with.

[trish1c]

But, I'm prolly going to be on the same cruise as you.

 

Have you booked yet? We're still trying to make up our minds.

[CariBlue]

Are you serious? People go from cabin to cabin? What happens if you don't have a "treat" for anyone who knocks on your door?

 

We've never been on a cruise during H'ween. We do this type of trick or treating at home, and I really think you should be the one to start the tradition on Princess. And if the door you knock on doesn't have any booze, then try another door (or better yet a flirtatious bartender). Hopefully H'ween will fall on a day after you've been to St. Thomas, cuz that's where everyone stocks up. (Although I found it to be cheaper in San Juan.) Have a blast! What is your costume going to be? How about a naughty girl scout?;)

[gambit57]

Have you booked yet? We're still trying to make up our minds.

 

I've booked. I'm in one of the balconies on Aloha deck apparently. Not sure if that's set in stone. Should prolly ask my TA. I've been preoccupied trying to find a flight as I'm coming from the West Coast and my wedding reception is the night before departure.

[trish1c]

I really think you should be the one to start the tradition on Princess.

What is your costume going to be? How about a naughty girl scout?;)

 

Cari-- As a newbie to Princess (maybe), I'm not going to "rockin' the boat" figuratively or literally. :D

 

Exactly what does a naugty girl scout look like? Although if I could find my old uniform, I'm sure it would be obscenely short & tight. :p

 

my wedding reception is the night before departure.

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Good luck finding a flight that works with your schedule.

[OrangeAndBlue]

C'mon and join the party trish. I am pretty sure I know the group that you are booked with and they are several of us already in this group.

 

The basic OV cabin size & bathroom / shower size is pretty much the same as what you would find on any other cruise line. The cabins are running 168 square feet.

 

Dress code could be better than Sunday best, easily. I don't really see too many people going all out, although you are more than welcome to.

 

I plan on going to the bars/ disco / casino every night and staying out late. I am pretty sure others in our group will. And I am sure they will be several hundred of us.

 

The shows on Princess are varied. The one thing I have noticed about Princess is that you have several shows every night and have trouble seeing everything, where as with other cruise lines you usually have only one show lounge. Check out the following link for Patters from the Caribbean Princess for some ideas of entertainment:

 

http://www.cruisingthecaribbeanprincess.com/pattersA.html

 

There are classes / lectures, but these are usually fee-based? Same with the wine tastings, if they are offered onboard?

 

With CDs, I have never really paid that much attention to them. They have never really made that much of an impact on my cruise or my enjoyment of it. I have never really noticed any annoying over the intercom annoucements repeated throughout the day, although they do it maybe 2 or 3 times.

 

Princess is my favorite cruise line so I am a little biased. One of the best features about Princess is the freshwater pools and hot tubs. This cannot be beat as I am not fond of saltwater.

 

Hopefully I haven't answered your questions. If not, please let me know and I will elaborate more. I cannot comment on that specific ship as I have not sailed her yet :(.

 

Paul

[trish1c]

C'mon and join the party trish. I am pretty sure I know the group that you are booked with and they are several of us already in this group. Paul

 

Hi Paul. I'm almost positive you know the group I'm thinking of booking with. ;) I am a little nervous because the better business bureau panned them & that isn't comforting.

 

I'm still not the one who has to be convinced. I really want to go on a cruise / vacation. My friend is not yet convinced & I'm not adventurous enough to go solo, even with that group.

 

That's odd that the lectures are fee based. They are free on NCL. On my last cruise I met the lecturer, well actually his wife, then him on these boards before sailing.

 

I assumed the wine tasting would have a fee. I wasn't expecting free alcohol, just an education. I assume that the wine list shown on the Princess site as the "gift" list is the same as the dining rooms. Is that correct? I hope most of the selections are young b/c the motion of the ship should make them drinkable. :)

 

So are you going to particpate in a costume contest?

[OrangeAndBlue]

trish - You are correct. I hadn't looked at BBB for this company and they do have an Unsatisfactory record them. However, that being said - seeing all the frilivolous complaints, threatened lawsuits, etc. against cruise lines and TAs, I tend to look at the BBB report with a grain of salt. Looks like the company resolved all but a couple of complaints that were filed. Also, the part of the company that does the singles cruises is its own separate part of the company and just started this year. I think everything will be alright. However, as I stated before, I will be on one of their cruises on 5/21/05 and I will do a thorough reviw and let you know how I feel about it. Convince your friend to go - if she doesn't, please room with someone else and join us :).

 

Misunderstood what you meant about lecturers. I thought you were referring to things like Art Classes, Digitial Photo Classes, etc. I am not sure if Princess will have lecturers onboard during the Caribbean cruise or not - I will find out next month when I go.

 

Also with the wine tasting I will find out. We had a great one onboard the QM2 last year. Well worth every penny! As for the wine list, it is a little more extensive than what is on the "gift" list. It's so funny that you mention the motion of the ship. Not too many even think of that one. ;) If you do want a "better" bottle, you may want to bring one or two with you and pay the corkage fee. The wines that are onboard are decent and passable for dinner consumption. I really love rieslings, so I am going to see if they offer these on the list.

 

I will participate in the costume contest, but as for what I am going to be, I am stumped. The costumes that I see online and in the store aren't that good. I wan't something unique.

 

Paul

[Dreamer333]

trish - You are correct. I hadn't looked at BBB for this company and they do have an Unsatisfactory record them.

 

Now I'm curious... give us some hints about what company this is!! :D

[OrangeAndBlue]

Well, they are one of the two biggest agencies that do singles cruises. Most people refer to them with three letters. And they rhyme with Sensations You Know :)...

 

Paul

[CariBlue]

That's odd that the lectures are fee based. They are free on NCL. On my last cruise I met the lecturer, well actually his wife, then him on these boards before sailing.

 

I assumed the wine tasting would have a fee.

 

Trish,

Don't assume that anything will be free on Princess. They should change their name to Prices, because everything on board has a price!;)

[trish1c]

Trish,

Don't assume that anything will be free on Princess. They should change their name to Prices, because everything on board has a price!;)

 

CariBlue --

 

And that makes them different from every other mass market line, how? :rolleyes: