Questions about Princess Lines

[PollyNJ]

We have never been on a Princess Cruise, but the truth is I just love to cruise. I have specific questions. I have a group of about 20 that cruise together every May and or June. We have gone on Carnival the last 3 years but I would like to try Princess since they will have a sailing out of NY/Nj next year. Here are my questions.

1. What room in comparable to a CAT 11 on Carnival?

2. Do they offer assigned times for dinner for those who like this?

3. What are the casino's like? Are they as big as on Carnival? Do they have nickel machines? I have some REAL casino lovers and they like the OPC on Carnival.

4. What is there policy about bringing liquor on board. I am confused with the posts I read. I have a couple who drink quite a bit especially beer.

5. Are there many children on board in May or June. We are a older group ranging from 55-65, and try to sail when there are less children on board.

6. Is it true the pools are freshwater? Hope so

7. How is the spa?

 

I really want to try Princess but need the answers to the above in order to convince the others. They feel if it isn't broken why fix it.

[Cruisin' Chick]

1. What room in comparable to a CAT 11 on Carnival?

2. Do they offer assigned times for dinner for those who like this?

3. What are the casino's like? Are they as big as on Carnival? Do they have nickel machines? I have some REAL casino lovers and they like the OPC on Carnival.

4. What is there policy about bringing liquor on board. I am confused with the posts I read. I have a couple who drink quite a bit especially beer.

5. Are there many children on board in May or June. We are a older group ranging from 55-65, and try to sail when there are less children on board.

6. Is it true the pools are freshwater? Hope so

7. How is the spa?

 

Last time we cruised Carnival was in 2002 but I'll try to answer what I can:

2. You can specify "traditional" first or late seating (same table and dining room for each dinner just like on Carnival). From what I've read, there tends to be a waiting list for these so you may want to book early if this is important. Else you will be assigned to Personal Choice and then you should read the threads on what this entails.

3. I know there's slots but we usually don't go into the casino.

4. You can bring water, wine and soft drinks on board if you want to schlep it. People have smuggled in booze in their suitcases. There is a soda card for Cokes.

5. The start of summer vacation for kids vary from school district to school district. Some schools get out in May, some in June. The Los Angeles USD goes thru 6/24 which is probably the latest. There's also homeschooled kids and kids in year round schools too. But if you want to avoid a lot of kids, try early May, post-Labor Day, Jan.-Feb., and the longer routes (Tahiti, Europe). Just like with Carnival.

6. Freshwater. Some ships even have a covered pool (retractable roof) so if the weather is cool, you can still swim (good for Mexican Riviera, Alaska).

7. Only been to a ship spa once so I don't know how to compare it or judge it. For me, it was kinda weird: I later told my hubby, who had wanted to treat me, that I needed "Spas for Dummies."

[cruisingbug]

1. Don't know

2. As previous poster said

3. The casino on Island Princess seemed bigger than the one on Carnival Inspiration. Definitely nickel slots, as I played them on Island. Nickel slots took nickels, quarter slots took tokens available from cashier.

4. Princess is pretty liberal in its alcohol policy - wine enough for personal consumption is allowed onboard, and people seem to have no trouble bringing along a reasonable amount of beer, as well. Bottles of hard liquor are available for "in stateroom consumption" at reasonable prices from room service.

5 & 6. As previous poster said

7. Didn't use the spa on either Princess cruise - prices seemed a bit high compared to past cruises (possible that prices are up across the board)

[spongerob]

If you are looking at Crown Princess, I think you'll find that the minisuites (Categories AA-AE) will do quite nicely.

[Toto2Kansas]

I had some friends that were total Carnivalites. They tried Princess and ended up upgraded to a PS suite. They said they were thrilled as they normally book the category 11 or 12's on Carnival and between the layout and size of the room and the perks associated with the suite they said Princess won hands down over their suites on Carnival. But they said there was a huge price difference between a suite on Carnival and a suite on Princess. Princess was much higher and they just could not get used to paying that kind of price after years of sailing on Carnival ships. I guess you get what you pay for. So be prepared if you look into a full suite on Princess, the prices will not be anywhere near what Carnival is charging, they will be much higher, but worth every penny.

[madelinerose]

Polly...If you're think of cruising on the Crown, the inaugural sailing is a Western itinerary on June 14. You won't be able to cruise her in May.

 

I would assume there will be many children/families in June since school will be out. We've booked for September 3. There are some roll calls already on the roll call boards and from what I've read, the Crown is filling up fast for all sailings.

 

Good luck with your decision. ;)

[PollyNJ]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds perfect to me. I know that the pricing on Princess is higher. We always get a pretty good group rate from Carnival. I am going to call and find out if I can get a half way decent rate from Princess. I'll let you know. Thanks once again

[Pam in CA]

Just a couple of thoughts: if you book the inaugural or 2nd cruise, be prepared in case the ship is not delivered on time. That happened to us on the Coral. :(

 

Also note that except for holiday periods, Princess limits the number of children onboard so you won't find as many kids as on Carnival or RCCL.

 

In the Northeast, schools don't get out until quite late in June, and even later if there are snow days. My daughter's school (she's a teacher) in NH doesn't get out until June 24th this year and they didn't have as many snow days as around the Boston area. You're sailing from NYC so check out the school summer vacation time in the NY/NJ/CT/MA area. Chances are that if you sail the 2nd or 3rd week of June, there won't be many kids as they'll still be in school.