Caribbean Princess 4/3/04

minooka · April 11, 2004

First, let me say that this was our 7th Princess cruise, we love the Princess product and will sail with them again...just not on this ship.

Embarkation was a breeze at check in - Princess really has this down pat. However, when we took the escalator to the upper floor to board, we came to a complete halt. They have two boarding gangways, one for fore and one for aft cabins. They only had one card reader at the doorway of each gangway, which created a huge bottleneck. It took us app. 5 minutes to get checked in and almost 40 min. to board the ship. At one point, people coming up the escalator had to turn around and go back down, as there was no place for them to stand, literally no floor space. This could be improved enormously with 2 card readers at each gangway and, hopefully, this will happen soon.

I really did not feel there was any more crowding on this ship than any of the other Grand Class ships, with the exception of the dinning rooms, which I will address later. The pool areas were busy on sea days but that is always the case. There seemed to be more than enough lounge chairs to go around for everyone and the only shortage I noticed was bar attendants, of all things! There really didnâ€™t seem to be enough of them to cover the area and you were better off just going to the bar and getting your own drink.

The Movies Under the Stars seemed to be a big hit and looked liked fun. The lounge chairs are arranged in a semi-circle fashion facing the screen, blankets are left folded at the foot of each chair and stewards come around handing out small bags of popcorn. You must get tickets for this event, which is held twice nightly at 7:30 and 10:30, by calling the Concierge number. The same movie is shown throughout the week (Something's Gotta Give) along with a child's film one evening (Finding Nemo) and some video concerts that do not require reservations (first and last nights). They do ask that you vacate the Calypso Pool area at 5:30pm so they can set this up. It is quite loud when the film is running and being on the upper decks is not much of an option.

The 2 PC dinning rooms were complete chaos the first 3 nights! We got to the Coral dinning room quite early on the first night (app. 6:20) and were able to get a table for 2 with a little cajoling. There are NO TABLES FOR TWO in either dinning room. They will seat you at a table for 4 and remove two of the place settings. The second night we got to the dinning room at 6:45 and were told we could not get a table until 9:30! They were really encouraging everyone to make a standing reservation which, to my mind defeats the whole purpose of Anytime Dinning. We were also told that it is all â€œshared dinningâ€ but that is not the case if you stand your ground and insist on a table for 2. DH is a diabetic so eating at 9:30 was not an option. We went up to the Horizon Court, always a happy alternative for us, and found out it was CLOSED! The only option left was the Cafe Caribe dinner buffet so we went there. It was the worst food I have ever seen on any buffet anywhere. Most things were unrecognizable and even after I read the sign telling me what it was, I still didnâ€™t have a clue. Beans and rice I knew - I donâ€™t like them but at least I recognized them - and I finally found some grilled shrimp and salad greens. DH, who never met a plate of food he didnâ€™t like, took one bite of his zucchini dish and made a dive for the water glass - too spicy even for him and this man puts Tabasco sauce on eggs! The Horizon Court was closed every day at 5:30 and didnâ€™t open again till breakfast at 6:00am the next morning. I feel this is a big mistake as there are app. 500 more people on this ship but the dinning rooms are no bigger than any other Grand Class ship. Where do they expect these people to go? The 3rd night the computers went down and all the reservations were unavailable! This was formal night and at this point I actually felt sorry for the headwaiters trying to soothe everyone and all they could do was seat on a first come, first served basis. They did not seem to have a good grasp of the computer program and spent a lot of time staring at the screen while more and more people backed up in line. Iâ€™m sure that will improve as time goes on. We finally ended up getting a standing reservation for 8:00pm and at least had a place to eat for the rest of the week, with a little juggling of schedule to accommodate the diabetes. The food was very good to excellent in the dinning room and their â€œalways availableâ€ menu blows away every one else's - do not hesitate to order the sirloin steak, it was tender, tasty and cooked to order perfectly.

My last complaint is with the casino. Only those who play video poker will understand completely but I will try and explain so it at least makes some sense. When you play a quarter machine, you put in 5 quarters in order to get the jackpot / the Royal Flush, which pays 4000 credits or $1000. This is consistent no matter where you play, Las Vegas, Reno, Biloxi, Atlantic City or any gaming establishment. When you play some â€œbonusâ€ video poker machines you give up some of the smaller payouts (example: only getting 5 credits instead of 10 for two pair) in order to get extra credits for higher paying hands (example: 4000 credits for 4 Aces with a 2,3 or 4). In this casino you were forced to play 10 quarters (in effect you are playing halves) in order to get a true jackpot payout. If you only played 5 quarters, your Royal Flush paid $526.50 and three of a kind only paid 10 credits not the usual 15. To me, this is a cheap and petty way to generate income and the majority of the passengers will never know they are being cheated. The odds are always with the house and this is such an unnecessary ploy - the casino will always make more, much more, than it ever pays out even if it runs an honest game. I know there are those of you who will say â€œjust stay out of the casinoâ€ but it is a form of entertainment I enjoy and it is not this way on any of the other Princess ships, just Caribbean Princess.

Disembarkation was the usual, early flights off first and then colors called by deck. Disembarkation began a little before 8:30am and seemed to go as smoothly as any other ship. I will be glad to answer questions, if I can....happy cruising, Carol

16 cruises and still counting...

CruiseFever · April 11, 2004

Any way your could write off the problems you experienced as typical shake-down cruise stuff?

Did the dining experience improve toward the end of the week or was it just as unorganized at the end as it was in the beginning?

What you describe sound, to me, like opening night jitters...yes? no?

Thanks so much for the detailed account

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Carnival Victory 12/19/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

nick1234 · April 11, 2004

If the Horizon Buffet was closed at night what are your options on formal nights??? We are not going formal and planned on the buffet. The more I read about this boat the more I am not looking forward to going!

Ali

minooka · April 11, 2004

Hi Cruising - yes, I think most of the problems will be worked out but I have my doubts about the dinning situation. Though it did improve toward the end of the cruise it seemed to be because most people opted for making a reservation in the PC dinning room rather than hassle for a table "anytime". It would be interesting to know what the capacity of each dinning room is and be able to do the math to see if the 500 extra people really affect the situation.

Nick, your only options if you don't go to the dinning room are the specialty restaurants, Sterling Steak House or Sabatinis at an extra charge, or the Cafe Carobe. Perhaps others will have a more favorable review of the Cafe Caribe. There were 3100 people on board and I only spoke with 3 of them. We all hated the Cafe (including spouses) but there were 3092 people I never talked to! We have always enjoyed the Horizon Court so much that it was a great disappointment to have it closed for dinner.

Happy cruising...Carol

16 cruises and still counting...

S.S.Oceanlover · April 11, 2004

So if you don't fill up at dinner there is nothing else to eat all night? I thought the Horizon Court was always open. This sure doesn't sound good.

Bill

Caribbean Princess Eastern Caribbean cruise page

robbie2201 · April 11, 2004

????if the horizon court is closed at night why do they advertise that it is open 24hrs????, I am seariously thinking of cancelling my booking

Senation-98

Spirit-02

Legend-03

Legend-04

minooka · April 11, 2004

Hi All - though the Horizon Court is closed at 5:30, the Cafe Caribe offers something described at "Bistro" from 11:00pm to 4:00am but I was never up there then and have no idea what is offered. They also have breakfast pastries and beverages from 4:00am to 6:00am, at which time the Horizon open for full breakfast. Dinner in the Cafe Caribe does run from 5:30pm to 11:00pm so there is definitely 24 hour dining. Also, the Coral Dining Room has open seating breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30, open seating lunch from noon to 2:00pm and tea from 3:30 to 4:30 on all days, sea or port. Hope this helps...Carol

16 cruises and still counting...

CruiseFever · April 11, 2004

This issue concerns me but I am getting it straight in my head on another thread. I see the Cafe Caribe now on your deck plans Bill, just aft of the Horizon Court. It appears that the Horizon court is NOT open at night at all. I wonder if that was just on that sailing? Seems odd to leave it sit there all night closed.

Not sure yet what the hours of the Caribe Cafe are but if its not open all night that leaves a very busy room service I'd imagine.

I will say that I did go to the Horizon Court at 2 or 3AM a few times and found a very limited offering and few passengers so maybe thats why they threw in the towel?

I am getting close to understanding this, I really do think I am

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Carnival Victory 12/19/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

sue d. miller · April 11, 2004

Did they still have Island nite on the aft deck?

Sue

7 days on Star Princess 10/24

CruiseFever · April 11, 2004

Thanks Carol, by jove I think I have it!

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Carnival Victory 12/19/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

cruzenmama · April 11, 2004

You answered all the questions I had! Thanks

Jeanne-Marie

Caribbean Princess 10/16/2004

Triumph 4/26/2003

Triumph 4/13/2002

Sensation 96-01

Destiny 97

Costa Victoria 99

Horizon 95

Noordam 89

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SF · April 12, 2004

I've read that the Cafe Caribe is mainly spicy food which my family won't eat, is this true? If so then it doesn't sound like there's much choice if they want a snack or dessert in the evening after dinner. I think they made a mistake not keeping the Horizon court open until atleast midnight. Not everyone likes spicy food.

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Navigator of the Seas 7/17/2004

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Jewel of the Seas 12/26/2004

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Caribbean Princess 2/26/2005

ahracer · April 12, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SF:

I've read that the Cafe Caribe is mainly spicy food which my family won't eat, is this true? If so then it doesn't sound like there's much choice if they want a snack or dessert in the evening after dinner. I think they made a mistake not keeping the Horizon court open until atleast midnight. Not everyone likes spicy food.

I don't see why you still couldn't have dessert. I'm not aware of many spicy desserts.

Also i'd find it hard to believe that there wouldn't be a few non spicy items you could find to snack on.

Scott

minooka · April 12, 2004

Hi All - this might help! The Trident Grill (hamburgers, etc.)and the Prego Pizzeria is open from 11:00am to 8:00pm and Scoops (ice cream) is open from 11:00am t0 5:30pm and again from 7:30pm to 10:30pm so snacks are available till 10:30pm if you like ice cream. The desserts in the Cafe Caribe were very limited the night we were there - some kind of cake and a couple of little things, nothing like what you find on the buffet. Happy cruising...Carol

16 cruises and still counting...

SF · April 12, 2004

We like to get a snack around midnight or 1am. Is anything besides Cafe Caribe open?

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Seayalater · April 12, 2004

we're waitlisted for the late traditional dining June 26.

Did you speak to anyone who dined there and how it went.

Also, if the outdoor movies are shown at 7:15, who is going at that time? seems early for movie showing.

Maria

Century 2000

Millenium 2002

Caribbean Princess 2004

minnjudy · April 12, 2004

Is Scoops free? or is there a charge?

Seayalater....We booked about 90 days ago and were #70 something on the waiting list for the four of us for traditional late dining....I checked last week and we are less than 10 now.

RC Nordic Empress 1/92 Bahamas

RC Enchantment W Carib 1/01 Legend to Hawaii 3/03

bcollan · April 12, 2004

SF, Cafe Caribe has standard fare from 11pm till 4am, yes you can get a sirloin steak at 2 in the morning.

minnjudy, Scoops charge $1.50 for two (scoops!) and toppings. I didn't try ir myself, but my wife and daughter say it was worth every penny.

Bill C.

torbs · April 12, 2004

SF:

Scoops is a little more if you go for one of the standard sundaes, 3.50 if i recall.

Until 4/3 Caribbean Princess

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Caribbean Princess 4/3/04

Navigator of the Seas 8/03

Voyager of the Seas 6/01

SF · April 13, 2004

Thanks to all for the info.

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Jewel of the Seas 12/26/2004

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Caribbean Princess 2/26/2005

suzw · April 13, 2004

what type of food was in cafe caribe for dinner?

SF · April 13, 2004

One more question. Does Cafe Caribe serve pineapple or fruit late into the evening (after 11PM)?

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Jewel of the Seas 12/26/2004

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Seayalater · April 13, 2004

thanks for the reply

i am glad we have booked traditional seating as PC doesn't sound like the way to go.

Did this itinerary go to Princess Cays? Did anyone go snorkeling there?

Maria

Century 2000

Millenium 2002

Caribbean Princess 2004

Rustynail · April 13, 2004

Does PC dining mean that you can get a table for two? or is it so crowded that you'll end up at the end of somebody else's table?

Dan

CARRIBEAN PRINCESS JAN 2005

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CARNIVAL'S LEGEND JAN 2003

CELEBRITY'S CENTURY DEC 2003

minooka · April 13, 2004

Hi Rusty - the night the computers went down we ate at a table with another couple (lovely people) but the other nights we were able to get a table for the 2 of us, even though it was set for 4 people. I think they have done this (no tables just for 2) in anticipation of the extra 500 passengers. I really feel most of these problems with be worked out as time goes on. I just don't like the Horizon Court being closed, and it was closed when we went up to eat on Sunday. I'm wondering if people are confusing the 2 areas, as the Cafe Caribe is right behind the Horizon Court and you basically go to the same place just make a different turn once you get there. Happy cruising...Carol

16 cruises and still counting...

Caribbean Princess 4/3/04

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