Diamond Princess Review - Coastal cruise, detailed ship review

[SissyG]

Thanks for taking the time to post all the useful information, we will be on the Sapphire for 30 days November 22 and it sounds like PC dining will be just the thing for a long cruise, lots of choices and different cuisine. Your review just makes me more excited about this cruise. Sissy

 

 

 

A dream comes true on the Sapphire Princess in

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UP NEXT...

Sapphire Princess 30 day LA to Sydney 11/22/04

 

Grand Princess 12 day Barcelona/Greek Isles/Venice 10/17/05

 

BEEN THERE..DONE THAT

Island Princess W. Caribbean/Panama Canal 4/04

Coral Princess Alaska 8/03

Stardancer Mexican Riviera 11/88

Independence Hawaii 8/85

Countess S. Caribbean 8/80

[Italy52]

Suzy THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Your review is wonderful. We love Princess but thought we would venture off to RCCL's Radiance of the Sea for our 2005 Alaska cruise. After reading your excellent review of the Diamond, I am going to cancel the Radiance and switch to the Diamond.

 

Question: Regarding themed restaurants, do they all have an additional fee associated with them? If so, do you remember the cost? Also, how was the casino, was it smokey or well ventilated?

 

Again, many thanks for your very thorough review.

[michy_meee]

Hi Suzy!!

 

Wow - very complete!! No wonder I didn't see you again after we met - you were racing around the ship the whole time!! As usual, always providing us with great info!

 

I LOVED the new theme restaurants on board, but was only able to try the Sterling and Vivaldi dining rooms due to our large group. Both restaurants were great - Troy had a steak at Sterlings that he was literally cutting it with his fork!! Overall I was quite impressed with the quality of the food on board. In the future, I am definately sticking with PC dining!!

 

Also agree with you on the aft pools - such a nice area to hang out. A great improvement, I think, not to mention that it was not as windy back there!

 

I am definately sailing the Diamond again!! You and Charles in for the 5 day coastal in Sept?? Lynn, Kristi, Matt....etc??? I'm going to be there if current trip planning to Europe doesn't work out! Heck of a backup trip, hey? Haha! Was great to meet you all, but would have liked to have spent more time getting to know everyone - hey, there is always next time, right?!

 

I've got some great pics of everyone. I'll email them to Suzy when I remember to bring the disk to work!!

 

Cheers everyone!

 

Michy

 

Diamond Princess 5/1/04

 

Star Princess 9/24/03

[Commodore Suzy]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone.

 

mouseman.. I have no complaints with the coffee, so I can't tell you if its "improved". I put so much cream in my coffee, I think it makes it so I can't tell!

 

 

Italy.. Radiance is a beautiful ship, but I would never sail it if there was a Princess ship doing the same/similar sailings for a vacation. Princess is just THE BEST. I love PC dining!

 

There is no additional fee for the "regular" PC dining rooms, only Sabatini's has an extra fee. I think its $20.

 

Everything on the ship was new new new. Even the casino wasn't too saturated with smoke smell yet. I think it was pretty well ventilated. Not that I would suggest you spend a lot of time there though. They have REALLY 'tightened up' the casino since Carnival Casinos took it over I think it was.??? 12/1/03? I love the blackjack tourneys and usually do well.. I came in second and got 0. Their two tourneys - BJ and slots pay $500 flat to the winners. They don't split the pot of entry fees and just make a killing for the house because of it. And they don't pay anything except a t-shirt and a hat to the other top finishers. I think it stinks!!! I have quite a collection of Princess Casinos hats and t-shirts already! I'm not sure if I will play next time...

 

Michelle....I don't have anything planned for the fall coastals, but besides the 5-day Diamond which looks awesome, I really like the 2-day Diamond Seattle, Victoria to Vancouver on 9/18.. followed immediately by the 2-day Sapphire Vancouver to SF on 9/20. B2B! I think Lynn, Kristi & Cindy are thinking seriously on the 9/18 weekend one... Its all still TBD. We'd love to cruise with you again on one or more of them! Keep in touch!

 

Cheers!

 

Suzy

 

NEXT --> Monarch family weekend 10/15/04 & Grand Galveston 12/11/04

Diamond Princess 5/1/04

Star Princess 10/18/03 -- Wind Star Honeymoon 11/14/03

Star Princess Wedding 9/24/03 -- Mercury 10/5/03

Vision of the Seas 10/28/02 -- Amsterdam 4/22/03

Sun Princess 5/10/02 -- Star Princess 6/15/02

Carnival Holiday 9/8/00

[mii]

Suzy, it is me again. I was the one who asked about the Lido Deck and what area to meet for us CCer's to meet and greet. Is the Calypso bar area a good one. We are going 10/2/04 and was wondering if this would be a great spot. Is it open or is it enclosed. Appreciate any help. By the way the calpyso bar is aft near the Horizon Court.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Marilyn

[Commodore Suzy]

The Calypso bar is good. Everything aft of skywalkers is awesome and open. My deck plan calls the bar aft of Horizon Court "Outrigger", but whatever its called..its neat back there!

 

Suzy

 

NEXT --> Monarch family weekend 10/15/04 & Grand Galveston 12/11/04

Diamond Princess 5/1/04

Star Princess 10/18/03 -- Wind Star Honeymoon 11/14/03

Star Princess Wedding 9/24/03 -- Mercury 10/5/03

Vision of the Seas 10/28/02 -- Amsterdam 4/22/03

Sun Princess 5/10/02 -- Star Princess 6/15/02

Carnival Holiday 9/8/00

[mii]

Thanks Suzy for the info. I looked at my deck plan again and we are both right. The calypso bar is in the front entrance to Horizon Ct and the outrigger is in the back of horizon. I guess whatever one will be neat. Again thanks for the info.

 

 

Marilyn

[gardeningqueen]

Thanks for the wonderful review Suzy Cruisy. You have covered just about everything! I can't wait for my Aug. 14th honeymoon cruise.

[Commodore Suzy]

Marilyn.. Ahh NOW I see it. I say go for the Outrigger instead. You will feel enclosed in the Calypso pool area and you will feel like you can see lots of wide open spaces with lots of open deck to hang out in if you do Outrigger.

 

Thanks queen! Honeymoon.. ooh la la! Wonderful!

 

Suzy

 

NEXT --> Monarch family weekend 10/15/04 & Grand Galveston 12/11/04

Diamond Princess 5/1/04

Star Princess 10/18/03 -- Wind Star Honeymoon 11/14/03

Star Princess Wedding 9/24/03 -- Mercury 10/5/03

Vision of the Seas 10/28/02 -- Amsterdam 4/22/03

Sun Princess 5/10/02 -- Star Princess 6/15/02

Carnival Holiday 9/8/00