Caribbean Princess/Crown Princess - Will I feel like I'm on the same ship?

[mafig]

I know some of you cruise one particular ship over and over because you love it. However, we like the variety of different ships. Here's the "problem"....

 

We have a cruise booked on Caribbean Princess in April.

 

Our TA has given us very good pricing on the Crown Princess in November out of Puerto Rico. We like the itinerary very much (as opposed to CB's which we've done so many times).

 

What to do? Should we cancel CB (and give up our hard-to-get aft BB on Caribe deck)? :(

 

 

OR will there be enough differences between the two ships to make us feel that we are not experiencing deja vu??? Does anyone know what exactly will be different between the two?:confused:

[roe2ship]

Here is an article about some differences between the two.

Princess Cruises to Crown a new Ship

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Dec. 6 -- Reprising the name of a former Princess ship, the line will name the next new vessel to join its fleet Crown Princess. A sister ship to the highly praised Caribbean Princess, it will debut in May 2006. Like her sibling, Crown Princess will also offer a year-round Caribbean deployment.

 

But Crown Princess will not be an identical twin. Similar to Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess will feature a number of innovations designed for cruising in the balmy Caribbean waters, but the ship will also offer a number of new design evolutions to create additional options for passengers, including a piazza-style atrium, even more dining venues and redesigned public spaces.

New choices include several new eateries -- an International Cafe, Wine and Seafood Bar, pub fare in the Wheelhouse Bar, and a Steak and Seafood House

-- as well as a redesigned Skywalkers nightclub and larger space on the top deck for the line's trademark Italian trattoria, Sabatini's.

 

Among the ship's signature spaces will be the ship's atrium area, which will take on a new flare and offer some tasty added options with an open piazza-style design. Within this street cafe environment, passengers will find a new International Cafe serving up fresh pastries and baked goods in the morning and assorted other offerings throughout the day, as well as a wine and seafood bar to tempt passengers with an assortment of fine wine and a bar featuring chilled seafood "cocktails." The ship's Internet Cafe will be housed in the atrium as well as the Travel Cafe -- a place to plan future travels.

The 113,000-ton ship takes over the name of a Princess vessel that left the fleet in 2002. The original Crown Princess, which debuted in 1990, was the first ship built for Princess by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, and construction of her successor ship is soon to be underway at the same yard. The first Crown Princess became the A'Rosa Blu for sister company Aida Cruises, a brand serving the German market.

"Crown Princess is clearly the perfect name for a Princess ship, and this seemed like the appropriate opportunity to bring this moniker back into our fleet," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "More importantly, her debut will further our growth in the region and our goal of providing one of the best cruise experiences in the Caribbean."

Crown Princess' public areas on decks six and seven will also offer new or redesigned spaces. Meeting planners will appreciate the new conference center, available to the many onboard groups. The ship's casino will now feature a private cocktail lounge for those who want to indulge in cigars and spirits. Princess' signature Wheelhouse bar will be expanded and moved forward (as on Diamond Princess), offering a club-like atmosphere with the addition of a menu of traditional pub fare and draft ale. The line's popular martini bar, Crooners will move its menu of 50 specialty martinis to an intimate location on the port side of the vessel.

An evolution from previous ships' Sterling Steakhouse concept, a new Steak and Seafood house will move into the area traditionally held by Sabatini's and the Wheelhouse Bar. This showplace eatery will feature an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs will 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 Sterling Steakhouse venues, this 180-seat restaurant will feature the privacy of booths as well as tables and counter seating.

Up on the top decks other changes are afoot. The ship's profile will more resemble that of Diamond Princess with the signature Skywalkers nightclub moved forward towards the ship's funnel. A sports court will crown the top of this trademark disco and observation lounge. And the company's Lotus Spa will grow to a two-story space.

New to the top decks is Trattoria Sabatini, which will offer additional space for diners to enjoy this eight-course Italian extravaganza. The space will also offer a lounge area where Sabatini diners can enjoy a convenient pre-dinner cocktail. The stunning venue offers views on three sides with dramatic vistas over the ship.

Of course Crown Princess will offer many of the special features than passengers have come to love on her sister ship. The vessel will sport the dramatic "Movies Under the Stars" poolside screen, featuring outdoor viewing of first run movies and special events complete with reserved padded lounge chairs, drink specials and movie nibbles. Cafe Caribe will continue to serve up tasty Caribbean specialties in a deluxe buffet setting, with a focus on a different island or region each night.

Princess passengers will also enjoy the many Personal Choice options they know from the line's other vessels. 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. Crown Princess will offer multiple show lounges and main dining rooms, as well as a variety of intimately designed public spaces for the "big ship choice, small ship feel" atmosphere that defines the line. Other ship features include a wedding chapel with Internet wedding cam, and an extensive children and teen's center with splash pool and outdoor play area, sports and fitness facilities, a wide array of educational ScholarShip@Sea classes, and a Princess trademark -- nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies.

Additional information about Crown Princess is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

[mafig]

:) thanks for all that good info.:)

 

 

Here's another question which involves guessing, I know, however, let me have your opinions anyway. Do you think the shows will be the same as are currently on CB, or something different for a new ship?

[hill6]

thanks for the great info. I just booked the Crown Princess yesterday.

[Julia & David]

hill6,

 

Drop by the roll call for this sailing. The more the merrier.

[Murphey]

I'm afraid I'm going to sound "cheap", but are all the new dining venues going to come with a surcharge???

[Windrunner I]

One Princess ship is pretty much the same as the next; food, service, entertainment, decor (down to the poster-art on the walls)

 

The Crown will have a few more 'bells & whistles' and some minor differences in layout, but if the itinerary were better on one than the other, go for the itinerary.

[hill6]

I will definitely drop by the roll call for the sailing.