Caribbean Princess 3/17

[10XCRUISE]

A little background: We are Platinum on Princess, Elite with Celebrity and a jumble of cruise with NCL, Royal and Carnival. 40 total.

 

We chose this Caribbean Princess cruise for the great price and we went through the Panama Canal on this ship when new. It’s 15 years old now but it is amazingly well preserved.

 

Food: As always a subjective topic we found the food offerings everywhere exceeded our expectations. Planks bbq has an interesting menu and well worth the $12. Very happy with the Marketplace’s offerings and all beverages are served to you tableside; a nice convienance. Of course it’s crowded at times but what’s the rush...we’re cruising. All the way aft has an extension of the buffet The was never crowded: omlettes, Mongolian stuff. No one goes hungry on any cruise we’ve been on.

 

Entertainment: ummm was not as extravagant as the other cruise lines offer. I do believe the parent company cut back on that expense.Unfortunately you need to arrive at the theater 30 minutes early since it seems every show is sold out...and the seat savers were in full force.

 

Excursions: Princess Cays was fabulous and not to be missed. There were plenty of lounges so no problem finding open ones. We did book a Kon Tiki ferry to Water Island/Honeymoon Beach.Our thought was to avoid the crowds going to Megan’s Bay etc since there were 3 ships in port. Our mistake. The brown sand is covered in stones and the walking in the water was the same. Oh well.

 

Medallion: The Medallion was sent to us 8 days before embarkation and the set up was easy. If you do it beforehand then the pier experience is a  5 minute breeze. We didn’t down load any Princess apps and we used the Medallion ever where without any problems: food, drinks, casino stores etc. The pursers desk told us cruise cards won’t be issued starting next week. 

 

Cabin:The balcony cabin we had was underwellming.1 small chair for us both and I’m sure the mattress and pillows haven’t been replaced for a long long time.The tv didn’t access our cabin summary but you can on your app....I assume. Next to the pursers desk is a kiosk that you can use to easily print your room charges.Bring your own shampoo and conditioner. Had water dripping out of the smoke detector in the hall at our door...that was fun to watch.We didn’t use it but the self serv  laundry was empty whenever we walked by.

 

Of course every staff person we interacted with gave excellent customer service which we do expect from Princes. Yes we ran into some small problems last week but after 40 cruises....Hey, that’s cruising.

 

 

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for your comments.

[rdsqrl]

Caribbean Princess through the Panama Canal when she was new?  She didn't fit in the locks . . . unless she did back then but she's gained weight over the past 15 years?  Maybe too many Love Boat Dream desserts . . . 

 

[Colo Cruiser]

4 minutes ago, rdsqrl said:

Caribbean Princess through the Panama Canal when she was new?  She didn't fit in the locks . . . unless she did back then but she's gained weight over the past 15 years?  Maybe too many Love Boat Dream desserts . . . 

 

Pre DR cutbacks.

[ckrcjr]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time.  We were on the Caribbean Princess two weeks ago and loved every minute - no complaints at all.  We thought the Cruise Director, Matt, was hilarious.  Yes, you are able to check your onboard account with the medallion - and we did not have any problems with the medallion throughout the cruise.  We had a great time!

 

[caribill]

7 hours ago, 10XCRUISE said:

Cabin:The balcony cabin we had was underwellming.1 small chair for us both and I’m sure the mattress and pillows haven’t been replaced for a long long time.

 

Be sure to mention the lack of a second chair on the post-cruise survey.

[10XCRUISE]

rdsqrl

 

i would be happy to send you pictures of the Canal trip we took while on the Caribbean Princess. It was about 12/13 years ago.

[skynight]

You must have been on another ship 15 years ago if you went through the Panama Canal Locks. Beam of the Caribbean Princess is 118 feet and would not fit into the old locks. Believe the max. for ships in the old locks is 106 feet. New locks just opened a year or two ago.

[tempus137]

15 hours ago, 10XCRUISE said:

.Bring your own shampoo and conditioner.

 

 

Does this mean there is none supplied?

[nukesubsailor]

1 hour ago, 10XCRUISE said:

rdsqrl

 

i would be happy to send you pictures of the Canal trip we took while on the Caribbean Princess. It was about 12/13 years ago.

Before you do that, log into your cruise personalizer and go to your cruise history.  Look for your Panama Canal cruise for that time frame.  It will verify what ship you were on.  

 

[capriccio]

12 minutes ago, tempus137 said:

 

Does this mean there is none supplied?

It is supplied but if you have hair longer than 1/2 of an inch that you want to be able to run a brush through, bring your own!  In my experience it leaves a tangled mess and the conditioner did nothing to improve it.

[skynight]

27 minutes ago, tempus137 said:

 

Does this mean there is none supplied?

It is a shampoo/conditioner combo in a pump bottle in the shower.

[Thrak]

Thanks for the quick review. Glad you had a good cruise and didn't let minor issues bother you .

 

I agree with others that you must have been on a different ship back then. Coral and Island were built as Panamax ships to fit in the canal. Pacific and Ocean were much smaller and also fit the old locks. CB definitely won't fit through the old locks.

[10XCRUISE]

You all are probably right on the CP. It was pre smart phone era and our “photographs” are buried in our attic. Thanks for the correction. After 40 cruises in 24 years they all become jumbled.

[AliceS]

Loved the Caribbean Princess.  My balcony had two, adjustable chairs and two foot stools.

 

The Food was amazing...Horizon Court and dining room.  I didn’t have much in the Piazza,but it looked very good.  I did have Tapas at Vines with a glass of wine one evening. Delicious.  

 

We did Crown Grill and loved it.

 

a friend had Tea Service for three of us on her aft balcony.   You can order afternoon tea as Elite.  It was so good.  Don’t order extra if you do this...way too much.

 

the staff on this ship is top notch.   Enjoy

[mevs904]

Thank you for this review.  We board the CB on Saturday and are looking forward to our first cruise on this ship.

[AF-1]

Thanks for your positive review.  Sailed her last month.  Customer Service desk said with the new medallion program your cabin folio will be available using the app;  it is not on the tv.  Loved being able to order room service and drinks with the app.  Find shipmate is great tool too.  Again,  thanks for sharing your insights

Edited March 19, 2019 by AF-1

[mdmf52]

On 3/17/2019 at 7:18 PM, 10XCRUISE said:

A little background: We are Platinum on Princess, Elite with Celebrity and a jumble of cruise with NCL, Royal and Carnival. 40 total.

 

We chose this Caribbean Princess cruise for the great price and we went through the Panama Canal on this ship when new. It’s 15 years old now but it is amazingly well preserved.

 

Food: As always a subjective topic we found the food offerings everywhere exceeded our expectations. Planks bbq has an interesting menu and well worth the $12. Very happy with the Marketplace’s offerings and all beverages are served to you tableside; a nice convienance. Of course it’s crowded at times but what’s the rush...we’re cruising. All the way aft has an extension of the buffet The was never crowded: omlettes, Mongolian stuff. No one goes hungry on any cruise we’ve been on.

 

Entertainment: ummm was not as extravagant as the other cruise lines offer. I do believe the parent company cut back on that expense.Unfortunately you need to arrive at the theater 30 minutes early since it seems every show is sold out...and the seat savers were in full force.

 

Excursions: Princess Cays was fabulous and not to be missed. There were plenty of lounges so no problem finding open ones. We did book a Kon Tiki ferry to Water Island/Honeymoon Beach.Our thought was to avoid the crowds going to Megan’s Bay etc since there were 3 ships in port. Our mistake. The brown sand is covered in stones and the walking in the water was the same. Oh well.

 

Medallion: The Medallion was sent to us 8 days before embarkation and the set up was easy. If you do it beforehand then the pier experience is a  5 minute breeze. We didn’t down load any Princess apps and we used the Medallion ever where without any problems: food, drinks, casino stores etc. The pursers desk told us cruise cards won’t be issued starting next week. 

 

Cabin:The balcony cabin we had was underwellming.1 small chair for us both and I’m sure the mattress and pillows haven’t been replaced for a long long time.The tv didn’t access our cabin summary but you can on your app....I assume. Next to the pursers desk is a kiosk that you can use to easily print your room charges.Bring your own shampoo and conditioner. Had water dripping out of the smoke detector in the hall at our door...that was fun to watch.We didn’t use it but the self serv  laundry was empty whenever we walked by.

 

Of course every staff person we interacted with gave excellent customer service which we do expect from Princes. Yes we ran into some small problems last week but after 40 cruises....Hey, that’s cruising.

 

 

 

[mdmf52]

My wife & I are on The Caribbean princess in 3 weeks, this will be the 4th time we have cruised on this ship. Can you please clarify what you meant about bringing your own shampoo, I understood that there were dispensers mounted in the showers ?

We also are Platinum with Princess but still taken aback at how everything has an ever growing price  tag tied to it.

[capriccio]

8 minutes ago, mdmf52 said:

My wife & I are on The Caribbean princess in 3 weeks, this will be the 4th time we have cruised on this ship. Can you please clarify what you meant about bringing your own shampoo, I understood that there were dispensers mounted in the showers ?

We also are Platinum with Princess but still taken aback at how everything has an ever growing price  tag tied to it.

 

The shampoo/conditioner is in a dispenser in the shower (there is also a dispenser for shower gel; we always ask for extra bar soap) but its value is, like lots of other things on a cruise and in life, a matter of personal opinion.  In my opinion - based on experience when Princess switched to it years ago - I'd rather have dirty hair!  My hair is short, thick, wavy and color-treated.  I couldn't even get a brush through it after using that stuff.  I never tried it again. Now I just bring 3 oz containers of my preferred shampoo and conditioner on short cruises.  On long cruises, I'll bring the regular containers in my checked luggage.  My DH, on the other hand, uses it for his  short, thinning hair but then brings his own conditioner. 

Edited March 19, 2019 by capriccio

[stoneharborlady]

On 3/18/2019 at 10:51 AM, skynight said:

It is a shampoo/conditioner combo in a pump bottle in the shower.

And nearly everyone hates it.

[JF - retired RRT]

1 hour ago, capriccio said:

 Now I just bring 3 oz containers of my preferred shampoo and conditioner on short cruises.  On long cruises, I'll bring the regular containers in my checked luggage.  My DH, on the other hand, uses it for his  short, thinning hair but then brings his own conditioner. 

I have a small bottle that holds 4 oz. (lasts long enough for most cruises) and I bring a small container of conditioner.

The conditioner is the key. If I run out of shampoo (or forget it), as long as I have the conditioner all is good.

[knbcruisers]

We are boarding this Saturday. Can you tell me if Slice is still pizza only or have they added other items?  Is there Alfredo’s for lunch in Sabatinis?  (Had that on the Coral and it’s a nice option).  Do you have any Patters you can post?  

 

Yes i agree bringing your own conditioner is key!! I also bring a leave-in conditioner since the sun/salt/pool are brutal on my hair. 

Edited March 19, 2019 by knbcruisers

[AF-1]

Slice pizza by the pool has pizza and stomboli's with a side of sauce.  Never saw Sabatini's open during the afternoon.  It was open for suite breakfast and dinner

Edited March 19, 2019 by AF-1