Island Princess-oceanview cabins on Plaza and Fiesta Decks

[12cruise2]

We would appreciate comments about the oceanview cabins on the Island Princess on the Plaza and Fiesta decks.  My primary concern is regarding noise that can be heard in the cabin, faint or otherwise, especially after 9:00 p.m., until 6:00 a.m.  The Fiesta cabins more midship share a hallway wall with the casino but seem to be below quiet areas (chapel, sabitini's, fine arts gallery).   Is there smoking in the casino that would waft around the wall, or canned music that is played into the night or other noise?  I tend to think those fiesta cabins wouldn't be desirable??

The aft Fiesta cabins are below other cabins.  What about those?

The Plaza cabins are below the casino, photo gallery and mystery areas--we don't like mystery areas; on one ship, we were immediately under the kitchen chopping block at 2:00 a.m.--no mystery each night at 2:00 a.m.! But how are the ones below the casino/photo gallery/casino bar.  And what is under the plaza deck cabins?  Crew quarters?  

I'm aware that extra cabins were added to the Island about which there have been complaints; I'll compare the layout with its sister ship the Coral, to which no extra cabins were added after the fuss about the Island as I understand.

Also, I was told that the ship ran rougher, or some such complaints re the way the ship ran, after the cabins were added. . .

Thank you one and all for any comments, especially re noises that you are willing to provide.  This will be a 34-day cruise, so we'd like to "get it right."

[geoherb]

I was in F504 for two weeks in June/July 2019. It was a great location. I initially worried about noise from the casino and atrium (as well as smoke from the casino). But I never had any problems. The view was great, but I only took the below photo, and it was while the ship was still docked in Vancouver.

 

The only time I was slightly inconvenienced was when they used that deck for one of the gangplanks, and I had to walk through the casino to exit because security had blocked off the exit at the end of the corridor.

 

The white space at the other end of the corridor was the entertainment director's and cruise director's offices (and probably some others as well).

 

[LACruiser88]

Sorry to say, but the Island is our least favorite ship remaining in the fleet.  We will no longer sail on her regardless of the itinerary or the price.

[venussuz]

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

Sorry to say, but the Island is our least favorite ship remaining in the fleet.  We will no longer sail on her regardless of the itinerary or the price.

I'd like to know more about this decision, as we're scheduled for 18 days on her beginning in May. Is it the size of the ship, problems with the rooms, the restaurants, entertainment? Why is the Island your least favorite ship?

[LACruiser88]

11 hours ago, venussuz said:

I'd like to know more about this decision, as we're scheduled for 18 days on her beginning in May. Is it the size of the ship, problems with the rooms, the restaurants, entertainment? Why is the Island your least favorite ship?

Read the below Thread...

 

 

 

[Therese S.]

We were on the Fiesta Deck in ocean view cabin F705 on the Island for a 19 day Panama cancel cruise in 2016.  These cabins are located in the back and we’re added when Princess removed the theater.  I hated this cabin!  The noise and shaking from the engines or thrusters was awful.  I generally love feeling that I’m on a ship  and expect a little vibration and noise, but the noise, vibration and shaking was more than I could take.  I requested that we be moved anywhere but was told the ship was sold out.  It did get better after the 3rd or 4th day, but whenever we left port it came back.
 So much shaking that the full length mirror near door came off while I was standing in front of it.  I was able to catch it before it hit the floor.   And this cabin was considered an upgrade from our original cabin on the plaza deck.  Only positive, it was close to the explorers lounge for shows and the platinum/elite lounge.   

[Steelers36]

Show me the same voyage with Island and another in the fleet and I will go with the other (only recently true after fleet was culled of a couple that didn't interest me - not talking about the Pacific).  However, if I wanted to go around S.A. again or do a WC and the Island is the ship doing the voyage, I'd not hesitate as we had a great time.  Have been in a mid-ship Inside and and aft Inside.  Will be on her in early NOV for 14 nights - mid-ship Inside.  I am looking forward to the adventure and the ship won't bother me.

[PrincessLuver]

We have sailed almost every Princess ship and have no problem with the Island.  Some people are upset they way the Island was modified.  We have sailed her and had just as much fun as any other Princess ship.  I do know that some people have complained about the added aft cabins but there are others who have liked them.  If we canceled a cruise every time we heard a criticism about a Princess ship on CC we would never been able to have taken a cruise.....so much of it is just subjective.....

[geoherb]

I sailed the Island before and after the refurb took away the Universe Lounge and added cabins. It was still a great ship for my b2b cruises to Alaska because of the wonderful Promenade Deck. If the Majestic this past August had been at full capacity, I would not have enjoyed my cruise nearly as much. (We were at 68% capacity for my cruise.) 

[thistledoo]

On 1/25/2022 at 2:09 PM, geoherb said:

I was in F504 for two weeks in June/July 2019. It was a great location. I initially worried about noise from the casino and atrium (as well as smoke from the casino).

To get to the Explorers Lounge from the OV cabins in that hallway, do you need to go through the casino?   They look like they would be quiet.  

[geoherb]

On 2/22/2022 at 5:51 AM, thistledoo said:

To get to the Explorers Lounge from the OV cabins in that hallway, do you need to go through the casino?   They look like they would be quiet.  

 

Not usually. There's an entrance to the corridor off the piazza. Only a couple of days did I have to detour through the casino because security had blocked off the entrance while the ship was in port. The scanners blocked the entrance because the gangplank was attached to that deck.

 

[ianc150]

On 1/25/2022 at 11:53 PM, Therese S. said:

We were on the Fiesta Deck in ocean view cabin F705 on the Island for a 19 day Panama cancel cruise in 2016.  These cabins are located in the back and we’re added when Princess removed the theater.  I hated this cabin!  The noise and shaking from the engines or thrusters was awful.  I generally love feeling that I’m on a ship  and expect a little vibration and noise, but the noise, vibration and shaking was more than I could take.  I requested that we be moved anywhere but was told the ship was sold out.  It did get better after the 3rd or 4th day, but whenever we left port it came back.
 So much shaking that the full length mirror near door came off while I was standing in front of it.  I was able to catch it before it hit the floor.   And this cabin was considered an upgrade from our original cabin on the plaza deck.  Only positive, it was close to the explorers lounge for shows and the platinum/elite lounge.   

 

Was the view from the window obstructed, or was it a clear view? Was the sofa near the window, or was the bed under the window? Thanks! I hope you see this 

[donswife]

It would take an exquisite deal to get me to go on the Island Princess due to the location and set up of the gym!  I love working out when I am on vacation, while looking at the ocean.  The indoor gym looks crowded and depressing in the pictures.

[Supercats]

Is anyone on here going on the Land of the Midnight Sun cruise from Southampton on 13th June?

 

[Essiesmom]

6 hours ago, Supercats said:

Is anyone on here going on the Land of the Midnight Sun cruise from Southampton on 13th June?

 

Go to the Roll Call for your cruise.  It is 24 pages long, over 500 replies.  

[Froufie]

Also considering a cabin on plaza vs fiesta decks on the Island princess for an upcoming transatlantic.  From what I have found out - the OV window on the Fiesta deck is much larger than those on Plaza deck (as pre refurbishment these were the 'hallway' larger OV windows).  Obviously when the cabins were added they didn't 'change' the windows.

 

The other benefit is the room configuration - on deck 5 from what I can see in the OV cabins the bed is under the (smaller) window - so hard to look out unless you are of course on top of the bed.  Looks like in the Deck 6 Fiesta cabins the configuration has the bed along the wall allowing for a fabulous view from the extra large window.

 

My main concern as others have mentioned is a) noise from the casino and b) lingering smoke smells in and around the hallway - these two possibilities are what is stopping me at the moment.  The only two fiesta deck cabins still available are aft ones F522 or F526. (and looks like there is a door at the end of the hallway/near F526 that leads into the casino??? - wondering how often it is used and if noise/smoke would 'wander' into that area?)

 

Looking for any comments on these cabins but more specifically noise/smoke issues due to proximity of the casino.

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

5 hours ago, Froufie said:

Also considering a cabin on plaza vs fiesta decks on the Island princess for an upcoming transatlantic.  From what I have found out - the OV window on the Fiesta deck is much larger than those on Plaza deck (as pre refurbishment these were the 'hallway' larger OV windows).  Obviously when the cabins were added they didn't 'change' the windows.

 

The other benefit is the room configuration - on deck 5 from what I can see in the OV cabins the bed is under the (smaller) window - so hard to look out unless you are of course on top of the bed.  Looks like in the Deck 6 Fiesta cabins the configuration has the bed along the wall allowing for a fabulous view from the extra large window.

 

My main concern as others have mentioned is a) noise from the casino and b) lingering smoke smells in and around the hallway - these two possibilities are what is stopping me at the moment.  The only two fiesta deck cabins still available are aft ones F522 or F526. (and looks like there is a door at the end of the hallway/near F526 that leads into the casino??? - wondering how often it is used and if noise/smoke would 'wander' into that area?)

 

Looking for any comments on these cabins but more specifically noise/smoke issues due to proximity of the casino.

 

We stayed in one of those rooms, and if you are a gambler, you will luv it.

I am NOT a smoker, and unbelievably we didn't smell smoke in our cabin.

However I Did notice one man who had booked the End cabin, so he could

easily duck into casino to smoke. 

I saw him do that few times and he wasn't there to gamble, just smoke.

 

We found that private hallway to be a  plus. 

Nobody went down there unless they had a cabin.  I would book it again.

 

 

[Torfamm]

6 hours ago, Froufie said:

Also considering a cabin on plaza vs fiesta decks on the Island princess for an upcoming transatlantic.  From what I have found out - the OV window on the Fiesta deck is much larger than those on Plaza deck (as pre refurbishment these were the 'hallway' larger OV windows).  Obviously when the cabins were added they didn't 'change' the windows.

 

The other benefit is the room configuration - on deck 5 from what I can see in the OV cabins the bed is under the (smaller) window - so hard to look out unless you are of course on top of the bed.  Looks like in the Deck 6 Fiesta cabins the configuration has the bed along the wall allowing for a fabulous view from the extra large window.

 

My main concern as others have mentioned is a) noise from the casino and b) lingering smoke smells in and around the hallway - these two possibilities are what is stopping me at the moment.  The only two fiesta deck cabins still available are aft ones F522 or F526. (and looks like there is a door at the end of the hallway/near F526 that leads into the casino??? - wondering how often it is used and if noise/smoke would 'wander' into that area?)

 

Looking for any comments on these cabins but more specifically noise/smoke issues due to proximity of the casino.

I was in F502 earlier this year and loved it. There was no noise from the casino nor could we smell smoke. There is a review with photos in the cabin review spreadsheet thread

[Froufie]

1 hour ago, Torfamm said:

I was in F502 earlier this year and loved it. There was no noise from the casino nor could we smell smoke. There is a review with photos in the cabin review spreadsheet thread

Thanks so much for the input and info - found the review and pic - most helpful! 🙂