Tell me about Smaller Ships??

[isujim]

We are stepping out of the ordinary for us and have booked the Pacific Princess. ........only 674 passengers. We want to try something besides rock climbing walls, ice rinks and 15 minute waits for elevators......(ok maybe not that much), 3,000 passengers with banquet food........well.....you get the idea.

 

We figure we will either love this experience or hate it........LOL!!

 

We are very loyal to RC, but really want to try a small ship, but they seem to be going in the opposite direction.

 

So for those of you who have been on a small ship like the Pacific Princess........Did you like it? What was your experience like??

 

Doesn't matter what cruiseline it was.........I'm looking for what your experience was on a small ship.

 

Thanks.

[mii]

We did the PP2 in 2003 to Alaska, r/t out of San Francisco. While we enjoyed the ship for us it was a bit smaller than we are used too. Now I am also one that does not like the HUGE ships or the rocking climbing, ice skating rinks etc. We usually sail Princess and we love the 2000 class such as the Coral/island size.

 

There is really no outstanding reason but we just wanted a bit more amenities than the PP2 can give. We did have a good cruise but just want a bit larger ship. I know that this is not helping you much but it was just our opinion. The cabins are exactly the same size, the food was good and I do know that they are a popular size of ship for alot of people but just not us.

 

Marilyn

[isujim]

We did the PP2 in 2003 to Alaska, r/t out of San Francisco. While we enjoyed the ship for us it was a bit smaller than we are used too. Now I am also one that does not like the HUGE ships or the rocking climbing, ice skating rinks etc. We usually sail Princess and we love the 2000 class such as the Coral/island size.

 

There is really no outstanding reason but we just wanted a bit more amenities than the PP2 can give. We did have a good cruise but just want a bit larger ship. I know that this is not helping you much but it was just our opinion. The cabins are exactly the same size, the food was good and I do know that they are a popular size of ship for alot of people but just not us.

 

Marilyn

 

No that helps a lot.........that is what I wanted was opinions.........we like the Radiance class ships on RC........about the same size as the Coral and Island.......but we haven't been on a ship the size of the Pacific Princess since the old Nordic Prince.......

 

Thanks for responding.

[paul929207]

We have been on the Pacific & her sister ships, the Royal & the Tahitian Princesses. We love them all.

 

With a smaller ship, you will not get as many options. These ships only have traditional dining. They don't have an ice skating rink or a rock climbing wall.

 

On the other hand, you don't have 3000 other passengers invading a port. You meet people a second time during the cruise. You don't have to go 15 decks from palce to place.

 

As I said at the begining we have been n all three. We have another booked on the TP this summer. We are looking at 4 more on the TP over the next 2 years.

[kitty9]

I love smaller ships. To be honest, the Princess ship you're sailing on isn't even considered a "small" ship----she's more in the mid size ship category. Small ships, like Seabourn, Sea Dream and Silversea are considered small ships with passengers capacity of less than 400. While those smaller ships don't offer the amenities that the larger ships do in terms of activities and entertaiment, smaller ships generally have more intense itineraries, where you just look for a great meal, maybe a little low key entertainment and then sleep because you have very few sea days.

[isujim]

Thank you all........just what kind of opinions I am looking for.

 

paul since you have been on the Pacific.........what kind of bars do they have on board? We are sailing with another couple and we enjoy "quiet" places we can sit down, talk and enjoy a drink without loud music where you can't hear yourself talk.......if you know what i mean........

 

We have booked an Owners Suite (I think that is what they are called) and really are looking forward to this experience.

Our itineary is 14 day Alaska.

[can786]

I have cruised on ships from 150 passengers (European river cruise) to 2600 passengers, though I have not sailed Royal Caribbean with rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. My favorite ships have been in the 1200 passenger range, the old Royal Princess and HAL's S-class ships. The main difference with the smaller ships is that you have to go with an open mind and not expect to be entertained all the time. Due to the smaller size they cannot necessarily schedule all of the activities found on the larger ships. The nice thing about smaller ships is that they have more of a community feeling - you tend to run into the same people more often. Of course, that's not always a positive thing, depending on the people! I have wanted to try one of these ships since Princess added them to their fleet, so we have booked the Pacific Princess for Alaska next August. I am looking forward to sailing on her.

[SheilaNC]

We did Bermuda on Azamara and loved the small ship experience. Didn't need big shows, etc. to have a good time. We enjoyed the small shows and casino but, especially, loved getting to know a lot of people and seeing the same people over and over again due to the size of the ship. I'd say, give it a shot - only you can say what works for you as a couple. Even if you end up preferring larger ships, you'll have a good time and have the answers to your questions. Enjoy!

[LHT28]

We have sailed on Oceania which has the sister ships to the Princess & Azamara lines

While it open dining seating on Oceania the ship is same size etc...

 

We love the small ships, no line-ups to get off & on at ports, you get to meet people on deck more than once. It does not take half the day to get from one end to the other.

 

They will probably not have the same vegas type shows (lounge is just not big enough).

 

Enjoy the cruise

[isujim]

I have cruised on ships from 150 passengers (European river cruise) to 2600 passengers, though I have not sailed Royal Caribbean with rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. My favorite ships have been in the 1200 passenger range, the old Royal Princess and HAL's S-class ships. The main difference with the smaller ships is that you have to go with an open mind and not expect to be entertained all the time. Due to the smaller size they cannot necessarily schedule all of the activities found on the larger ships. The nice thing about smaller ships is that they have more of a community feeling - you tend to run into the same people more often. Of course, that's not always a positive thing, depending on the people! I have wanted to try one of these ships since Princess added them to their fleet, so we have booked the Pacific Princess for Alaska next August. I am looking forward to sailing on her.

 

What is your date of sailing? We are on the Pacific for Alaska next August 6th........2009 I might add......not this August.....so if you go this August you can give me an in depth report!

[isujim]

We did Bermuda on Azamara and loved the small ship experience. Didn't need big shows, etc. to have a good time. We enjoyed the small shows and casino but, especially, loved getting to know a lot of people and seeing the same people over and over again due to the size of the ship. I'd say, give it a shot - only you can say what works for you as a couple. Even if you end up preferring larger ships, you'll have a good time and have the answers to your questions. Enjoy!

 

Oh we are giving it a shot! and looking forward to it..........give me a good book, deck chair, balcony or small casino and I'm as happy as can be........I haven't been to a show on RC for years.......they basically are all the same.

 

I figure this might be as close to the way cruising used to be........without going to a luxury line....

[Andee]

We love the smaller ships--we've been on two Oceania cruises and one on Marco Polo. I like the sense of getting to know staff and other passsengers, the ease of getting around, the lack of crowds. There are enough amenities for us--casino, shops, library, computer room, spa, activities, etc--just on a smaller scale.

[isujim]

Would love to hear more about your small ship experience...........

 

Thanks

[spongerob]

Jim, the smallest we've been on was the 1200 passenger Royal Princess, and we've been on the 1500 passenger Regal Princess. It's true that you don't get all the bells and whistles, but you don't get a lot of the aggravation with crowds, either. Except at the buffet, of course, that seems to be a constant regardless of the size of the ship.

 

What we found was that the service was much better on board, and the crew seemed happier and more relaxed. It was much easier to get to know people, too - you bump into each other more often. I also like the fact that the port calls tend to be longer and that you can get into places the big ships cannot.

 

I hope you enjoy it! I would love to take that itinerary.

[isujim]

Jim, the smallest we've been on was the 1200 passenger Royal Princess, and we've been on the 1500 passenger Regal Princess. It's true that you don't get all the bells and whistles, but you don't get a lot of the aggravation with crowds, either. Except at the buffet, of course, that seems to be a constant regardless of the size of the ship.

 

What we found was that the service was much better on board, and the crew seemed happier and more relaxed. It was much easier to get to know people, too - you bump into each other more often. I also like the fact that the port calls tend to be longer and that you can get into places the big ships cannot.

 

I hope you enjoy it! I would love to take that itinerary.

 

Rob that is our thoughts.........bigger is not always better:) We are really looking forward to the "atmosphere" of a small ship. I think a cruise without bells and whistles would come the closest of reminding folks what cruising used to be like.........

[can786]

What is your date of sailing? We are on the Pacific for Alaska next August 6th........2009 I might add......not this August.....so if you go this August you can give me an in depth report!

 

Sorry, but you will be getting off when we get on the ship. We are on the August 20, 2009 sailing.

[isujim]

Sorry, but you will be getting off when we get on the ship. We are on the August 20, 2009 sailing.

 

We looked at the 20th.......don't even know why we chose the 6th........just worked better I guess.........we'll just have to wave to each other.:)

[lady_cruiser]

We went from the Carnival Conquest to the Norwegian SUN to Royal Caribbeans Voyager of the Seas.

 

NCL's SUN was by far the smallest ship we have been on. If you are not into rock climbing walls, long waits in the buffet area or long lines anywhere you will love the relaxation that smaller ships gives you. You can always find something to do on a smaller ship if you cruise mostly for relaxtion.

• You can find a quiet corner and read that novel you always wanted to read.
  
• Find an empty table in the buffet to enjoy a cup of coffee and a plate of fresh pastries.
  
• Sit on the deck and watch the world go by while enjoying a glass of wine.
  
• Sun by the pool without feeling too crowded.
  
• Take in a movie in the ship's theater.
  
• Wander around the promenade and walk in and out of the shops without feeling like you are at Macy's the day after Thanksgiving.

The list goes on and one.

[Hoyaheel]

We sailed on the Pacific Princess in Sept 2007 in Alaska. We LOVED this ship. I loved the library, though as often I was reading on our balcony while my husband roamed around with camera & binoculars around his neck:p We also sat in the lounge up front (Pacific?) and had a drink/read if the art auction wasn't going on:cool: .

 

When I go on a cruise, I want to see the ports (if I chose the vacation for the ports, the way we did in Alaska) and the rest of the time--I want to read and relax. I don't go on a cruise to be entertained (we haven't made it to any shows on our last two cruises at all) so I can't help you with those questions....We did choose a large (for us!) 2000 person ship (HAL Westerdam) for our next cruise--15 day Panama Canal transit--because my husband wanted more to do because of the number of sea days/length of the cruise. Me, I'd just pack more books:D

[isujim]

We sailed on the Pacific Princess in Sept 2007 in Alaska. We LOVED this ship. I loved the library, though as often I was reading on our balcony while my husband roamed around with camera & binoculars around his neck:p We also sat in the lounge up front (Pacific?) and had a drink/read if the art auction wasn't going on:cool: .

 

When I go on a cruise, I want to see the ports (if I chose the vacation for the ports, the way we did in Alaska) and the rest of the time--I want to read and relax. I don't go on a cruise to be entertained (we haven't made it to any shows on our last two cruises at all) so I can't help you with those questions....We did choose a large (for us!) 2000 person ship (HAL Westerdam) for our next cruise--15 day Panama Canal transit--because my husband wanted more to do because of the number of sea days/length of the cruise. Me, I'd just pack more books:D

 

Sounds wonderful to me..........we are looking forward to this ship.

 

I appreciate everyone's opinions.

[Hoyaheel]

I have some photos here, but for some reason we didn't get very many of the ship (or I forgot to upload the ones I did have:rolleyes: )

 

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560818655qzQSxT?start=0

[havepassportwilltravel]

We were on the Pacific Princess (the new one -- and the "Love Boat"...but that's another story) in 2004 for 26 days. It is now our FAVORITE, and we'll be on her again this October. We've been on big ships, little ships and every size in between. The Pacific was intimate without being tiny, offered plenty of opportunity to see people more than once, and felt like "family." Many things and people served dual purposes, and we liked that. The library is a beautiful place to relax as is the forward lounge. And, the Pacific can go places the QM2 will never be able to get into!

 

Cathy

[isujim]

Thanks Cathy..............sounds wonderful.............

 

Anyone have pictures of that forward lounge??:)

[LHT28]

This is not Princess but a picture of the sister ship

The lounge is probably the same maybe the decor has changed but the space would be the same