Caribbean Princess Review 7/10-7/19 (Part Three) -The End!!

[C&F]

Part Three:

Sea Days, Disembarkation, and odds and ends.

 

Our sea days were great. We had a little rough weather and seas the second day out, our first sea day. We ate our breakfast on our balcony after I got it from the Horizon Court, one deck above us. I would balance two trays and head down one flight, right to our room, R707 which was right at the stairwell. Breakfasts usually had the same tasty fare. No surprises here, but good breakfast food. Always fresh fruits if you want to go lighter, which we tried to do, but my weight loss efforts took a hit on this cruise. I will double up the next few weeks. I have a lot to lose, and it wasn’t caused by the cruise, so I won’t beat myself up, lol! I did go to the gym a few days and did the 5K “On Deck for the Cure” on the last sea day. It was a great cause and I did keep to exercising, but I’d have to walk from NYC to California to burn off the calories from the cruise, but oh well!

Most sea days we found a shady spot away from the pool. As I may have said, there was chair saving, but many of those people were right in the pool, so it’s a fine line. I’m sure there were plenty of people who were nowhere near the pool, but I don’t go for those seats so, while it is annoying that it’s done, it didn’t really affect me. We would always have to walk around awhile to find our “perfect” spot, but we look for secluded, shady, and quiet places. One day we did find a good shady spot under a unique overhang right near the MUTS pool. We watched Happy Feet and I had another of many buckets of Bud Light. This is your best option if you’re a beer drinker. You get 5 pints(16 oz. aluminum bottles) for the price of 4 ($19.00 plus grat.). Of course, I didn’t drink them in one sitting (most times), but I’d bring them back to my room and put them in the fridge. We also had a bottle of wine and vodka in the fridge. I’d make a mixed drink or take a glass of wine out to the deck once in awhile, but I brought the bottle of vodka back home with me. Next time, I may just leave it at home and if I want vodka, I’ll order it from room service. Yea, I may have smuggled, but our final bill was over $1000, so for the $14.00 for the bottle of vodka, sorry Princess!

We had our Cruise Critic Meet’n’Greet on our first sea day. I had contacted Princess and they cordoned off a little area near the Terrace Pool aft on Lido Deck for us. Many wonderful people showed up and we had a VERY nice time. We met many great people whom we saw many times throughout the cruise and will hopefully see again during future cruises. They provided dry snacks and sent a very nice deck officer by the name of Felix who gave us some insight about our sailing and Hurrican Bertha. I would definitely go to a meet’n’greet if you get a chance. We were glad we did.

So, most of our sea days were spent being lazy on a deck, walking in the atrium, or reading a book on the quiet Promenade Deck 7. We heard one complainer saying there was nothing to do during the hours of 5-7pm. Well, number 1, this is because most people, including cruise staff, are either getting ready for dinner or eating dinner. Number 2, do you really need the cruise staff dictating to you what you need to be doing EVERY hour of every day?!? The expression “If you’re bored, you’re boring!” comes to mind. ‘Nuff said!

Some things I noticed that could use some improvement were the cleanliness of the outer, public bathrooms. When I’m on a cruise, I tend to have “go” more often, whether it be from drink or food. Use your imagination as to what 2 ways that may mean, lol! Last 2 years on the Crown I remember telling my wife in amazement how the public bathrooms were immaculate EVERY time I went in. This time, on more than one occasion, there was “evidence” that someone may have been in there recently. I am not saying they were filthy. They were in most cases clean, but needed an extra check per hour perhaps. This didn’t ruin my cruise though. If it was ever really bad, I’d have gone back to my cabin, which was kept spotless by our steward, Dennis. I can’t believe that as I type this, I have to go pick up towels from the bathroom floor. No, they don’t get automatically replenished every day.

Oh, 1 more thing. A few posts have asked about noise on the Riviera Deck. We were pretty far aft right at the elevator bank. I’d be lying if I said we heard no noise. We were right under the Starboard Aft side of Café Caribe. I went up there a few nights very late after we left Skywalkers. So too did just about everyone who left Skywalkers after 2 am. This did cause me, on a few nights, to hear some noise. It seemed those people were still in party mode and made a bit of noise. If I was asleep, I wouldn’t have been woken up, but I did hear a lot of party type noise as I was trying to fall asleep. I might reconsider this area if I was a light sleeper or retired earlier in the evening, but I would book this area of the ship again in a heartbeat. It was very convenient for our balcony breakfasts and snacks. It was also a few feet from the door to the adults only Terrace Pool. I went out and got a few cocktails from the bar there on more than one occasion.

Well, all good things must come to an end, and cruises are no exception. I really like the 9-day cruise as after 2 days, you are starting a 7 day cruise. You just get the lay of the land and then can really feel at home. We know these ships well as we have sailed on the Grand twice and the Crown twice. Aside from a few minor differences, you can almost feel like you are on the same ship. Overall, I think I like the CB or the Grand the best. The ONLY reason I say this is that I feel that with Skywalkers being way aft on these ships, it allows for more open deck space up top on the aft portion of the ship. Also, it’s so cool being in Skywalkers day or night and looking out and seeing the wake. With that being said, if you go back, I probably said in my review of the Crown that I liked her best. It’s like children, you don’t have a favorite, you just love and accept them for their differences. I don’t have kids, yet, so maybe I can do it with cruise ships!

Disembarkation was different for us this year. In the last 2 years on the Crown out of Red Hook, we opted for Self- Walk Off Disembarkation. We just picked up our bags, got an elevator and went to a lounge or the casino and waited to be called off. We then walked right through customs and we were home free. This year, we knew they did not want you taking elevators if you did walk off. However, we did not really see “no elevators” listed on our papers. It said you must be able to handle luggage through stairs, gagngplanks, and stairs. It did not anywhere say you couldn’t take luggage on elevators. All in all, we did regular disembarkation anyway, and it was a bit of a culture shock after 2 years. We had to search for our luggage and it wasn’t in the EXACT spot it said it would be in. We had ORANGE 20, and it was more or less in the section with the ORANGE 18 section. We had to navigate past 1000 other people looking for their luggage and it just seemed chaotic for a very short time. After we found it, we navigated our bags through pushy, rude people and walked through to a very quick customs line. We showed our passports and gave our customs form and we were through in under a minute. We then walked all the way to the first pick up waiting area, as my in-laws were picking us up. We saw some friendly faces from the cruise and that made it easier or harder to say goodbye, depending on how you looked at it. We waited right at the very tip of the curb all the way at the beginning of the pick up area and when my FIL pulled up, I used my HE-MAN strength (LOL) to load our bags in under 20 seconds. We went around the loop, onto the BQE, and were home in the Bronx in under 45 minutes. Goodbye Caribbean Princess, I will miss you!

I can’t really think of any other concern. We had an awesome time and will probably do the same itinerary (4th year in a row) on the CB next summer. The staff was always very nice and helpful. We had anytime dining and always had courteous waiters, some were better than others. I hope this review has been helpful and if I can think of anything else, I will post it on the boards. Go and have a great cruise!! We sure didJ!

[Colo Cruiser]

Great review thanks. :)

 

 

I always wait for my car service at the beginning of the drive too.

[tcrny]

Thank you ... I enjoyed your detailed reviews so much. We will be on the CB in, well, less than 12 hours!!!!! Cannot wait. I will post one as well on my return. Glad you enjoyed your cruise, and I will enjoy every second of it!!! Cathy

[C&F]

Thank you ... I enjoyed your detailed reviews so much. We will be on the CB in, well, less than 12 hours!!!!! Cannot wait. I will post one as well on my return. Glad you enjoyed your cruise, and I will enjoy every second of it!!! Cathy

 

You will enjoy it!! Have a great cruise. Please do post a review, as I live vicariously through each one. You must be so psyched!!

[C&F]

Great review thanks. :)

 

 

I always wait for my car service at the beginning of the drive too.

 

A new lesson learned to get out of there quicker. Although I hate to be leaving the ship, once I am off of her, then it's back to real life and practicality.!! Fastest way out is my favorite way out, lol!!

[dforeigner]

Thank you for taking time to write your detailed reviews.

[NeurosurgeryNP]

Thanks for the review. Can't wait to sail on the CB for the third time in October. Glad that you had a great time. :cool:

[07BMWRT]

Our family will more than likely have a wonderful time on the Aug. 15th sailing on CB and I appreciate all your information and review.

 

We don't have the time right now to go on as many vacations as we like due to where we are as a family at this point so we value our time away even more.

[rotty2]

" I can’t believe that as I type this, I have to go pick up towels from the bathroom floor. No, they don’t get automatically replenished every day."

Next week will be our first Princess cruise, which we are excited to try a new cruiseline. Don't towels left on the bathroom floor usually mean that you want them replaced? I realize that if you want to reuse them that you just hang them back on the towel rack. Is this common practice for Princess not to replace towels? I would just like to know before we leave. Also, thanks for your review, glad you enjoyed your cruise!

[Love to Cook!]

Part Three:

Sea Days, Disembarkation, and odds and ends.

 

If it was ever really bad, I’d have gone back to my cabin, which was kept spotless by our steward, Dennis.

My Mom and I had Dennis on the Riviera deck as well. He was FANTASTIC!!! I miss Dennis!!!!

Thanks for the review - we are sailing on this ship again in October!!

[2552phxcrzr]

Rotty2 - I think the OP was jokingly referring to the towels in the bathroom at home. On Princess, they do replace the towels twice-day if they are left on the floor ... we actually put the ones we want replaced on the floor in the shower stall.

[rotty2]

Rotty2 - I think the OP was jokingly referring to the towels in the bathroom at home. On Princess, they do replace the towels twice-day if they are left on the floor ... we actually put the ones we want replaced on the floor in the shower stall.

Thanks, not enough caffiene in my system this morning, my brain is in low gear.

[Crusin Karen]

Great review, thanks for sharing. We will be on the CB repo cruise in October. One thing stands out tho. You said you balanced 2 trays to take breakfast back to your cabin. I can't remember that Princess has trays :confused: :confused: Is this something new?

[Clutterlady]

Thanks for the final review! Love the CB and would do this cruise again in a "Brooklyn Minute":p

[mpwarder]

It's nice to read positives about the CB. I will be going on my second CB cruise in October and was a bit concerned about all the supposed issues because of the missed dry dock, especially since it will be for my mother in law's 50th birthday with about 15 first time cruisers. I loved this ship and can't wait. Just under 90 days to go.

[Pixelator]

Thanks for your 3part review and all your comments and questions answered! We'll be amidships on Caribe deck on the CB sailing Aug 15 - not as convenient as you, but i think i'll do the same and head up to the Horizon buffet to bring back some breakfast! Where did you find trays? Did you save some from room service?

 

Bob

[C&F]

When I say trays, I meant to say the oval shaped platters/plates. Princess does not have trays. What I was going to do and didn't, was call for room service and keep the tray they bring and use that for the buffet. I didn't really need to though.

Also, yes I was referring to the fact that my towels at home will not get replenished if I leave them there, lol!

[Berliner]

thanks for the great review,well written.cruised her before and can't wait til October.Can see myself walking with a bucket of beer,nothing better than an ice cold one:D