We just returned from our 2nd Caribbean Princess Cruise. We did not particularly like this ship the first cruise, but we were looking for a Princess cruise, our favorite cruise line. The only ship going out of Port Everglades was the above mentioned ship on the dates we chose. Overall, we had an okay cruise, but the ship is still on the bottom of our list. There are about 500 more pax on board than on other Grand Class ships (Golden, Grand, Star - which we love) and it shows. It is so crowded. Forget about breakfast in the Horizon Court....crowded! We had breakfast in the dining room and that was crowded and NOISY. Food in the dining room was not particularly good. We chose to eat at the Caribe Cafe - more on that later. The balcony cabin was tiny with just one small arm chair and a desk chair. The bed was very uncomfortable in spite of the egg crate padding. One bright spot - the Caribe Cafe. Buffet style with dinner tables set for fine dining. Food was excellent and desserts were to die for. It was peaceful and quiet. Princess has great shops, but the atrium area was very crowded.
Many folks enjoyed the cruise, and many were first time cruisers. The activities are typical Princess which are very good. I believe Princess has better activities and more to do than any other cruise line. It's just this ship that I hve a problem with and would not sail on her ever again. I will, however, sail on any other Princess Ship - My favorite is the Coral Princess.
Really appreciate your comparison of various Princess ships and feel your opinion can certainly be trusted because you like Princess ... just not Caribbean Princess!
Hear what you're saying! We were not happy with the OLD Crown Princess ... but have loved all of our other Princess cruises ....
An excellent reminder that ships vary even on our favorite cruise lines.
We had a group of 9 of us on the Caribbean Princess and we all absolutely loved it! We had a waiter and assistant waiter that were among the best we've ever had in our 30 cruises and the food was very good. We've been on several Princess cruises, being Commodore membes, and have always thoroughly enjoyed them. We were on the Crown Princess last March to the Southern Caribbean and there were some things we like more, other things we didn't like as much, while alot of things were identical to the Caribbean Princess.
I do agree that the bedding on Princess is not as good as it should be. I've always felt that Holland America has the most comfortable beds in the industry.
Our group of 9 also sailed on the Navigator of the Seas and while we enjoyed the food better on Princess, there were more amenities on the Navigator, plus the nightclubs stay open later. But all of us agreed we would sail on either of these ships again without a doubt.
Just goes to show that what one person loves, another hates. We once read a review by a guy who thought our cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas was the greates he'd ever taken in his 55 cruises. Yet 6 of us Cruise Planners agents with over 100 cruises thought it was the worse we'd ever been on.
The good thing about cruising is trying them all to find one you like the most.
Coral Princess is my favorite, but I liked the Caribbean Princess. Coral is much less crowded and much more elegant, but I would gladly go on the Caribbean Princess again tomorrow. I don't take issue, however, with anything that was said. I consider the Caribbean Princess to be Princess 101.
Just an observation, but oh my, how nice to read a review with a thumbs down and nobody got pissy!!
I can't really comment since I've not been on the Caribbean Princess - ony the Crown and that is the ONLY Princess ship I've been on. I loved it, but again, nothing to compare it to.
Sorry you didn't enjoy certain parts of your cruise, but I hope you were able to have a great time in spite of the negative parts.
Just an observation, but oh my, how nice to read a review with a thumbs down and nobody got pissy!!
I can't really comment since I've not been on the Caribbean Princess - ony the Crown and that is the ONLY Princess ship I've been on. I loved it, but again, nothing to compare it to.
Sorry you didn't enjoy certain parts of your cruise, but I hope you were able to have a great time in spite of the negative parts.
This is what makes CLF the friendliest cruise forum on the internet! We can disagree but stay civil about it.
Going on my first Princess cruise in October---on the Crown Princess.
Just an observation, but oh my, how nice to read a review with a thumbs down and nobody got pissy!!
I can't really comment since I've not been on the Caribbean Princess - ony the Crown and that is the ONLY Princess ship I've been on. I loved it, but again, nothing to compare it to.
Sorry you didn't enjoy certain parts of your cruise, but I hope you were able to have a great time in spite of the negative parts.
As Char mentioned, that's the great thing about this board. Everyone has their own opinion and we all respect those opinions. As I mentioned, what one person likes, another will hate. But the fun part about cruising is finding the one that's right for you!
Some people love small ships, while others prefer the mega ships. Some want the cheapest cruise possible and do an inside cabin, while other prefer a suite on a luxury cruise line.
And the funny thing is, that you can go on the same ship and have a completely different experience than the first time. We've been on the Grandeur of the Seas three times and the first two times we were not impressed at all. But the third time was very nice - they had completely refurbished the ship, so it looked alot nicer and the food seemed to have improved as well.
But food is definitely one of those things that is VERY subjective. One person loves McDonalds, while another one loves Burger King, while yet another hates both of them.
It's just nice to have so many different varieties to choose from.
I am quite pleased that the above posters took my review of the Carribean Princess and my opinion and read it objectively. One poster regarded this ship as "cruising 101." Exactly. Those I spoke with on board who were first time cruisers were having a great time. We had a nice cruise too, but our first impression of the ship has not changed. I like big ships. I love the Golden (sailed to Europe on her) and the Star, and had a great time on the Navigator of the Seas and the Westerdam. Princess erred by putting 500 additional passengers without expanding the public facilities. And they really should start changiing mattresses. But I truly don't want to worry folks who are booked on the ship for a future sailing. Remember, the Princess product is such a good one, and remains so on this ship. The programs and activities are plentiful and the CD is very good. I call the Princess line a "perky" one. As is always the case, you can make your own fun. I won't sail the Caribbean Princess again, but you will find me on any of the other Princess ships
I haven't been on the Crown or Emerald, but I hear they are designed with a better flow than the Caribbean Princess. I think I'll have to take a cruise on each just to check that out.
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Caribbean Princess
Thanks Kathy! 
Thank you
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We can disagree but stay civil about it. 
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