I am saiilng on the CB on July 1 from Brooklyn NY. I have not sailed on Princess Line since the OLD Pacific Princess a few years back. I liked the small (20,000 ton) ship and thought that the crew did a great job. I have not sailed Princess since that time. I am unhappy with some of what I have read on these boards regarding the CB and appreciate any feedback as I am a new member. Has Princess quality declined with new management and much, much larger ships?
We are a party of six with my mother 80 yo with COPD (will need to use wheelchair if standing too long or going any distance). I have several questions:
1. Can our boarding be expedited to accomodate my mother. what is the best time to arrive at the pier to expedite boarding? Do wheelchair passangers get any prefernce in boarding?
2. We were wait listed for early seating. what are the chances of getting what we wanted. i don't want my mother waiting around too long. For open seating, how long should we be expected to wait for seating for six? Is one dining room better than another for a party of 6?
I'm not sure I know what CB means. But if the title of your post is correct, I'm assuming you mean the Caribbean Princess.
Having been on that ship with a group, I can personally tell you that you will thoroughly enjoy this ship. The ship itself is wonderful, the food is very good, and the service is equally as good. Everyone in our group thought it was outstanding. We are Commodore members and have sailed Princess many times and we've never been disappointed.
To answer your questions, yes, they will assist with wheelchairs and although you won't get expedited embarkation, they will give you some special treatment so that you don't have to wait in the same lines as the rest of us - mainly because they will have to use the elevators for you.
As for when is the best time to board, the biggest line will normally be when they first start boarding, which is around noon. We like to get there about 2:00pm and usually find no lines at all.
As for being waitlisted, it's possible you'll get moved into it but it really depends on how sold out the ship is.
There are three dining rooms of equal size. One is reserved for traditional seating, so there is a main seating and a late seating. The other two dining room are for personal choice dining, so you can go whenever you want to eat. And if you have personal choice dining and find a waiter and/or time you want, you can always call the Matre'd and make a reservation.
Keep in mind that opinions are like bellybuttons; everyone has one! And what one person likes, another will dislike. So take opinions on food and service with a grain a salt. I know people that can't stand Princess, while as I mentioned, we've always had a wonderful experience with them. As I've always said, some people like McDonalds, while others prefer Burger King, and yet others hate them both. That's the great thing about cruising; there's something out there for everyone.
It often comes down to how well you handle the little things; if you want them to upset your vacation, they will. If you just let them role off your back, you'll have a wonderful time.
Thanks Pete--I appreciate the feedback and will follow your advice. really liked the food on Princess when my wife sailed on the Princess (3 years in a row before the ship was sold) and the largely Italian dining room staff was excellent. Can't wait until July 1 to get away again.
My hubby much prefers the larger and newer ships, so we went on the Sapphire Princess (close to the CB's size) in its third month of sailing. We never felt crowded, and I've read that from other people too. There are many members here who have been on the Caribbean Princess and I imagine they will answer any of your questions.
Hopefully you will love her as much as we do. I was sad to see them move her to NYC, but now I look forward to trying her replacement, Emerald Princess.
Because your Mom is in a wheel chair they will move you along faster, and get her on board. I don't know how they do it in NYC, but in Ft. Lauderdale they had a seperate entrance for platinum, Elite and wheelchairs.
As forthe dining room, if you are early eaters, there should be no problem getting atable in anytime. usually between 7-8:30pm that is when you will probably have to wait to be seated. I haven't done this, but was told you can talk to your waiter the first night and he can try to hold a table for you all at a certain time.
Before your cruise if you call them, they usually can tell you if you are off the wait list. Wait for final payment, that is when some peeople drop out.
Hope this helped.
Almost forgot to say, the reason they call her CB, is because Coral Princess was first, so is CP
Hopefully you will love her as much as we do. I was sad to see them move her to NYC, but now I look forward to trying her replacement, Emerald Princess.
Almost forgot to say, the reason they call her CB, is because Coral Princess was first, so is CP
Many people are disappointed that Princess moved the Caribbean to NYC in the Summer, then to San Juan, PR in the Winter. I have been deluged with questions from clients & prospective clients who were looking forward to sailing on her this summer.
Well, the CB issue is just what I thought it was. So, I take it Coral is CP, and Crown will be Crown or CP2 ??
Thanks for all the feedback, Does anyone know if Princess will be sailing from NYC to Bermuda again someday? I'm not a big RCL or Norwegian fan and they seem to be the whole ballgame. Do lines compete for the route?
Thanks for all the feedback, Does anyone know if Princess will be sailing from NYC to Bermuda again someday? I'm not a big RCL or Norwegian fan and they seem to be the whole ballgame. Do lines compete for the route?
Rich
Yes, they have been since 2006 that I'm aware of with the Crown Princess. However, since May of this year, the Caribbean Princess has replaced the Crown. The itinerary is 9 days and departs from NYC. It looks like this:
NYC, At Sea, Bermuda(West End), At Sea, San Juan, PR, St Thomas, Grand Turk, At Sea, At Sea, NYC.
There's one in which the itinerary is the complete reverse of the above one. Celebrity go to Kings Wharf, Bermuda.
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