Our journey began in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where we boarded the Caribbean Princess Cruise Ship to go on 4 back to back cruises totaling 2 months on an itinerary featuring Eastern US and Canada Ports, and Greenland.
By sailing on the Caribbean Princess for 2 months, we thought that we would introduce the ship to you by showing you many of the amenities, and give you a tour of where we have been living for 2 months.
There are many locations around the ship, so we would like to cover the main areas including some of the staterooms that we have been in, the bars and lounges that we have been spending time in, the dining areas, and other important areas around the ship.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE SHIP: About The Caribbean Princess
The Caribbean Princess first came out in 2004 with a capacity of 3140 guest passengers, and a total of 1556 cabins! In addition to this, there are 1200 crew, making the amount of souls on board totaling up to 4260 according to the Princess Website.
There was a refurbishment of the Caribbean Princess back in May, 2019.
Overall, our time aboard the Caribbean Princess Cruise ship has been pretty great. The ship is in good condition overall, and it has the same sense of luxury that the rest of the fleet has. What we did notice the most, was that the crew, for the most part, are outstanding. Most of the crew are extremely positive and helpful in making every aspect of our 8 week stay, a great experience.
The overall presence of the ship is clean, bright and sparkling, and the staff are super friendly. The overall atmosphere has a good energy.
GUARANTEED STATEROOMS
We were in multiple rooms for this cruise as we had decided to do 4 Back To Back cruises. Our staterooms were B514; B630; B505; A342, and C323
For these particular cruises, we had decided to save as much money as we could by purchasing a "guaranteed balcony" where Princess ended up choosing our rooms for us. The idea was that we would bid for an upgrade and change our room if we didn't like it. Well, we had bid for an upgrade on all of our 4 sailings, but we didn't get it on the first three because the ship was operating at full capacity.
We did get our upgrade bid for the last of our four B2B's. For a nominal amount of money, we were upgraded from the standard balcony to a premium balcony in Caribe 323.
The majority of our rooms for these 2 months were on the Baha Deck: Starting on the Baha Deck, you'll find that the balcony staterooms offer a comfortable and cozy space to relax and enjoy the stunning ocean views. The Baha Deck is often a great choice for those who appreciate a quieter atmosphere and easy access to other decks.
This standard balcony room is on the Starboard Side of the ship. It is a connecting room, and it did get loud as we could hear EVERYTHING through the door and over the balcony. Our neighbors liked to speak loudly, and we felt like we had to keep turning our TV up so that we could drown them out.
The room itself was comfortable and located in a great section of the ship. Overall, the hallway was quiet, and the room was clean. The only thing that didn't work was the bathroom light. It took a long time for the lights to turn on, so you had to fumble around in the dark for about 30 seconds.
Stateroom B630
This balcony stateroom was also on the Starboard side and way closer to the back of the ship, conveniently located steps away from the elevator!
The room didn't have any issues except for the neighbors who lived on the one side of us. They loved to scream at each other, constantly slam the doors, AND they NEVER left their room. EVER. It was the first time that we were counting down the days for the trip to be over so that we could get away from the neighbors!
Stateroom B505
This balcony room is located on the PORT side, mid ship. It is another connecting room so you can hear people through the wall. Thankfully, there is only one passenger in the room, but he does like to listen to music and the TV VERY loudly. There was also a group of people who were all friends, and so either side of our balcony was always full with guests visiting the neighbours.
Thankfully, we ended up leaving this room after 2 nights because there was a sewer smell that would not go away. It turns out that the room required a major renovation, so somehow, we got to change rooms! Yay!
Stateroom A341
This is a downgraded version of B505, but for us, it was the BEST room in terms of the quietness of the neighbours. It is located on the Aloha Deck, which on the Caribbean Princess, is on the 12th floor. It is very convenient to the middle of the ship elevators.
The outdoor furniture is not as fancy as B505, or B514, but that really isn’t the biggest deal for us.
We then moved from this room, down two floors to the Caribe Deck. Watch here to see a brief video of how we changed locations.
Stateroom C323
We upgraded to this premium balcony on the 10th floor. We were originally supposed to be in R329, which is directly under the "Salty Dog". We did NOT want to imagine ourselves underneath the sound of constant scraping chairs from the floor above, so we bidded for the upgrade!
Stateroom C323, the balcony is a lot deeper and has a partial cover, so that you are not in complete view of the onlooking floor above.
Overall, the Caribe Deck is known for its spacious balconies, offers a touch of luxury and extra room to spread out. These balconies are often great for hosting private gatherings or simply indulging in moments of solitude while taking in the fresh sea breeze. Staying on the Caribe Deck can provide a sense of exclusivity and a high level of comfort.
Each of the staterooms that we had purchased were all Guaranteed rooms. The rooms were all standard in their layout, with comfy bedding!
Lastly, if you are wondering how we transferred all of our stuff from room to room, well, yes, we had to pack each time. (Check out the video for our moving hack) We have to be packed by 8am each morning, and then when our next room was ready, an attendant would come and help bring all of our stuff over to the next room.
CHANGING ROOM FAIL: We had packed a few beers into our luggage, as we were literally just throwing things in the bag to move a few rooms over... when we unpacked, we found that one of the beers broke in our luggage and ALL of our things in that bag were wet and soaked with beer.
DINING, BARS AND LOUNGES
Indulging in a culinary journey on the Caribbean Princess Cruise ship is an experience like no other. With an astonishing variety of dining and drinking venues, each day feels like a fresh adventure awaiting exploration.
There is a diverse array of options on the Caribbean Princess, from the elegant dining rooms to the casual eateries. As WFPB eaters, we found tons of different food options and chefs to help make sure that we ate exactly like we are used to!
A quick tour of the Caribbean Princess dining venues, bars and lounges:
1. The Casino Bar: A lively hub within the ship's casino, offering a variety of beverages while you enjoy gaming and entertainment. We didn't spend any time in here because we found it pretty smokey.
2. Calypso Bar: This is by the pool area. It serves refreshing drinks and cocktails, providing a tropical atmosphere for relaxation.
3. Churchill’s Lounge: An elegant lounge where you can smoke. Honestly, the entire casino area really smelled like smoke. The casino is located just outside of the Princess Theatre, so it is really hard to avoid walking through the smoke.
4. Club Fusion: A venue for entertainment, events, and gatherings, offering space that transforms to accommodate different activities. We don't particularly like the way that this club is set up, as it is difficult to see any performers without resorting to watching the television screen.
5. Coffee and Cones: A spot to satisfy your cravings with ice cream and specialty coffee drinks. They do have almond and soy milk if you are not into dairy.
6. Coral, Island and Palm Dining Rooms: The main dining rooms on the ship, offering a formal dining experience with diverse menu options. They have a vegan menu, you just have to ask for it.
7. Crooners Bar: This is the classic Princess lounge with live music. It is very small and awkwardly placed, but overall good entertainment.
8. Crown Grill: A steakhouse offering an upscale dining experience with steaks and seafood. As WFPB eaters, we actually never went in there except to play cards during the daytime. (Check out our special Hide-Away on the Caribbean Princess Video!)
9. Explorers Lounge: An inviting space perfect for relaxing, reading, or enjoying a cocktail while playing a lot of great games with other passengers and the entertainment staff.
10. Good Spirits Bar: Enjoy a wide selection of spirits and cocktails in a friendly atmosphere.
11. International Cafe: A convenient café offering a range of sandwiches, pastries, and specialty coffees. They offer a few veggie choices, and alternative milks for your coffee.
12. Outriggers Bar: A poolside bar that serves refreshing beverages and tropical cocktails.
13. Planks BBQ: BBQ food that is located on the 15th floor. You need a reservation!
14. The Salty Dog: Sadly, on the Caribbean Princess, we didn’t go to the Salty Dog grill more than twice. (We gave it 2 tries because we thought maybe the first chef on the first day had a bad day, but, no. The food was just not good both times.)
SALTY DOG FAIL: We normally love the Salty Dog Grill as some princess ships offer decent veggie burgers and Black bean tacos (with sweet potato). But in our experiences on the Caribbean princess, the food was inedible both times. Each time, the food had no flavor, the food was cold, and we also faced unhappy cooks who seemed to reluctantly follow through on making our requests. (For example, we asked if they could add more black beans as there was literally one bean in the sweet potato). Both times we had tried ordering the veggie burgers and tacos, and could not eat more than one bite.
15. Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria: Experience authentic Italian food in an elegant setting. There is a cover charge, but as a WFPB eater, we never tried this venue.
16. Skywalkers Nightclub: A late-night hotspot with panoramic views, featuring live music, dancing, and a vibrant atmosphere. We spent many evenings dancing the night away here!
About The Skywalkers Lounge. The lounge is located at the end of the ship and it is very close to the Air conditioning system that cools the whole ship.... this means that this room is usually VERY COLD. In fact, I wore a blanket over myself while we were in there playing cards during the day.
17. Slice Pizza: Great pizza with a variety of toppings and flavors. This one, in particular, is our number one recommendation for WFPB eaters. We usually brought some additional toppings that we would find, and ask the pizza guy to add it to our pizza.
We loved Slice Pizzeria as they had made us each a pizza coated with tons of veggies and removed the cheese for us. The quality was super good!
18. The Reefs Bar: A tranquil and serene setting where you can enjoy drinks and cocktails by the pool.
19. The MIX: A bar with some live music performances.
20. Tradewinds Bar: Located on the top deck, this bar offers refreshing drinks and a panoramic view of the open sea.
21. The Sanctuary: An exclusive and peaceful retreat offering relaxation, spa services, and serene surroundings. This is not a free place to go to, so we didn't spend any time here.
22. Vines Bar: A wine bar offering an impressive selection of wines from around the world.
23. Wheelhouse Bar: A traditional British-style pub offering classic drinks and a cozy atmosphere. This is probably one of the nicest spots to have a quiet drink, listen to good music, and have a conversation without having to shout at one another.
24. World Fresh Marketplace: An international buffet-style eatery where you can explore a variety of global cuisines. If you are a WFPB eater, make sure that you introduce yourself to the SOUS chef right away, so that they can accommodate you for the rest of your cruise.
25. Omelette Station: Enjoy made-to-order omelettes and breakfast favorites at this station within the buffet. In our case, we asked for sauteed veggies every day with no eggs, no cheese and no oil. They were very accommodating.
General Daily Things To Do On The Ship:
There is so much to do on a ship. The Entertainment changes every day, the passengers change, and the cruise destinations change. For the most part, we can summarize cruising into dining, entertainment, spending time in outdoor spaces, the spa, going on excursions, spending time socially with others, and experiencing the enrichment activities!
Dining: The Caribbean Princess ship has a diverse range of dining options, from casual buffet-style venues to specialty restaurants.
Entertainment: The Caribbean Princess has Broadway-style shows to live music performances and daily activities such as trivia.
Pools and Outdoor Spaces: Whether you prefer lounging by the pool, or hanging out at the hot tub, or taking part in outdoor sports activities, the ship's pool areas and open decks provide ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation.
Wellness and Relaxation: Spa and fitness facilities on board offer opportunities to unwind and stay active. This ship has a gym, a basic thermal spa, good services, and paid classes that include Yoga, and the Barre Workout.
Shore Excursions: While spending 8 weeks on the Caribbean Princess, we've had a chance to purchase a couple of excursions with Princess. Overall it is pricy, but guaranteed that the ship won't leave without you if you purchase with Princess. (The ship waited a half hour for us on our excursion to Salem!)
Social Spaces: The ship's lounges, bars, and social areas have likely been wonderful places to connect with fellow passengers, share stories, and make new friends.
Enrichment Activities: There have been some great enrichment talks regarding our ports. It is always fun to learn something while at sea.
We had a great time spending 2 months on the Caribbean Princess. We hope that you have a better idea of what this ship is like and what it has to offer. We will have another blog describing some of the activities on this ship in better detail coming soon.
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