Grand Princess Cruise Ship Review 2011 for Best Cruise Holidays
Grand Princess is a cruise ship owned by Princess Cruises that maintains the company’s hallmark of excellent service for which Princess Cruises is famous for. It was once billed as the grandest ship on the ocean.” But with the passage of time, it is still impressive, elegant and beautifully designed but has been surpassed by many other cruise ships that are larger, faster and newer.
In May of this year 2011, Grand Princess had a massive renovation that resulted in the addition of many of the Princess signature features such as the Piazza atrium; Alfredo’s Pizzeria; a library and tea lounge named Leaves; Crooner’s Martini bar; and The One5, a new nightclub. Enrichment will also be done on the Lotus Spa, the Horizontal Court buffet restaurant and the wedding chapel and seven new suites will be added.
The Grand Princess divides her time between Europe and the Caribbean. It offers one week or two weeks Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale during the cooler months and in Europe it cruises the Norwegian Fjords, British isles and the Mediterranean from Southampton.
Dining on board Grand Princess is beyond doubt a most memorable experience. The chefs of this remarkable cruise ship are real gastronomic artists that only prepare the freshest and most delicious meals at sea out of the best ingredients. There is a choice between traditional dining at the Botticelli dining room and the flexible anytime dining at the Da Vinci and Michelangelo dining rooms. For specialty dining there is Sabatini’s, an Italian restaurant; Crown Grill for steak and seafood and the Ultimate Balcony Dining. Casual dining is also available at the Horizon Court, Alfredo’s Pizzeria, Preggo Pizzeria, Leaves Tea Lounge & Library, Trident Grill for hot dogs and burgers, and at Vines, a tapas and sushi bar. There is also an ice cream bar, the International Café and a 4 – hour room service.
If dining on board Grand Princess is an unforgettable experience, nighttime entertainment is a remarkable adventure. Grand Princess’ performers are some of the most gifted singers, musicians and dancers performing at the Princess Theater, Vista Show Lounge and Explorer’s Lounge. For guests who want to try their luck, there is the Atlantis Casino. For first-rate movies, the Movies Under the Stars, an outdoor theater show first-rate movies while The One5 is where guests dance the night away.
Grand Princess
Photo by John Ambler
For the under 18 guests, Grand Princess offers age appropriate activities and amenities where they can have fun and do their own thing. Grand Princess’ youth and teen centers have the newest movies and video games, arts and crafts, jukeboxes, board games, and fooseball tables. For the tiny ones there are activities such as pajama nights, pizza parties, karaoke and more.
Dawn Princess Cruise Review for Best Cruise Holidays
The newly refurbished Dawn Princess, a cruise ship owned by the Princess Cruises, operates out of Australia and travels to some of the most exotic and interesting destinations in the world that includes the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. It is a large ship with a small-ship’s intimate ambiance that offers its 1950 passengers a one- of- a- kind cruising experience – from the serene harmony of the Sanctuary, the outdoor for adults – only hideaway, to the family oriented Movies Under the Stars.
In the tradition of the Princess Cruises, Dawn Princess offers unequalled gourmet experience. Its chefs are true culinary artists that have been inducted in the highly esteemed Chaîne des Rôtisseurs gastronomic society. Every menu served at the Dawn Princess are of the most superb creative cuisine with selections changed daily. Traditional dining on board Dawn Princess is presented in two dining rooms, the Florentine and Venetian Dining Rooms. While alternative dining venues serving wonderful local delicacies and gourmet choices are Sterling Steakhouse and Ultimate Balcony dining. For casual dining, guests have a choice of a 24-hour dining at the Horizon Court, La Scala Pizzeria, Patisserie, Balcony Grill for hot dogs, burgers, pies and the like. Afternoon is also served daily and a 24-hour room service is available.
Activities on board Dawn Princess are intended to motivate, educate, amuse, encourage and make guests really sweat. All these can be had from its pools and spas-the Riviera Pool plus two hot tubs and Lotus Spa also with two hot tubs; through its gym and fitness area, virtual golf simulators, shuffle board and spots courts; to its enriching programs of lectures, art exhibits and classes conducted by experts.
Dawn Princess
Photo by Kabacchi
Entertainment and nightly activities also sizzle on board Dawn Princess. Its theater venues are intended to stage outstanding performances or show first –run movies with the best seats in the house and great acoustics. Guests also have the choice of sitting quietly sipping a cocktail or having an animated and lively time with old and new friends in one of the ship’s lounges.
Coral Princess Review for the Best Cruise Holidays
Coral Princess is one of only two cruise ships of the Princess Cruises that is specially built to cruise through the Panama Canal and the Gulf of Alaska. It can accommodate 1,970 passengers and serviced by 900 crew members in its staterooms, 85% of which are outside stateroom with 700 balconies to view the outstanding engineering marvel of Panama Canal and the spectacular glaziers of the Alaska Gulf.
Coral Princess
Photo by Stephen Rees
The coral Princess features a wedding chapel for wedding-at-sea officiated by the ship’s captain; three unique show lounges such as the Universe Lounge, an interactive two-story lounge; a nine-hole golf putting course complete with a golf simulator; a gym with an ocean view located at a Bali -inspired spa; a sports court; a teen and child center; the Neptune Pool; the Cigar and Spirits lounge; a 60’s Retro Martini bar; a spacious casino and a 24 –hour Internet Café.
Coral Princess in Ocho Rios – Jamaica
Photo by Corvair Owner
Dining on board Coral Princess is a suit –your schedule – and -your preference type of dining where guests can choose the time and type of dining they prefer. There are two main dining rooms, the Bordeaux and the Provence dining rooms that offer a traditional dining style at the same time for every meal attended by courteous and attentive waiters. There are also other dining options such as the trendy Sabatini’s an Italian trattoria and a New Orlean’s-type restaurant called the Bayou Café, a first in the cruising industry.
For casual dining guests have a choice of several casual dining venues such as, The Grill for hotdogs and burgers; the Horizon court for 24-hour dining; and the Princess Pizza for mouthwatering pizzas. On board Coral Princess there is also a patisserie, a wine bar, a sundae and ice cream bar and 24 – hour room service.
Nightlife entertainment on board the Coral Princess is unparalleled with outstanding performers offering Broadway quality performances in venues designed with impressive acoustics such as the Princess theater and its movie house, Movies Under the Stars, an outdoor theater, presents feature-length first-run movies.
