|
|
Why Go?
|
 One of the line's smallest, most intimate ships
|
|
Renamed Ocean Princess in fall 2009 to reflect new deployment
|
|
Romantic Ultimate Balcony meals available for fee
|
|
Features Sabatini's and Sterling Steakhouse
|
|
Cruises to Northern Europe, Iceland, Africa, Asia and more
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tahitian Princess Review
Editor's Note: Tahitian Princess was renamed Ocean Princess in November 2009. The ship was renamed because it no longer sailed in its namesake South Pacific -- and "Ocean Princess" is said to reflect the ship's new, more global deployment. Ocean Princess offers cruises in Asia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa and more.
For someone who's traveled on Princess' bigger ships -- like Sapphire Princess and the still-sparkling Crown -- I boarded Tahitian Princess, one of the line's smallest vessels, not knowing exactly what to expect. Immediately, it was clear I'd left the cookie-cutter world of mega ships for something unique. Burgundy carpets and dark woods dominate the decor throughout the ship, creating a completely different feel than the peachy tones on newer mega-ships like Crown and Sapphire Princess. Sitting areas on either side of the reception desk feature sedate blue couches around a coffee table on Oriental-style carpeting. In a strange way it felt like coming home (or staying at a friend's very large English country house).
Tahitian Princess, which, despite its Polynesian name now offers some of Princess' more exotic itineraries, has its own story to tell. Princess acquired the 30,277-ton, 670-passenger ship and sister-ship Pacific Princess in 2002 from now-defunct Renaissance Cruises where it was one of eight near-identical mid-size ships. Its one of three of the "R-class" ships in Princess fleet (Royal Princess and Pacific Princess are largely identical).
On Tahitian Princess, the exterior received the bulk of the changes: The ship was outfitted with Princess' trademark blue-tinted windows and a fresh coat of white paint. However, the interior went untouched. The lobby resembles that of a boutique hotel, with a grand staircase reminiscent of the Titanic as a dramatic focal point with wrought iron railings. Even some of the signage remains from the ship's Renaissance days. The oval plaque outside Sterling Steakhouse, for example, reads simply the Grill; if you are looking for Sabatini's, Princess' Italian eatery, well that's labeled Italian Restaurant.
Once inside, however, the experience is distinctively Princess. Menus are in line with the same eateries elsewhere in the fleet. Indulging at Sabatini's brought back memories of my first experience at that restaurant, on Sapphire Princess in Alaska -- just the same, you choose your main entree only, and a parade of hot and cold appetizers, salads, and pastas are served automatically. It's truly an event, and a Princess trademark I was glad to revisit.
The ship is elegant and gorgeous ... and intimate. There's only one pool (really all it needs) and a cabaret lounge takes the place of a main theater. Only one public space -- the Tahitian Lounge -- really feels Polynesian, with murals of tropical flowers and dark-skinned women gracing the walls. What's sometimes odd about a cruise on Tahitian Princess is that menus and entertainment do not spotlight the itineraries it cruises. Aside from sailaway and certain port days when local performers come aboard for dance and music productions, the onboard atmosphere is generally very different from life on the other side of the gangway (or tender).
In the long run, this separation of ship and shore did not spoil the experience for me; if anything, it enhanced it. I enjoyed coming back to Tahitian Princess each night -- essentially my floating hotel -- and magically waking up in another exotic city the next day.
Having sailed on modern Princess ships including Sapphire and Crown, I found that the size of this gorgeous ship made it possible to get to know the staff onboard; almost all would stop what they were doing to say hello, whether I was passing by with my laptop and coffee first thing in the morning, or coming back onboard from a day ashore drenched from the humidity. It's that personal interaction more than anything else onboard that sets Tahitian Princess apart from its larger fleet mates.
Read Complete Tahitian Princess Review
|
|
|
|
|
|
Princess Ships: Caribbean Princess • Coral Princess • Crown Princess • Dawn Princess • Diamond Princess • Emerald Princess • Golden Princess • Grand Princess • Island Princess • Pacific Princess • Royal Princess • Ruby Princess • Sapphire Princess • Sea Princess • Star Princess • Sun Princess • Tahitian Princess
|
|
|
|
)
)
)
)
