We sailed the December 22, 2019 to Jan 5, 2020 Caribbean Connoisseur cruise. I have always wanted to sail on the Pacific Princess since I was a little girl watching the Love Boat. Although it isn't the same boat as the show, Pacific is a beauty! We enjoyed a smaller ship. It was easy to get around and find places to read, have a nice conversation and just relax. We liked that we could mingle with other guests and really get to know people. It was two weeks of Heaven! The food was great, the service was fantastic and the itinerary was out of this world!! I would highly recommend sailing on a smaller ship. Loved it!! It was definitely an older crowd which was not an issue for us at all. We really liked a more personal cruise and made some lovely new friends of all ages. We would have liked some more up to date music and offer activities for those of us in our 30's and 40's. We heard lots of music from the 50's and 60's which wasn't terrible but some more variety would have been nice. Check in was easy and friendly. We got right to our cabin but we did have to bring up our own luggage which was odd but we at least had it right away. I guess this isn't the norm but we were one of the last few to board and it was only around 1:00-1:30pm. Our cabin was clean and adequate. The closet was small for a two week cruise but we managed and utilized the desk drawers and cabinet next to the closet. The balcony was a good size for the two of us. The bathroom is typical...small but does the job. The hair dryer is attached to the wall above the toilet. A little strange but it worked fine. The buffet area was easy to navigate and had lots of choices most days but it was very hot in there most of the time. Sit on the side where the coffee bar is, it is a little bit cooler on that side. The staff there was very friendly. There were many choices for breakfast but it seemed to be nearly the same each morning. Sit down breakfast is available in the main dining room on non port days or when the ship pulls into port later in the morning/early afternoon. Lunch in the buffet had lots of choices from hot items like fish, chicken wings, various salads (warm and cold), sandwiches, soups, rice dishes, vegetarian choices, desserts including ice cream and lots of other items. We had late seating in the main Dining Room. Food was good and service was great! We really enjoyed our table mates as well. We had lots of fun every night. The ship was recently dry docked. I thought the decor was tasteful and elegant. The grand staircase is lovely. The ship seemed to be in good shape and all areas were clean. The best part of a small ship is no crowded areas, very few lines anywhere (if any at all), places to sit around the pool as well as other common areas. The library was well stocked as well as the card room. There were always seats for the movies and shows in the Cabaret Lounge. The Pacific Lounge was my favorite as it had great views from just about everywhere and there were plenty of places to stay cool and sit and read on a hot port day or play trivia with new friends. If you're a gambler, be advised the casino is very small but again, it wasn't usually very crowded and the bar was a generous size. There is a piano entertainment area just around the corner so you can listen to music and play 3 card poker or the slots! They also have bingo in this area on certain days. We started off as Ruby and made it to Platinum by the end of the cruise so we did do our own laundry to cut down on what we packed. There is a self serve laundry on deck 7 port side. It was right down the hall from our cabin, 7042. It takes tokens and as of our sailing, you have to get tokens from the front desk. Bring your own laundry detergent. I bring pods and some dryer sheets to cut down on costs. It's $3.00 each for a wash and dry and $1.50 for a box of detergent. We hit some rough seas on the first two sea days and it was a challenge for some. Barf bags were placed all over the ship and some passengers were not happy. It is what it is just make sure you prepare. I use scopolomine patches and have little to no issues. Many used Bonine or Dramamine and were fine. Just know this is an older smaller ship and you will feel some movement more so than on larger, newer ships. Overall we liked this cruise and got to go to many destinations we hadn't been to before. I would highly recommend the Pacific Princess if you want to try a smaller ship without the bells and whistles of the oversize mega ships. No lines, no crowds, no screaming children running wild (nothing against kids at all), no chair hogs, no crowded pool or hot tubs etc. We love Princess and we would definitely sail on Pacific Princess again if we had the chance to. Read Less

Having an opportunity to experience the Atlantic and Caribbean islands during Christmas and New Year 2020 on a smaller cruise ship is why we choose the Pacific Princess. This allowed us to have 2 sea days to get acquainted with the ship and new friends while heading to St. John, USVI where we snorkeled in Trunk Bay. Our itinerary took us to the lovely islands of Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Martinique, Barbados, Antigua. The smaller ship allowed us to visit the small island of Mayreau, The Grenadines with its beautiful coconut palm lined beaches and lovely crystal clear waters. Our furthest island south was Tobago. Our final island paradise was Virgin Gorda, BVI with its dazzling views from Gorda Peak National Park of Eustatia, Prickly Pear, Necker Island and Mosquito Islands with their many turquoise waters and numerous beaches. The Pacific Princess entertainment was the best that we have ever experienced on our many cruises. Joe Thomas provided us with his stunning piano playing of memorable songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s. AJ Clarke is a composer, pianist, singer and entertainer. He featured very unique renditions of songs at random requested by the audience and self arrange the songs in one continuous song. Lowell Fox provided numerous lectures accompanied by old TV video clips of the era of early live comical television such as Sid Ceasar, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope and George Burns. If you are looking for a small and quality cruise ship with world class amenities I recommend booking a cruise in the Pacific Princess. Read Less

We chose the 17 day Renaissance Explorer from Civitavechia (Rome) to Fort Lauderdale. This gave us the opportunity to spend four days in Rome before boarding the beautiful Pacific Princess. We booked an obstructed Oceanview guarantee and were booked in cabin 6036, which luckily had a view between two lifeboats and was a beautiful cabin. We are "old style" cruisers, enjoying the smaller ship experience, set dining times with the same waiters and table-mates each evening (second sitting), formal nights and smart casual for the dining room, and no amusement parks on board. Princess has the best entertainment at sea and we enjoyed wonderful production shows, incredibly talented musicians and singers, and interesting and educational speakers. No hairy chest contests here! Fun game show formats, trivia several times a day, guitar lessons and dance lessons. My husband is a musician and for the first time in many years of cruising, he had use of a Princess guitar which he kept personally for the entire 17 days (calluses were kept intact and his daily practice regime was possible). I am a retired dancer. choreographer and director - I loved the talks with the entertainers where we could hear all about the hiring and rehearsal procedures, and life on board as a professional entertainer. The service was excellent. In fact, every crew and staff member on board was friendly - we felt like one big family by the end of the cruise. We also enjoyed all of the ports, and the sea days were especially wonderful with so many events and activities available. Embarkation and debarkation were a breeze - no wait at all! There were very few children on board and the ones that were on board were delightful and well behaved. The food was excellent - always new items on the menu every night with a wonderful selection of favorites. Made to order omelets and eggs available in the lido buffet with a great outdoor table section facing aft. We definitely hope to sail on the Pacific Princess once every year. Read Less

I traveled alone on this cruise because I wanted to spend some time in Portugal and Rome before the cruise and this cruise departed from Rome. It also stopped in two ports I had never visited so another bonus. This is a very small ship with only 672 passengers so the experience was totally different from the BIG ships. The elevators were very fast and almost always, I was the only passenger on the elevator. And the only time I encountered a line at any venue was on the Mexican Sunday Brunch extravaganza. So, unlike every other cruise I have been on, the aggravation level each day was greatly reduced. Far and away the most beautiful library I have have ever seen on a ship. An incredible amount of books and lots of comfortable seats and tables. And there a table specifically for puzzle lovers who worked them each day. There is a very small entertainment venue but I never encountered it completely full. And the chairs were very comfortable. Not theater chairs but really nice free standing chairs. The buffet, while quite small in comparison to most of the big ships had very good food and one of the best dessert selections I have seen on buffets. If you are someone who likes sampling the specialty restaurants this is probably not your cruise ship. There are two specialty restaurants on board, an upscale Italian, Sabatini's, and a steakhouse, Sterling Grill. I did sample each and the food was very good along with exceptional service. But they alternated openings so only one of them was open each night. Read Less

I had been nudging my spouse to make a trip outside the western hemisphere and get some new passport stamps. This cruise was available at a good price two weeks prior to sailing so we jumped at the opportunity. So glad we did. We spent two nights in Rome prior to sailing at the Hotel Quirinale. The staff was very accommodating from storing our luggage prior to check in, preparing a sack breakfast when we had an early tour scheduled, to providing directions and calling taxis. The included breakfast was quite nice. The room was small but lovely and fit all of our needs... clean and comfortable. We took the 7-hour Rome in a day tour from the Tour Guy. If you have limited time, do this. We saw the major sites, skipped the lines, and our guide, Maria, shared a wealth of information and was able to answer all of the questions presented to her. Embarkation could not have been easier. There was not a line and we were on board in under 10 minutes, and our luggage beat us to our cabin. As noted in prior reviews, a small ship is the way to go to avoid lines. Disembarkation was just as easy and not crowded. Had we chosen to, we could have disembarked 30 minutes prior to our assigned time, but we had no plans and a long wait for our upcoming flight so... The on-board entertainers are outstanding. Very talented and personable people, and they all work hard leading other programs, dance, guitar and origami classes or ping-pong, Wii, and mini golf. The Dancing with the Crew performance was not to be missed. I was not as impressed by the visiting performers; they were not as talented as those I've seen on the larger Princess ships. The venue does not lend itself for viewing a performance unless you happen to get a front row seat; the majority of the seating is at one level. The food was delicious in the main dining room, buffet, and pub lunches. We especially enjoyed the sushi and Mongolian grill. We too encountered the wait for the Mexican brunch, but it was worth it! Every crew member was friendly and helpful. Gustavo waited on us at breakfast. He not only remembered without prompting how my husband prefers his oatmeal, but he also offered travel information for his native country. Pompeii is not to be missed whether you book it through the cruise or an onshore vendor. Pictures and documentaries do not do it justice. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The information shared by the guides is fascinating. I loved Palermo! We shared a taxi and 3-hour tour with another couple. We went to the top of Pellegrino, the Cathedral, the royal house, four corners and even crashed a wedding. So much history to see. Compared to Rome and Naples, the city is clean. No graffiti, trash and homeless. Gibraltar and Cadiz were both great for walking. We took the tram to the top of the rock and walked our way down. I got in over 9 miles. Guard your gear from the monkeys! They like to take glasses, hats etc. FYI, if you visit the Siege Caves, there is no exit at the end. You must retrace your steps uphill. It's not that far but worth noting. The parks in Cadiz were beautiful. We walked to the fort and enjoyed the beach. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife we took the ship excursion to the Volcanic National Park. The views are incredible. You'll want to wear your seat belts! Our driver covered those winding roads competently, but very quickly. If you like sea days as I do, you can't go wrong on the Pacific Princess. There were numerous activities scheduled for entertainment or wonderful locations for relaxing. Read Less

We have sailed on the Pacific Princess before, 12 years ago when she was called the Tahitian Princess, and our memories did not betray us. We had a wonderful time. We were on the 12 night Greek Conusseur leg of the voyage, Venice to Rome, with port stops nearly everyday. We loved the entertainment, there was quite a variety of shows from classical to comedy and we thought the sound system was brilliant. (My partner was a sound engineer). I learned to play blackjack, not sure if that was a good thing, but the casino staff were friendly and helpful and very professional. I thought the food was great, we had late dining and made good friends with our table mates. I love the decor of this ship, with the domed painted ceilings and the murals reminiscent of Guagain. Our cabin was ok but I would not choose that location again. I thought being right in the bow would be fun, but the movement was pronounced. The shore tours were interesting but I’m not a port person, my partner is though and he enjoyed going on as many as possible. I loved doing the watercolour painting, but my partner opted for mandolin lessons that were a bit of a shambles. He took it all in good humour though. Embarkation was a breeze in Venice and even though we were a bit early they processed us and had no queues at all. Disembarkation was equally as efficient. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the itinerary. We have never been to some of the countries and ports visited on this voyage. We were impressed by the ports. We enjoyed all the excursions we took. customer service was superb. Embarkation was a breeze. The crew was attentive friendly and professional. The ship had been recently refurbished. We found it very easy to get around. We enjoyed the food. It was better than we anticipated. The cruise director Peter was a lot of fun. we thoroughly enjoyed the ship entertainers as well. From beginning to end it was an amazing cruise. It was sad when it ended. It is rare to take a cruise and not encounter any problems. It was so difficult to say goodbye to the crew who took such good care of us. The captain was so friendly. The officers were very present. They were all so welcoming. Read Less

From the moment we arrived we were made to feel special. The embarkation process was simple and easy. Our room was ready as requested and our cabin steward was personable, attentive and learned our habits and likes. Our room was always returned to impeccable. The MaîtreD, Alberto, was beyond amazing and welcoming to everyone in the dining room. He was attentive and ensured the dining staff was as well. He made us feel special. Jude, the Casino Bar bartender, was amazing. He looked at my card once, memorized my name, billing code and drink preference and remembered for the entire 12 days. He was amazing. The staff on board were so pleasant and kind and paid a lot of attention to the passengers. There was a significant contingency present at the disembarking wishing us well. I have cruised with a lot of lines but Princess is my first choice. I must return to enjoy it more but leave with great memories. Read Less

We chose this cruise as it was a small ship (660 passengers), was visiting places we wanted to see, and was when we were in Europe visiting other countries. Firstly our cabin was obviously designed for twin beds but the turned it into a double. What this meant was that when your pillow was in the wrong position it hit the light switch and turned all the cabin lights on. This happened several times over the 12 days. Also we were on the 4th floor above the gangway on the 3rd floor, every time we docked we were awoken by banging, crashing, and even one morning by an angle grinder as they prepared for disembarkation in port. One excursion we got absolutely soaked getting from the ship to the bus and had to sit for seven hours in wet squelchy clothes- not good. As it was a small ship you had only one choice of entertainment each night and it was hit and miss as to quality. The acoustics in the dining room were so noisy that my poor father, who wears hearing aids, couldn’t have them turned on so missed out on conversations in the end we had buffet dinners. Also when did you go to a fine dining restaurant and have Purcel squirted into your hands as you entered??? No free bottled water??? Even on the trains in Europe you get a free bottle of water, also free in every hotel - no Princess wanted USD $7 for a bottle of water !!! We have decided that as a family we are never going on a cruise again Read Less

This is really down market. Food is a very low standard - eating in the main dining room is like eating in a cafeteria. Food in the main dining room is often reheated from the buffet. Orders are taken in a hurried manner, plates are slapped down, and often plates are taken away by wait staff while others at the table are still eating. The ship is old and desperately needs a refurb. My shower had mould and a not very clean looking shower curtain. Entertainment was pretty good though. Everything is an add-in cost. They even charge for bottled drinking water, and gratuities are constantly added onto prices. Better to go on an all-inclusive cruise line (like Crystal or Scenic) because at least you know what you are getting for your money. Nothing would persuade us to ever travel with the Princess line again - it’s a bit bogan! Read Less

We loved the small ship! The size was just right for us and we didn't miss all the bells and whistles and thousands of other passengers on the huge other ships we've sailed in the past. Embarkation in Civitavecchia was the fastest and easiest we've ever had. Our cabin, 7088, was in the perfect location--just a few doors down from the laundromat and close to the elevator. Disembarkation and transportation to the Venice airport arranged by Princess was quick and easy. The food was amazing. I never disliked anything we had and there were so many choices in the main dining room. Every server and bar tender we encountered on the ship was excellent, friendly, and efficient. We loved the entertainment including Dan & Elliott (The Cruisetones) in the Casino Bar, Walker Black in Pacific Lounge, Paul Barton in the Casino Bar, and the very talented singers, dancers, and performers in main showroom. The ports of call were wonderful and all the tours we took with Princess and the ones we arranged on our own were great. The recently refurbished decor was very pleasant. We've never slept better on the most comfortable bed and bedding we've had on a ship. The temperature was easy to adjust in the cabin and the balcony was a good size. Our steward kept everything in tip top shape. We'd happily sail again on the Pacific Princess. Read Less

Pacífic Princess is the smallest ship in the entire Princess fleet. It’s size allows passengers to meet others and form new friends, on a first name basis! The relaxing ambience means it is unlikely to be pushed by other passengers, which is an awesome feeling. The nightly entertainment is outstanding and the Cruisetone group, consisting of two men, who play jazz and other tunes is captivating. There are activities throughout the day, at times it’s hard to decide which one to attend. The captain is a young super tall man who hails from Italy. He’s so gracious with the passengers and comes out daily at breakfast to say hello, surveilling the ship as he’s walking about. This was a 12 day Mediterranean cruise, 9 days in port. Personally, I’ve learned to enjoy the sea days more than the port days. I made two ports additional sea days. The ADA inside cabin, 4035, is a quiet room with no neighbors. There was never any noise from the Medical Center which neighbors this cabin. The only downside of this room was the small size and placement of the TV and the size of the refrigerator. I would have loved it if they would have mounted the TV on the wall opposite of the bed. It is offset of the bed and odd to view at the angle it’s mounted at. The closet area where the refrigerator was at was odd, because of the head from the refrigerator nothing could be placed on top of it. It’s a small refrigerator that I wish could be larger... as if I could bring more snacks to put inside of it. There are so many relaxing pool chaise lounges available, with nobody dragging them or saving them for others. There are large pool towels and blankets available should anyone need one. I noticed new teak sofa type furniture, pillows and a coffee table have been added in the grill area. I loved sitting there to hear the outside band play poolside. The gym literally had nobody working out so it was awesome to have the space to oneself. The jogging/walking track seldom had anyone using it. The ping pong table gets a lot of use, mainly if there is anyone less than 30 years old onboard playing. The internet could use some beefing up with their satellite system. It was completely down for close to 1.5 days. Most of the time it was consistently slow. It has not been converted to the Medallion Net. I’m wondering if it ever will be! As an Elite loyalty passenger, I got 250 free internet minutes plus I used my husband’s 250 free minutes. LOL The Pacific Princess is known for older passengers cruising, occasionally, there are a handful of kids, maybe because parents failed to investigate what types of children activities/play areas were available before they booked the cruise... there are none available, nor any babysitters. It’s the only ship where Princess doesn’t provide children’s activities/play areas nor services. The food choices are good, as well as the quality and taste. A passenger is easily spoiled by their awesome staff, who are hard workers, always ready to help make your cruise the best you’ve ever had. I doubt anyone lost any weight while onboard. It’s my fourth cruise on the Pacific Princess in the last 18 months. Needless to say, it’s my favorite ship. I’ll be back onboard two more time within the next six months. Definitely for the World Cruise in 2020! I’m saddened that the Pacific Princess will not be doing the World Cruises as of 2021. I hope that Princess reconsiders and puts it back on this intimate cruising ship. I’ve cruised on many other Princess ships but none can compete with the cruising experience of the Pacific Princess! Read Less

We've cruised the Mediterranean twice before and have been on many other cruises. We chose this trip because friends were going and we had loved visiting Spain, France and Italy in the past. We had never been to Gibraltar and really knew very little about it - yet it turned out to be our favorite port! We upgraded to a Balcony room so we could enjoy quiet time to ourselves - turned out to be a waste of money. The Pacific Princess is a very small ship - easy to get around, however, not much to get around too. The staterooms were typical, however, no special touches or service from the staff. The entertainment was VERY limited and honestly poor quality talent. Cruise director staff was the poorest and most boring we have ever experienced. There was no energy or enthusiasm on the ship - no dancing, no "playing". Even in the casino the staff was not engaging. If you are looking for a very quiet ship, basically in bed by 10 - this may not have been the disappointment it was to us. We found the quality of the food to be below average as well as the service. This was our first Princess experience, so I don't know if this is typical of Princess, however, when we get together with our friends and/or family to decide what our cruise will be next year, we will make a pretty strong case that we would prefer not to sail again on the Princess line. No special touches or special care in ANY of the aspects. Poorly scheduled and planned activities, excursions were very generic and the tour guides for the excursions spoke very poor and accented English so it made it very hard to follow. Read Less

Choose the Pacific Princess as we enjoy the small ship atmosphere. Arrived 2 days earlier and stayed at the new Holiday Inn, Terminal 4. Took Princess shuttle to Dover cruise port. Small ship plus is that you really get to know your fellow passengers, disadvantage would be that you do not have the movies under the stars. Balcony rooms are larger then the stand balcony. Highlight of the cruise was the 2 days in St. Petersburg. We did an excursion with ALLA TOURS and would highly recommend them to anyone. Did the St Petersburg 2 Day Grand Tour. Had early admission to most points of interest, 2 lunches, ours was a group of 10, and they take care of your tourist visa requirement. Another plus was the Kiel Canal - another plus for being on the small ship. Captain and staff were all very friendly. Disembarkation was very organized and just took the shuttle to the airport and we had early flight. Read Less

This was the second of back to back cruises on this ship. The first was around the British Isles and this one was to Scandinavia. Both cruises started and ended in Dover. Transit arrangements were seamless, there were no custom clearance requirements at Dover. We could stay on the ship or walk on and off anytime we pleased. As I reported on my British Isles cruise review, the ship is great. The small ship means everything is close, the crew seem less stressed than on the larger ships, and the food is also just that little bit better than on the larger ships. The highlight of the cruise was St Petersburg. We were right near the end of the tourist season, which meant less crowds at the popular attractions. The weather was cold, but there was no rain. We did a private tour through Viator, which used local company SPB tours. We had a small group of 14 which made it easy to get around to all the attractions Other places, which surprised us were Riga and Tallinn. The old town areas in these ports were well preserved and very interesting to visit. Copenhagen and Stockholm were other interesting ports. Helsinki did not have much going for it, but that could have been that it was the first port after spectacular St Petersburg. Disembarkation was a straight forward process. A lot of people were staying on the ship for the next cruise, which meant it took less than 15 minutes to clear the ship, pick up luggage and head out of the terminal. Read Less

We loved the Princess small ships and the Pacific Princess is the last of them. We boarded her in Dover for a trip around the British Isles. Boarding was a simple process, no long queues and very efficient through security. The whole process took less than 30 minutes. The condition of the ship was excellent. The furnishings looked near new and the décor was bright and cheery. The ship never appeared overcrowded and the level of service was excellent. We went club class, which meant we could do anytime dining as opposed to the fixed dining times for other passengers. The dining staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The service was so good in fact that we never used the buffet. There was never a queue for the main dining room breakfast regardless of what type of cabin you booked. The quality of the food was excellent. Steaks etc were cooked to perfection. If you ask for medium rare you got medium rare. The Maitra D’s were always visible and checking if everything was ok. This is in contrast to other cruises we have been on where you rarely saw them. Our stateroom was in excellent condition. The fittings and furniture appeared near new and the bed was very comfortable. Our room steward, Kennedy, kept the suite very clean and was happy to meet all our little extra requests. The guest entertainers were great. At the start of the cruise we had Mat Cairns, who played and sang a mix of Irish Scottish and rock and roll songs. It sounds like an odd combination but it worked very well. Towards the end of the cruise we had Nik Page, who was the best entertainer we have experienced on any cruise. He was outstanding with a rich voice and a little bit of comedy on drums thrown in. If you get the opportunity to see this guy, please do so. In summary a great ship, excellent staff and great itinerary Read Less

With the help of a travel agent we discovered the Princess British isles cruise for Sept,2019 on the Pacific Princess. The 650 guest ship was perfect. Big enough to offer great resources, small enough to be easily accessible. We were fortunate to have terrific weather and smooth seas even over the Orkneys atop Scotland Princess gave a reasonable a la Carte rate, even tho there were continual extra costs. Many such as over priced tours, drinks on board and internet to name three were avoidable. The staff were terrific exhibiting a sincere and customer focused attitude. The entertainment was way above what we expected from other reviews. We ( and other reviewers ) can often be critical, so this is a true compliment. Irish and scotch shows were great. Nick Page of London’s Le Mis fame was an incredible final show. The ship band and dancers were also terrific as was the comedian, magician and other solo artists. We had 13 stops in 15 days all of which were negotiated by a safety conscious crew. One downside was occasional inconvenient access to city centers for those not on a Princess tours especially Edinburg. However there were easily accessible local tours, hop on off busses,(Dublin) local trains (Holyhead) and interesting walks (Edinburg) among others. We took three Princess tours to Lands end in Cornwall, to the standing stones in the Orkney’s and the bus thru London which were well guided tho overpriced. Food was plentiful, well prepared and efficiently and sweetly served in the buffet and regular dining room. We tried one dinner in one of the two special cover charged Dining rooms which while ok was not worth the extra cost. The exercise room was comparable to a Planet fitness gym. We avoided the costly spa and other similar services My T-Mobile phone gave me free and good internet access near and ashore vs the costly Princess plans. We ignored the small casino, and jewelry store as did most it seemed. we travelled with our adult son and spouse which was fun. A sept cruise avoided lots of annoying kids! In summary it was a terrific first cruise, great itinerary, super staff and smartly negotiated by us to be reasonably priced. The great weather made it a total success We chose a lower level cabin which was comfortable, nicely furnished and very stable. I’d do that again vs the overpriced higher levels. We used it largely to sleep in the very comfortable bed and consume some liquors purchased in cities. We purchased our own air travel at a discount and avoided the over priced Princess pre tour hotels. Read Less

We chose this cruise (September 9-23, 2019; roundtrip Dover, England) both for the itinerary and to experience the “small ship” atmosphere of the Pacific Princess. We were not disappointed by either. Indeed, we would sail both this itinerary and this ship again. Embarkation: We booked a few nights in a London hotel (The JW Marriott Grovesnor House) through Princess, which included transfers from London Heathrow to the hotel and then from the hotel to the ship. All of these arrangements were seamless, expeditious, and professional. We essentially walked from the hotel to the bus to the ship, with the slightest of pauses to check in and collect our ship card. Ship: In my opinion, the ship was a perfect size. Nothing was too far away and no venue was ever over-crowded. While the ship is older, it has a gracious feel to it, with a proper (and absolutely lovely) library, nicely appointed common areas, cozy bars, a small casino, and ample outdoor spaces. There are no water slides, go-carts, concert venues, or other features of the new mega-ships. (Frankly, they were not missed). Passengers: The clientele reflects the ship itself. Almost all passengers were 50+ and very well-travelled. Indeed, the Princess “elite” level passengers made up at least half the ship’s guests. Most guests were Americans, Canadians, and British, with a handful of Australians and New Zealanders. This is not a ship for children or teenagers; they would be bored. Service: The service on the ship was uniformly very good and we had no complaints at all about our room stewards, waiters, or bar staff. Food: The food was typical “hotel banquet quality,” with nothing being either truly outstanding or terrible. I am often critical of the buffets offered by Princess, but this buffet, while small, was generally a cut above the usual offerings, with two omelet stations in the morning, a small pizza window, and a burger grill just outside by the pool. My main complaint is that meat dishes were often overcooked and suffered from too much time in steam trays. The specialty restaurants – the Sterling Steakhouse and Sabatini’s – alternate nights. The service in both was exceptional but the food was not exponentially better than that in the main dining room. The Steakhouse did a nice pub lunch on our mid-cruise sea day. Itinerary: The itinerary was very intense: 11 ports in 14 days. That left only two sea days: one after seven ports and the other the last day on the ship before Dover. This left little time to relax on the ship. However, all the ports were great, as were the excursions we took through the ship. While entertainment venues were limited in size, the ship provided some special entertainments brought in from various ports, such as Irish folk lore group and a Scottish bagpipe band. Ports visited: St. Helier in Jersey, Portland, England; Falmouth, Cornwall; Waterford, Ireland; Holyhead, Wales; Dublin, Ireland; Belfast, Norther Ireland; Perotree, Isle of Skye; Kirkwall, Orkney; Edinburgh, Scotland; Newcastle, England. Shore Excursions: All the shore excursions we booked through the ship were very good and professionally run. Our main complaint is that they were often too short. This is particularly true of the many castle excursions we took (Kilkenny Castle, Alnwick Castle, Dublin Castle) which did not allow enough time to visit the gardens. Adding just one hour to each excursion would be nice. Read Less

Our British Isles Cruise was wonderful! The ship, the excursions and believe it or not the weather were all great! The Pacific Princess is a wonderful small ship. I wanted a balcony, but had to go with a porthole. I didn't think I could enjoy being on the lowest deck with only a porthole, but the room was lovely. It was quiet with very little motion. The only bad side was that you could only use the Aft elevators and stairs, otherwise you were in the crew's quarters. I did accidentally visit the crew a few times before I got the floor plan straight! The food was great. I only had a couple of items that were only good. We made friends with our table mates and many others on the ship since it was small. Our main interest was to see the beautiful countryside and culture. Jersey - great tour to Mont Orgueil Castle and Gorey. Our bus guide was great and our castle guide was amazing.The castle was great, a little scary on the stairs. I was worried about the steep walk but it wasn’t bad with a hiking stick. We enjoyed time on our own after the tour. Be careful if paying for something, you might get change in Jersey money. My husband enjoyed a Liberation beer at a local pub. One of my favorite days! Portland - we went on a private tour with Daren Gapper @ Dorset Day Tours. He was great! The weather was a bit windy and wet in the beginning, but cleared. Check out Daren, you won't be disappointed.We covered so much territory Wonderful day! Cornwall - Ship Excursion Land's End and Scenic Drive, I was a little disappointed in this excursion although our guide was full of information. I tried to find a private excursion but they were all very long and expensive. Waterford - Ship excursion Rural Ireland and Jerpoint Abbey. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed this excursion. I thought with it being short, we would have some time for exploring the town. I wasn't interested in the glass factory so really didn't enjoy wandering the town. I should have done more research before we left. Also, the shuttle to town was $20 round trip. Waterford - Rural Ireland and Jerpoint Abbey: the abbey was very interesting with an excellent guide. The excursion was over at 12:30. You can’t walk to anything from the port but they had a shuttle for $10 one way. Unless you want to visit the Waterford Glass, there wasn’t very interesting shopping. Llanfair. Holyhead, Wales - Ship excursion, Conwy Castle & Llanfair PG. We thoroughly enjoyed this excursion. The castle was interesting and the little town was colorful. We enjoyed some Welsh beer at the Blue Bell Pub. Dublin - Dublin & Glendalough ship excursion. So many choices, but I really wanted to see the countryside. Our guide was very informative and the countryside was beautiful. We had a lovely lunch at Avoca and were able to shop for woolens, very expensive. I have to say I was a bit disappointed because there was not time allowed to see the lakes! Although it was a good tour, I wish I could have booked a private tour for Dublin. Belfast - Giant's Causeway and Antrim Coast ship excursion. This was another favorite day. Our guide was full of history and a bit of blarney, making it a fun day. The countryside was gorgeous.. Portree (Isle of Skye) - Private excursion with GoSkye. Unfortunately, it was a bit foggy so the views weren't as great as they could have been. It was a good excursion, beautiful countryside, waterfalls, cliffs and heather, a distillery, and 3 rainbows! Portree is a tender port. We found a bank at the top of the stairs from the tender that had an ATM with a great rate for changing dollars to pounds. Orkney Islands - Private tour, Orkney Island Tour. Very nice even though the weather was cold, windy and wet! We saw lots of standing stones, Hairy cows, hairy pigs, Italian Chapel, Maeshowe, and more. We saw everything the ship tour did plus more and cheaper. The only change I would make other than the weather is the timing. We had purchased a tour to Maeshowe online ahead of time for 3 o'clock. We only had 15 minutes to spare getting back to the ship. Edinburgh - private tour with Duncan McNab. Absolutely wonderful. Duncan broke his leg so we had a different guide. It turned out that she was an Outlander fan so she included a few tidbits from the show (A quick look at Lallybroch and McKensie castle). We saw castles, beautiful countryside, a distillery and much more. Newcastle - Private tour to Hadrians Wall. Very interesting, but I would have preferred less wall and more local culture. We made 3 stops to see the wall. The first 2 were great, but by the 3rd, I was ready for something else. The only complaint I would have for the ship, is too little shopping. It only has 2 shops which is fine, but the merchandise didn't reflect the ports. They had Caribbean t-shirts and Russian dolls, I don't understand the philosophy. The drawings for jewelry were always at 7:30 which was our dinner time and you had to be present to win. Also, if you play Mahjong, they have the tiles but be sure to take a current card. Otherwise, I loved it. Read Less

We loved the itinerary of visiting all the different ports in a two week period. The service on board was fantastic and the overall experience exceeded our expectations!! The Pacific Princess is a smaller cruise ship so we were able to get into ports that other larger ones couldn't. The British Isles, Ireland, Scotland and Wales were incredible places to visit. So green and beautiful. We only had 2 days of light misty rain so, the decision to go in September was wise and beneficial. Each port was exciting and memorable. The passengers on board were very friendly and engaging. The staff and entertainment on board sealed the deal, they put an exclamation point on an incredible journey filled with friendship, laughter and many unforgettable experiences!! Princess Cruise, YOU DELIVERED!! Having worked for the Ritz Carlton for 13 years, I've had the opportunity and experience to see quality. Princess Cruises THANKS for the attention to detail, personalized service, and exceeding our expectations to make our 25th Wedding Anniversary truly special. JOB WELL DONE!!! Read Less

It is a bit concerning to take a small ship across the North Sea and North Atlantic. We have crushed the route on a big ship, but how would it be on a small ship. The answer is it was great. The small ship allowed us to quickly move around the ship. No long lines and no waiting for elevators. The Pacific Princess ha a very friendly and efficient staff. Our embarkment at Dover went flawlessly. Quick and efficient. We got settled in, explores the ship and were ready to sail before the muster drill. This itinerary was almost perfect. A day at sea to begin with. Stavanger and then another sea day to Iceland. 4 ports around Iceland and then 2 days back to Norway. 4 ports in Norway and then a sea day back to Dover.The sea days allowed us to rest after the great ports. The ship was pleasant, but somewhat outdated. The small size presented problems for the Production Shows. They were well presented, but the venue did not provide good views of the shows. Occasionally, I felt that there wasn't much to do, but that may be ok. I was pleased with the quality of the performers. There were only two singers in the shows, but they were both outstanding. Our cabin was smaller than we were used to and had little storage. The bathroom was about the same size as usual, but was not organized as well as the newer ships. The main dining room only had traditional dining, but that is my preference anyway. The staff was well trained and efficient. I enjoyed the dining experience, but some of my companions felt the menu was too limited. The staff was more than willing to accommodate when requested. The disembarkment at Dover was quick and easy. A most pleasant experience. Read Less

Absolutely great cruise. The crew and staff on the Pacific Princess was outstanding. The accommodations were great and the itinerary was everything we hope it would be. Every port was beyond our expectations. The tours had excellent guides and transportation. The information shared about each location visited was well done. Many ports gave us the opportunity to walk the towns and cities before or after our organized tours. This was an added bonus. Particularly enjoyed the fjord tours in Norway. They were spectacular. The dining on board the Pacific Princess was ideal. Also the ship has recently been refurbished to the decor was beautiful and comfortable. We would highly recommend a cruise on this ship. We added a third week to our cruise and also did the British Isles. This was a great decision. We love to do this cruise again. We can't say enough about the staff on board ship. All were gracious and made our trip very special and personal. Take a cruise on the Pacific Princess. You won't be disappointed. Read Less

Pacific Princess is the smallest of the Princess fleet, with a capacity of only 670 passengers. When I booked, all the suites were sold out, so I booked a mini-suite, which was later upgraded to Club Class. Right after I paid the fare, we were upsold a forward suite (#7005, Marquesas Suite). I'm always aft, but I love those suite perks, so I jumped on it. This was the largest suite I've ever seen and had a bath and a half, with a wall of closet space, along with all the usual suite perks like that sumptuous Sabatini breakfast. Interestingly enough even though she is very tiny, Pacific Princess never felt crowded, but because she is so small, it was easier for my elderly mother to get around. The food and staff on this ship are amazing, and the maitre d' came by our table at every meal to make sure everything was going well. Chef Giuseppe was the brains behind the original Chefs Table Experience years ago, and we were thrilled to experience Chef's Table with him. This was a great cruise with a great itinerary that we would absolutely do again, no questions asked! Read Less

Chose cruise for itinerary (Scotland stops and Military Tattoo). Ocean view room only option as booked late. Room OK but a bit dark. Had fantastic wait staff, very good entertainment, even if the soprano singer did not sing but screeched. Ship had good public spaces, lounges, library. Only took one excursion, the trip to Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They were excellent in explaining how to get to venue and well marked how to return to the bus. Did not book other excursions because they would be force marches and my mother uses a walker. The two guest entertainers were very good, especially the singer Matt Cairns. Embarkation and Disembarkation as smooth as possible. The buffet dining selections were basically the same every day especially at breakfast. Was a good and bad thing. Have taken more than 10+ cruises and I would book again with Princess. Did not travel with children. Read Less

First time on a ship this small. I quite liked the ability to walk anywhere on the ship within 1.5 minutes. However, the smaller scale does significantly limit the entertainment options. The stuff the do on board was bingo, knitting, wine tasting or soduko...; Evening entertainment had a mediocre skill level vs the bigger ships. There were no kid activities offered. The staff remember you and you quickly remember the other passengers. We had a club class mini suite, room 8035. It was quite spacious, and offered a queen bed and queen (I think) sofa bed. I wish there was an upper bunk... The deck was good size too, easily fitting a couple loungers or a table and a couple chairs twice... It was convenient only being 1 floor below the buffet and a few floors above the dining room, so we never used room service. I liked that they were willing to exchange our cc wine bottles for a few cans of Coke. Dining was fairly standard Princess food. A couple of the days the menus did not offer much to get excited about, but all other days did. For cc instead of getting in the normal queue, you move to the left, skirting by the bar outside the dining room, and then simply walk straight in the cc dining section, no waiting in line. Each night had 2 menu item not on the menu, one prepared table side and one from the chef. Kind of a nice touch. Wish they offered those awesome chocolate desserts more than a couple nights. Also wish they added cherries jubilee back on the menu. We did thoroughly enjoy the cold fruit soups and frequent souffles. We missed Wales on the itinerary due to weather, but I did not mind missing a port given how intense the daily porting schedule was. We did a full day excursion everywhere else other than in Edinburgh. We did the military tattoo in Edinburgh and wished they offered a tour connected to that excursion given the price was 5X the tattoo ticket value or more. Regarding the tattoo, it was pretty cool if you like bagpipes and drummers and there isn't a bad seat in the house.I think the seats near the front add value only to get you out in a timely fashion, when you are in the nose bleed section you have to wait for everyone in front of you to exit first which takes forever. Also be prepared for long line for the restrooms. The shopping on board sucked, nothing local to buy. In fact they had more Australia/New Zealand goods than anything. Most of our excursions consumed the entire time at port, so we had little time to shop for souvenirs, which made me wish for on board shopping (for the first time ever). The app was great and we liked being able to text each other for free, but wished the app notified you when you got a new message so you didn't have to check it all the time. We didn't need to pay for wifi given we were at or near land almost everyday, simply used the Verizon TravelPass. I plan to look for other small ships when planning port intensive cruises. They would not be good for many sea days unless you simply like to nap and are not taking kids like we tend to do. Overall, this was a great cruise, seeing many areas of the world not typically traveled. Read Less