If you are interested in a relaxing, enjoyable Caribbean cruise, rethink the Emerald Princess (or its sister ship, the Crown Princess) as the choice. We embarked from Fort Lauderdale on January 15th for a ten day Southern Caribbean Cruise. Let me summarize my observations:
1. The ship is much too large. With over three thousand passengers, you are always in a crowd. In order to maximize revenue producing franchises, such as the art auction, the photo gallery, and the casino, Princess has eliminated the card room, cut the library down to a closet size room, and created a Internet Lab where you almost sit on the lap of the next terminal user. Public areas are also downsized making lounges, Galleria,and other locations as crowded and "enjoyable" as a Airport waiting area.
2. The worst feature of this ship is the most touted "Movie Under The Stars." The loud blaring sound from the sixteen speakers make it almost impossible to sit in the Neptune Pool area. For some reason, Princess has decided to play loud James Bond type movies during the day producing even more deadly noise. Our attempts to have the sound level reduced were met with impolite disdain from the Deck Manager. People were constantly leaving this area and going to the other pool, the Calypso which was overcrowded with limited shade areas. In addition if you should take a cabin with balcony in the forward section of the ship on the higher decks you will constantly hear the blaring the the sixteen speakers!