Crown Princess Review
Excellent ports of call, but ship's condition was disappointing.
Rating by category
Additional details
The ship was brought into service, directly from a week of dry dock repairs, and it was pressed into service before the repairs were completed. We waited two hours in the terminal for embarkation to commence while last minute, crucial repairs were conducted. In addition, there were engineers and technicians all over the ship running cables, installing carpet, grinding metal, painting, and making repairs throughout the cruise. None of the repairs interfered with our cruise experience, but we're not accustomed to seeing back-of-the-house services in plain view of the guests. Disembarkation was extremely quick and easy.
The new Salty Dog Grille, which replaced the Trident Grill on Lido Deck, has a fabulously updated menu. The newly designed Coffee & Cones counter shares space with the Pizzaria, also on the Lido Deck. It features espresso coffee but doesn't serve other specialty coffees or even regular coffee. It's a nice addition.
The Coffee Bar, located on the Plaza Deck, serves a wide variety of specialty coffees and is a terrific option for those who choose to purchase the coffee package as we did. The seating area around International Cafe and the Coffee Bar can become congested during peak serving times and during times when there is an entertainment feature in the Piazza.
Cabin Review
Balcony
The new bedding material is fluffy and comfortable. Some other passengers complained that the bedding is not firm enough.
The new large flat screen TV is a great addition but the new entertainment features, that will eventually be installed, were not available. Internet service was slow and sometimes not available. When the new Medallion Class service is complete the TV entertainment features will be On Demand. The Medallionet service will be fast and fabulous even though there will be a daily charge for that fabulous internet service.
The vinyl covering on the cabin furniture was stained and the wood had a sheen of dried, oily-hand residue which needed to be cleaned. The carpet had not been vacuumed prior to our arrival and was not vacuumed until I made a special request for vacuum service.
The newly installed balcony flooring had debris and shavings on the floor and walls. The glass door and the balcony rail had not been cleaned prior to our arrival and was not cleaned during our entire cruise. We used a beach towel to clean the furniture which was spattered with paint shavings and rust dust.
Port Reviews
Cartagena (Spain)
This city is teeming with flavors for every taste. The historical excavations were excellent opportunities to learn about history. The city is beautiful and the people were extremely friendly and accommodating.
Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)
We booked a tour through Costco and we were blown away by the fun and excitement. I urge everyone to take a guided tour in this port. The mountains, the beaches, the city and the people were fabulous.