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Guides & Advice > Traveler Advice > Been There Cruising Princess style |
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by Marty G., VP Segment Marketing If not - then let me offer a suggestion that will make your next vacation one full of real memories, thorough relaxation and an all-around great time. Where every day you wake up in a beautiful new tropical setting, without having to pack and re-pack, much less learn the local traffic laws! I recently had the pleasure of sailing on the inaugural of the Ocean Princess, the newest ship from Princess Cruises. While this is an identical ship to the Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess, this was my first trip on the cruise line popularized by the 70's TV show The Love Boat. 
There's something magical about boarding a cruise ship - the sounds of the ocean, sight of the majestic ship, the walk up the gangway, the friendly greetings by the crew in their white dress uniforms. As you enter the Ocean Princess, you are surrounded by the Grand Plaza, an impressive four-story open atrium of rich woods mixed with glass and steel and set upon a floor trimmed in polished marble. Few hotels or resorts can match this majestic a view. 
Cabins: First stop is our cabin. Used to be, no one booked a cruise for the cabins. With all the activities on deck, there was very little time spent in the cabins, so any cabin would do. And while that still is the case to some extent, the cabins on the Ocean Princess might make you think a little differently about that. These rooms are very attractive, functional and modern. All the cabins feature marble baths, but if you choose a suite, or mini-suite, you'll swear you are in a five-star hotel. The rooms are large enough for a small, albeit cozy, party. The Ocean Princess also features 410 outside rooms with balconies - that's nearly 70% of the rooms on board! The balcony makes for a tremendously private view for watching sunsets or napping in the late afternoon. Activities: There are only two types of vacationers - those that like to cram as much into a vacation as possible, and those who like to do nothing. When you're married to someone who is your exact travel-opposite, a cruise is the perfect answer. I am easily bored and quickly restless, while my wife is content to sit in the sun for hours. For us, the Ocean Princess provided the best of both worlds. While at sea, I enjoyed activities ranging from gambling in the casino to exercising in the fitness center to playing virtual golf. My wife spent the day doing her thing poolside, reading a book from the ship's amply-stocked library. Both of us occasionally beckoning the ever-reliable "pool attendants" who are always nearby to bring you the cold, refreshing beverage of your choice, or tempt you with a special Caribbean rum drink. 
The large fitness center is surrounded by a 180-degree view of the ocean and is open 24 hours a day. It offers a large array of cardio exercise machines, however if you are into major weight circuits or free-weights, you may find this facility lacking somewhat. But really - who goes on vacation to work out? My goal was to simply burn enough calories every day on the treadmill or bike so that I wouldn't have to feel guilty about dessert every night! Next to the fitness center is the Spa, offering a full range of health and beauty services. I indulged myself with a 90-minute luxurious aroma spa seaweed massage. What a wickedly decadent and relaxing way to spend the afternoon - I highly recommend it! My wife took advantage of a facial, which she found very relaxing and extremely enjoyable, too! Our evenings started with a great dinner, followed by entertainment in one of the two large show rooms. While not quite as lavish as a Las Vegas revue, the varied selection of comedians, magicians and musical productions kept that vacation feeling going at a fever pitch. People Make the Cruise: Cruise ships tend to develop their own personality, and attract passengers that reflect that. Some cruise lines attract young singles; others attract retirees and seniors; still others seem to attract the affluent. The Ocean Princess seems to appeal to the 35 - 50-ish age bracket, and I was surprised to see quite a few families on board (but it was spring break time). Judging from other cruises and based on longtime Princess customers we spoke with, however, the guests skew slightly younger when the schools are out, and slightly older when schools are in session. Make your plans accordingly! Great Food: One feature that's synonymous with cruising is incredible food. Included in the price of your cruise is access to unlimited dining 24 hours a day, which is either really good (if you're prone to midnight cravings) or dangerously tempting (if you're watching your weight). My wife loves a midnight snack, while I'm quite happy with a specialty coffee drink! We've also found the dining room the best means of making new friends on board the ship. While the formal dining rooms have assigned seating at each table, we consider this a highlight as every trip ends with us making new friends. 
Dinner on the Ocean Princess is a match for any five-star restaurant. Each night, the ships two formal dining rooms feature a different theme - from Italian to Mediterranean to American. The authentic Italian dishes on Italian night were my favorite, while my wife reveled in the excuse to luxuriate in a monstrous lobster tail on "Surf and Turf Night". Dressing for dinner seems a cross between business casual and cocktail casual, depending on where you looked in the dining room. On the two more formal nights, men were in tuxes or suits or sometimes just jackets and ties. The ladies wardrobes ran the gamut: from slinky sequin numbers to simple sundresses. Those wanting to bypass the formal dining setting had the option of dinner in the Horizon Court, with a limited menu and a jazz group playing in the background for your dancing and listening pleasure. Later in the evening, Fabio's Pizzeria opens up for another excellent dining option. For breakfast and lunch, we skipped the formal dining room and made our way to the Horizon Court. Unlike the personalized treatment encountered in the formal dining rooms, the Horizon Court is reminiscent of a European street - people going everywhere with no discernible traffic patterns. The view from the circular Horizon Court is beautiful, and the food above average, but making it through the buffet can be quite an adventure at times. 
Island Hopping: There's no better way to see the Caribbean islands than on a cruise. Our cruise ship sailed from San Juan, Puerto Rico and cruised to Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua, Martinique and St. Thomas. We had just enough time in each port to get a taste for the island and its culture, which is the heart of cruising. It's the perfect way to "test drive" future vacation spots, picking out the places you'd like to come back and visit on your own. The Ocean Princess offered a wide variety of pre-packaged tours on each island, with something for everyone. From the Flower Forest of Barbados to a snorkeling adventure on Antigua to a rain-forest hike in Martinique, every age group can find something to capture his or her fancy. It's also worthwhile just to take time to explore the islands a little bit on your own. The Ocean Princess' tour director offers plenty of suggestions and recommendations for shops and restaurants, as well as plenty of good common sense advice for travelers venturing on their own. In April, the Ocean Princess offers an itinerary that includes Curacao, Isla Margarita, St. Vincent, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. From May through September, the Ocean Princess repositions to the West Coast for several Alaskan cruises. And if you time it just right, you can take advantage of the 11-day Panama Canal cruise, as the ship travels from the San Juan throughout the Caribbean, then through the Panama Canal and disembarks at Acapulco, Mexico. Motion of the Ocean: The question I hear most often from people who have never cruised is, "Will I get sea sick?" While there are no guarantees, chances are the bigger the ship, the less you'll feel the ocean. Today's newer cruise ships are the size of small cities. The Ocean Princess is one of the larger ships, with room for 1900 passengers. While we've been lucky and never experienced motion sickness, we've traveled with friends who have. Most find the over-the-counter cures to be just fine and take them from the moment they get on board as a preventative measure. If you're at all worried, make sure you take cruise of the eastern or western Caribbean, where the waters tend to be calmer than the southern Caribbean. My favorite tip, though, is to always cruise on a full stomach and you'll never get sick. Isn't it Expensive? This is a question a lot of people have, because at first glance, cruise pricing can seem a bit high. But when you do the math, you realize that not only does the price include your accommodations, it also includes all your meals, access to the shows and casino, entertainment such as art auctions, etc. Price out the cost of three meals a day at any high quality hotel or resort and you'll quickly see how a cruise becomes comparable, if not an even better deal. Add the cost of concert or theatre tickets, or cover charges to your favorite nightclubs and the value continues to increase. The only things not included are alcohol, sodas and shore excursions. We've found all to be competitively priced with anything we've found on land. Rates range from $1,193 to $4,468 per person, double occupancy, with deals available for those who shop around or a flexible with their travel dates. Why wouldn't you take a cruise? Now I ask you . . . if you could spend the same amount for a cruise, and get unlimited food, a room steward who learns your name and what you like, incredible ports of call, entertaining onboard shows, a casino and all the activities you desire (or relaxation you need) -- why wouldn't you take a cruise? You work 10 hours a day, why not pamper yourself with a truly relaxing and fun vacation -- a cruise on the Ocean Princess. You can read more about the Ocean Princess in Travelocity.com's Cruise Critic. Photography by: Marty G. |
