Cruise Travel....

SHIP OF THE MONTH:
CROWN PRINCESS
Tough to Top This Evolution of Princess Cruises' Grand Class

With enhancements both large and little to the popular Grand Class of Princess Cruises' ships, the Crown Princess is an evolutionary vessel that still retains numerous aspects harking back to the early days of cruise travel. Princess veterans will be happy to find many of the features for which the line has become famous, while several additions continue to improve the Princess large-ship experience for both first-time and repeat passengers. Vets of the line may also remember there was an earlier Crown Princess (she’s now sailing as the AIDAblu with Carnival Corporation‘s AIDA Cruises). To say today's Crown Princess is a very different ship from the earlier 840-passenger vessel would be a vast understatement.

The ship’s La Piazza atrium provides the perfect introduction to innovations found everywhere aboard the Crown Princess. Rather than a large and open atrium rising a dozen decks, this intimate version is only three decks in height, providing an array of smaller gathering spaces for passengers.

Located literally in the center of the ship on decks five through seven, La Piazza was designed to reflect an Italian streetscape, with café-like spaces, street entertainers (from classical trios to magicians), grand staircases, lots of tile and marble, and creative food and beverage choices. It was hoped this new approach to a ship’s atrium would become a hub of activity (just like a town square) and we definitely found that to be the case.

The International Café is active from morning to night, just like a small European town’s café. A popular spot for a selection of specialty coffee drinks throughout the day (ask about a discount card if you love caffeine), it’s also popular for interesting food items at reasonable cost. In the morning, the smell and taste of fresh croissants, pastries, and more draw passing passengers. In the afternoon, there are crepes, bonbons, and the like. Evening brings an assortment of creative pre-dinner tapas or after-dinner petit fours.

Vines, another new concept, has the feel of a local bar, but with a twist. Vines is primarily a wine bar featuring a fascinating list of vintages available by the glass and bottle, including several not found elsewhere on the ship. In addition, themed wine tastings of three two-ounce pours , called “flights”, are a very popular addition. Vines also offers seafood-driven “bites” prepared before your eyes, making for some imaginative wine and food pairings. At a buck per serving and an around-the-world wine tour, Vines is a tantalizing addition that is sure to be reprised on future Princess ships.

La Piazza is also home to the internet café, which can sometimes be crowded (especially on sea days). Passengers who think they may often go on-line should bring their laptops--the atrium and some other public areas of the ship feature WiFi (wireless internet connections) with the same per-minute charges as the internet café. Typically you'll spot several guests sitting in the atrium, working on their laptops while enjoying a cup of cappuccino or a glass of pinot noir. And just like a town square, La Piazza contains the ship’s five shops, with the expected merchandise.

Most other public spaces aboard the ship are also generally small, creating lots of intimate pockets. Emanating from La Piazza, other mid-ship options include Crooners Bar, the Wheelhouse Bar, the Speakeasy Cigar Lounge, and Club Fusion.

Crooners is a largish space where cabaret performances are a popular draw, while the Wheelhouse Bar is a traditional sea-oriented gathering spot with lots of marine prints and a dark, pub-like feel (draft beer is served). The closed-door Speakeasy Cigar Lounge (just off the bustling Gatsby's Casino) is the place to purchase and enjoy a cigar and catch up on back issues of Cigar Aficionado magazine. Located all the way aft, Club Fusion is a venue for more entertainment and is also host activities like bingo.

Located all the way forward, the two-deck-high Princess Theater is the elegant setting for the Broadway-style production shows for which the line is well known. With traditional theater seating, there are very few limited-sight seats--plus these have nifty small trays that fold into the armrests when not in use.

Other public spaces are situated on the upper levels of this 19-deck vessel. With a couple of exceptions (like Adagio, as noted below), they tend to be most popular during the day. These include a spacious lido with lots of lounge chairs for the huge--and hugely popular--"Movies Under the Stars" screen, a great outdoor bar called Tradewinds, Skywalkers nightclub (which typically doesn’t get cranking until after 10pm), and a novel concept called The Sanctuary.

The latter, a new adults-only area is definitely a unique addition and has been quite popular--especially when there are lots of children onboard. For a fee (charged in half-day sessions), solitude-seeking Sanctuary guests can enjoy signature drinks, healthy snacks (for a small service charge), cabana massages (at regular spa rates), plus special freshwater spritzes and attentive service from Serenity Stewards.

The Sanctuary is part of the Lotus Spa experience, where guests will find typical cruise ship spa offerings in peaceful Asian-themed setting. The spa area also includes a small pool and two hot tubs. There are three other pools of varying sizes on the upper decks, including one completely aft that is adults-only.

The sprawling Fitness Center, with great views over the bow, is one of the best we've seen afloat and has a wide range of exercise equipment and classes. The cardio machines feature televisions with headsets offering the same TV line-up as found in cabins.

The upper decks also have two golf simulators, a fun putting course, a smallish jogging track (most walkers opt for spacious Promenade Deck), a paddle tennis/basketball court, and the varied children’s areas for which Princess ships have become noted.

A definite cruise highlight is the cuisine, and the line’s continued emphasis on the dining experience has never been more in evidence than aboard this ship. Of course, “Anytime Dining” provides flexibility on the time and style of dining.

The Italian street scene theme is reflected in all three of the main restaurants. The Botticelli Dining Room offers traditional two-assigned-seatings dining, while the Michelango and Da Vinci dining rooms welcome passengers who have chosen “Anytime Dining”™. All three restaurants feature appropriately Italian art and style, and serve identical menus. We chose "Anytime Dining" to provide flexibility for evening plans and made reservations most nights. However, there never appeared to be a wait of more than five or ten minutes for those without reservations (and this usually only happened to couples requesting a table for two, of which there are many).

We found the cuisine was quite creative while still providing more simply prepared standards each night. There are interesting international themes many evenings (don’t miss French and Italian nights), but every menu features a refreshingly long list of always-available salmon, chicken, steak, and more.

The wine list in the main dining rooms is extensive, including an excellent selection of wines by the glass. Those who order a bottle for dinner and don’t finish it can enjoy it another night. If you select from the intriguing list of “Reserve Wines,” they make it even more special by serving it in Riedel stemware.

In the Horizon Court the typical lido dining experience is generally handled quite well for a ship this size. While there may be the occasional search for a table at breakfast or lunch, and a bit of bustle around the buffet stations, we enjoyed eating here. Café Caribe is part of the Horizon Court experience, and we especially liked its themed lunch offerings, such as the Italian pasta buffet. At night, Café Caribe is transformed into a casual bistro-like dining experience. Though the food is still served buffet-style, the tables are dressed with linens.

Hamburgers and the like are dished up at the Trident Grill, alongside some tasty pizza. There’s also a premium ice cream bar (with a nominal fee), but its popularity appears limited because free ice cream is available in the Horizon Court nearby.

Of course, “specialty dining” is more popular than ever on the high seas, and the Crown Princess provides two tasty choices that should not be missed. The Crown Grill features yet another innovation for this ship, while Sabatini’s is a somewhat new take on the line's popular Italian alternative eatery.

Folloing in the wake of the Sterling Steakhouse (found on earlier Grand Class vessels), the new Crown Grill features a theater-style kitchen preparing cooked-to-order steaks and chops plus an array of steamed shellfish--or a huge Maine lobster for an additional $9, a well-worth-it charge on top of the specialty restaurant's $25 dining fee. The rich décor of the dining room includes leather appointments, intimate booths and tables, and a unique kitchen bar where food lovers can enjoy the show.

Sabatini’s and its adjacent Adagio lounge may just be the crowning glory of this ship. Whether or not you’re dining at Sabatini’s, Adagio provides a subdued atmosphere for a glass of proseco, an assortment of olives, and live (but not too lively) entertainment. The elegant restaurant next-door is the most recent version of the successful Sabatini’s concept (and includes several tables for two that overlook outdoor fountains). In a change from earlier Sabatini’s (where being full before your entrée even arrived was almost inevitable), here the new approach is for wait staff to bring "tastes" of a wide variety of appetizers and antipasti (like cured meats and fried calamari). The only choices diners must make are for the soup and the entrée (the Italian-style veal chop was delicious). Though the desserts are delectable--and can be enjoyed back in Adagio--our waiter prepared a tasty cheese plate to complete our delicious gourmand evening.

The stateroom layouts and accompanying amenities are quite easy to summarize. All standard inside, ocean-view, and balcony cabins have similar designs and features. Highlights include refrigerators, relatively large televisions with better-than-average programming, and Lotus Spa eucalyptus-scented toiletries.

We fancied our mini-suite and consider that accommodation a good value on this ship. Additional amenities of note in this category include a large sitting area with a sofa bed and a second television, an expanded balcony, a shower and bathtub combo, and upgraded mattresses, linens, and bath towels.

Added highlights of the full suites include a DVD/CD player with 100-title DVD library, fresh flowers, a one-time bar setup, walk-in closet, and a whirlpool tub. The unique family suites feature two self-contained staterooms that connect through a shared living room.

In-cabin dining (24-hour) is relatively standard, with continental breakfast and a small selection of lunch, dinner, and snack items. However, Princess also introduced several stateroom dining options that have been well received on the new ship and are likely to be seen on future ships when appropriate. These include Champagne Breakfast for Two ($25), Lobster Balcony Dinner ($100), and the Brooklyn Nosh ($7).

The incredibly large breakfast (we counted seven covered plates) includes a half-bottle of French Champagne, varied pastries, fresh fruits and berries, smoked salmon, and a creative quiche. We also enjoyed the real splurge dinner, which includes flowers for your balcony table, a pre-dinner cocktail of choice, a half-bottle of Champagne, appetizers, imaginative salad, a choice of lobster or beef tenderloin (available in a surf-and-turf combo, too), and dessert. Also provided is an 8x10 picture of the event (evidently this balcony dinner is quite popular for special occasions). The nosh is a truly unique room-service item offered only when the ship is sailing out of Brooklyn's new (and very successful) terminal. Modestly priced, this little bit of the borough includes a cold bottle of Brooklyn Lager, an original Nathan’s hot dog, and a miniature Junior’s cheesecake--a great snack on sailaway day out of Brooklyn.

In light of the ship's admirable combination of traditional Princess favorites and evolutionary new offerings, we're anxious to see what enhancements are introduced on the line's next Grand Class vessel, the Emerald Princess, which was scheduled to enter service in April. Topping the Crown Princess will be tough.