Crown Princess

Part of the same series of ships as Ruby and Emerald Princess, the 3,082-passenger Crown Princess entered service in 2006. This may be one of the larger ships in the Princess Cruises’ fleet, but it never really feels crowded. This ship literally has something to appeal to all ages with an excellent two-deck high playroom for kids and teens; not to mention an under-18’s pool, hot tubs and open deck area at the stern. For adults, the sheer depth and breadth of programming, day and night, is almost exhausting - there really is something going on every minute of the day, whether it’s lectures karaoke, yoga classes, or wine tastings.

Crown Princess has nearly 900 cabins with balconies, ranging from Standard Outside cabins to Suites. An unusual tiered design means the balcony above doesn’t block the sun, but nor does it offer much in the way of privacy. There are snug, 163 sq ft Inside cabins; 179 sq ft Oceanview cabins; 231 sq ft Balcony cabins and Mini-Suites from 370 to 536 sq ft. There are two 687 sq ft Owner’s Suites; 16 Penthouse Suites (524 – 531 sq ft); six Vista Suites (460 – 495 sq ft); and two 606 sq ft Family Suites.

There are three traditional-styled main dining rooms, the Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms are for open-seating ‘Anytime Dining’, while the Botticelli Dining Room is geared around passengers preferring an established dining routine with set times and tablemates. Highly-popular alternative options include: Sabatini's for a cornucopia of Italian treats; Crown Grill for succulent steaks and seafood; Vines Wine Bar for early evening tapas; and the Salty Dog Gastropub developed in collaboration with Ernesto Uchimura, a founding chef of the original Umami Burger.  Casual offerings include the Horizon Court Buffet and Bistro; Café Caribe; and the Trident Grill.

Watering holes include: the Adagio Bar; Crooners Bar; Wheelhouse Bar; and Skywalkers Nightclub perched on the top deck. Smokers can retreat to the Speakeasy Cigar Lounge, while fortune-seekers can tempt Lady Luck in Gatsby’s Casino. A signature feature is ‘Movies Under The Stars’ – a giant LED screen towering above one of the four swimming pools screening the latest releases as well as some classics.

Other entertainment takes place in Club Fusion and we like the range of cabaret acts at night as well as the bingo and horse racing by day. We also recommend the Lotus Spa and the array of pampering treatments; while for the ultimate chill-out, head to the Sanctuary located above the Spa where adults can enjoy shade and solitude.