princess cruise ship crown princess reviews

Crown Princess Review: A Family-Friendly Ship

The Crown Princess cruise ship, launched in 2006, offers itineraries to Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, and Australia. While she isn’t the oldest ship at 17 years old, she requires a refresh. However, she offers diverse journeys for those on a budget.

In this Crown Princess review, discover the vessel’s public spaces, entertainment, overall feel, and what I thought of the service.

The Crown was the fifth vessel launched in the Grand class, owned by the Princess Line. She’s a mid-sized ship amongst the Royal, Grand, and Coral-class vessels with a passenger capacity of 3,000+ and a popular choice with those loyal to Princess.

During my cruise, I sailed solo in an aft balcony stateroom, paying a single supplement. It was my first solo cruise, and I was surprised that Princess assigned me an aft stateroom.

Crown Princess First Impressions

The ocean medallion, complimentary dining options, other dining options, bars and lounges, pools and hot tubs, crown princess staterooms, self-serve laundry, fitness and spa, entertainment, smoking areas, wi-fi and internet café.

The Crown Princess features a traditional décor similar to other vessels in the Princess Cruises fleet. Public spaces have an abundance of wood and muted hues. 

Its Piazza or atrium spans several decks, often the center stage for dance parties, live music, and onboard events such as bean bag toss and giant Jenga. It’s a great spot to enjoy a latte from the International Cafe.

I was happy they had the champagne waterfall event, which Princess had canceled during the pandemic.

The Promenade deck circumnavigates the ship, a favorite amongst those who like to walk laps and prefer a sheltered alternative to the Lido area.

Although refreshed in 2018, the vessel doesn’t have the modern look of the  Discovery Princess cruise ship. However, you can still enjoy the classics of ‘Movies under the Stars’ and gain access to your stateroom using the Ocean Medallion.

During my voyage, there was obvious signs that the vessel needed some TLC. A leaky ceiling in the buffet, peeling paint, and I had two drawers in my staterooms that were stuck closed. Although, none of these things affected my experience.

If it’s your first cruise, the Medallion, a wearable disk device, links to your smartphone and offers features unique to Princess Cruises. The Ocean Medallion replaces the traditional cruise card and has many ways to wear it. 

Opening your stateroom door might be the most loved feature, but it does much more. Although I cruised alone this time, the app allows you to track members of your traveling party, even if they’re in another stateroom. 

You can order drinks and food (although there’s now a one-time fee), make dining reservations, and view the daily activities. Also, you can check your cruise account.

You can opt-in to ‘Princess Prizes’ for a chance to win a cruise, onboard credit, specialty dining, and more. Guests with the Princess Premier package are already included. Other passengers can sign up on their stateroom panel door.

On my cruise, the fee was USD 10 per day, allowing me to win a prize each time I unlocked my stateroom door on a sea day. My previous two cruises charged USD 20 a day, and the price may vary depending on the number of sea days. For this cruise, I had one sea day.

The Crown Princess has three main dining rooms to feed the 3,000 guests, all named after famous painters. You’ll find the Michelangelo Restaurant at the aft on deck 5 (Plaza). One deck up, the Da Vinci dining room sits mid-ship, and the Botticelli is at the aft.

Due to the location of Da Vinci, it has fewer windows and can only be accessed from one side, mid-ship.

Since the galley lies between the two restaurants on decks 5 and 6, you can’t walk between these dining venues. It’s a nuisance to keep walking up and down a deck to access other areas.

You can enjoy complimentary meals in these venues, make reservations using the app, or show up for dinner.

Breakfast was served between 7:30 am and 9:30 am, and lunch from 12 to 1:30 pm at Botticelli. Da Vinci hosted complimentary afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, pastries, and scones.

It was nice to see the Botticelli Dining Room open for lunch on embarkation day, along with the Horizon Court Buffet.

All three main dining rooms served dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm. Although these venues have slightly different decor, they serve the same food. I have a separate article that covers my  Crown Princess dining experience .

If you prefer to “dine my way,” you’ll have a choice of Da Vinci or Michaelangelo. Those with the same dining time eat at Botticelli. However, since my cruise sailed at 50% capacity, guests could show up at any venue without a reservation.

Alternatively, you can choose the Horizon Court buffet restaurant on deck 15 (Lido). For early birds, breakfast begins at 5:30 am and flows into lunch at 11:30 am.

Due to the ship sailing at a low capacity, the picture above shows the size of the buffet that opened on my sailing.

Other complimentary bites include the Slice Pizzeria, Salty Dog Grill, ice cream, and selected items at the International Cafe. USA Today rated Princess Cruises as having the best pizza at sea. After your voyage, you can replicate the recipe at home.

If you choose to forego the main dining room, you can pay a cover charge to eat at one of the specialty restaurants. The Crown Grill offers juicy steaks at a reasonable price. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion. Alternatively, you can enjoy Italian food at Sabatini’s.

The Salty Dog Gastropub and Vines offers a three-course casual meal for a fixed price of USD 14.99. And, of course, you can also order room service.

On Princess Alaska cruises , the Crown offers a pop-up venue in the buffet called the ‘Crab Shack.’ For a nominal fee, you can don a plastic bib and enjoy seafood choices such as snow crab, king crab, prawns, clams, and mussels.

The Crown Princess cruise ship offers a variety of bars and lounges to suit different moods. You’ll find around ten distinct venues on board. The Wheelhouse Bar is nautical-themed and serves a unique “Spinnaker” cocktail. 

It offered an exclusive ‘beer tasting’ event, which cost USD 40. It included a welcome drink and three Alaskan beers with a variety of snacks.

Crooners Bar and Lounge on the Promenade deck is known for its martinis; try the “Classic Martini” for a timeless choice. Although my voyage sailed half full, this proved to be a popular venue onboard.

Club Fusion combines dancing and drinks; its signature is the “Fusion Fizz,” a blend of champagne and fruit juices. 

Explorers Lounge offers trivia nights and serves a wide range of international beers. Vines Bar specializes in wine and offers excellent tapas pairings. The signature here is a robust “Cabernet Sauvignon.”

Skywalkers Nightclub is your go-to for late-night dancing; their “Cosmic Cosmo” is a must-try.

You’ll find the Skywalker’s Nightclub on deck 18 aft. It was a great location, four floors above guest staterooms. With late-night music from 11:30 pm onwards, the noise was kept away from sleeping guests. To reach the nightclub, you must take the aft elevator.

The Outrigger Bar offers stunning sea views and specializes in tropical cocktails like the “Mai Tai.” The Adagio Bar provides a more subdued atmosphere, hosting singles get-togethers and other casual meet and greet.

You’ll find five swimming pools and seven hot tubs on the Crown. The pools are heated and guests used them during a cold sea day in October. Due to the ship’s age, no water slides or kids’ water parks exist.

Deck 15, or the Lido deck, features the two main pools: Neptune’s and Calypso’s Reef and Pools.

You can also grab a lounge chair and enjoy Movies under the Stars on sea days. With a pizzeria, bar, Salty Dog Grill, and ice cream nearby, you won’t have to give up your lounger when hungry. 

The giant outdoor screen showed recent movies and a great selection of concerts. Pity, our weather wasn’t good to sit outside to enjoy. I briefly sat outside on a sunny afternoon in Victoria, British Columbia.

Youths and teenagers have their own space off deck 17. Here, you’ll find a hot tub and a small circular pool that overlooks the Terrace Pool below.

You’ll find the small Terrace Pool one deck down at the aft. Adults can enjoy an exclusive pool and two hot tubs as part of the Lotus Spa. While you access it inside the spa, the pool is actually outdoors.

If you prefer a quieter space, you can pay a fee to use the sanctuary at the bow on deck 17. It features the usual padded loungers, fluffy towels, and pampering service. This adult-only area also had two cabanas offering massage treatments. 

The sanctuary is a popular space to enjoy scenic itineraries such at  Alaska’s Glacier Bay.

Cruise guests can select from inside cabins at 162 sq. feet to their largest suite measuring 357 sq. feet. You won’t find any colossal suites or those with multiple bedrooms, although you can book a family suite that combines a mini-suite with an interior stateroom.

For my cruise, I chose a balcony guarantee. I was surprised to be assigned an aft balcony cabin on deck 11 (Baja) with a 10 ft. long deck (category B4). While most solo cruisers might opt for a smaller inside, I was thrilled to enjoy the extra space of a larger stateroom to myself.

While an aft cabin requires more walking, it ensures a quieter location with less foot traffic in the hallway. I enjoyed the wake views from my huge balcony and found the location peaceful. You can read my full  aft cabin review.

Apart from deck 15, you can find a self-serve laundry room on each deck with staterooms. On the Crown Princess, you can locate the laundry room near the aft on each deck, except deck 2, where it’s near the bow.

The laundry rooms have washers, dryers, an iron and ironing board. You can purchase laundry soap and fabric softeners using your Medallion. The laundry room didn’t have any set hours.

🛳️ Haven’t booked your Crown Princess cruise yet?

Find your perfect cruise with Cruise Direct . It offers mini-cruises to extended itineraries on the Crown.

While I was on a mini-cruise and didn’t use the area, it’s a great feature on lengthened itineraries. Since Princess Cruise Lines offers world cruises, not having to pay a hefty fee for laundry is a nice bonus.

Alternatively, you can opt for paid laundry, which includes same-day or next-day service. Laundry costs were as follows:

• Evening dresses – USD 11.50
• 2-Piece Suit – USD 10
• Pants – USD 5.00
• Shorts – USD 4.50
• Shirts/blouses – USD 4.50
• Underwear or socks – USD 2

Note that same-day laundry incurs an additional 50% express service fee.

The Lotus Spa and Fitness Center is on Deck 16. You can visit the spa from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm. The fitness center opened late at 7 am, but guests could work out until 10 pm. 

The spa offers a variety of treatments for every budget. You’ll find massages, facials, and acupuncture on the menu. A hair and beauty salon is also available if you want to put your hair up on formal nights. 

Unique to the spa is the thermal suite, located one deck down. The thermal suite offers a serene atmosphere for relaxation. It features aromatic steam rooms and heated loungers, which I’ve enjoyed on Alaska itineraries.

Since this area is in an interior location, the thermal suite does not have windows to allow for outside views. For my mini-cruise, guests could purchase a thermal suite pass for USD 79.99 (reg. USD 99.99) or a one-day pass for USD 49.99. The pass sells for USD 149.99 for a 7-day itinerary.

One of the features I enjoy on older vessels is the complimentary saunas and steam rooms. The Crown has these, allowing you to forego the thermal suite pricing.

The Lotus Spa also has a small outdoor pool accessed from the spa area. This adult-only pool makes a quiet alternative to the Neptune Pool when the ship is at capacity.

For those into fitness, there’s a gym with modern equipment. Located at the bow, you can enjoy ocean views and forget you’re at the gym. You can attend fitness classes like yoga, Pilates, or TRX Suspension training. 

You’ll find the Center Court for basketball and pickleball outside the fitness area on deck 19 aft. Here, you’ll also find the jogging track and Princess Links, a nine-hole mini golf course.

You can enjoy entertainment at several venues, such as the Princess Theater, Explorer’s Lounge, and Club Fusion. You’ll find all these venues on deck 7.

Club Fusion hosted a shopping show, ballroom dance classes, karaoke, and live music. The other locations offered a mix of game shows, production numbers, and comedians.

I especially enjoyed the ‘Sweet Soul Music’ featured on my first evening and the ‘Disco, Blame it on the Boogie’ on the last night.

The singers in the production shows had great voices, and I enjoyed the selection of song choices.

You’ll find the Speakeasy Cigar Lounge on deck 6 by the Gatsby’s Casino for those who smoke. There is a smoking area inside the casino, too. Also:

• Outside Club Fusion on the starboard side.
• The Tradewinds Bar, port side.
• Outside Sabatini’s.

The kids’ clubs are located on deck 17. For my cruise, there were only 1600 guests, of which 88 were children.

The Treehouse catered to ages 3 to 7, with toys, arts and crafts, video games, and a small jungle gym. 8- to 12-year-olds can register at The Lodge. It had foosball, air hockey, skee-ball, ping pong, and a communal space to hang out with kids of a similar age.

The Beach House was reserved for teenagers from 13 to 17 years. The older kids could design graffiti t-shirts, have a dance competition, or play video games.

The kids’ club offered port day programming for three hours. Events included arts and crafts, card games, video games, and movies.

Located on deck 5, the internet café has computers guests can use 24 hours a day. I purchased Wi-Fi for my entire journey for USD 14.99 per day. You can also buy a one-day pass for USD 19.99. 

There were options for four devices should you be traveling with family. I found the Wi-Fi met my needs and only found it lagged when I sometimes used Skype.

I completed a speed test, which showed my download speed at 1.99 Mbps, using SpaceX Starlink satellite.

Crown Princess Review Final Thoughts

The Crown Princess provides an excellent choice for those on a budget and not looking for all the bells and whistles of modern-day mega-vessels. The ability to do self-service laundry makes Princess ships more enticing on longer itineraries.

I found the deck plan odd. Some areas are hard to find, and the galley blocking the ability to walk across decks 5 and 6 was a nuisance.

However, I felt the entertainment onboard was fantastic, and so was the cruise director, Gary Golding.

While I only did a mini-cruise, it was a great choice to upgrade my loyalty status. In fact, I met several guests who booked the short itinerary to reach Platinum or Elite.

Privacy Overview

Crown Princess Review

Sampler cruise.

Rating by category

Additional details.

Ship was extremely crowded. Embarkation took hours. Layout of the ship is confusing. A lot of people mentioned their difficulties with the ship layout. Ship is old and needs a lot of repairs. Wires hanging. Elevators required long wait times. Ship specialty restaurants were all booked as well as afternoon tea. So disappointing to not be able to eat in one at least once. Food in dining room also disappointing. Inedible New York strip steaks. Super small rooms. Requested robes four times. Room steward chastised us for this. Staff had attitude. You feel like they are annoyed to be there. It was shocking after our Holland cruises to hear their annoyed tones. Staff also drinks! Ship has you wear tracking devices. Booze cruise with very few options for non drinkers. Basically they cater to drinkers. Not a nice ship at all. Biggest problem is crew is not trained. Nobody could direct us without asking for assistance. Avoid this cruise line.

Cabin Review

Small and cramped. Only one person can move around at a time. No couch to relax inside on cold days.

Find a Crown Princess Cruise from A$297

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Crown Princess

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Debuted in 2006 and last refurbished in April 2018, the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess features some megaship amenities like a casino, a kids clubs and a 300-square-foot poolside theater. The ship also features quiet nooks, like a library and the Sanctuary (an adults-only area that requires an extra fee). Updates for 2018 included new luxury beds in every room, new dining venues and an upgraded spa. 

Past cruisers were satisfied with the ship's relaxing atmosphere, describing public areas as pleasant and rarely overcrowded. Another main selling point for previous guests is the ship's versatile dining choices. Cruisers can choose from seven eateries, including the main dining room and three informal restaurants. For specialty dining, guests can choose between Italian at Sabatini's, or steak at Crown Grill or burgers at The Salty Dog Gastropub.

In terms of lodging, 80% of Crown Princess' exterior cabins feature private balconies. All staterooms are appointed with minifridges and satellite TVs, but guests who opt for Mini-Suite and Suite cabins can enjoy extra amenities like bathtubs, multiple TVs and 57-square-foot balconies. The Reserve Collection cabins feature all the amenities of Mini-Suites, plus access to an exclusive dining venue with expanded menu options, priority boarding and a complimentary one-time wine setup. What's more, each guest aboard Crown Princess now receives an OceanMedallion wearable device to unlock his or her stateroom, make onboard payments, track down friends and family and more.

Crown Princess cruises through Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Australia, Mexico and the California coast.

Pros & Cons

Past passengers say the staff is attentive

Some past cruisers complained of poor dining service

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 3.9
• Health Rating » 4.5

Crown Princess ranks # 8 out of 15 Princess Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 3 in Best Cruises to Hawaii
• # 8 in Best Princess Cruises
• # 24 in Best Cruises to Alaska
• # 48 in Best Cruises for Couples
• # 61 in Best Affordable Cruises

Crown Princess offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Crown Princess contains 15 decks. Find out which features are available on each Crown Princess deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1360 guests have reviewed Crown Princess , giving it a rating of 3.9 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

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Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Crown Princess

Crown princess cruises view all choose from 117 holidays cruising on board the crown princess.

55 Days Brisbane to London

Operator: Princess

16 Days Singapore to Melbourne

12 Days San Francisco to San Francisco

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Life on Board Crown Princess What can you expect when cruising on board Crown Princess

Step aboard to find ample amenities and activities at your fingertips, and MedallionClass features to help you plan your stay. Read more

Dine with ultimate flexibility with Anytime Dining or opt for Traditional Dining seatings to enjoy a classic cruise experience. Read more

Princess' Discovery at SEA programs bring enriching experiences to the on board and on shore experience for all ages. Read more

Be captivated each evening by the talented performers on board, or join the line up with The Voice of the Ocean competition. Read more

Treat yourself to a massage in the Lotus Spa or kick back in The Sanctuary to find ultimate relaxation during your cruise. Read more

Keyless entry. Seamless payments. Personalised service. It's all at your fingertips with MedallionClass on Crown Princess. Read more

Deck Plans Deck 5 - Plaza Deck 6 - Fiesta (No Cabins) Deck 7 - Promenade (No Cabins) Deck 8 - Emerald Deck 9 - Dolphin Deck 10 - Caribe Deck 11 - Baja Deck 12 - Aloha Deck 14 - Riviera Deck 15 - Lido Deck 16 - Sun (No Cabins) Deck 17 - Sports (No Cabins) Deck 18 - Sky (No Cabins)

Cabins Interior Stateroom Oceanview Stateroom (Obstructed) Oceanview Stateroom Premium Balcony Stateroom Balcony Stateroom Two Bedroom Family Suite Mini-Suite Reserve Collection Mini-Suite Premium Suite Vista Suite Penthouse Suite Owner's Suite All Types Inside Oceanview Balcony Suite

Interior Stateroom

Interior Staterooms offer a spacious room with two twin beds that convert to a queen-size bed and a private bathroom. Stateroom: 14-16 sq metres.

Oceanview Stateroom (Obstructed)

A well appointed stateroom featuring a picture window or porthole with an obstructed view. Two twin beds that convert to a queen-size bed and a private bathroom. Stateroom: 15-18 sq metres.

Oceanview Stateroom

Oceanview Staterooms offer a spectacular view for a memorable holiday. Two twin beds that convert to a queen-size bed and a private bathroom. Stateroom: 15-18 sq metres.

Premium Balcony Stateroom

Approximately 240 to 298 sq. ft. including balcony, this cabin provides dramatic wake views from a rear-facing private balcony.

Balcony Stateroom

Balcony Staterooms offer a spectacular view for a memorable holiday. Two twin beds that convert to a queen size bed and a private bathroom and balcony. Stateroom: 20-22 sq metres, including balcony.

Two Bedroom Family Suite

The Two Bedroom Family Suite features a spacious private terrace offering breathtaking panoramic sea views. Separate bedroom with two twin beds that convert to a queen bed. Suite: 40 sq metres, including balcony.

The Mini-Suite features a spacious private terrace offering breathtaking sea views. Separate seating area with a sofa bed and two twin beds that convert to a queen bed. Suite: 27-32 sq metres, including balcony.

Reserve Collection Mini-Suite

With the Reserve Collection Mini-Suite you’ll enjoy everything from a prime mini-suite location, priority embarkation & disembarkation at the beginning and end of your cruise, in-room wine set-up and expedited seating in our exclusive Reserve Dining area. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, Princess luxury bed, separate seating area with coffee table and a sofa bed. Suite: 27-32 sq metres, including balcony.

Premium Suite

The Premium Suite features a large private terrace offering breathtaking sea views. Separate seating area with a sofa bed and two twin beds that convert to a queen bed. Suite: 52 sq metres, including balcony.

Vista Suite

The Vista Suite features a spacious balcony offering breathtaking panoramic sea views. includes a walk in wardrobe and twin beds that convert to a queen bed. Suite: 46 sq metres, including balcony.

Penthouse Suite

The Penthouse Suite features a spacious private terrace offering breathtaking sea views. Separate seating area with a sofa bed and two twin beds that convert to a queen bed. Suite: 40-63 sq metres, including balcony.

Owner's Suite

The Owner's Suite features a spacious private terrace offering breathtaking sea views. Separate seating area with a sofa bed and two twin beds that convert to a queen bed. Suite: 63 sq metres, including balcony.

Crown Princess Cruise Schedule All 117 cruise sailings by departure date on board Crown Princess

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Crown Princess Deck Plans & Reviews

Crown Princess

Activities & entertainment

• Arts and Crafts Classes *
• Beauty Salon *
• Center Court
• Dancing Classes
• Deck Parties
• Disco and Dancing
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Whirlpools (6)
• Internet Cafe *
• Jogging Track
• The Library
• Lotus Spa *
• Princess Links
• Skywalkers Nightclub
• Solo Travelers Get Togethers
• Thermal Suite *
• Ultimate Ship Tour *
• Wine Tasting *
• The Sanctuary *
• The Beach House Teen Lounge
• Camp Discovery Youth Center
• Gatsbys Casino *
• Conference Center Starboard
• The Shops of Princess *
• Fine Arts Gallery *
• Photo Gallery *
• Guest Services
• Shore Excursions Desk *
• Captains Circle Loyalty
• Future Cruise Planning *
• OceanMedallion
• Wedding Chapel
• Speakeasy Cigar Lounge *
• Self_Service Laundry *
• Medical Center
• Club Fusion
• Comedy Shows
• Explorers Lounge
• Outdoor Movies
• Princess Theater
• Movies Under the Stars
• Botticelli Dining Room - Main
• Da Vinci Dining Room - Main
• Michelangelo Dining Room - Main
• Cafe Caribe - Casual
• Horizon Court - Buffet
• Horizon Terrace - Casual
• Adagio - Cocktail Bar *
• The Mix - Pool Bar *
• International Cafe - Coffee & Pastries *
• The Salty Dog Grill - Pool Grill
• The Salty Dog Gastropub - Pub *
• Slice - Pizza
• Sabatinis Italian Trattoria - Italian *
• Good Spirits at Sea - Craft Cocktails *
• Crooners Bar - Martini Bar *
• Calypso Bar - Pool Bar *
• Outriggers Bar - Pool Bar *
• Tradewinds Bar - Deck Bar *
• Wheelhouse Bar - Pub *
• Crown Grill - Steakhouse *
• Vines Wine Bar - Wine Bar *
• Casino Bar - Casino Bar *
• Coffee and Cones - Sweet Treats *
• Room Service *

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Review: Crown Princess to Alaska, 6/23-7/4/23

By zackarykeef , August 2, 2023 in Princess Cruises

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zackarykeef

Hey everyone!

I just returned about a month ago from this sailing, so I wanted to give a quick review. Hopefully, this will help those trying to decide whether or not to sail this ship, with Princess, or to Alaska, as reviews are always helpful for me!

I took this cruise with my husband. 2023 began with wedding preparations, career changes, our wedding, buying a house, a lot of remodeling and contractor issues, a big move, and plenty of family visits. Needless to say, we both needed a break and and escape from the crazy Florida heat we’ve been experiencing this summer. I sailed to Alaska with NCL once about 7 years ago and loved it, and I thought it would be the perfect relaxing trip compared to our usual go go go international trips or high-energy Caribbean cruises we like to take.

My husband had never been to Alaska before and was apprehensive, but he LOVED it! Neither of us had sailed on Princess, but the timing, price, and itinerary worked out. I love NCL’s bigger ships, but wanted to sail the inside passage, hence why we picked the Crown. We knew it was an older, smaller ship, but this trip was all about the destination, views, and itinerary.

We departed from Canada Place in Vancouver for an 11-day cruise to Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Haines, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria. We also spent a day cruising Yakutat Bay/Hubbard Glacier, as well as 3 other sea days.

There is only ONE direct flight weekly from Miami to Vancouver and vice versa on Air Canada. It is on Thursdays, so we were lucky, as our cruise departed on a Friday and returned on a Tuesday. I don’t prefer Air Canada, but I loved not having to connect. Flights were quicker than expected and painless. We stayed one night pre-cruise downtown at the EXchange and two nights post-cruise downtown at the JW Marriott Parq. They were both great, and I would definitely recommend. The first room was very small, but it was only one night, the location was great, and it allowed us to walk to the port in the morning, as it was only 2 blocks away. The second room was amazing and in such a great location near Yaletown. The train was simple, cheap, and quick getting to/from the airport. Vancouver is an amazing city, and I highly recommend spending time there! It’s a haven for Asian food lovers…everything we ate and drank was incredible, and we can’t wait to return.

Of note, hotels in downtown Vancouver are very expensive, especially during the summer cruise months. Some people stay in Richmond closer to the airport, but there isn’t much to do there, and they weren’t THAT much cheaper than downtown. I booked both of these at hot rate hotel deals using Hotwire, which I highly recommend. We do this for all of our trips, have never been let down (you can choose the location and star level), and always end up in amazing hotels, saving tons! The JW was $700/night on their website, and we booked on Hotwire for $650 total for 2 nights. With a little ingenuity, the hot rate deals are the way to go!

Last point...I have been reading about some of the package/charges changing on Princess soon. We had Princess Premier on this sailing, but sailed before all of these changes, so I can't weigh in on that. I'm not in a rush to sail Princess again, so not sure if we'll experience if these changes have any major impact.

I've done several reviews before, which are linked in my signature, so I will do this one in a similar manner. Feel free to ask any questions...I'm happy to help!

Happy cruising!

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Booking: I had started watching this cruise after we settled on this one around April/May, which I know may seem late but is typically when we book due to our schedules. I also find better deals closer to sailing and don’t have to worry about constantly checking to reprice. It seemed pretty full, but there were a FEW aft balconies left. We had never sailed in an aft balcony before and had been wanting to try it, but of course when I went to book, they were sold out. I kept checking, and about a week later, it let me book a guarantee aft! I jumped on it quickly and got a great price for an 11-day in an aft balcony with Princess Plus. We got our room assignment about 1-2 weeks prior (not exactly sure when), and were very happy with it, true to the category we booked. Pre-communication was good, and we had no issues. We quickly upgraded to Premier as soon as we boarded for champagne/higher-end liquors and two specialty meals that we had already booked anyway, and we thought it was worth it. The bartender told us they don’t get commission for upgrading you, but she does get a bonus/perk like an extra day off if you upgrade on board with them.

We didn’t pay the $10 to have our medallions mailed to us, mainly because we were worried about them not making it in time, and we hadn’t upgraded to Premier at that time.

Embarkation: Our boarding time was 11:30am-12:00pm, and we arrived just before that. Embarkation was mostly simple and brainless for us, but it is A LOT of walking back and forth in queues, and Canada Place is overall unorganized. I just kept thinking about how my mother, who uses a cane, would definitely need a wheelchair just for embarking. There was a queue for luggage drop, then a queue for security, followed by a queue for immigration. You go through US immigration in the port, as you will be leaving Canada for the US. They had Global Entry available, so that was nice and convenient. There was a lot of stopping lines for passengers in other lines to pass through in a different direction, undoing and redoing stanchions and walls, which was odd. There was also confusion with a lot of Celebrity ship guests in the wrong line, only to find out they were waiting in the Princess luggage drop. We just listened to the employees, followed their directions, and made it to the right place. After that, it was up an escalator to wait in line for our medallions, then down an escalator and around a corner, only to go back up an escalator to board the ship. Overall, it took about 45 minutes to 1 hour from walking down to baggage drop to stepping on the ship.

Medallions: This was our first experience with this, as other lines don't use this. I don't really have an opinion either way, as I don't find them any more or less convenient than key cards. I don't think it made a difference picking ours up at the port, as it was overall quick and painless and didn't seem to take any longer than those that already had theirs (this may be Vancouver-specific). We did pay for a special design, and they gave us the incorrect ones. These can't be changed, and the crew on-board cannot do anything about it, as this is a shoreside team issue. However, we went to the OceanFront desk on board, and they apologized and immediately credited our account. He mentioned there were several others with our specific design that were messed up as well, so they may have been out of that design for some reason. Overall, not a big deal, as we ended up using our small Apple Air Tag clips holders for them instead of the lanyard, which worked out great!

I have a love/hate relationship with the fact that the medallion is basically a tracking device. I liked not having to say my cabin number/scan anything at bars and the bartender already knowing my name, as you automatically pop up on their screen when you approach. It's also nice that you can easily find anyone in your party on the map in the app. It just felt odd to know they track your movements.

On that note, and as a minor segue into the next topic, I also dislike that all the room hallway screens show everyone's name. Just something I don't think needs to be displayed.  🤷‍♂️

Room: Aft balcony B757, category B4, Baja deck (11). This is by far the smallest room I have ever been in, which I believe is just due to the age of the ship. The weird arch in the entry hall makes it feel cramped. I appreciate the “walk-in” closet and closet space, but this overall took space away from the room to the point they can't even fit a couch. It was the bed with the end tables, a desk and a chair next to that, then the balcony door. A small corner cabinet with the tv above and mini-bar below opposite. There was a standing wardrobe in the closet, along with the bathroom. The bathroom was standard/small, with the old plastic curtain semi-circle shower. The room was very clean, if a bit outdated. However, it was perfectly comfortable for 2 people, and plenty of storage for all of our clothes/things. The floor-level motion lights didn't bother us, and I actually found them helpful. Goes to show everyone has different preferences, since I know that can be a big complaint!

From what I've read, most of the beds (but not all) have been replaced with the refurb and in recent years. Maybe we were lucky, but the bed was EXTREMELY comfortable, and we slept well every night.

The standout (minus a few points) was the balcony. It's the biggest (semi)standard balcony I’ve had, and the aft view was incredible and 100% worth it. The balcony is covered, which protects from the elements, and the aft location protects from wind. This is especially nice for Alaska, where you can expect (and we had) all types of weather. The aft of this ship is curved, so we couldn’t see above/below us, and could barely see to the sides of us. That was a nice perk. We were also in one of the middle cabins, and as there is a ventilation system down the middle of the ship, we were immediately to the side of that and did not have a balcony right next to us on one side. The downside to that was that the balcony always smelled like food/fried food from the buffet upstairs and was on the louder side. It didn’t ruin anything, and we used the balcony plenty (likely got used to it after a few minutes), but we definitely turned our nose up when we stepped outside each time. Not too loud that it interfered with video calls or reading. People in the past complained of vibrations in the aft cabins, but that seems to be more prevalent the lower you are. Being on deck 11, this didn’t bother us at all.

Cruisers: We sailed around 100% capacity based on room availability and what other guests/crew said. It didn’t feel crowded for the most part, as there are so many spaces to lounge or hang out. It was hard to get a seat in the Piazza at any time, and the buffet was definitely always crowded, although this is mainly due to the fact that it is so small. Definitely an older crowd than I’m used to, and definitely plenty of Princess regulars. There were a few families with kids here and there, but more older couples/groups. Didn’t have any issues with other guests that I noticed.

Thanks for doing this review.  Like your writing style and thoroughness and look forward to more posts.

cruisingtheresa

Thanks for this review! We leave on August 15 for the 10-day (minus Victoria) on the Crown. We had our medallions shipped to us (we purchased the Premiere package). I'm so glad to hear that they have Global Entry and we're staying at the Fairmont so they will take our luggage to the terminal for us. I'm hoping that will speed up our embarkation process.

Since we're going in August, there will be no more embarkation times (even though I had already signed up for 11:00-11:30). But when I looked at our booking info on the website last week, it now states that boarding begins at 1:00 pm, which I found odd. I think we'll still show up around 11:00 or so and see what happens. We booked a suite, so worst case scenario, we'll go to their lounge and hang out there for a while.

How was the weather? What excursions did you go on?

CruzeQueen2

@zackarykeef  Thanks for taking the time to share so many details about your trip. Happy to hear that you slept well on your comfortable bed!

Would love to know if you were happy with the wine choices with the Premium package. Did you get many photos and were the photographers around the ship during the day, outside for example?

I am not new to Princess; but haven't sailed on the Crown for awhile. 

@zackarykeef  Thought of another question - Which two restaurants did you visit for your specialty dining? Which one did you enjoy the most, and why?

I believe the two options are Sabatini on Deck 16 and Crown Grill, deck 7. Are there any other venues for specialty dining?

Did you find any differences in the Main Dining Rooms that are worth noting? E.g., staff at the door and longer, or shorter lines...I have made reservations, and am hoping for a good outcome.

Thanks again!

Astro Flyer

4 hours ago, zackarykeef said: From what I've read, most of the beds (but not all) have been replaced with the refurb and in recent years. Maybe we were lucky, but the bed was EXTREMELY comfortable, and we slept well every night.

Happy to read about your good experience after reading several posts about beds on Crown being soft cratered mattresses.

In Spring 2025 we sail Crown for 28 days & wouldn’t want a worn out mattress. Before their luxury mattresses were created had several sagging mattresses…once they put food trays between the mattress & support frame.

More to come everyone! Trying to finish later or tomorrow, and will answer your questions as well! If they’re not already incorporated (food, excursions), I’ll answer them in separate posts!

8 hours ago, CruzeQueen2 said:   Did you find any differences in the Main Dining Rooms that are worth noting? E.g., staff at the door and longer, or shorter lines...I have made reservations, and am hoping for a good outcome. Thanks again!  

I know I'm not the OP, but I too was on this cruise and had reservations for every dining room and of course, perspectives may vary. 

I had reservations for either 7 PM or 7:40 PM, private table for 2. 

Botticelli can get really crowded if having to wait because of it's location (aft) so one night, we were halfway up the stairs waiting to get in. 

Da Vinci's wait wasn't too bad, from what I can recall. I'll admit, the way it worked out reservations wise, we dined there the least. 

Michelangelo (Deck 5) was typically the quickest, except one night where we were waiting for quite awhile (I think it was they didn't have place settings ready).  Also, for us, it was the one dining room we had issues with particularly having our wait staff having to handle a party of 17 (not a typo), which left us basically abandoned (and they didn't get any backup) and also in this dining room, there is one waiter in particular that would literally spend 15 mins talking to a table of regulars while everyone else around them is working and trying to serve patrons.

8 hours ago, [Big Z] said: I know I'm not the OP, but I too was on this cruise and had reservations for every dining room and of course, perspectives may vary.    I had reservations for either 7 PM or 7:40 PM, private table for 2.    Botticelli can get really crowded if having to wait because of it's location (aft) so one night, we were halfway up the stairs waiting to get in.    Da Vinci's wait wasn't too bad, from what I can recall. I'll admit, the way it worked out reservations wise, we dined there the least.    Michelangelo (Deck 5) was typically the quickest, except one night where we were waiting for quite awhile (I think it was they didn't have place settings ready).  Also, for us, it was the one dining room we had issues with particularly having our wait staff having to handle a party of 17 (not a typo), which left us basically abandoned (and they didn't get any backup) and also in this dining room, there is one waiter in particular that would literally spend 15 mins talking to a table of regulars while everyone else around them is working and trying to serve patrons.

@[Big Z]  Thank you for the details! 

We cruised the Crown in May.

We had a Lyft take us to the port. Car went down to level P2 where we dropped our luggage off with the porters. From there we took an elevator to the upper level where we checked in with Princess and got our medallions.

If the taxi goes to the lower level parking it might be worth the fare to avoid the long lines in the terminal to drop off luggage.

Carrying on! Sorry for the delay...

Entertainment: We are never big “show” people on cruises, so I can’t speak to the production shows, as we didn’t attend. We saw several of the comedy shows, both in the theater and in the lounges, and they were alright. A few laughs here and there, but nothing that was side-splitting hilarious. The majority of the live music around the ship was great, mainly Colin the pianist/singer at Crooner’s. We were there nightly at the beginning. However, on an 11-day cruise with one pianist, it began getting very repetitive. The talent was great, but it just got old really quickly with the same songs nightly. Regardless, this was Alaska, and the real entertainment was the scenery anyway!

I will say Movies Under the Stars was awesome! We only went once on our last sea day. The sun and temperature were delightful, and it was a very relaxing way to spend the afternoon. I wish we would’ve attended more, although the weather didn’t always cooperate!

Activities: Again, we didn’t spend much time doing the scheduled activities, as it’s not typically our thing. However, there definitely was plenty to do on the schedule, and the crew kept everyone engaged and upbeat whenever we passed. I do like a bit of trivia, and although it was plentiful, it was just ok. The assistant cruise director was new and seemed like she was trying to find her footing, so not everything landed or went as smoothly as it could have. However, that’s to be expected, and I expect it to improve with time, as the cruise director Olivia was amazing!

Gym/Spa: We didn’t get any massages this time, but a nice touch was the free sauna/steam room in the locker rooms. Unless you absolutely needed it, buying a pass to the (small) thermal suite wasn’t necessary, which is something we typically buy. The gym was large and spacious with everything you could need. The Premier package includes unlimited fitness classes, which were good and never crowded. I also enjoyed that there is free access to two outdoor hot tubs from the gym, protected from the elements.

My husband did get shave, as we were selected from a raffle for a $50 spa credit. It was easy to schedule, and he was happy with the result. They did overcharge him and tried to convince him on the phone several times that the price was correct, and it wasn't until he walked back to the spa and showed it to them on the menu that they said "oh, you're right" and corrected the amount on our account.

Bars/Alcohol/Drink Package: Overall, we enjoyed the drinks and selection on Princess. We upgraded to the Premier package once on board, mainly for the champagne, but also for some of the higher-end liquors. The most disappointing thing was that due to stock issues, they didn’t have a lot of these liquors. When we asked for many of the cocktails in the Premier package, we were met with “Oh, sorry, we can’t make that because we don’t have x.” This was a little frustrating. The wine selection was decent, but we really stuck to the Cattier champagne, and we definitely got our money’s worth. I would advise to make sure you check on board re: stock if there is something specific you are considering upgrading for.

The cocktails overall were good, especially at Crooner’s and Good Spirits at Sea. This bar was the standout. I’m very into mixology and have a full bar set-up at home, so it was nice to see this concept on a ship. The drinks were great, the videos and information behind each cocktail along with the live recipes were informative, and the staff was even better. GSAS quickly became our go-to hang out.

I do think overall Princess could do with some updating. I know this is a minor detail, but why do they still have those horrible, cloyingly sweet bright red maraschino cherries everywhere? I wanted a nice, dark amarena cherry in my manhattans, but was told they didn’t carry those. A lot of things on Princess overall seemed outdated, and this is just an example where I think other lines like Celebrity or NCL stand out and are keeping things more modern and current.

Staff: I have no complaints, and really have never on any of my cruises. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Our steward was great, our servers were great, the officers/director staff were great, etc. I was told by someone once that “If you haven’t had a bad cruise, you haven’t cruised enough.” Well, maybe I’m lucky, but I’ve sailed close to 20 by now and have yet to have a bad cruise. I truly don’t get complaints about staff, as they are honestly some of the nicest and hardest-working people I’ve met, and Princess was no exception.

Food: Ah, the food. Honestly, it was pretty disappointing overall, and the main reason why we likely won’t sail Princess again in the future. I shouldn’t say won’t…I will likely try the new Sun/Star to see what a larger, newer Princess ship is like, as I only have this sailing on the Crown to go off of. However, I don’t think I’ll get my husband back on Princess due to the food alone. I've found every other line I've sailed (save for Carnival) to be much better.

I was looking forward to the food after reading plenty, especially as Princess is supposed to be a step-up from Carnival/RCCL/NCL. We also loved our recent cruise on Celebrity with the food being a stand-out, and many seem to think that Princess is on-par with or better than Celebrity. Living in Miami and moving from NYC, I would consider us foodies, and we both love to cook and cook well. Eating is important to us 🤣

We reserved our dining on the app ahead of time, all for the same time at a two-person private table in the Da Vinci dining room, along with two specialty meals in Crown Grill and Sabatini’s. We were seated the first night with our servers Kim and Arman, who were fantastic. We requested them for the rest of the trip, and were given our same table nightly. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the front of house staff at Da Vinci. Dinner timing and pacing was always great.

However, the food overall was…meh. Again, I think this comes down to just being outdated. Plating and garnishes were outdated, choices were outdated, etc. I understand some people are stuck in their ways, but things like cherries jubilee, chicken cordon bleu, etc. are not elevated or modern anymore. The plating really was lackluster, and it just wasn’t exciting. I know it is all Carnival Corp, but it didn’t seem much different than what I remember on Carnival cruises years ago. Lower quality, mass-produced, and very commercial. I understand it's a lot of people, but I don't feel this way on other lines, even though it's mass-produced there as well. For a cruise that had so many “Alaska” features nightly, the fish/seafood really wasn’t that good. Meats were better (the short rib was great), but again, boring overall. We started ordering the vegetarian dishes around day 7, and they were much better! Highly recommend the Indian/Asian veg dishes.

The buffet was…small. Very small, as many have mentioned. So small it’s cramped. Choices didn’t really change, and everything was lackluster. Breakfast was extremely redundant, and I’m not sure we could find real eggs anywhere…even the omelet station seemed to use fake eggs. The worst part about the buffet were the hours. It was like a game of hide and seek trying to figure out which of the 3 stations were open and when. One side would be closed, so they would tell you to go to the other…only to get there and have them say “Oh, now this side is closed, and we just opened the other, so you have to go back.” It was really frustrating, and more time was spent trying to get your food than eating it.

They also had one afternoon of a dessert buffet, and I was yelled at for trying to take something because it was “only open for pictures.” What? Again, outdated. I thought this was a thing of the past. I don’t think we need time dedicated to taking tons of photos of averagely decorated cakes.

After tiring of the buffet breakfast, we decided to try breakfast in the main dining room one morning. I feel Princess definitely caters to the older crowd here, as you need to be up at the crack of dawn if you are to make it before breakfast ends. The food wasn’t any better, and it was the slowest meal we had on board by far…almost 2 hours for omelets and toast. We were sat at a table with others, and all anyone could talk about was how long it was taking.

Crown Grill was fine. I expected better from the raving reviews, but…meh. I'll admit our steaks were perfect, but I could’ve done without everything else. The scallops in the main dining room were better, and my bone-marrow roasted potato didn’t seem any different than a regular baked potato. Unless it was included, I would skip it next time.

The highlight was Sabatini’s. This meal was actually incredible, and had our meal not been toward the end of the sailing, we would’ve went back. You get a lot of food, and everything was delicious. The osso bucco was on point, and I would highly recommend a meal here.

We didn’t eat at the Salty Dog Gastropub, but the menu looked good. We just didn’t want to pay for something else to be let down. The Salty Dog Grill upstairs was fine, but the wait times were ridiculous. Always 30-45 minutes for a hot dog or burger and fries, and you had to be given a pager for when your food was ready. I don’t understand this, as you would think that a place that only does these few foods would be producing them constantly. They weren't any better than the burgers or hot dogs on the buffet, which could be obtained much more quickly (so long as you found a side that was open).

Princess does shine with their pizza and desserts. Slice upstairs had amazing pizza…loved the thin crust. I am not much of a dessert person and tend to think most cruise line desserts are underwhelming and overly gelatinous, but Princess does a great job. I think we enjoyed almost every dessert we had, save for their one signature dessert, the love boat dream, which was a let down (but the lychee/rose signature dessert was great!). We didn’t get any of the included “premium desserts,” as they seemed too large and sweet, so I can’t comment on that.

Ports:  We chose the Crown Princess specifically for these ports, as I had only been to Alaska once before out of Seattle to the 3 "regular" Alaska stops.

Icy Strait Point: We docked at the further Wilderness Landing Port in ISP, which means you have to take a short (and free) 5-minute aerial tram ride over to the main port, which gives you access to everything. You can also hike, which is about 20 minutes on a paved path. NCL basically built this port from scratch, and it really is beautiful. This was our first time here, and it gives you a true Alaska feel.

Here, we did a private excursion with Glacier Wind Charters on one of their boats for whale watching. We cannot recommend this enough. It was just 6 of us total on a small boat with the captain, and he was amazing. We saw so many whales, otters, porpoises, seals, bears, etc, and the small group made it much more private and enjoyable. This is a far cry from the overly crowded, overly expensive ship excursions. I know people get nervous about this, but unless you have onboard credits to use, I highly recommend doing some research and booking private tours with local companies. I do this every cruise and have never been let down. These companies thrive off reviews and word-of-mouth, so they aren't going to cause trouble getting you back to the ship, timing, etc, as that would ruin their reputation. Alaska is a good place to start exploring these options, as it is the US, before you move on to private tours elsewhere like the Caribbean, Europe, etc.

Juneau: We had booked a private helicopter/glacier landing tour/walk, but due to weather, it was cancelled. You could barely see the morning we arrived in Juneau due to fog, so we expected this. It's just something to be prepared for on a cruise to Alaska.

With 4 ships in port and the Crown being the smallest, we had to tender. The weather was terrible, and tendering was held for about 2 hours in the morning. When we finally did get on the lifeboat, the driver could barely see, and it definitely was not the ideal tendering conditions. I think everyone was uneasy, but we made it safely. Tendering in Alaska is never ideal, so make sure to pay attention to this on your schedule.

We made the most of the day and wandered around to some breweries and distilleries. This turned out to be an amazing day! Juneau is an awesome, hipster town, and the gin distillery we went to was great! It's called Amalga Distillery, and we recommend. We also went to Devil's Club Brewing, which was awesome, and we had some of the best popcorn ever! We ran to IGA to get some ship snacks and grabbed fish and chips from a local food truck. Way better than the ship...it was delicious. We wandered some shops on the way back before tendering (and a very long line) back to the ship.

Haines: We were lucky enough to call in Haines, as Skagway that day already had 5 ships in port. This was the biggest blessing, as I think the Crown was only scheduled there once or twice this summer, and not many other ships call in Haines. The town is quaint, and everyone was nice. We booked a private glacier flightseeing tour with Mountain Flying Service. Paul (the owner) and his wife are based in Haines, and they were just the best. He picked us up in his own vehicle at the port and took us to his hangar where the plane is. He took us on a short 10-minute flight to Skagway to pick up some other passengers there, and then we were off for our flying tour of Glacier Bay. It was spectacular, and again, we highly recommend. We loved the bonus flight to Skagway (got lucky with that one), and the views, including some bears, were incredible!

Afterwards, his wife dropped us off at a local restaurant she recommended for fish and chips, which was, again, delicious. We went to Haines Brewing Company for a beer, where many of the crew were hanging out. After wandering some shops, we found Three Northmen, a mead and cider house, which was awesome. We then went to Port Chilkoot Distillery and had some awesome spruce tip cocktails. If you're into beers and spirits, Alaska is a dream, and I highly recommend any itinerary that gets you a stop in Haines!

Sitka:  As much as it pains me to say it, we did not get off in Sitka. We did not have an excursion booked, as we planned to wander around town looking for another brewery and walk the national park and totem poles. However, it was extremely rainy and cloudy that day, and after a rainy day of walking around in Juneau, we decided this type of weather isn't the best to just "wing it." Plus, you have to take a 10-minute shuttle from the port into town and back, and we could see the lines were long. We enjoyed a relaxing day on board.

Ketchikan:  We wanted to do some hiking, and Ketchikan is the perfect spot for this. We wandered town to grab breakfast (after being sick of breakfast on board) at a local diner recommended to us by the crew called Pioneer Cafe. It was great! Huge portions and delicious. We then wandered Creek Street for a bit, then headed up the mountain to the Rainbird Trail. The forest and views were stunning, and we were blessed to have a warm, sunny day in one of the rainiest cities in the US! It's an overall easy hike that you can walk to from the port, or you can easily hail a cab to take you to the trailhead. After some shop browsing, we headed back to the ship.

Victoria:  Another perk of this itinerary was that we were blessed to have a 12-10pm call in Victoria, as opposed to the typical 8pm-midnight call many lines due to suffice the Jones Act. I had been to Victoria before, and although it was beautiful, there was not enough time to do much of anything.

We pre-booked tickets/transport with Grayline Tours to go to the Butchart Gardens, as it's something everyone should do once. It was much cheaper than the Princess excursion, and I felt gave us more freedom. It's a nice walk to the Empress Hotel, where the tour departs from, and an easy drive to the Gardens. They are beautiful, and although slightly crowded, we had a very nice day. We had drinks at the hotel afterwards, and although we had more time, we were anxious to get back on the ship for a nap.

Ship: The Crown is an older, smaller ship, but it was very well maintained. I have only sailed on bigger, modern ships recently, so it was interesting to be back on an older ship and seeing how so much has changed over the years. Although outdated, the ship flowed well, and the lounge spaces were plentiful and large with ample seating. The Explorer's Lounge is a great venue with a nice location. It was extremely nice to have an entire outside promenade, which was especially great for Alaska and whale watching. The standout was Skywalker's Lounge, which provided stunning views and a quiet atmosphere during the day for scenery and reading. It was never crowded, and I enjoyed how it turned into a "club" at night, even if there were only a handful of us dancing. Some parts of the ship were definitely underutilized, but overall it was well-thought out.

I still prefer larger, newer ships, but for this itinerary, the ship worked well.

Debarkation: We were unfortunate to be arriving in Vancouver during a worker's strike, which delayed our debarkation for a few hours. This was conveyed to us the night before with a note on our bed, so we were prepared. Being that were were staying in Vancouver for a few days, we did not mind. I liked how we were allowed to eat/drink still on debarkation day, as every other cruise line I've been on does not allow alcohol purchases that day. I'm not sure if Princess always does this or it was solely because we were stuck on the ship longer, but it was a nice touch. When we were called, debarking was easy, our luggage was waiting, and we were out and in an Uber to our hotel in no time.

Final Thoughts:  We wanted a relaxing getaway for the two of us, and that is exactly what we got. We enjoyed our balcony views, the Alaskan scenery and wildlife, reading our books, playing games, and sipping cocktails. We had a great time, but we could have a great time in a cardboard box. This was the longest cruise I've been on, and I'm not sure if it was Princess or the food or the length in general, but it felt a little too long for us personally. I think 8-9 days is our sweet spot, although again, I might not say no to longer on a bigger ship.

I highly recommend a cruise that includes Yakutat Bay/Hubbard Glacier, as it really was stunning. We were able to get very close and stayed for a while. I'm not sure if it was better than Glacier Bay from what I remember, but I think they are both equally gorgeous.

Is Princess for us? I don't think so. I know there are die-hard Princess cruisers, but I'm not sure if they are blinded to what they know and don't want to admit that their beloved Princess could possibly do anything wrong. I think I will try the new ship when it launches to make a full decision, but otherwise, we won't be seeking out Princess or converting in the future.

There are a few other things I didn't touch on, so if there are any questions/comments, I'm happy to answer to the best of my ability! 

Happy cruising! 😎

Oops! One last thing...the weather. Someone asked, and I forgot to mention it. I typically don't include that in my reviews, but I feel it's necessary for Alaska. The last time I went to Alaska, we sailed the first week of June. We had sunny skies and 60/70s the entire trip.

This trip was much more variable. Vancouver was warm and sunny, and the next day at sea was a complete white-out of fog. So foggy that the captain had to blow the horn every 2 minutes as a warning for surrounding vessels. It was eerie yet peaceful to look out and see nothing but white. The rest of the time was a mix of foggy mornings, rain, and sunny skies, with weather ranging between high 40s to 70s, maybe reaching 80s in Victoria.

It is Alaska, so it just is unpredictable. Layers, layers, layers, as everyone says! I don't think you need a huge winter coat (unless it's October), but don't forget shorts and t-shirts, either!

On 8/2/2023 at 5:37 PM, CruzeQueen2 said: Would love to know if you were happy with the wine choices with the Premium package. Did you get many photos and were the photographers around the ship during the day, outside for example?

I think the wine choices could've been better, but they were fine. Again, we ended up leaning more towards champagne and cocktails.

Plenty of photo ops and photographers around with many backdrops, characters, and props, both on and off the ship. It's not our thing, so we didn't participate nor purchase photos, but you won't be disappointed in that department!

On 8/2/2023 at 5:46 PM, CruzeQueen2 said: @zackarykeef  Thought of another question - Which two restaurants did you visit for your specialty dining? Which one did you enjoy the most, and why?   I believe the two options are Sabatini on Deck 16 and Crown Grill, deck 7. Are there any other venues for specialty dining?   Did you find any differences in the Main Dining Rooms that are worth noting? E.g., staff at the door and longer, or shorter lines...I have made reservations, and am hoping for a good outcome. Thanks again!  

Answered in the food section for you.

Specialty on Crown consists of Crown Grill, Sabatini's, and Salty Dog Gastropub, with the latter now being included with a package (which was not the case on our sailing). They also have a Crab Shack meal in the buffet that you can sign up for on board (maybe $30pp, don't quote me), but we're not big on seafood boils and didn't partake.

We only ate in Da Vinci...never had a line and never had to wait. We did have reservations, however, as I mentioned, so maybe that helped. Regardless, I never saw a line for those without reservations either  🤷‍♂️

On 8/3/2023 at 3:40 PM, Barry H said: We cruised the Crown in May. We had a Lyft take us to the port. Car went down to level P2 where we dropped our luggage off with the porters. From there we took an elevator to the upper level where we checked in with Princess and got our medallions.   If the taxi goes to the lower level parking it might be worth the fare to avoid the long lines in the terminal to drop off luggage.

Putting this in my must-do’s.  Thanks for the great tip!

3 hours ago, zackarykeef said: Food: Ah, the food. Honestly, it was pretty disappointing overall, and the main reason why we likely won’t sail Princess again in the future. I shouldn’t say won’t…I will likely try the new Sun/Star to see what a larger, newer Princess ship is like, as I only have this sailing on the Crown to go off of. However, I don’t think I’ll get my husband back on Princess due to the food alone. I've found every other line I've sailed (save for Carnival) to be much better.   I was looking forward to the food after reading plenty, especially as Princess is supposed to be a step-up from Carnival/RCCL/NCL. We also loved our recent cruise on Celebrity with the food being a stand-out, and many seem to think that Princess is on-par with or better than Celebrity. Living in Miami and moving from NYC, I would consider us foodies, and we both love to cook and cook well. Eating is important to us 🤣   We reserved our dining on the app ahead of time, all for the same time at a two-person private table in the Da Vinci dining room, along with two specialty meals in Crown Grill and Sabatini’s. We were seated the first night with our servers Kim and Arman, who were fantastic. We requested them for the rest of the trip, and were given our same table nightly. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the front of house staff at Da Vinci. Dinner timing and pacing was always great.   However, the food overall was…meh. Again, I think this comes down to just being outdated. Plating and garnishes were outdated, choices were outdated, etc. I understand some people are stuck in their ways, but things like cherries jubilee, chicken cordon bleu, etc. are not elevated or modern anymore. The plating really was lackluster, and it just wasn’t exciting. I know it is all Carnival Corp, but it didn’t seem much different than what I remember on Carnival cruises years ago. Lower quality, mass-produced, and very commercial. I understand it's a lot of people, but I don't feel this way on other lines, even though it's mass-produced there as well. For a cruise that had so many “Alaska” features nightly, the fish/seafood really wasn’t that good. Meats were better (the short rib was great), but again, boring overall. We started ordering the vegetarian dishes around day 7, and they were much better! Highly recommend the Indian/Asian veg dishes.   The buffet was…small. Very small, as many have mentioned. So small it’s cramped. Choices didn’t really change, and everything was lackluster. Breakfast was extremely redundant, and I’m not sure we could find real eggs anywhere…even the omelet station seemed to use fake eggs. The worst part about the buffet were the hours. It was like a game of hide and seek trying to figure out which of the 3 stations were open and when. One side would be closed, so they would tell you to go to the other…only to get there and have them say “Oh, now this side is closed, and we just opened the other, so you have to go back.” It was really frustrating, and more time was spent trying to get your food than eating it.   They also had one afternoon of a dessert buffet, and I was yelled at for trying to take something because it was “only open for pictures.” What? Again, outdated. I thought this was a thing of the past. I don’t think we need time dedicated to taking tons of photos of averagely decorated cakes.   After tiring of the buffet breakfast, we decided to try breakfast in the main dining room one morning. I feel Princess definitely caters to the older crowd here, as you need to be up at the crack of dawn if you are to make it before breakfast ends. The food wasn’t any better, and it was the slowest meal we had on board by far…almost 2 hours for omelets and toast. We were sat at a table with others, and all anyone could talk about was how long it was taking.   Crown Grill was fine. I expected better from the raving reviews, but…meh. I'll admit our steaks were perfect, but I could’ve done without everything else. The scallops in the main dining room were better, and my bone-marrow roasted potato didn’t seem any different than a regular baked potato. Unless it was included, I would skip it next time.   The highlight was Sabatini’s. This meal was actually incredible, and had our meal not been toward the end of the sailing, we would’ve went back. You get a lot of food, and everything was delicious. The osso bucco was on point, and I would highly recommend a meal here.   We didn’t eat at the Salty Dog Gastropub, but the menu looked good. We just didn’t want to pay for something else to be let down. The Salty Dog Grill upstairs was fine, but the wait times were ridiculous. Always 30-45 minutes for a hot dog or burger and fries, and you had to be given a pager for when your food was ready. I don’t understand this, as you would think that a place that only does these few foods would be producing them constantly. They weren't any better than the burgers or hot dogs on the buffet, which could be obtained much more quickly (so long as you found a side that was open).   Princess does shine with their pizza and desserts. Slice upstairs had amazing pizza…loved the thin crust. I am not much of a dessert person and tend to think most cruise line desserts are underwhelming and overly gelatinous, but Princess does a great job. I think we enjoyed almost every dessert we had, save for their one signature dessert, the love boat dream, which was a let down (but the lychee/rose signature dessert was great!). We didn’t get any of the included “premium desserts,” as they seemed too large and sweet, so I can’t comment on that.

@zackarykeef  I'm on the Crown now and so far, only two days, I have to agree with you about Sabatini. Wonderful in every way! I am also interested in food - period. I followed a reliable source for trying the fish/branzino for the first time. I was NOT disappointed. I will try the Osso Bucco next.  Thank you for taking the time to share so much information and your overall impressions. 

• 2 weeks later...

On 8/5/2023 at 10:10 AM, zackarykeef said:  I highly recommend a cruise that includes Yakutat Bay/Hubbard Glacier, as it really was stunning. We were able to get very close and stayed for a while. I'm not sure if it was better than Glacier Bay from what I remember, but I think they are both equally gorgeous.

Do you know about how far you were from the face of the glacier. Did you make it past Haenke Island?

27 minutes ago, Glaciers said:   Do you know about how far you were from the face of the glacier. Did you make it past Haenke Island?

Probably about 4-5 miles, as we were just before the island. In the photo below, I think you can see the island on the right, then the glacier.

On 8/5/2023 at 9:19 AM, zackarykeef said: Food: Ah, the food. Honestly, it was pretty disappointing overall, and the main reason why we likely won’t sail Princess again in the future. I shouldn’t say won’t…I will likely try the new Sun/Star to see what a larger, newer Princess ship is like, as I only have this sailing on the Crown to go off of. However, I don’t think I’ll get my husband back on Princess due to the food alone. I've found every other line I've sailed (save for Carnival) to be much better.   I was looking forward to the food after reading plenty, especially as Princess is supposed to be a step-up from Carnival/RCCL/NCL. We also loved our recent cruise on Celebrity with the food being a stand-out, and many seem to think that Princess is on-par with or better than Celebrity. Living in Miami and moving from NYC, I would consider us foodies, and we both love to cook and cook well. Eating is important to us 🤣   We reserved our dining on the app ahead of time, all for the same time at a two-person private table in the Da Vinci dining room, along with two specialty meals in Crown Grill and Sabatini’s. We were seated the first night with our servers Kim and Arman, who were fantastic. We requested them for the rest of the trip, and were given our same table nightly. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the front of house staff at Da Vinci. Dinner timing and pacing was always great.   However, the food overall was…meh. Again, I think this comes down to just being outdated. Plating and garnishes were outdated, choices were outdated, etc. I understand some people are stuck in their ways, but things like cherries jubilee, chicken cordon bleu, etc. are not elevated or modern anymore. The plating really was lackluster, and it just wasn’t exciting. I know it is all Carnival Corp, but it didn’t seem much different than what I remember on Carnival cruises years ago. Lower quality, mass-produced, and very commercial. I understand it's a lot of people, but I don't feel this way on other lines, even though it's mass-produced there as well. For a cruise that had so many “Alaska” features nightly, the fish/seafood really wasn’t that good. Meats were better (the short rib was great), but again, boring overall. We started ordering the vegetarian dishes around day 7, and they were much better! Highly recommend the Indian/Asian veg dishes.

First, thank you for your review.  I already have a cruise booked on the Crown, so I may need to adjust some expectations.  

I'm sorry the food was disappointing, but since you mentioned that you're foodies and that the plating and menu choices were outdated, would you say the food is basic or maybe homestyle and not fancy?  Was there anything wrong with the preparation or flavors?  

Also, since you went to the gym, did you see any foam rollers?  If I don't have to pack one, that'll save me a lot of space 😁

2 hours ago, theloo said: First, thank you for your review.  I already have a cruise booked on the Crown, so I may need to adjust some expectations.   I'm sorry the food was disappointing, but since you mentioned that you're foodies and that the plating and menu choices were outdated, would you say the food is basic or maybe homestyle and not fancy?  Was there anything wrong with the preparation or flavors?   Also, since you went to the gym, did you see any foam rollers?  If I don't have to pack one, that'll save me a lot of space 😁

You’re very welcome!

I wouldn’t call it homestyle…I’m originally from the Midwest, and I love homestyle cooking. I think my main issue was that it felt like more mass-produced cafeteria food (I know that’s harsh, but I mean like a protein with regular mashed potatoes and a few steamed veggies). I guess basic is a good word like you mentioned. It really was outdated…if you search some of the recent menus, you can see the choices…things that would’ve been considered “fancy” and served in nice restaurants a long time ago, possibly on the Titanic 🤣 just not modern enough for me I guess.

My biggest issue was the seafood, which I felt was all overcooked. I like seafood on a cruise and especially Alaska, so that was a let down. Overall flavor seemed to be standard salt and pepper 😴 Just my opinion, but the Princess fans still rave about it so idk 🤷🏼‍♂️  

I honestly don’t remember the rollers or not, and I don’t want to give you incorrect information…I’m so sorry!

(I’m not sure who replied to you above, but it seems like he hijacked my post and only joined CC right before posting 🤣 🤷🏼‍♂️ )

55 minutes ago, zackarykeef said: ... (I’m not sure who replied to you above, but it seems like he hijacked my post and only joined CC right before posting 🤣 🤷🏼‍♂️ )

The post has been removed.

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Crown Princess Fact Sheet

Guest Capacity: 3,090 (lower berths)

Tonnage:   113,561

Builder: Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani, Monfalcone, Italy

Inaugural Cruise:   June 14, 2006

Christener:   Martha Stewart, TV personality and entrepreneur

Crew: 1,200

Registry: Bermuda

Length:  952 feet

Height: 195 feet

Beam: 159 feet (including bridge wing) 118 feet (excluding bridge wing)

Draft: 27 feet

Number of Decks: 19

Guest Staterooms: 1,545 (1,105 outside/440 inside) total:

• 30 Suites with private balconies
• 178 Mini Suites
• 675 Balcony
• 222 Outside 

Wheelchair Accessible Staterooms:  29

Food & Beverage:

• Three Main Dining Rooms (Botticelli, Da Vinci and Michelangelo)
• Sabatini’s – Italian restaurant
• Crown Grill – Steak and seafood grill
• Steamers Seafood
• International Café – Coffee and snacks
• Vines – Wine and seafood bar 
• World Fresh Marketplace – Buffet restaurant
• Slice – Poolside pizza
• The Salty Dog Grill – Hamburger and hot dog grill
• Coffee & Cones – Ice cream sundae and coffee bar
• Ultimate Balcony Dining
• 24-hour Room Service

Showrooms/Lounges:

• Princess Theater
• Explorers Lounge
• Club Fusion
• Wheelhouse Bar
• Skywalkers Nightclub
• Crooners Bar
• Speakeasy Cigar Lounge

Key Venues and Guest Services:

• The Sanctuary
• Movies Under the Stars screen
• Lotus Spa and Fitness Center
• Piazza Atrium
• Gatsby's Casino
• Kid’s and Teen’s Centers
• Sports Deck
• Princess Links - Golf Putting
• Wedding Chapel
• Internet Café
• Photo Gallery
• Fine Arts Gallery
• The Shops of Princess
• Passenger Services Desk
• Shore Excursions Desk
• Medical Center

Pools:  4 (plus 1 splash pools)

Whirlpools Spas: 7

For more information visit: Crown Princess

Media Contacts

Contact information for members of the media

Media Relations Department, Princess Cruises 24305 Town Center Drive Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Phone : 1 661 753 1530 Email :  [email protected]

Not a member of the media? 

Contact us at: 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or 1-661-753-0000

More contact information is available on our Contact Us page

7 Best Cruises to Alaska, According to Travel Experts

Book a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see glaciers, national parks and wildlife!

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

While some travelers dream of lounging on a beach in the Caribbean, others might be itching to put on hiking shoes and explore the great outdoors. If glaciers, wildlife and picturesque coastline have long been on your bucket list, consider booking a cruise to Alaska. The northernmost American state offers an activity for everyone's interest and level of adventure. You can take a thrilling helicopter flight to explore a glacier on foot or observe miles of Alaska’s lush scenery and spy whales from a comfortable seat on a boat.

Princess Cruises

A top choice for multi-generational families and larger groups seeking on-board experiences for a wide age range, Princess will sail seven ships to Alaska in 2024 — more than any other line. Princess also offers the most departure cities , potentially saving you money on airfare. Alaska sailings range from 4 to 22 days, though a week is the sweet spot. The line is also only one of seven permitted to enter the magnificent Glacier Bay National Park (shown); check out the tips at the end of the story for details.

Good Housekeeping Contributing Travel Editor Karen Cicero and her daughter recently sailed on Majestic Princess, a Family Travel Awards Winner , and raved about the ship's amenities, especially the Hollywood Pool Club. She described it as “an indoor space with a heated pool, plush loungers, and cabana-like spots that are free for all guests to use.” Cicero was also impressed with the entertainment and activities suitable for all ages, the excellent dining options and a supervised kids’ club for ages 3 to 12. "We saw grandparents and grandkids on the dance floor, at the shows, on the excursions — bonding moments were everywhere," Cicero said.

In 2024, Majestic Princess and Discovery Princess, the line's newest Alaska ship, will both sail roundtrip from Seattle. "You can't beat Princess if you're looking for an experience that will please all ages," said Cicero.

Departure Cities: Los Angeles; San Francisco; Seattle; Vancouver; Whittier, Alaska Cruise Ships: Crown Princess (2024 only); Grand Princess, Caribbean Princess (2025 only), Royal Princess, Sapphire Princess, Discovery Princess, Majestic Princess (2024 only), Crown Princess, Coral Princess (2025 only)

Norwegian Cruise Line

Passengers are loyal to Norwegian for its beautiful ships, top-notch service and innovative amenities. The cruise line pioneered the concept of “freestyle cruising," which includes a flexible dining time. Flexible cruising continues to be a major selling point , according to our testers who recently sailed roundtrip from Seattle to Alaska on the Norwegian Encore (pictured). "We enjoyed not having to rush back to the ship after an excursion because we had a dinner reservation," said our tester who sailed with her spouse.

They also frequented the Encore’s Observation Lounge, where they were able to cozy up and spend hours searching for marine life from floor-to-ceiling windows. Activities and entertainment, like go-karting, slides and laser tag, are abundant. For a premium experience, consider booking a stateroom in The Haven. The Encore's most luxurious accommodations feature spacious rooms — the bathrooms are nearly double the size of those in standard staterooms — a private sundeck and a concierge.

The variety of sailings to Alaska is also another reason to choose Norwegian. "If Hawaii is also on your bucket list, Norwegian is one of the only cruise lines to offer a 16-day cruise departing from Honolulu that sails through both Hawaii and Alaska so you explore two dreamy destinations on one vacation," said Cicero. She added that Norwegian sails to Alaska until late October — about a month longer than most cruise lines.

Departure Cities: Honolulu; Seattle; Seward, Alaska; Vancouver; Whittier, Alaska (2025) Cruise Ships: Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Jewel (only in 2024), Norwegian Spirit (only in May 2024), Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Jade (only in 2025), Norwegian Joy (only in 2025)

EXPLORE NOW

Disney Cruise Line

Disney lovers will have the time of their lives sailing roundtrip from Vancouver to Alaska aboard the Disney Wonder. "It was the best experience ever," said a mom of two young adults who sailed on the ship in May 2023. "We felt like it was a great combination of Disney and Alaska."

On-board experiences brilliantly align with the destination. For instance, Disney characters are dressed in special outfits for Alaska and are on deck during the days at sea. "We were able to get incredible photos with the glaciers behind the characters," said the mom, who also noted that you can order Mickey Mouse ice cream bars from room service. Cicero added, "Disney has the best kids' and teen clubs of any cruise line. They're enormous, filled with epic activities like superhero training and are a great place for kids and teens to make friends."

If you want an equal dose of Disney and Alaska, this is the cruise for your crew. Sailings range from five to nine nights. All routes head to Stikine Icecap so guests can observe stunning glaciers, cliffs, waterfalls and wildlife.

Departure City: Vancouver Cruise Ship: Disney Wonder

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean doesn’t only sail to the Caribbean. This global cruise line whisks passengers to Alaska from popular ports such as Seattle and Vancouver. You can choose a classic seven-night itinerary or a 13-night land-and-sea getaway.

Cruise enthusiasts at the Good Housekeeping Institute are fans of Royal Caribbean for its state-of-the-art ships, exceptional service and high-quality entertainment. "Royal Caribbean had the first rock-climbing wall and ice-skating rink on a cruise ship," said Cicero. "Since then, they've brought so many other epic activities to sea." For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class, which includes Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, offers skydiving, a surf simulator and a robot bar. "This line is an especially good fit for families with tweens, teens and young adults ," said Cicero, who sailed on Royal Caribbean with her teen daughter.

Departure Cities: Seattle; Seward, Alaska; Vancouver Cruise Ships: Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas (only in 2024), Ovation of the Seas (only in 2024), Serenade of the Seas (only in 2025)

National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions

For an incredible small-ship experience, look no further than the Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic team-up. The largest of its ships that sail to Alaska can accommodate no more than 138 passengers — just a sliver of the 4,900 or so that Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas can hold. " Being on a smaller vessel means that you’ll be able to sail right up to less frequented glaciers, waterfalls and fjords, " said Cicero.

Of course, an intimate experience comes at a higher price tag — its eight-day Alaskan adventure starts at about $6,200 per person, though you won't need to pay extra for excursions. "Voyages tend to be themed and stress the educational component," said Cicero. For instance, one focuses on coastal wildlife while another explores native cultures. A Good Housekeeping staff member who sailed the line to the Galápagos Islands (a providence of Ecuador) raved, "The ship was beautiful! I was super impressed with the staff and the service felt above and beyond.”

Departure Cities: Juneau, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska; Seattle; Sitka, Alaska Cruise Ships: National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, National Geographic Resolution

Holland America Line

Holland America has a well-earned reputation for bringing guests to new destinations for more than 150 years. Its ships tend to be mid-sized — larger than Lindblad's offerings but smaller than the Quantum ships from Royal Caribbean. While Holland attracts an older demographic, its Alaskan cruises are often filled with multi-generational families.

One of the cruise line’s most popular itineraries is the Seven-Day Inside Passage, which takes you through Glacier Bay National Park, the Inside Passage, Tracy Arm Inlet and several must-visit port towns. But for adventure seekers curious to see as much of Alaska as possible, you’ll find tons of extended itineraries including a robust 28-day voyage that crosses the Arctic Circle.

Holland America is the only cruise line permitted to serve glacier ice, using it for cocktails like the Blue Iceberg and Juneau Gin & Tonic. The line also launched a new Alaskan-themed brunch menu offered once per cruise.

Departure Cities: Anchorage, Alaska (for land-sea tours only); Fairbanks, Alaska; Seattle; Vancouver, Whittier, Alaska Cruise Ships: Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Zuiderdam, Zaandam

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity is popular with adults and couples looking for a premium onboard experience, including delicious cuisine, luxurious staterooms and a high-end spa . We can’t imagine a better way to rest and relax after spending a day exploring the Alaskan wilderness. Our travel experts suggest choosing one of Celebrity's many Alaska itineraries that sail through the Inside Passage and up to Dawes Glacier or Hubbard Glacier, two of the state’s gems.

Of the three Celebrity ships that sail to Alaska, we recommend the Celebrity Edge for those new to cruising or seeking a more contemporary experience. Launched in 2018, the ship features standout innovations like Eden, a multi-level bar with panoramic views, and the Magic Carpet, a multi-purpose floating space suspended directly above the sea.

Departure Cities: Seattle; Seward, Alaska; Vancouver Cruise Ships: Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Edge

Tips for booking your cruise to Alaska

✔️ Check your itinerary. The itinerary you choose is key on an Alaskan cruise. If you have your heart set on visiting Glacier Bay National Park, make sure that your cruise line has it listed on the schedule. "Only seven lines were awarded the Glacier Bay contract by the National Park Service ," Cicero said. If you're not sure whether the cruise you have in mind will go through Glacier Bay, double-check with the cruise line or your travel agent.

✔️ Book shore excursions well in advance. Alaskan cruises generally sail from April to October. Because of the shorter season, your ship will likely be close to capacity and several ships may overlap in ports. Excursions will book up quickly. To secure your spot, book excursions well in advance or as soon as they're available.

✔️ Focus on family. Alaskan cruises are best for kids who are at least 5 years old. "Keep in mind that cruise lines don't allow kids who aren't potty-trained to be in pools, even if they're wearing a swim diaper," Cicero said. It's also worth noting that most cruise lines don't permit babies under 6 months or pregnant passengers who are 24 or more weeks along. Cicero advises families with school-age children to look for on-ship amenities, such as an indoor heated pool, a supervised kids' club and a variety of family-friendly nighttime entertainment. "Before you sail, you should also find out which non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary," Cicero said. "Many cruise lines charge extra for soft drinks, but milk and juice are usually included." Free room service is another big perk for families, she notes, so see if that's offered on the line you're considering.

✔️ Check your passport. Even if your cruise starts and stops in a U.S. port like Seattle, there's a high chance your ship will dock in Canada at some point throughout your trip. Also, " some of the excursions in Alaskan ports venture into Canada and will require a passport," explained Cicero. For instance, you may take the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway from Skagway into Yukon, a Canadian territory. Your passport will need to be valid for at least 6 months following the cruise.

✔️ Pack layers. This is especially crucial if you're traveling in Alaska's shoulder season — May and September. While May tends to be drier, temperatures remain relatively chilly. Likewise, September marks the end of the summer season and welcomes cooler temperatures and more rainfall. Because you'll be spending a lot of time outdoors, it's important to prepare for all weather scenarios, including windy conditions common to sailing cruise ships.

✔️ Book next summer's cruise soon. To get the best staterooms and excursions, start looking for a 2025 cruise in 2024, Cicero said, noting that many ships start to fill up at least 6 months in advance. And don't forget about major sale days. "Last year, cruise lines had fantastic Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals," she said.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Good Housekeeping Institute Writer and Product Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from tech to travel, fitness, outdoor, home and more. Not only does she have years of product review experience under her belt, but she’s also a travel enthusiast who has been on more than 20 cruises (and counting)!

The former travel editor at Parents magazine, Karen Cicero specializes in travel, children's book, lifestyle and food coverage. She manages the experience portion of the Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards. She has sailed on four cruise lines with her family and toured several others. She recently was a featured speaker at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA, Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance and the Family Travel Association.

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What It's Really Like to Sail the Icon of the Seas

Bigger ship, better views: 3 takeaways from Princess Cruises' newest vessel

I was rushing to make my dinner reservation on Princess Cruises’ new ship. But when I arrived at the restaurant, the view made me stop.

From the windows at the sushi eatery Makoto Ocean – part of a sphere-shaped structure near the middle of the vessel – I saw the sun sinking below the horizon, a reddish-orange dot on the Mediterranean Sea. The Sun Princess facilitates scenes like that by design.

“We wanted to make sure that within how we designed the (venues) and placed the furniture, we gave maximum opportunity for our guests to be able to celebrate those outward views,” Denise Saviss, Princess’ vice president of entertainment experience, told USA TODAY. “It is really, really unique to have so much glass on the ship.”

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That was one of several striking features during a recent sailing (the ship is now cruising the Mediterranean before it moves to the Caribbean in October). Here are three takeaways from the first in the line’s aptly named Sphere Class.

1. The design showcases views at sea and in port

Makoto isn’t the only venue that offers that kind of view.

Other spaces inside the Sphere – which also houses lobby-slash-entertainment venue The Piazza – feature similarly sweeping vistas across decks 7, 8 and 9. I watched the light sparkle on the water while I sipped coffee one morning at International Café, and patrons dining at Alfredo’s Pizzeria can take in the scenery during their meal from many seats.

That’s also true elsewhere on the ship. At Horizons Dining Room, floor-to-ceiling windows face the ship’s wake. At the other end of the vessel, the Dome, a geodesic structure that Princess has said was inspired by the hills of Santorini, is like a massive solarium.

The space – which will also host shows including acrobatics – has multiple tiers of loungers, an indoor-outdoor pool and the Cascade Bar (which comes in handy for cooling off, as it felt a bit muggy in the Dome at one point on a sunny sea day).

The overall effect helped to bring the outside in.

2. The ship is bigger but still intimate

Sun Princess is the largest ship in the Princess fleet, and the 21-deck vessel can accommodate 4,300 guests. But that doesn’t mean everything is huge.

Given the scale of the offerings, a number of spaces on board feel notably intimate. One night, I walked to Good Spirits at Sea, a cocktail bar crafted in partnership with mixologist Rob Floyd that also hosts classes, and thought I was lost before stumbling upon it tucked around a corner on Deck 7. Inside, the 40-person venue offered a laid-back alternative to other more boisterous nightlife options.

On Deck 9, the ship’s buffet-like venue, The Eatery, gives way to narrower hallways toward the aft with backlit wood paneling and benches. At the end, they open back up to reveal specialty restaurants The Catch by Rudi and The Butcher’s Block by Dario (from Princess’ head of culinary arts, Rudi Sodamin, and in partnership with famed butcher Dario Cecchini, respectively).

Even the multi-configuration Princess Arena felt cozier than its near-1,000-guest capacity would suggest. I sat in the second-to-last row of my section for a performance by the vocal group ODY·C and was still close enough to see clearly.

3. The line leans into family-friendly activities

Part of Sun Princess’ expanded footprint has been used to broaden the line’s family offerings.

Park19, a new space on the ship’s top decks, features a variety of activities in an open-air setting. Saviss said the line worked to balance the interests of core customers and a growing family market “and make sure we're prioritizing spaces that everybody can enjoy.”

“There are some attractions that I think naturally, at first blush, people would say, ‘Oh, it's just for kids,’ but actually, the space is really comprehensive,” she said. “Our attractions are available for many different levels of ability and mobility.”

Those include Coastal Climb, an obstacle course that culminates in 360-degree views from The Lookout observation deck (the highest point accessible to guests on the ship, also reachable via elevator) and The Net ropes course.

On Sea Breeze, billed as the first Rollglider on a cruise ship, passengers will glide along the outer edges of the ship on an electric track (the ride will also be ADA-accessible, though Saviss said some mobility is required for maneuvering into the seat).

It’s as close as the ship gets to an amusement park (Princess’ version). “We're not running the rat race, if you will, of like, who can do it bigger, better,” Saviss said. “If you want to just have a really incredible bird's-eye view of Sun Princess, and in and around where the ship is sailing, you can do that. But there is an option to push a little lever while you're riding it and dial up the speed a bit faster, and then it does become a bit more thrilling.”

The ride was not yet available when I was on board, as the line moved through a testing, certification and training process, but is expected to open on April 27. Sun Princess’ original launch was delayed with the cruise line citing “additional technical work” needed at the shipyard, which pushed back the opening of some onboard amenities.

When is the best time to take a cruise?: We broke it down by region.

There is also a hammock area to chill when guests need a break, a recreational court that can host activities from pingpong to morning meditation, a jogging track and more. Elsewhere on board, guests will find the Firefly Park kids club and hangout spaces Neon Grove and The Underground for tweens and teens, respectively.

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Princess Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bigger ship, better views: 3 takeaways from Princess Cruises' newest vessel

Princess Peach: Showtime Review

Princess Peach: Showtime has some standout moments, but many gamers will find it to be too easy and too short for their liking.

Princess Peach has been one of Nintendo's most frequently featured characters since her debut in the original Super Mario Bros. game on the NES, yet she has rarely been allowed to star as a main character. In 2005, Peach was put front-and-center in Super Princess Peach on the Nintendo DS, but since then, she's been largely regulated to party game spin-offs and the damsel in distress role. Princess Peach: Showtime is the first time in 19 years that Peach has been featured as a game's main protagonist. Unfortunately for Peach fans, Princess Peach: Showtime doesn't seem to have been made with the same effort afforded to some of Nintendo's other characters.

Princess Peach: Showtime has the titular princess visiting the Sparkle Theater as it is taken over by a group of villains known as Grape and the Sour Bunch . Peach then has to hop into levels themed after different stage play productions that Grape's magic has warped. Peach embodies the powers of the plays' main characters to fight Grape's minions and save the goofy little Theets playing the bit roles.

Princess Peach: Showtime's Costumes Change Up the Gameplay

Peach taking on the starring role in these plays gives her fancy new costumes with unique powers. There are kung-fu stages where Peach has to battle hordes of enemies in hand-to-hand combat, and there are baking stages that revolve almost entirely around decorating cakes and baking cookies. Other times, Peach becomes a Power Rangers -like superhero to fight alien threats, and other times still, she transforms into a mermaid, allowing her to use fish to solve simple puzzles.

Peach's costumes in Princess Peach: Showtime are creative and allow for a great deal of variety between the levels. For example, Peach's spy costume lends itself to more traditional platforming action, whereas her detective costume has her searching for clues and chatting with characters to gather information. The problem is that none of these ideas are allowed to reach their full potential. Each costume is given three stages, all of which are rather short, straightforward, and easy. And with the costumes confined to their specific stages, Princess Peach: Showtime sometimes feels like playing a significantly more restrictive Kirby game.

That's not to say that there isn't fun to be had in the levels. There are a few standout moments that we won't spoil here that use each stage's unique gimmick to great effect, and while the game is too short and easy, at least it's never boring. Personality oozes from every corner of Princess Peach: Showtime , from the amusing character interactions to the colorful, if relatively simplistic, graphics. Princess Peach: Showtime has good detail in its animations, with Peach picking up her dress to run and subtly twirling her wrist when readying her lasso in the cowgirl stages.

Princess Peach: Showtime also wins points for its boss fights. The last boss in Princess Peach: Showtime is a letdown because of how easy it is, but there are a couple of standout battles that are clever, fun, and offer a bit more challenge than the rest of the game. If nothing else, the Princess Peach: Showtime boss fights offer spectacle, which can go a long way.

Princess Peach: Showtime players will be able to beat all the bosses and conquer every stage pretty fast. Depending on how badly they want to find every collectible, it's safe to say that most players will beat Princess Peach: Showtime in under 10 hours . Completionists will spend a bit more time with the game, but that's mainly because getting all the collectibles in Princess Peach: Showtime is a pain. Many stages refuse to let players backtrack, so missing a collectible often means restarting the level from the beginning. Some short, but unskippable scenes can also make replaying levels needlessly tedious, seriously hurting the game's replay value.

Collectibles are Important for Endgame in Princess Peach: Showtime

Most players won't want to find all of Princess Peach: Showtime 's collectibles, but there's at least a point to doing it for those who do decide to fully complete the game. The collectible gems in Princess Peach: Showtime have an endgame purpose that gives players a good reason to hunt them down, plus the coins players amass in each stage can be used to buy new dresses for Peach and color schemes for Stella, the star-like sidekick that accompanies Peach on this particular adventure. Beyond the dresses and Stella customizations, there's a surprising amount of content in Princess Peach: Showtime that isn't available until after the credits roll, so the game does at least give players a healthy amount of things to do after wrapping up the main story.

Still, it's hard to shake the feeling that Princess Peach: Showtime wasn't given the same level of care as other Nintendo games. The Good-Feel-developed title lacks a certain level of polish that fans expect from Nintendo products, with occasional frame dips and loading screens that last a little too long and chug in a distracting way. The load times aren't all that excessive, but they are long enough that players will definitely feel them when moving between theater floors and hopping into levels.

It took me roughly seven hours to beat Princess Peach: Showtime's main story, but there's a lot to do after the credits for those that want to get 100%.

Princess Peach: Showtime has a lot going for it, but it sometimes comes across as a concept demo for a larger game that will be much better. Peach shouldn't have to wait another 19 years for her next solo outing, but hopefully her next game takes the time to give the Mushroom Kingdom's princess a proper, full-scale adventure.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

• Clever use of Peach's costumes
• Cute art style and animations
• Lots of unlockable content
• Levels are too short and too easy
• Collectible hunting can be tedious

Princess Peach: Showtime is available now on the Nintendo Switch. Game Rant was provided with a Switch code for this review.