We took the January 31, 2023 Hawaii cruise on the Crown Princess. We were in for a bit of surprise:
I definitely didn’t do a thorough weather check before packing. BRRRRR.
As for the cruise, overall, I give it an 8/10.
Cabin: 7
I love all the space with the separate living room and the closet design right next to the bathroom. The shower is so short. (If you didn’t watch the video and skipped right to this post - watch the video for just how short the shower is. The cabin was very clean - just dated.
Overall Ship Condition: 8
They are doing their best. The pool deck is updated from the decking that gets so hot. Pool furniture is in decent shape. Some of the chairs in the buffet are in rough shape.
Casual Dining: 7.5
We ended up eating a lot of casual dining on the cruise. The issue was the variety. After 15 nights, you want to see some different items.
Sit Down Dining: 8
The Main Dining room was decent. We mostly ate lunch there. The food was as described and hot. Nothing really wow'd us. It met the expectation of what we've had on other Princess ships.
Specialty Dining: N/A
We only ate at the Salty Dog Gastro Pub. I think it’s overpriced at $18 per person. We did enjoy the burger, short rib poutine, and asparagus. The grilled cheese needed more cheese. I need at least a 1:1 bread to cheese ratio on my grilled cheese. What about you?
Entertainment: 9
We loved the Hawaii program onboard. Hulu lessons, ukulele lessons, lei making, lectures, and music. It really made the sailing feel special. The live music was great. The games were fun. It's a 9 because I don't think the main theater shows are the same production level as the shows we've seen on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian.
Service: 9.5
Princess has the best service in the buffet of the cruise lines we've sailed recently. The crew is friendly and can't do enough for you. We overhead a guest telling another guest that they got their phone wet. The crew member went into the kitchen, got some uncooked rice and a garbage bag and presented it to the guest with some alternative ideas for how to charge her phone.
Value: 9
I think the Princess Plus is a great value with the included drinks package, gratuities and unlimited wifi. The wifi worked very well on the sailing. I had some issues making a phone call in the middle of the Pacific, but that's to be expected.
Overall: 8
If you’d like to learn more about the Crown Princess, check out this cruise ship tour: