A cruise ship balcony room might be worth investigating if you're prone to seasickness, as being able to see the horizon line may reduce nausea. Its not something that youlll always have to deal with, but it is a risk for the cabins that are higher up. Caribbean Princess cabin and suite plans are property of With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, the Sky Suites are the first Princess accommodations designed for up to five people. It has the largest balconies and is relatively quiet. Theyre not the biggest, and theyre a decent walk from many of the amenities, but for someone who plans on spending a very small amount of time in their room they are ideal. What youll give up, of course, is that ocean view. Meanwhile, the staterooms closest to the middle of the ship (as in, those in a mid-ship location and on a middle deck) will feel the least movement. On older Princess ships (and, in general, all older cruise ships), there are fewer balcony cabins. Caribbean Princess cruise ship itinerary, 2023-2024-2025 itineraries (homeports, dates, prices), cruise tracker (ship location now/current position tracking), review, news. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. Jenni. You'll have no recourse to complain if you end up with something you don't like. An old saying in the cruise industry is that ships sell from the top and the bottom. That is, the first cabins on any vessel to sell out are the most expensive cabins, which are the suites, and then the least expensive cabins, which typically are the inside cabins. Caribbean Princess is the only ship in the Grand Class for Princess Cruises to have all types of suite the others are either missing Grand Suites, Premium Suites or Window Suites. E101 to 104, D103 to 104, C101 to 102, B201 to 204, A201 to 204, R201 to 204. And if you dont need an accessible cabin, try not to book them so that those who do require the space dont miss out. Apart from the chiming of the lift, these are areas of high footfall and are where people congregate and chatter. But the majority of rooms on the ship are either Interior, Balcony or Premium Balcony. Like I said earlier, Royal Caribbean ships always have something fun going on, including into the later hours. We also love our Caribe deck and on our upcoming B2B have the same cabin for both legs (midship) close to the stairs, so we never have to get on an elevator. However, youll find ocean-view cabins on the lines older vessels and also on the lines three newest ships, Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critic'sPrivacy and Cookies Statement and Terms of Use. Princess also isnt known for enormous and amenity-filled suites. This isnt terrible but it can also cause vibrations in the room. Related: The Guarantee Gamble: The Odds of an Upgrade When the Cruise Line Picks Your Cabin. Every outward-facing cabin has a balcony. You can see that in this photo that I took from the outside area above the bridge. These areas pick up most of the intensity of a storm, the front in particular. The staircase at the front of the ship is for crew only, and some guests have reported that there can be some noise early in the morning when the crew are moving around between floors to get everything ready for guests waking up. Thats relatively unusual in the world of big mass-market ships the niche of cruising in which Princess plays. As is typical for many cruise ships, Princess vessels offer cabins in four broad categories: Windowless inside cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins and suites. It's a question that first-time cruisers and even those who've been on a few can't help but wonder when planning their vacation. The perks you get in a Mini Suite on Caribbean Princess are: If Mini Suites are a halfway house between Balcony cabins and Suites, then Club Class are a two-thirds housein that theyre a premium subclass of Mini Suites that have some additional perks, despite not being any larger. If you book a stateroom at the aft of the ship on Deck 2 then you might be disturbed a little more than you were expecting, because its not uncommon for the ships propellers to cause the room to vibrate. Youll also be in a relatively small room. Avoid cabins above or below show lounge; Avoid cabins under fitness center; Avoid cabins above night club; Avoid cabins above casino; Avoid cabins under or above crew areas; Avoid cabins near multi-level atriums; Note. Princess Cruises en-suite amenities and services. Still, youll find at least a few suites of a decent size on every Princess ship. Usually, I think that this isnt really something to be concerned about because surely the officers have better things to be doing that looking behind them onto peoples balconies. Each Royal Caribbean ship is different so I cant really give you specific stateroom numbers to avoid across the whole fleet, but if you check out the official deck plans for each ship youll usually find the bars and theatres on the lower decks, so you can plan which staterooms are above and below them and make sure to book elsewhere. Ive scoured forums and Facebook groups to find the rooms on Caribbean Princess that people havent been too happy with, and made a note of them for you here. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Some people recommend avoiding balconies that are overlooked by the bridge. So, if youre looking for a relaxing place to unwind in the evening, it might not be the best location. If you don't have a stomach of steel, the cruise ship cabins to avoid are the ones located in parts of the ship that could make you queasy, at the front or back. Within the Balcony category there are a couple of different options available Balcony and Premium Balcony. Then look out for the bars, and try to avoid the staterooms either directly above or below, just because sometimes the noise can carry. The first letter makes clear the cabin type, while the second character (a mix of numbers and letters) tells you where it is on the ship, and what sub-type of room it is. None of the recommendations here are down to a bad room. As mentioned above, Princess ships generally have fewer suites than the ships operated by some of its biggest competitors. There can be some noise too, not just from the propellers but also from the anchor when youre arriving in port (which usually happens in the early hours). It's important to note that some cruise ship rooms on newer vessels seem to be smaller than those found on their older siblings. If its your first cruise, November in the Atlantic can mean choppy seas. And those wooden floors are, unfortunately, excellent at carrying the scraping sound directly into the rooms below. benefits of rose petals. Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Princess is delivering with huge numbers of balcony cabins on all its newest ships. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. These have sliding doors opening onto your own miniature veranda where youll have a couple of chairs and you can sit and relax with a view. The ship has a total passenger capacity of 3,080 and carries a crew of 1,200. Not many people tend to rush here in the morning and you can literally step out of your room and be by the pool in around 10 yards. While it can be lovely to sit outside and admire the views, you may be less likely to do that if you need to put on your winter coat and take the duvet from the bed each time to keep warm out there! And it would depend on your preference, sittting inside more important to you? Princesss three newest ships Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess have the lines first truly large standalone suites, dubbed Sky Suites. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. All ships have multiple elevators but there are some, where you can only use one set to get to your room the mid-ship area is blocked off and you cant walk through it, which can be a real inconvenience. ago. The new suites replaced some existing mini-suites. A guarantee cabin isn't actually a type of cabin, but rather a method of booking a cabin. My favorite deck is the Caribe deck on any Princess ship. Check here before booking an award fare. Premium Balconies have more space and are in some premium locations, including the aft of the ship overlooking the wake. I always avoid booking a cabin near the lift or stairs. Access to an exclusive seating area in the Main Dining Room, with additional menu options to choose from. There are some wheelchair-accessible interior cabins on Caribbean Princess, and theyre some of the most spacious rooms on the ship that arent suites. Avant-garde style is not a Princess thing. Princess offers a relatively wide range of cabins on its ships, including lots of the sort of cabins that everyone wants balcony cabins. When it comes to rooms, Princess is sort of the Marriott of the big-ship cruise world. Is a balcony cabin a must for you when you cruise? Caribbean Princess cabins with balconies are 881 (80% of all the 1111 outside rooms). But avoid aft balconies on decks 6, 7 and 8 on the Freedom- and Voyager-class ships since theres no benefit to booking them. What's worse? And don't forget the cruise ship engine. Family Suites are with 3 connected rooms (the living room is in between). You only have one neighbor on the side of you also. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Still, the inside cabins on Princess ships are bigger than the inside cabins on ships operated by some of the lines main competitors. Many cruise ship decks do not show all the details for areas on parts of the deck. Wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) are 25 (of which 1 suite, 16 balconies, 4 outsides, 4 insides). Its not a comment I saw a lot, but I did see it a couple of times, so its worth being aware of it if you like a lie-in. During sea days, it is even worse. We have had the Caribe and did love that balcony but we wanted to be closer to the pools. Another Caribe deck balcony voter here. Our expert Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess review breaks down deck plans, the best rooms, dining, and more. But these extra perks dont come cheap and while the rooms are pretty spectacular, why would you pay thousands for a week-long cruise for a room that you never spend any time in? Royal promenade cabins allow you to watch all the parades without paying extra for it! Specifically the Interior rooms R744 and R745, Balcony cabin R746 (which has a slightly extended balcony too) and the Oceanview cabins R747 to R750. And myself, I like a high-up room -- you should have awesome views from your balcony. These rooms are on the inside of the ship, as the name suggests, which means you dont have any windows for natural light. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world. Book with a trusted travel agent - Here's who I recommend, 3. Interconnecting cabins are great if youre cruising with a larger group and you want to stay together. Caribbean Princess cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations, including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Princess Cruises en-suite amenities and services. While humming noises put some to sleep, the loud buzz of machinery might not exactly be restful to others, making these some of the worst cabins on a cruise ship. Its the only Caribbean Class ship sailing in the Princess fleet. The accessible cabins on Caribbean Princess include: Now that weve run through every type of accommodation you can book on Caribbean Princess, its time to pick out those individual cabins that maybe arent the best choice. That's because they're classed as Obstructed View, due to the fact that the lifeboats are partially covering what you can see. CC Help Jenn Upper berth and bed ladder capacities are 250lbs. Cruisedeckplans provides full interactive deck plans for the Caribbean Princess Lido deck. Yet another vote for Caribe deck. The tub and extra sitting space did not matter to us as we spend a lot of time on the balcony. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The connecting cabins are great for travelling families, but if you arent planning on booking both connecting rooms then its a good idea to avoid booking one of them at all. #6. The two family suites are a great option for any larger groups who want to sail on Caribbean Princess. Find a great cruise - See the best prices from all travel agents, 2. All Princess Cruises ships have received the MedallionClass upgrades, which allows guests to use their medallion as their room key, or to add purchases to their account, or track their travelling party around the ship. On the lines two Coral Class ships Coral Princess and Island Princess there are a few premium ocean-view cabins that measure a more spacious 212 square feet. These balconies may be out of bounds during particularly high winds, but even when you are allowed to use them I saw a couple of people saying that it wasnt a pleasant experience it was too breezy to be able to relax. Now I am really concerned because we booked L302 and Rick212 said how many people use the stairs so it is pretty noisy. I am wondering if there are any staterooms to avoid or any that are better than the others? And if they are, then you might also want to pay a little more for a full-sized Suite. You can see them easily enough on deck plans look for the double-headed arrows over the rooms. 1. We're not saying that guarantee cabins should be avoided outright if you're holding out hope that you'll get an upgrade. The ship's new buffet restaurant now has new decor, improved layout and more food options. Thats when you want a Balcony cabin. Hi, I'm Jenni. Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard! On the lines new Royal Class series of ships, which began debuting in 2013, nearly 80% of rooms are balcony cabins. bbgate, October 23, 2008 in Princess Cruises, Im booking a room on the Caribbean Princess tonight (Oceanview double with balcony) and was hoping for some advice on rooms or decks to try and get and also which ones to avoid, PS Can I do this online and pick a specific room or do I have to call in and do this. Next Deck 5. I will be sailing on my first Caribe balcony in THREE Days!! When the guest in question complained they did get an apology, as well as a credit to their on-board spend account, so that should show its not a super-regular thing. 1. Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. A view is always preferable to no view, but beware: Cabins that open onto a promenade deck offer little privacy, even with curtains closed. If youre used to sleeping in a double bed, this can be a little disappointing. Vista Suites are smaller suites that are also located on multiple decks at the aft of the ship, so while they dont offer the most space, they do have a great view. However, I would argue that its more of an inconvenience to book a stateroom thats a long walk from the elevators, particularly if youve got young children with you. thebruns 14 hr. What this means is there arent a lot of ways to live large on a Princess ship or pack a lot of people into a single accommodation. The Cruise Critic boards offer thousands of reader reviews and feedback from cruisers across every line, making them a great place to start. Avoid cabins above or below show lounge; Avoid cabins under fitness center; Avoid cabins above night club; Avoid cabins above casino; Avoid cabins under or above crew areas; Avoid cabins near multi-level atriums; Note. Chances are you wont spend a lot of time in your stateroom these ships are packed with exciting things to see and do from the moment you wake up until well past your normal bedtime. Me and three of my friends will be selling on the ship in February. No products in the cart. 7. The fact that they are BB makes them a little less expensive than BA. And interior cabins are the cheapest available, which frees up more of your budget for on-board activities or even for your next cruise. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Find a great cruise - See the best prices from all travel agents, 2. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Planning to set sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise? 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Looking out of the wake is pretty exciting, and youre sheltered from a lot of the winds that stream past the ship while youre sailing too. They may just gray out the area. Failing to check the deck plan is a rookie mistake that might put you in a cruise cabin to avoid. On a Royal Caribbean ship, just like with many other cruise lines, there are some Outside and Balcony staterooms that don't have quite the same view as others. By This door is locked by default, so that any guest can book these rooms without a stranger wandering in. She received some new dining venues, along with a re-imagined Reef Splash Zone and upgraded staterooms. But when comparing the suites, the best is the Grand Suite. For starters, they are generally small -- and that's by already compact cruise cabin standards. Royal Caribbean wont advertise which ones have the tiny portholes they cost the same as those with the larger portholes! Royal Caribbean's inside rooms on Wonder of the Seas can be as compact as 149 square feet, though most measure 172 square feet (and there are even 260 square-foot Spacious Interior Staterooms). In general, ocean-view cabins on the Princess ships that have them are a tad bigger than the inside cabins found on the same vessels. Thats particularly true when youre on a cold weather cruise! This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Thats a long distance! I have 1 to add to the list. Your neighbours across the promenade can also see right into your room. Good luck trudging down a long corridor with a fast-asleep toddler if youve got your best heels on (been there, done that). However, if you want to be sure that your room won't be a pitching, noisy or tiny cabin, you'll probably want to steer clear of this booking scheme. Caribbean Princess is part of the Grand Class along with six other ships, although it also is classified as a Caribbean Class ship as a sub-class. LauraS This is a common theme on most cruise lines, but there are some Royal Caribbean ships where it really does make a difference. Generally, in the winter months, seas are rougher (especially in the Atlantic). . ), A half bottle of red wine and a half bottle of white wine in your Mini Suite on embarkation day, Evening canapes served in your room (on request). Bonus amenities in all Suites are the deluxe mattress/pillows, 2 smart HDTVs, CD/DVD player, upgraded bathroom amenities (massage showerheads, luxury bath products), luxury furniture on the balcony, complimentary services (Spa Thermal Suite, Internet Cafe, laundry/dry cleaning, one-time minibar).