For those considering Princess cruises for Alaska or other cruises

[cruisehopeful]

I have just returned from my first Princess cruise. It was a 4 nighter out of Los Angeles. It was an adults only cruise. I've been to Alaska twice on Disney. I had another Disney Alaska booked and have canceled it and booked with Princess instead. I am doing a wordy trip report on another forum so I won't do a full report here, but wanted to offer to answer questions for those of you considering booking Princess instead of Disney. I know it comes up often for Alaska. While I haven't sailed to Alaska on Princess, yet, I have been there twice with Disney and just got off one of the ships Princess uses for Alaska.

Overall, for adults, I feel that Princess is a better choice. The food is better and there is never an end to it. There are more pool areas on Princess, including a covered pool area, which would work out great for Alaska. There are a lot more places to hang out and you have a pretty good choice of how you may like to cruise. Those who like to be in a loud environment and drink a lot can find that, while those like me who want a quiet place to read and not be bothered by the masses of people onboard can find a place to hang out.

Since I didn't have children with me, I cannot comment on the kids clubs other than to say that I did see the outside of them. There were many families on board and it seemed like many of them were enjoying their time together as a family at the covered pool and playing games, etc.

 

[Trera]

I have done a 7 night Princess before in the Carribbean and I dont recall it being anything that I would describe as a bad experience but I just find having now cruised DCL................that I enjoy the experience much more.

 

[LeslieG]

cruisehopeful, which ship were you on?

 

[cruisehopeful]

cruisehopeful, which ship were you on?

I was on Star Princess. It is going in for overhaul soon. Overall, the ship is great. However, the windows all seemed dirty to me and the public restrooms were dingy and often out of service. There is an adults only area (you have to reserve it when you get on board and it costs extra) called the sanctuary. If they have that on my Alaska cruise, I'll be booking that to have my own front row seat in a comfy lounger for the glacier viewing.

I will be sailing Island Princess next summer to Alaska. It goes to Icy straight Point instead of Ketchikan.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was on Star Princess. It is going in for overhaul soon. Overall, the ship is great. However, the windows all seemed dirty to me and the public restrooms were dingy and often out of service. There is an adults only area (you have to reserve it when you get on board and it costs extra) called the sanctuary. If they have that on my Alaska cruise, I'll be booking that to have my own front row seat in a comfy lounger for the glacier viewing.

I will be sailing Island Princess next summer to Alaska. It goes to Icy straight Point instead of Ketchikan.

We're going to be on the Star in a couple of weeks.

 

[cruisehopeful]

We're going to be on the Star in a couple of weeks.

#jealous! Enjoy your cruise. I've been looking at all her itineraries, but don't see anything I'll be booking in the near future.

One thing that is different than Disney is that you can't walk across the entire ship on every floor. There are things in the middle, so you may have to switch floors to get across. And when you walk across deck 14, you have to walk through the buffet. The main pools are on deck 14, so you do end up walking it often.

 

[Meriweather]

Cruised to Alaska on Princess....not on DCL. But have on HAL and RCCL.
Princess was the worst to me.
Not a fan of them at all.
But for the price, I will sail with them again, and have. It was all about the itinerary.
Did a 3 1/2 week cruise with them and it was fine.....not enough to do on cruise days for us though. I read 8 books.

 

[mom4fun]

My daughter and her husband cruised on Princess for Alaska. They had a great time but they are 29 years old and they said no one was under 60.

 

[dani24]

My husband and I cruised Princess to Alaska 7 years ago. We were about 30 at the time. We were definitely on the younger end, but we did meet a few other younger couples, and we did see families. We really like Princess though, and have done 4 cruises with them (incluing our honeymoon in the Mediterranean). We aren't really partiers, so we like the somewhat quieter and relaxed atmosphere. The food has always been great, as well as the shows.

We're going on our first Disney cruise in two months with our daughter. I'm excited to try it out, but already there are things that I'm sad we won't have on DCL. Like afternoon tea, the buffet being open all day (and into the night), the Chef's Table experience, balcony dining, (I just realized all of these are food related... lol!)

 

[aprincessatlast]

Overall, for adults, I feel that Princess is a better choice. The food is better and there is never an end to it. There are more pool areas on Princess, including a covered pool area, which would work out great for Alaska. There are a lot more places to hang out and you have a pretty good choice of how you may like to cruise. Those who like to be in a loud environment and drink a lot can find that, while those like me who want a quiet place to read and not be bothered by the masses of people onboard can find a place to hang out.

Since I didn't have children with me, I cannot comment on the kids clubs other than to say that I did see the outside of them. There were many families on board and it seemed like many of them were enjoying their time together as a family at the covered pool and playing games, etc.

Fantastic cruise line! I have been going through cruise withdraw and pricing up different lines. I keep going back to Princess. Why? For the reasons you stated. Better food (seriously yum), great spaces with live entertainment and more room at the pools with great value. Same low key classic cruise environment and decor that DCL has without the price tag. We like cruising for the food and the pools. There were few uncharges as well. We like RCL too and dsis keeps looking at RCL Oasis but after pouring over youtube, I just see a big mall. I try not to, but that is all it seams even more so with all the specialty venues.

Our kids are still young though so DCL is great but ugh that price! FWIW we did go on Princess for Alaska and my kids loved the kids clubs and we were not surrounded by 65 year olds but large multi generational families including kids.

 

[bumbershoot]

My daughter and her husband cruised on Princess for Alaska. They had a great time but they are 29 years old and they said no one was under 60.

Well, obviously not "no one".

And that's always going to be sailing-dependent. I have friends who are under 30 who went on a multi-generational trip to Alaska on Princess and had a terrific time. All generations. Including the 20-sometimes.