Would you like to have a more intimate setting for your first cruise? Perhaps you long for the perfect retirement cruise to exotic ports? Or would your family enjoy the non-stop fun on a mega-ship ocean vessel? Here are the top five ships in the Princess Line for first-time cruisers.
1. Pacific Princess: As the smallest ship in the fleet, she carries only 680 passengers. Many have compared this elegant ship with a country manor house, replete with plush interiors of dark wood and old world charm. The staff will probably call you by name as friendliness is the order of the day. Ninety-two percent of cabins are outside; and the Cabaret Lounge is the popular entertainment venue. She sails from many ports in the US and Europe to exotic points around the globe. For an extended cruise, consider the World Cruise leaving each January from Fort Lauderdale on a 107-day journey to Venice, Italy.
2. Coral Princess: In between the large- and mid-sized ship, this beauty carries 1,950 passengers; with a majority in the 60+ age range. She’s small enough to offer unique cruise experiences like a trip through canals, and big enough to have a full slate of onboard entertainment. The dress code is considered ‘smart casual,’ and there are two entire decks devoted to public space fun. She sails from several US ports, Vancouver, and Shanghai for cruises to Alaska, the Pacific coast, Panama Canal, Central America, and Asia.
3. Golden Princess: The 2,590 passengers are largely comprised of younger families, singles, and groups of friends along with multigenerational families from abroad. This ship offers the traditional cruise experience with ‘smart casual’ attire, 10 eateries, four swimming pools, multiple entertainment venues for all ages, and the signature “Movies Under the Stars” on a big screen. The Golden sails from the western US coast, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Cairo for ports in Alaska, Asia, the Pacific coast, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
4. Sea Princess: She sails with just under 2,000 passengers; mostly young families on the shorter vacations and cruisers in the 55 to 70 age range for longer excursions. This ship is considered one of the best values for your vacation dollars. The atmosphere is more like a true journey on the high seas, rather than a large floating theme park. This creates an intimate and friendly feeling, which has earned her high ratings for customer service. The dress code is a bit less casual than other ships, with shorts and flip-flops for daywear only. She sails from the US, Asia, Australia, and Europe to ports around the world.
5. Majestic Princess: She is one of the three Royal-class ships currently in the Princess cruise line. Carrying 3,560 passengers, vessels in this line (Royal Princess, Regal Princess, and two more ships to be christened in 2018 and 2019) are built for cruisers in the Chinese market. With all the bells and whistles, this cruise liner is a feast for the eyes and sure to keep you busy onboard. She sails from Auckland, Brisbane, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sidney to ports in Australia, Asia, and the South Pacific.
Which type of cruise sounds like the most fun for you and your family? Book it, and set sail!
Angela is a professional freelance travel writer and published indie author – AngelaMinor.com
