Complete - Trip Report - Our 1st Princess Cruise!

[imahistorygeek]

I know, I know. It's not Disney Cruise Line. However, if you're a Disney cruiser and you want to compare experiences to other cruise lines, what better way than to read a trip report by someone who has done a lot of DCL. Let's face it. Sometimes DCL just doesn't fit what you're looking for. Maybe you want a solo trip, or a cruise where DCL doesn't sail. Or you just want to compare Disney to other cruise lines. Plus, I just want to do a trip report.

I also labeled this a trip report, but it's really a pre-trip report. We sail in a couple of weeks.

If you've not read one of our trip reports before, we have quite a few, but I'll post this one because it was our big 20/40 trip. To spell that out, it was our 20-year anniversary and our 40th birthdays. You can do the math.

What better way to celebrate out 25th anniversary and our 45th birthdays than with a new cruise and a new itinerary!

With all that said, let's get this party started!

 

[ChuckElias]

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I'm in for the report. I like DCL but I've always wanted to sail Princess too since I was (am) a big Love Boat fan.

 

[MinnieM123]

I know, I know. It's not Disney Cruise Line. However, if you're a Disney cruiser and you want to compare experiences to other cruise lines, what better way than to read a trip report by someone who has done a lot of DCL. Let's face it. Sometimes DCL just doesn't fit what you're looking for. Maybe you want a solo trip, or a cruise where DCL doesn't sail. Or you just want to compare Disney to other cruise lines. Plus, I just want to do a trip report.

I also labeled this a trip report, but it's really a pre-trip report. We sail in a couple of weeks.

If you've not read one of our trip reports before, we have quite a few, but I'll post this one because it was our big 20/40 trip. To spell that out, it was our 20-year anniversary and our 40th birthdays. You can do the math.

What better way to celebrate out 25th anniversary and our 45th birthdays than with a new cruise and a new itinerary!

With all that said, let's get this party started!

I've always enjoyed reading your (and your DH's) previous TRs, so I'm also looking forward to a new one. Seems like a great way to celebrate two exciting occasions!

 

[imahistorygeek]

We are warm-weather cruisers, so this change to the US north during leaf peeping season is something completely new.

Why Princess? Well, why not? We've tried DCL, NCL, RC, Celebrity, and Disney, so let's give Princess a try. Princess is marketed as a premium cruise line. Celebrity is also in this same category.

Ship: Emerald Princess - she was launched in 2006 and refurbed in 2015 (I think), so she's going to be dated. We're sailing for the itinerary, not the ship. She holds about 3k passengers.

Itinerary:
October 21 - embark at Brooklyn cruise pier
October 22 - Newport, RI
October 23 - Boston, MA
October 23 - Bar Harbor, ME
October 25 - Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy), Canada
October 26 - Halifax, Nova Scotia
October 27 - Day at sea

Princess has three types of fares: Princess Standard (just the fare), Princess Plus, and Princess Premier

Here are the perks:

We chose the premium package because it was the most bang for your buck.

Princess Prizes are really cool. Basically you use your Ocean Medallion like you would your key card. You approach your room and there's a screen by your door. You can win prizes every time you open your door. Your medallion opens your door automatically.

Premium desserts are over-the-top fancy desserts that costs money and are not part of complimentary dining.

What I think is really cool and I've read about it, but haven't actually used it, is the medallion. It's the size of a quarter and you wear it around the ship. You should be able to order drinks from the app anywhere on the ship and the medallion is used to find you.

We received our medallions yesterday in the mail for our sailing on the 21st. You'll notice above that if you have a package, they will mail the medallions to you for free (in the US - I'm not sure about Canada). Otherwise it's $10 to ship. You can also pick them up at the port no problem.

They arrive in this box. I'd say it's about 4x4.

Your name and sailing will be on your medallion. The white medallion is indicative of a first-time cruiser. Different colors denote different levels. Princess cruise status is similar to Disney by number of sailings or days. Perks are slightly less lame than DCL.

It's slightly larger than a quarter and lightweight.

With our package we received two medallion accessories. I feel as though I need a PhD in accessories because I cannot figure these blue things out.

Everyone receives a lanyard.

You can really dress these up or down. There are a ton of accessories online, both through Princess and Amazon. Since they're the size of an air tag, they will fit in air tag accessories (I think). I've seen them worn on watches, fancy necklaces, etc.

 

[ChuckElias]

Boston??? You were in Boston and didn't tell me??? I would've met you for a bowl of chowdah!

 

[lostpro9het]

Boston??? You were in Boston and didn't tell me??? I would've met you for a bowl of chowdah!

The thought crossed my mind but we have family meeting us there that day and I wasn't sure how long they were going to hang out. We're in port from 11-8pm if you just so happen to be around, first pint is on me.

 

[imahistorygeek]

lol y'all. I put all September dates. It's October! The cruise is the week after next!

 

[EOD K9]

We are warm-weather cruisers, so this change to the US north during leaf peeping season is something completely new.

Why Princess? Well, why not? We've tried DCL, NCL, RC, Celebrity, and Disney, so let's give Princess a try. Princess is marketed as a premium cruise line. Celebrity is also in this same category.

Ship: Emerald Princess - she was launched in 2006 and refurbed in 2015 (I think), so she's going to be dated. We're sailing for the itinerary, not the ship. She holds about 3k passengers.

Itinerary:
October 21 - embark at Brooklyn cruise pier
October 22 - Newport, RI
October 23 - Boston, MA
October 23 - Bar Harbor, ME
October 25 - Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy), Canada
October 26 - Halifax, Nova Scotia
October 27 - Day at sea

Princess has three types of fares: Princess Standard (just the fare), Princess Plus, and Princess Premier

Here are the perks:
View attachment 748276

We chose the premium package because it was the most bang for your buck.

Princess Prizes are really cool. Basically you use your Ocean Medallion like you would your key card. You approach your room and there's a screen by your door. You can win prizes every time you open your door. Your medallion opens your door automatically.

Premium desserts are over-the-top fancy desserts that costs money and are not part of complimentary dining.

What I think is really cool and I've read about it, but haven't actually used it, is the medallion. It's the size of a quarter and you wear it around the ship. You should be able to order drinks from the app anywhere on the ship and the medallion is used to find you.

We received our medallions yesterday in the mail for our sailing on the 21st. You'll notice above that if you have a package, they will mail the medallions to you for free (in the US - I'm not sure about Canada). Otherwise it's $10 to ship. You can also pick them up at the port no problem.

They arrive in this box. I'd say it's about 4x4.
View attachment 748278

Your name and sailing will be on your medallion. The white medallion is indicative of a first-time cruiser. Different colors denote different levels. Princess cruise status is similar to Disney by number of sailings or days. Perks are slightly less lame than DCL.

View attachment 748281

It's slightly larger than a quarter and lightweight.
View attachment 748280

With our package we received two medallion accessories. I feel as though I need a PhD in accessories because I cannot figure these blue things out.

 

[imahistorygeek]

Princess pretty much wants you to do everything through the app. You can do basic things on the website, like check in, add payment method, etc, but if you want to reserve dining, it pretty much forces you to use the app.

I failed to mention that Princess does not have boarding times. You have a window. For our cruise, it's 11:30 - 3:30. We can show up any time. I like this...A LOT. Many other cruise lines make you adhere to a boarding time and we all know that most of us want to get there as early as possible.

There are two statuses: blue lane and green lane. When you complete the checklist (the two check marks), you are green lane. This means you just take your required documents and your medallion, get in the green lane, and then board the ship. The blue lane means that Princess may need something or you picked up your medallion at port. This means no boarding passes are necessary. Your medallion is your boarding pass.

The preferences tab is pretty cool. This is where you select your personality (e.g. ruler, innocent, explorer), dining preferences (i.e. allergens, diet, dining pace, table preference), accessibility, room preferences, communication, and ocean compass).

Safety essentials is your muster drill.

MedallionNet is the internet and payment methods and packages is your method of payment and if you have any type of package. Interestingly, you have a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages a day.

JourneyView is your activities guide. Everything else is pretty self-explanatory.

What's great about the medallion (especially if it works as intended) is that you have the ability to order from anywhere on the ship and they find you via the medallion.

Dine My Way is where you make your dining reservations and you can order drinks and food via the medallion. From what I read, when you order a drink, it sends it to the nearest bar for fulfillment. They bring your order the area you are in and then look for you based on your picture provided at check in.

Again, if the medallion works as intended, you should be able to find your traveling party on the ship.

It's a pretty good app, a little old fashioned feel, but from what I've read, it works pretty good on the ship.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Limit of 15 adult beverages a day?!

 

[Phonedave]

The ability to locate your party, as well as have food and/or beverages delivered seems pretty nice.

I wonder if it can be used without the app (I assume so). I often leave my phone in my stateroom and just carry what Celebrity calls the Sea Pass (it's a card, like most other cruise lines have). I can use that to order / purchase things.

 

[imahistorygeek]

The ability to locate your party, as well as have food and/or beverages delivered seems pretty nice.

I wonder if it can be used without the app (I assume so). I often leave my phone in my stateroom and just carry what Celebrity calls the Sea Pass (it's a card, like most other cruise lines have). I can use that to order / purchase things.

We've tried out delivery a few times. If the bar team isn't super busy, they can find you no problem. When it's super busy, they sometimes can't find you or give your order away to someone else. During peak times, it may take them 30 minutes to prepare your order and get it to you.

You can use the medallion without the app, but the app is the only place you can order food as far as I know. Princess also heavily encourages the use of the app to order drinks because they staff the venues with many bar staff.

I think the coolest feature is that while you're wearing your medallion, your stateroom door just opens automatically for you.

You do receive a daily paper guide, but I'v noticed not all of the activities are listed as they are in the app.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Certainly would hate to be charged for order given away to someone else. Misundastood?

 

[imahistorygeek]

Certainly would hate to be charged for order given away to someone else. Misundastood?

This is a possibility, especially if you're order a drink and don't have a beverage pkg.

 

[King Panda 77]

I thought I recognised the ships name. I visited us back in May 2022




P.s. loving the trip report

 

[Phonedave]

We've tried out delivery a few times. If the bar team isn't super busy, they can find you no problem. When it's super busy, they sometimes can't find you or give your order away to someone else. During peak times, it may take them 30 minutes to prepare your order and get it to you.

You can use the medallion without the app, but the app is the only place you can order food as far as I know. Princess also heavily encourages the use of the app to order drinks because they staff the venues with many bar staff.

I think the coolest feature is that while you're wearing your medallion, your stateroom door just opens automatically for you.

You do receive a daily paper guide, but I'v noticed not all of the activities are listed as they are in the app.

I have noticed that on Celebrity as well. The app is more up to date, which makes sense. They can make changes real time as they happen. The paper has to be printed and delivered the night before.

However, I do like the paper better for taking a quick look at the day. Even though I have a reasonably large phone, it is still difficult to see a whole day at once.

 

[Phonedave]

This is a possibility, especially if you're order a drink and don't have a beverage pkg.

You would think with the medallion, they could confirm it.

They must have some sort of locator, that is keyed to the medallion, in order to find you. All they need to do to confirm it is you is to ask to scan your medallion.

 

[imahistorygeek]

And we're back! We had a good time overall. There were some hits and misses, but we'd sail Princess again. We'd like to try a Caribbean itinerary on a newer ship.

Day 1 - Embarkation Day

We had flown into Newark with relatively no issues. If you've read our TRs in the past, you may remember my fear of flying. It's better, but it's still there. Taking off in ATL was a bit rough. Wheels off the ground and some of the worst turbulence I have ever experienced began. There was a yeller on the plane that wasn't me! It leveled out, but dang, it was rough. Also, I'm pretty sure we were on one of the OLDEST planes in the Delta fleet. I think it was a 737-800. Check out these in-flight entertainment beauties:

No one was using these.

No issues getting to our hotel. It was dated, but it had a bed and breakfast.

The next morning, we requested a Lyft and it whisked us away to Red Hook terminal in Brooklyn. Only one ship at a time (I think), so it was not very crowded at port. We walked in, showed our passports and medallion and were soon on the ship. I think a total spent checking in was probably less than 10 minutes.

We get on the ship and choose to eat in a main dining room for lunch. We had researched the buffet and there's nothing flattering about it.

As far as embarkation lunch in an MDR goes, it was pretty good and on par with what we've had on other cruise lines.

After lunch, we did some walking around the ship. Colors and decor are dated, but everything was fairly well maintained.

The ship had quite a few pools on board and they looked really nice. Too bad it was raining and cold, but it did clear up later in the afternoon.

 

[imahistorygeek]

We were able to drop our bags off immediately in our room. We decided a while back that inside staterooms were our jam because we don't use the balcony and we don't mind not having a window. The room was clean and I liked how the bedroom area was separate from the bathroom with a large closet.

The mirrors in the back and above the desk make the room look larger. There was a large, flat-screen tv in the corner. There was quite a bit of movies and tv shows. You could also order room service and play casino games. There is no couch, but it wasn't needed. As you can see the colors are dated, but the mattress and pillows, hands down, are the most comfortable of any cruise we've sailed. I even researched how to buy the pillows and duvet cover. The AC kept the room really cool. The only things I think have been updated in this room are the carpet (the room was beige and red wood), which was gray and the TV.

The bathroom was fine. I hated the shower curtain and I'm about 90% sure the shampoo and body wash were the same.

We also had a great location. We were one deck below the pool deck.