Princess Fans

JoeyandDavid · February 12, 2007

We are considering a seven nighter on the princess dawn itinerary D733 departing from SD on October 28th.

Having never sailed princess before mush less the dawn. I need to find out a few observations please.

1. when booking a balcony cabin on princess is there a real difference between amenities from balcony BF to balcony BA?

If we book a guaranteed Balcony will i be just as happy with the service?

2. Could you expound on specialty dining aboard a princess ship. Along with discuss if you would the over all food situation as in regards to breakfast lunch dinner .. room service...?

Thanks for this discussion.

joey and David

jaschem1 · February 12, 2007

The Princess Dawn was one of the first cruises we took and remember that is was great. I wish I could add more, but all Princess's are great, as I am concerned. The one thing I remember is that across from our room, there was a room that had an ironing board, iron, washer and dryer for people to use. This was great. I wish I knew this before we set said, I would have left half our clothes at home..... :blink: You may want to check first to see if they still have them. I think we took this cruise about 10 years ago and I have all my cruises mixed up... senior moment.

JoeyandDavid · February 12, 2007

understood Janice.. thanks

sailingrose · February 12, 2007

Joey, I like Princess but haven't been on the Dawn yet. My only issue is with anytime dining. Our last cruise we had regular dining as opposed to anytime on the previous one and the service was excellent!!! We never felt taken care of or pampered when we had anytime dining. Not sure if the Dawn has it but I think you would prefer "regular dining." We thought the rest of the service was on par with everyone else.

btate · February 12, 2007

Joey,

I am going to be sailing Princess for the first time in a couple of weeks. I have only heard good things like what SailingRose just wrote. I will try to write a fair review when I get back. I will be sailing the Grand Princess.

PrincessOne · February 13, 2007

Joey and David...I will do my best to help you out here.

I haven't personally sailed on the Dawn...but as far as amenities, there is no difference between the difference categories. if you went with the mini suite, you would get upgraded toiletries and stuff. If you book a guarantee, you know you just cannot book the specific room, so if you have a certain place you like to be or don't want to be...this wouldn't be the best option. Room service was very good on the Star Princess...cabins were spotless...our room stewards for the different members of our group were reportedly very good and attentive.

The personal choice dining is a nice option...you choose if you want the traditional cruise dining, same table, same dining room, same time. Or...you can choose anytime dining...where you go to the anytime dining restaurants when you want to. They do give you a light up thingy...but, it didn't appear people waited too terribly long. We had the anytime, but being a party of 12, we wanted to have meals together...so we requested the maitre 'd to "assign" us to the table we had the first night...he did accomodate us!

the specialty dining is great. We only did the Steakhouse...and it was really awesome steak..I had a delmonico...some of the men had porterhouse, some of the ladies had the filet mignon (I think) the appetizers were excellent...the best spinach artichoke dip and chips!! This is definitely worth the cover charge. We didn't eat at the Italian restaurant...one couple did and said it was okay...but they preferred the Steakhouse.

I found the buffet for breakfast excellent. They had some really different offerings, to cater to all nationalities. The only downfall was the juice wasn't ice cold and it was prepoured into only 4 ounce glasses...but you can grab a glass of ice near the coffee...there was always a great offering of fresh fruit...I really miss this now that I am at home. My parents had breakfast in the dining room one day and found it very good. They generally eat light for breakfast ...so the other mornings they got room service and my mom was very happy with it. We got room service one morning, and I realized I had forgotten to check off splenda and milk for the coffee...but they brought it anyway. On a previous cruise, different line, if you didn't include it, they didn't bring it...lol.

Lunch at the buffet was okay...we generally hit the buffet area late afternoon...more of tea time...they did offer sushi at lunch though. The one other thing I didn't like about the buffet...at lunch and throughout the day they only offered coffee, tea and iced tea to drink. Other lines offer fruit punch and lemonade...I would like to see Princess offer better drinks.

Joey...if I can answer anything else...please feel free to let me know...

D

JoeyandDavid · February 13, 2007

As always Miss D a great response thank you...

PrincessOne · February 13, 2007

U R more than welcome...

I love when I know answers to questions, lol!! My cruise on the Star really turned me onto Princess...the service was excellent.

good luck with your plans...don't forget to report what you decide!

D

zebra · February 13, 2007

Joey - as you know we love Princess.

We haven't sailed on the Dawn, but have sailed on all her sister ships, the Sea, Sun and Ocean (which they sold). We love this size ship. It's smaller that the Millie - if that's what you're looking for. It doen't have as many bells and whistles as the larger Princess ships but you meet far more people, being a more intimate size and you never have problems with the elevators always being full when they get to your deck. We also like the availability of the laundry rooms on each deck as well as the fact that ALL their swimming pools are fresh water.. love that!

On these smaller ships they don't have the same specialty dining restaurants that they have on the larger one's - Sabatini's which is awesome!! The do have Sterling Steakhouse...they have closed off a side of the buffet area and decorated it into a small intimate steakhouse - the food was superb!! The Sun and Sea also have a seperate Pizza Restaurant - not too sure about the Dawn. I feel the food is right up there with Celebrity. I know Rose said she doesn't like anytime dining - we are just the opposite. We LOVE anytime dining and have found the service to be just as good - in fact you can ask for your same waiter each evening if you wish. We love being able to eat dinner whenever we please, some days you feel like having dinner later than others, but you don't have to wait too late like most fixed late seatings.

Any other questions???

JohnG · February 13, 2007

I've sailed on Princess about 7 times. The last time in a mini-suite. On this class of ship, the balcony cabins (BA to BF) are all the same size. They are identical is size, and balconies are smaller than many other ships. The mini-suite's are larger, and a bit larger balcony.

Dawn is one of their mid-sized, older ships, but still very nice. We love the Wheelhouse Bar, with leather upholstery, wood tones, and a music combo in the evening.

Room service is very good.

I, too, dislike anytime dining. When we couldn't get a table for two in traditional late dining room, the maitre de' just arranged a standing table for 2 for us in the anytime dining room for the rest of the cruise.

The head waiters in the dining rooms are quick to offer special items like bruschetta, caesar salad, or a flaming dessert, that are not on the menus. Only on Princess have we experienced that.

Also, on Princess, after 5 cruises the internet cafe is free! That is often a more than $100 savings for me, as I need to monitor email from clients while I am cruising.