Public Areas & Facilities

With dramatic atriums and Skywalker's Disco (the spoiler hovering 150 feet above the stern), Caribbean Princess is a super-size version of the older Grand-class vessels with an extra deck of passenger accommodations.

Inside spaces are quietly neutral with touches of glamour in the sweeping staircases and marble-floor atriums. Surprising intimacy is achieved by the number of public rooms and restaurants that swallow up passengers. In a first at sea, Princess Cruises introduced poolside 300-square foot LED screens that show daily movies.

Restaurants

Passengers have the choice between two traditional dinner seating times in an assigned dining room or open seating in the ships' other two formal dining rooms. Alternative dinner options include reservations-only Sabatini's and Sterling Steakhouse (with a supplement), as well as Café Caribe, a Caribbean buffet with linen-dressed tables and limited waiter service.

What Works & What Doesn't

Movies Under The Stars on the huge poolside screen may have seemed like a gimmick, but the clever programming and interactive party atmosphere have proven to be a big hit. Popcorn is free, but other movie snacks aren't. Passengers who opt for Personal Choice dining may encounter a short wait for a table unless they're willing to join other diners. Personal Choice is all about flexibility, and it's no big deal to just go to a different dining room that might not be as busy.

Accommodations

Layout: Eighty percent of the outside staterooms have balconies. The typical stateroom has a sitting area with a chair and table; even the cheapest categories have ample storage. Minisuites have a separate sitting area, walk-in closet, combination shower-tub, and a balcony, as well as two TVs. Grand Suites have a separate sitting room and dining room, as well as a walk-in closet. Owner's, Penthouse, Premium, and Vista suites have a separate sitting room with a sofa bed and desk, as well as a walk-in closet.

Amenities: Decorated in attractive pastel hues, all cabins have refrigerators, hair dryers, a personal safe, and bathrobes to use during the cruise. Bathrooms have shampoo, lotion, and bath gel.

Good to Know: Two family "suites" are interconnecting staterooms with a balcony that each sleep up to eight people (D105/D101 and D106/D102). Staterooms in a variety of categories will accommodate three and four people, and some adjacent cabins can be interconnected through interior doors or by unlocking doors in the balcony dividers. Twenty-five staterooms are designed for wheelchair accessibility and range in size from 234 to 396 square feet, depending upon the category.

Category	Size (square feet)
Grand Suite	1,279
Other Suites	461-689
Family Suite/Minisuite	607 /324
Ocean View Balcony/Standard Balcony	233-285 /158-182
Inside	163
All dimensions include the square footage for balconies.

Favorites

Best Place to Escape the Crowds: The terrace overlooking the aft swimming pool is a little-used spot after dark, but bring your own refreshments if you plan to stay a while because the adjacent bar may close early.

Best Dessert: Any soufflé is scrumptious, and a scoop of ice cream on the side is a special treat. Try them all!

Our Favorite Spot for a Nightcap: The dimly lighted Wheelhouse Bar has oversized comfy chairs and a clubby feel.

Best Splurge: Book a suite to get two TVs, a wet bar, and a separate shower and tub (whirlpool tub in Grand Suites, which also have a personal computer). Suite guests also receive complimentary Internet access, dry cleaning, and shoe polishing, afternoon tea and evening canapés, and priority embarkation, disembarkation, and tendering privileges. An extended room-service menu is also available for suite passengers, as are priority reservations for dining and shore excursions.