CARIBBEAN PRINCESS Reviews

The bad stuff was truly awful. Raw sewage smell and frequent toilet issues throughout the cruise and ship. I broke out in a horrible rash. Based on comments on the Facebook page for this particular sailing (August 9-16, 2026), the problem was laundry detergent used for the sheets. I do not have allergies or sensitive skin. The good stuff was truly good. Excellent service in The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary was the highlight of the cruise. The app and medallion technology were great. TV selection was good and cabin was nice, but one outlet for the entire cabin. Most of the cruise, including food, entertainment and service, was mediocre. Food and most entertainment were ok, but nothing special. The Charles Peachock show was spectacular. I liked that there was a cafe open 24/7. This was my first Princess cruise (usually on Royal Caribbean), and second solo cruise. No more Princess cruises for me, unless it’s Alaska.

I really wanted to like the Caribbean Princess because we normally enjoy cruising, but this ship was a disappointment for us.

The ship feels very old, crowded, and outdated. There were simply too many people for the amount of space available, and many areas constantly felt packed.

The pools were another big issue. They were way too deep for most people to comfortably stand and relax in, so a lot of people ended up sitting around the edges instead. That made the pool area feel even more crowded and difficult to enjoy.

The food was probably one of our biggest disappointments. Overall, we found it mediocre at best, with very limited choices later at night. The coffee was also terrible, and even many of the drinks were disappointing.

Service was very hit or miss. Some staff members were wonderful, but overall the level of service did not feel like what we expected from Princess. There were times it felt difficult just to get basic things taken care of.

The ship also felt extremely hot in several areas, especially early in the cruise, which made an already crowded ship even more uncomfortable.

I will say there were some positives. We met some very kind crew members, enjoyed getting away, and there were moments of the trip we still had fun. This review is not about saying everything was horrible—it simply did not live up to what we expected from Princess or from other cruises we have taken.

If you enjoy a smaller, older ship and don’t mind crowds, limited late-night food, and a more dated atmosphere, you may enjoy Caribbean Princess. For us, though, we would not choose this ship again.

We like cruising. We just did not like this cruise ship.

We got married on the Caribbean Princess on July 27, 2006, so coming back for our 20th anniversary was really special.

Princess brought back staggered arrivals, and it worked well for us. Our 10:00 am.–10:30 am. window was pretty quiet, with lanes split into half-hour slots. We got there around 9:45, waited for our 10:00 slot, and checked in quickly with our Medallions. Security was easy, and then we headed to the very nice Elite/Premier Lounge.

We ate in the Reserve section of the Coral Dining Room, which had some great perks: no reservations, little to no waiting, and quick seating. We often had the same table and servers. Big thanks to Angeline, Joko, Aniol, and Kieron for taking such good care of us. Reserve was open on embarkation and disembarkation days, plus breakfast and dinner daily and lunch on sea days. We also ate at the Crown Grill, which is always consistant. Great service, great ribeye. Great Steak house at sea. Also did the Chef’s Table. Have done this on five or six other ships, about $100, splurge a little it is always a great experience.

The entertainment lineup has changed. Comedians now perform in the Laugh Lounge instead of starting in the Princess Theater. The magician and “Full Out Formula” acrobatic show were not really our favorites and felt repetitive. But “Born to Be Wild” and “Broadway Ballroom” were excellent. We skipped “Bravo” since we have seen it many times. Enough already with the Opera.

From the moment we boarded, the crew was great. The maître d’, Reserve waiters, cabin steward, other staff, and the two women in the Future Cruise office all left a great impression.

The ship was commissioned in 2003, so it is starting to show its age, especially with rust on the balconies. Still, the inside is clean and attractive, and the Piazza is beautiful. Some design choices feel dated, like having only one outlet in the cabin and a theater layout that could be better. The theater seats about 1,100 people, but ADA access on Deck 6 is not great. The small ramp on Deck 7 helps, but the setup still misses the mark.

I spent less time in the casino than usual and only went three nights. The dealers were fine, and I ended up ahead, but I really wish they would bring back $5 tables. Betting up to $50 a hand for Ultimate Hold ’Em is a lot. A few $5 tables along with the $10 ones would be perfect. The casino was not too smoky, but going completely smoke-free would be even better.

Overall, this was a fabulous cruise. We only got off at one port and spent most of the trip relaxing on board, enjoying great service, entertainment, and some of the best food we have had at sea.