Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess has started her season Down Under.
This Grand-class vessel of the Princess fleet started sailing in 1998, and at the time, was considered the largest and most expensive ship to build.
She was extensively refurbished in 2019, with upgrades to the cabins and suites as well as public spaces. She has the capacity to accommodate 3100 passengers.
Grand Princess is completing an 18-day voyage to Queensland that started on October 26 and is set to offer a series of cruises down under this summer.
Suites and staterooms
Grand Princess has a total of 1301 cabins including 215 Suites, 502 Balcony, 218 Oceanview, and 366 Inside. Additionally, it also has 27 accessible or wheelchair-friendly staterooms.
The ship’s only Grand Suite measures 57 square metres and has a balcony of 11 square metres in an area that can accommodate four passengers. It is located at the portside aft on deck 12. It’s the largest accommodation on the ship and it includes some additional perks. Guests will get a complimentary mini-bar set-up and an enhanced turn-down service.
The 24-stateroom Balcony Suite is divided in several sub-categories namely: S2-Owners, S3-Penthouse, S4-Premium, S5-S6-Vista. Additionally, Balcony Suite staterooms measure from 31 – 38 square metres. The Balcony Suite can accommodate up to 4 passengers.
On the other hand, the 7-stateroom Window Suite can accommodate 3 guests. It measures 30-32 square metres
Furthermore, the ship’s Mini Suite accommodation has a total of 180 staterooms with a uniform area of 32 square metres and a balcony that measures 8 square metres.
Grand Princess also has a 502-stateroom Balcony Cabin that measures 16 square metres. Each stateroom has a total room capacity of four passengers. The Oceanview on the other hand, has 218 staterooms distributed into 4 decks. Oceanview staterooms range from 15-18 square metres in area.
The vessel’s most budget-friendly accommodation is the Interior Cabin which has 366 staterooms. Interiors can accommodate up to four guests in bunk beds and range from 15-17 square metres in area.
Dining and culinary experience
Grand Princess has three main dining rooms: Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli. Michelangelo is strictly for anytime dining. Da Vinci on the other hand offers both set-seating dining and Anytime Dining. Additionally, Da Vinci also has waiter-served breakfast. As for Botticelli, this restaurant offers set-seating dinners. All these three main dining rooms serve the same menu for dinner.
Guests who are into casual dining may head to Horizon Court buffet which offers a selection of meals from all around the world. Try the Indian cuisine – it’s delicious.
Additionally, Horizon Court transforms into Café Caribe at night and offers flavours of the Caribbean. Guests may feast on specialties like Paella-Style Prawns, Whole Roast Suckling Pig, and Jerk Chicken.
For guests who like to grab a freshly baked croissant, there’s always the 24/7 International Café located in the Piazza. It is home to an ever-changing array of small-bite meals, treats, and gourmet beverages.
Alfredo’s Pizzeria
For passengers who crave hand-tossed pizza, there’s always the open kitchen-designed Alfredo’s Pizzeria. The staff make the dough fresh and you’ll find a lovely selection of pizzas. The chefs will create a signature pizza for each Princess ship. On the Grand Princess pizza, you’ll find it topped with buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, parma ham, and shaved parmesan.
Aside from the complimentary dining experience, guests may opt to try the ship’s specialty dining where menus reflect the regional flavors from around the world.
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
This restaurant houses the famed handmade pasta and risotto. Thanks to the culinary magic of Chef Angelo Auriana—executive chef of renowned Los Angeles restaurant The Factory Kitchen.
Crown Grill
Princess Crown Grill is tagged as “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses”. It offers premium aged beef. Here, chefs provide cook-to-order top-notch cuts of beef, chops, and seafood.
Chef’s Table
The Chef’s Table offers a multi-course dinner and champagne for special occasions. Guests will receive a personalized autographed copy of Princess’ best-selling cookbook, a handwritten copy of the special menu as well as a complimentary photo.
Ultimate balcony dining
This means a private dining room with a view. Guests will enjoy a multi-course meal, which includes succulent lobster tail and juicy steak, guests’ choice beverage, and hors d’oeuvres. These are all served right on the guests’ own balcony by the ship’s dedicated waitstaff.
Onboard activities
Just like with the other vessels under the Princess fleet, Grand Princess also has a long list of offered activities for guests to enjoy.
Grand Princess also has the princess’ signature European-style piazza where performers roam around. Guests are also in for a treat with a spiral staircase and glass-walled lifts that provide panoramic views.
There’s also an exclusive open-air poolside amphitheater where guests can watch films, concerts, and other events. This gives guests a ‘movie under the stars’ vibe.
The Princess Theater, the ship’s largest theater, showcases Broadway-style productions at sea.
For couples who wish to have some rejuvenation and relaxation moments, they may indulge in an adults-only retreat called the Sanctuary.
There are also The Treehouse, The Lodge, and The Beach House as recreational hubs for kids to enjoy and bond.
Grand Princess deck plan
Grand Princess deck plan showcases a total of 1301 staterooms, 14 restaurants and bars, 7 lounges, 4 swimming pools, 8 outdoor jacuzzis, and 14 elevators.
The Piazza, the International Cafe, Vines Bar, Alfredo’s, and the Michelangelo Dining Room are all located on deck 5 with the Interior (IC, IF) and Oceanview (OC, OF) accommodations.
On the other hand, one deck up are the Shops of Princess where guests get to buy some signature items onboard, the Grand Casino, and two of the three main dining rooms: Da Vinci and Botticelli.
The ship’s deck 7 houses some of the specialty dining restaurants like Sabatini’s and Crown Grill. It also has the Explorer’s Lounge and the Vista Lounge.
Decks 8 through 12 are all staterooms with the Terrace Pool on Deck 12. On the other hand, Deck 14 is home to Horizon Court, Calypso’s Reef and Pool, and Neptune’s Reef and Pool. There is also a portion of the deck where some staterooms are located.
For partygoers, fun seekers, and spa enthusiasts, there’s always deck 15 to cater to their needs. This deck houses the Lotus Spa, the amphitheater where “Movies Under the Sun” happens, the Conservatory, and the One5 lounge.
Anyone else with young kids going from Melb to NZ on Jan 8th 2024? My hubby and I are in our early 40’s with an 11 and 8 year old, would love to see if there are many other families going on this cruise too. done lots of cruises but this will be out first Princess Cruise.
I found it to be the best of the three l’ve been on, theres lots to do. Left Melbourne via Kangaroo lsland to Adelaide 5 days was good for me. Staff were great some food not to my liking,but thats just me, l would have been happy to eat in the buffet, but my partner likes the restaurants. KAREN A VERY GOOD HOST. CHEERS.
Looking forward to my next our last was great with exception to size of shower this was on Coral so many other guests complained as well
We just came back from a 20 day transpacific cruise and it was amazing again. Princess is our favorite cruise line before NCL. Yes, the water and toilet is a issue on the grand. But don’t we all get old. The service and food is great. Best almond croissant, good fruit selection. Dance floors are very nice. It’s overall very well in a good shape.
We did about 50 cruises in various cruise line ships and about12 cruises with Princes including Grand. Food is always cold unless you ask to be heated with a glaring looks from the crew. Entertainment is crap, cheap, that should sum it all compare to Royal Caribbean, celebrity etc. since Carnival took over that mismanagement spilled over to Holland America and Costa as well( especially Holland) main objective to sell alcohol no matter how pissy drunks and obnoxious the passengers become ( same push from Carnival ships since Carnival took over).Decks are not cleaned so many people slip and fall break arms and legs( we witnessed many)etc but never gets reported.Activity areas neglected which many equipment either not working in GYM and or ping pong etc equipment missing items.Again even you are playing basketball or ping pong or whatever they are stopping and asking you if you want to drink, ohh no please don’t ask water or something ( unless alcohol) you won’t get it.People In bathrobes eating in main dining buffet areas, less than 10 percent wash their hands etc then wonder why they have so many outbreaks. Shortage of staff so you can wait for an hour to find a seating in buffet areas.customer service desk? I won’t even comment.Lol. Medallion crap works at your door entrances when it wants to.Ship officers( ghosts) hide and show up at the embarkation and debarkation. Cruise directors should replace the comedians on board. One comedian on board tried hard lol, after first show only 2 yes 2 people showed up to watch her. Pools? Nasty hair particles and caked up suntan lotions ( skimmers not working and or never cleaned, people spilling plenty votka to kill the germs I suppose lol.Tendering operation at bare minimum to save money ( takes you 2-4 hours to get off with tickets).What a waste compare to 7/8 years ago same ship operating under different corporation. As loyal customers we are switching to Royal Caribbean due to whole line of Crnival lack of service and cutting down on loyalty programs( they don’t give a damn anymore for their loyal customers. I can see what’s coming to them just like Panam airlines in the past took it as granted attitude. Well good luck to you guys as we apart from while Carnival group.
I have just returned from my first cruise ever in carnival laminosa south pacific. It was fantastic. Staff were all from various parts of the world and super friendly and helpful respectfu
Food was amazing and many selections.
Shows oh well many did not interest me but others seemed to be enjoying it.
I have not been in this one yet but will do soon
Just completed a 24 night repositioning Cruise on the Grand Princess. There’s some good comments and some bad comments. First the good ones. This is my 15th Cruise on various Cruise Lines and ships. The food is above average and is remarkably kept hot on the serving bars unlike the other Cruise Lines I’ve been on in the past which like to serve cold bacon and scrambled eggs in the morning along with almost every other selection during every meal. The bedding in my cabin was fantastic. The cabin movie selections were very good. Now for the bad comments. First the ship stabilizers are ineffective. We tossed and turned 24/7 regardless of the condition of the sea. Second problem is the plumbing. The other guests I talked with agreed that cold water was not available from the sink. Water was warm at best. My shower water temperature could not be adjusted and it took 6 days for them to fix it. The sink drains are also a problem. For some reason water doesn’t drain from the sink like it should even after they’ve tried to fix it. The shows and comedians were average at best with one exception. The casino craps table didn’t open for play until 8:00 each evening and the Holden poker table is run by automation not an actual dealer. Don’t expect a sofa or couch in your Ocean View or balcony room. Their Burger Bar on Lido deck left a lot to be desired compared to other Cruise Lines from their quality to the Limited condiment selection. Beware some featured menu items in the dining room are not as listed on the menu. Also if you order from the ocean now menu beware you may not receive the selection as pictured. Specifically the chicken noodle soup is nothing more than French onion broth with a tiny bit of chicken pieces and a tiny amount of spaghetti noodles. Princess Cruise Lines does not know how to make soup that Americans and Canadians are used to eating. All their soups are flavored broth with bits and pieces. Don’t bother ordering the grilled cheese either. Another picture that is deceptive. The grilled cheese in the picture looks like a normal grilled cheese sandwich. What you get is unmelted cheese between two pieces of bread that have been run through a toaster with no butter on the bread. I sent my grilled cheese back five times and they still couldn’t get it right. Everything else on the ship was pretty much as expected. Good luck.
I did a short cruise on Grand Princess recently, worst I have been on, the service was well below standard, everyone I spoke to complained about something, even people who were long time Princess users
I will be on her January 4th for 20 nights
Are specific dietary requirements, such as coeliac, catered for?
All good for me I have been on other princesses ships and they have always been great I am booked on grand princess in January so I cannot wait wow wow wow