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Grand in design, this magnificent vessel offers a host of delightful diversions as you see the world
Your culinary journey at sea reaches new heights with an abundance of fresh restaurant choices and dining options aboard Emerald Princess. From revitalised top deck venues like Salty Dog Grill, Slice Pizzeria and Coffee & Cones to brand new casual restaurants Steamers Seafood and Planks BBQ there’s something for every palate. Let the kids play, explore, huddle and create at the newly re-imagined Camp Discovery Youth & Teen Centres and unwind at the refreshed Sanctuary, a tranquil haven reserved for adults.
Had a great experience-again- with Princess. Almost everything was great. Days at sea were terrific, and the Islands are breathtaking. The food was excellent everywhere... except at the BBQ restaurant Planks. What we had - Brisket and Ribs- were definitely not what we expected. We barely touched our plates because the brisket was extremely fatty, and the ribs had an excessive smoked flavor. On the other hand, Steamers was delightful! Our dinner there was filled with amazing flavors, and the lobster, crab, and chófer were highlights. I really didn't like the few wines I tried, so I sticked to Guiness at O'Maley's and Carajillos at the bars. I would suggest that Princess might want to pay attention to both the pools and the Jacuzzi on the 16th floor (aft). Pools were icy on 12 of the 14 days, and the Jacuzzi needed a little bit more TLC. Going back to Princess next month!
Emerald Princess Cruise to Hawaii Jan 18- Feb 4, 2026 The cruise was very pleasant, with the weather and seas cooperating throughout the entire sailing. It was a sixteen-day cruise. There were about 2-3 chilly days on board, during which the outer decks saw few people. We have to fly to ports, and United did a good job of getting us there. The UBER from LAX to San Pedro on a Saturday was $53. San Pedro We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which is very close to the port. It would have been a great choice if it weren't for NO HOT WATER for almost two days. The room was fine. The problem was fixed for some of the rooms, including ours, on the final morning, so we could take a shower before boarding. No reimbursement was offered for this major inconvenience. The hotel is also a bit run-down in places, but clean. The pool area was well-kept. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the "Happy Diner" restaurant, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel. The food was great, the prices were right, and the staff were so efficient and friendly. It is family-owned and run. For dinner, we enjoyed Subway, which is also a very short walk from the hotel. The USS Arizona is within walking distance and right next to the cruise ship piers. The weather was sunny and in the seventies, typical for January in SC. The Crowne Plaza offered a shuttle to the pier, and I thought it would be at a modest cost. We weren't charged anything, perhaps because of the no-hot-water situation. Embarkation: We arrived around 10:00. We waited briefly in the terminal after receiving our medallions at check-in. We were onboard by 11:30, dropped our hand luggage in our room, and went to lunch at the buffet. I was quite surprised at the huge number of scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. They were let onboard before anyone else. There had to be HUNDREDS of people with mobility aids. Most followed the rules and kept their scooters in their staterooms, but a few back-deck people kept theirs outside their cabins, which I thought was a violation. There was one lady with long grey hair who was a speed demon on her mobility scooter. I saw her force a crew worker into the wall because she flew by him, and he had to side-step or get run over. She was notorious around the ship for driving way too fast. Another issue right from the get-go was the man with the little dog who did his business on the carpeting. Others told us the dog was also notorious for defecating in the casino and scooting on the carpet. This event didn't cause his owner to stop playing the slots for one minute. The poor crew had to clean it up. Food This started out rather poorly the first few days. The selection was often mediocre, and the food was quite bland and uninspiring. This improved after the first few days, and some selections were very good. The worst menu item was the veggie burger in the dining room at lunch. It was tasteless quinoa with no other veggies! No sauce. The morning buffet is just fine. Those who like omelets will be pleased that the medallion technology allows the staff to find you and bring the order to your table. No hanging around the station. I enjoyed the banana bread each day, but corned beef hash is only offered sporadically. The servers are great about cleaning tables and offering to bring you coffee or juice. The selections at lunch and dinner are rather uninspiring and very repetitive. While you won't go hungry, the food at the Marketplace is mediocre. On nice days, we chose the hamburger station at the Salty Dog or a slice of ordinary cruise-line pizza. The ice cream near "the Slice" was quite low-quality. It was a one-and-done experience. The iced tea and lemonade are dispensed in pitchers, and the ice machines don't usually work well. At dinner, the beef and pork selections were usually quite tender. The fish was generally baked and flavorless, but it was a healthy choice. Some items, such as their Caesar salad, were quite inferior. This was the smallest salad I ever had with tasteless croutons and NO cheese. Some meals reminded me of the old-style TV dinners in terms of quality. In conclusion, the food at lunch and dinner outside of the specialty restaurants rates a B-. For dinner, we had shared dining, which was mostly a very nice experience. ***I have to mention this because the staff in the Marketplace asked me to: those silly and heavy swinging doors at the beverage stations are ridiculous and offer no function; only inconvenience. The staff hates them, too, and has likely complained many times. The doors would be so easy to remove, so pay attention, Princess! *** Cabin We had a very nicely located cabin on Deck 8 with an obstructed view. It was really more like an ocean view with little obstruction. No boat in front of the window- only a wire and a rope. It pays to research this. The cabin was near the back, making it an easy jaunt to the Marketplace buffet or the restaurant on Deck 6. The room had only a chair at the desk, but the storage and closet provided for our needs. The bathroom, however, is VERY small, with the most compact shower stall and a clingy curtain. Little storage in the bathroom area, and the shower head doesn't move up and down to accommodate people of different sizes. I'm really petite, so this shower must be really difficult for plus-sized people. A tip for those who don't like the ship's automatic nightlights outside the bathrooms or at the beds: bring painter's tape to cover them up. Main Areas The ship is a rather plain Jane, with no noteworthy areas except the lovely atrium lighting dome. Even the theatre is more like one you would find in a large high school. Very plain. Very little to no artwork in the cabins, hallways, etc. The Club Fusion and Explorers Lounge were very nicely designed and well used. The very nice Skywalkers Night Club was rarely used except for a few DJ events. Mostly, it was a nice place for people to read and play games during the day. The game shows were not appealing. I suppose it is because we have been on about 25 cruises. Same old… Experienced cruisers generally brought games/cards to pass the time on deck. The ship allowed games in the Michelangelo dining room and discouraged play in the buffet. We could almost always find a table for games on deck 15 to enjoy the warm weather. Entertainment This was a mixed bag. We really enjoyed dancing to the music of a band, "Three Times Lucky." They were excellent, personable, and attracted lots of people. The acoustic guitarist, who usually played in the Irish Pub, was very good, as were the Imperial String Duo, who tried hard to please their audience. The Two Halves Duo…were a real disappointment. We attended one session at Club Fusion where the female vocalist sang Italian arias. Almost all of their audience walked out after about three songs. It was rather sad, but then the cruise director had them perform this "concert' on another night. The theatre performances were hit-or-miss. Because there was so little to do on board, the theaters were generally full, and you needed to get there about 15-30 minutes before show time. The regular singers and dancers were quite good, but one show kept getting canceled (3 times) due to illness, so they substituted their solo vocalists. This show never happened, despite 16 days onboard. The tech was also a bit wonky. One production show had technical issues and was cancelled, but it was rescheduled to 9:00 and 10:00. The enrichment staff provided good lectures and were very personable. We attended perhaps one-third of them because they often repeated the same information. Brian and Rowena were excellent and provided ukulele and hula lessons. A non-line dance class was offered about every other day. The instructor was very good, personable, and patient. Interdenominational Bible Study at 8:00 For the 50-60 Christians, this was a highlight of the cruise. They gathered every morning, and we were there for all but the Hawaii port days. We took turns delivering the message or devotional, and worship was accompanied by ukulele and harmonica. The people were great, the teachings and sharings were inspirational, and it was lovely to socialize with them at other times. Some cruise lines do not allow a study or time such as this, although they accommodate Jewish Sabbath and Muslim prayer time. Kudos to Princess! Fellow Passengers The passengers were quite amiable, with the average age being about 70+. Many seemed to be dedicated Princess cruisers from California. Their loyalty is likely due to the port's location and their acquired loyalty status. Many rarely choose other cruise lines, and so they think Princess is exceptional. My opinion is based on cruising with about eight other lines, and Princess is similar to Royal Caribbean, NCL, and maybe Carnival. Age-wise, it is more like Holland America. The health of many deteriorated about halfway through the cruise with that dreaded upper respiratory infection. The theatre sounded like sea lions were with us. I don't understand why people who have that wet, nasty cough choose to contaminate and spread their illness in such close quarters. Crew The crew was all exceptional, friendly, and helpful. Not one disappointed. Ports: Hilo: We were "lucky" to be there the day after the volcanic eruption that caused quite a bit of concern for the locals. Nothing this significant has happened in their lifetimes. Near the volcano, locals had to shovel cinder-sized ash. Some were as large as a football! Also, inhaling the noxious, poisonous fumes was a problem, especially for those with breathing difficulties. The tiny shards of silica could cause eye injuries. We saw the gas plume from Hilo. It was quite remarkable. We chose the Hoppa On Hoppa Off bus, which turned out to be very popular with the last-minute folks. We had pre-bought our tickets. They give you a 2 ½-hour tour of the gardens, then take you to Rainbow Falls. We went to the Hilo Farmer's Market after and took their bus back to the ship. You can also take their shuttles to the beaches. Oahu: We booked the Kualoa Ranch tour, where hundreds of movies and TV shows have been filmed, including Jurassic Park, Kong, and Lost. This place has its act together and is very well organized. They offer many options. We took the Movie Sets Tour and the Ocean Adventure. A really great guide drove us for the first part, and the island is stunning. You can see why the film crews decided to film here. They had a nice buffet lunch for us, and then we hopped on a catamaran for the Ocean Adventures part. These were both great activities and for a reasonable price. The company offers a pickup service in Oahu. We took an UBER to the Sheraton, which was right next to the bus station. Few people on the ship did this excursion, as it requires good physical condition. Kauai: We chose a ship excursion because we had quite a few credits. The trip up to Waimea Canyon and Spouting Horn was very nice, and the views were spectacular. Maui: We booked "Hana Tours of Maui" for the Halfway to Hana tour and discovered that we were the only passengers in the 12-seat van! So, we had a private tour. This company should be commended for not canceling us out! We stopped at Ho'okipa Beach, Ke'anae Peninsula, Pua'a Ka'a wayside, Wailua Valley State Wayside Park. The driver, Kemo, customized the excursion based on our interests and pace. We stopped at the Safeway to grab a sandwich and soda and ate our lunch at a waterfall. How lovely. Besides all the stops, we also went to a small town for a bit of shopping, where most of the merchandise is made by locals. $189 pp. It was a great day! Ensenada: We got off and took the $4 round trip ride to downtown, which was shabby. It appears that the main features are margaritas, fish tacos, and cheap souvenirs. The walk around the port was much nicer and reasonably scenic. This was our last day, so we took advantage of the sunny weather on the pool deck. Disembarkation The large number of people with physical disabilities using walkers, scooters, canes, or wheelchairs was, of course, problematic for the elevators and disembarkation lines. It had to be a nightmare for them as many waited in long lines to use the elevators in the terminals to get off. Those without problems could disembark quickly if they used the escalators. Some people were shocked by the long line to get a wheelchair. If you have a difficult time with ambulation, please do some research to avoid or minimize many of these problems. BTW, Cunard now insists that passengers with wheelchairs or scooters declare them at the time of booking and therefore limits the number of people with physical needs. This is smart because it would be a tragedy if there were a real emergency and the crew had to evacuate everyone with assistive devices. Then the taxi stand area had VERY long lines. We were able to get an UBER pretty quickly. The price to LAX was higher because it was midweek rush hour. LAX airport wasn't very busy, so everything there went quickly. Overall, we were pleased with the cruise. The price was very reasonable, and the crew was wonderful. The weather, with the calm seas, made the sailing even better. The ship itself certainly isn't a favorite of ours, but we still enjoyed ourselves.
The crew on this excursion were absolutely fantastic. Nathan was off the record. Hilarious never stopped entertaining. Everyone on the ship at all times the shows in the theater were completely spectacular from having a magician to the rock opera and the ventriloquist embarking was easy. There were no issues and disembark. There were no issues either Our cabin was roomy. The shower is a little small, but it’s an older ship so we understand the service that was spectacular. The activities on board were plentiful. And they have a new show that we get to be a part of called the voice of the ocean. That was a lot of fun. We really wish that instead of stopping in Cabo for two days that we stop in Puerto Vallarta for two days as there’s more for everyone to do in Puerto Vallarta other than that it was a fantastic cruise. We had a fantastic time and look forward to cruising again with this cruise line.
Emerald Princess is one of our favorite ships & have been on her 4 times. We like the size which makes the ease of getting around so easy. We always book an aft suite on deck 9 so we only need to walk down 2 flights to get to most everything. Embarking was very easy & stress free. Our cabin is a great size with a larger covered balcony which we sit on often. Our cabin steward did a great job keeping the place looking great. (we are booked on her again Nov 2026 in same cabin). We always eat at Sabatini's on our first night where food was great & service was wonderful. Our other meals were in the Reserve section of the MDR was always great. The staff was friendly, helpful & probably the best crew we ever had in the 20+ cruises on. In fact we ate all meals there when we could have gone to Sabatini's for breakfast (perk of suite) but went here instead. We had table for two but had tables for two on both sides which we had great conversations with. We didn't go to all the shows as we have seen some before & are not fans of magicians which were one or two of them. The two guest speakers they had on this cruise were exceptional. We probable went to all of their talks as they were so informative. Unfortunately I forgot their names. We did a few excursions but mostly we just walked around at port areas when they had something. The highlight of course was sitting on our deck with the great view as we traveled through the canal. If you take this cruise I suggest an aft cabin. Loved sitting on the balcony this whole day almost.
The day prior to our cruise we drove to Ft. Lauderdale and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on 84th State Road. The location is a 7-minute drive to the port. The room was comfortable and the breakfast as expected. Sunday morning, we drove to the port at 9:30 hoping to get a handicapped spot at the Palm garage and we did. We had been told by Princess that the boarding process would not begin until 11:30 so we sat in the car for 45 minutes before heading to terminal 19. The walkway lead us right past the porters so we dropped off our bag and got into a line for suite and elite guests. They began processing passengers through security at 11:30 and we were on board by 11:50. We dropped off our carry-on bags in our cabin and headed to the Botticelli Dining Room for a tasty lunch of ravioli, beef tenderloin and a souffle. After completing our mandatory safety video and trip to our muster station we spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking and relaxing on our balcony. We were in a handicapped accessible balcony cabin. We had been in R301 on the Emerald prior to the last dry dock. We were very happy with the cabin improvements. The bathroom had been totally redone and it had a much better functioning drain system under the roll in shower and improved layout. The new heavy-duty hooks were very useful. Another improvement was the threshold to get to the balcony was flatter and much easier to navigate. We were disappointed that the cabin only had a desk chair as the small barrel chair had been removed. I love the room location just one deck from the Mix Bar, Coffee and Cones and the buffet. Our room steward Oscar did an excellent job throughout the cruise. The weather was lovely the entire cruise. I went swimming twice at the Wakeview pool and then climbed up two flights of stairs to get to a totally unused hot tub. We spent hours relaxing on the promenade deck, lido deck and our own balcony. Each day we spent time on the Lido deck playing scrabble and cards. We got off the ship at two ports with my husband using his motorized scooter. At Mahogony Bay we walked around the port then stopped at El Hideaway for loaded chicken nachos and beer. At Costa Maya we got to witness the Dance of the Flyers show which was quite impressive. Afterwards we stopped for Strawberry Daiquiri’s at Cantina Latina. Next time we will go there for lunch as we saw lots of yummy looking food. As far as food we keep things pretty simple. For breakfast we like the International Café with many choices including omelet bites, egg muffins, hot ham and cheese sandwiches, fruits and incredible pastries and muffins. At lunch we went to the dining room on the sea days which never disappoints. The other days we would get soup and sandwich at the International Café or go to the buffet to make a big salad. One day we sat in Vines and ordered a burger, fries and coleslaw from the Ocean Now app. It came within 15 minutes and was quite good. One sea day we tried the Afternoon Tea for little sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and other treats. It was delicious, but just not the time of day we prefer to eat. At 5:00 we would head to the Elite lounge for a cocktail, then would make a meal of the hor devours including veggies and dip, egg rolls, fried shrimp, little dishes of salad, etc. Two evenings we instead utilized our casual dining credits. We had dinner at Planks and found the pork ribs, pulled chicken and beef brisket very tender and delicious. I also really liked the wedge salad. At Vines we ordered the charcutier board that comes with veggie and dip plus chocolate truffles for dessert. Very nice change of pace! For daytime activities we like to read and I went to Zumba and line dancing, and the casino in small doses. All fun, but the smoke in the casino is awful. Each evening was different. We went to hear Rob Terry in O’Malley’s, who sang a variety of songs. As a huge bonus, we found our favorite bar staff member Louise was on the ship. He remembered us from 2 previous cruises and made us feel very welcome. Emerald Tide was an Irish duo in O’Malley’s and they could use another singer or musician to liven things up. In the laugh lounge we saw Dave Burleigh and Frank Townsend. Both were very funny! In the Princess Theatre we saw Stephanie Hodgdon in She Will Rock You! And Trina Johnson Finn in a Whitney Houston tribute. Both shows were high energy! One evening we went to a candlelight concert by Electric Waves in the Adagio Bar. We really loved this performance. Other entertainers that we liked in the Piazza were Grace’s Secret Duo and Golden Moon. We finished our last evening with a glass of wine at Vines and headed to the room to pack. The next morning, we grabbed a quick coffee and ham and cheese sandwich at 5 a.m. By 6:30 we were in the dining room and walk off began at 7:30 as was stated in the disembarkation info. We walked to the garage to begin the 4 ½ hour drive home. With one quick stop we were home shortly after noon. It was a wonderful cruise and we only wish the Emerald would do more cruises from Ft. Lauderdale.
From the moment you step aboard, we want you to feel welcomed and right at home. And with attentive service from a friendly staff that knows what hospitality means, you’ll find your Princess® ship truly is your home away from home.
Photos, floor plan diagrams, amenities, and furnishings represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship and stateroom.
Indulge your appetite whenever you wish on board Princess®. Every hour, our chefs are busy baking, grilling and sautéing great-tasting fare from scratch. Princess offers unparalleled inclusive dining options throughout the ship with a wide range of culinary delights to suit any palate, from endless buffet choice to gourmet pizza, frosty treats, decadent desserts and much more.
Speciality Dining
Dining on board a Princess® cruise ship is a joyful celebration and our speciality restaurants always deliver an extraordinary experience. They are among the best at sea – or anywhere. We serve dishes made with the freshest ingredients, and our menus reflect regional flavours from around the world. You'll find our speciality restaurants are the perfect place to celebrate any occasion.
When is a cruise an opportunity to enrich? When it's a Princess cruise. This ship offers area lectures, art exhibits and classes taught by local experts.
To say the night-life on-board is entertaining is an understatement. Illuminating the stage in captivating productions, Princess Cruises performers are some of the most talented musicians, singers and dancers at sea. Our Princess Signature Shows, lounge performers, movies and casinos are just some of the entertainment our guests enjoy as they escape completely.
The many activities on-board our ships are designed to stimulate, educate, entertain, inspire and sweat - not necessarily in that order. But, guests can be sure crew onboard will do their best to cover all the bases. From art auctions to The Sanctuary Spa, this ship is loaded with fun things to do.
Passengers ages 3 to 17 will enjoy many exciting on-board activities. The Youth Centres and Teen Lounges are staffed by experienced counsellors, who are ready to ensure the youngest cruisers stay happy all day long. There’s everything from art projects, game tables, the latest movies, pizza parties, talent shows, video games, and much more.
Children under the age of 3 are welcome to visit the Youth Centre, if accompanied and supervised by a parent at all times.
