Cuisine and dining
on Princess Cruises
Personal Choice Dining, a mixture of both traditional (assigned tables and the same waiter each night in one of two seating times) and ‘your choice’ – where you choose when you want to eat, and with whom – is provided aboard all ships. All dining rooms and eateries are smoke-free.
Although portions are generous, the food and its presentation are somewhat disappointing, and lack taste. Fish is often disguised by crumb or batter coating, the selection of fresh green vegetables is limited, and few garnishes are used.
However, do remember that this is big-ship banquet catering, with all its attendant standardization and production cooking. Meats are of a decent quality, although often disguised by gravy-based sauces, and pasta dishes are acceptable (though voluminous), and are typically served by section headwaiters who may also make ‘something special just for you’ – in search of favourable comments and gratuities.
If you like desserts, order a sundae at dinner, as most other desserts are just so-so. While ice cream ordered in the dining room is included, but costs extra elsewhere (Hagen Dazs can be found at poolside).
Specially designed dinnerware and good quality linens and silverware are used. Themed dinners are a feature. On a 7-day cruise, a typical menu cycle will include a Sailaway Dinner, Captain’s Welcome Dinner, Captain’s Gala Dinner, and Landfall Dinner.
Casual Eateries: For casual eating, each ship has a Horizon Buffet (open round the clock), and, at night, provides an informal dinner setting with sit-down waiter service; a small (limited) bistro menu is also available. The buffet displays are, for the most part, quite repetitious, but far better than they have been in the past few years (there is no finesse in presentation, however, as plastic plates are provided, instead of trays). The cabin service menu is very limited, and presentation of food items featured is poor.
Entertainment on Princess Cruises
All showlounges are non-smoking. Princess Cruises’ production shows have always been aimed at its slightly older, more elegant passengers who liked the traditional, with elegant costuming and Hollywood image.
For entertainment, Princess Cruises prides itself on its glamorous all-American production shows, and they should not disappoint (there are typically two or three shows each 7-day cruise). Each ship has a resident troupe of singers/dancers and audio-visual support staff.
Musical units range from solo pianists to string quartets, from a cappella singers to bands that can provide music for ballroom dancing. Princess Cruises also provides a number of male hosts as dance partners for women traveling alone.
Spa Facilities on Princess Cruises
You can now make online reservations for any spa treatments before your cruise – so you can obtain the time you want, instead of all that frustration often encountered when aboard. But careful planning will need to be made so as not to clash with shore excursions and other diversions (days at sea are easiest to book online, and hardest to obtain on board).
All Lotus Spa/beauty treatments and fitness facilities are staffed and operated by Steiner Leisure, a concession, whose young staff will also try to sell you Steiner’s own-brand Elemis beauty products.
Some fitness classes are free (Stepexpress, Power Walk, Total Body Conditioning, Xpress Circuit are examples), while some, such as yoga and kick-boxing, cost extra. However, being aboard will give you an opportunity to try some of the more exotic treatments.
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