Emerald Princess Cruise Reviews - Reviews

It was easy to get to the pier and parking for the cruise. Went to our cabin by 12pm, on sunday. Had time to have a nice lunch before our sailing.

The gulf was smooth as silk, the ship was very comfortable, had plenty of  room to lay out in the sun. The alcahol drinks are beyond standard, they are almost robery. Food was good, entertainment was ok. The cruise is a great getaway for a few days.

Nice ports or call and a nice ship. Houston was so easy to park, embark, and debark in. Some of the excursions descriptions didn't match the actual excursion but that is common for all cruises.

The boarding process was easier and more efficient that other cruises I have been on with other companies.  Princess actually started boarding earlier than their posted time.  The ship was clean and we found all the staff very pleasant and friendly.  The evening entertainment was better than what we have experienced on other cruises we have been on.  Overall it was a great cruise.  Two medical emergencies occurred during the cruise, one in port and one at sea, and Princess did everything they could for the people involved.  That made us feel very good about the priorities of the cruise line.

This cruise, unlike our experiences on Carnival in terms of "sexually" crude and "party" atmosphere, rivals that of NCL. An amazing experience! Checkin and checkout was a breeze (though check out was a bit delayed due to changing out some equipment on ship). The ship was beautiful! 

The food was good (sufficient). Formal dining offered a very nice presentation. Small portions but rich. Service and attention to details could not be better! Amazing service! Excellent service! Very impressed with how all the staff anticipated, met, and exceeded our needs.

The Lotus Spa was amazing! Loved the experience there.

My greatest criticism is with the gym. As a person who works out, I recognize the need to expend the caloric intake. But the gym was too small. So many people fighting to get on treadmill. Basic weight machines and some free weights, but not enough of them. So, if I could redesign gym, I would move it else where. As a result, I was only able to workout once. Once again, it was a difficult fight with lots of people waiting to workout. I also wish it was offered 24 hours but one can't even get on treadmill till 8am. 

Word of caution when booking excursions not using cruise line options. My wife and I booked our excursions through this travel agency and not Princess cruise lines. When it comes to places like Belize, where the ship does not dock onto a pier/port, and tenders (boats) are used to take you from ship to shore, you need to beware that you have to be on first tenders in order to make your excursions if you booked outside of the cruise ship. It can prove challenging to be on first tenders because a cruise company may not feel that they need to push you to the front of the lines since you did not use them. Now, we checked with Princess and they put us on the first tender. They were awesome! But other cruise lines may not be so thoughtful (according the guide we met who was waiting for us).

Overall, the experience was most excellent given serve, ship, and attention to detail. Four stars given gym and food. I would not hesitate taking the same itinerary again and board this particular ship if given the opportunity. 

Cruising with Princess was my very first cruise experience and it was absolutely wonderful!  The staff was very helpful and friendly, the food was great (especially the pizza, ice cream, and burger bars near the pool), and the variety of excursions that were offered were excellent.  The only complaint I would have was that there weren't many events that got a large majority of passengers involved.  The events that were held (such as movies under the stars) were lots of fun.  In addition to having a great time around the ship, my stateroom was wonderful.  When my boyfriend and I showed up, our steward greeted us and told us that he would be there to answer any questions or fix any of our problems.  Overall it was a great cruise, and my boyfriend and I are already planning our next Princess cruise for this summer.    

This was my first cruise, and it was a great experience. The crew was very courteous and professional, the passengers (old and young alike) were very pleasant, and the weather was great. From booking (with Marcia Hanna) to boarding to departure, everything was ship-shape from stem to stern. And my vote for consummate host of the month went to Dr. Marina. She really was a princess to me. I already wrote a letter of praise for all she meant to me and my friends; so please read it and please be sure she is recognized in a very meaningful and very tangible way.

Sincerely,

Bruce Fritz

As a first cruise we did not have nothing as a reference. Overall this cruise make us want to experience  more, probable different shore excursions or other itinerary. The staff is incredible  almost anticipating your wishes, and the entertainments are fun and engaging. You meet people from around the world, and lern new things all the time. If you are looking for relaxing time, do not take a cruise during school spring break, the kids take over the swimming pools, and hot pools.  Do not get disappointed if your land excursions changed; it happened twice with us due to weather conditions.

Great service, congeniality, attention to needs of travelers, promptness & providing the extra detail to ensure convenience & comfort throughout all aspects of the trip.

For our first cruise this was a wonderful choice. Very few kids and definitely a "pamper me cruise".  The accommodations were excellent.  Excellent food and service. Be careful in choosing the excursions.  Some of them were not worth the money spent.   

We are Princess Platinum members and have sailed on the Emerald Princess before.  Being a Platinum member affords you some privileges, but this this time we had a couple of mishaps. The extra care (e.g. no robes in room, which we requested on cruise personalizer; husband ordered champagne breakfast, red roses, and godiva choc. to surprise me on my birthday 2/10 and notice was put in room when we boarded...breakfast had to be re-ordered, flowers had to be ordered by concierge and pink roses arrived and candy had to be physically picked up in gift shop; our children ordered champagne and choc. covered strawberries to be delivered on 2/13 (special day for us) and notice of champagne and gift in room on 2/10 with note to deliver champagne that day....however, strawberries did arrive on 13th (Note specifically said "Happy Friday the 13th"!!! The only other compaint we had was for Sabatini's Specialty Restaurant.  We had gone in the past, and it was terrific, this time we went 2x and it was not .  When you pay $25 pp. cover each time, you expect a classier experience.  An Italian specialty restaurant should have waiters that understand English instead of a Filipino waiter who didn't, although he was very nice, he didn't understand when we wanted a prociutto appetizer.  You do come to expect a higher calibre in a restaurant we paid extra for, like at Crown Restaurant, which was outstanding.  Service and meal was great!  Since we are cruisers, we probably noticed that things have changed more than the average person.  With the exception of these experiences, all and all the cruise made it good for us to get away from winter in the Midwest!

The food and service was excellent.  The entertainment could be improved on by relying less on the "Princess Singers and Dancers" which was 3 of the performances.  Also there was a lot of "selling".

SHIP DETAILS:

Our first time on Princess was very good.  I especially was impressed with  the wood and well kempt structure of the ship.  Everything was immaculate and sparkling clean.  You  knew there were workers and maintenance staff about but they almost seemed invisible.  You could tell that they took  pride in their jobs everywhere  you looked.  Our room though small was spotlessly clean and perfectly kept by our Steward, Andreii.  We always book a balcony stateroom and this makes the size of the room ok.  Professional yet extremely engaging and courteous, Andreii was the perfect room steward (I would have taken him home for a house butler if I could have!).   The service and staff were exceptional throughout the ship.  Main Dining Room: Although the quality of food was not the best, for most cruisers it  would be just fine.  There were several couples at our dining table who had cruised more than 15-20 times and they too, agreed that the food quality could have been better.  However, when serving over 3000 people with a variety of palates it is nearly impossible to please everyone.  International Cafe:  has delicious food throughout the day and most is included  in your cruise fare cost.  I did not partake of any of the additional specialty cost restaurants on the ship as I felt that upscale dining should be included in the cruise fare.  Buffets: were like any buffets......lots to choose from; hot, cold and in between.

We enjoyed the entertainment on  the ship....not Broadway nor Vegas but still good.  The dance classes were just ok.  I  had  hoped that they would have dance hosts for those of us who were solo travellers.  Unfortunately, they did not.  This is something that I would  hope  they would consider adding, as well as activities strictly for solo travellers.  The age group  of  most on the ship and the activities of this ship are for those 45 and above.  We did see a few children (and I am sure they had activities for them too) but mostly this was for an older crowd.  I appreciated the fact that there was not  the usually "boozy crowd" you see on Carnival and even though there were  over 3000 on board, the ship never felt crowded.  We enjoyed the movies under the stars and most of the flicks were fairly current.  We enjoyed several of the lounges with live music and the wait staff in all the bars were very attentive, even if you only wanted a glass of water.  The Princess Patter, delivered each evening directly to our room, helped us  prepare and choose our activities for the following day.  I really like this aspect!  There  were many items and amenities that  we did not partake of.....not enough time or not any interest (such as the spa, gym, library, etc.).  They have a wonderful selection of pools and hot tubs and lots of chaises and seating areas.

Embarkation and debarkation were an absolute breeze!  Even though there is the possibility of fog in the ship channel causing a delay, it would still be my choice in Texas just due to the size and ease of it all.

EXCURSIONS:

All three ports of call (Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico) were lots of fun.  I used an outside excursion company called Shorefox to book the Zip and Dip Tour in Roatan and the Altun Ha & Belize Zoo Tour in Belize.  I researched reviews etc. before booking with Shorefox and I  must say that they  lived up to all the reviews and expectations I had.  Both excursions were exceptional in every way:  the tour guide, the vast knowledge of the guide, the more personalized service (the maximum  group size is 14 unlike the ships which is  40-50!), the excursion itself and the guarantees provided by Shorefox and the price (it was less expensive than going through the cruise line and we got more personalized  service).  On both excursions, we were the only ones who arrived so we had private tours!!!  We were able to do "local" which is what we prefer.

In Roatan, our  guide was James Taylor.  He took us to the Zip and Dip Tour (17 ziplines) that we  booked through  Shorefox where we met our zip guides, JB and Pedro of Jungle Top Zipline Adventures.  Again, we were the  only ones with  these 2 guides on the lines so it was  an absolute blast!  I had never ziplined before so was a little apprehensive with the height and speed of jumping of a platform into air.  JB and Pedro quickly put me at ease and half way through the first line, I was flying by myself.  JB and Pedro taught  us some fun tricks to do  on the lines as well as made certain that  we  were secure before each zip!  The harnesses are in  great shape and security plus fun are their focus. Afterward we were able  to pet  and interact with the monkeys.  James then loaded us back into our private van and we were off to have lunch at a local spot where he would normally eat!  We stopped along the way at a local market so that we could buy some avocados to enjoy with our meal. James corrected the cashier when she tried to overcharge me since I was a "tourist"!   We had local  food at local prices with local people.  Perfect!!!  Not  touristy.  I had fried conch, my friend had  conch  ceviche and James had oxtail!  All served with fried plantains, red beans and rice; main staples for Honduras.  Can't say enough  good things about James Taylor (Roatan Adventure Tours: Zip & Dip) and JB & Pedro (Jungle Top Zipline)!!!!

Our  next stop was in Belize. Again, we booked using Shorefox for the Altun Ha & Belize City Zoo Tour.  Once again we were the only people on the tour (the others who had  booked did not show up).  Our guide, Jeff Lopez, was absolutely delightful.  As we drove through Belize City out to Altun Ha Mayan Ruins, Jeff told us of the history of Belize and the sights we were passing. On the way, I asked Jeff to stop at a roadside market so that I could buy some bananas, which he gladly obliged.  He corrected  Once at Altun Ha, he gave us a personal tour and told us of the history of the Mayan Ruins.  He even sourced some specific carved wooden tongs for my friend who wasn't having any success in the markets finding these particular items!  After the ruins, we again enjoyed a local lunch where we ate Gibnut (the Queens' rat....not really a rat but there is a story about the queen eating this particular meat on her trip to the island).  I had split peas, coconut rice & fried plantains with the Gibnut.  All delicious!  The local beer, Belikin, was quite oh  so good.....especially on a very warm day!  Both Honduras and Belize can get quite hot from mid morning on.  After our delicious local lunch, Jeff took us to the zoo and gave us a personal tour, finding each and every animal in its' enclosure so that we could photograph it.   This zoo is much different than American zoos, as the animals are in natural habitat and very, very large enclosures....almost as if in the wild.  Jeff with his quick eyes was able to spot the animals (though some took longer than others).  Had we been on our own, we probably would have missed quite a few!  This tour was a 6 hour adventure that was worth every cent and then some!  

A Word of CAUTION: Be sure to take your bug spray!!!!!  The "no seeums" (you really can't see them) will get you otherwise and when you realize you have been bitten and the itching starts, you will desperately wish you had used bug  spray!!!!  Even though I was sprayed up with DEET, I still had 6-7 bites and boy howdy do they itch!  

I can not recommend SHOREFOX enough for excursions!!!  Best price, best service, best guarantees!!!!

For our Cozumel excursion, we booked through Princess.  We booked the Salsa and Salsa Tour. There were 40 or so from our ship plus about 160 from other ships in dock  that were all involved in this tour.  Even with so many people, 200+, this excursion  was held in a local all inclusive hotel and had ample space and tour employees to accommodate us.  The salsa/margarita class was so, so much fun and the salsa dancing even better!  This is a cooking class filled with  entertainment, drinking, good food, some learning, and fun dancing!   For those not  wanting to dance, the pools/hot tubs are  open for them to enjoy.  Linda, the main emcee of the event could have a show all her own if wanted.....she is that good!  I  would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a day of fun in Cozumel!

We had a  great time throughout the entire cruise and I would highly recommend the Emerald Princess to everyone looking for a cruise out  of Houston!

We started off being fogged out. We were to leave by four on Sunday but the fog rolled in and they closed the port. We were entertained and fed so everything was fine. We missed one of our stops but stopped at a different island so that was cool.

The handling of the transfers at the George Bush Airport was poor to terrible. There were an insufficient number of busses, so we had to be sent by taxi. We waited 3 hours for a ride  to the ship and arrived at 3:30 PM. The group after us arrived even later, at 4:30 PM. Fog was beginning to descend in the area, so because of the disaster with the busses, the departure had to be delayed until the next morning. We were told that it would not affect our destinations, but it did as we never went to Roatan and went to Casa Maya instead. The organization for the disembarkation was excellent.

The food quality for the sit down dinner was not uniform. Some selections were poor, others were marginal and a few were good. The food was routinely over salted. Often, the meats were tough. Of all of the entrees, the fish appeared to be the best selection. The desserts were uniformly very good. However, the sit down breakfast was very good. The buffet was better,as there was a wide choice of selections, and if something was less than satisfactory, there were other satisfactory choices.

The staff performed very well and were always pleasant and helpful.

On demand movies would have been appreciated or at least a program guide of the programs.

The ship was lovely, and we enjoyed the wrap around deck on level 7. The cabin was roomy and there was plenty of space for our belongings, much more than Celebrity.

Despite these negative issues, we would certainly return for another cruise with Princess. We have placed a deposit for another cruise in the next 2 years.

Aside from our departure being delayed by fog, we had a lovely time.  The room accommodations were clean, our friends were next door with an adjoining balcony, and we spent time watching the sea daily.  The shore excursions were worth the time and money.  I wish that there had been a recommendation to take along insecticide -- especially at the Mayan ruins and the river cruise in Belize.  The entrees were prepared with too much salt, so, if you have an issue with that, I recommend you state that you have dietary restrictions with salt.

Even though we were delayed getting out of Houston, we still had a great cruise. All the crew we came in contact was extremely friendly and helpful. Our waiter, Ronald, in the Michelangelo dinning room was good. He remembered our drinks from the very first night and very friendly. Embarkation and debarkation went very smooth and quick. Overall, a great cruise.  

Food was great! The best part was getting on and off of the ship. Very well organized which was much better than other cruise lines. Would cruise with Princess again.

As always--Princess Cruise lines delivered with their professionalism, experience and service.  They are an excellent cruise line and I would not cruise on any other line. 

We had to go to Costa Maya rather than Rotan due to the Houston weather.  The staff handled the change with grace and professionalism.  I was not as pleased with Costa Maya due to our $86.00 lunch for 2 people. 

Belize was awesome and so was Cozumel.  Be sure and do the Salsa dancing excursion!  It was awesome and unlimited frozen margarita's.

We had such a wonderful escape from reality and loved the cruise.  Such a great experience, wonderful staff , great food and entertainment, very light hearted.  Loved the islands and excursions. Only down sides about it was we got fogged in from the Houston port so we lost a day. I would port out of somewhere warmer and more reliable weather in the future and wish I had more time in Cozumel...so much to do there. Swam with the Dolphins what an experience and enjoyed the shops and beach life!

This was our second Western Caribbean cruise. Our Royal Caribbean adventure was much better.

We had a balcony for the first time and pleased with the room accommodations. We may confine our cruises to the west coast for local get away cruises since flying is just impossible to enjoy.