Family Fun aboard the Crown Princess

    The Crown Princess owned and operated by Princess Cruises is part of the Grand type fleet of ships. The vessel was launched back in June of 2006 and sailed to the Caribbean during its inaugural season. Last year we got to sail onboard while touring the British Isles with ports of call like Guernsey, Edinburgh ,Southhampton, and Liverpool.

What makes it family worthy

Though the ship didn’t offer too many family friendly activities, it had a quad cabin that could accommodate families of three or four members.Furthermore, the ship offers connecting cabins which again are favored by families.  

Fellow Travelers

This cruise line caters largely to the needs of muti-generational families but retirees and solo travelers are also extremely well represented.

Décor

While the cabins were somewhat lacking in elaborate decoration, the public areas of the ship combine plenty of marble, stone, and dark wood for a very elegant appearance. As is expected, there are also many nautical themed accent pieces throughout the cruise ship.  

Amenities

Live shows and various classes are part of any cruise ship experience, so a number of these events took place over the course our voyage. Over the ten days onboard there were some Broadway-style performances and comedians performing but nothing geared towards the younger passengers per se. The ship did offer the customary kids clubs for the various age groups, but due to the packed itinerary, our sons never got a chance to attend any activities. For dining options, the ship offers several complimentary ones as well as specialty dining like the Crown Grill and Sabatini ‘s with Italian grub. We enjoyed the food and service in our designated Michaelangelo dining room. Our server, a friendly lady from the Philippines, as incredibly friendly and helpful with catering to our son’s needs. She pampered him by sneaking an individual portion of bread pudding (which wasn’t on the regular menu) every night for him as a special treat. Worth mentioning was the delicious lunch offered at the Whaleboat Pub as well as the Afternoon Tea offered on select days that featured finger sandwiches and music.   The outdoor areas consisted of a basketball area as well as several outdoor pools and one indoor which was for adults only. We didn’t use the outdoor pools since it was cold and rainy most of the days. Moreover, due to the weather conditions, there were no Movies Under the Stars shown either. A library, an internet cafe, and a fitness center, were on hand for guests to enjoy. Travelers were happy to learn that there was Wi-Fi throughout the cruise ship.  

Our cabin

We stayed in Cabin 508, which was an inside quad cabin. The rooms had two beds with matching nightstands in between them. There was also large flat screen television and a prominently displayed climate control device. Moreover, the vent in the room was set up so that it didn’t blow directly in people’s faces, which was a bonus for allergy sufferers. A typical work desk area, complete with a leather chair and a side shelving unit, was also included. The cooler in the room where we could store our snacks was a bonus.   We loved the fact the closet area was set apart from the sleeping area. The cabin closet was huge providing ample space for our luggage and lifejackets that could easily be reached in time of emergency. Built-in wooden hangers, additional shelving, nd an in-room safe completed the cabin furnishings.  

The Bathroom

The bathroom in our cabin was mostly done up in plain white, but it had silver accents and blue tiling as a backsplash. Though the counter top area was somewhat tight there was enough place to put our belongings. The shower separated by a curtain featured a fixed shower head which wasn’t helpful for parents needing to actively assist their kids while bathing. Soaps and shampoos were provided for our use.  

Autism Travel Tips

• Like all other cruise lines, Princess has an access desk that helps families with special needs and accommodations
• If parents opt to book a quad room they should be aware the top beds need to be closed in the daytime as the space in the cabin is tight. The embarkation and disembarkation process went smoothly for us since we were the last to board and get off the ship and didn’t have to rush anywhere.
• Travelers to Southhampton should consider pre-booking a taxi to wait for them at the port if they are in a rush to get to the airport.
• Passengers should be aware that some of the ship’s restaurants are closed while in port which creates longer waiting lines for the ones that are open. Parents should chat with the manager onsight and ask to be seated quicker in the need should arise.
• Families should bring a non-slip bath mat and night light if they need them.

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