The Siberian American: Cruise Ship Review: Emerald Princess

Monday, February 16, 2015

Cruise Ship Review: Emerald Princess

It’s about time that I start posting about our New Year’s Caribbean Cruise. After months filled with residency interviews, this was a much-needed trip. It was our first time not having to fly somewhere for our cruise, which made it a lot easier to go over a holiday.
We cruised on the Emerald Princess out of Houston. It was my second time on a Princess cruise, and I had forgotten how much I like Princess.
The Emerald Princess was, in one word, elegant. The ship was still beautifully decorated for Christmas, especially the grand staircase. If you ever get a chance to cruise during Christmas or New Year’s Eve, I would recommend it. Princess really went all out to help us celebrate the holidays.

Our room:
If you have ever looked at cruises (or even airline tickets) during the holiday season, you know that prices are more than twice what they are during another time of the year. We got an inside room and thought it was comfortable and spacious. Our only complaint was that there weren’t any pullout drawers to store clothing (which Royal Caribbean inside rooms have). My in-laws had a suite, so we could visit their balcony.

Food:
Since we went on a Royal Caribbean cruise in October, I couldn’t help but compare the food on Princess to the food on Royal. The food on Princess easily won. I really liked the meals in the dining room, especially the desserts. Princess has created some specially crafted chocolate desserts called “Chocolate Journeys” for its 50th anniversary…and I still can’t stop talking about the Chocolate Journey I had. I keep saying I want to go on another Princess cruise in 2015 just to have another Chocolate Journey. What can I say? I love my chocolate.

Princess did a special meal for New Year’s Eve, complete with pink champagne sorbet as a palette cleanser. It was a fun meal, and a great way to kick off our celebrations!
Chris and I went to a specialty restaurant called The Crab Shack one night to stuff our faces (literally, it was so much food!). I don’t think I have mentioned it on the blog before, but if I had to pick a favorite food, it would be crab. I get it every chance I can, so I was excited to try out the Crab Shack. I thought the Alaskan king crab wasn’t very good, but the snow crab bucket more than made up for it. Chris also got oysters, shrimp, and clams, so we left the restaurant feeling like we had eaten enough for a week.
Entertainment:
I was impressed with the entertainment on the Emerald Princess. Like I mentioned in my Brilliance of the Seas review, we aren’t big fans of the singing and dancing shows, but this ship had so much more to offer. The magician was impressive, especially with his slight of hand tricks. The comedians were great, and I really enjoyed the kitchen galley tour. For New Year's Eve, Princess did "the largest balloon drop at sea," which was really fun.
Though we have cruised the majority of our cruises on Royal Caribbean, we wouldn’t hesitate to cruise on Princess again. Next, I will be sharing our fun excursions at each port.

PS-I have had several people who have never cruised before e-mail me questions (which is fun! I love answering your questions), so I am considering doing a first-time cruisers FAQs post. If you have any questions, send them my way, and I will include them.

14 comments:

  1. Aww, it looks like you had a great time! That crab spread you guys ate looked incredible, and you're right, the decorations are truly stunning. How many cruises have you been on at this point?

    Cat
    http://oddlylovely.com

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  2. I want to go on a cruise. With warm weather. Right now. Your pictures are great and how fun is that balloon ceiling. I bet it was a blast when they dropped them!

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  3. Look at you with all that seafood - that is pretty much my heaven! i'm loving the dress you wore for NYE - it's so pretty on you and love the way they decorated the ship for the holidays! Makes me want to go on a cruise really badly!! xo, Biana - BlovedBoston

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  4. Look how cute you are in all of these pictures! And now I'm totalllllly craving a cruise! Eric and I went on a cruise for our 2 year anniversary... that was almost 5 years ago! Ah! We need to go again asap! I've only ever cruised on Royal Carribean but Princess sounds (and looks) nice!!

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    1. I really like both Royal and Princess! Those two are my favorite cruise lines. I hope y'all get to go on a cruise soon. :)

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  5. ok so when I have looked at cruises before, I have definitely leaned towards an inside room because it's cheaper. what do you think? i would love your first timers post, seriously like 'for dummies' because i feel like i don't know anything about it, like whats included, whats not, whats normal, what wouldn't you know if you have never been on one.. lol. seriously, like pretend you are writing it for an alien who knows nothing about earth or cruises. ok, just kidding. but don't you ever get scared on cruises? would you recommend a short or long one for a first timer? if you have to fly somewhere, would you fly a day early? anywhere you would recommend leaving from (i think new orleans or florida were our closest options). have you ever booked one last minute? sorry for all the qs, lol. you are really making me want to go on one, but i'm nervous!
    I LOVE your dress on NYE, so cute. I have never had crab like that, I don't think - I've had a 'balmain bug' which is apparently like a lobster and i enjoyed it, but i am kinda lazy when it comes to food and it was so long ago i wouldn't know how to even eat it today!

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  6. What a fun way to spend NYE and I love your dress! You guys also go on so many cruises and trips! Love reading your recaps. I've only ever been on Royal Caribbean cruises so it was good to read some feedback about Princess.

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  7. Oh wow! There is only one thing I love more than cruising and that is Christmas. Ok. Maybe Disney but still. Christmas and cruising together? I have been wanting to do this for a while but my sister always cruises with us and she can't go in December. This post actually dropped my jaw. I may have to consider ditching her because I need to do this. haha.

    Our first cruise was a Princess cruise. We loved it. The ship itself was very nice. The food was outstanding. We have been wanting to go back on another (and try RC too) but our family is sort of stuck on Carnival. Don't get me wrong they are fabulous but there is so much more to experience. I think we just have to force them a little or cruise more so we can go without them as well. Tricky. ;)

    I love the idea of cruising for a first timer post. I wanted to do something like that but I think everyone that reads my blog are already seasoned cruisers so I haven't. I would love to hear your thoughts though!

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  8. That looks like so much fun! I NEED TO GO ON A CRUISE!

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  9. Girl I am so jealous of all of the traveling you do! I feel like whenever I look at your blog there's a new travel post. At least I can travel through your blog haha.

    www.jerseygirltexanheart.com

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    1. Thanks, Monica! We are a little obsessed with traveling. Haha. Glad you like my travel posts. :)

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  10. Oh man that cruise looks fabulous!! I wish I could reach through my screen for those crab legs. Just yum. Love your dress also :)

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  11. Oh WOW! You went on a cruise for New Years! That's so cool! And it wasn't even your first cruise?! I've never been on one, I guess I don't feel very safe in water... but your pictures look like so much fun!

    Lublyou

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  12. Fun to read about a different cruise-line - I have only cruised on Carnival and never had any complaints. :)

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