Emerald Princess update - - Photos, Menus, Dining Guide and Captain interview

This week the focus shifts to Princess Cruises with an expanded and updated profile of Emerald Princess.

I had enjoyed myself on Emerald Princess the last time I was onboard and I was pleased to find that she still presents a quite enjoyable cruise experience. Apparently, quite a few other people agree as the ship attracts a high proportion of passengers who are in the upper tiers of Princess' loyalty program. These are experienced cruisers who do not spend their time on ships that do not deliver a superior cruise experience.

When I spoke with Captain Tony Draper and Hotel General Manager Peter Hollinson, I asked them what it is about Emerald Princess that attracts experienced cruisers. They pointed to the fact that she does longer cruises and that her itinerary includes a nice set of ports. In addition, they pointed to the strength of the Princess product in general.

I think they are valid points but that there is more to it than that. There is what they used to call a can-do atmosphere on Emerald Princess. It manifests itself in crew members who go beyond what is required of them. This reflects well on the ship's management too, of course.

In any event, my conversation with Captain Draper and Mr. Hollinson is reported at http://www.beyondships2.com/emerald-princess-interview.html

We also have a new photo essay showing Emerald Princess in some of the ports that she visits in the Caribbean. (She spends her winters in the Caribbean and her summers in the Baltic). It is at http://www.beyondships2.com/emerald-princess-in-the-caribbean.html

A lot goes on on Emerald Princess. To give you an idea of some of the entertainment and activities that occur during a cruise, we present a Scenes from a Cruise Slideshow focusing on the Emerald Princess' entertainment offerings. http://www.beyondships2.com/emerald-princess-in-the-caribbean.html

Princess styles itself the consummate host and Maitre d' Hotel Generoso Mazzone personifies that slogan. He has been with Princess since 1983 and really believes in the Princess product. Accordingly, he runs the ship's dining rooms with friendliness and style. His goal is a level of customer satisfaction that will turn each guest into an advocate for Princess.

To help me in creating a dining guide for Emerald Princess, I asked Mr. Mazzone to discuss both the overall Princess approach to dining and each of the dining venues on Emerald Princess. He generously gave of his time and insights. The dining guide begins at http://www.beyondships2.com/emerald-princess-dining-guide.html

As a companion to the dining guide, we have also added a new Emerald Princess menus page. It has all of the main dining room dinner menus from a 10 day cruise. Plus, it has the menus from Sabatini's, the Crown Grill and from the Chef's Table. It appears at http://www.beyondships2.com/emerald-princess-menus.html

Emerald Princess Photo Tour and Commentary

Emerald Princess is one of three virtually identical ships. I am not speaking here about the fact that she is a member of the Grand-class, all of which stem from the design of the Grand Princess - - there are about a dozen such ships now in service. Rather, I am speaking of the fact that she has the same layout, amenities and décor as Crown Princess and Ruby Princess.

The three ships entered service over a period of three and a half years beginning in May 2006. They reflect all that Princess Cruises had learned about the highly successful Grand-class over the course of decade. Thus, it is not surprising that they are so similar - - why change a winning formula?

So, if the three ships are identical, it follows that they must be fungible, right? Not exactly. While on a superficial level the ships may seem the same, the atmosphere on each is subtlety different. Different sets of people have manned the different ships, leaving their marks which persist even after they have gone on to other things. Also, like people, the ships’ characters have been molded by their different life experiences.

Crown Princess was the first of three and sent a shock wave through the industry with her beautiful Italian-influenced décor. She was also an innovator with the adult-spa retreat called “The Sanctuary” and the sophisticated New York-style steakhouse “The Crown Grill.” Also, the fact that she spent her first two summer seasons based in New York helped to hone her more cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Ruby Princess is the latest of the three. When she emerged on the market in November 2008, it was with a great deal of energy and a “can-do” attitude. Her reviews and high scores on the guest comment cards demonstrated that this was not just bluster. Her innovations such as the “Ultimate Ship Tour” proved successful and have been passed on to her sisters. A schedule of seven-day cruises added to her more fast-paced atmosphere.

Emerald Princess is the middle child. She did not emerge with as much fanfare as her sisters. However, she has all the same features that they do. Moreover, she goes about performing her job extremely well - - just quietly. Perhaps because she does relatively longer cruises, the atmosphere is more relaxed. Perhaps it has something to do with beginning her career in the sunny Mediterranean. It certainly has something to do with the friendliness of her crew.

My profile of Emerald Princess is posted at: http://beyondships.com/Princess-EP-Profile.html The photo tour and commentary begins at: http://beyondships.com/Princess-EP-Tour-1.html