Grand Princess: What’s It Like On Board?

If you like your cruise holidays with a little elegance, plenty of choice and just the right amount of things to keep you busy, my Grand Princess onboard experience could be worth a read.

Part of the Princess Cruises fleet, Grand Princess combines traditional cruising with a relaxed atmosphere, a good choice of restaurants, live entertainment and plenty of places to put your feet up. Whether you’re the sort who likes to fill every day with activities or would happily spend an afternoon watching the ocean with a drink in hand, there’s plenty to enjoy.

And the best bit? You can explore some wonderful destinations without having to unpack your suitcase every few days. Now that’s our kind of travel.

Getting to Know Grand Princess

Grand Princess first set sail in 1998 and has built up quite a history with Princess Cruises. She’s a Grand Class ship, measuring approximately 289 metres in length, with a capacity of around 2,610 guests based on lower berths and a crew of approximately 1,150.

She’s not one of the enormous new ships carrying thousands more passengers, but that’s part of her appeal. Grand Princess offers a more traditional cruise experience, with a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of familiar Princess touches.

One of the central features is the Piazza, an Italian-inspired atrium that acts as a social hub throughout the ship. Think cafés, bars, live entertainment and plenty of opportunities for a spot of people-watching. Just don’t blame us if you end up spending more time there than you planned!

Dining on Grand Princess: Come Hungry!

Let’s be honest, food is a fairly important part of any holiday. Fortunately, Grand Princess has plenty of options, whether you’re after a relaxed breakfast, a proper sit-down dinner or something tasty between exploring the ship.

Main Dining Rooms

In my Grand Princess onboard experience I visited three main dining rooms: Botticelli, Da Vinci and Michelangelo.

These offer a selection of multi-course meals, with menus featuring international dishes, familiar favourites and something different to try each evening.

Depending on your dining arrangement, you can enjoy a more traditional dining time or a flexible approach. Either way, there’s plenty of opportunity to make dinner part of the evening rather than just something to squeeze in between activities.

Crown Grill

Fancy treating yourself? Crown Grill is the ship’s speciality steakhouse, serving premium cuts of beef, seafood and other tempting dishes.

It’s a lovely option for a special occasion or simply when you fancy something a little different from the main dining room. Just remember that speciality dining comes with an additional charge.

Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria

If Italian food is more your thing, Sabatini’s is well worth considering.

This speciality restaurant celebrates Italian cooking, with pasta, seafood and other classic dishes on the menu. It’s the sort of place where you’ll probably start thinking about dessert before you’ve finished your main course.

International Café

Located in the Piazza, the International Café is ideal when you fancy something lighter or need a little pick-me-up.

You’ll find pastries, sandwiches, salads and sweet treats, alongside speciality coffees. It’s also open around the clock, making it a handy stop whether you’re an early riser or someone who considers midnight a perfectly reasonable time for a snack.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria and Casual Dining

Sometimes you just want a good pizza. No fuss, no complicated menu, just a slice of something delicious.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria offers freshly prepared pizzas, while The Salty Dog Grill serves casual favourites such as burgers and hot dogs. There’s also World Fresh Marketplace, where you can explore a selection of buffet dishes throughout the day.

And if you have a sweet tooth, Coffee & Cones is ready to help with ice cream and coffee. Holiday calories don’t count, obviously.

Bars and Lounges: Cheers to That!

From a quiet pre-dinner drink to a livelier evening with music and dancing, Grand Princess has a selection of bars and lounges to suit different moods.

Crooners is the place for classic cocktails, martinis and a little Rat Pack atmosphere. Expect piano entertainment and plenty of old-school charm.

Wheelhouse Bar offers a relaxed nautical setting, with drinks and live entertainment. It’s a lovely spot to settle in before or after dinner.

Vines Wine Bar is ideal for wine lovers, with a selection of wines, Champagne and sparkling options. You can even try a wine flight if you fancy discovering something new.

Good Spirits at Sea brings a little theatre to cocktail-making, with bartenders creating drinks inspired by flavours and destinations around the world.

And if you’re more of a tea person, Leaves Tea Lounge and Library offers a quieter place to enjoy a cuppa and a good book. Because sometimes a holiday needs a little peace and quiet too.

Entertainment: There’s Plenty Going On

You certainly won’t be short of things to do once the evening rolls around.

The Princess Theatre hosts live productions, musical performances and other entertainment throughout the cruise. It’s worth checking the daily programme to see what’s on during your sailing.

The Piazza also provides a lively setting for music, performances and social events, while the Vista Show Lounge offers another venue for entertainment.

One of the real favourites is Movies Under the Stars, where you can enjoy films, concerts and sporting events on a giant outdoor screen beside the pool.

Grab a lounger, settle in and enjoy the show. Popcorn is a rather good idea, too.

If you’re feeling lucky, there’s also the Grand Casino, while The One5 nightclub gives night owls somewhere to enjoy music and dancing.

Pools, Spa and Time to Relax

Not every holiday needs to be packed with activities. Sometimes the biggest decision of the day should be whether to sit by the pool or move to a different sun lounger.

My Grand Princess onboard experience involved lots of water. The Grand Princess has four swimming pools, a splash pool and several whirlpool spas, giving you plenty of options for a little downtime.

If you’re after somewhere more peaceful, The Sanctuary is an adults-only retreat offering a quieter space away from the busier areas of the ship. It’s ideal for reading, relaxing and enjoying a little time to yourself. Access comes at an additional charge.

The Lotus Spa offers a selection of treatments, including massages, facials and other ways to unwind. There’s also a fitness centre with gym equipment and fitness classes for anyone who fancies keeping active while away.

Although, if your idea of exercise is walking from the buffet to the pool, we’re not here to judge.

Is Grand Princess Good for Families?

Absolutely worth considering.

Grand Princess has dedicated spaces and activities for younger guests, with separate programmes for different age groups.

Younger children can enjoy games, crafts, themed activities and movie nights, while older children and teenagers have their own spaces to socialise and take part in activities.

There’s also a choice of family-friendly accommodation, including connecting cabins and larger suites on selected configurations.

With swimming pools, casual dining, entertainment and plenty of opportunities to spend time together, Grand Princess offers a good mix of family activities and grown-up relaxation.

That means the children can enjoy themselves, the adults can get a little downtime and everyone can come home with stories to tell.

What Makes Grand Princess Different?

Grand Princess offers a more traditional style of cruising compared with some of the newer, larger ships in the Princess fleet.

Rather than focusing on headline-grabbing attractions, she brings together the things many people enjoy about a cruise holiday: good food, comfortable accommodation, live entertainment and plenty of places to relax.

The Piazza gives the ship a lively social centre, while venues such as The Sanctuary provide somewhere to escape when you fancy a quieter afternoon.

It’s a good option for couples, families and anyone who enjoys a classic cruise experience with plenty of choice.

Ready to Discover Grand Princess?