Your Comprehensive Vancouver-Alaska Cruise Guide Site Index       About       Contact     Links    SusanMilne.com

Home

Articles/Voyage Reports

Cruising Alaska

Choosing a Ship

Alaska's Glaciers

Vancouver for Passengers

Ship Photos

PACIFIC PRINCESS CALLS
ISLAND PRINCESS CHRISTENED
The new Island Princess and Pacific Princess

The first Pacific and Island Princesses were sister ships, well known as the Love Boat in the popular TV series. (Princess was the ship most often used to film the series). Princess Cruises new Pacific and Island are certainly not sisters - in fact they are quite opposite in size and on board decor. The 30,200-ton Pacific's style is classic, old world while the modern Island Princess has a variety of styles in her public rooms from designer chic to wood-panelled traditional. Island carries 1,970 passengers, Pacific 684. Pacific has a diesel/electric propulsion system while Island has a new diesel/gas turbine combination.

Read on for more about Pacific Princess and a few photos. Click here for photos of Island Princess and the story of her christening in Vancouver, July 11, 2003.

The new Pacific Princess calls at either Vancouver or Victoria on her 11-night cruises from San Francisco in 2003. The former R3 of Renaissance Cruises, Pacific Princess is 30,200-tons and carries 684 passengers. I took a tour of Princess Cruises' new 'small ship' and found her decor quite a departure from the rest of the Princess fleet. Great features on this ship are the beautiful library, good size dance floors, a high percentage of balcony cabins and a good variety of dining options for her size. Excellent observation areas include the Nightclub lounge and all dining areas, something I really appreciate when cruising.

Pacific Princess now sails the wider Pacific region for Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia and there are plans for her to sail right around in the world for Princess Cruises in the 2004-2005 winter season. Unfortunately, she won't be back in Alaska in 2004. Her identical sister ship, Tahitian Princess, sails from Papeete, Tahiti to the islands of French Polynesia and beyond, year-round.

Click each photo for full size

Pacific Princess at the new Canada Place extension. The Owners' Suites face aft. Above them are the Panorama Buffet's outdoor dining and the glass enclosed specialty restaurants.

Central Staircase

Library fireplace

Library with painted ceiling

The Club Bar, beside the dining room.

Internet center.

Entrance to the Cabaret Lounge.

Cabaret Lounge with a good-size dance floor. Production shows also take place here.

The Nightclub is an observation lounge with entertainment which converts to a disco at night.

The Nightclub also has a very large dance floor.

The pool has two hot tubs.

Table for two in the Club Restaurant, the main dining room.

The Panorama Buffet has a number of wall murals depicting European country homes. There is outdoor seating on the teak deck aft and large panoramic windows inside.

The Sterling Steakhouse also has excellent views while you dine.

TOP

---

©Susan Milne, 2003