Some cruisers go large and a few desire small, whereas others, like myself, aren’t certain in any respect.

On a latest Caribbean cruise, I discovered the choice was made for me, after my greatest pal and her household invited me to hitch them on a cruise ship with a passenger capability of greater than 3,000 folks.

I hadn’t been on a big cruise ship since 2013 and, in all honesty, I couldn’t say for sure whether or not going large was one thing I’d take pleasure in once more since all of my cruises up to now decade have been on small ships starting from a couple of hundred folks for river cruises to oceanoing cruise strains the place numbers by no means exceeded greater than 920 friends.

Cruising on a ship triple the dimensions I’m used to appeared daunting, even on this period of mega cruise ships being the dimensions of small cities. The not too long ago launched Royal Caribbean’s “Icon of the Seas,” the world’s largest cruise ship with a most capability of seven,600 passengers, simply accomplished her inaugural voyage within the Caribbean after setting sail from Miami Jan. 27.

Whereas my cruise date in the end didn’t line up with my pal’s scheduled Caribbean cruise, I did find yourself on a big ship — Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess which had 3,140 passengers on board and a crew of 1,200. The favored cruise line has a fleet of 15 ships, with the smallest having a 2,000 passenger capability and the biggest 3,660.

My eldest daughter and I have been about to get a style of huge cruise ship journey once we took a one-week Caribbean cruise, with stops within the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico, that additionally started Jan. 27.

In truth, we noticed the Icon of the Seas, which was simple to identify on my shuttle experience to Fort Lauderdale’s cruise ship port the place the Caribbean Princess was berthed. The drive between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s two important cruise ship terminals, is simply half-hour so it was a straightforward selection for me to decide on a winter cruise from certainly one of these ports, particularly now that Vancouver and Miami has direct flights below seven hours.

On the shuttle experience, I met a pair from Qualicum Seaside who have been cruise ship journey veterans, having already obtained their medallion go to bypass the lengthy lineup and head straight on board the ship.

Regardless of my rookie begin, having to hitch the queue to get my embarkment go, I discovered Princess Cruises was professional in transferring everybody alongside shortly. Inside half an hour, my daughter and I have been on board exploring the ships’ many decks, facilities and settling into our cabin. Although we have been each principally newbies to large cruising, we now have a greater concept of tips on how to get essentially the most from large ship cruising.

Right here’s what we found.

SHIP AMENITIES

My important hesitation was the ship can be so crowded we might by no means get to totally take pleasure in all of its facilities. I couldn’t have been extra flawed, because the ship is spacious and has a lot to do on board, it by no means felt too busy. Even getting a lounge chair adjoining to one of many ship’s three swimming pools didn’t show troublesome, and we didn’t should stand up early within the morning to stake a declare.

We found the adults-only pool at all times had room and, to make sure we had a lounger on a “sea day,” reserving house in The Sanctuary was undoubtedly value the associated fee. This quiet oasis is adjoining to the ship’s Lotus Spa and incorporates a small pool and two scorching tubs. For simply $20 US for a half-day go or $40 US for a full-day go, you may choose your individual spot to hang around in The Sanctuary.

We opted for a snug, swivel palm-shaped lounger we may share, that supplied overhead shade and was near the pool. It was properly value the associated fee and in addition to the assured seating, we have been impressed by the “serenity stewards” who introduced us scrumptious sandwiches, desserts and drinks. My greatest recommendation is to go instantly to The Sanctuary as quickly as you board to order your time right here since these spots guide up shortly, particularly on “sea days” when all friends stay on the ship as an alternative of docking and heading out for excursions.

In addition to the swimming pools there’s additionally an out of doors theatre known as Films below the Stars, a Lotus Spa and Health Centre, on line casino, a sports activities deck the place you may golf putt or play basketball, a nightclub, bars, lounges, library and an web cafe, to call a few of the highlights.

DINING

With regards to eating, a big cruise ship gives many choices for passengers.

On the Caribbean Princess there are three important eating rooms, all providing the identical four-course dinner menu or you may eat on the buffet known as World Contemporary Market Cafe. I didn’t thoughts going to the cafe for breakfast or lunch however I desire formal seating for dinner and the meals decisions in one of many ship’s eating rooms.  If you happen to desire a personal desk as an alternative of group seating make sure you guide early both previous to the journey or instantly after boarding.

There are additionally specialty eating places (my favorite was the Crown Grill, a steakhouse that additionally had scrumptious seafood) and no less than as soon as per crusing, a fortunate 12 to fifteen friends have the chance to eat on the Chef’s Desk.

Whereas I met many fellow passengers who advised me they have been greater than happy with the meals on board, in order that they didn’t have to pay additional for specialty eating places, I felt they really missed out. Significantly the Chef’s Desk, which is a pinnacle gastronomical cruise expertise, showcasing the most effective of what the chef and his workers create. On the time of my crusing, it value $110 US together with wine, whereas the Crown Grill was $39 US.

Foodie and fellow traveller Jim Augustine from Bradenton, Florida, tells me whereas his favorite specialty restaurant is Sabatini’s, which makes a speciality of a five-course Italian delicacies, he at all times tries to get a spot at The Chef’s Desk on each cruise he takes.

I met Augustine, who has taken over 20 cruises up to now, at The Chef’s Desk, the place he admits he was ready to cancel his cruise if his journey agent wasn’t in a position to safe his spot among the many fortunate 15 who received to expertise The Chef’s Desk on our crusing.

“It’s such a beautiful occasion. The meals and wine is at all times good and also you meet such attention-grabbing folks. You get to fulfill the pinnacle chef, the director of eating places operations, the maitre-d’ reveals up and it’s at all times good to know the maitre-d’, belief me. As a result of once you come again and he acknowledges you, the pink carpet is rolled out and also you’re invited to issues and proven to raised tables,” he says.

“Sure, the meals is a lower higher but it surely’s the pageantry, and the tour of the galley. If you happen to’ve by no means been in a galley on a ship when they’re serving a meal you don’t know what a ballet is. Every little thing is in movement, everyone’s in movement and the way they feed that many 1000’s of cruisers three or 4 and in some circumstances 5 instances a day, you actually should be in a galley to see what it’s all about.”

ENTERTAINMENT

Leisure on a big ship is boundless, with choices for all ages and tastes and the efficiency stage at a better normal than what I anticipated. On this specific cruise, viewers members have been delivered to tears by a efficiency tribute to Whitney Houston by singer Cheaza Figueroa, from Las Vegas. Her expertise clearly ran within the household since her mom was one of many legendary Ikette’s from the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.

We have been additionally impressed by the Caribbean Princess’s seven-piece band that backed her up in addition to the dancers and singers who did large stage productions. I additionally loved watching passengers, a fortunate few who received to play “Deal or No Deal” and take a look at for a $1,000 grand prize in addition to catching as many performances as I may of the group known as Symphonee, who performed every thing from the blues to hits from the Seventies. Since there’s each an early and later efficiency of all the large acts, discovering seating was by no means a difficulty within the indoor theatre.

Kim Pemberton was hosted by Princess Cruises, which didn’t evaluate or approve this story. Comply with her on Instagram at kimstravelogue.