Our ship for this cruise was The Grand Princess, the oldest of the Princess Cruise Lines fleet. It was commissioned in 1998, and refurbished in 2016. It has a guest capacity of 2600, compared with the largest of the Princess ships, which have a guest capacity of 3600+. In this post I show many of the things to see around the ship, such as bars, lounges, restaurants, swimming pools and the casino. This is a very long post because there is so much to see and do on the ship!
The Ship
The front (bow) of the Grand Princess at Vancouver port.Our view as we embarked the ship. This is looking toward the bow.Looking toward the rear (aft).The port (left) side of the Grand Princess. Our suite was on the starboard (right) side.The rear (aft) of the Grand Princess.
Our stateroom suite
Our suite was on the Dolphin Deck, deck 9. We wore medallions which were actually transponders that unlocked our door as we neared our suite. They also scanned the medallions whenever we disembarked or embarked at ports of call, or had an adult beverage (we were allowed 15 per day).View from the front of our suite, looking out toward the balcony. It was pretty comfortable.It was windy on the balcony, of course!
Passenger Services desk.Another fine dining restaurant.Jewelry store.Shop with Alaska themed merchandise.Snookers Cigar Bar. Cigar-only smoking allowed in this bar.Inside Snookers Bar.Items autographed by Michael Jordan, Troy Aikman and Tiger Woods.Basketball autographed by Shaquille O’Neal.Another of the three fine dining restaurants included with our package.Baked AlaskaElevator lobby outside the Casino.We did not participate in the Grand Casino, but I did go through it to take some pictures.
Deck 7 – Promenade Deck
The Princess Theater is the venue for the largest capacity shows. We went to several shows here – they were quite good!The Crown Grill is the premium fine dining restaurant. There is a $50 per person extra charge for meals here – not included in the dining and beverage plan.Crown Grill.People would sit at these tables and play card games, dominoes, etc.Crooners Bar.Wheelhouse Bar.Wheelhouse Bar has a nautical theme. Many paintings of historic ships.Explorers Lounge is also a venue for performances.Vista Lounge has drinks and performances. We went to a worship service here on the Sunday morning we were on the ship.
Deck 14 – Lido Deck
There is an outdoor and an indoor pool on the Lido deck.This is the indoor pool.The outdoor pool also has “Movies Under the Stars” all day long and late into the night. The movie screen is also accessible from the Sun deck.Pizza by the slice, always very good and hot.Another bar.The Salty Dog has excellent hamburgers, hot dogs and fries.Ice cream, milk shakes and coffee.Calypso Bar.
Lido Deck – Horizon Court Buffet
The Horizon Court buffet is open 24 hours a day, with rotation of foods. Some nights are themed nights, like Mexican, or Chinese or Crab Shack.
Deck 15 – Sun Deck
Massage at the Lotus Spa. Also a gym and hair salon.The outside bars are open even when it is cold!The One-5 Bar on the 15th deck (Sun deck)There is even a wedding chapel!
Deck 18 – Sports Deck
I just had to shoot some basketball on the 18th deck at the top of the ship. No one else was playing.There were numerous hot tubs throughout the ship.Walking/running track around the sports deck.
