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Sailing on a family cruise has been at the top of our travel list for years now. We were so excited to make our first cruise together as a family with our host, Princess Cruises aboard the Crown Princess. This review features our own opinions.
I’m writing this from our mini suite aboard the Crown Princess! I’m so excited to share our vacation with you all and I plan to “live” share our days at sea via Instagram and Twitter if you want to follow along. Plus I’ll be sharing each day’s adventures for you via a new post each morning!
There was some planning involved to make our cruise carefree and relaxing.
But Princess Cruises makes that easy! I will be sharing that all once we are back on dry land because I’ve learned a whole bunch of tips to share, but it all started with what cruise to take!
We chose a California Coastal cruise as our family’s first cruise together because it seemed like the perfect length, and because it was in close proximity to where we live. We will even be stopping in San Diego as one of the ports so we can play tourist in our home town.
We also love San Francisco, so that was a HUGE draw for us.
It’s been over a month since we have been there last and we already planned what else we want to see and do while we were there. San Francisco is such a great family-friendly town.
Before our adventure began we scheduled and planned through the Princess Personalizer Website. Then since we’ve been on board, we’ve been using Princess@Sea to stay in touch via their messenger app (that is free) so that I can monitor our account onboard. I’m not sure if other cruise lines offer this, but when traveling with children (especially teens!), this has been a huge benefit. We can message each other to stay in touch, and the big kids have already been coming and going from teen and preteen clubs so using this to know where they are is giving me tons of peace of mind, which helps me to relax and enjoy the cruise even more.
After going through security and all that fun stuff, we walked into our rooms, and Emmy immediately ran out to the balcony and did this!
I love when I capture her moments of joy!
We have two side by side mini-suites with rather large balconies on the Dolphin Deck. They were connected via the balconies after the Room Stewart removed the divider.
The mini suite rooms are large in comparison to the rooms that I remember being in as a teen when I last cruised. Emmy is staying with us, and Maddie and Ash are sharing the room next door. If it were just 4 of us, we would all be comfortable in just one room, albeit a bit cramped, so this works out perfectly for the 5 of us.
Princess Cruises surprised us with a fruit basket and chocolate-covered strawberries in each room and champagne for Pete and me to toast each other as we sailed away. Neither of us drinks alcohol too often, so this was a treat.. and one I think we will be doing each cruise. If you have the extra budget to do this, I totally recommend it. Maybe even surprise your partner with it!
If you are traveling with kids, I think making this part of the trip extra special kinda sets the mood for the vacation and I would opt to do the fruit and strawberries for the girls again too!
After we had been out into open seas, we decided to explore the ship.
It’s really big and one day in I have seen maybe ¼ of it. Our first stop yesterday was to the International Cafe for a snack. They have sandwiches, salads and desserts at no charge and Gelato for an additional fee of $1.50 for three generous scoops. We also bought a coffee card for specialty coffees. It’s a hole punch card with eight drinks for $24 that you can use for future sailings if you don’t use it all. We also bought the soda and more packages for each of us. For $49 we will be getting unlimited soda, juice, shakes, floats, hot chocolate, mocktails and more. For health reasons, we don’t drink anything other than water normally, so this is another treat for us all. It works out to be $7 a day each, and that is a bargain when you think of how often you will be buying beverages. They have other alcohol packages too, and the wine ones get rave reviews! Our drink packages came with tumblers that we can all take home as souvenirs too!
The ship is stunning, and I am really enjoying looking at all the little things they have done to make it so beautiful.
The Easter decorations are amazing, and the details are totally “wowing” me!
We didn’t plan it this way, but we ended up sailing on Easter! Yesterday when we boarded we were not sure what would be happening, or if there were any Easter celebrations planned. I was so happy to hear that there are quite a few things in store for us over the next couple of days to make Easter extra fun for the kids.
Emmy hasn’t stopped reminding us that there are pools on this ship, so we set off to find them. We chose the pool on the Lido deck under the big screen used for MUTS (Movies Under The Stars) for our first swim. The pool is warm, and we relax for a while until the sun started to set. Then we made our way out of the pool and back to the room to get ready for dinner.
We have any time dining and have worked up quite the appetite, so we decide to eat in the Michelangelo Dining Room.
There is a bit of a wait, and we learned that it is best to make reservations if you have the anytime dining. You can do this each morning at 8 am by phoning the reservation line. While we waited to eat, Pete and the girls have some fruit and Gelato, and I stayed in line.
It was worth the wait! The fettuccine alfredo was delicious. Emmy, all of a sudden, went quiet, and we looked over and saw this! She has a history of falling asleep at the table on vacations, so this wasn’t surprising… and this is how we know she is having a really good time! She goes all out during the day and crashes at night!
We decided to have dessert via room service so she could sleep some more, while Maddie and Ash went to the kids clubs until they closed at 10 pm and 11 pm respectfully. I have so much more to say about the kids clubs… but let me start by sharing that they are worth the trip alone. The kids are all having so much fun in them!
That’s it for now. I’m off to see the other ¾’s of the ship and get lunch! I’ll be back tomorrow with more of our adventure. Be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram!
Have you ever been on a cruise? What was your favorite part?
PS. See our complete Crown Princess, Princess Cruises Review and Detailed Daily Posts Here.
Oh my goodness, I want to go on a cruise. So badly. We keep talking about it and just need to do it. Thanks for the push.
Looks like you are having some beautiful weather! enjoy yourself!
We have not yet been on a cruise, not sure if we will ever. But it looks great!
I would love to go on one. Like you, I am not sure we ever will
I have never been on a cruise, but you have me totally wanting to now! Everything about yours screams luxury vacation!
Wow! I can’t believe the amenities on a cruise ship. Your mini suite looks amazing! My room was nothing like that when my family took a cruise to Ensanada eons ago!! Have a great time!
Chanelle, My last cruise was 15+ years ago and everything is different now. The rooms are extra awesome now!
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise, this looks like so much fun.
This looks like everybody was having a blast. I’ve never been on a cruise yet, but the view is gorgeous.
What a gorgeous cruise ship! I can’t wait to go on a cruise again.
It looks like you are having a great time. Good for you.
Wow what a beautiful cruise liner! I really need to talk my husband into a cruise!
What a fun family cruise!! The photo of your daughter sleeping at the table is adorable! I had no idea they had clubs for kids on the cruise ships!
Thanks Vera! The kids clubs are worth the trip all by themselves. The girls all loved them!
You had a great experience with your family, I’d love to book a vacation to cruise very beautiful view.
What an amazing cruise! I would love to take a Princess Cruise I am going to look into it!
Cruises are the best way to travel! I have not been on one in a few years, time to book another!
I have been dying to go on a cruise for ever. This looks like so much fun! The kids seem to have had a great time too. So many fun things to do on a boat. Who would have ever guessed?
This looks like such an amazing cruise, I would love to go on it myself!
What an amazing trip. Your daughter just seems elated and the cabins were much more luxurious than I was imagining.
It looks like you all had an amazing time on the cruise indeed. I have so wanted to go on a cruise forever. Hopefully one day I will. These are all amazing pictures and it makes me want to go on a cruise more. Thanks for sharing.
I have never been on a cruise, but I have visited San Fran and Santa Barbara before and they are definitely two of my favorite places, I always worry I will get stir crazy on a cruise, I definitely need a ship with a Casino, did this one have one or is that only for international sails?
I was worried about that too Tracy, especially on the two sea days. Happy to report that there was so much to do that I never once felt bored, nor did the kids! They really offer a bunch of option practically around the clock so that’s never an issue. And yes, there is a pretty good sized casino too! Pete and I spent a couple hours in there and I even won some money! It’s not open when you are in ports, only when you are in international waters… which happens each night and on sea days!
Looks like you all had such a lovely family cruise! I really want to go on a cruise now, it looks quite luxurious!
We went on a cruise in December and loved it but I’d love to cruise to other destinations and experience other ships. There is always so much to do on board.
Me too April! I loved this cruise and now I totally want to go on anther one and see an other area! I’m thinking Alaska and the Caribbean are next on our list!
I have never been on a cruise before. My husband and I are hoping that someday we’ll be able to go. I think it would be an amazing experience.
I always thought that their cruises were a bit expensive for me and my family of 6. Would love to take my family on another one someday.
Awwwww what a great time you guys are having. My husband wants us to go this year but the kids are hesitant.
We loved the cruise. My oldest was a little apprehensive and now she is asking when our next one will be 🙂
What a beautiful ship and cruise. I love the Easter decor and that fruit basket was simply amazing! I bet you are having a wonderful time. Look forward to reading more.
I adore the Princess Cruise Line – we chose to sail on one for our honey moon. Your trip looks delightful!
OMG just too wonderful. I swear one of these days, I’ll give those a try with me and my bf – I want to enjoy these kinds of cruises!
sign me up! looks like it’s going to be an amazing trip!
I would love to take my family on a cruise. That it on our wish list as well.
I can’t wait to see the rest of your pictures! your suite looks amazingly large!
Wow this looks like a beautiful ship! I’ve been wanting to take a cruise and looking for a good cruise line. I’m going to have to check these out.
I have never been on a cruise. This looks amazing. I have always wanted to try a cruise.
It looks like you had a blast. I have never been sailing before. I need to try it for once
I want to go on a cruise so bad! How fun. I love the water. Its my favorite place to be. I love the room. That is the sort of room I would like to stay in. Something more than just a square with a bed in it.
What an amazing cruise, everything about it! I so want to go on this cruise!
Sounds like your family had a wonderful time! Your photos are amazing!
We love cruising and have taken Princess before. I was just telling hubby the other day how badly I need a vacation!
Some day my husband and I may take a cruise. This looks like a fantastic cruise line. Your pictures are lovely.
I’ve been thinking so seriously about a cruise lately. It seems like they really have so much to offer the whole family.
They really do Rosey. The kids were just as busy with activities as the adults!
This is definitely in our bucket list, but the hard part is deciding which cruise to take.
Looks like you had a wonderful time on your cruise! It looks beautiful on the cruiseship!
It looks like you had an awesome time on your cruise. I have always wanted to go on a cruise.
I would love to take a cruise some time soon. It looks like a great getaway
I actually watch the video under the golden bridge and it makes me want to try the cruise. SF is worth a visit.
The Cruise looks so gorgeous! I love to travel in cruise. But I had been only once and it was a great experience. These photos clearly shows that you had a great time with your family.
We’ve never been on a cruise but would love to experience it someday. Bet it’s exciting. Your photos say it all.
I love cruising, I can’t wait to go on another one. It has been almost ten years since I was on one. That suite looks amazing!!
I’ve only been on one cruise, but the “room” I had didn’t even come close to comparing with your mini suite. That looks amazing!!
I would really love to take another cruise. I went on one in my twenties but that was over 10 years ago!
Same for me Stefani… it had been years since I was one one. All the great parts from the past are still there and now there are even more cool things to do and see!
I have never been on a cruise but would definitely love to go someday when Matt and I can find the time! This sounds likes a great line to take!