by Roy Witman (c) 2006, All Right Reserved
The Crown Princess has been taking shape at a shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, for the past year. Even though the construction photos don't show it, this huge pile of steel beams will soon be shaped into a luxury ship with a long list of firsts, such as new features, amenities, and ports of call that will let you sail off into the sunset of your choice.
There are a few things that make Crown Princess stand out. On her first trip in June 2006, she will be the first ship in the Princess Cruise fleet to go from New York to the Caribbean and back (Red Hook, which is located in Brookland). Passengers can go to many different places, such as the port of Bermuda in the Eastern Caribbean. The new ports of Grand Turk and the Turks and Caicos Islands, which were almost unknown until now, are just as interesting.
With the new port on Grand Turks, there are now 20 new shore excursions. As unique as the port itself, passengers will be able to choose from activities ranging from thrilling Harley rides to super-sized pools.
Princess Cruise Line says, "Hop-On/Hop-Off Island Tours are the first of their kind. They are hop-on/hop-off tours that stop at a restored prison from the 1800s and an old lighthouse." Harleys in Paradise lets visitors to St. Maarten see the sights on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. There are also zip line tours through the tropical rainforests of St. Lucia, river tubing on Grenada's Balthazar River, and more.
You are right if you think you've heard the name "Crown Princess" before. The first Crown Princess was built in 1990 by the controversial architect Renzo Piano. She has since been moved to a sister cruise line and given a new name. The new Crown Princess has been redesigned from the ground up with cruising in mind and has a lot of amenities that you won't find on other ships.
On the Crown Princess, you'll find more firsts, like the Princess Cruise Line-only Movies Under the Stars, where you can watch blockbuster hits outside on a huge 300-square-foot LED screen. Passengers can make free reservations for chaise lounges that are available. There are specials on drinks, and popcorn and other movie snacks are free. Princess Cruises is also known for its atrium dining and Personal Choice Dining, which lets you choose where to sit at any restaurant at any time.
There is something for everyone, including one of the biggest casinos at sea, exciting nightclubs, digital golf simulators, a nine-hole putting course, four pools, a sports court, and a jogging track.
The Fun Zone, the Off Limits Teen Center, a video arcade, and the Chill Out splash pool are all just for kids and teens. That's a great place for them to hang out while the adults go to the Sanctuary, a quiet area of the ship with a pool where adults can go to relax and unwind.
Princess officials say that the Crown Princess will make 12 trips to the Eastern Caribbean from New York between May 12 and September 6. These trips will start on May 12 and end on September 6. Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Grand Turk are some of the ports. In fact, her first season is expected to be such a success that plans have already been made for a second season in New York.
The brand-new Crown Princess set sail from New York in June 2006. It has a lot of firsts that are meant to impress passengers and give them exciting new experiences on and off the ship.
