Grand Princess

Princess entertainment is fun but slightly more traditional and less active than some of the offerings on other lines. Shows range from stellar to slightly cheesy, but the talent of the singers and dancers was enough to offset the Las Vegas vibe. The daily Princess Patter lists a multitude of trivia, lots of singing and dancing, magicians, comedians and, of course, karaoke. Combine that with outdoor pursuits like movies and sail-away parties, and there's lots to do.

Theater

Princess Theater shows include standard song-and-dance production shows with names like Stardust and British Invasion, which focus on popular music from various genres. Featuring sparkly costumes, fun scenery and talented performers, the shows were just the right amount of fun and kitsch. Our favorite was Born to Dance, a touching medley of Broadway hits interspersed with video outtakes from the dancers explaining why they love their craft. Other memorable offerings were a magician (who also hosted a "how to do magic" seminar where we learned some impressive card tricks) and a singing ventriloquist-comedian. Our least favorite was a vocal impressionist who sounded nothing like the artists he claimed to be impersonating; the only thing in which he succeeded -- before we decided to leave -- was mocking Stevie Wonder's physical disability and mannerisms.

Daily Fun

Throughout the day, passengers can play bingo; watch movies; learn towel folding or a new dance step; attend art, photography, shopping and health seminars; take a free tour of the galley following a cooking demonstration by the head chef; and check out activities that center on the itinerary the ship is sailing. (On our Mexico voyage, there was a Day of the Dead celebration with music and face painting.) Trivia is offered several times each day and covers topics like general knowledge, animals and Disney movies; a compounding cruise-long trivia runs every sea day, focusing on a different topic each time, and pits the same teams against each other for the highest cumulative score. Live music plays throughout the day in the atrium. Meetings for various groups (LGBT, Friends of Bill W, singles, veterans and military) are offered, as well; times are listed in each day's schedule.

At Night

Trivia carries over into the nighttime with more intricate offerings like a Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, where passengers had to identify song clues. Other game shows include Passenger Feud (the at-sea version of Family Feud), Majority Rules (the most popular answer wins), Who's the Cuckoo? (passengers decide which of three entertainment staff members is lying) and Battle of the Sexes. Meanwhile, recent-release Movies Under the Stars (MUTS) are shown on the poolside movie screen. Several versions of karaoke are held throughout each sailing and include one where singers are projected onto the MUTS screen and another where participants are backed up by a live band. Other live music (piano in Crooner's piano bar, jazz in the Explorer's Lounge, mariachi in the piazza) is offered throughout the ship daily until late. Additionally, a DJ spins in the top-of-ship One5 nightclub until the wee hours. On the second-to-last night of our sailing, there was also a balloon-drop party in the atrium where passengers danced to music from the ship's band amid the sounds of popping balloons.

On voyages of a week or longer, Grand Princess hosts "The Voice of the Ocean," a spin off of the NBC TV show "The Voice." Singers, chosen by their fellow passengers during several days of karaoke tryouts, rehearse for several days with coaching from onboard singers. On the final night of the sailing, they compete in front of a panel of judges (who sit in the signature spinning chairs) to win votes from the audience.

The ship's Grand Casino, located on Deck 6 forward, is home to several dozen slot machines, roulette, craps, blackjack and poker, as well as games of chance. Passengers can also purchase scratch-off lottery tickets at the cash-out window. Although smoking isn't allowed in the casino, we smelled it more than once, and it was overpowering.

Grand Princess Bars and Lounges

Grand Princess has more than a dozen bars; some are rarely crowded, while others force passengers to wait several minutes for their orders to be taken. Watering holes in central locations -- mainly the Piazza and the Deck 7 promenade area -- are generally the most frequented.

We found that the ship quieted down significantly after 11 p.m., so there wasn't much of a bar scene after hours. Even the glitzy One5 nightclub was dead most nights.

Bar Piazza (Deck 5 midship): This staple Piazza bar is centrally located, providing standard alcoholic drinks to the masses on the first deck of the ship's atrium area.

Vines (Deck 5 midship): Found next to Alfredo's Pizzeria, vines is the ship's wine bar, offering for-fee pours and tastings throughout each sailing. Tastings include food pairings and cost $25 per person. A Norman Love chocolate and wine tasting is also featured.

Snookers Bar (Deck 6 forward): Located just outside the Deck 6 entrances to the Princess Theater, Snookers is Grand Princess' cigar bar. Decorated like an English sports pub with rich woods, sports memorabilia and several flat-screen TVs, it's the ultimate man cave. Sadly we only did a quick walk-through thanks to the smoke but would have enjoyed spending time in there otherwise.

Crooners (Deck 7 midship): Crooners functions as the vessel's martini and piano bar, boasting comfy seating with ocean views and live music from a gorgeous white piano.

Wheelhouse Bar (Deck 7 aft): It's easy to see how this bar, with a purely nautical theme, got its name. Drinks are served at a central bar surrounded by pockets of cushy seating and a small stage/dance floor area. This is the place to be for happy hour specials from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Explorers Lounge (Deck 7 midship): Along the main thoroughfare on Deck 7, this venue, with an exotic theme featuring Egyptian art and animal carpeting (think elephants and lions) is where you'll find most trivia events and game shows. A large bar at the back serves cocktails via roving waiters.

Vista Lounge (Deck 7 aft): The vista lounge is the ship's secondary theater and often hosts Zumba, dance classes, bingo, trivia and movies. Drinks are offered through waiter service.

Al Fresco's Bar (Deck 14 aft): This back-of-ship bar services Horizon Court buffet, as well as the Deck 12 Terrace Pool and anyone who happens to wander outside after a trip to Deck 15's One5 nightclub.

Calypso Bar (Deck 14 midship): This bar, located in the conservatory area, which houses the ship's covered Calypso Pool, is also close enough to be of use to those going to or coming from the Horizon Court buffet.

Mermaid's Tail (Deck 14 forward): Sandwiched on Deck 14 between Prego and the Trident Grill, this bar serves the main Neptune's Reef & Pool area, as well as MUTS.

The One5 (Deck 15 aft): This swanky lounge, nightclub and bar hosts trivia and loyalty member events and turns into the ship's nightclub after 10 p.m.

Sea Breeze Bar (Deck 15 forward):  The Sea Breeze Bar, found just above the Mermaid's Tail, acts as a secondary bar for the main pool area. It provides drinks for sail-away and other deck parties, for passengers sunning themselves on Deck 15 and for those watching MUTS, taking a dip in the Neptune Pool or grabbing a bite at Prego or the Trident Grill.

Oasis Bar (Deck 16 aft): This seemingly forgotten watering hole originally provided bar service for those relaxing in the twin Oasis hot tubs on Deck 16. While it's included on the ship map, it wasn't mentioned on the list of bars in any of our Princess Patters and was always closed. The hotel manager told us it's now only used for special gatherings and private functions.

Grand Princess Outside Recreation

Pools

Grand Princess has five pools: Neptune's Reef & Pool, the main open-air pool on Deck 14; Calypso Reef & Pool, the secondary pool, which is enclosed and located inside the Conservatory on Deck 14; the Lotus Spa pool, available to those who book spa treatments, located on Deck 15 forward, just below the adults-only for-fee Sanctuary sun deck; the Terrace Pool, found on Deck 12 aft, at the bottom of a terraced area that also includes Al Fresco's Bar and the entrance to The One5 nightclub; and the Splash Pool, a tiny, shallow wading pool that's great for little kids, found on Deck 16 forward.

Neptune's Reef & Pool is the best place to take a dip if you want to watch MUTS. It has its own bar, and Prego and the Trident Grill are nearby, as is Coffee & Cones, where you can grab coffee and ice cream. Much like Neptune's, the Calypso pool is flanked by two hot tubs, and the space is done up in white and blue mosaic tiles. They're pretty, but they give the areas a dated look. Some of the decking in these areas is warped and cracking, but with extra sunbathing space on Deck 15, there seemed to be enough loungers for everybody who wanted one. Calypso also has its own bar, and it's the pool closest to the Horizon Court buffet.

The Lotus Spa pool and Terrace Pool feature elegant, tiered wooden areas for sitting, sunbathing and placing towels, flip-flops and other pool gear. They're less utilized than the Neptune's and Calypso pools. The spa pool area features two hot tubs. The Terrace Pool doesn't have any, but it does offer gorgeous views of the ship's wake.

The Splash Pool seems like a bit of an afterthought, hidden behind windbreaks on Deck 16, just across the way from The Sanctuary. The placement of this forlorn outdoor space -- so near to The Sanctuary, one of the grandest and most exclusive spaces -- seems almost inappropriate.

At the back of the ship on Deck 16 are the Oasis Hot Tubs, a pair of seldom used whirlpools coupled with the defunct (except for occasional use by small groups holding gatherings) Oasis Bar. Oddly, there's no Oasis Pool. The closest place for a dip is the Terrace Pool three decks below.

Recreation

Outdoor pursuits are plentiful and include Movies Under the Stars, which feature popular recent titles and, at night, free popcorn and padded loungers with blankets. Films and concerts are shown at various times throughout the day, but when it's really spectacular is after the sun goes down -- when you're actually under the stars.

Speaking of stars, through a partnership with Discovery, Princess offers stargazing on each sailing, weather permitting. A member of the ship's staff leads everyone up onto Deck 15, and the captain turns off the ship's exterior lights to reduce light pollution, making the constellations easier to see on clear nights. Because this popular event has limited space, you'll have to pick up free tickets. Check Princess Patters for times and locations of ticket pickup.

Other outdoor evening and nighttime activities include festivities like sail-away parties and parties with themes like disco or country western.

Decks 16 and 17 are where sporty passengers will likely spend some of their time, playing shuffleboard on Deck 16 aft or practicing their short game on a nine-hole putting green on Deck 16 midship. (The ship also has a golf simulator, but it was out of order on our voyage.) There's a sports court on Deck 17 aft that's primarily used for basketball; free throw shootouts are scheduled on each sailing.

Cruisers on Grand Princess can also choose to walk several miles around the ship's promenade deck as part of Princess' On Deck for the Cure program, which raises money for cancer research.

Sun Decks

The Sanctuary, the ship's exclusive adults-only extra-fee sun deck, is located in a serene space on Deck 16, above the Lotus Spa pool. Passengers pay to enter this haven of amazing views, padded loungers, shaded awnings and outdoor cabana massages.

There are also plenty of outdoor areas with loungers that are ideal for sunbathing, including Neptune's Reef & Pool and the area just above it on Deck 15. The Terrace Pool (Deck 12) is another great and less crowded option.

Grand Princess Services

Guest Services is where passengers can go to ask general questions, resolve customer service issues and settle or inquire about onboard account charges. The desk can be found in the Piazza on Deck 6 midship. Every person we talked to there was extremely friendly and helpful.

Grand Princess offers a variety of shore excursions that, on our Mexico sailing, ranged from beach breaks, tequila tastings and swimming with dolphins to an absolutely fantastic "Salsa and Salsa" tour, where we learned to both make it and dance it. There were options to fit a variety of budgets. Passengers will find the shore excursions desk on Deck 7 midship.

The library, which is awkwardly positioned on Deck 7's main thoroughfare, just outside the Piazza, has no walls to help keep noise levels down for those looking for a quiet space to read. A small selection of books and games is available for passengers to borrow on the honor system. Dubbed Leaves, the area also serves as a tea lounge, where tea drawers, reminiscent of a card catalog, line the walls.

An internet cafe with 25 desktop computers and a printer is tucked into a corner, near the midship elevators on Deck 5. Although many cruise lines are moving toward per-day flat-fee internet packages and packages that allow for social media usage only, Princess' fees are still based on minutes, and the rates aren't cheap. Passengers can pay as they go at a cost of 79 cents per minute or purchase one of four packages: 100 minutes for $69, 200 minutes for $99, 400 minutes for $159 or 600 minutes for $199. Specials are offered at the beginning of each sailing that include bonus minutes, and a smaller package (15 minutes for $9) is offered the day before disembarkation for passengers who wish to check in for their flights. In general, connection speeds aren't the best, but they're better than some other connections we've had at sea. Ultimately, Princess still has some work to do in this area. Two things we loved: Grand Princess has a staffed help desk in case cruisers have problems setting up accounts or logging in to existing ones, and a free onboard service, Princess@Sea, is available for passengers to view daily schedules, add their own activities (spa treatments, dinner reservations, etc.) and check their onboard bills on their personal devices without having to download an app or use internet minutes. There's even a function that allows passenger-to-passenger text messaging between cruisers who have the service -- no internet minutes or data usage required.

For the shoppers onboard, Grand Princess houses four stores: Calypso Cove on Deck 6 for alcohol, logowear and sundries; Facets on Deck 6, selling jewelry and watches; Meridian Bay for on Deck 7 for jewelry, accessories and gifts; and Essence, also on Deck 7, which offers perfume and cosmetics. Sales are offered frequently on various items throughout each voyage.

Pictures line the walls along Deck 7 midship, where the photo gallery is located. Passengers can buy shots of themselves taken throughout their sailings. Packages are available, and appointments are available for anyone wanting professional photos. Cameras and camera equipment are also for sale, and the staff offer photography seminars.

For anyone interested in information about booking a future cruise or about the line's Captain's Circle membership program, offices for both are found on Deck 7 forward, just next to the Crown Grill. Hours are posted on the door.

Grand Princess has a dedicated art gallery space, which is uncommon for many modern cruise ships. Take a stroll through it on Deck 5 forward, and browse works from Max, Britto, Kincaid and many others. Auctions and art enrichment lectures are staples on every sailing.

Princess is the only cruise line with captains authorized to perform onboard wedding ceremonies. As a result, there's a chapel onboard. Hearts & Minds, Deck 15 aft, also hosts passenger-led religious services and serves as the meeting point for anyone participating in stargazing.

There is a self-service laundry on each passenger deck ($2 per wash, $2 per dry, detergent available for sale), and the medical center can be found on Deck 4. An ATM is located in the Grand Casino on Deck 6 forward.

Food on Grand Princess is impressive. On the dining room menu, cruisers will find plenty of dishes that draw inspiration from the local cuisine of the places the ship visits. There's also pizza, grill fare, barbecue, Italian cuisine, a steakhouse and a pop-up restaurant specializing in seafood.

Perhaps one of the most delightful aspects of dining on Grand Princess is that the cruise line leverages its partnership with Chef Norman Love to include fabulous chocolatey desserts on the menus in most of its restaurants, including the main dining room and the ship's steakhouse and Italian restaurant.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options are often noted on the menus. Special dietary requests can be accommodated with advance notice.

In addition to food, Grand Princess serves up a plethora of beverages. While lemonade, tea, water and basic coffee are free, charges apply for soda, bottled water, juice (except at breakfast), specialty coffee drinks and, of course, alcohol. Several packages are offered, including a soda package ($8.05 per person, per day) that entitles the holder to unlimited soda, juice, mocktails and hot chocolate, and an all-inclusive beverage package ($52 per person, per day) that includes everything in the soda package, plus specialty coffees and teas, beer, glasses of wine and cocktails valued at $10 or less. Those who enjoy fancy coffee can purchase punch cards that entitle them to 15 specialty cups of joe for $31. Bottled water can be had for $6.90 per 12-pack.

The line has introduced its Wild for Alaska Seafood menu on Grand Princess' Alaska sailings, making it possible for guests to order Alaska seafood dishes every night in the main dining room. Wild For Alaska also encompasses regional drinks. Think spiked coffee and hot-chocolate offerings; Alaska beer tastings; cocktail flights made from Alaska-distilled spirits.

Free Dining

Michelangelo (Deck 5 midship), Botticelli (Deck 6 aft), DaVinci (Deck 6 midship): These three venues, named and themed after famous artists, serve as the ship's main dining rooms and are elegantly appointed with dark woods and large murals adorning the walls.

Michelangelo is strictly for Anytime Dining between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Botticelli features two set-seating dining times: 5:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. DaVinci hosts early set-seating dining at 5:30 p.m. and then opens for Anytime Dining from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. DaVinci also offers sit-down waiter-served breakfast every day from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., lunch (sea days only) from noon to 1:30 p.m. and daily afternoon tea from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All three venues share the same menu for dinner, but it changes daily. Starters generally include small fruit plates, salads and soups like French onion or frozen rum-infused pina colada soup (served in a glass with a straw). Mains consist of items like pan-seared basa with pineapple-papaya salsa, grilled beef tenderloin, Asian-spiced duck breast and tempura vegetables. Always-available entrees include shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, fettuccine Alfredo, grilled salmon, pan-seared chicken breast and hamburgers.

Desserts run the gamut from Black Forest cake with sour cherries and orange Grand Marnier souffle to sugar-free choices like strawberry mousse and always-available options like New York cheesecake, ice cream and a cheese plate.

For the sea day lunch, passengers will find always-available brunch options like eggs Benedict and James Beard French toast in addition to items that change daily. Examples from the rotating menu include chicken liver mousse, seafood quesadillas and Chinese egg drop soup for starters. Mains might include burgers with fries, pasta, fruit salad with cottage cheese, egg-fried Monte Cristo sandwiches, grilled minute steaks and griddled rockfish with pineapple-cilantro salsa. (Combos of soups, salads and sandwiches are also available.) Desserts featured on our visit were amaretto cake, a delicious apple walnut cobbler and a selection of ice cream.

The breakfast menu includes standard fare: juices (orange, apple, prune, tomato, pineapple), fruit, cereal, pastries, yogurt, eggs a variety of ways (fried, poached, soft boiled, scrambled, omelets), pancakes, bacon, sausage and hash browns. Part of the menu also changes; on the day we went, it included melon fruit cocktail and grilled minute steak with eggs and mushrooms.

Service on our sailing was always friendly and generally efficient, with dinner service being the best. After dining elsewhere one evening, we noticed a soup on the dining room menu that sounded delicious. We stopped in to ask if it would be possible to get a couple of bowls to go, and the staff kindly had them sent to our cabin via room service. However, one morning at breakfast we asked for an off-menu cheese omelet with peppers and were told it wasn't possible. We then shortened the request to a simple egg and cheese omelet, thinking it would be no sweat, given that the menu did include a ham and cheese selection. What the waiter brought us instead was an omelet with ham and no cheese.

Alfredo's Pizzeria (Deck 5 midship): Princess has some of the best pizza we've ever tasted at sea, and Alfredo's is one of two places onboard to get it. This sit-down waiter-served eatery offers a small room with tables and chairs amid mosaic tiles and interesting wall art depicting scenes from Venice. The menu includes fancy pies that combine standard tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese with ingredients like artichoke hearts, mushrooms, prosciutto, black olives, anchovies, capers, mussels, bay shrimp, tomatoes, grilled zucchini, peppers, onions and avocado. Strangely, you won't find the usual margherita or pepperoni options listed. The made-to-order pizzas take about 15 minutes, and they're created at a counter in the atrium where passengers can watch the preparation. There are four small slices to a pie -- enough for a light snack for two. Beer, wine and soda are available for purchase. Alfredo's is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily; reservations aren't necessary.

International Cafe (Deck 5, midship): The centrally located International Cafe is the only place on the ship that serves food 24 hours a day. Free nibbles include soups, sandwiches, salads, pastries and other light fare. For-fee specialty juices, teas and Illy coffees are also served there, ranging from $2.75 to $5.

Horizon Court (Deck 14 aft): Horizon Court, the ship's fairly nondescript buffet eatery, has two identical sides, each set up with three rows of cafeteria-style stations that often lead to long lines during peak times.

Hours are the same, regardless of whether it's a port day or sea day. Breakfast (6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) features meats and cheeses, eggs, bacon, hash browns, fruit, cereal, yogurt, pastries, fruit smoothies, juices, pancakes, waffles and an omelet station. Lunch (11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) is a mix of soups, sandwiches and salads; Asian cuisine; and comfort food like french fries, macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers. Dinner (5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.) might include mini-quiches, a carving station with meat and mashed potatoes, seafood like shrimp cocktail and a variety of desserts that include fruit tarts, JELL-O, chocolate cake, banana-vanilla pudding, blueberry crumble and an assortment of cookies and brownies, as well as some sugar-free options like strawberry mousse layer cake.

Although the food quality is high, the offerings became a little repetitive by the end of our 10-night sailing.

On our cruise, the starboard side always seemed busier and more crowded; head to the port side to find shorter lines and additional seating. The pool area also offers tables and chairs if you still can't find room.

Trident Grill (Deck 14 forward): From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Trident Grill prepares hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and onion rings by the ship's main pool. Smokehouse BBQ is also available there daily from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring dishes like orange molasses grilled chicken, beef chili and pulled pork. Veggie burgers are provided on request.

Prego Pizzeria (Deck 14 forward): Fortunately for those who prefer more standard pizza options or a grab-and-go counter service experience, Prego, adjacent to the Trident Grill, near the main pool, makes fresh pizza daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Standard pies include margherita and pepperoni. A special third type changes daily and might feature white pies or less common options like the "Nizzarda" (tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, tuna, onions, chili pepper, fresh basil and olive oil), to name a couple.

Coffee & Cones (Deck 14 midship): Feeling like some alfresco coffee or ice cream? Check out Coffee & Cones, which specializes in free soft-serve (chocolate, vanilla or twist) and extra-fee coffee drinks that range from $1.75 to $5. Also for a charge of $3 each, you can try an out-of-this-world ice cream sandwich in amazing flavor combinations like a chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream, coconut-ginger cookies with pina colada ice cream, snickerdoodles with cinnamon ice cream, oatmeal raisin cookies with honey yogurt ice cream or chocolate-chocolate chip cookies with peppermint ice cream. This is also where you can snag a bag of free popcorn to munch on while you catch Movies Under the Stars.

Pub Lunch: On select sea days, Grand Princess offers a pub-style lunch in the Crown Grill. Free of charge, the meal's shining star is the fish 'n' chips, which are superb. Princess Patters list days and hours.

Room Service: The ship's free room service menu is surprisingly extensive. Choose from soup, salads, sandwiches (with choice of french fries, potato chips or coleslaw), hot dogs, hamburgers, beef chili, lasagna, Moroccan veggies with pita bread, and a selection of desserts.

Breakfast can be ordered via a card that you fill out and hang on the outside of your cabin door handle after selecting a desired delivery time. Our meal arrived on the dot, the food was hot, and it was just as we had ordered it with special requests -- no banana yogurt, no bacon, etc. -- honored flawlessly. (One note: The bacon that comes on the bacon, egg and cheese English muffin is Canadian bacon, which took us by surprise.)

Room service also has for-fee options that include a whole pizza ($3), assorted canapes ($10–14), a vegetable platter with dip ($6), cheese and crackers ($12), shrimp ($14), guacamole with tortilla chips ($8), and chocolate-dipped strawberries ($8). Alcoholic beverages and soda are also available for a fee.

Fee Dining

Crown Grill (Deck 7 forward; $29 per adult, $14.50 per child): Crown Grill is Grand Princess' steakhouse. Outfitted with a combination of light and dark woods accented with green marble and white tablecloths, this restaurant specializes in seafood and some of the best and most expertly cooked steak we've ever tasted.

From the menu, diners can choose appetizers like black tiger prawn and papaya salpicon, carpaccio of pine nut-coated lamb loin, spiny lobster cakes or pan-seared Pacific scallops, while soups and salads might include shrimp and pancetta bisque, black and blue onion soup or marinated goat cheese and tomato salad. Entrees fall into three categories: seafood (a mussel pot, Chilean sea bass with king prawns or Maine lobster tails), chops (beef, veal, lamb, pork or porterhouse) and steaks (New York and Kansas City strip, rib eye or filet mignon). A variety of gourmet salts is also provided to complement each meal; the options include Hawaiian black salt, smoked applewood salt and Himalayan mountain pink salt. Try the sampler for dessert, and you'll get a taste of molten Dutch chocolate cake, lemon meringue pudding tart, a seven-layer s'mores stack and a milk chocolate peanut butter bar that features Norman Love chocolate.

The food preparation area is open to the restaurant so passengers can view their meals being created. Alcoholic beverages cost extra; Crown Grill has an excellent wine selection, which can be viewed from the wine cabinets that line part of one wall. This venue is open from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day; reservations are recommended.

Sabatini's (Deck 7 aft; $29 per adult, $14.50 per child): Italian eatery Sabatini's is a bit hidden, tucked away on Deck 7 between the photo gallery and Explorer's Lounge. Two small waiting areas flank the entrance, giving way to a space that was updated during the 2016 refurb. The neutral decor features creams and browns with light and dark woods and small pops of muted blue and yellow. Columns line the walls, which are somewhat minimalist, bearing an occasional planter or mural of the Coliseum. A chef's work station is set up to one side of the restaurant, and cruisers can watch as their meals are prepared.

All tables receive a selection of breads and marinated olives. Examples of menu items include white bean and black mussel soup, baby field greens with cheese and vinaigrette, fried baby squid with lemon garlic dip, and thinly sliced chilled veal roast with tuna caper aioli as starters. One of the most popular items is hand-formed burrata cheese on a bed of tomatoes with balsamic reduction, and it's absolutely superb. A second course of pasta includes one of the following: spaghetti with lobster, scallops, shrimp and mussels in tomato sauce; braised short rib over penne; or manicotti with spinach, ricotta and fontina cheese roulade over tomato coulis. For mains, passengers can decide between delectable baked striped bass, garlic-infused shrimp, lobster three ways, strip steak, veal rack or chicken supreme stuffed with eggplant, Asiago cheese and tomatoes. Dessert examples include espresso creme brulee, a citrus tart with chocolate and tiramisu with espresso gelato (made with Norman Love chocolate).

Alcoholic beverages, including wine, are available for an extra fee, as is the restaurant's signature olive oil, which can be purchased for $16 a bottle. Sabatini's is open every day from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; reservations are recommended.

Crab Shack (Deck 14 aft; $29): Crab Shack is generally offered twice per sailing. (Dial 3463 for details on days and times or to make reservations, which are recommended.) Located in a special section of the Horizon Court buffet, this casual venue is the type where you'll don aprons to protect your clothes, wield special tools and eat lots and lots of seafood.

Prepare to get messy with menu options such as crawfish with corn on the cob; Alaska king crab legs with peel-and-eat shrimp; a clam, mussel and shrimp pot; or a mix of snow crab, king crab, jumbo shrimp, clams, mussels and kielbasa. Each person starts off with a basket of popcorn shrimp and hush puppies, as well as a bowl of Manhattan clam chowder, and a small rotating selection of desserts is offered from a small display case. Options might include a fruit tart or flourless chocolate cake. Drinks are available for a la carte purchase.

Ultimate Balcony Dining ($45 breakfast, $100 four-course dinner): Anyone with a balcony cabin who would like to dine alfresco and in private can book one of Princess' Ultimate Balcony Dining packages. The packages are pricy, but they include a special menu and in-cabin waiter service that will bring everything out to your balcony, complete with tablecloths and place settings. Breakfast includes a half bottle of chilled sparkling wine, homemade pastries, cold smoked salmon with dill cream cheese and roasted lemon brioche, fresh fruit and quiche. Dinner might feature combinations like Pacific blue crab cakes baked in a puff pastry with marinated chevre and mesclun field greens and broiled lobster tails with veggies or grilled filets of beef tenderloin with chateau potatoes and veggies. Reservations are required.