Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	406
Accommodation	200	155
Food	400	265
Service	400	287
Entertainment	100	72
Cruise	400	302

How this score is created

Tahitian Princess and sister ship Pacific Prin­cess are of an ideal size for operating in the warm water regions of Tahiti and the Pacific Ocean islands. Tahitian Princess now has an all-white hull (when owned by the now defunct Renaissance cruises, it had a black hull with white superstructure). The all-white hull makes the ship appear larger. It has a large, square-ish white funnel.

The interior decor is stunning and elegant, a throwback to ship decor of the ocean liners of the 1920s and ’30s. This includes detailed ceiling cornices, both real and faux wrought-iron staircase railings, leather- and cherry wood paneled walls, trompe l’oeil ceilings, rich carpeting in hallways with an Oriental rug-look center section, and many other interesting (and expensive-looking) decorative touches. The overall feel is of an old-world country club. The staircase in the main, two-deck-high foyer may remind you of the one in the 1998 blockbuster movie Titanic.

The public rooms are basically spread over three decks. The reception hall (lobby) has a staircase with intricate wrought-iron railings. The Nightclub, with forward-facing views, sits high in the ship and has Polynesian-inspired decor and furniture.

There are plenty of bars – including one in the entrance to each of the restaurants. Perhaps the nicest can be found in the casino bar/lounge, a beautiful room reminiscent of London’s grand hotels and understated gaming clubs. It has an inviting marble fireplace and comfortable sofas and individual chairs. There is also a large Card Room, which incorporates an Internet Center, with eight stations.

The Library is a grand room, designed in the Regency style (it was designed by Scottish interior designer John McNeece), and has a fireplace, a high, indented, trompe l’oeil ceiling, and an excellent selection of books, plus some comfortable wing­back chairs with footstools, and sofas you can easily fall asleep on – it’s the most relaxing room aboard.

Tahitian Princess cruises year-round on three different 10-day itineraries in the warm water regions of Tahiti and the South Pacific. The value for money is extremely good, and will provide you with a chance to cruise in comfort aboard a mid-sized ship with some interesting dining choices. There’s very little entertainment, but it is certainly not needed in these cruise areas. Tahitian Princess is much more about relaxation than the larger ships in the fleet, and would make a good child-free vessel.

In common with all ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, 15% is added to all bar and spa accounts (drink prices are moderate, while beer prices are high), and a standard gratuity (about $10 per person, per day) is automatically added to your onboard account. If you think this is too much and want to reduce the amount, you’ll need to go to the reception desk to do so.

There is no wrap-around promenade deck outdoors (there is, however, a small jogging track around the perimeter of the swimming pool, and port and starboard side decks), and no wooden decks outdoors (instead, they are covered by Bollidt, a sand-colored rubberized material). There is no sauna. Stairways, although carpeted, are tinny. In order to keep the prices low, often the air routing to get to and from your ship is often not the most direct. There is a charge (tokens must be obtained from the reception desk) for using the machines in the self-service launderette (a change machine in the launderette itself would be better).

Note that getting to Tahiti is not easy (Princess Cruises mostly uses a charter airline, with very cramped seating), and flights are limited. If you make your own air travel arrangements, allow plenty of time for connections (prefer­ably an extra day or so before your cruise

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008