Cruise line adds sophistication

Launched in June, Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess was designed with the refined in mind.

The latest and, in our opinion, snazziest vessel in Princess’ 15-ship fleet, the 113,000-ton Crown calls Red Hook, Brooklyn, home six months a year.

Dockside, the ship appears more like a boxy 951-foot-long, 18-story-high condo in contrast to the stylish Manhattan skyline behind it. But inside, the Crown is all regal grace.

In fact, the infusion throughout of a comfy and clubby feel may be the ship’s most persuasive element. It’s a class act.

“Our approach at Princess when we design ships is to create spaces which are not jarringly thematic,” says Rai Caluori, senior VP of fleet operations. “They stand the test of time.”

Don’t expect the Day-Glo, neon and tropical froufrou found on other cruise ships. During our brief inspection of the 3,599-passenger Crown, the eye-pleasing uniformity of its decor impressed us most. It imparts an ambiance more hotel-like than ship-like.

In all, the ship’s many public rooms evoke sophistication worthy of the well-heeled, conjuring for us, say, a Harvard reading room or the 21 Club or the Plaza Hotel’s Oak Room, only on steroids – with silky woods and muted earth tones and space for thousands, not dozens of guests.

The Wheelhouse Bar, for example, offers handsome leather couches, fireside chairs and butlers’ tables. Antique Harland & Wolff signs pepper the room’s rich, dark wood-paneled walls; its carpet is imprinted with antique maps of the world. Beveled glass underscores the room’s sparkle.

The appeal of such rich digs extends to Crown’s dining rooms and alternative restaurants.

At Sabatini’s, the line’s signature Italian eatery, diners automatically get to sample everything on the menu – a tasting tour, of sorts – and order their preferred entree from a choice of several items. A new addition on Crown is Adagio, a piano bar adjacent to Sabatini’s.

In an inspired departure from the Sabatini’s on Princess’ other vessels, on Crown it is situated on an upper deck with a view.

And what a view it can be. In port, we had an unobstructed view of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and Governor’s Island. We also could see the Chrysler, Empire State, Woolworth and Municipal buildings. From our vantage point, even New Jersey looked great. And eagle eyes could spot a Royal Caribbean ship docked in the distance in Bayonne.

On a crystal clear day, this view is worth the price of admission.

There’s plenty of spirit on board the Crown, especially on its expanded pool deck and the new super-sybaritic Sanctuary. This “pocket of tranquility” – a secluded adults-only, nonsmoking outdoor area far forward and one deck above the recreation deck – is the vessel’s piece de resistance and, according to the line, an industry first. You may want to do little else but head there.

Aptly named, this oasis definitely is a sanctuary. It has, thankfully, no background music. Plop into any of scores of extremely comfy lounge chairs (some of them built for two). Specially trained attendants offer cold towels and assorted healthful snacks and beverages (for a fee).

Two private cabanas provide al fresco massages (for couples, too) under a lavish tent. Or opt for a brisk turn in the Sanctuary’s swim-against- the-current pool. Evenings, the lush foliage is studded with twinkling Tivoli lights.

Use of the Sanctuary originally was contemplated as complimentary, with a fee only for its special amenities. But, already, the area has proved so popular (read crowded) that the line has levied a $15 per half-day fee to lower the demand.

A delightful new feature in the ship’s atrium is a surprise act every half hour or so by street performers, close-up magicians, living statues, singers and musicians and more. The line calls this entertainment innovation “serendipity” – you never know what you’ll see when.

An a cappella doo-wop group, like the old Brooklyn street corner singers of old, had passengers rocking and rolling.

Assorted nooks and crannies tucked into Crown’s public spaces let passengers indulge all manner of tastes. Of special note: Vines, a wine and sushi bar, and the International Cafe, a 24-hour patisserie whose stunning displays of delicacies (which change morning, noon and night) rival those you’d see in Paris. There is, of course, a charge for all of this.

Rather indulge your mind? Princess’ “ScholarShipSea” enrichment program is among the most extensive in the industry.

On Crown’s cruises, expect onboard lecturers to talk on subjects as diverse as geology, politics or maritime history. Classes, some with a fee attached, are offered in photography, computers, martini-making, cooking, and ceramics, complete with bona-fide pottery wheels for throwing and a kiln for firing.

In the youth department, Princess divides its organized programming into three age groups (3 to 7, 8 to 12, and 13 to 17). Activities are scheduled much of the day and evening, with varying degrees of parental control.

The line recently introduced a Youth Security patrol to help keep an eye on things. Specially trained young adults (one for every 50 children on board) wear bright yellow T-shirts emblazoned with “Youth Security” on the backs. The patrol makes sure kids mind their manners, tone down the high jinks and stay clear of adults-only areas.

The line seems to have poured all its resources into Crown’s public spaces. The ship’s cabins are adequate but nothing special. The decor in our standard balcony cabin was spare, neutral and unremarkable and its appointments minimal: the tiny bathroom lacked a magnifying mirror and tub.

Our personal favorite amenity: the truly functional reading lights. And the square-shaped balcony is a hands-down winner – sufficiently large to hold a cafe-sized table and two chairs and a pair of reclining lounges with a small table.

A caution to new cruisers: As with “private” balconies on most ships, ours made us feel like an invisible face between two ears – that is, the “privacy” is only visual. Everyone on either side can hear everything you say clear as a bell. And vice-versa.

Princess also designs its ships with their balconies in an oddly cantilevered arrangement. From your balcony, you can look down on the one below and ditto for the balcony above yours. Modest passengers may want to make a note.