Emerald City

Sister ship to the Crown Princess, the 113,000-ton, 3,070-passenger Emerald incorporates and builds upon the features that made Crown Princess such a hit. Foremost among them is a piazza-style atrium that serves as the ship’s focal point. It’s designed to feel like an open-air cafe, with comfortable tables and chairs clustered around a central courtyard next to a sweeping spiral staircase. Guests gather there at all hours of the day and night, to meet friends, enjoy an aperitif or sample the vintages at Vines wine and seafood bar. There’s also entertainment during the day, ranging from chamber music to street performers. But it’s never so obtrusive that guests can’t find a quiet place in the corner to relax or read a guidebook to prepare for the next day’s adventures.

The atrium also housed my favorite space aboard the ship, the International Cafe. It’s an authentic coffee house (complete with Wi-Fi), serving specialty coffee drinks, morning pastries, afternoon panini and salads, gelato and freshly baked cookies. In the afternoon, waitresses walk around with glasses of cold milk as an accompaniment for the cookies. It’s a true slice of home, especially comforting during such an exotic itinerary. In fact, I found myself foregoing numerous chances to stop at some real Mediterranean cafes on shore. The option back on the ship was perfectly cozy, and besides, the waiters already knew how I liked my lattes.

Emerald Princess features the two alternative dining venues that have proven so popular on its other vessels: Crown Grill and Sabatini’s. The latter is connected to the Adagio Lounge, an intimate setting for desserts and after-dinner drinks. And there’s a lovely outdoor area outside the Lounge for enjoying cocktails al fresco.

Princess has also introduced some new dining programs on the Emerald that will eventually be rolled out fleetwide. These include new dining room menus, enhanced buffet service and room service pizza featuring a “delivery-style” cardboard container that keeps its contents piping hot. The option to kick back and enjoy some pizza in the room is a much-appreciated bonus after a long, hot day of sightseeing in the Mediterranean sun.

Also new onboard Emerald Princess is the “Chef’s Table,” a specially prepared culinary experience for a maximum of 10 guests ($75 charge per person). The evening includes a visit to the ship’s galley for champagne and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a multi-course tasting menu (including wines) served in the dining room, highlighted by the chance to mingle with the chef.

As for other features, Emerald Princess offers an adults-only relaxation area called the Sanctuary, a “Movies Under the Stars” poolside screen, Lotus Spa and fitness center, teen and children’s areas, as well as a wedding chapel. Princess is the only major North American cruise line whose captains can actually perform marriage ceremonies at sea. On our cruise, more than one guest asked Gavin MacLeod if he would do the honors.