The Pacific Princess and the Tahitian Princess are almost identical in design and decor. We sailed on the Pacific Princess when she was called the R3 in French Polynesia, and found the ship to be exquisitely decorated and perfect for a relaxing cruise vacation. The Pacific Princess and the Tahitian Princess feature the "new-style" exterior found on most of the newer cruise ships, with most of the rooms on the outside, many of them with private balconies.

The ships are mid-sized, carrying about 700 passengers each. The ships have a draught of less than 20 feet, allowing them to anchor in shallower harbors than larger ships. I found the lines never got "too" long on a ship this size, and I hate to wait in line!
The passengers have access to decks 3-11. There are two sets of elevators and stairs located forward and aft on the ship. Deck 3 has a few outside staterooms but is primarily used for tender access. Deck 4 includes the reception area, shore excursion center, medical center, and more outside staterooms. Deck 5 has no staterooms, but is the center of much of the activity on the ship. The Club Restaurant and Bar, Cabaret Lounge, casino and casino bar, and shopping and photo gallery are all located on Deck 5. Decks 6 through 8 are mostly dedicated to cabins of all types from interior to suites. Deck 9 is the "Relaxation Deck", and includes the pool, pool bar, computer room, card room, fitness facility, spa, and Panorama Buffet. Deck 10 features the horizons sports bar with its wonderful view, the walking track, and the two specialty restaurants-- the Italian Restaurant and the Grill.

When you first step into the reception area on Deck 4 from the gangplank, you see the wonderful traditional interior design of the ship. The ship looks much like an elegant English country house, and gives you a peaceful, relaxing sensation as you wander around the decks. I found the atmosphere on the whole ship to be very conducive to a wonderful cruise experience. The reception area includes the chairs and meeting area seen in this picture on the left (click on photos to enlarge) as well as the reception desk, the shore excursion desk, and the signature grand staircase.

Having a balcony on your stateroom will spoil you from ever cruising again without one! Most of the rooms on the Pacific Princess and the Tahitian Princess have either balconies or windows. Of course, not everyone can afford a balcony, but they certainly enhance the cruise experience. I had a "D" cabin on the R3 (Pacific Princess) that was over 200 square feet. It was a spacious stateroom, with plenty of storage space. The room had a queen-sized bed that could be turned into twins and a small armchair. Other similar rooms include a loveseat. The balcony came equipped with two plastic chairs and a small table, perfect for watching the South Pacific and the rest of the world go by. Some of the rooms are connecting and others can accommodate 3 or 4 persons. Every room on the Pacific Princess and the Tahitian Princess comes equipped with the following:

• Touch-tone telephone (for calling other cabins or overseas--but remember that email is cheaper for contacting home)
• Remote-controlled TV, including sports and movie channels plus CNN International (reception permitting)
• 24-hour room service
• Ample closet and drawer space
• Personal safe
• Vanity with mirror (I used it as a desk for my laptop computer)
• Hair dryer
• Full-length mirror

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