Golden Princess Reviews

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This was the first time my sister & I have sailed on Princess but we are not first time cruisers. We picked Princess for itinerary and port of embarkation. This cruise was to Hawaii sailing out of Los Angeles with 4 days at sea going and 4 coming back. First the good stuff, the seas were great, the ship immaculate and the crew service excellent. Comparing Princess to the other cruise lines we have sailed on, Princess was a huge disappointment. Food preparation & presentation was very good but the menu selection was very mundane and certainly not up to cruise standards. On one formal night we had fish and scallops and as one lady put it, "nothing worth getting dressed up for." On the last formal night we were offered lobster, beef Wellington and Pheasant all at the same time but the rest of the formal nights (3) the offerings were very "blue plate" offerings. Our menu selections even offered meatloaf and pot roast - come on!! On a cruise?? The Horizon Court is very small with a cafeteria single-file line in. At 1PM they would close the other side of the court and we had 75 people lined up outside the door to the pool waiting to get in. The dining rooms are located in the middle of the ship with stairs up and down to get anywhere. There are blind corridors where you have to go up stairs and back down again. The ship is of very poor design and I felt sorry for the people with mobility issues. As I understand it from the "future sales" coordinator, all the Princess ships are designed the same way, what a shame. The Princess theater is way too small and it has stairs going up and then back down to the seats. We had to be in the theater 1 hour ahead of showtime in order to get a seat and then they often would be full 40 minutes before showtime. The theater entertainment ran from really good to not so good with the production shows high energy but not up to cruise standards. The Piazza in the center of the ship is way too small with about 20 seats. People sit there all day and read, play cards and eat food that they get from the International Cafe which is located there. When there is entertainment in the Piazza you either have to stand or sit on the staircase. They should utilize the lounges more during the day when there is no one there and there is plenty of seating. I guess one of the worse things was the daytime activities. Other than the Naturalist who was great we were offered Bible study, make a Mother's Day card (the average age of the passengers was around 70 so most of our mothers have passed away), book review, needle pushers, grandparents get together, sports car enthusiasts get together, lei making (every day), ping pong, antiques lovers get together, Red Hat ladies meet for tea, etc. While there is nothing wrong with these activities, they don't appeal to the majority of the 2,600 passengers on board. We watched a lot of TV in our cabin which should never happen on a cruise. They had a lot of movies under the stars on their big screen by the pool. This was during the day and at night, unfortunately, it was too cold to watch comfortably even with 3 blankets. Sea days are always one of our favorite things but on this cruise it was very boring. Our cabin was on the Aloha deck under the Horizon Court and from 4:30 - 5:00AM until after midnight you could hear the food/dish carts rolling around. It did not disturb our sleep but if you were a light sleeper, it certainly would. Compared to Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, Princess doesn't hold a candle to them in any way. Everyone on the cruise we ran into (and everyone was talking) said the same thing. The only people who were pleased were those who had never been on any other cruise line before so they had nothing to compare it to. One couple who shared a ride with us back to LAX said it was their first cruise with Princess and that they would never sail with them again. Unfortunately, that is our exact feelings. We will never sail Princess again. AND, for those of you who do not know this, Carnival owns Princess, Holland America and Costa cruise lines - and it shows!

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Although I have been on other cruises (one's that the entire ship is grey with white number's on the side of it) This was my first cruise on a cruise ship. My wife and were spending our 24th anniversary on the Golden Princess 14 day cruise to paradise (Hawaii). The night before we sailed we flew from Spokane Washington to Los Angeles, took the Super Shuttle to the hotel in San Pedro. The hotel was the San Pedro Inn & Suites. The next morning we took the hotel shuttle to the pier where the Golden Princess was, this was about 10:30 or so, we gave our luggage to the porter and started the check in process. At about 11:30 we were in group 2 to embark the ship and was in our stateroom by noon or so. The stateroom was perfect size for the both of us, and was very clean. We had anytime dinning which was great. We only ate in the dinning room once and was seated right away with no waiting. The food was great in the dinning room and in the buffet. For a quick snack before bedtime Trident grill for hot dogs and hamburgers, and for desert either the International Cafe or the Sundries on the 14th deck was great. We were really impressed of the food choices and places to eat. As for entertainment on board during sea days it was what you made of it. We went to bingo, we watched movies under the stars, went to the casino (The slights were a little tight), went to different activities that I can't remember them all, but the bottom line is we were never board. The shore excursions that we took on all of the Islands were fantastic. We booked all of the shore excursions through the ship for security purposes. Over all We really enjoyed ourselves, and loved it so much, we placed a future cruise deposit. We have booked the same cruise and ship to Hawaii in December 2012. Princess really did a great job, and I want to say we did "Escape Completely.

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We took this cruise which sailed on April 11. It was myself, my husband, our four children (ages 3, 5, 8, and 10) and my mom. I was a bit hesitant to do this cruise with the kids, because I didn't think there would be many other children on the ship and I didn't want to be the one family on the whole ship that was disturbing the peace and tranquility of all the other guests! Once we got onboard, I was happy to find that there were a total of 32 children registered for the kids club, which was the perfect amount! Enough so that my kids had people to play with, but not so many that the kids club was ever crowded. Embarkation was quick and easy. We arrived at the pier at around 1:15, and were on the ship within thirty minutes. There were no long lines to wait in. After we checked in, we just sat in a waiting room while we waited for them to call our embarkation number. My first impression of the ship was that it seemed smaller than all the other ships we have sailed on. I'm not sure if that is actually true, or if this one is just laid out in such a way as to make it seem smaller and more intimate. There aren't many huge open spaces. Even the atrium area is much smaller than what we are used to seeing. Which wasn't bad at all, just different. There were never any areas that felt crowded, except for the buffet at lunch time. Our cabin was nicely laid out, with plenty of storage. The closet area was huge. Personally I would have preferred a smaller closet and a larger bathroom. I liked the bathrobes, we asked our steward for them on the first night, and she brought them the next morning. We really liked the international cafe. The doughnuts in the morning were always fresh and delicious. For the rest of the day, the cafe has great paninis and a different soup every day. The soups were hit or miss. The cream of potato was the best. The desserts were really good, and they were in very small portions so we never felt bad about getting more than one. We had anytime dining, which I wasn't excited about at first. I pictured us having to wait in long lines each night, but that is not what happened. The dining rooms take reservations in the morning at 8:00, and when we remembered to get a reservation, we would just walk right in at our appointed time. On the few days when we forgot to get a reservation, the wait was no more than five or ten minutes (usually we went around 6:30 or 7). Half of our kids chose to eat in the dining room with us, and the other two preferred to eat in the buffet and then go to the kids club, which opened at 6:00. The kids club was pretty good. My eight year old wanted to be there anytime it was open, because they had a Wii. My ten year old daughter loved all the crafts. My five and three year olds were not so into it. One complaint I had is that often the activities listed on the daily schedule were not what the staff actually had the kids do. So a few times my kids were disappointed when they went to the kids club specifically because they wanted to do a certain activity, and then when they got there they weren't doing it. Alot of times it seemed like they just had the kids watching a cartoon. The ladies in the kids club were very nice and patient with the kids. The indoor pool was a lifesaver. We did not use the outdoor pools at all because it was always cold and windy. All the pools were nice and warm, like 88 degrees. None of the pools were ever crowded, and we were often the only ones in. Two of the best things on the ship are the pizza place and the ice cream bar. It was seriously some of the best pizza I have ever had. Thin New York style with lots of cheese. The ice cream is soft serve and they offer sprinkles if you want them. We did not do any shore excursions through Princess. In Hilo we rented a car and went to Volcanos National Park, the Pana'wana Rainforest Zoo (that might not be the real name, but it started with a P) and Akaka Falls. I felt like we made excellent use of our time. We got to see alot and we didn't feel rushed. The hike down to the waterfall was easy for the kids, and very pretty. In Kauai some of us went "tubing the ditch" (very fun but the water was FREEZING!) and some of us took the Kauai Plantation Railway. My two young boys, who are train nuts, loved the train ride. It took about 40 minutes, and it stopped halfway so we could feed goats, pigs, and chickens. Then we went to Lydgate Beach Park which was wonderful. There was a HUGE playground for the kids, and the beach was perfect, with a walled off area with no waves for the kids to swim in. In Oahu we rented a car and went to the POlynesian Cultural Center (doing it ourselves rather than through the ship saved us literally hundreds of dollars). It was a very fun, educational day at the center. We spent all day there and still did not see everything that was offered. Don't miss the canoe show, where all the islands do a dance while floating by on canoes. Also the canoe rides were a hit, and fishing in the Tahitian village. Skip the shaved ice, it is snow cone style. In Maui we went to Ka'anapali Beach near the sheraton at Black Rock. It was a very pretty beach and we saw a few fish and several sea turtles. There was no food nearby, but we walked about a mile and a half and had great sandwiches and fried rice. We loved all the sea days. We were never bored. I loved the lei-making classes (get your tickets early!). Movies Under the Stars were fun (but it is cold out there at night). There was a good variety of movies that were shown during the two weeks. The juggling show was very good, so was the ventriloquist. My kids were disappointed that this ship does not do towel animals in the cabins. Overall, a wonderful vacation!

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This was our 3rd Cruise with Princess. The cruise was very relaxing and we really enjoyed the entertainment and things to do while at sea. One of the reasons we chose this cruise was the amount of time at sea. Cruising over was rather rolling and I love that motion. I saw dolphins off the ship on day 2 at sea. That was great. We ate in the Crown Grill one time. My fillet was excellent and cooked just right, however the food in the dining room was very disappointing. We actually ate there only two times out of 14 days because both times the meal was really poor. The first time I received well done when ordering rare. The second time the same happened to my husband. I am a salad person so was able to have a large salad in the buffet. The buffet also allowed us to eat earlier or later depending on the show times. A suggestion, take a book or your Kindle and go early to the show and get a good seat. They fill up quickly, especially with 2600 passengers. For day events, Rachael, the Naturalist was very interesting. Go to her talks. They are very informative. The Pearl Harbor talks with Gary were really good as well. The Movies under the Stars had a good selection but were hard to hear during the day due to the noise around you at the pool. We purchased the Soda Package (well worth the cost) and I purchased one Specialty Coffee Card (well worth the cost too). Both these were worth it for convenience and variety since this is a 14 day cruise. Our first stop was Hilo and I went ziplining. Great excursion!! Did it with Skyline Eco Adventures by Akaka Falls. Highly recommend it. You have to book on your own and rent a car to get there.(Car rental cheaper than taxi) I found them at TripAdvisor. SPEAKING OF RENTING A CAR, GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE; THE BEST PRICES BY FAR!!! discounthawaiicarrental.com We spent $37.00 for a car rental on Maui (the guy in front of us spent $110.00) and $43 on Kauai. I only wish I had discovered it for Hilo. By far the best way to rent a car in the islands. Honolulu was our second stop. We went to Pearl Harbor and really enjoyed it. Go early in the day if you want to go out to the USS Arizona Memorial. Kauai was #3 and I went scuba diving with SeaSport Divers. I had to do a shore dive because of time restrictions but had a great time. This is an outstanding dive company!! Maui was our last stop and we rented a car and drove over to Paia to go to the Volcano. We coasted down the volcano on bikes. Be sure to get bikes with fat seats if you do this. You can also zipline with Skyline Eco Adventures on this island if you don't on Hilo. We saw whales when we were leaving Maui and Kauai and dolphins coming into Ensenada. We did not get off the ship due to crime problems there. Just not worth it. The trip itself was great. We had a balcony stateroom and enjoyed it. The crew was outstanding and the service excellent. The food was average and the dining room a big disappointment. Would I do it again?? Absolutely YES!!!

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First time writing a review so please bear with me if I make mistakes. Flew into Los Angeles on March 27th and spent the night at the Westin at LAX. The hotel was comfortable and clean but a little bit on the noisy side due to being so close the airport. We flew in from Wisconsin and just wanted time to relax, I am not a very good flier lol! Embarkation: The best we have ever had. Left the hotel and were taken back to the airport by the hotel shuttle. We quickly found a Princess agent and were escorted to a bus and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel. After being given a refreshment we were prechecked in at the hotel as our boarding time was 1:00 pm. Once everyone was checked in we were then transferred to the ship. We were still being escorted by a Princess agent after we went through customs. We went directly on the ship and to our cabin were we were met by our cabin stewart with a glass of champagne and our shore tours. (we had reserved them with the travel agent.) Muster drill went smooth. Lunch was served until about 4:30 pm. Days 1-4 At sea: I must admit the I was unsure of what to expect. The 1st day out at sea I was up at 5:30 a.m. Could not sleep any longer. Up on the Lido deck facing the aft watching the horizon. When the bow of the ship dipped deeply and to the left. All I saw was sky and then ocean. Needless to say I took a couple of steps closer to the inside of the ship and took a quiet moment to ask myself what the heck was going on and when does it stop?! Very happy to say that was the last of the rough weather at sea. In our cabin I found the weather on the TV and it was showing the sea conditions. Waves were reaching up to 12 feet at times. Now for those of us who want to know the who, what, when, where and hows. The TV gives reports around the clock under the title Captains log or navigator's log. I had taken a diary with and wrote down every morning. It is wonderful way to remember what was happening as we traveled. Even got the water depth at noon. There are a lot of things to do while at sea. You just need to read the patters. Shopping tip alert! Save the money for hair clips and candy for the the islands. Every one sells them. Much, much cheaper there then on the ship. Oh, if you are soda drinkers, malt shake fans and like smoothies not mention hot chocolates, may I suggest the ultimate drink card. My DH and I bought them for a total cost of $225.00 for 2 and that includes the 15% gratuities. Now that may seem like a lot but we were drinking about 4 to 5 sodas a piece for 14 days not to mention the others it is well worth the price. Ran about $8.00 per day. 1st Stop was Hilo, Hawaii: We took the Volcano National Park and Macadamia Nut farm. Volcanoes were great, but the nut farm boring, just a gift shop. Island was over all very pretty. I would recommend that as the ship approaches Hilo go to the bow and look to the right as you go into the harbor. There are several small waterfalls that can be seen quite clearly. 2nd Stop was Honolulu, Oahu: Ladies and gentlemen, if you like to shop and love a bargain go to the international market. You can find a deal on every thing and good quality too. It is located about 2 blocks west of Waikiki Beach. A easy walk. The beach is well worth the visit. There is are free shuttles that run every 30 minutes and they will take you back to the ship. ( Make sure that you just ask the drivers.) We have found them all very nice and courteous. Our tour was the Arizona Memorial and Mighty Mo, a must see. Our tour was by the polynesian tour group. We had "cousin Ted" a most hilarious and informative guide. He asked if we had time would it be ok to do a city tour and see the pacific punch bowl. We had time to see both and no one was being rush over the tour. 3rd stop was Nawilili, Kaua'i We did the Waimea Canyon, Wailua River and Fern grotto. Nice tour, but a very fast paced and long. Hope you like chickens because they are very where. lol very beautiful island and where they had filmed many movies on it. It was easy to see why. When you approach the island, you can where some of the scenes from Jurassic park and king kong must have been filmed. As we left the island the call came out for whales. We saw several as we passed the island. 4th stop was Lahaina, Maui We did the Maui Snorkel cruise. If you would like to see fish, dolphins and whales then I recommend this tour. Our tour group was the Hawaii Ocean Project. They were helpful and would stop the boat every time a whale or dolphin would be seen. P. S. to me the water was cold 77 degrees that day. As to the island its self, it was very rugged and beautiful. If you want a great treat, I would suggest a shaved ice. Yum! 5th stop was Ensenda, Mexico We did not get off due to the precautions given to us from the ship. High crime. We did get a wonderful surprise at the dock. Seals and a lot of them. Disembarkation was a bit of a confusion due to the fact that they were calling groups before their schedule times. Overall the ship was kept remarkably clean and well organized. Food I was not happy with. Only because I am not a fan of Italian food. There were other restaurants that we ate at. Several crew member was stating that this was a calmest trip sea and weather wise. We could not have wished for better weather Would we do this cruise again?? in a heart beat!! Already a cruise fund started.

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