Star Princess Reviews

Ship Ratings
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Areas
Entertainment
Cabin
Spa & Fitness
Shore Excursions
Rates

My husband and I are from Las Vegas - this was our 11th cruise, all on Princess. Typically we travel with another couple from Idaho that also do not have children - we met them on our very first cruise and now we vacation together every year. We usually plan our cruises so far in advance but at the last minute I found this 5-night Alaska Sampler cruise that was too cheap to pass up - unfortunately our friends were not able to go with us. We had never been to Vancouver before so we were excited to check out a new embarkation city. We arrived late on Saturday night - the cruise was due to depart on Tuesday - to give us time to sightsee. We stayed at The Hotel at Terminal City Club which was downtown about 2 blocks from the cruise ship terminal - turned out to be a great choice and we would stay there again if ever in Vancouver. We had terrific weather and were able to walk around the whole city and even walked to the ship for embarkation. Speaking of, it was hands down the WORST embarkation experience we have ever had! It was like the terminal had never done it before! Long lines for security, long lines for customs, long lines to check in (and no priority check-in for Platinum members which really irritated us) and then they had the nerve to try to stop us for a photo op getting on the ship - yeah, after standing in a line for over 2 hours that's a picture I want to treasure. We finally got on board around 2pm and the dining room was already closed for lunch so the cruise definitely started off on the wrong foot. They had to push back the muster drill because of the boarding delays and during the drill passengers were walking through with their carry-on luggage so apparently they were STILL boarding - I think we finally set sail an hour late. What a mess. Fortunately, the rest of the cruise was wonderful. By the way, don't think about skipping muster drill - you MUST attend because they scan your cruise cards. Usually we do shore excursions in most ports but since we had shortened stops (just 12noon-6pm) we decided just to do our own thing. It was sunny in Juneau which was a treat - we took the $16 bus to the Mendenhall Glacier to walk around - just spectacular. We also had lunch at Tracy's Crab Shack (found on tripadvisor.com) which was very yummy. Ketchikan had some rain showers more off than on and certainly not enough to ruin the day - we walked around town and had a delicious lunch. The sun came out as we were leaving port and the views were just gorgeous. We spent so much time out on our balcony hoping to see orcas but unfortunately we did not - we saw tons of eagles, porpoises, seals and a couple of humpback whales in the distance (fortunately we had some good binoculars). There was an on-board naturalist who gave a couple of interesting lectures about Alaska and even was on the bridge making announcements one morning to assist in spotting whales - bummer that everything he spotted that day was on the other side of the ship from our balcony. Overall the food was pretty good in the dining room - we're never a huge fan of buffets and it was just okay. The pizza was incredible and the fettuccine alfredo never disappoints. We ordered room service a few times and there was always something wrong with the order - nothing tragic, but always something missing or just not quite right. Our room steward was good - nothing to knock our socks off, but the room was always clean and he was accommodating in that we always ate dinner after 8pm so that probably threw off his cleaning schedule a bit. Disembarkation was right on time and very smooth. It wasn't our first visit to Seattle but it was the first time that we experienced rain there. But overall we were so lucky with great weather in Alaska that we didn't mind. We rented a car to stow our luggage since we had a late flight and then we went to Pike's Market and walked around the city a bit. We were worried that a 5-day cruise wouldn't be long enough but with the few days we spent in Vancouver prior to sailing, we had a wonderful vacation week. Time to plan the next trip - we're thinking about the Mediterranean next spring. Happy sailing to all!

Hide this review

Ship Ratings
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Areas
Entertainment
Cabin
Spa & Fitness
Shore Excursions
Rates

We took this Pacific coastal repositioning cruise because of the convenient schedule. We flew to San Francisco and Napa Valley for three days of dining and wine tasting. It was natural to take a relaxing cruise back. In addition we could bring back wine in our carry-on luggage. the port of San Francisco was not equipped to handle big cruise ships, especially three on the same day (Star, Sea and Island Princess). The traffic around the port area was so congested that it took two hours to get to Pier 35. with two Princess boats leaving from the same pier, the facilities were really taxed. We left for the port in downtown SF at 11:15 a.m. and didn't get to the Pier until 1:30 p.m. We got on the boat near 3:00 p.m. and nearly missed the buffet lunch. The staggered embarkation instituted by Princess really didn't work as there was a long line-up to get into the Pier anyway. This was my third cruise on the Star Princess and everything was very familiar. The cabin steward was very helpful in spite of the short duration of the cruise. The buffet lunch at the Horizon Court was a bit dry and stale by the time I got on and I had to rush to finish lunch to participate in the safety drill at 3:30 p.m. I went to Sabatini's Italian restaurant on the first night and the experience was most satisfying. There was lots of food and the preparation was excellent. Service was also out-standing. I asked for a bottle of the Luce Toscana 2007 and the manager and server managed to get me the last bottle from the cellar (they had lots of the 2006 vintage). There were a lot of tour groups from Vancouver on this cruise and I ran into a number of friends. The dinner service at the Capri restaurant (anytime dining) on the second night was a bit slow, especially the delivery of the main course and the dessert. It took me two-and-a-half hours to finish the dinner where normally it would take one-and-a-half hours. The cruise featured two production shows (British Invasion and Destination Anywhere) but I did not attend either since I have seen them on a previous cruise. I did see most of Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol on Movies Under the Stars. It was too windy for me to finish the whole movie. There would be a second cruise on the Golden Princess one week later and the weather may be more favourable for watching movies outdoors. Disembarkation was smooth in light of the number of passengers. The boat was half an hour late in docking, so we had to spend more time in the lounge since all guests had to vacate their cabins by 8:00 a.m. All in all it was a pleasant two day cruise that was very popular with the Vancouver people.

Hide this review

Ship Ratings
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Areas
Entertainment
Cabin
Spa & Fitness
Shore Excursions
Rates

My husband and I booked a mediterrenean cruise on Star Princess (Venice to Rome) for our one year anniversary. I was not sure what to expect as I've always been a laid-back traveller....certainly not used to travelling in luxury. We honestly booked the cruise more for the ports than anything, however, the cruise itself was just as fantastic as the ports. Everyday we kept saying to each other...could this literally get any better! Our embarkation at Venice was super easy..maybe 20 mins max, and our room while small was cute and most importantly clean. We were exhausted from the long flight from Toronto, but we spent the evening exploring the ship...it was beautiful. Our luggage didn't arrive with us, but Princess gave us little bags of tolietries and even provided outfits for the first formal night, although out baggage arrived beforehand. Overall, we absolutely loved the ports...it was incredible waking up to such gorgeous places everyday. We did a few excursions...The Parthenon in Athens as it is such a big city, Ephesus in Kusadasi and Vesuvious and Pompeii in Naples. The rest of the time there was no need to book an excursion and we just had a lot of fun exploring the various little port towns. Evenings were really fun because the food was always so good. I don't think I can recall a bad meal. It was delicious and varied. The buffet was also good, but we prefered meeting the other passengers and dressing up a bit in the proper dining rooms. We had an anniversary meal in the italian restaurant on Star Princess....$20 extra and worth every penny. The food was to die for! Some nights we played bingo...a good laugh or went to shows or events on board...it was all good. Our fave thing though were the movies under the stars...we went often and it was so much fun. We are big movie buffs so it was the perfect way to end the day. I used the gym most mornings and it got busy quickly but it was also really nice to have use of those facilities. I also got a massage in the spa and it was fantastic...well worth the splurge! I can think of a few things that could be better, but they are so many minor it didn't change our feelings about the cruise at all. The biggest thing was I felt there was quite a bit of sales going on...trying to get people to buy stuff...the worst were the photos..that was pretty annoying, but whatever...not a huge deal. I didn't like the way some people put towels on chairs and never seemed to come back all day...I wish people were monitoring it more, but again, not a biggie. The positives of this cruise far outweighed the negatives. We met some interesting people, and found a few of the old fogies to be complaining about little things but seriously...they had nothing to whine about. I liked that there didn't seem to be kids running all over the place...I assume they were all in the kids programs during the day...fine by me. Overall, I cannot think of a better value for money than this cruise. If you drink like a fish I'm sure it would get expensive, but we don't so who cares. We had a truly amazing time and would be doing it again this summer if I weren't pregnant! I have convinced my husband and parents to go on an alaskan cruise next summer and I am literally itching to go!!! If you went on the same cruise as us and didn't like it, I don't even know what to say. Your expectations are unreasonably high and god knows what would make you happy! Trust us...it was out of this world!

Hide this review

Ship Ratings
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Areas
Entertainment
Cabin
Spa & Fitness
Shore Excursions
Rates

We did the Bon Voyage experience so we boarded about 11 am.The lunch was good, although a few people thought the Salmon was very fishy and not very good. The Beef was excellent. Our room steward, Jose, was quite possibly the best Steward we have ever had so we tipped him a little extra. The service in the Dining room was also very good. Most of the food was good, although the Veal Scallopini was once again very awful gray meat with a few mushrooms underneath and underneath that, a little sauce. Not browned at. I didn't order it as I have had it twice before but one in out party insisted and they regretted it. The Veal Cordon Bleu, served on another night, was well browned and very good.The chocolate deserts on this trip were the best I have had on Princess, very deep chocolate favor. Even the Princess Love Boat Dream was excellent(It hasn't been in the past). Most of the fish dishes were good. The Sea Bass at one lunch was outstanding.The infamous Barramundi was dry and over cooked. We tried the Crown Grill and found the lobster in the Main Dining room were twice as large and better.There used to be a "supplement for "Maine Lobster" of $9.00. The charge is gone but so is the Maine lobster. Go figure.I have about had it with the Princess Specialty restaurants as they seems to not serve a better quality of food. Many people complained that their steaks and Racks of Lamb were cooked raw on one side and well done on the other. Perhaps they are defrosting the meat right before they cook it? The deserts on the Crown Grill were terrible. The Mile High cheese cake is no more and instead you get a Cheese cake parfait about the size of a baseball.The Black and Blue Onion Soup was very good and the fillet Mignon looked good. Salads are not as good as the main dining room. I liked the production shows and the show with the Saxophone guy. The rest were just OK. A friend commented that he had been on the Golden from Los Angeles, and found the Star Hawaiian theme very weak compared. We had no Hawaiian Band on deck but the Golden evidently did. The rock band on the open pool are was not to my liking and a bit puzzling when they average age of the passengers was about 75. The ports were great, especially enjoyed Hilo where we charted Marylou's tours. She was very good and took us to the Volcanic Park, a coffee roaster and some wonderful water falls among many other things. Highly recommend.It would have been nice to have more than 4 hours in Ensenada. Keep in mind that the ship leaves Honolulu at 10 pm so it is impossible to attend the Luau at the Hawaiian Cultural center and not have to leave early.

Hide this review

Ship Ratings
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Areas
Entertainment
Cabin
Spa & Fitness
Shore Excursions
Rates

This was my first cruise on Princess. While not a luxury liner, I have to say, it was quite delightful. We had a suite, and Princess made arrangements for certain preferences to the people in suites. It wasn't quite the distinction Cunard makes with the Grills classes, but it was definitely in that direction. Suite residents had preferential boarding, an exclusive cocktail lounge almost every night (in Skywalkers), preference for dining reservations, and preference on tenders when needed to go into port. Also, breakfast was served in the Sabatini's restaurant space -- very calm and the staff were always attentive. One of the best perks: No internet charges! Our accommodation was really fabulous. We were in the center of the ship in the St. Maarten suite. Dare I say it, but the layout was better than Cunard. The living area was more separated from the bedroom area, and there was a curtain to draw if you really wanted to close it off. The space was large and open-feeling with two sets of sliding glass doors onto the balcony (one set from the bedroom area, and one set from the living area). The bathroom was well thought out. The toilet and sink were in a separate "room" from the shower and bathtub "room." The shower was really quite large -- at least 3 and a half feet square. The tub had whirlpool jets. The closet space was rather tight. Also the lighting could have been brighter there. Our steward was wonderful. He was attentive, but not intrusive. Five stars here. Dining was not as special. The food was very rich, and I did notice quite a few "heavier" people with plates piled high with amazing quantities of food. I did participate in the Chef's Table. I highly recommend it. The attention to detail by the Master Chef and Maitre D' and staff was commendable. The foods were prepared with great care and beauty. Sabatini's was quite good. I noticed that Princess effectuates rationing of services and extras by charging. Princess charges extra for wine and liquor (not too surprising), but also for bottled water, sodas and specialty coffees. They charge for a "day-pass" to the quieter adult-area called the Sanctuary. Of course the Grill and Sabatini's are extra, too. A tip -- if you can, bring a case of your own water on board, and wine. There is a corkage fee for the wine, and limitations on quantity, but the price and selection by bringing your own is worth it. One nit: when I bought a post card stamp (32 cents), the staff member insisted that I buy a $1 air mail stamp "because they had to use the old-rate stamps up." Not cool. Medical Center. Unfortunately, my mom got to experience the medical center. Fortunately, the medical center is quite outstanding. It is really a mini hospital - quite something with ability to x rays, blood work on the spot, and of course, provide IVs and medicine. I was very impressed with the skill & service. Spa services. The spa services are quite good, and they feature Elemis products (they do try to push them a bit). The hair salon was very nice and pleasant, and they did a good job. Other stuff. They had a golf simulator, and an area with artificial grass to practice your putting (or bocce ball). They had the "movies under the stars" -- where you could sit by the pool and watch a movie. I found this to be quite odd to walk through and see "Pearl Harbor" being bombed (loudly) on my way to the putting green. Shopping. Here, Princess gets a low score. The shopping on board was pretty bad. The clothes were shop worn, and frankly, designed for the over-75, over 150-lbs, and under-fashionable set. They didn't even have a cute "Princess" sweatshirt. Also, no bookshop. Ports. Embarking was a mess. We had priority, but other folks were forced to sand outside down the block for several hours. Disembarking was better. I am not sure whether this was a function of the difficulties of the SF Port or Princess (I think the former). The ports in Hawaii are always wonderful. Tendering in Lahaina was easy, and the staff were very organized and knowledgeable. I have to say, I love this itinerary: roundtrip SF (or LA) to Hawaii. Flying in and out of the same place makes it easy -- especially for west-coasters, and the tour of the islands is just enough of a break from your cruise-ship destination! I am just amazed Princess is one of the only savvy cruise lines to make this a regular trip! A special note about Princess and my mom's service dog. Now, I have been through getting my mom's service dog on board a cruise before, and to Hawaii (no simple task). That said, the service and accommodation we received was commendable. The advance team was generally helpful in facilitating our departure. The Chief Purser was very helpful in arranging to smooth our entry in and out of ports (even when the port staff were clueless). Most of the staff on board were delightful to us all, and my mom's service dog received lots of affection and attention. The passengers were almost uniformly delighted to see my mom's dog (although we took special care to not be intrusive). Note that travelling with a service dog is doable, but not a trivial task. I wrote a blog giving practical tips about cruising with your service dog, and the trials of dealing with governmental regulation in Hawaii. Please see www.travelindog.blogspot.com

Hide this review