We have sailed recently on both HAL and Princess, and this ship was definitely a step up in overall quality. The ship itself was well designed, the staff seemed to enjoy doing their job, the facilities were excellent, and the food was varied and well-prepared. When a toilet lost its vacuum power, it was fixed within 15 minutes from a location in the hall--they never even had to come to our room....maintenance seems to be primarily preventative, and certainly timely.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Paperwork was handled quickly and boarded around noon. Corridors to rooms were locked off until 1:15 but lunch was available in the cafe which had a wide selection.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Drinks were expensive ($3 for a can of coca cola), but food was delicious. Buffet had an exceptional variety and was well organized. Main dining room was beautiful to look at, and service was excellent.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Trivia questions seemed strange and not especially interesting. Microphone muffled the voice of the announcer who frequently had to spell unintelligible words.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Excellent vocal performances. Great comedian/musician, but one comedian used objectionable, to me, material, picking on individuals unmercifully. Productions shows were well done, and we enjoyed being able to chat with the cast after the shows.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Top notch wait staff and room stewards. Ship's officers were available for conversation at many events.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Rooms are large and well designed.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We were surprised to be upgraded to 8299, a balcony cabin, which was delightful. One concern I would have after being on the ship is that cabin 3151 is not far from the central atrium, which is a center for many activities during the day, which could create noise and confusion near the cabin. Several different bands perform in this area and there are frequent social events held in this center of the atrium on deck 3. I would advise being farther away from the center court area.
Ship tip
I preferred being near the block of 8 elevators in the aft section; it is convenient to the mdr and the cafe and pools, as well.
A good Maintenance team will certainly make most of your problems disappear. Just one of the many facets of the ship's crew we normally do not see. Kudos!
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
