Rough voyage but good reunion with friends

Item: Emerald Princess
Rating: 3.9
Author: ggjlc

Emerald Princess Cruise Review to Coastal - West Coast

ggjlc

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 30

Overall rating:

3.9 out of 5

3 Night Pacific Coastal Northbound (Los Angeles To Vancouver)

Sail date: May 09, 2018

Ship: Emerald Princess

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: A327

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

We chose this cruise because we were having a reunion of 7 women who grew up together in Zimbabwe, Africa and are now scattered across Canada and US. Since some were from So. Cal and Phoenix and two from Vancouver area it served us well to do a one-way from L.A. to Vancouver and each only had to fly one way. Weather was bad with gale force winds so ship was rocky and little activity around the pools and decks which made the inside areas seem more crowded. Fortunately we brought cards and lots of memories and stories to share so we were able to make our own entertainment but had a hard time finding appropriate places to sit together that weren't crowded & noisy. On day 2 we discovered that we could take a back table in a restaurant in between meals to visit and play cards without disturbing others or being disturbed. Our one day at port was in Victoria, BC and we rented a van to visit the Butchart Gardens and had a lovely day there with beautiful weather and exquisite gardens. The cruise met our particular purposes and needs but it would have been disappointing if I was on a family vacation with different expectations.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

smooth, efficient, timely

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Good menu options, delicious food and friendly, helpful waiters. We had a special dietary need in our group and maitre d' was very accommodating.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

weather was bad - gale force winds so everyone was indoors and it seemed crowded. Not a lot of indoor activity options compared to other cruises. A couple of us did enjoy the fitness center.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Waiters and room stewards were good. Cruise directors seemed to lack energy and poor communication about what was going on compared to other cruises.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

common spaces (Buffet,restaurants & lounges) seemed small and crowded. Hard to find seating for a group of 7. Ceilings were low

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ship tip

Traveling as a group in different cabins we had difficulty getting onto the ship's free wifi to message each other. It took multiple trips to the internet cafe where a technician finally got us all connected. Also, if you are traveling in a group of over 4 people it would be good to do the traditional dining with assigned time and tables. We signed up for any time dining and it was hard to get a table for 7 at the times we wanted to eat.

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