Having cruised this area previously , still found the cruise enjoyable , especially with our stern suite , C749 . Captain Foster was certainly a credit .
Golden Princess Cruise Review to South Pacific - Australia
Would do this cruise again , although I would not expect any similar cruise to be as good . ....................................................................................
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Surprisingly efficient even though there were near 50% elite passengers boarding .
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We were restricted to the Donatello Dining Room as my wife required special meals , which were , on most occasions , superb . Can you imagine " liquified escargot " , with garlic , potato , mushroom , pumpkin , carrot etc ? As for the menu , on past cruises I have resorted to the salmon as a " backup " at least twice a week , however , over the 75 days , possibly 3 or 4 occasions . In all , the menu was quite acceptable , including lunch , as we were again needing the MDR for the same reason .
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Did not use the gym , for in past cruises , found the aircon may have lead to a chest infection , plus many failed to wipe down equipment after use . I will mention the fact , the promenade deck ( deck 7 ) was often unavailable till 0700 hrs as deck crew would start washing down from 0600 hrs , also , even when available , some areas were cordoned off , even if weather was not a factor . Years past , the deck crew would start around 0430 hrs & have the deck available from 0600 hrs . Deck 16 was also restricted , again even if weather was not a factor so a 0630 walk/jog became a problem .
Entertainment
1 out of 5
The cruise director , Tim Donovan was a wasted space in my opinion , with many activities scheduled in or around the Atrium , leaving the area crowded & impossible to have a coffee . For the first 3 nights , the theatre was vacant , instead the Atrium , Vista or Explorers . For those seeking peace & quiet during the morning , to read or do sudoku , often Skywalkers was the only option & during the section of the cruise , in cooler climates , was quite chilly .
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
First up , our room steward , Merynel returned to the ship in Sydney & was so efficient , friendly & helpful , when we arrived in Manila , most passengers told her to leave the work for the day & go meet the family , especially her little daughter of 4 years of age . Our room service steward " Honey " was very helpful & made sure our breakfast order each morning was exactly what was ordered , especially the " special " poached eggs . Then our MDR waiter , Emile , who was not just a waiter but an entertainer & cannot say enough to praise his efforts . Andrew , from Poland , also Sean from the Philippines were our head waiters & again , so helpful . The dining room was a pleasure each evening .
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The only comment is the location of the casino , apart from that , the Golden appeared to be in fairly good condition , especially when compared to a newer ship , the Emerald . I did make mention to the deck boss on more than one occasion , how well the maintenance programme appeared to be going .
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
If there was one item of complaint , it would be the noise from the balcony above , B749 , with the scraping of chairs , table &/or lounges as the deck did not have the usual rubber matting . Apart from that , the balcony was big , with 2 lounges , 4 chairs , table to fit 4 chairs & still room to move around . The presidential suite is very well appointed , with the spa bath , large shower & well appointed ensuite . The bed & coverings were luxury all the way & very comfortable .
Ship tip
Next March the Golden is going into dry dock & apart from the balcony noise from above , in my opinion there is not much need to improve .
All of our cruising is exclusively from Sydney as my wife is unable to fly . At present , because of development close by , access is very slow but once the light rail project is completed , that should improve . Sydney Harbour would rate quite well with most of the better harbours throughout the world .
Our first excursion was a orange bus ride around Skagway , including the saga of " Soapy Smith " , with 2 lovely ladies ( the 2 bus drivers ) narrating the history of Skagway & Soapy , along with a visit to the cemetery . Second excursion was booked locally , nearby the ship , a helicopter ride to a glacier , including time on the glacier with several rangers with a great deal of information about the glaciers . One item to mention , never walk backwards more than a few steps , unless you know what is behind you . A fall into a chasm is certain death . Would recommend this excursion with Temsco Helicopters for around $740 USD for 2 people
*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.
