Not so grand

Grand Princess Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

ralbert58

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 61

Overall rating:

3.1 out of 5

Verified Review

10 Night Alaska Inside Passage With Tracy Arm Fjord (San Francisco Roundtrip)

Sail date: July 07, 2017

Ship: Grand Princess

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: C746

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

I have already given a summary of this ship which is not up to the standards of other cruises I have taken. While the staff was fine, the food was not. There was a strong emphasis on coffee and liquor packages & the coffee was no better at their International Cafe which served an asparagus quiche with canned asparagus which was very metallic tasting. I did not take an of their excursions doing my own thing so cannot comment on that altho other pax seemed to be fine with theirs.

Embarkation

2 out of 5

This was my first Princess cruise & I have to concur w/disappointed pax who have sailed Princess many many times. This ship is NOT up to snuff...and not what I have experienced on other lines. The food was uninspired & repetitious in the Lido deck with food that should be hot was cold. Dining room was somewhat better but weird combinations at times. Announcements were not made when there were snafus tying up at dock. In Haines there was one shuttle bus to handle 3100 pax; should have skipped that port and sailed into Skagway. Cruise staff & general staff friendly & competent. Comic hysterical with the usual Broadway-type entertainment. Naturalist on board giving talk w/pix. Both embarkation & disembarkation handled well.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

see above for comments

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Most activities were geared to the profit center; i.e. bingo, jackpot, casino and scads of spa doings. Trivia, marriage game and liars game were all fun but not enough to do on sea days unless one went to the $$ events.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

stage shows just ok....comic absolutely superb

Children's Programs

I sailed alone

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Wait staff in dining room were very pleasant & maitre d' always honored my wishes after trying to seat me solo at a serving station when a 2-top was right next to it.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

ship was decorated okay.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Bed comfortable, nothing to write home about as it was the usual inside cabin