GRAND PRINCESS IS A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT as is the port of Ensanada....Other than that it was a great cruise
Grand Princess Cruise Review to Coastal - West Coast
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 81
7 Night Classic California Coast (San Francisco Roundtrip)
Sail date: October 15, 2017
Ship: Grand Princess
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: B608
Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 6 years ago
Review summary
I have nothing to really say in the positive about the ship, service, food, cleanliness....nothing good about Ensanada...I can't convince myself to sugar coat it either.Embarkation
I'm so surprised with the Princess process...unsure if it was because the ship's passenger count is smaller or not but it had to have been the easiest of my 11 cruises.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Thrilled that I bought the premium beverage package b/c if I'd not I could have never afforded the alcohol. A standard well drink was 8.75 plus gratuity.
FOOD IS PITIFUL...I don't have the patience to explain but it didn't matter where on the ship it was bad.
ALTERNATIVE FOOD CHOICES ARE ALMOST NON-EXISTENT...
PUBLIC NON-STATEROOM BATHROOMS ARE SO EXTREMELY LIMITED AND HARD TO FIND...I was in the Bottecelli Dining Room and the closest bathroom was one deck up and a walk to find it. Try being near the pool and wanting a bathroom.
Onboard Activities
The Love Boat party at the pool deck was fun and many passengers were highly involved. HOWEVER, IT ENDED ABRUPTLY W/O ANY WARNING. My friends and I had no clue it would just end like a scissors had cut a piece of tape w/o any notice or warning. We then went to the Disco/Dance lounge One 5 and the bartenders were there and about 10 folks but lights on and no music...we were told by the bartenders that they wouldn't be having music because we'd already had our music party at the Love Boat party. Strange and frustrating.
Activities were not there for middle aged and younger folks...lots I guess for the high elderly/disabled population but nothing around the pools, no big draws to engage folks.
The activities director was so talented that I believe it had to have been beyond his control to have limited activities for all types of passengers.
What they refer to as pool deck is anything but...not conducive for groups, not at all conducive to lay in the sun, adult pool was closed on the last sea day for unknown reason.
THE GYM IS A JOKE....LIMITED PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, IF YOU'RE MORE THAN 6' TALL YOU WILL STRUGGLE TO STAND STRAIGHT UP ON A TREADMILL...THERE ARE NOT ATTACHED GENDER SPECIFIC LOCKER ROOMS...they have near to the gym down the hall gender specific changing rooms but they have no shower, no steam room or sauna...THE SHOWER, STEAM ROOM AND SAUNA ARE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT SECTION OF THE SHIP....EXTREMELY UNFRIENDLY AND DEFINITELY NOT CONVENIENT...The outside areas were to be gender specific areas with each having a visible outside shower that you couldn't be naked and shower and then the sauna and steam room doors were right there and they were not gender specific so clothes had to be worn...very odd and uncomfortable.
Entertainment
The cruise musicians, dancers and entertainment venues were highly successful. The comedians/etc. that were to be draws were not impressive entertainment to me. The musicians and dancers tried so hard but the sound system in the grand theater wasn't good and thus made things come across poorly.
Children's Programs
I traveled solo but as part of an adult male group...no children.
Service and Staff
I could go on and on and it would be an extremely harsh and abrupt negative experience told...The ONLY positive would be JOSS, in Medical and Jimmy from The Phillipines, as my cabin steward.
DON'T TRY TO GO TO PASSENGER SERVICES AND DEFINITELY DON'T TRY TO CALL PURSUR'S OFFICE FROM STATEROOM PHONE...you'll never get help (I never had my phone calls answered and I tried so many times). To stand in line and seek help I hope you're better than my friends and I were because the staff, all female, were just not interested in helping, had zero people skills and didn't care.
JOSS - Joss is in Medical and he was the most attentive and direct staff member that I had to go to and have direct contact with. Highly skilled Medical Professional.
JIMMY from The Philippines was my Cabin Steward and tried so hard...I was surprised that my dirty wet washcloths in the shower weren't traded daily and that little things weren't done but he was the best direct contact service staff member I encountered.
There was a female cabin steward just down the deck hall from my cabin and she was absolutely rude, nasty and obnoxious.
Some bartenders were very skilled and people focused and that is appreciated.
Ship Quality
At 6'6" I had so much trouble navigating through doorways and especially in the gym. This old ship is not accommodating to anyone that has mobility difficulties.
It was at an ok clean level but I wouldn't say it was clean by any means. Public areas were not attended to like I've experienced on other cruise lines.
Cabin / Stateroom
BEDDING! BEDDING! BEDDING!
I learned that there are new mattresses and the accompanying mattress covers under the sheets and that made the difference. I had a king size bed and it really was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on in my 11 cruises.
Ask for an extension cord(s) because there are no plugs. Clarify the water in your fridge or be surprised.
Ship tip
I have no pieces of advice as you can tell I was not happy about my Princess experience at all.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Spent 4 nights in San Francisco prior to Sunday's embarkation. Use Yelp? Use GOLDSTAR app!
THE SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART is spectacular and should be experienced.
I had a personal tour/experience at port with a former student...I was treated to a non-touristy experience and it was amazing.
Long Beach (Los Angeles), California
I was part of a group that did an intensive COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT AT THE LONG BEACH GLBT CENTER for GLBT YOUTH. I live in Columbus, Ohio, and not one aspect of our GLBT Community is as this center does for the Long Beach and surrounding areas.
We then visited the GETTY and words cannot adequately describe this opportunity. You need to see it!
BALBOA PARK - BALBOA PARK - BALBOA PARK...I've been many times and each time makes me believe I'm in a fairy tale.
OLD TOWN - OLD TOWN - OLD TOWN...experience the rich history.
Disgusting, trashy, smells and filth are everywhere. The panhandlers use small children and that is sad but the degree of panhandling allowed is uncalled for.
There is nothing about excursions that matter and to be in the few blocks at port isn't worth leaving the ship.
Disembarkation
I've never had this much ease in speed, convenience and access on any cruise I've taken.