We booked this trip because the embarkation/disembarkation port was close to home and we were interested in the itinerary. While we had fun on the cruise, the quality of the ship was very disappointing. I have come to expect more than what Princess provided while cruising, especially for the price point.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
The embarkation was a little slow, the port was understaffed and it seemed a little confused. Our port agent did not tell us that we needed a boarding number so we were just sitting around until we started asking how we know what group we were in. A port representative then told us we were supposed to have a number then gave us one. All went well after that.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Top service is definitely missing from Princess. For example; when I get up to leave the table in the middle of dinner and come back, refold my napkin, offer a wine list in the specialty restaurants without having to ask, provide something other than plastic dining plates and glasses in the buffet, make sure the wine glasses match in specialty restaurants. The service n Crown Grill and Sabatini's was HORRIBLE almost pushing unfriendly.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Lots of fun! Bartenders Bon and EJ were GREAT!
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
It is surprising this ship was just in dry dock a little over a year ago. During this cruise there were several locations of buckets catching leaks throughout the ship, including dining areas. The carpets were always wet and musty in the common areas. Most of the cruise I saw carpet dryers all over the ship. The furniture in many of the bars was stained or was threadbare.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
First, I would like to say our cabin steward was very good, the room was very spacious with plenty of storage and clean. The bed was extremely comfortable.
Now with the issues... the furniture in this room was frayed, the carpet had runs in it, and the outdoor furniture was dirty. Basically, this room needs redone
I’ve experienced napkin being either re-folded or even replaced entirely, many times, neatly folded when I return tableside. Pretty common in fine dining establishments.
The Hawaii cruise is very relaxing...but I must caution you that the average age will be about 70...we have taken this cruise 4 times and always enjoyed it...if you are lucky you might bet Brian and Rowena as your Hawaiian ambassadors...they are warm and welcoming...and patient knowledgeable instructors in lei making, ukulele, hula dancing and Hawaiian culture ......we enjoyed our older fellow cruisers...once cruised with a retired cruise captain...he was hilarious...and another time with a stewardess who used to fly with stars gangsters and politicians...great dinner conversation...and by taking the second seating we would have leisurely meals and no grumpy folks
I was on the ship October 2017. I loved the ship and had nothing negative to comment. I agree with romantikcruiser re Horizon buffet, but our cruises were close together. I saw no leaks, buckets, or carpet dryers. I also didn’t see stained or threadbare furniture. During embarkation we walked right on board only stopping to have our picture taken. Disembarkation was also very smooth as we were asked a few days prior when we would like to disembark. We were given a number at that time and all was smooth, clear through customs. I’m booked on the Grand in April 2018 and I’m throughly looking forward to returning to the Grand.
In November of 2017 in the horizon buffet the plates, bowls and coffee mugs were ceramic...the water glasses were the harden plastic one finds in most restaurants not disposable plastic...the napkins were cloth and the cutlery was metal... from your notes I guess that since November they must have changed...I never ordered wine at the buffet so I have no experience with that...I have dined at the Celebrity specialty restaurant ...and no one ever touched my napkin...but again you have experienced such things...
In the buffet we were served wine in a plastic wine glass and all the coffee cups, plates and bowls were hard plastic not glass/ceramic. As for napkins, it is very common for our waiter to refold our napkin when we get up in the Celebrity restaurant Blu.
Why would a server ever pick up your used napkin and refold it? When I was on board I never saw any plastic items at the buffet or else where on the ship. I had read on this app, about torn carpet and buckets catching water prior to my cruise but I never saw that either. I’m grateful that most people had the same experience as ramantikcruiser and myself.
I have sailed on the grand many times including twice in 2017...I have never seen plastic dishes utensils or cups...at embarkation points I have seen paper cups for water...in my 60+ years of dining all over the world...I have never had a napkin refolded for me...I have never seen that on any Princess,Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America or Carnival cruise...perhaps I have just missed out...Perhaps they are now using plastic...it has just never been my experience...my experiences were different than stknkc
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7 Comments
DebAntigua 5 years ago
romantikcruiser 6 years ago
Dorlynne 6 years ago
romantikcruiser 6 years ago
stknkc 6 years ago
lrabe 6 years ago
romantikcruiser 6 years ago