Disappointing experience

Item: Grand Princess
Rating: 2.5
Author: Ysanne

Grand Princess Cruise Review to South Pacific - Australia

Ysanne

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 7

Overall rating:

2.5 out of 5

14 Night New Zealand (Melbourne Roundtrip)

Sail date: February 25, 2024

Ship: Grand Princess

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: D223

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 months ago

Review summary

A disappointing experience. Paid high price for a budget type cruise. Boat was old and in need of a make over. Shops were overpriced and there was a lack of a chemist on board for bathroom necessities, sanitary products and Panadol and seasick pills. Food was nothing special.

Embarkation

2 out of 5

Okay but waited 30 minutes to transfer from car to embarkation area

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

The food was nothing special. Sometimes it sat on a tray for a long time before serving and was frequently cold. The buffet did not have enough choice and was not appetising to look at. The staff were willing to please but they too had to work with a sub standard product.

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

I attended the arts and crafts workshops which were frequently large groups and there was never enough resources for the large groups. The teachers were clearly not used to large groups and did not have end products to show us what we were to achieve.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Excellent

Children's Programs

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Room steward John could not do enough to help. He was great.

Ship Quality

2 out of 5

Staff were always cleaning.

Cabin / Stateroom

2 out of 5

Not good value for money. Would have liked free bottles of water and a kettle to make own hot drinks. Cleanliness was excellent and steward was always attentive but size of room was not worth the extra money paid for a mini suite.

Ship tip

Don’t go as it is not worth the money

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Melbourne, Australia

1 out of 5

Cruise Fjordland National Park

1 out of 5

Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand

2 out of 5

Lyttleton (Christchurch), New Zealand

2 out of 5

Wellington, New Zealand

2 out of 5

Napier, New Zealand

3 out of 5

Tauranga, New Zealand

4 out of 5

Auckland, New Zealand

4 out of 5

Disembarkation

3 out of 5

Embarkation was delayed and waiting area overcrowded

10 Comments

willwork4cruz 7 months ago

I’m booked for this cruise. Pretty sure I’m going to have a good time.

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gblacks 7 months ago

I don't know what this person is talking about as I just did the same cruise, and it was excellent in every regard. Princess Cruises offers great value, and I am a person who refuses to accept mediocre standards. I therefore suspect that this person has, for some strange reason, submitted a fake review.

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javawoody 7 months ago

Not sure what your expectations were?

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Lawnboy1956 7 months ago

Because of the plastic waste issues no cruise lines have bottled water it comes in cans and you have to pay for it or get it as part of the drink package. We bring refillable drink bottles and ask our stewards to keep our ice bucket in our room topped up. We then use the tap water which is very good quality. No American based cruise line gives you a kettle in your room. I’ve heard that the line English lines based there like P&O have them.

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HeavySeas 7 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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booger1xx 7 months ago

Sounds like two things at the very least. One you didn’t do any research about your cruise ship. Secondly it sounds like you haven’t been on a cruise before otherwise you would know that the shops are like a convenience store and are high priced. If there are certain things you want in the way of medication you bring your own. Hard to blame the cruise line for your short comings.

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ZATHROS 7 months ago

Sorry it didn't work out for you on the Grand. Thanks for sharing.

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cruising2004 8 months ago

Sorry you were disappointed. You are responsible to bring all your personal needs or else buy whatever the ship has available.

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bndfromaz 8 months ago

Sorry to hear that The Grand Princess didn't work out for you. Maybe another line? Happy Cruising

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Gwbigdog 8 months ago

Oops sorry 😞 thanks

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