Grand Princess Cruise Reviews - Reviews

i have been on many cruises but this was the first princess cruise. i like the ship very much. the staff was excellent. the entertainment was good and the food was great.

Many years ago, we took our first Princess cruise, and, at best, we would call it a so-so cruise. However, because Princess had a holiday cruise that agreed with our timetable and embarcation point, we decided to give Princess another try. This was to be our 14th cruise, so we're no neophytes to cruising. Much to our surprise and delight, the cruise far exceeded our expections. The best part about it was the cooperation of the dining room maitre d in giving us a table- for- two every night. We chose "anytime dining " on the advise of our Cruises Only agent--and was it ever a great choice! On past cruises, we've had to battle to sit at a table-for-two, and, at best, usually ended up with about an inch of room between our table and the one next to us. Not so here. We had a lovely table and the same Thai waiter and busboy, both of whom were great,every night. This experience alone would make us take another Princess cruise. Our other surprise was how good the food was. This was an issue on our first Princess trip many years ago. But, on this trip, everything was good to great-- with great certainly applying to the breakfast and lunchtime buffets. We also really enjoyed the culinary presentation and the galley tour. To my best memory, this is the first time we were allowed in any ship's galley. Very clean and impressive! Our goal , after a rough year for both my husband and myself, was relaxation and "being taken care of". Other than the difficuly we had with the purser on obtaining our shipboard credit we got what we hoped for. As an added bonus to our trip, we were very pleased with the great customer service we received from Cruises Only. This was our first time booking with your company, but I doubt it will be our last. Thanks to everyone who helped give us an enjoyable trip and me a memorable birthday.

I liked everything about the ship as well as the staff on the crew, everyone was very nice. I do think the alcohol should have been cheaper.

Already having sailed on Celebrity, NCL, Disney and Carnival, I was particularly expecting a better than average level of service. Prior to the cruise, during the cruise and following the cruise (via several email solicitations), Princess continuously states their impeccable level of service which I (and many follow passengers) found to be lacking in many areas. The embarkation process was very slow. I don't know if this is the port at Galveston or the cruise line, but got in line at 12:30pm and took over 2 1/2 hours winding in and out of the port building to get thru security, registration, pre-boarding photo (it's required) and to board. We signed up for shore excursions at each port (total of 5). Two of them were cancelled but not until we got to shore which was inexcusable. The ship should have known and prepared us before we took the 45 minute tender at 6:30am (Belize) as the river flooded several days earlier. In Costa Maya, we walked down the large pier (about 3/4 mile) to learn that our tour was cancelled due to rough sea conditions. Safety first, but they should have notified us before we left the ship so that we could have had time to make alternate plans and bring the appropriate items with. Another tour (the Space Center disembarkation tour to the airport) was delayed over an hour as we were waiting at the port for the bus - and no communication, just waited in the sun with 50 other frustrated people. The service at the Purser's desk was terrible!!!! They shut off our charge account (after we signed up online before the cruise and again as we registered at embarkation) with no explanation and then waiting in line 30 minutes towards the end of the cruise to verify our bill (it was ok then). On the last day, we got the final bill on our door and were overcharged $28 for a bar charge in a restaurant on the last day (when we spent the day on the pool deck). I went straight to the Purser's Desk where I missed breakfast and almost missed the disembarkation tour as I waited over an hour to talk to a desk clerk, who slowly went through all receipts (3x), then went away to talk to her manager (manager didn't dare come out in public) before they'd credit the account. I left the ship SO FRUSTRATED and vowed never to cruise with Princess again. There were dozens of other people (before and after me in line too) that were extremely irate too. For the spa services, I opted for a 50 minute massage during the first day at sea (about $120). The massage therapist told me that this was his first cruise (as I asked about him wearing the motion sickness bands) and that he just got out of training the prior week and it was very obvious. I ended the massage halfway through as it was probably the worst that I ever had. I talked to many people that were dissatisfied with the service and a lot of the "little things" which caused frustration (when you are supposed to be relaxing on vacation). We ran into many people that cruised Princess before (including 2 couples that were previously on the same ship), and most of them were very disappointed as well. Would I cruise again? You bet! Princess? Very unlikely! I think NCL is the best in overall quality, food choices, ship amenities and service.

This was our first cruise on a Princess ship and this one was on the Grand Princess. We sailed from Galveston, TX on a seven day cruise to Costa Maya, Belize , Roatan and Cozumel. The first thing that we encountered was the embarkation process. We read to come after 1:00 p.m. and the lines would be shorter. We arrived a little after 1:00 p.m and had to stand in line for two hours before we saw anyone to check us in. From the time that we got to the port until the time we set foot on the ship was approximately 2 1/2 hours. There was one line going into the building where you check in. This needs much improvement. After arriving on the ship, we checked in and looked around. The ship is very pretty and the public areas are nicely decorated. The room was nice and had a wonderful balcony which we enjoyed. Our stateroom attendant did not show up the first night therefore we had no ice or extra towels, etc. I called to complain to the purser's office and felt that I was treated as a bother. The attendant did show after that because I found her in the hall the next day and spoke to her about it..

We like the big screen tv in pool deck area, food was great if you stay away from anything made from a potato. Enbarkation/debarkation proceedures at Galveston port showed poor organization resutling in long waits, especially debarkation. Those wanting traditional dining were oversold and many were defaulted to "Anytime Dining", thus losing the comraderie (and better service) of having the same waiter and assistant waiter throughout the cruise. Staff was very good, friendly, and we had a good time. However, we will go back to a competitor next time. This is a HUGE ship, great for kids and the younger crowd who don't mine a lot of loud music. It was too big and noisy for our taste. It was superior in many respects to the "entry level" cruise ships, but if you've cruised several times before, you may find it lacking in the refinement found on several other competing cruise lines.

The ship itself was very nice. The staff was excellent. Very helpful.

The Itinerary was great with a lot to do and see. The ship was good, but in need of drydock repairs which it has planned after the next run. It was early to bed and early to rise for tours, and no dining room adjustments to compensate. You had to do buffet. Buffet food and dining room food was a C+ rating at best and had to resort to Fine Dining (7 times in 12 days). Fine dining rating a A-. .

The ship was lovely and the staff was super. It was a very difficult ship to get around and it could have used better markings for things. We liked the fact that it was so large that we really did not feel much movement, even when the water got a little rough one evening. We expecially enjoyed the anytime dining.

It was a geat cruise. I was a little leary after I had read reviews that the ship was not in good condition and the staff was not friendly. We found just the opposite to be the case! We really enjoyed ourselves.

Overall it was a lovely trip. The ship was always sparkling clean. The restaurants and food choices were varied. We really thought the "Anytime dining" was a geat choice. Although the first dinner on board in the Michael Angelo dining room was a dissappiontment. I had ordered Steak Med Rare and it arrived well done. A second was served, it tasted like liver and was also not done as ordered. We were to have dined in the Sterling Steak House but decided not to because of the quality of the meat.

april '06 sailing on grand princess with 4 adults and 3 kids(9y./6y./3y.) was best cruise ever. all kids had fun at the fun zone and swimming pools. great beaches and other activity on ports was great with kids. flexible dining choices are wonderful. we ate at the buffet for dinner most of the time and the choices/food was good, that we didn't feel like we were missing out by not going to traditional dining. the only con was that we had to pay extra for the juice as my kids are not soda drinkers. otherwise,everyone had lots of fun.

The ship was beautiful. I especially loved all the details in the tile work and sea life embellishments throughout the ship. We could always find a deck chair and enjoyed the "Movie Under the Stars". The blankets were such a nice touch. This was our first time we have had a cabin with a balcony and it was wonderful. It was much for spacious than I expected. It had a two comfortable chairs and a table. My sister and husband were in the cabin next door and we were able to have the steward unlock a door between our balconies. That was outstanding for early morning and late night chats. Food was great and service was wonderful. I would said Princess again.

THe ship itself was a beautiful and well kept ship. I enjoyed the entertainment and the staff. I enjoyed all the meals that we attended however one incident really upset us. Our dining staff was doing an outstanding job, and we let the individual that was over them know that they did a great job, and a few minutes later he was chewing them out for the table cloth not being put on the table correctly (who cares). We could not wait to leave. I also found that smokers on the ship felt that they could smoke where they wanted, there was more than once that we had to breath others cigarette smoke, and found that to be very uncomfortable. It was okay in the casino, but I think there should be areas where we can enjoy ourselves gambling and not deal with the smoke, but I was more concerned with people walking in the halls and around the ship and it not being controlled.

the sataterooms were beautiful and service was great . Tours were very good and selection wes great. Princess is my favorite cruise line.

This was an amazing cruise. The ship's crew was above and beyond wonderful. Ship was beautiful. Very organized from start to finish. Beds were very comfortable. TV had a nice variety of programs. Room service was great. Quick and accurate . Room steward was great. Highly recommend

Overall this was a very good cruise experience. The weather was not always the best and on the return leg it prevented us from seeing Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park. The wind was too high to allow us to go there safely. It was our third Alaska cruise and while it was not rough seas every day, it had the most rough sea days of any previous Alaska cruise we did. Rough waters were mostly in the northern section of the itinerary. The entertainment was good. In the main theater it was Sweet Soul Music and Stardust performed by the Princess singers and dancers. They are both the usual song and dance review shows that are common on most cruises. There were two comedians and a magician that put on shows. The magician was fine if you like that sort of thing and the second comedian was hilarious. The ship band Static was the best ship band we've ever had.

Alaska was absolutely breath taking...deck views unbelievable...all ports were great!

Having a suite and all it entails was really nice. The food, drinks, and other onboard experiences were a major letdown though and felt like a budget vacation, not a luxury one at a luxury price.

Embarkation from train was speedy! Crew was very nice and worked very hard. Food was good in MDR. Buffet was ok. Beds are so comfortable. Disembarkation was smooth. Extremely enjoyable cruise! Second time in Grand Princess and loved our experience.