7 Night Northern California Coast (Seattle Roundtrip)
Sail date: September 29, 2019
Ship:
Star Princess
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: B232
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 4 years ago
Review summary
This was a great get away for us because we didn't need to fly anywhere. Many people on this cruise were from Washington which made Seattle a great port. All the ports were great walking cities and you didn't need to book an excursion to have fun. The weather was good. There was no rain the entire week and we went from cold in Seattle and Astoria to warmer in San Francisco and Monterey. There were some younger people on this cruise, but the majority were at retirement age. Very few children were on this cruise. Princess does not have all the water slides, and activities you will find on Carnival or RC, but that's nice for making this a relaxing time. The food and service is exceptional.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was in Seattle at Smith Cove Terminal, Pier 91. First we entered the building and dropped off our luggage. You need to show your passport before you can leave your luggage. You then proceed to the desk where they view your boarding pass and passport and send you upstairs to security screening. After you go through the scanners, you go to the desk where they scan your passport and hand you your room keys. We were able to board immediately because of our loyalty level, but we didn't see anyone waiting to board. The entire process took about 15 minutes, most of which was spent going through the security screening. Very efficient process.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We ate every dinner in the main dining room. The service was excellent. The first night we had prime rib that was the best I have had anywhere. Everything I ordered was delicious and Princess really knows how to do desserts. Chocolate Journeys really were a journey not to be missed. We had breakfast in the buffet. The selection was created to please everyone. We could get usual breakfast food like french toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon etc. as well as cold cuts, salad, rice, beans & cold chicken. The pizza is great and the special pizza changes daily. There was a grill that offered hamburgers and hot dogs. The special hamburger changed daily. The international cafe offered a selection of sweets as well as a soup, sandwiches and salads. This is where we could get specialty coffees, teas and hot cocoa. The prices were quite reasonable for the specialty drinks (under $3). This is a busy area, but they line moved quickly. Princess still offers afternoon tea in the dining room on sea days.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I did not want to rate this because we did not use the pools or fitness center, but they were available for use.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We didn't catch the second stage show, but the first one and the two comedians on board were great.
Children's Programs
We were not traveling with children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Princess knows service. We had any-time dining and had many different waiters and they were all exceptional. Our cabin steward called us by name every time he saw us and was right there to make everything perfect.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The bed was very comfortable. There is plenty of closet shelves and hanging space. Luggage fits under the bed OR under the hanging space.
Ship tip
Enjoy all the various spaces on the ship even when nothing is going on in that lounge or space. Lots of room to sit and read or talk outside of your cabin.
This is a great walking port. There is a trolly that goes along the waterfront if you don't want to walk. It gets crowded and you may need to stand. There are some good excursions, but we didn't take any because we have been to Astoria area before.
Another good walking port. Our ship docked at Pier 27 and we walked to the right toward Pier 39 which has shops and restaurants and further down to the naval museum and Fisherman's Wharf. If you walk to the left, you come to the Ferry Terminal which has shops and food (like a farmer's market inside). From the ship on a clear day you can see the Golden Gate bridge and the Bay bridge and Alcatraz.
Our ship anchored here. The tender ride was about 10-15 minutes. There are shops and restaurants right at the port or you can take the walking/biking path down to the Aquarium. There are some shops and restaurants in this area as well. Fantastic Aquarium with lots to see. Great place for kids too.
This was our 3rd visit to Victoria. We like to walk here too, but decided to take a bus tour up to Mt. Tolmie and to Craigdarroch castle. Nice was to see Victoria. If you are into castles, antiques and architecture, you will enjoy the castle.
We did self-assist and walked off the ship at 7:20 am and stopped briefly to show our passports to the agent. We were being picked up by family, so we waited right outside of the building. If we wanted to get a taxi, they were waiting there also. If we wanted to get an Uber/Lyft, we would have walked a little further to the waiting spot for those.
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