Star Princess North to Alaska! Sept 10 2016

This is my very first post after being a serial lurker for many years. I have enjoyed your many exceptional reviews over the years and have learnt so much. An Alaskan cruise is on my future cruise list and I am greatly enjoying this review. Thank you for the time it must take to do such a wonderful review.

This is my very first post after being a serial lurker for many years. I have enjoyed your many exceptional reviews over the years and have learnt so much. An Alaskan cruise is on my future cruise list and I am greatly enjoying this review. Thank you for the time it must take to do such a wonderful review.

Nothing beats inspiring a lurker to come out of the shadows! My work is done!

Great to hear from you and hear that you have been enjoying my stuff over the years (7 since I joined the board but I mainly read Royal and HAL boards to begin with-not Princess since we booked the Coral on a leap in the dark.)

Many Aussies on our Alaskan Cruise. Always fun and easy-going which is probably how I would describe someone from Northern Ireland when traveling.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

Welcome to CruiseCritic!

and Thank You.

Norris

Norris, I'm loving your review. We have been to Alaska 10 times; most recently in August on the Ruby. I never get tired of the beauty. Plus, we are going on the Star in less than 2 weeks, so I am really enjoying all the pictures. BTW, I love the animal videos that I click on after your ship videos. :)

Thank you and welcome!

10 times to Alaska...I have some catching up to do.

Never get tired of the beauty? I can see how that could be the case.

I worked on my next batch of photographs this morning before going to work and I am itching to show them to everyone reading this...Misty Fjords from a boat...in the mist. So much atmosphere (literally) in the shots. Coming soon!

Enjoy the Star! The Captain is one of a kind-well two of a kind as he reminds me of Dino Sagani, which is the highest compliment I can pay.

Norris

Norris,

 

I gave up going to J-E-T-S games because they became a bit to rowdy for my taste. Maybe they're all still unhappy that the J-E-T-S picked O'Brien over Dan Marino?

 

Trip:confused::confused:

Trip I loved going to the Jets games-especially Monday Night Football events and I saw some of the greatest players of all time in the Meadowlands as I shivered.

I saw fights every game but usually just one on ones rather than the British soccer games where they come with cavalry, archers, longbowmen and rock-hurlers.

I also loved the pre and post game tailgating with my NJ family.

I saw Dan Marino many times but my favorites were Joe Montana and then Steve Young-amazing runner with the ball. They were playing the Bengals when I saw them on the Star.

I used to watch Football for 9 to 12 hours on a Sunday back in the early 90's but now only watch the Super Bowl. So I weaned myself off the NFL.

Thanks for the comment!

Norris

Good description of an extraordinary meal. There are only a few for me but even now many years later.....if I picture those meals in my mind I can still taste every bite.

 

Judy

I can too- the most memorable meals-over many years;

Les Celebrites, Essex Hotel NY (French chef Alain Ducasse)

Fleur de Lys, San Francisco (French Chef Hubert Keller)

11 Madison NY Swiss Chef

Hyatt Cologne Germany Swiss Chef

Hotel Schweizerhof, Lucerne, Swiss Chef

The 5 most outstanding meals that I remember. 5 star or Michelin Star dining but I still get excited over the Pub Lunch.

Norris

We have never cruised with Princess before, just HAL and RCI. Which Princess do you like the best that goes to Alaska and why? Much appreciated. Pat

Pat, are you asking me?

If so- because I am addicted to aft suites it would be the Star as the Coral doesn't have any.

However-the Coral is a beauty indeed and has 1,000 less passengers and big wide promenade decks that would reduce a man like me to tears. It also has a great smoking lounge with a view-again that's a plus for me, probably not you.

So-either one depending on where you like to live on board. Coral doesn't have Crown Grill-a (usually) good steakhouse and instead has the Bayou Cafe which serves Louisiana Cuisine which is far from exciting to me.

Both are Princess ships which mean they are great to sail on in terms of food and service and entertainment. Coral sailed on Wednesdays this year so that was not good for us. I would happily sail on her again.

Alaska is the star-not the ship. I sail for the ports there and the excursions that are offered. The towns themselves are nothing to write home about but the land and sea and wildlife around them are spectacular. I would happily sail Celebrity to Alaska but they don't go to Glacier bay which is a deal breaker for Carol.

Princess is long established in Alaska and know what they are doing.

We took a chance when booking the Coral for our first cruise together. You might want to, too. I wasn't even aware there was such a ship until 5 minutes before we went to a travel agent to book-but I ended up doing the booking myself as the TA was less informed than I was.

The Star is a great alternative but mainly for her Captain.

Norris

I've mentioned smoking and as it's Formal Night the Grand Casino has this sign displayed

 

I was inspired to take the picture because there are two ladies, sitting at the slots together in the shot and one of them was puffing away.....

As we are going to a show at 7p.m tonight I am going to miss two events in the Piazza; the Champagne Waterfall where guests line up to ascend a small set of steps and jointly pour with the Maitre 'D from a bottle of Champagne into a pyramid of glasses. This is followed by the Captain's Welcome Aboard speech.

Both of these I usually video and photograph having arrived early to secure a vantage point. Knowing more about the Captain now I would go back in time and record his speech. Ah, well...

They're setting up for the show when I pass through the Piazza on my way to the Princess theater.

 

One of the interesting parts of the Captain's speech is always a breakdown of the passenger mix-where they are from. The ship sailed full and there were a great many Asian people, some having flown in at the same time we did but many would have been from the large Asian population in Vancouver. I heard British and Australian accents on deck and people speaking French, most likely Canadian. Of course the majority were from the USA.

Photographers were set up at many stations-one just outside the amidships elevator banks and somewhat in the way of traffic-as people were posing for Portraits in their fancy duds. I took a suit and tie and Carol dazzled.

Those not wishing to dress up headed to the buffet for dinner or they may have gone to MUTS to see the Patriots vs Cardinals on Monday Night Football.

Anyway, onwards to the show....

The following photos aren't great but to get better from way back in the theater I would have had to use the huge zoom lens and would have (a) looked like an idiot and (b) distracted others. There's a lot of glare from the lights on anything white but they may give you the flavor. There's a 7 piece band and a whole posse of singers and dancers- I counted 24 performers on stage during some songs!

It was a show featuring songs before the Beatles arrived to change pop music and I knew all of them-Catch a Falling Star and Put it in Your Pocket (which is impossible) will give you the gist. So basically songs from the 1950s but sung well.

As always the sound is loud and clear as Princess has invested in state of the art ship systems.The 7 piece band, with brass, are flawless.

Great sound, lighting and talented giving it their all performers. A fast paced show with costume changes. It only lasts 35 to 40 minutes and then we are leaving. Interesting for me to note is the number of people who couldn't get seats and were standing at both sides and rear-easily 100 people. The room seats 700. We wait until the crowd has passed before getting up.

Also interesting- the bar waiters who wander the aisles before the show and their lack of hustle and no doubt profitable receipts. They are the eye-contact avoiders and are skilled at looking right at you but apparently not seeing your waving arms.

"look-over here! I'm dying of thirst. Yes I have money and wish to buy a drink!"

He turns and walks away wondering why no one is buying tonight.

I love reading your review and seeing all the wonderful pictures, do you know if Stardust will be on the Star next May, my sister would love hearing the 50's music? or will it change up by then? I'd love to hear all the shows and activities that you attend

Dinner in the MDR and we have reservations. At the host stand we announce ourselves and a smiling tall head waiter called Patrizio guides us to our table way at the back in the center. He wants to converse it seems and I mention that our last Princess cruise was a year ago on the Emerald. Who was your Maitre 'D sir?

Was it Mario Propato? Yes it was. Wonderful, he is coming to the Star next month and I look forward to the changes he will make. I smile. Mario Propato is the MD whom I described as the Invisible Man as many are. In fact the only visible one I can recall is Neville Saldanha from India whom we met on our first two cruises and who worked the rooms like Wayne Newton and is just as witty. We shared some chuckles as I love to banter with someone quick-witted.

Patrizio sat us with what would turn out to be ideal waiters for us-a chatty, witty Philippina called Gen and her quiet but efficient assistant Romar also from the Philippines.

Carol's napkin was placed and I got the cameras out. At this time there were few occupied tables so we got the quiet we like. This was the Alaska menu but we couldn't see anything Alaskan on it-no halibut,venison,eagle,bear nor even blubber carpaccio. Here's what we ate anyway. To drink I ordered glass of red wine the name of which escapes me. I asked for a Riedel glass which was quickly procured. Carol ordered a Bellini which neither of us had ever tasted before.Very pleasant.

I'm usually a soup guy but if there is none that appeals I'm having a Caesar salad. If it was good enough for the greatest Roman general in history then I am having it.

Now at home recently we prepared an Indian curry using lamb. We get all the ingredients and recipes from a great outfit called Chef'd. We follow the recipe but the lamb was tough. As we order for 4 people we have leftovers and on subsequent nights we slow-cooked the lamb for way longer than the recipe and finally got tender lamb. Lamb can be tough if not cooked low and slow we found.

So why did I order lamb for dinner? Roast lamb...not the usual rack of lamb. And it has mint jelly which goes well with the meat and reminds me of my mum's Sunday dinners back in N. Ireland.

Alas, the meat was a chew and I may have worked my way through just one slice before I found I had an un-chewable piece in my mouth and needed to get rid of it without causing embarrassment. The waiters were right there. I had to think fast and cried "Wow-is that a whale at the window?" and while they were staring I spit the lamb into my hand and thence onto the plate. I pushed the plate away saying I had to save room for some Norman Love. No questions.

I could have complained, sent it back but couldn't wait an hour to have them slow cook it again. I could have ordered another dish but Carol was already eating. I should have had what she had-the always reliable.....

Dessert of the Gods to follow...

This is the Norman Love dessert we each had to have (note to self, always order two helpings). Chocolate and hazelnut are the main themes but I don't have a full description as my mind was reeling just looking at it.

A big shout out to Princess for working with Norman-really for me their MDR food is already top-notch but to add dessert offerings from this craftsman was a great move. I am also looking forward to trying some Curtis Stone dishes on this trip. There's no SHARE restaurant on the Star and I doubt there ever will be.

So this treat gets a page to itself. After this we are going to hit the sack as we have to be up at 5 a.m to get ready for a 7 a.m excursion into the Misty Fjords.

We'll need to bathe, dress warmly and eat and be on the dock by 7 latest.

So our second day on the ship is behind us or under our belts-I keep losing track of where I put things.

So it's goodnight from the lovely Portofino dining room. There is only one table still eating when we leave.

A big shout out to Princess for working with Norman-really for me their MDR food is already top-notch but to add dessert offerings from this craftsman was a great move.

 

 

Agree. Norman Love was a great move by Princess and the dessert you have shown is probably the single best morsel of food that I have had on any Princess ship. (Probably any ship). A mental note has been made to treat this dessert the way I treat lobster tails. Always add an "s" when ordering and make sure that the server understands the difference between the singular and the plural!

Agree. Norman Love was a great move by Princess and the dessert you have shown is probably the single best morsel of food that I have had on any Princess ship. (Probably any ship). A mental note has been made to treat this dessert the way I treat lobster tails. Always add an "s" when ordering and make sure that the server understands the difference between the singular and the plural!

Jimmy, we see eye to eye.

Princess looks after at least 2 areas of our enjoyment very well and the food (#1) is something they have continued to develop. We all like to eat on a ship and they take that seriously. Ditto the entertainment (#2). Bands galore all over the ship, comedians, jugglers,pianists, string trios, unicyclists,balancers and great lively shows with pizazz that most folks can't see in their own town without forking out $$ for tickets.

Some complain that they are not up to Broadway or Vegas standards and I almost hurt myself laughing at their unthinking idiocy.

Cruise fares are ridiculously great value for money. They've raised Specialty Dining prices by $4 from $25 to $29. Still a steal! I can keep ordering as long as I have the appetite for $29? The Soup and the salad? and the Tiger Prawns? and the Steak-what? and all the sides? How much extra are those little lobster tails? They're included sir-shall I bring you four? (rhetorical)

I salute them for SHARE but have yet to eat there myself and have no opinion on the menu consequently (or do you need to taste it to declare a dislike?) The decor is all wrong for me but it's a modern trend to have hard wood floors and little in the way of soft furnishings and lots in the way of bright lights.

I get to taste some Curtis food later on....

I'm very glad you are still reading this. I can imagine many give up or die...

but I write for people who like to read. People like me.

Cheers! I still owe you a Guinness at some point if we ever sail together.

Norris

 

I'm very glad you are still reading this. I can imagine many give up or die...

but I write for people who like to read. People like me.

 

 

 

Norris

 

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Hi Norris, I'm still reading too!!! It is a fantastic read!!!!! Can't wait for more!!!

Tracy

Hi Norris, I'm still reading too!!! It is a fantastic read!!!!! Can't wait for more!!!

 

Tracy

Yes!! More food porn, please. :p

Your last reviews only went 11 pages. You aren't even half done yet. Do you have any pictures of Vines and the sushi?

 

The presentation continues inside. Oddly there is no British Pop Music playing-on the Ocean Princess they played nothing but the Beatles. Marvelous.

 

We wait a few minutes and a couple at a window booth leaves. The table is cleared and reset and I pounce on it. Now we can look out the window! Hooray!

 

 

A waiter comes to take our order. Carol is usually happy with the Ploughman's Lunch but is interested in Bangers and Mash. I urge her to try it.

 

I would have to say Pub Lunch is my favorite treat (and it's FREE!) on a Princess Cruise. It reminds me of my former home. Simple fare washed down with....

 

 

What? You were expecting a Martini? A Moscow Mule? Give me this Manly beer or give me Death!

 

Now the provender arrives and a choir of Angels sing

 

 

Carol loves the herbed sausages with a little spicy heat and the creamy mash. The onion gravy is sublime-she passed a composed forkful to me. Superb!

 

What I crave is this

 

 

 

Steak and Kidney pie with *"chips". Beware- the contents under the light flaky pastry are oven- hot. Poke a hole in to let the heat dissipate. The spoon is there so that no rich oniony gravy shall escape. Tender steak chunks and kidney. My mouth is watering as I type. I wish I had some now but I don't. From our freezer Omaha Steaks is coming to my rescue. Any readers from Omaha? Where ya all from? (I'm working the room like Neil Roberts)

 

*Yes, fellow Brits, they have Malt Vinegar for those hot salty chips!

 

A great filling meal-we couldn't even manage the delicious Bread and Butter Pudding dessert....Next Time!!

 

Princess-you rock!

Norris, I'm from Omaha, and willing to stop by the local Omaha Steak shop for you. Just make a list of what you want!

My wife and I were on the Star in March for a trip around Cape Horn. Great trip and loved the beef in Argentina ... not to mention the malbecs. We do a California Coastal this coming April on the Star as well. Love reading your posts ... always do ... and enjoy seeing more of the Star Princess which we loved. And your right. The food was/is great.

I love reading your review and seeing all the wonderful pictures, do you know if Stardust will be on the Star next May, my sister would love hearing the 50's music? or will it change up by then? I'd love to hear all the shows and activities that you attend

The shows like Stardust usually stay around for a few years so the chances are good you'll see it in May.

On some ships I have taped the shows or excerpts because they didn't tell me not to. On the Star there was a request not to use video cameras or flash and that's all I need to hear to leave the camcorder in the bag. I don't use flash anyway.

Like a No Smoking or No Reserving Loungers sign I'll obey it if requested.

I'm glad to see you still following along as from my perspective it's about to get better.

Next up-Ketchikan!!

Norris

Hi Norris, I'm still reading too!!! It is a fantastic read!!!!! Can't wait for more!!!

 

Tracy

Tracy I drove 80 miles between posting the MDR dinner and then the Norman Love dessert. I am in our Michigan home now and have time for more.

I just spent time in LightRoom working on 152 photos and they'll be up within an hour.

Norris, thanking you for your kind compliments.

Your last reviews only went 11 pages. You aren't even half done yet. Do you have any pictures of Vines and the sushi?

Maybe my last Alaska review ran 11 pages but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now (to quote a favorite pop lyric)

A better camera and a love of using it is the reason.

No Sushi photos but I think there are some Vines shots. We are going to get some sushi on board the Celebrity Reflection where they have a Sushi restaurant. So now you'll have to read that in January-and it's a dazzling ship.

Cheers and welcome aboard !

Norris

Norris, I'm from Omaha, and willing to stop by the local Omaha Steak shop for you. Just make a list of what you want!

 

My wife and I were on the Star in March for a trip around Cape Horn. Great trip and loved the beef in Argentina ... not to mention the malbecs. We do a California Coastal this coming April on the Star as well. Love reading your posts ... always do ... and enjoy seeing more of the Star Princess which we loved. And your right. The food was/is great.

I just remembered what wine I drank in the MDR-it was a Merlot because they didn't have an Argentinian Malbec or Bordeaux.

Thanks for mentioning that you like my reports on CC. I want them to stand out from the many great reviews that come along.

I always get excited when I see a photo review listed but if I click on it and the photos are thumbnails I make a quick exit particularly if the review is about Alaska-the biggest state in the nation which stretches across 9% of the globe deserves big photos.

Alaska is IN YOUR FACE and I have a boatload of photos on the launcher right now. Once I open the Launch Codes....duck and cover!

I envy you that South America trip-it's number one on my bucket list as long as I get to visit Buenos Aires where there's a steak with my name on it.

Thanks for the comments! And welcome back to one of my rambles.

Thanks for the offer but we have been having Omaha Steaks deliveries to our home since 1998. Got a freezer full as we speak.

Norris

Yes!! More food porn, please. :p

Food porn is guaranteed. Even when we stop at 5 Guys for a burger and fries the camera comes out and the meal ends up on TripAdvisor. I have over 80 restaurant reviews on there from BBQ joints to Michelin Stars with pics.

Cheers!

Norris

Loving this review, Norris!

We were on the Grand to Alaska late Aug/ early September- loved everything about that cruise! Your review is helping with the still rough transition back to "real life". [emoji4]

Mary

I'm up around 4.30 and excited because our first port is coming close. I dress, no noisy shower to awake she who sleeps and am out to forage for coffee.

I visit the International Cafe thinking it too early for the buffet coffee. I ask if there's coffee syrup. No-just fresh brewed. My coffee card from the Diamond in 2012 won't cover that so I pay $1.25 for a cup of flavorless brown liquid with no body, no caffeine bite, which is my experience with IC fresh brewed to date after now two attempts to get a flavorful jolt. This ain't coffee anymore than the syrup which is free.

I go up on deck to take pics. I don't care how dark it is and nor does my camera.

Loving this review, Norris!

 

We were on the Grand to Alaska late Aug/ early September- loved everything about that cruise! Your review is helping with the still rough transition back to "real life". [emoji4]

 

Mary

Mary, welcome and thanks for joining us here!

I find that transition difficult myself but writing about it seems to help.

Keep reading as we are going to Misty Fjords soon...

Norris