you know what they say about assuming...Which ship?

[shamrockace]

We are looking at going to Hawaii aboard Princess from CA in 2012. The Star leaves out of San Fran while the Golden and Saphire go out of LA. Assuming Saphire has MUTS by then, which ship would you recommend for multi-generational family? Will we be able to view MUTS during the sea days to Hawaii or will the weather be too cold or rough?

[Working 2 Cruise]

The general consensus on this board is to go with the Golden Princess, which does have MUTS and the International Cafe. I loved my cruise on the Golden (see, an unbiased opinion). ELUA is one of the strengths of the Golden. They are a lovely couple of musicians and enhance the Hawaiian experience tremendously. Also, if you are lucky, you would have David Cole as a cruise director, which, sadly, we did not have on our November-December 2010 cruise...

 

The Sapphire is a beautiful ship also. She will have MUTS installed after drydock.

 

We did see MUTS on the first day at sea, and it was cold, although we were wrapped in blankets, so it wasn't so bad. The weather will get better the closer you get to the islands.

 

Enjoy this cruise, it is truly a wonderful one. The staff on the Golden was terrific as well.

[judyjudy56]

I would also recommend the Golden just for the excellent Hawaiian cultural experience onboard. And you will be very please with David Cole if he is the CD on your cruise. We never watched MUTS during the day, only in the evening. Seemed like it was too noisy to enjoy the movie during the day with everyone out around the pool.

[shamrockace]

Thank you for the opinions. It is too bad Princess can't find more Hawaii culture couples to do the same for Sapphire. We took Sapphire to Alaska a few years ago and enjoyed the ship, however we didn't have all those sea days to fill.

[Astro Flyer]

Thank you for the opinions. It is too bad Princess can't find more Hawaii culture couples to do the same for Sapphire. We took Sapphire to Alaska a few years ago and enjoyed the ship, however we didn't have all those sea days to fill.

Unlike the Sapphire's varied schedule, the Golden spends all winter in Hawaii. I seem to recall that Elua also sails to Alaska but not this summer when they are taking a well deserved break to find a "hale' in Hawaii to be their 'ohana hale'. They're the hardest working entertainers we've enjoyed on any cruise...Mahalo Nui Loa Elua! :D